As Seen In

Southwestern Sizzle
By Erin Walsh, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Friday, August 26, 2005

There's no reason for cowgirls to get the blues this fall with the bevy of Western wear-inspired fashions that are all the rage this side of the Continental Divide. To add a little extra spice to your western duds, simply add Southwestern accessories, and you'll be hotter than a habanero pepper in no time.

The signature elements of this look are embellished cowboy boots and tooled leather mules in traditional colors as well as vibrant hues, cowboy hats, leather separates such as beaded vests, suede skirts and jackets with fringe, rodeo-ready collared shirts, cowboy-cut jeans and leather belts featuring oversize buckles, grommets or tooling.

"Western clothing is pretty basic -- it's not as trendy as everyday clothing," says Georgia Wolff, owner of Western Wear by Georgia in Richland.

The West meets the Southwest with items including knit skirts with a distinct Santa Fe flair, wool sweater coats patterned after American Indian tribal designs, and handcrafted American Indian jewelry.

Local retailers agree that this look is more than a passing trend.

"I've worn this look for as long as I can remember," says Roberta Weissburg, owner of Roberta Weissburg Leathers, with locations in Shadyside and the South Side. "I'm glad that it's a trend now, but it's far greater than a trend -- it embodies the American identity."

Paul Haas, owner of The Trading Post, a Western wear shop that moved from Tarentum to Cheswick in January, has noticed his customers are getting younger. "Younger people are really getting into it. They're setting the trends. The older people are still buying it, but I'm glad to see an increase in the number of younger customers," he says.

Haas has seen an increase in sales of boots and especially hats and shirts. He prides himself on carrying only authentic American-made leather boots. They range in price from about $80 to $400. The typical pair purchased at the Trading Post runs about $120.

What's fueling the fashion stampede? Haas figures the rising numbers of kids watching Pro Bowl Rodeo on television and then wanting to adopt that look with PBR fashionwear. Haas also notices a surge in sales of hats and shirts just before country music stars such as Kenny Chesney come into town for a concert. Even the new "Dukes of Hazzard" movie has brought attention to Western clothing.

Western boots are one of the best-selling items right now, Weissburg says. Two major boot brands that Roberta Weissburg Leathers carries are Lucchese and Tres Outlaws, both of which are from Texas.

Lucchese, a 122-year-old company, offers a wide range of styles running the gamut from fashion mules to one-of-a-kind boots with crocodile inlay, while Tres Outlaws creates made-to-order, handmade boots contoured to perfectly fit your feet, Weissburg says.

To get the real-deal cowgirl look, slip on a pair of Pro-Rodeo Wrangler cowboy-cut jeans that are sold at Western wear stores such as Western Wear by Georgia.

What distinguishes these jeans from your everyday denim is that they are made to fit around the waist, have a flat inseam for comfort and are cut to slide over boots, Wolff says.

A signature component of the Southwestern craze is American Indian jewelry.

Jody Vignale, co-owner of Four Winds Gallery, with locations Downtown and in Shadyside, which has been in business for 31 years, says that although the American Indian jewelry phase comes and goes, good jewelry is relevant all the time.

"We don't sell any treated or stabilized turquoise," he says. "Everything we sell is the natural stone."

Vignale says that in the past 25 years, American Indians have broadened their palette of materials from traditional turquoise and coral to include virtually all varieties of gemstones, including lapis and sugilite.

"It used to be very localized, but now stone merchants visit the reservations from all over the world and supply them with all varieties of stones," he says.

  1. How to wear it

    The Southwestern look is as equally at home on the range as it is on a shopping spree, a night on the town or a typical day at the office.

    Here are some tips from Roberta Weissburg, owner of Roberta Weissburg Leathers, and Jody Vignale, co-owner of Four Winds Gallery, on how to put together an outfit with Southwestern flair.

    • DO add a fabulous belt or a conservative boot to your outfit for a look that whispers rather than screams western for the office.
    • DO layer smaller, simpler pieces of American Indian jewelry.
    • DO pair jeans with a great leather jacket -- tattered, fringed or studded -- for weekends.
    • DO pair American Indian jewelry with neutral, unadorned fabrics.
    • DO experiment and put different items together to create a unique look.
    • DON'T wear so much Western wear that your outfit begins to look like a costume.
    • DON'T wear turquoise jewelry with busy prints.
    • DON'T wear tons of accessories in addition to one standout piece.

  2. DePascale is wearing a Western Collection Styles vintage-style Western blouse with neck tie ($159) from Roberta Weissburg Leathers. She is also wearing Wrangler jeans ($29.99) and a Bailey straw hat ($32.99) from Western Wear by Georgia.

    DePascale is wearing a Double D Ranch chocolate brown leather jacket ($879) paired with a Double D Ranch linen and nylon blend multi-colored striped skirt ($295), worn as a dress, from Roberta Weissburg Leathers. She is also wearing a turquoise bolo tie cluster by Ann Begay ($195) from Four Winds Gallery.

    3. Do your research

    If you're looking to invest in some high-end American Indian jewelry, here are some tips from Vignale on what to look for in a retailer and how to care for your jewelry.

    • Go to someone knowledgeable that has a track record.
    • Look for vintage pieces, which are usually highly collectible.
    • Seek out pieces by top American Indian artists, whose pieces often are signed.
    • To clean your turquoise jewelry, use a rouge cloth.
    • Don't polish turquoise with a liquid cream polish, which can damage the stone due to its porous nature.

    If you have a collection of antique American Indian jewelry from the 1940s or earlier that you're looking to sell, contact Four Winds Gallery, which purchases antique American Indian jewelry.

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