Boots a popular fall fashion accessory

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas—The cooler weather has finally ushered in fall. It's time to air out the blankets, and check the fit on the warm clothing. Surprisingly, a recent online poll indicated that 75 percent who took the poll would rather have a pair of new boots than a warm winter coat.

Who better to validate the results of the online poll than someone in the boot business, and no one sells more boots in Montgomery County than Outback Western Wear. We went out back to the west Woodlands to check out the boot selection of which there were 83 styles for women and 105 for men.

“Boot sales are definitely up this time of year,” said Michelle O’Rourke, owner of Outback Western Wear. “When the sandals are put away for the season, boot sales go up.”

Although the poll didn’t specify western boots versus fashion boots, the beautiful hand-tooled western boot has made the cross-over into the fashion world, and the latter has yet to infiltrate the Country and Western scene.

“The ‘hot’ look is the retro look; the vintage-inspired, El Gringo Bonnie boot,” said O’Rourke. “One of the few boots that are 100 percent handmade, and elaborately decorated by hand. They’re a work of art.”

But you can get ‘the look’ under different brand names for less. A dozen different brands are offered for both women and men, in all price ranges.

“Boots are just another pair of shoes,” said O’Rourke. “You just get more shoe for your money.”

When asked about trends, O’Rourke said, “The trend in women’s boots is the ‘snipped toe'; pointed with the just the tip squared off. Men’s boots are now square-toed.” She added, “The distressed look is very popular.”

No where but Texas do they throw glitzy galas so that you can wear boots underneath a fancy ball gown or with a tux. Themes like Denim & Diamonds, Rhinestones & Wranglers, Boots & Bling, and the annual Cattle Baron’s Ball provide plenty of opportunities to get gussied up and show off your best pair of boots.

The rock scene is another niche market where the western boot has emerged as a fashion statement, like the ‘Kid Rock’ look - pairing western boots with denim mini skirts. The college scene is another big market.

“Students heading out of state to college want to pack their Texas pride with them, so they come in and buy a pair of boots,” said O’Rourke. Nocona even offers boots with university logos on them.

If you’ve never purchased a pair of western boots, Outback Western Wear is place to get fitted for them. O’Rourke says boots are their core business; everything else in the store is there to accessorize the boots. She emphasizes that you don’t want to be in a hurry when purchasing a pair of boots. You’ll want to mosey around the store to get the feel of them before making your final choice.

“People who come in to buy a pair of boots are much more knowledgeable nowadays,” said O’Rourke. “They’ve done their research online, they know the brands, and they know what they want, and we’ve got it.”

Outback Western Wear is located at 30405 Dobbin Hufsmith Road, in Magnolia, Texas, ’Where being a Texan is always in style.’ There are a variety of ways to get in touch with them about boots - call, Facebook, or view their website.