| Cowboy boots are just that, boots that are | | | | mid afternoon is the best, as feet expand |
| designed to used and worn by cowboys. Cowboy | | | | throughout the course of the day. The reverse is |
| boots got their start in the early 1860s during the | | | | true if you buy boots in the evening after being |
| Civil War deriving from the original design of the | | | | on your feet all day come the next morning the |
| cavalry boot worn by soldiers. Then in the 1870s | | | | boots will be far too large for your comfort! After |
| and 1880s working cattlemen in the ranching | | | | you have your foot measurement out of the |
| states of Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma turned to | | | | way, turn your attention to your toes. The toes |
| boot makers and asked them to make alterations | | | | of cowboy boots are not all cut the same way. |
| to their boots in order to better suit the | | | | Some boots are made with boxy toes, others |
| conditions they worked under. The two best | | | | with pointy toes and still others with rounded toes. |
| known makers of the cowboy boot in that era | | | | A great many of cowboy boots both for men |
| were Justin of Justin Boots in Spanish, Fort Texas | | | | and women are made with pointy toes so pick |
| (also known as "Big Daddy Joe") and Charles Hyer | | | | and choose carefully depending on the shape of |
| of Hyer Brothers Boots in Olathe, Kansas. | | | | your foot. |
| Cowboy boots have a unique design that is all | | | | The best choice for many women is to purchase |
| their own. The earliest types of cowboy boots | | | | a pair of cowboy boots in either a boy's or a |
| were made of plain leather but as time | | | | small men's size. This also works the same for |
| progressed cowboys wanted fancier boots | | | | those who have wide feet. Generally speaking, |
| complete with decorative stitching, an assortment | | | | women's cowboy boots are made with a B width |
| of materials and cutouts in the high tops (Texas | | | | and men are a D width. For individuals with wide |
| stars were once "all the rage"). Today not only | | | | feet look for boots that are made with a "wide |
| cowboys wear boots. Some people enjoy the | | | | width" or perhaps shop in the department for |
| feel as well as the fashion of wearing modern day | | | | boys shoes and boots. |
| cowboy boots and they can be purchased in | | | | Heel heights are the next consideration. Cowboy |
| almost any color you desire. Most cowboy boots | | | | boots come in any number of heels, from the |
| are made from cow leather but some are | | | | smallest to the tallest. Ladies might want to go |
| fashioned from more exotic animal skins such as | | | | with a short heeled boot for daytime wear and a |
| alligator, snake, elephant, ostrich, buffalo, elk and | | | | high heeled cowboy boot for night time fun. A |
| even the stingray. | | | | comfortable boot is one that allows the foot to |
| When shopping for a great fitting pair of cowboy | | | | slide easily into it and bear in mind that the seam |
| boots the first thing you must be aware of is | | | | where the leg of the boot attaches to the shoe |
| that cowboy boots do not fit exactly the same | | | | part of the boot should not be binding (or |
| way as other shoes do. It is important to always | | | | confining) whatsoever. Your toes should be able |
| have your feet measured by the shoe salesman | | | | to wiggle and move around somewhat in the boot |
| and never shop for cowboy boots first thing in | | | | and when you get up to walk the heel of the |
| the morning. Save cowboy shopping (and any kind | | | | boot should slide just a tiny bit in the heel. |
| of shoe shopping) until after lunch, midday and | | | | |