Whoops, thanks Geoff! (I’ve got two of my grandfather’s favorite bolas hanging on my bedroom mirror, and it will be nice to call them by their rightful names.)
robardin, I came back in just in time for **Geoff’s ** spanking because I was thinking more. Actually, I’m quite sure that your bomber jacket will be fine, and your vest may be too. Nobody’s going to expect you to walk in there looking like the All-Around Champion. It sounds like your buddy just wants to have some fun; you give it a good effort with the boots and the hat (and the starch!) and you’ll do fine and have a ball. It would be a little silly to spend bucks on clothes that you’ll never wear again (but I myself am a master of that technique – you should see my closet!)
Wear the tie! *Own * the tie! Have a good time! (Stay off the bucking bull unless you haven’t had anything to drink or are one step away from being boneless!)
Thanks again for all the helpful feedback; here’s what I’ve got prepared so far:
[ul][li]This white striped shirt[/li][li]This black leather vest[/li][li]This black leather hat[/li][li]This bola tie (note that Shepler’s calls it a “bolo”)[/li][li]My black leather bomber jacket (which I may not wear at the wedding itself, as it may be too warm in SoCal).[/li][/ul]
And I’m gonna go get a pair of black jeans later today or tomorrow. I can see myself wearing any component of this stuff in my everyday life except for the bola. (Though who knows, maybe I’ll go all Asimov or Roddenberry and start developing a taste for the things – I just got it today and haven’t gone home yet to try it on and see it in the mirror.)
I’m pretty much all set, except for the choice of boots.
As mentioned before, I was going to go with these engineer boots as the only pair of black leather boots I have that aren’t work boots (i.e., at least they have silver buckles).
But I also have these more “dressy” but low-cut “Jodhpur” boots that I often wear to work with dress pants. What do you think, should I go with the lower boot but higher dress-factor?
I actually own a Bola, but I haven’t worn one since I was in Boy Scouts (depending on your troop leadership, you could substitute a bola tie for a neckerchif and slide). I didn’t see them much when I was in Texas (Heart O’ Texas Council and later Circle 10 Council) or Oklahoma (Black Beaver Council), but I traded a Heart O’ Texas neckerchif and and slide (just a plain cheap BSA slide) for a Bola from one of the Councils in New Mexico (had an image of a Conquistador on it, but I can’t for the life of me remember the name of the council, I think my little brother has the thing right now).
When I was in Oklahoma, I was discouraged from wearing the bola on campuouts because you couldn’t use it to make a sling or a tourniquet.
I like the clean black and white look you’ve gone with. The jacket is fine, but you’re right, you probably won’t need it. The tie should look nice with the vest, actually. A vest an a standard tie (well, that kind of vest anyway) would look a little silly.
I think you could go with either boot, but make sure that your jeans are long enough to stack; i.e. don’t have the hem sitting right at ankle length. Western jeans are worn a little longer, to the point where your short boots won’t be obvious.
May I make a suggestion if you haven’t already bought the shirt? This one will pull off your black and white thing more cleanly, can be starched and pressed, and you’ll probably be more likely to be able to wear it again. Plus, that’s what’s worn out here, except for my 65-year-old uncle, who favors your first link.
Yeah, I had already ordered the shirt, and it arrived today. You’re right, it has an oddly old-fashioned look to it.
How about if I just wear a regular white dress shirt? I actually tried on the leather vest and bola tie with black Dockers (regular, not loose fit) and my low-rise boots, along with a white French cuff dress shirt I have with pearl gray cufflinks that match the bola. Topped with the leather hat I thought it looked quite nice. And if the net result is sort of a “city boy playing cowboy” effect, well, that’s really the truth here, isn’t it?
I’ll still look into getting the black jeans but I don’t think I’ll feel so bad if I end up just going in the Dockers. Especially when you mention starch. I can’t stand starched clothes – they make me itch. The one time I tried getting my my shirts laundered with “light starch” I had to wash them out in cold water two or three times before I could wear them again.
Here’s what I look like in the outfit. I also have a black camel hair sportcoat that goes OK with it, I may bring it just to show up in and then remove since I think it will be too warm to keep on. While wearing it I have sort of a “Lee Van Cleef as Colonel Mortimer” look from For A Few Dollars More. But somewhat chunkier.
I don’t know from western wear, but I think it looks pretty good. More importantly, you seem to look comfortable in it. You could buy the most “authentic” outfit ever, but if you feel like you’re wearing a costume, you won’t pull it off. That outfit you could wear without feeling weird. And you can always take off the bola tie.
I’d definitely switch the pants, though. The slimmer fit of jeans will make it look much more “western,” especially if you’re fudging it a little with the footwear. (I think the low boots are better than the engineer boots in this case.)
You look awesome! I agree, the Dockers will be fine with the rest of that getup. Yes, a regular white dress shirt will look fine; after all, that’s pretty much what we wear to formal events too.
Definitely bring that attitude you’re wearing in the picture. It makes the whole look!
Bolo ties are a little like Hawaiian shirts. Some people can wear them with anything and anytime and pull it off, other’s look like a total jackass every time.
I looked fine, saw some old friends, pet some horses, had a good time all 'round.
Yep!
Then I wore the black leather vest to work the next week when the weather got cooler. You know, just to mix things up a bit with all the cashmere/wool vests I have. I immediately got flak for it, with several co-workers (who didn’t know about my friend’s wedding) asking me where the bolo tie and boots were (I should have brought it with me just to produce it on demand), and one guy in particular exhibiting a somewhat unnerving fascination with the idea of me in “ass-less leather chaps”. Once was funny, twice was unnecessary, the third time was starting to weird me out.
Thanks for all the help!
