N@ked Cowboy and the Blue M&M

N@ked Cowboy Sues M&M’s.  That almost sounds like a title to a comedy film, except it is an actual story. New York City’s famous “N@ked Cowboy” has filed suit against Mars Corporation, the maker of M&M’s.  The N@ked Cowboy, also known as Robert Burke, is claiming trademark infringement by the candy maker.  Apparently the blue M&M is dressed like Burke on the large animation screen outside of M&M’s Times Square store; and Burke claims that the may be construed as his endorsement of the product.

History of the N@ked Cowboy

The 37-year-old N@ked Cowboy walks around Times Square playing the guitar in nothing but a cowboy hat, white underwear, and white cowboy boots.  However, Times Square isn’t the only place that you can find the N@ked Cowboy.  He seems to make his way to New Orleans every year for Mardi gras; and he has even seemed to make an appearance or two in our very own Lone Star capital, Austin, Texas.  If you want to catch him here, start looking in March during the South by Southwest Music Festival.

N@ked Cowboy Look-a-Like

Now if you are finding yourself wanting to emulate the N@ked Cowboy, than you are probably going to need to swing by Allens Boots and get yourself a nice pair of white cowboy boots.  I am sure that you will be able to find exactly the boots you are looking for among our large selection of Justin, Lucchese, Tony Lama, and many other boot makers.

Now that you have your boots picked out, you will need to wander over to our hat section and see if you can’t find yourself the perfect Stetson or Resistol.

As far as the last part of the outfit, the white underwear … Well, as much as we would like to say we have everything you need, we got to tell you that you are on your own with those.

*Photo by LinksmanJD

Straw Cowboy Hats are a Summer Favorite

Straw cowboy hats are useful for more than just wrangling cattle.  They are the perfect hat for when the weather gets warm.  Not only are straw cowboy hats very functional in the summer; they are also quite fashionable.

Straw Cowboy Hats Keep You Cool

Straw cowboy hats provide a great way to protect your face and your head and keep you cool during in the strong summer sun.  The wide brim of a straw cowboy hat provides for ample shade from the hot summer sun to your face and neck; while the loose weave of a straw cowboy assists in keeping your head cool by letting air flow freely throughout the hat.

The Fashion of Straw Cowboy Hats

As far as the fashion side of straw cowboy hats goes; let’s break it down into genders.  For men, the straw cowboy hat looks good on the golf course (just ask “the shark,” Greg Norman, about that); as well as on the lake or beach.  Not to mention that many country music stars where straw cowboy hats, such as Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, Trace Adkins, and Kenny Chesney.  And, finally, if your horse steps on your hat during a summer ride never fear.  Just reshape your hat and go.

Women and the Straw Cowboy Hat

Now for the women, straw cowboy hats are a wonderful addition to the summer wardrobe.  Straw cowboy hats go with everything from your favorite sundress to your best pair of jeans and other western attire.  Straw cowboy hats also look fantastic while you are riding on a boat or lounging on the beach in your favorite swimsuit.

Straw Cowboy Hats in all Shapes and Sizes

At Allens Boots, you will find a large selection of straw cowboy hats to fit your summer wardrobe needs.  You will find pink hats, black hats, natural hats, hats with elaborate bands, and simple straw hats.  We carry only the highest quality of straw cowboy hats from top brands like Stetson and Montecarlo.

Come on down to the store and let us outfit your head for summer.

Motorcycle Boots Galore

Motorcycle boots are on our mind. It’s probably because the Republic of Texas Biker Rally, otherwise known as the ROT Rally, is coming up on June 12th through June16th.

The city of Austin transforms into a biker’s dream over ROT Rally weekend when more than 40,000 motorcycles roll into town. Some may say, “Wow, that’s a lot of bikes!” We at Allens Boots say, “Wow, that’s a lot of boots!”

Motorcycle Boots: Not All about Looks

Although we prefer horses over hogs, we still love bikers around these parts and we still know a lot about what they are wearing on their feet … Motorcycle Boots.

When purchasing motorcycle boots, you new to remember that it isn’t just about how good they look; it is also about how well they function when you are riding your bike.

