Are COWBOY BOOTS business casual outside of Texas?

[GBR]



Do you think a nice pair of slacks along with cowboy boots could be considered business casual?

On television programmes only!

 

[Jabal-Tariq]

The reason I asked this is because if you really think about, once you cover the long part of the boots that go up with leg with a pair of pants, cowboy boots look like dress shoes.

No this is not me.

 

[Alan Skinner]

The reason I asked this is because if you really think about, once you cover the long part of the boots that go up with leg with a pair of pants, cowboy boots look like dress shoes.

This is especially true if the boots in question are smooth calfskin ropers (characterized by roper toe, roper heel, and smooth vamps). They look like any other non-western boot once you pull your pants over them.

Once you start moving into riding heels and square or snipped toes, it quickly becomes more obvious that you're wearing cowboy boots. However, these aren't often styles that are paired with skins that would make them appropriate for business casual. Maybe a walking heel, but probably not a riding heel. And maybe a snip toe, but DEFINITELY not a square toe.

The boots above have a snip toe and riding heels. They're pretty far to the "cowboy" end of "cowboy boots" scale. However, the black calf makes them dressy.

I'm in the market for a pair, but they'll strictly be for casual use. The pair I have in mind just isn't dressy enough to go with anything except jeans. I live on the north side of Dallas, and they're completely common throughout the metroplex.

 

[Alan Skinner]

These Luccheses are a good example of dress ropers. They almost take the point out of owning cowboy boots because they can be disguised so well. Not the heel and toe that could belong to any boot by anybody from anywhere. Also, the vamp has no stitching and the shaft is shorter than your typical cowboy boot. IMO, though, these are boots for chickens that don't have the guts to get more obvious cowboy boots.

 

[garymyman]



They almost take the point out of owning cowboy boots because they can be disguised so well.

Well a roper isn't a cowboy boot, but that's not the point either. The point is that those ropers are the most comfortable footwear I own - including running shoes. I wear a brown pair of ropers with chinos but usually wear alligator cowboy boots with a suit when I can get away with it. After wearing Allen Edmonds all day I feel like I could run a 5K when I put my boots on.

 

[Alan Skinner]

Well a roper isn't a cowboy boot, but that's not the point either.

The point is that those ropers are the most comfortable footwear I own - including running shoes. I wear a brown pair of ropers with chinos but usually wear alligator cowboy boots with a suit when I can get away with it. After wearing Allen Edmonds all day I feel like I could run a 5K when I put my boots on.

Sorry... "western boot". FWIW, They're designed for people that ride horses. They just so happen to be designed for people that have to jump back down and wrangle a roped calf.

 

[laufer]



The reason I asked this is because if you really think about, once you cover the long part of the boots that go up with leg with a pair of pants, cowboy boots look like dress
No this is not me.

It would be nice if DWFII would chime in but my understanding is that the modern type of western boots such as those on gentleman in the picture were relatively modern invention. Cowboys in the old days those wore something similar to roper boots but also had laces. Anyways I do not quote me on this. I hope this turns into discussion about historical development of cowboy boots. When you think about it cowboy boots are just like a baseball something distinctively American.

 

[Alan Skinner]

I hope this turns into discussion about historical development of cowboy boots. When you think about it cowboy boots are just like a baseball something distinctively American.

If by "American", you're refering to "The Americas". Because they're also equally popular in Mexico and down into South America... Particularly Mexico, though. I trust a pair of Mexican handmade boots as much as any made here in the USA.

 

[Hannerhan]

These are Horween burgundy shell with no stitching on the vamp, and I can wear them with anything from jeans to a dark suit. Course that's in Texas - where it's common to see billionaires, CEO's, and politicians wearing boots with suits - but I make a point to wear them in New York and California as well and always get tons of compliments. A good looking pair of boots can be very versatile. Just don't buy ****** and/or ugly boots and expect to have people rave about them.

 

[Alan Skinner]

These are Horween burgundy shell with no stitching on the vamp, and I can wear them with anything from jeans to a dark suit. Course that's in Texas - where it's common to see billionaires, CEO's, and politicians wearing boots with suits - but I make a point to wear them in New York and California as well and always get tons of compliments. A good looking pair of boots can be very versatile. Just don't buy ****** and/or ugly boots and expect to have people rave about them.

JB Hills in shell cordovan? I can only begin to guess how expensive those must have been!

 

[Jabal-Tariq]



These Luccheses are a good example of dress ropers. They almost take the point out of owning cowboy boots because they can be disguised so well. Not the heel and toe that could belong to any boot by anybody from anywhere. Also, the vamp has no stitching and the shaft is shorter than your typical cowboy boot. IMO, though, these are boots for chickens that don't have the guts to get more obvious cowboy boots.

Sweet I like these boots.

 

[Bounder]

Cowboy boots with suits make the baby Vox cry.

The absolute answer is no. Period. Before you get your chaps in a knot, please note the name of the forum you are posting in.

Of course I have seen people wearing cowboy boots with "business casual." I have seen people wearing cowboy boots with suits. I have also seen people wearing giant silver buckles, string ties and cowboy hats with suits. That does not mean it fits in with the "Classic Menswear" aesthetic. I am sure in many places that you can wear all of these things and no one will bat an eye. But that doesn't make it right.

To the OP's specific question, people in agricultural areas all over North America -- and this includes Mexico -- wear cowboy boots in all kinds of situations. People in Hawaii wear aloha shirts as business casual. But aloha shirts certainly aren't classic menswear, however great they may be for beach parties.

Finally, cowboy boots are awful with suits -- and, really, with anything other than denim -- because they make your pants look awful. Either you wear regular pants and get a "stove pipe" effect from the boot tops or you wear pants that are cut with enormous flared legs to accommodate them. The lighter the fabric, the worse this problem is. This is why boot cut jeans were invented.

 

[Hannerhan]



Finally, cowboy boots are awful with suits -- and, really, with anything other than denim -- because they make your pants look awful. Either you wear regular pants and get a "stove pipe" effect from the boot tops or you wear pants that are cut with enormous flared legs to accommodate them. The lighter the fabric, the worse this problem is. This is why boot cut jeans were invented.

These comments presuppose that the cowboy boots in question are significantly flared out from the ankle/calf, which is not the case on properly fitted boots. The boots I pictured above are probably 1/2 inch bigger in circumference than my calf at the top of the shaft, and absolutely do not cause problems with my pants.

But yes, if someone buys boots that have the shaft built like a 2 gallon funnel, then it's going to make all their pants (including jeans) look like **** because they won't drape freely.

 

[technogenie]

enough said !

 

[technogenie]

good pt