Style Overhaul
BLUF: Looking for recommendations for Westernwear and California Workwear stuff for future wardrobe overhaul.
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Hi all. 28 year old dude from the American Southwest here.
I am in the midst of a massive weight loss. When I get to my goal weight, none of my clothes will fit - and I would like to use that opportunity to really improve my style.
I will be taking it slow and buying pieces at a time, but a style that really reflects who I am as a person is really appealing to me.
I was born and raised in Southern California, and left when I joined the Army at 18. I spent the entirety of my adult life (including now) in Texas and Arizona.
These two places really made me who I am and have informed my worldview quite a bit, so I think an amalgamation of Westernwear and California workwear would be fun and makes sense for me.
I found two articles that kind of describe these two styles, and plan to kind of marry them together. This is likely way easier than I am making it out to be, but I am planner and like to think about different things.
https://dieworkwear.com/2021/07/13/a-story-about-ranch-dressing/
https://dieworkwear.com/2020/02/28/california-sunshine-and-noir/
These articles happen to describe what I am trying to do more or less perfectly. Hoping to establish the vibe and keep it specific and cohesive throughout - including into some more office-friendly stuff (whatever that means for a vibe like this).
Hoping to get some suggestions for brands and specific items to look at. I am actively forming a list that I can post here later on.
Derek Guy
Die, Workwear!
A Story About Ranch Dressing
Before arriving in the United States, Igwe Udeh had never seen a cowboy in real life. He didn't even know they still existed. When he was a child in Nigeria, peddlers used to come through his small
divert-brew-diagonal
Die, Workwear!
California Sunshine and Noir
There are two stylized images of life in Southern California. One is an exotic fantasy that was first communicated through surf films such as Gidget (1959) and Beach Party (1964), where the entire G
83 Replies
Imo the first thing you should do is find some good western jeans you like that fit well. Highly recommend just getting a pair of wranglers and wearing them a lot
But you can easily dress them up with a sports coat and pearl snap western shirt for a very "modern" feeling fit with some Ralph Lauren vibes
Maybe not this dramatic but this vibe is so easy to pull off imo
Just gotta kinda lean into it.
But once you get a nice pair of jeans and a couple shirts you can really build a lot of outfits and outerwear choices around them
These are some of my outfits with wranglers. Im always chasing that vibe of mixing western motifs with other vibes or styles
This guy might be some good fashion inspo for you too https://www.instagram.com/jonsjawns
Jon Alan (@jonsjawns) • Instagram profile
109K Followers, 501 Following, 198 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Jon Alan (@jonsjawns)
Howdy fellow cowboy
I’d like to ping @WARP and @jawntanamo_bae 🥀 for advice on brands and specific items - y’all know what you’re doing!
I second Wrangler and also suggest looking at Lee
Wythe and Mister Freedom as well
Freenote Cloth, Indigofera, Brycelands, and UES for sure. Aesthetically, I love RRL and Barbanera, but I could only recommend them secondhand unless you’re just rich
Heyo @GreedySashimi here’s a few of my fave recent fits with some of my fave items! I tend to gravitate towards Mister Freedom, Lee Archives, Oni, Studio D’Artisan, Iron Heart, wrangler, vintage Levi’s 517s, rockmount ranch wear, West Major for shirts, some Tom ford, RRL, Kapital and YSL thrown in for good measure. Vintage western stuff def the way to go as well. For boots: Lucchese and Blackjack for the luxe stuff, Double H, Ariat benchmade and Dan Post for the mid tier. For hats it’s Stetson or nothing, but Resistol is also pretty solid. For suiting you really just want anything high waisted and wide leg enough to fit over boots.
I also did a post breaking down different wrangler fits and fabrics a week or so ago (I’ve got a large collection) that you can find here https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1151326187105300551/1298395531542007818
Hope all this helps! Welcome to the party—gimme a holler if you’ve got any q’s on anything
Thank you all for the brand reccs and the photo inspo. I did not expect any others here to be in the same camp.
I’m a few months out from first purchases while I get closer to my ideal size - might start purchasing some accessories meanwhile.
