From cattle drives to catwalks, the cowboy boot has gone through quite a transformational journey.
One of the most iconic footwear styles originated in the Old American West in the late 1870s.
The combination of protection during tough terrain, cattle drives and horseback riding contributed to the design of the iconic footwear.
cowboy culture
the story of the cowboy boot shepherd’s story,
“There is no more recognizable symbol around the world than the American cowboy,” said Michael Grauer, curator of cowboy culture and Cowboy Collections and Western Art at the National Cowboy Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
“They represent freedom and independence, they generally represent hard work and all the qualities and values that most people admire, and [people] Want to be a part of it somehow,” he said. “So, wearing a cowboy boots or a cowboy hat, you somehow become part of the great tapestry that is cowboy culture.”
an important step
The cowboy boot as we know it today dates back to the post-Civil War driving era in Texas and Kansas.
According to Grauer, the main model of the cowboy boot at the time was the military boot. But unlike cavalrymen, who rode on the balls of their feet, cowboys rode on the underside of their feet, leading to a significant development in shoe design.
“The real invention of true cowboy boots lies with the steel shank being inserted into the instep,” Grauer said, noting that the steel shank was sewn between layers of leather to create a supported instep in the shoe.
This development was important in that, as cowboys rode with their feet in the stirrups of their saddles, wearing shoes with a strong instep made the ride more comfortable. In doing so, the addition of supported instep allowed the cowboys to ride longer.
heel, toe, do-si-do
The time spent in the saddle led to some other developments towards the modern cowboy boot.
For example, early boots had a rounded toe design. However, a pointed toe was later adopted, as it allowed cowboys to slide their feet into the stirrups more easily.
A high heel was also included. Having high heels can make it easier for cowboys to keep their feet and ankles from slipping in their stirrups.
“One of the things that a cowboy feared the most was seeing his foot getting stuck in a stirrup and having a pitch, because then the horse would pull them off,” said Grauer. “If that happened it was usually a fatal outcome.”
safety at Work
Another part of the evolution of the cowboy boot included the adoption of a taller upper or shaft. According to Grauer, long shafts were initially called “stovepipes” because they looked like stove pipes over a boot. These subpar provided more protection for the foot as the cowboys rode through the brush during cattle drives.
“I believe with all my heart that the cowboys made America,” Grauer said. “Because of the work they did, they built America, which was dirty. It was dangerous, often boring. They paid low wages, and they still make poor wages, but they’re still willing to do it, table But keep the food.
“This great country was built with beef and bread, and it needed sturdy shoes to work in, whether they were cowboy boots or peasant boots,” he said.
boot-scootin’ boogie
From the time of its creation, the cowboy boot has grown beyond its practical use on cattle drives. a fashion statement and is part of popular culture.
Some of the people who helped spread the popularity of cowboy boots and the overall cowboy aesthetic were musicians. According to Grauer, the musicians who became known as “hillbilly music” appropriated the cowboy aesthetic to make the music genre more mainstream. This led to the style later being called “country and western”.
From there, many others also began sporting the cowboy’s iconic footwear and style.
“Most people appreciate what a cowboy means, even if it’s a mythical cowboy, and they want to be a part of it somehow — they want a fair share of it somehow,” Grauer said.
“So, wearing shoes is a lot of it — being a little cowboy, I guess you can say that by putting it on your feet,” he said.