Cowboy Boots with Business Suit?

[Abraham]

Is it acceptable from a standpoint of good taste to replace one's wing tips or tasseled loafers with solid black cowboy boots when wearing a business suit? A suit that does not have "boot cut" trousers as some western suits do.

To be more specific a navy pinstripe suit with a fairly traditional 2-button/side vents cut, a white button down pinpoint and a deep burgundy silk foulard four-in-hand? Thanks!

 

[MikePotts]

Not just acceptable..........pretty much compulsory!, here at least. YMMV check your local traditions

 

[Buggnkat]

I dont think so. I am seeing more and more cowboy boots with suits these days.

I cant do it anymore, because of knee issues and cowboy boots tend to aggrevate the problem. I do wear them for short periods, but I spend too much time on my feet and my knees rebel and cause me a lot of problems if I wear them all day long.

 

[AtomicEraTom]

I wear cowboy boots with my Sunday best to church all the time. I'm not the only one, either. In my area it's more popular than black shoes of any sort.

 

[esteban68]

Can't see the issue they should be fine especially a 'Roper' style.

 

[Angus Forbes]

I think it depends a lot on the image you want to project. If you're from Texas, and want to emphasize your Texasness, then by all means. In some other contexts and to some other people, wearing cowboy boots with a suit looks just plain stupid, being somewhat the sartorial equivalent of a mullet haircut. But this is only an opinion, of course. As a point of reference, I am a traditionalist who has always lived in East-Coast (USA) cities, and who is well over 60 years old.

 

[1961MJS]

Hi

I knew a USAF Major who wore black, plain cowboy boots with the dress blues. That's some serious Texan showing through there.

It helps to be wearing the correct boot-cut pants if you're going to wear boots.

Later

 

[carouselvic]

I wear boots with suits.

 

[Stanley Doble]

Cowboy boots with a suit is correct business attire in Texas and the Southwest generally. Add a bolo tie and Stetson hat if you wish. You would raise no eyebrows between the Louisiana border and the Pacific coast.

It would look a little odd in Chicago. In the fifties there was a manufacturer and sports car importer in Chicago who habitually dressed this way. He was known as "Wacky" Arnolt. He had one of the first electric organs installed in his office so he could play and sing hymns. Rather eccentric behavior for a Jewish businessman.

He used to take trips to Europe and visit the auto shows to keep up with the latest sports car developments. An Italian auto body manufacturer remembered their first meeting at an auto show in Milan. He said I saw a man in a blue suit, broad brimmed hat and high heeled boots approach. I sensed at once he was an American. This description always amuses me. And how he was an American. But to the Italian, not being familiar with American customs, it was just his style.

The point is this may be correct in that part of the country, for a local person. If the same person dressed the same way in the north it would be drawing attention to himself in a negative way. Unless he wished to portray that type, the big Texas oil man or cattle man.

For an outsider to dress the same way, even in the southwest, would be gauche and also invite a negative reaction.

At least that is my impression. Perhaps Mike Potts or another Texan could confirm this? If an outsider, obviously from the north, were to wear cowboy boots, cowboy hat and generally dress like a Texan what would the reaction be?

 

[Flat Foot Floey]

I prefer bikini girls with machine guns.

 

[gtdean48]

I wear boots with suits.

+1 Wear Lucchese smooth ostrich ropers in black with suits almost exclusively.

 

[Abraham]

Hi

I knew a USAF Major who wore black, plain cowboy boots with the dress blues. That's some serious Texan showing through there.

It helps to be wearing the correct boot-cut pants if you're going to wear boots.

Later

That means he was out of uniform too...

 

[Abraham]

Thanks for all the feedback, I really appreciate it. I agree that roper-style boots are so understated that they would not cause a problem just about anywhere. Now a pair of Bluchers with real tall heels might cause some rather non-positive comments:

 

[1961MJS]

That means he was out of uniform too...

He didn't care, he wasn't at the Pentagon, he was visiting an aerospace company. He was the customer, therefore he wasn't wrong...

Later

 

[Buggnkat]

I dont know, I think with a boot cut pant leg, those would be fine. If they are tailored correctly, you wouldnt notice the heel that much.

Pilots are infamous for non-regulation footwear. I knew several Attack Pilots that wore black ropers with their flight suits. No one ever said a word. Course my cav unit encouraged nonregulation uniform items. Aviators despite or inspite of regulation no matter the branch rarely follow regulations.

 

[jkingrph]

Hi

I knew a USAF Major who wore black, plain cowboy boots with the dress blues. That's some serious Texan showing through there.

It helps to be wearing the correct boot-cut pants if you're going to wear boots.

Later

I and several other officers would wear black roper type boots. I never saw anyone with a true "cowboy boot" , but the plain toe, low heel black roper was legal and acceptable. I remember aiding the commanding general of the USAF Reserve one afternoon as he did not feel like sitting in a waiting room and making everyone uncomfortable. He was definetly wearing ropers that day and it prompted me to start doing the same. I never had any problems or comments in ten years of active duty and another 7 in reserves.

 

[jkingrph]

I wore a pair of black alligator western boots as best man for my son's wedding over in Natchez, Miss a few years back. They acutally looked rather classy with a black tux. They were more rounded toe not sharp like cowboy and a bit sharper than a roper.

 

[Fifty150]

Everybody I know wears exotic cowboy boots to court.

 

[Chaps]

I wear cowboy boots with suits when I preach very often. John Wayne did it (wore cowboy boots with suits, that is)

 

[kyboots]

I wear boots all the time. Boots with a suit are great, but the boots need to be a pair equal to the suit. In other words a pair of old wellingtons don't go with a Navy Blue suit. John