| The western cowboy boots evolved out to of a | | | | the chief features of most non-military boots. This |
| very practical necessity, namely the need to | | | | was known as the Coffeyville pattern. |
| protect the feet for people who stayed outdoors | | | | Another major innovation was in the Hessian |
| for long hours, some times even days on end, in | | | | boots in the 20th century, with its V-shaped front |
| harsh, bitter cold weather. The cowboy boot, | | | | and often decorative lace trappings etc. Indeed, in |
| staring out as the rudimentary kind of footwear, | | | | the last 50 odd years, we have seen the gradual |
| had one, and only one use- its thick, sturdy nature | | | | transformation of the 'cowboy boot' into a fashion |
| protected the feet. | | | | and style icon; and all sorts of styles, embroidery, |
| Some say that 'cowboy boots' came to North | | | | jewelry, faux fur material etc, has been added on |
| America with the fearsome Conquistadores, way | | | | to it in recent years. |
| back in the 17th Century, and gradually passed on | | | | Maintenance and Taking Care of your Western |
| to local styles. Others, however, say that these | | | | Boots |
| boots hail actually from America itself, rather than | | | | We need to understand that cowboy boots are |
| having been brought in from abroad. | | | | so sturdy and durable mostly because its fiber is |
| Shepherds and rangers, so the story goes, wore | | | | very strong. However, please remember that any |
| these boots, or started wearing them from 'round | | | | dirt that accumulates on the boot tends to |
| about the middle of the 19th Century. A very | | | | weaken these fibers considerably, and the boots |
| interesting version is that stated by the 'insiders' | | | | tend to wear out faster. Therefore, any |
| of the shoemaking industry - that is, the shoe | | | | impression that you might have had that cowboy |
| makers and boot makers. St.Crispin, the patron | | | | boots, since they are meant for rough use in |
| saint of all cobblers and shoe makers, the myth | | | | outdoors, do not require maintenance, is wholly |
| goes, was the one who originally came up with | | | | wrong. On the contrary, you actually need to |
| the design of this kind of footwear. | | | | take special care of your cowboy boots so that |
| Whatever the case, and there is no end of | | | | they last for a very long time. |
| debate regarding this, what we do know for | | | | 1. Use a damp piece of cloth to wipe these boots |
| certain are the early types of cowboy boots. The | | | | at times. That way, you prevent the dirt from |
| most famous, of course, is the Wellington Boot, | | | | accumulating. |
| the classic boot, so to speak. Again, in the latter | | | | 2. Use lanolin based conditioner to condition your |
| half of the 19th C, we had 'horsemen boots', | | | | boots, and keep the leather soft. Without this, the |
| which were characterized by their high heels and | | | | boots become hard and unfit for wearing. Avoid |
| superior quality of leather. | | | | using oil based conditioners, as they absorb dirt |
| The same kind of shoe, albeit slightly different in | | | | and only make the boots dirtier. |
| terms of design, was the Cavalier, derived from | | | | 3. Use a decent cream polish. |
| European military footwear. Often, boots would | | | | Keep the above in mind and make the best use |
| be grafted at the front - in fact this was one of | | | | of your western boots. Enjoy them! |