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Cowboy Boot Round-Up!

by in Inspirations, Main on

Well, nothing but a good ‘ol “howdy!” seems appropriate this afternoon! A few weeks back I received the sweetest email from reader Stephanie. Just to let you know how awesome Stephanie is, the subject line of her email read “YEEHAW! Cowboy boots!” Here’s what she wrote:

Just an idea for a blog section, perhaps? I can’t be the only Southern girl with a real hankering to break out my dancing boots at the reception, can I?! Although my traditionally Southern mother will probably have a heart attack, for my reception I plan on switching out the Manolos for a stylishly Southern pair of cowboy boots. Only problem is that I haven’t yet found the perfect pair… I’m wanting tall brown boots, with a square or round toe, preferably with purple embroidery. Maybe you could do a feature on some good options? Just a suggestion… Honestly, your blog/magazine/etc are my favorite thing about the wedding planning process thus far! My wedding is Southern-themed in Virginia, and I can’t wait to incorporate your ideas!

A “Southern-themed reception?” I’m not sure what, exactly, that means, but it sounds fabulous!

In order to help Stephanie out, Katharine and I set to work rounding up a plethora of options. I’m not sure we found her perfect pair with purple embroidery, but I hope she’ll find something to love! Since KTW is the more expert half of our cowboy boot duo, I thought I’d let her introduce our selections.

From Katharine: My Virginia-based father owns seven (yes, seven!) pairs of cowboy boots, ranging from his classic, tried and true Justins to his favorite UVA-orange ostrich kicks. (He’s currently enamored with a snazzy pair of green eel skin boots, though the verdict’s still out on where, exactly, one wears green eel skin.)

For those of us who can’t lay claim to such an enviable collection but still itch for a pair of cowboy boots to call our own, you’ll probably want to steer clear of boots made of unusual materials or with flashy coloring and designs. For first-time boot-buyers, brown and tan are your best bet. Hands-down. They’ll match anything (really, anything!) and will be a subtle foray into the Western look. Added bonus: get the right pair and they’ll almost certainly top the list of your go-to kicks. Next to my running shoes and flip-flops, my first pair of cowboy boots is what I wear most frequently.

Where to find these lovelies:

A. Lucchese L4611, B. Laredo Timekeeper, C. Durango Western Boot, D. Roper Madison, F. Bruce Pull On from Frye, G. Durango Crush, H. Ariat Legend, I. Carson Pull On from Frye, J. Justin Vintage Goat, K. Lucchese N4710, L. Justin Bay Apache

For a classic, sophisticated look that you can dress down with jeans or spruce up with a sundress, opt for a tall base (at least 11″, though I personally prefer 13″+) and either a traditional pointed (sometimes termed “narrow rounded”) or “fashion” square toe. Avoid a true rounded toe to keep the look of your boot modern and stylish without becoming costume-y. First-timers often cringe at the thought of the classic pointed toe, but the non-rounded toes are classics for a reason. Trust me: nothing looks better under a pair of jeans than a narrow rounded or square toe!

With some help from the expert (thanks, Dad!), I settled on the Justin Bay Apaches (Letter L, above). I’ve had – and loved – them for the past four years, and only now am thinking about adding to my collection. The more luxe and less rugged Lucchesse tan “Mad Dog Goats” have my name all over them (Letter E)! (Or how about these for a fun twist on the basic boot?)

While you’ll always love your first pair of boots best of all, branching out from basic brown to black, white, turquoise or even – gasp! – red with skull + crossbones is where the fun really begins! Think bright, bold colors, varying heel and base heights, fun stitching, funky patterns and kick-butt embellishments. There really is no limit to the cowboy craze, made fashionable by celebs like Taylor Swift, Hilary Duff and Jessica Biel, just to name a few. The craziest I’ve gotten with my c’boots so far is black + white snakeskin, courtesy of Dad, but boy, do I love me some vintage turquoise (check out Option F above)! Sure, you won’t get nearly as much mileage out of your fun + funky boots, but you’ll absolutely make a statement.

Where to find these lovelies:

A. Old Gringo Leigh Anne, B. Liberty The Cutie, C. Liberty Spider, D. Durango Fringe Suede, E. Liberty Flor Chale, F. Lucchese NV4005, G. Dan Post Alice II, H. Liberty Luna, I. Liberty Morning Lilly, J. Lucchese Alexia Stitch, K. Liberty Love and Peace, L. Durango White Leather, M. Liberty Santa Fe

A final note? Great boots can also be found vintage — try searching eBay, antique or consignment stores, or your neighbor’s garage sale. Happy hunting!

