A Complete Guide to Western Clothing for Men

Are you wanting to wear Western clothes, but unsure where to start? Let me explain how to get into Western fashion without having to feel like you’re dressing up as a cowboy.

Photo by softkrafts.live.com / Depositphotos.com

Western wear is surging in popularity and is now commonly found in all parts of the world, not just the Western US. 

Even as the style has gone more mainstream, it can be intimidating to get into. There is a large culture around Western clothing, and it can be hard to know the rules and styles that go along with wearing them.

I am here to assure you that even though there are some subtleties and things to learn about Western clothing, it’s not over your head.

Even if you are not a cowboy or don’t know how to ride a horse, there are elements of Western clothing that could be just right for you.

What Did Men Wear in the Wild West? Stories of My Ancestors

All of my father’s ancestors settled in Western America during the 19th century. One was the very first person to plow in what later became the state of Utah.

Clothing typical of what men wore in the West in the mid-19th century. Cove Fort, Utah.

We’re lucky to know the names and stories of our ancestors going back hundreds of years. Even as a small child, I loved hearing stories of the Wild West escapades of my 2nd, 3rd, and 4th great-grandparents. 

There are tales of crossing the plains in ox-pulled wagons to escape religious persecution. Then, when they reached their destination, they experienced a miraculous deliverance from a swarm of crickets that threatened to eat their entire crop. Some built sod huts to make it through the winter. 

They faced challenges I can only imagine. 

One thing that I’ve noticed is that whenever clothing is mentioned in their journals is that what they wore was practical (even if it doesn’t seem like it from our modern point of view). 

Long pants and long sleeves protected against the scorching sun during the day and provided warmth at night. 

Boots were essential as well, providing stability and traction while serving as a barrier from water and mud. 

All the men wore hats in those days. They were the only way to stay protected from the sun. However, the types of hats varied widely. No matter the variety, hats were highly valued by their owners. 

We have a photo of my great-great-grandfather wearing what appears to be a Western-style shirt and overalls while standing next to a deer he shot when he was 90. 

A different great-great-grandfather was, at various times, a farmer, a homesteader, a prohibition agent, an officer for the Fish and Wildlife Department, and the owner of a construction and hauling company. 

Needless to say, he was a rough-and-tumble kind of guy. He dressed practically for the outdoors. 

This photo, which I’d guess was taken around 1920, shows him wearing overalls with a belt, a Western shirt, and a cowboy hat.

My great-great-grandfather wearing a cowboy hat around 1920.

By sharing a bit about the history of Western clothing, I hope I’ve convinced you that this clothing style is very practical. 

Where Did Western Wear Come From in the First Place?

Belt buckles, cowboy hats, Western shirts, and cowboy boots — where exactly did these items come from? How did what began as a style confined to places like rural Utah become mainstream?

As you would likely guess based on the name, Western wear did indeed originate in the Western United States. 

Many people, not just my family, in the Old West worked on farms, raised cattle, and had horses for work and transportation.

Since most people worked outdoors in the harsh desert elements, a style of clothing began to emerge from the region. This style is what we now refer to as “Western style”. 

Horses were a huge part of the Western way of living, and a shoe that could help give a more secure ride was needed. Vaquero-style boots had been used since the 1600s in Spain, and in the early 1800s, they were brought by pioneers to the West.

Hours of hard work in the sun called for a durable and practical hat. So, in 1865 hatmaker John Stetson created the first cowboy hat.

His “Boss of the Plains” hat, is still worn today by many ranch workers and cattle farmers. The hat was different because of its tall crown and wide brim, which protected the person wearing it from the blazing heat of the sun.

Around 1940, Western movies began to take America by storm. Figures such as John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, and James Stewart became household names. As the movies showcased the unique Western style and fashion many people began incorporating that style into their lives.

Hats that people used to wear purely for sun protection began to be worn for their style alone. Cowboy boots that were once found only on horseback were incorporated into other styles of work. These cowboy films made the cowboy look approachable and desirable to those in all kinds of cultures.