Motorcycle Boots Are Built Tough

There are several attributes that make a boot a motorcycle boot. Most motorcycle boots are at least six inches tall and have ankle padding to protect the ankle. Taller motorcycle boots offer extra protection of the legs against flying objects like rocks.

All motorcycle boots come with durable outsoles to assist in stopping or in sharp turns. Some motorcycle boots even come with steel toes to offer even more foot protection during stops and minor accidents.

Finally, the best choice for motorcycle boots are ones made of leather. Leather boots provide better protection against the elements and in minor accidents.

Motorcycle Boots and Charlie

We hear that the Charlie Daniels Band is playing the last night of the ROT Rally and they play some fantastic foot stompin’ music. The kind of music that makes you want to take off those motorcycle boots and leathers and put on a pair of cowboy boots and jeans. This is the Republic of Texas Biker Rally after all.

*Photo by Paul Menard

Summer Camp for Summer Break

Summer Camp is the perfect way for you little cowboys and cowgirls to spend all that free time during their favorite break … summer break. There are several cowboy and cowgirl summer camps throughout the country. One of the cowboy summer camps that we know about isn’t too far down the road in Humble, Texas.

Cowboy City Texas, founded by Mike and Mary Wall, is home to six cowboy and cowgirl summer camps a year. The summer camps are offered to boys and girls ages seven to fourteen and are chocked full of cowboy boot wearing activities.

Summer Camp Teaches Horsemanship

Summer camp at Cowboy City Texas is all about fun for the beginner and immediate horse riders. But don’t you worry; Cowboy City Texas provides the horses for all summer camp participants.

Cowboy and cowgirl summer camp is centered on horsemanship. Summer campers will learn and work on horse grooming, riding, barreling, cutting, roping and many other rodeo type activities. In fact, there is a summer camp rodeo at then of the summer.

Summer Camp Chocked Full of Western Fun

Other activities summer campers will enjoy while at summer camp are western theater, nature awareness trails, mud fights (be prepared to wash camper’s jeans every night), archery and more.

Attendees of cowboy and cowgirl summer camp also have the opportunity to learn western arts and crafts, play sports with other cowboys and cowgirls, go swimming (make sure you take off your cowboy boots and cowboy hats first), and even go shovel surfing. Now, we aren’t quite sure what shovel surfing is, but it sounds pretty fun.

Western Gear for Summer Camp

Before you take your little cowboy or cowgirl off to summer camp, whether at Cowboy City Texas or another western summer camp, swing by Allens Boots and we will make sure your summer campers have all the western gear they need.

*Photo by Cowboy City Texas

Mules in the Hot Sun

So it’s hot outside and you really want to wear your cowboy boots with your new jeans or your new skirt or dress; although the mere thought of having all that leather on your legs in 90 degree weather causes you to instantly break out into a sweat.

There is an answer to having the boot look without all of the boot … Mules! And we aren’t talking about the four-legged kind.

These Mules Were Made for Walking

Mules, by definition, are backless and very often close-toed shoes. The open-toe version is called a slide. They are very popular among women and are believed to have gotten their start back in the 18th century. Mules gained popularity in the 1970’s as clogs, but re-emerged in the 1990’s and haven’t looked back.

Mules, Mules, Mules

Mules come in all sorts of colors and styles, they can be dressy or casual and they are extremely comfortable. In fact, Allens Boots has yellow mules, red mules, black mules, multi-color mules made by Charlie 1, Old Gringo, Frye and Ariat. You name it; we have it to go with all your summer styles.

Mule Rules

Now before you run off with your mules, there are a few things you should know about proper mule fit.

• You need to make sure that your heel fits on the back of the mule properly. Take care that your heel isn’t hanging over the edge, sitting right on the edge or not close enough to the edge. Just a little edge showing is perfect.
• Make sure you get up and walk around in the mules you are interested in buying. That way you know they stay on your feet and that they look right with your legs.
• If you are planning on wearing socks or hosiery with your mules, make sure you bring them with you when you try them on.

