Casual elegance with bolo ties

 

If you’re a true western style fan and you already made a close look to the attire shown, then probably you should have noticed the kind of tie all cowboys wear on western movies. We think that cowboy style has a unique elegant yet casual look where accessories give even more importance. This happens, for example, with the bolo tie, one of the most iconic and preferred accessory shared for horse riders, Hollywood cinema stars and country singers.

Likewise western fashion clothing and other accessories have been adapted outside of their original influence, the same can be told about bolo ties. This is why bolo ties rooted decades ago far away from the mount and the stage, displacing in some cases the traditional necktie and bow tie. And how this happened?

Indeed, we can list quite a lot practical and aesthetic reasons to consider them as your new favorite accessory. We’re going to check some of them and also discover the bolo tie origins, which is more recent than it seems. That means it is definitely a modern accessory for man and woman.

 

 

The mystery involving bolo tie invention

 

The most common use, hence the cowboy bolo ties mass production started in the 80’s. From there we can consider it a modern accessory in contrast with other popular items fully in force as cowboy boots, western hats or cowboy shirts. The broadcasting of some iconic American television dramas based in the modern western lifestyle such as Dallas or Dynasty, where the cast of characters were dressed in a full cowboy and cowgirl attire, helped with the spread of the bolo tie fashion trend all over the States and the rest of the world.

This popularization lead to a lower cost of production, right now a consolidated accesory in the fashion industry and visible in some of the most watched and streamed series / western movies.

But how back in time we need to go to find the first ever made bolo tie before becoming so popular? And who invented bolo ties? There is not a reliable source about this because of various existing versions granted as the real one. But at Corbeto’s Boots we love western histories as well, so we will relate our personal choice.

We need to walk back to 1940 in Arizona and follow the track of a goldsmith called Victor Cedarstaff, who was having fun with some friends chasing wild horses in the desert. At one point, Victor’s hat flew away and hit into the ground, from where a nice band ornament became detached. When the rider picked up again the hat and the loosened ornament, in order to not losing it he hanged up the hat band just like a necklace.

Although this was just an improvisation to keep the hat band and stick it again to the hat, his friends cheered that smart move and appreciated how stylish was, encouraging Victor to create a new western accessory. The bolo tie purpose was to show the impressive brooches from cowboy hats but without needing to wear a hat, but wearing it on a shirt. According to this version, western bolo ties were invented this way, explaining in some way how western shirts drastically evolved since the decade of 1950.

 

A style based in handcrafting

We’re sure about this statement: without the Native American culture and art any goldsmith nor anybody would have had a clue on how create this amazing accessory. Usually, many Native American ancestors wore those handcrafted brooches as a status symbol: you could see silver made brooches with embedded semiprecious gems as turquoise, onyx or amber crystal. Step by step first those accessories made it big into the country scene, and after that, to all tiers of the American society.

But as we said before, the bolo tie wasn’t only a successful accessory for how good it looks, in fact they are easy to wear, to pull on & out and to match with every kind of shirt. You can just wear a bolo tie with a plain or plaid shirt, with western and Mexican shirts, embroidered and fringed shirts, and of course, with rockabilly and hipster shirts.

Bolo ties have a great adaptability depending on the shirt you’re planning to wear today, matching really well both in casual and formal events and meetings. All those metallic ornaments are clasped with a resistant braided leather cord and require a minimum of maintenance.

 

 

How to wear a western bolo tie

 

Although there isn’t a followed style guide, at Corbeto’s we may suggest you, from our experience, some advices on how to properly wear your bolo tie:

 

• When sliding up and down the bolo tie, never pull from the decorative tips! These could be detached, so don’t be afraid to strongly grab the leather cord, are basically made for this purpose, even if you have just a little room where to hold.
  

 

• When sliding up, adjust the bolo below Adam’s apple, since a bolo tie looks the best hanging a little bit over the shirt and it feels more comfortable.
  

 

• To achieve your best look, check that the bolo tie tips are aligned.
  

 

• The bolo tie cord should be hidden on the shirt collar, just like a classic necktie.
  

 

• If you feel, when sliding, that your bolo tie is getting stuck or the leather braid is getting damaged, probably this is caused by the clasps that hang the cord. Those clasps act like a rail, and when these make too much pressure, the forementioned may happen. You can happily solve this with a flat screwdriver or a hard object with a flat end, levering out both clasps until the leather cord slides smoothly again. You can regulate it a few times until have a perfect adjustment.
  

 

• We suggest to apply from time to time some leather wax to the cord, in order to keep their elasticity and thickness.
  

 

 

 

Certainly, we are at the stage where you choose your new bolo tie, and at Corbeto’s Boots we have the largest men’s and women’s bolo tie collection in Spain, with more than 50 different models in stock and ongoing arrivals. Most of our models are metal-made or silver electroplated, with embedded turquoises and other stones, usually made or imported from the United States and Mexico for a compelling price.

The most popular designs shown on our cowboy bolo ties are animal images such as horses, eagles, wolves and longhorns. We have also arrowed bolo ties, or with enameled blue, black and brown pearls. We cannot forget our Native American and Mexican mosaic inspired bolo ties or the most personal ones, show the initial letter of your name or surname. Then, we have plenty of bolo ties for your country dancing classes with horseshoes, western stars, boots, guns or the Confederate flag, for example.

You have as many designs as chances to wear any of your western bolo ties, finding a model for each occasion. Be ready to show the best part or yourself.