I am a planner at heart though - I’ve put together all of the reccomended items from those articles into a short list. Any other reccomended grabs?
Tops
- White Tees
- Graphic Tees
- Resort Shirts
- Henleys
- Western Shirts
Knitwear
- Sweatshirts
- Chunky Cardigans
Outerwear
- Denim Truckers
- Suede Truckers
- Mechanic Jackets
- French Chore Coats
- Rustic Sport Coats
Bottoms
- Jeans
- Five-Pocket Cords
- Tailored Trousers
Footwear
- Canvas High Tops
- Western Boots
- Roper Boots
- Work Boots
Accessories
- Western Belts
- Native American Jewelry
Cardigans: Pendleton
I have one from Tecovas that’s decent
For belts go vintage for buckles and buy straps separate. and for native jewelry do literally anything that was actually made by someone within the tribal community. Do not buy from any other companies.
Yeah I have maybe a few comments and some additional recommendations!
First of all a general hint: don’t buy everything all at once - it would be a shame if you found out you didn’t like half of the stuff and then you’re stuck with it while never wearing it. Go piece by piece, feeling along as you go.
Tops: Might I suggest going for Waffle Thermals instead of Henleys? Idk if it’s just me but henleys leave a very 2016 menswear aftertaste in my mouth. For graphic tees I’d very much recommend you look into vintage options (just way cooler). Some cheap options (but still very good) for most of these tops to start you off can be had at Bronson or other Chinese brands available at Olderbest. I’m sure one or two flannels as either overshirts or just warm options would serve you well! A chambray work shirt would probably also be neat!
Knitwear:
Try to get Sweatshirts in different weights probably - it’ll be super annoying if they’re all the same weight and you’re having trouble dressing for different temperatures. While you do have some layering options that potential might be limited - and I don’t see wool sweaters fitting into the style too much. Maybe a turtleneck but idk.
Outerwear:
Depending on your region I would suggest getting a coat as well - but that’s temperature dependent.
You have a bunch of trucker type jackets here - maybe that’s a bit much. There’s a bunch of western style leather jackets out there as well that aren’t truckers!
For workwear jacket a vintage Walls Blizzard Pruf is a good cold weather option.
French chore coats you can get from le laboureur!
Bottoms:
consider getting a pair of double knee or single knee work pants as well (Carhartt, Stan Ray, Ben Davis)
Maybe some casual non-five pocket pants would fit in as well - just for varieties sake.
(1/2)
Footwear:
get some low shoes man! You probably don’t need a roper and a cowboy unless you plan to spend a lot of time on a horse. Get some moccasins maybe - warp has some on in one of his pics.
Accessories:
a simple western belt will probably also do you some good for when you don’t want to make as much of a statement.
It feels like for the style you’re going for you’ll want a hat as well.
Maybe consider a bolo tie!
(2/2)
Can I just say I love a well researched question like this? It’s refreshing to actually be able to give some good advice.
^
Lots of excellent recommendations in this. On the boot front I personally like the stuff Heritage Boot Co does quite a lot as well. Price is prolly similar to Lucchese and Blackjack. But with cowboy boots in the upper price range it really primarily is "what design do you like" + "which specific fit works for my foot" - I would not think too much about stuff like "which is better made" or "which is more durable" - all of these are good and the differences are not worth fussing about
If you can, try stuff on in store, ordering them online and figuring out your size is a monumental pain
Sorry for not pinging you too Leo, I figured the whole California workwear thing wasn’t your wheelhouse lol
No worries
Also my specific expertise is more in line of "how to source that friggin stuff here in the EU"
A friend of mine will visit texas next autumn, so I need to start saving up for some hand-tooled boots
so he can totally not do tax evasion on my behalf
hi 👋 i am only a casual interloper in the style but one thing i'll note is that it's not that hard to make this "work appropriate" imo
with the caveat that this depends on your specific workplace and job requirements, things like dark wash denim, chambray and plain western shirts and even boots can be snuck into most business casual environments
to say nothing of something like a trucker or denim jacket mixed in with traditional "business" clothing
By coat do you mean big overcoat?
