Where to Buy Cowboy Boots: Austin, TX

Are you in Austin for SXSW? Here's a free one-page trip guide to finding vintage, ready-made and custom cowboy boots.

Your welcome. (File size: 4.1 MB)

Build a Lucchese Boot Online

Want to feel like a big shot? Want to command the entire Lucchese factory to do your bidding?

Now, using the Big Trail's Ranch Custom Boot Builder, you can create your own "Lucchese Classic" top to bottom...heel, toe and pullstrap. Choose from many many leather types, colors and stitches...and with each step of your design work, you'll see your cowboy boot take shape on your computer screen, right before your eyes.

When you're done, you'll view a digitally rendered color image of your creation for approval before your order is sent to the Lucchese factory in El Paso, where your boots will be handcrafted in 10 to 12 weeks. (You can even save your designs online and share them with others.)

Now, I call a boot like this a "custom make-up"...these boots are made in familiar sizes and widths, on a standard last... not on a boot last that is altered or custom-fit to your individual foot measurements and arch.

Custom make-up boots like this are particularly useful when you are already comfortable with a Lucchese fit, or you're trying to match boot styles for different wearers, like for a wedding or dance floor.

Cowboy Boots: Seattle, WA

I try and stay on top of things... but the growing popularity of cowboy boots in Seattle had me a little puzzled. Certainly wasn't true a year ago.

Last year, Seattle was just like other urban West coast spots (except maybe LA). Folks were buying vintage boots as fashion staples, but they weren't giving boots much of their time, money or attention.

But...Wow! Now, Seattle can be considered a go-to spot for cowboy boots, thanks to Insurrection Apparel & Boots. Insurrection has always had a great selection of vintage boots... but now, they've brought in some swell designs from Lucchese, Liberty, Rocketbuster, Morado and Old Gringo. And Insurrection has its very own line of vintage-inspired cowboy boots.

I particularly like this boot in the photo, black and white with just a bit-o-color at the cuff. Oh, yeah.

Vintage Levi's, motorcycle jackets, western shirts and cowboy boots... everything for that classic American look. I'll admit it... I wish I were as cool as Insurrection.

Insurrection
8403 1/2 Greenwood Ave. N, Seattle, WA 98103
HOURS: Tuesday-Saturday 10-6, Sunday 12-5
PHONE: 206-782-5752

Cowboy Boot Sale at Alcala's

I don't usually mention store sales, but the e-mail Rich Alcala sent me included 57 exclamation points and a personal photo.

Alcala's Western Wear is located in Chicago, IL and at an internet near you. During their Fall sale all cowboy boots are 10-50% off. The discounted sale price will be shown when you click on a boot.

Opened by the Alcala family in 1972... "Alcala's is a piece of the Lone Star State in the Windy City." Be sure to visit.

Alcala's Western Wear
1733 W Chicago Ave.
Chicago, IL
(312) 226-0152

Cowboy Boots at Allens (Austin, TX)

I walk into Allens Boots and ask if it's okay to take some photos.

Steve says... "Sure, do you want a ladder?"

"Really? I can have a ladder? Oh, yeah...gimme a ladder."

Which begs the question, "How many boots are there in Allens Boots?" When I asked Steve, he guessed 4,000. But no, the fella in the back with computer and the keyboard (whose job it is to keep count) says... 7,248. Wow... walk into Allens Boots and all the odds are in your favor. Lots of makers, styles and sizes.

With rows and rows of boots, it gets easy to see what's popular. Lucchese, Old Gringo, Frye, Justin, Tony Lama and Sendra. The girls like all sorts of punchy colors... and the boys in Austin, go for the "car repair" colors... distressed, black, gray and greenish browns leathers. Cowboy boots to match the stuff that drips outa your pickup... to match your scraped knuckles.

Cowboy Boot Treasure Hunt

I like Austin, not just for all the chorizo tacos and free wifi ...but because it's a big city that keeps its sense of possibility.

My last trip to Austin was in October. Here are a few photos I took at Uncommon Objects. I go every time I'm in town, even if my suitcase is full.

(You can see more photos of Uncommon Objects here.)

Uncommon Objects
1512 South Congress Ave.
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 442-4000
www.uncommonobjects.com

Wahoo!

Wahoo! is a great little store in Santa Fe, New Mexico run by Diane Zamost. Cowboy boots, vintage denim... it's a curated closet of coolness.

I get a lot of e-mail from folks asking me "What should I wear with my cowboy boots?"

This shop has all the answers. You can go retro with a snap shirt and a little fringe... or grab some studded denim for that outlaw-rocker look. Want to go traditional? a little "range-y" maybe? Wahoo! has beautiful silk scarves, and decorated gloves and belts. (You may mix-up all 3 of these looks only under Diane's supervision.)

Wahoo! 227 Don Gaspar, Santa Fe, NM 87501 (map)
Call 1-800-36-WAHOO (9-2466) ...or 505-577-8200.