Weigh-In: Do you own cowboy boots? What’s your favorite brand? Are you wearing or would you wear them on your wedding day? Care to share a photo of you – or your ‘maids – in your favorite pair of boots? Email us!

Top photo by Our Labor of Love and bottom photo by Meghan McSweeney

emily Written with love by Emily
28 Comments
  1. avatar Erin reply

    Are any other Southern Weddings readers obsessed with the show “How I Met Your Mother”? I saw the red cowboy boots and thought to myself, “Pulling…them…off” (a line from the show about red cowboy boots!) and cracked up.

    Great post, and fun boots!

    Also, I got a pair of brown faux-leather cowgirl boots from Journeys a few years back that feature rouching down the side seams, which I think makes them a little more girly!

    • avatar Katharine reply

      Erin: Mr. Kyle and I are diehard HIMYM fans! It’s kind of getting out of control. If Ted can rock the red cowboy boots, Southern gals can totally pair boots with couture on their wedding day. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it :)

  2. avatar Tweets that mention Cowboy Boot Round-Up! « Southern Weddings Magazine — Topsy.com reply

    […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Brittany Williams, Emily Ayer and Southern Weddings , Katharine Waterman. Katharine Waterman said: Yee-haw! @EmilyAyer + I have teamed up for our first joint post since my wedding. This week: Cowboy Boot Round-Up! http://bit.ly/hnZaes […]

  3. avatar Lori reply

    LOVE THIS! My plan is to wear a fun pair of heels for the ceremony and pull on my comfy but cute cowboy boots for the reception. After all, we are tying the knot at a historic plantation in Nashville, TN at which horses were once housed and trained- so it’s completely appropriate!
    My mom definitely thought I was crazy initially but the idea has grown on her. As I was trying on dresses last weekend she commented that she could really picture the dress with boots for the reception.
    For any readers new to the world of boots- if you don’t mind a little higher price tag, Frye boots are my absolute favorite! Stylish and VERY comfortable.

  4. avatar Amber Karson Events reply

    Yeee Hawww! Growing up in a small farm town, we appreciate this great (and informative!) post today! Em’s favorite pair are ones that were passed down from our mom- she bought them when we were 6 months old. 30+ years later, now she rocks them! Amber’s new favorite pair are a fun purple color & were purchased at the Santa Monica Flea Market over the summer while scouring antiques during a So Cal visit from DC! -Amber & Emily, Amber Karson Events

  5. avatar Lara reply

    I LOVE this post so much! KTW and EAA – you are awesome times infinity! YEEHAW!!

    • avatar Lara reply

      Oh and Mr. Waterman is awesome, too. Maybe more awesome than you two. Maybe.

  6. avatar AshleyHH reply

    I wear cowboy boots alllllll the time. My favorites are my first ones by Ariat. Brown with teal stitching. <3 them!! I have already warned my best friends that when I do get married the bridal party will be in boots.

    For Stephanie,

    Double H boots are supposed to be awesome and I saw a pair in a western store recently that were brown with purple stitching…

    Laredo Boots has a boot called the Madison in purple … which I am going to buy with my next paycheck. =)

    http://www.cowboyway.info/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1979&zenid=rn33os4fc2e7ki1r35qv3icri5

    Maybe that helps?

  7. avatar Mary Ellen reply

    AH! I loved reading this post! I am a southern girl from Atlanta,Georgia and wore my cowboy boots not only at my reception but also down the aisle in a traditional church ceremony! :) I wore the Ariat Legend with blue stiching. I have owned them for years, but i loved that they also satisfied my something blue. I have some family from New Jersey that were more than APPALLED about my shoe decision, as well as my mother, but hey it was my day! I don’t regret that decision for a second!

  8. avatar christina reply

    i would die for a pair of those turquoise boots (f)…i may have to beg for these as an anniversary gift!!

    • avatar Katharine reply

      Christina, I love, love, LOVE the turquoise boots! And I love the way you think: anniversary gift all the way :)

  9. avatar Adrienne Wilson reply

    YEA!!!! for Katherine’s VA dad. I live in Newport News and people are constantly challenging our claim to be the South. Nice to see the hometown getting some love.

    • avatar Katharine reply

      Dad W. is awesome. The end :) Williamsburg (where I’m originally from) and Newport News (where I went to high school!) are also awesome. I’m all kinds of thrilled there’s another 757 gal reading the blog. P.S. If you see a snazzy older gent rocking the blazer, boots + bowtie look, it’s most likely my dad. Make sure you say hi!