Wythe and RRl have some cool ones.
Also, I’m afraid that 2016 never got over the Henley so they are sticking around. I just think they’re neat.
It’s a business casual gub’mint environment. I will at least need trousers that aren’t jeans. Rustic fabric like a cord or a heavy twill I thought might work well. A sport coat too.
vintage polo sport coats are great for this - big lapels, interesting textures, easy to mix and match with stuff
Doesn’t necessarily have to be big - just something that also covers some of your lower parts for when it gets colder, I guess. Whatever floats your boat.
But yeah, big coats are cool!
None of the jackets you listed will cover your ass, so that’s what I’m thinking about! Also maybe you’ll want to layer sth over a blazer!
even within a business casual government environment there's a decent amoutn of leeway (source: i'm a government contractor lmao)
You do you man! Henleys can still be neat!
Vintage will be my friend for lots of this I feel like
Yeah, that’s where the real heat is at
some in-office fits; five pocket pants are an easy out to get a similar feel
https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1116800072093532191/1230918173436674079
https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1116800072093532191/1234904102245236766
https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1116800072093532191/1279115765081178237
https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1116800072093532191/1273645645609308182 (could wear regular jeans instead)
https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1116800072093532191/1288906168374263869
https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1116800072093532191/1282481344026378261 (this specific day wasn't in office but i've snuck in boots with suits without complaint)
I plan to buy a few buckles and necklaces and things sttaight from some local craftsmen or Pueblo Direct. I don’t know a ton about Native culture but I would like to stick to specifically Navajo and Hopi iconography. I’ve done some work for and with the Navajo nation near me combatting human trafficking operations and I’d like to represent (as an outsider)
Derek Guy mentions this mechanic jacket in one of his articles discussing this style ( https://www.heddels.com/2019/08/dehen-1920-tunes-classic-garage-garb-mechanics-jacket/ ) and j think it’s super neat but it’s been sold out for five years so I am looking for a suitable replacement.
Albert Muzquiz
Heddels
Dehen 1920 Tunes Up Classic Garage Garb with Their Mechanics Jacket
Division Road Inc. might be best-known for their exhaustive boot collabs, but the famous Seattle retailer does a whole lot...
Some similar stuff:
https://www.olderbest.com/collections/jackets-coats/products/lot-318-1950s-3-pocket-work-jacket
https://ironandresin.com/products/mechanic-jacket
https://www.dickies.com/coats-jackets/insulated-eisenhower-jacket/TJ15.html
https://pand.co/en-eu/collections/mens-outerwear/products/moto-mechanic-jacket-washed-black
Olderbest
Lot 318 1950s 3-Pocket Work Jacket
This work jacket combines the features of 1930s to 1950s jackets, showcasing a strong vintage aesthetic. 3 pocket jacket,D-shaped pockets, Japanese-made twill and half-belt.
Iron & Resin
Mechanic Jacket
The Mechanic Jacket is nothing new for us here. We started making this cut years ago to provide a layering that was ready to work under the hood deep into any season. We started with a 10oz duck cotton canvas back in '18, worked on a heavier 11.75 oz cotton duck canvas with our friends at New Legend 4x4 in 2021, and ca
Men's Insulated Eisenhower Jacket - Dickies US
The Men's Insulated Eisenhower Jacket is a staple piece for any workman. Stay warm and ready through anything. Get your authentic Dickies uniform online today.
P&Co
Moto Mechanic Jacket - Washed Black
The Moto Mechanic Jacket in washed black is a men’s regular fit jacket that blends practical workwear with a moto-inspired design. Made from tough 16oz cotton duck canvas, this jacket is built to handle everyday wear, with a washed finish that gives it a broken-in feel.
Also I don’t want to shit on Derek here, but don’t take his word as gospel. He tends to be pretty prescriptive with what’s “good” and what’s “not”. Pretty much all of his advice is sound, but overall limited
This is refreshing to hear, homie. I’m half native (Chickasaw) but I’ve had so little to do with the culture growing up that you probably know more about it than I do lol. Glad you’re approaching from a good standpoint and not just a “this looks cool” standpoint.
