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While the American cowboy boot has not been subject to so much change as the American cowboy hat, it has experienced some minor variations throughout its course. Some people consider cowboy boots to be the pinnacle of western apparel, and it's no wonder - they are extremely important both in fashion and in function. Cowboy boots were born of necessity, but they have since secured a highly revered spot in the fashion world.
In the beginning, of course, the cowboy had to wear whatever he could get. Close-toed leather shoes, moccasins, cavalry boots, farmer's boots, and the boots of the eastern gentleman - all of these were used as cowboy footwear before the appearance of cowboy boots on the western wear scene. Cavalry boots and southern planter styles were worn the most until an open-minded bootmaker by the name of H.J. Justin and a cowboy (whose name is uncertain) put their heads together to create a novel design with some unique features.
This historical event in the history of western apparel and American fashion took place in 1878 at Spanish Fort, Texas. H. J. Justin had shown up in Spanish Fort that year, fresh off the boat from Indiana, looking for a new opportunity. He had two bits in his pocket and a roll of boot leather under his arm.
It just so happened that one of the first customers to walk into the tiny room in a shed where he had set up shop was the cowboy who had some new ideas about boots. He needed footwear that was suitable to his occupation. That day, the interactions of the bootmaker and the cowboy opened the door to a new era in western wear and footwear in general.
The product thus born had a steel-shank arch for comfortable riding, a slender toe which would not hang in the stirrup, and a uniquely shaped heel built for foot security when braced against a rope - eliminating the possibility of the foot going through the stirrup when mounted.
Those who saw the new approach to cowboy footwear quickly recognized the features so ideally devised for range work, making Justin's style the leader it still is in the world of cowboy boots.
New of the new design scattered like tumbleweed to bootmakers all over the West. By about 1880, the new style was fairly standard among cowboys. Many folks agreed that it was a development exceeded in necessity only by the invention of the saddle.
Written by Melanie River. Brand name cowboy boots and western wear at The Boot Store online store for western apparel. Ariat boots, Justin boots more at western-wear-store.com
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