  10. avatar Southern Etiquette: Tuxedos with navy dresses? « Southern Weddings Magazine reply

    […] y’all! We’re back, brimming with inspiration from another reader email! (Did you catch our answer to Stephanie’s boot query yesterday?) This time the reader is Lori, and she’s got a slightly different fashion […]

  11. avatar Charity reply

    I absolutely love cowboy boots! I constantly put cowboy boot inspiration photos in my wedding portfolio. I have 6 pairs (and yes, I do live in the SF Bay Area) and my favorites are my narrow-square toe Frye Daisy Dukes (brown with blue “F’s”). I wear them with everything from denim to sundresses. They’re really comfy and the more worn they get, the better they look! I also have Durango Roper’s, a pair of Vintage boots from Great-grandma (think 1970’s style) and a Tony Lama black pair to name a few. Can’t get enough of cowboy boots!!

  12. avatar Amanda reply

    Just in case anyone is looking for another pair – these ones have a nice soft (not pointy) toe on the front and are TOTALLY comfortable !

    http://www.dsw.com/shoe/coconuts+nelson+leather+western+boot?prodId=192974&productRef=SEARCH

    Got these to go with my wedding dress!

  13. avatar Stephanie reply

    I am a diehard Ariat fan! I have numerous pairs or paddock and cowboy boots- all Ariat. Of course, they’re great at the barn, mine have always had that broken in feel, and they last forever. Definitely my favorite shoes and mine are brown and green :)

  14. avatar Hannah reply

    I am wearing my vintage cowboy boots at my reception! My boots were passed down to me by my mother – they were her first big purchase after she graduated college. They are so special to me and I couldn’t imagine my big day without them!

  15. avatar Lindsey reply

    Thanks so much for featuring this post. I too am from VA and am on the hunt for the perfect boots to wear to my July reception. Thanks for all the great boot options and brands, and thanks for your constant feed of southern wedding inspiration on your blog!

  16. avatar Corinna Hoffman reply

    L-O-V-E this post :) I think Frye makes the best cowgirl boots ever :)

  17. avatar Bethany Myers reply

    When my grandfather passed away nearly over a year ago, I was given his tried and true boots. Absolutely heartbroken that he would not be physical present for my wedding, I decided to incorporate the boots. Yes, I wore them with my dress along with a broach from my grandmother. I knew carrying their memory on my wedding day was symbolic of bringing pieces of me into my marriage. My bridesmaids joined me in wearing their boots. One pair of boots was worn as equestrian princess, another as a teacher in Texas, and yet another was just bought and beginning its new legacy. I adored and still cherish that each of us brought pieces of our lives with those boots to that day, creating new memories and loving the old ones we had been a part of.

    Cheers to a married life!

  18. avatar New Features :: Ask the Experts + Southern Brides « Southern Weddings Magazine reply

    […] a new feature and more of a formalizing of something we’ve already been doing. Remember that cowboy boot post, and that navy bridesmaid dress post? Well, under the new system, both would be folded under a […]

  19. avatar Get the Look :: Lauren + Russ « Southern Weddings Magazine reply

    […] and sophisticated dress with the perfect pair of cowboy boots. Looking for your own pair? Check out our exhaustive round-up! F. Those of you who loved Russ’ adorable velvet ribbon boutonniere (like me!) will be […]

  20. avatar Ask the Experts :: Hay Bales + Escort Cards + Homemade Dinner « Southern Weddings Magazine reply

    […] up is Allie, who wrote: “I absolutely loved your blog post on cowboy boots! I am from Indiana and am getting married this October on an old historic farm. So my question is […]

  21. avatar Southern Style :: Wedding Week Wardrobe, Part I « Southern Weddings Magazine reply

    […] be yourself. Keeping it casual for an outdoor luncheon? Pair a light sundress with your favorite cowboy boots. Or maybe you’re getting all dolled up for a tea party like stylist Lindsey Regan Thorne and […]

  22. avatar Melissa reply

    I wore my cowboy boots for my Grad 12 graduation. The looked great with my dress! Now I wear them when I throw on a sundress or am wearing a nice pair of wide legged jeans. They are so classy. Not to mention my cowboy boots are my go-to boots seeing as I am a cowgirl and spend most of my days on the farm riding.

  23. avatar Harvest Sunshine Inspiration Board reply

    […] row (l-r): Mini white pumpkins; billy buttons in milk glass {Portobello Bride /ngg studios}; bridesmaids {Our Labor of Love}; beeswax candles Row 2: Table setting with pumpkins and gourds; pumpkin vase; […]

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