Some other people you might enjoy following are Will Halbert, Ilya Sobtchak, Brit Bones, Derrick Smith, Jamie Ferguson, Ethan Newton and Peter Zottolo on insta
I couldn’t be bothered to link each one, so I just put their profile names
That’s very fair and I will definitely try to cover my bases elsewhere - I am a list boy and he is the first person I saw who put together a solid one for both vibes
Derek’s advice is definitely sound, just don’t be afraid to branch out
I doubt this very much, but thank you for the vote of confidence!
Also, thank you for the alternate mechanic jackets. Those are super solid.
https://freenotecloth.com/products/riders-jacket-waxed-canvas-black I found this one too but I don’t know if it’s really a mechanic jacket or basically just another trucker.
Freenote Cloth
Riders Jacket Waxed Canvas Black
PLEATED RIDERS JACKET 10oz Martexin waxed canvas Front pleat detail Southwestern printed body liner from Japan Satin lined sleeves from Japan Elastic bands on interior of jacket for shoulder gusset Custom metal trims from Kentucky SB Tanning Co leather patch 1/8" double needle stitch detail Interior pocket Small, Mediu
This is giving trucker/type 3 vibes to me. From the jackets I’ve seen while I was looking just now a key feature seems to be the zipper!
Yeah, P & Co. is the closest to what I was hoping for. Black with the zipper and the writing on the back. Any familiarity with the brand?
I am generally a buy once cry once type of guy.
Not personally, no. The only thing I have from them is a wall rug lol.
Will Halbert has some of their stuff and has talked about them positively - he’s generally pretty trustworthy as far as that goes.
The wall rug is neat though that much I can say
I have a hoodie from P&Co which is solid. My girlfriend has a couple pairs of their pants which are also great. Seems like good stuff for the price in my opinion
I didn't see it mentioned above (or missed it if it was) but for Western Shirts I've found vintage Lee and Wrangler to be available in large quantities and low cost on the secondhand market. I have a vintage wrangler that's one of my favourite shirts I own.
For new western shirts you are spoiled for choice honestly, I have an indigo one I got from TCB that I love but most of the Japanese denim brands will make one, as do many US based brands freenote, huckberry etc
https://imogeneandwillie.com/products/the-service-station-jacket?_pos=3&_fid=32493d9fa&_ss=c
OR
https://pand.co/en-eu/collections/mens-outerwear/products/moto-mechanic-jacket-washed-black
imogene + willie
the "service station" jacket
built from the origins of traditional American workwear, this jacket has a classic silhouette and is unlined, making it slightly more lightweight, breathable, and versatile than some of the heavier i+w jackets.
P&Co
Moto Mechanic Jacket - Washed Black
The Moto Mechanic Jacket in washed black is a men’s regular fit jacket that blends practical workwear with a moto-inspired design. Made from tough 16oz cotton duck canvas, this jacket is built to handle everyday wear, with a washed finish that gives it a broken-in feel.
Which one do you think looks better?
That would the first point, second is one is 100% cotton whereas the other is a blend of cotton and synthetic material
My preference is the black one.
Trying to cover a wide swath of colors and weights - feel like I have too many jackets. How many would you say is too many?
No such thing as too many jackets! Tbh the great thing about jackets is that a different jacket can totally change the whole vibe of an outfit with very little effort.
Just for practicalities sake it’d probably be prudent to start off with three different styles and weights of jackets and wear these for a bit; then see what you feel like you’re missing - personally I’d go for a light trucker or work jacket a midweight type leather/suede jacket and a warmer affair in lined canvas or even wool.
But idk that’s just how I’d start out - if you feel like different or a different amount of jackets are better for your specific situation you do that! With buying second hand you’ll need to be somewhat patient anyways, but esp. with like leather or suede jackets you can really come out on top - lots of cool shit out there!
TEES
SHIRTS
KNITWEAR
JACKETS
PANTS
FOOTWEAR
Sorry to blow this up. Wanted to catalogue some items that I liked to see if I’m on the right track.
