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.

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

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.

It’s that time of year again…the 2008 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo will be here in no time, so stock up on plenty of cowboy boots and cowboy hats from Allen’s Boots. Even if you can’t rope a steer or ride a bull with the best of them, you can still dress like a cowboy.

Houston Rodeo Coming in March

From March 3rd to March 22nd, enjoy the bracket-style rodeo tournament at the Reliant Center, along with other event staples such as the World Championship BBQ Contest, where contestants are judged on their BBQ pit as well as their pork. This year’s Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo musical entertainment includes boot scootin’ performances by country music singers Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Martina McBride, Toby Keith, Brad Paisley and many more.

Houston Rodeo Events

There’s entertainment for everyone at the 2008 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. For the children, there’s the Houston Rodeo Calf Scramble, where youngsters and calves collide in one of the most entertaining events of the Houston Rodeo. The kids must halt and bring the calf into the winner’s square with a single rope as their weapon to win their very own livestock to raise.

Wine and Music at the Houston Rodeo

Adults can enjoy Rodeo Uncorked!, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo event offering wines from all over Texas and the world. Another great rodeo event is The Hideout, which features some of the hottest music from across the Lone Star State. Slip into a new pair of Justin Boots and take ‘em for a spin with that special someone at the Astrodome.

Houston Rodeo Trail Ride

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo trail ride brings around 4,000 riders in 13 groups from as far as Hidalgo, TX, stemming from an annual tradition dating back to 1952. Talk about wear and tear on your Wranglers!!! Those participating in the Houston Rodeo trail rides begin their trek in February, traveling on horseback across Texas and paying homage to the cowboys of the past.

Let’s Get Ready to Rodeo!

With over 75 years of know how, the 2008 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s exhibits and shows are sure to bring in some of the best food, shopping, rodeo action and performances anyone could ask for. So stop by the store and stock up on all your rodeo gear before heading to Houston.