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31 July 2010, 12:28 am
Aussie beauty Naomi Watts says she lovers Autumn fashion, and putting clothes on not off.
30 July 2010, 11:32 pm
The back-to-school retail bell has rung. Consumers are out earlier, perhaps giving themselves time to get the best bargains. And retailers are ready, enticing them with specials, discounts, freebies, charity fundraisers and a few must-have items even offering fashion advice.
30 July 2010, 7:37 pm
When it comes to speaking their minds, drivers don't seem to be shaking in their boots, fearing hefty fines from NASCAR.
30 July 2010, 6:46 pm
Gale Parker's experience as a model, fashion editor and designer led to her new venture. Gale Parker's experience as a model, fashion editor and designer led to her new venture.
30 July 2010, 11:37 am
Naomi Watts loves autumnal fashion. The Australian beauty - who was recently named as the new face of the Ann Taylor clothing range - confesses a preference for...
Cowboy boots are a characteristic style of riding boot, historically worn by cowboys but know used by both genders in all life situations. These boots have an high heel, rounded to pointed toe and high shaft. Cowboy boots should be made from real leather, most commonly cow leather but sometimes "exotic" skins such as alligator, snake, ostrich, lizard and eel.
Cowboy boots can be divided in two basic styles, classic (or western) and roper. The classic style is characterized by a tall boot shaft, reaching mid-calf, with an angled heel, usually over one inch high. However, a slightly lower angled heel is also common for walking boots. Classic boots can be customized with a wide variety of toe shapes, the more common design is a narrowed pointed toe.
A more modern design is the roper style, characterized by a short boot shaft not mush higher than the ankle with a very low and squared heel. This heel usually doesn't exceeded one inch high. Roper boots usually have rounded toes, however, some adaptations to a street wear style include a squared toe. The roper style is also manufactured with a lace-up design which provides a better fit around the ankle.
Cowboy boots were originally meant for cowboys so that they could ride and work easily while keeping their feet safe. Modern cowboy boots were originally designed for outdoor works or adventurous activities. Nowadays these boots evolved into a fashion statement and are much desired fashion items.
As symbols of offbeat personal style, cowboy boots never were very far from the eyes of fashionables. But strangely they are moving into the mainstream and already hold a prominent place on shopping lists.
History has it that cowboy boots can be traced back to Genghis Khan age were prominent Mongols wore distinctive red boots with wooden heels. In 17th- and 18th-century Europe riding boots had high tops and stacked heels. Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington, defeated Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815 and gave his name to a calf-length boot with a low heel. The Wellington's four-piece construction, the same used for modern cowboy boots, made it easy to mass produce. Wellingtons were the boots preferred by soldiers during the U.S. Civil War. When the war ended in 1865, soldiers took their boots home with them. Just a few years later, America's expansion to the West brought the era of the cowboy and the cowboy boot as we know it nowadays.
Women no longer need to be extremely careful when choosing an American cowboy style. Some previews of some designers Autumn/Winter 2009/2010 collections give them flexibility to achieve a fashionable look with a cowboy style. This fashion trend will gain popularity with the upcoming women collections including jacket, vests, cowboy dress and obviously the cowboy boots. The collections borrows ideas from the past trends, and these are back on the runway now.
Modern Trendy women who love showing some bit of thigh fresh in miniskirts can achieve the same with short cowboy style Autumn/Winter 2009/2010 collections. They include tiny-floral short dresses, with blue and red colors and worn mutually with light blown or yellowish boots. A slim brown handbag enhances a women's appearance. They also bring an updated appearance of a modern lady wearing white leggings, hip-length top with fringes and ankle-length cowboy boots.