Cutting Horse Adds Spice to CEO Life

There was an article in Fortune Small Business Magazine today about a woman who is CEO by day and a Rodeo Queen by night. Yes, you are reading this correctly.

According to the article, Anita Lind Janssen spends her days as CEO of a company that handles asset management for large firms in the middle of transition. This is a job that requires conservative decisions and very little risk. Wanting to add a little spice to her life, Anita put on a hat, polished up her boots, and became a cowgirl.

It also appears that cutting runs in the Lind Janssen family. Ryan Lind, Anita’s son, placed in the top ten of the youth division at the National Cutting Horse Western National Finals this past weekend. I am sure that his mother couldn’t be more proud of her cowboy son.

Cutting Horse: What is it?

Cutting is a western riding style event where a horse and rider are judged strictly on their ability to separate a calf away from a herd of cattle for a certain period of time.

Cutting, which is becoming quite a popular equine sport these days, is special in that once the calf is separated from the herd, the cowboy or cowgirl loosens up on the reigns and the horse then takes over in keeping the calf separated. These horses are known as a cutting horse.

Cutting Horse Queen is One of Many

After reading about Anita, we did some poking around into the careers of the members of the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association. We found out that Anita isn’t the only corporate big wig that likes to compete with their horses for stress relief. We found an owner of a women’s western store, a President/owner of a drilling company, a ranch owner, a Chief of Staff of a state assembly, and a CEO of a golf construction company.

Who would have ever thought that participating in adrenaline pumping rodeo events could be so relaxing?

*Photo by Mike Murrow

Cowboy Museum’s Annual Memorial Day Event

The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, located in Oklahoma City, will be celebrating its 18th Annual Chuck Wagon Gathering and Children’s Cowboy Festival this Memorial Day weekend. The festival will run from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on both Saturday, May 24th and Sunday, May 25th.

Dressing like a Cowboy More than Alright at Cowboy Museum

Grab your kids, put on your jeans, boots and cowboy hats and head on down to what the American Bus Association has named one of the Top 100 events in North America. You, your family and more than 10,000 other Old West fans will sure to be pleased with all the exciting activities and food planned for this jam-packed weekend.

Chuck Wagons Circle the Cowboy Museum

There will be authentic chuck wagons present offering up some of the finest wrangler food from Oklahoma and Texas. Festival goers even receive their very own tasting bowl to fill up with cowboy favorites such as brisket, biscuits and gravy, stew, and cobbler.

Children’s Cowboy Festival Events at the Cowboy Museum

There will be plenty of good ‘ol western entertainment for the family at the festival. Little Cowboys and Cowgirls can get pony rides, stagecoach and wagon rides, learn how to make a rope, design a bandana, and even pet a Longhorn steer. For the older cowboys and cowgirls, there will be entertainment from the likes of Don Edwards and Red Steagall.

There is even a cowboy bootmaking demonstration, which we here at Allens Boots are the most excited about.

Cowboy Museum has More to Offer than the Festival

The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum was founded in 1961 and is considered an institution of Western history, culture, and art. More than 9 million visitors a year come to see the Cowboy museum’s collection of Western art and artifacts and to garnish an insight into the Old West.

*Photo by National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

7th Annual CMT Awards

The CMT Awards, the only fan-voted music awards in country music, were held in Nashville, Tennessee on Monday, April 24th, 2008. And just like seasons past, the red carpet was overflowing with country music’s biggest stars donned in cowboy boots and cowboy hats. Even Rodeo Star, Ty Murray, was on hand in his best western wear to find out who the country music fans picked as the best of 2008.

2008 CMT Awards: Performances

The 2008 awards were hosted by the father and daughter team of Billy Ray Cyrus and Miley Cyrus, who is also known as the star of the Hannah Montana TV series. However, they weren’t the only stars on stage. Between the announcements of the winners, musical performances by some of the hottest country singers filled the air. Performers included everyone from Kenny Chesney and Keith Urban to the biggest winner of the night, Taylor Swift who went from shoeless while presenting to sporting her best pair of boots for her big performance.

