Why do people ridicule cowboy boots?

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I wear boots all of the time in a professional environment. I'm probably the only one working in my hise rise that wears them, though I wear them with dress slacks and oxford shirts. The pairs I wear are probably more expensive than shoes worn my the executive staff. Althoug I've gotten used to the stares and comments, I've also noticed that when I wear them out socially, I find people I've not seen in years are compelled to comment (mostly sarcastic) only on the boots, regardless of any thing else I'm wearing? What is it about cowboy boots that stir so much comment people?

― Wayne Brooke, Tuesday, 21 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Because few of the people who wear them are cowboys, especially those who wear pairs that are more expensive than their dress shoes.

― Little Nipper, Tuesday, 21 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Sadly Little Nipper has basically got it: you wear your cowboy boots "in a professional environment" + your professional environment does not involve cattle, riding, or even the outdoors = your wearing cowboy boots is unusual in the same manner that wearing a fireman's jacket or hospital scrubs to the office might be (assuming you are not a fireman, doctor, or nurse, although if you were the comments about the boots probably wouldn't strike you as quite so odd).

But it sounds like you enjoy your boots, Wayne, so I wish you luck with them!

― nabisco%%, Tuesday, 21 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

In my experience people will ridicule any sort of impractical shoes/boots even when practicality is not a necessity. Just think: ONE OF THESE DAYS THESE BOOTS ARE GUNNA WALK ALL OVER YOU!

― ducklingmonster, Tuesday, 21 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

clothing has function, cowboy boots are meant to protect your toes from hooves and shit. Do you have hooves and shit in yr office?

― anthony, Tuesday, 21 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I advocate the wearing of said boots in said environment- the wackier the better. If indeed you are aware of the slight incongruity of your cowpoke boots, or even if you look at them as a statement of your individuality, you must be aware of the syntax.The boot says and says it quite loudly with an american accent, 'I am a wild man, I may leave these on during sex and I may ask you to moo ' ;O just kidding, but be aware if they are not worn with a sense of irony ie postmodern clobber for todays office hardman they could be in the same icky bag as those disney ties or porno socks at the office. shudder. A strong statement is at least a clear one, you look like you can handle a beast of burden. If you are embracing the archetype, would a cowboy give a cowpat what some tumbleweed thought of his sexy boots?

― jessicow, Tuesday, 21 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

They say 'I'm backin' Bush!' They say 'Nuthin' wrong with the death penalty!' They say 'Tassles is fancy!' They say 'Country music shore is better than that rap shit'. They say 'Yeehaw!'

― Momus, Tuesday, 21 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I was gonna say "Okay, Momus, down boy with the cheap-shot American caricatures," but "Tassles is fancy" is just too funny to complain about.

― nabisco%%, Wednesday, 22 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

hee hee Someone came into my work ( a museum) wearing a tshirt with an electric chair raging 'BRING ON THE DEATH PENALTY! FRY 'EM!' thats probably more effective than shoes with pointy toes.

― jessica, Wednesday, 22 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I agree with Wayne

― Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 22 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Good luck with the boots

― maryann, Wednesday, 22 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

they say "prairie rose"!!

― mark s, Wednesday, 22 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

because they are the male equivalent of chealsea boots? Do they have extra pointy toes and sewn designs all over them?

― Menelaus Darcy, Wednesday, 22 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

hey guess what everyone i was like 'is mark s friends with wayne' and rainy was like 'no i don't think so' and i said 'well how does he know the boots say prairie rose'?

and then rainy was like, 'oh well no this thread is about what the boots 'say' you know'

― maryann, Wednesday, 22 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Because they're ridiculous.

― Nick Southall, Wednesday, 22 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I've got a pair of blue ones with beautiful stitching. They're a souvenir from Nebraska, where lots of people wear them. They're just colorful enough that I can wear them without looking like a Republican. In Nebraska, it's never a fashion statement - you either wear them in earnest or you don't wear them at all. But here in Chicago, I don't wear them often - they're too uncomfortable.

― Kerry, Wednesday, 22 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Cowboy boots are very comfortable foot wear. In texas no one would look oddly at you for wearing them while in corporate drag or even with formal wear. It is normal here. Elsewhere I can't speak of.

I own three pairs, none of which I consider fancy. One pair are classicly-styled Acmes, black with silver and white stitching. I've had them forever and they are pretty reamed out. I wear them out to shows and just general running around. The second pair are vintage 1940's shorty cowgirl boots. They have a square toe and are saddle brown. They are beautiful and I only wear them on special occassions. My man gave them to me as a birthday present. The third pair are boring black Justin ropers that I rarely wear.

― Ms. S., Wednesday, 22 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I guess if you had moral qualms you could avoid wearing dead leather and just wear cows strapped to your feet for shoes. This could cause problems.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 22 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Cows strapped to feet are a bio-degradable form of rollerskate.

― Anna, Wednesday, 22 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

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