Rough and Ready: A History of Cowboy Boots
Author Elizabeth Semmelhack
Publisher: Rizzoli
A definitive history that tracks cowboy boots from cattle trails to contemporary rodeo, revealing an American icon whose craftsmanship continues to shape national identity.
From cowboy boots’ humble origins to their elevation as cultural icons, this far-ranging volume chronicles how their distinctive designs and makers have shaped and been shaped by American culture.
Engaging narratives, insightful interviews, and vibrant images showcase the evolution through five transformative eras: “Real” explores multicultural origins and the authentic cowboys who wore them; “Rodeo” examines Western mythmaking through Wild West shows, early film, and dude ranches; “Rhinestone” delves into country western music, Nudie Cohn’s designs, and the shifting archetypes from Gene Autry’s moral code to John Wayne’s tougher persona; “Red” investigates the boots’ emergence as luxury commodities during the Reagan years and Urban Cowboy phenomenon; and “Reclaimed” presents contemporary reinterpretations from the Western-inspired fashion of Beyoncé and Pharrell Williams to modern bootmakers.
