The world of western clothing suffered a huge loss this month with the death of Jack Weil. Mr. Weil, who passed away at the age of 107, is credited with inventing the snaps to the front of western shirts in the 1940’s. He is also known as being the originator of the infamous bolo tie.

Photo credit: Barry Gutierrez - Associated Press

The LA Times profiled the life of the man who changed western wear as we know it:

Considered the Henry Ford of the western shirt and a major force behind a notably American fashion, he was also said to be America’s oldest chief executive.

A visionary and a classic innovator, Weil conceived the idea more than 60 years ago that "Westerners needed their own fashion identity," according to grandson Steve Weil.

Aiming to give western wear a look as distinctive as the region’s topography and lifestyle, his grandson said, Weil created a slim-fitting shirt with a cut, cuffs, pocketing and fastenings that would make it immediately recognizable.

"Every design element was given a flourish," his grandson said. Distinctive in their dash and flair, the shirts featured a special yoke and elaborate hand embroidery.

Other designers, of course, helped create the western look, but Weil was there at the beginning and was considered "the father of the snap western shirt."

Where would the world of western clothing be without Jack Weil? I’m pretty sure those long sleeved western shirts you love so much wouldn’t be quite so, well, snappy.

Are western neckties back in? According to William C Reynolds, editor of Living Cowboy Ethics magazine published by the Paragon Foundation, they certainly are. Mr. Reynolds writes in the latest edition of Cowboys and Indians about how the western tie is back in grand style. According to the article, entitled “Ride and Tie”, the popular thought that cowboys at the turn of the century did not care about their appearance is just a myth.

Pride in one’s appearance and one’s work was not alien to the working cowboy - then or now. For the serious, it has always been prideful work. And as the 20th century wore on, along with the evolution of the necktie and its design came the advent of  unique accoutrements and accessories to help hold the tie down and keep it from flapping - an advantage for those working horseback and throwing loops.

These days, the western necktie is seeing quite the resurgence after being lost from popular culture sometime in the 1960’s. Once the popularity of the western television shows died out, so did a lot of cowboy culture. And now?

Today, there is a renaissance of sorts occurring in may aspects of the Western horsemanship world - a return of respect, if you will, for some of the old ways in working and training fine bridle and using horses. Along with that has come an increased interest in ranch ropings and classic vaquero-style roping techniques. It is only natural, then, that an interest in certain aspects of classic Western dress would follow. Re-enter the necktie. Today, at may ranch ropings and competitions - from the Californios Ranch Roping and Stock Horse Contest held every April in Bed Bluff, California, to the Jordon Valley Big Loop Rodeo each spring in Jordon Valley, Oregon, among many others - “Western gentlemen” can be seen roping in neckties. Is it a fashion trend that will catch on, or will it remain a style for only the purist? Time will tell. One thing’s for sure, it’s a style that is “tied” to the West.

If western ties are your thing, be sure and check out our vast collection of ties. With 21 different styles, you are sure to find one that suits you perfectly.

One universal Truth: Men are horrible at the process of giving gifts. If we even remember to purchase a gift we are faced with the daunting challenge of wrapping the gift. No, newspaper is not acceptable gift wrap and that christmas pattern will not work for your anniversary.

Inevitably there is one person in the family that shows up to a gift giving holiday or event and makes everyone else’s gift look like it was picked out that day from the neighbor’s garbage. That person in my family is my sister in law Susie. Susie is a master gifter and wrapper. When I receive a gift from her it is so elegantly wrapped that it breaks my tough country heart to open.

If poor gifting is inherent in the male genetic fabric then what is a guy to do? Well let me tell you a little secret I just discovered. Pegasus Paper Products.

Pegasus Paper Products has some boot stompin’ cowboy friendly options to enhance your gift’s presentation. They have everything you need to get into the gift presentation game including; gift bags, gift wrap, heavyweight tissue, and ribbons.

The Embossed Leather Gift Wrap comes in black, brown, and red. My personal favorite is brown.

Pegasus Paper Products also has some truly unique tooled leather gift bags that are bound to make a bold statement.

Alright gentleman. If there is one thing that we are good at it is competition. So go out there and put Susie’s master gift presentation to shame.

The 19th Century American West had its own unique style of clothing for both men and women and is commonly known as Western wear. Western wear ranges from accurate historical reproductions to traditional western shirts.

Early cowboy pioneers such as Gene Autry and Roy Rogers were famous for the western wear they wore in the 1940s and ’50s. Their stylized garments were elaborate and functional, but would they still be appropriate for the modern day cowboy? Many of the tasks a cowboy has to do on his daily routine today have changed little. So, if the cowboys of old were to make a sudden re-emergence in modern times, what would they wear?

Cowboy Attire

Where would a cowboy be without his cowboy hat? A good sturdy hat defines who a cowboy is. I really like the hats by Hat Country, particularly the Shapeable Straw Cowboy Hat.

A cowboy’s shirt should be made tough enough for long day on the ranch and smart enough to take out your cowgirl on a Saturday night. We think we’ve found just the shirt. The Scallop Yoke shirt has that true vintage look that has good looking pearl snap buttons but is hard-wearing at the same time.

Buckled on over the top of trousers, Cowboy chaps come in a variety of shapes and sizes and no good cowboy would be without his during a day of work. The Fringed Shotgun Chaps from Cowboy Outfitters are sure to provide the modern day cowboy with protection, while looking good too.

Cowboy boots are specific to the cowboy - each has his own style that he prefers. Originally made from cowhide leather, they are also sometimes made from more exotic skins such as alligators, snake, lizard, buffalo etc. The classic design of a cowboy boot is a narrowed, usually pointed toe but variety exists with the heel of the boot and the newer Roper boot which are usually made with rounded toes. As a choice for our 21st Century cowboy we’ve gone with the timeless look of the Abiline Mens Boot in Brown Goatskin. The design of this boot is intricate, but by no means delicate. A worthy piece of clothing for the modern day cowboy.

Is there any part of a cowboy outfit that you think we have missed? Email mycacties and let us know what essential piece of clothing the modern day cowboy should not be without!

Mark Mordue sheds light on the return of the cowboy into mainstream culture. He suggests its being promoted through new culturally influencing mediums, like movies. He uses recent movies, like The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, 3:10 to Yuma and No Country for Old Men as examples.

Three films now do not constitute a movement. Reviving a seemingly dead genre takes a lot more heat than that. But it’s possible to see renewed vigor behind the Western when you also take into account the critically lauded HBO television series, Deadwood (2004-06) - a prosaically brutal take on how the chaos of a gold mining town is civilized — and Brokeback Mountain (2005), author E. Annie Proulx and director Ang Lee’s gay re-visioning of a cowboy romance up in them ‘thar’ hills.

More interestingly is the stereotype that goes with being a cowboy. For example, there’s an element of danger and ruggedness that many people think of when they envision a cowboy. With what Mordue calls a “movement,” it’s no wonder why men’s Western wear is coming back into fashion. Although it’s difficult to for urbanites to live a true cowboy lifestyle, many men are able to express their inward cowboy by wearing high end Western wear, like the clothes Cacties makes. John Murfee of Avondale Partners is an excellent example — he sports one of Cacties’ wide assortment of Western neckwear.