American National Clothing?

[macwilkin]

BP,
You could drink one, but you can't make them, just as I can't make lutefisk or hotdish.

Ya sure, youbetcha dere, and I'm not even a Luteran.

T.

[Alaskan Kilted Guy]

I tell you what. If I ever end up in a job where I have to wear a suit, I will make every effort to find a way to afford Brooks Brothers suits. They make fine suits, for sure.

[macwilkin]

I tell you what. If I ever end up in a job where I have to wear a suit, I will make every effort to find a way to afford Brooks Brothers suits. They make fine suits, for sure.

There's a BB outlet store just up the road from me.

T.

[Standard]

The quintessential American clothing recognized world wide is of course the blue jean. It has been such a part of our history and growth for a very long time. It would be nice were we known for something a little more "dressy", but such is our lot in life. From one end of our great nation to the other everyone wears jeans at some point in their life. I do like the way our Olympic athletes dress when walking in at the parade of nations.

[Alaskan Kilted Guy]

There's a BB outlet store just up the road from me.

T.

Lucky dog!

[bricelythgoe]

Back in the 60s the USIA (United States Information Agency) conducted a survey in several dozen countries to try to discover what was the most recognizable image of the United States. Actually there were two; an Indian and a Cowboy. So, I think it would be reasonable to say that dressing like a cowboy would mark you out as an American, while dressing like an Indian (unless you are one) would mark you out as a Ward Churchill wannabe.

I hate to add disagreement to a thread, but the idea that 'dressing like a cowboy' is United States dress is not correct (I did not mean to single you out MacMillan, a lot of other people said it as well. Sorry) The cowboy originated from Spain and came over here with the conquistadors like Cortez and Pizarro. It would be more accurate to trace cowboy dress (atleast what we know as cowboy dress) to Mexico and the VAQUERO, and beyond that to Spain. Just look at some of the most common words used by cowboys:

Rodeo - From Spanish 'El Rodeo' which means to encircle
Lariat - From Spanish 'La Riata' which means the rope.

I am not sure if America (referring to the U.S.) has as singilar piece of clothing that would be 'american'. Although I have seen a lot of good ideas on this thread so far.

Brice

(Wikipedia gives a brief description. Although I would not use it as an authoritative source.)

[Bugbear]

Thus, the reason for asking the question.

[macwilkin]

I hate to add disagreement to a thread, but the idea that 'dressing like a cowboy' is United States dress is not correct (I did not mean to single you out MacMillan, a lot of other people said it as well. Sorry) The cowboy originated from Spain and came over here with the conquistadors like Cortez and Pizarro. It would be more accurate to trace cowboy dress (atleast what we know as cowboy dress) to Mexico and the VAQUERO, and beyond that to Spain. Just look at some of the most common words used by cowboys:

Rodeo - From Spanish 'El Rodeo' which means to encircle
Lariat - From Spanish 'La Riata' which means the rope.

I am not sure if America (referring to the U.S.) has as singilar piece of clothing that would be 'american'. Although I have seen a lot of good ideas on this thread so far.

Brice

(Wikipedia gives a brief description. Although I would not use it as an authoritative source.)

Brice:

Cowboy culture doesn't just come from Spain or Latin America, though:

www.cowboyceltic.com

The first American "cowboys" were in reality Ulster-Scots "pigboys" who drove herds of swine in the backcountry of the Carolinas.

There is a strong Scottish & Irish influence in the American cowboy; David Wilkie & Cowboy Celtic perform a cowboy song written in Scots Gaelic from Alberta, Canada, for example.

Some also believe that the Prarie Cajuns of Western Louisiana contributed to cowboy culture.

T.

[bricelythgoe]

Brice:

Cowboy culture doesn't just come from Spain or Latin America, though:

www.cowboyceltic.com

The first American "cowboys" were in reality Ulster-Scots "pigboys" who drove herds of swine in the backcountry of the Carolinas.

There is a strong Scottish & Irish influence in the American cowboy; David Wilkie & Cowboy Celtic perform a cowboy song written in Scots Gaelic from Alberta, Canada, for example.

Some also believe that the Prarie Cajuns of Western Louisiana contributed to cowboy culture.

T.

Agreed, but the Cowboy of the 'west' does. I think most people think of that type of cowboy when they hear the word. You are right. There are other types of cowboys as well. I think the basic origins of a COWBOY have most of their roots from Spain and then Mexico.

Brice

[DWFII]

The cowboy originated from Spain and came over here with the conquistadors like Cortez and Pizarro. It would be more accurate to trace cowboy dress (atleast what we know as cowboy dress) to Mexico and the VAQUERO, and beyond that to Spain. Just look at some of the most common words used by cowboys:

Rodeo - From Spanish 'El Rodeo' which means to encircle
Lariat - From Spanish 'La Riata' which means the rope.

I am not sure if America (referring to the U.S.) has as singilar piece of clothing that would be 'american'. Although I have seen a lot of good ideas on this thread so far.

Well, I'm not going to argue the details but the quintessential piece of cowboy gear--the cowboy boot--actually has little or no connection with Mexican or even Spanish forerunners. The most direct lineage is Eastern Europe, Germany and England.

Arthur Wellesley--the First Duke of Wellington popularized a two piece side seam boot in the wake of his defeat of Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo. [This became known as the "full wellington"...all side seam boots were known as "wellingtons"...and eventually the cowboy boot was recognized as a "dress wellington."] All of Europe, including the civilian populations were fascinated by, and often drew from military styles in footwear. It became very fashionable for both men and women...only to be later surpassed by a backseam boot derived from the Hussar boot.

That sideseam boot came across the pond and was the man's boot in the US all during the early, middle and late 19th century. It was the Civil War Calvary Officers boot and came west when the war was over. Eastern European and German settlers in the Hill country of Texas produced some of the earliest iconic cowboy boots. Certain features of those boots and the boots made in the early 1900's are seen nowhere else in the world except in 19th century German workshops.

And in passing, the iconic cowboy hat is thought to have evolved from hats common in the Southeast. It is at least derivative of a style known as "plantation." The earliest that we can call distinctly "cowboy" was Stetson's "Boss of the Plains."

Blue jeans do not have any Spanish influence.

All that said, there is some Mexican and Spanish influence seen in tack and saddlery...as well as, many of the words used to describe the work and horse associated equipment. This is only to be expected when you consider that most of the earliest cattle drives originated along the Rio Grande and surrounding country. A good many of the earliest drovers were Mexican and even former slaves.

But I can't think of a single garment or piece of apparel that owns much of anything to Mexico or Spain.

Edit: the only thing I can think of that you might attribute to Mexican influence was that some of Maximillian's troops were said to sport a Hussar boot that had yellow tops (tassles too)