Oh most of these are pretty nice!
Just keep in mind that most if not all these items you’ll definitely find some great second hand options if you’re looking for them.
Also I’ll be honest those black boots kinda don’t seem to fit the overall vibe you’re looking for imo - too rockstar, not enough rock quarry if you catch my drift
Once you’re ready to buy please do come back for brand and item recs - and also feel free to hang around and take part in the discourse!
Need to source some low top shoes (moccassins/huaraches/sneakers) and other accessories. Might nix one of the truckers for one of these
Thrift stores would definitely be my first stop — these are more so if I am unable to find something vintage.
The Wythe shearling and fringe jackets are so frickin good - have you seen the green one, it’s so good.
There’s so much RRL in this inspo you could buy a car for that price lol
Tbh yuketen probably has mocs you’ll just love…for a price.
Or sth like these Yogi brand mocs I’m wearing rn might also be a good look for you
Man I love this thread - haven’t had this much fun with Q and A in a while.
I’m glad to facilitate! Just to clarify the vibe I’m kind of going for - I am looking for a smidge of rock and roll. I am not Mick Jagger but I am planning some black picks just for some variety outside of the rock quarry. LOL
I have to inject some of my California roots somehow.
Maybe take a look at an engineer boot then? A little less sleek but still very much in the rock and roll sphere - big part of motorcycle culture
I love engineer boots - I’ll consider picking one out.
One of the things I’m most excited about (and may buy now tbh) are these Navajo pendants I found on Pueblo Direct.
I don’t generally wear any jewelry but I absolutely love these.
These are super fun!
Looking good, but those might be too tapered to fit over cowboy boots. In my experience everything north os an 8' hem works for that. The traditional way to wear those is with the trouser over the boot, while stuffed in is less common and some nerds might scoff at it for being the "wrong" way to wear them.
Those go hard. Love that they are not the usual sterling-turquoise stuff!
Well, the bear is sterling and turquoise. LOL
So this is why bootcut exists.
Quite literally
Wrangler cowboy cuts are the og GOAT and punch way above their price point imo. Very thriftable too in the states I imagine
I forgot to add them to the list but I have a pair of wrangler wranchers - the polyester ones. Probably grab a denim too.
Do you think the RRL suiting is at all costumey?
Not decided on the vest.
Looks pretty normal to me
Might be a "not used to suiting" kinda thing
Those are pretty normal suits
You have a lot of leeway with acessories to make it more/less "costumey"
Like not having a watch chain hanging from the waistcoat makes pic 1 decidedly less old timey
Might be what it is. LOL
Take away the vest and this is completely normal. Even with vest it’s maybe a bit “stuffy” but still very much in the realm of what you’d expect a normal suit to look like.
Good call! Something to keep in mind: Usually your inseam for a suit pant will be slightly shorter than that of a denim pant because suit pants have fabrics that are much more drapey and just hang cleanly, while denim pants will crumple and catch a bit on the knee etc. But figuring that out takes a bit of experience.
Considering these two for glasses that work with the vibe. They’ll be optical rather than sunglasses - I think the smaller fit my face better.
I think both are cool. They often have or can order glasses in different sizes. So if 2 feels too big but you like the detailing of the frame you might ask about that. I did that with my last pair.
I don’t think this particular frame comes in different sizes.
Ebay also has infinite cool cowboy boots if you just wanted to find a cheap pair to mess around with. I like Ariat ropers quite a bit since they are kind of a boring shape but can go with a ton of different outfits and are a nice "staple"
Depending on what city you live in you just gotta find the right "spot" for boots. Last time I was in LA I stopped in Jet Rag and they had an INSANE selection of boots it was crazy
Personally I like the bigger ones better, but that’s maybe because they’re a touch more rectangular, which I feel suits you well.
Some other options from Moscot.
Like the first one very much - I’ve been looking at moscot myself
Any watch cap reccs?
I have some from Leuchteufer Strickwaren and Heimat Textil. Filson is also a good call for these, as is Buzz Rickson’s I guess. Carhartt is good for a more affordable option.