Why Wear a Western Shirt
Western style shirts, usually called cowboy shirts, are the heritage of the working cowboy. Although much cowboy lore has grown up around life in the American West, the design and fabrication of cowboy shirts relates to the functionality of the design features unique to the needs of the man on horseback tending his herd, branding his cattle and surviving cold winters and hot summers.
There are many unique features that distinguish an authentic western style shirt but the real understanding of the cowboy shirt is understanding the benefit each of these features provided the working cowboy. Many of the benefits of the traditional western shirt are still advantageous to our modern day urban consumer.
Feature: Western shirts have snaps.
Benefit 1:
Ease of closure. Visualize a cowboy, middle of winter on horseback, wearing heavy gloves trying to close a button. The working cowboy needed the snaps to be able to function in snowy cold conditions.
Benefit 2:
Snaps are permanent and don't need to be sewn as needed when threads break on a standard button.
Benefit 3:
Western lore says that the snaps also were a safety release preventing the cowboy being snagged by the horns of cattle.
Modern Advantage:
Senior citizens or anyone with arthritis in their hands often have difficulty opening or closing a button shirt whereas snaps open and close easily with just minor pressure.
Feature: Western shirts have two pockets with flaps and snap closures and one pocket with a pencil entry that can be reached without unsnapping the pocket.
Benefit 1:
The working cowboy needed shirt pockets to carry his necessities. Cowboy commonly had tobacco and cigarette paper in his right pocket and paper and pencil in the left pocket to write reminders of needed repair material when he got back to the ranch or to the town general store.
Benefit 2:
The flaps prevented "stuff" from falling out of his pockets when he bent over to brand a calf, fix a rail or saddle his saddle.
Modern Advantage:
Two pockets allow for carrying more stuff . Cell phone in one pocket, reading or sun glasses inserted in pencil slot of the other pocket.
Feature: Western shirts have a double yoke construction.
Benefit 1:
The double yoke provides double the fabric strength thru the shoulders. Working cowboys used their upper bodies for many strenuous activities, roping, steer wrestling for branding, chopping wood, etc. The double ply yoke prevented the shirt from tearing across the shoulders.
Benefit 2:
Yokes accentuate broad shoulders and made the wearer look stronger and more individualistic. These were traits that were needed to gain respect from others in the unsettled West.
Benefit 3:
Yokes provide an additional layer of insulation for protection from the elements, whether sun, rain or cold.
Western Lore:
It has been told that before double yokes, cowboys had scarves sewn on their shirts to help shed water and protect them from the wind, snow and sun.
Modern Advantage:
Extra shirt strength thru the shoulder is still very appropriate for consumers active in manual trade jobs or recreational sports.
Feature: Western shirts have a longer tail.
Benefit 1:
The longer tail prevents the shirt from pulling out of pants when bending over. Visualize the cowboy, snowy day bending over a injured calf or fixing a rail and if his shirt pulled out of his pants the cold and wet snow would very uncomfortably go down his backside.
Modern Advantage:
Shirt stays tucked in and we avoid what is often called "plumber's ass".
Feature: Western shirts are traditionally made with exact neck and sleeve measurements.
Benefit 1:
An exact form fit served the active cowboy better than a loose fit that could easily be snagged when riding through brush or handling animals.
Benefit 2:
A properly fitted shirt is more flattering look
Modern Advantage:
Economies of production and inventory has made S-M-L-XL sizing the standard of almost every standard shirt manufacturer. However, exact neck and sleeve shirts that provide a superior fit are still available from some authentic western shirt makers. Consumers with long arms or needing larger sizes really appreciate the availability of in-stock neck and sleeve shirts that fit properly. Unfortunately the industry is slowly being forced by economic pressures to only offer regular S-M-L-XL and tall sizes.
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