2008 CMT Award Winners

The fan-voted winners of this year’s CMT awards were as follows:

• Video of the Year: Taylor Swift, “Our Song”

• Duo Video of the Year: Sugarland, “Stay”

• Male Video of the Year: Trace Adkins, “I Got My Game On”

• Wide Open Country Video of the Year: Alison Krauss and Robert Plant, “Gone, Gone, Gone (Done Moved On)”

• Collaborative Video of the Year: Bon Jovi featuring LeAnn Rimes, “Till We Ain’t Strangers Anymore”

• Female Video of the Year: Taylor Swift, “Our Song”

• Performance of the Year: Kellie Pickler, “I Wonder”

• Comedy Video of the Year: Brad Paisley, “Online”

• Tearjerker Video of the Year: Kellie Pickler, “I Wonder”

• Supporting Character of the Year: Rodney Carrington, “I Got My Game On”

• Video Director of the Year: Michael Salomon

• USA Weekend Breakthrough Video of the Year: Kellie Pickler, “I Wonder”

• Group Video of the Year: Rascal Flats, “Take Me There”

Japan Loves Cowboy Boots

The Japanese have always been lovers of western world fashion, so it should be no surprise that this includes cowboy boots. Cowboy boots can be seen all over Japan from the casual hang-out spots of the teenagers and young adults to the high-rise office building full of professionals in their late twenties and early thirties. The Japanese seem to have fallen for the fact that cowboy boots add a casual touch to skirts and dresses, but can also dress up a pair of jeans. It is the flexibility of what you can wear with your cowboy boots, according to Japan Mode Extra Edition, that have made especially popular with the women of Japan.

Japan Buys Cowboy Boots by Way of the Internet

With so many stores in Japan having problems keeping cowboy boots on the shelves, its pretty great that people in Japan can order cowboy boots online from us here at Allens Boots. We try to make it as simple and convenient as possible to buy cowboy boots, and even our western wear, online. Our shoppers in Japan can find all their favorite cowboy boot brands, like Justin Ropers, all in one place. We strive to make the Allens Boots’ online shopping experience almost (and we stress the word almost) as good as actually coming into the store.

Buying Cowboy Boots in Japan

Who knew we’d be selling cowboy boots in Japan? We sure didn’t. But hey, now that we are, we think it’s pretty cool. Then again, if you really think about it, with our amazing selection of men’s cowboy boots, women’s cowboy boots, cowboy hats and western wear it makes complete sense that the fine folks in Japan would come to Allens Boots. Now the next time you find yourself traveling in a land far, far away and you realize that you need to order cowboy boots from Japan, just hop on our site and shop to your heart’s content. By the way, shopping on our site works even if you just live down the street.

The Cowboy Boot Love Affair Begins

To begin the tale of a woman and her cowboy boots, we look to Austinite Kathy Williams. She was on a mission to find the perfect pair of boots, but just like the Waylon Jennings’ song states, Kathy “was looking for love in all the wrong places.” Well at least until she walked down the women’s cowboy boot aisle in Allen’s Boots, that is. It was a beautiful day back in 1994 that she discovered her pair of deep black cherry leather Lucchese boots and the relationship is still going strong 14 years later.

In Love with Cowboy Boots? Really?

Now I know what you are probably thinking, can you really be in love with a pair of cowboy boots? The answer is “yes,” because the day you find the perfect pair of cowboy boots is the day you take on a whole new attitude. You know you look good. You know that you are tough. And you know, without a shadow of a doubt, that you can two-step like never before. This is what the perfect pair of cowboy boots can do for you.

This is what the perfect pair of cowboy boots did for Kathy Williams.

What’s Not to Love About Cowboy Boots?

If you take care of your cowboy boots, they will look great and last forever. Cowboy boots always seem to be hip. The style of a cowboy boot hasn’t changed over the years and they seem to go with everything from jeans to shorts to skirts and dresses. Finally, they are so comfortable, if you get the proper boot fit, that you can wear them all day and right into the night.

So now that you know that true love can exist with a cowboy boot, come on in to Allen’s Boots and fall in love today.

You can read more about Kathy Williams’ boot adventures in the Austin American-Statesman