Proper Attire for men

[PineKnot]

Here is a web site that has some very good information on proper clothing for men. This is not what your average cowhand would look like, but most fashion was dictated by being proper. Remember this was the Victorian Age. Even most (not all)cowhands tried to look proper when they went to town, taking off neckerchiefs and replacing them with ties of some sort.
Check this site out:
http://www.lahacal.org/gentleman/index.html

[PineKnot]

Try looking at second hand stores, Goodwill stores, garage sales for things, as it can help save money. I have bought several good used sport coats and turned them into decent cowboy coats. They were a wool blend, three and four button sport coats. The three button can be modified into a four button by sewing on another button at the proper distance above what is already there. Add the button hole to match. I have also added two buttons on the back above the vent flap on one. This adds a little to it to make it look a little more authentic. At $6 each compared to about $50 for one from a vendor.

Look for the old style "high top " black or brown dress shoes with the squared plain toe. These are pretty close to what they had in the 1880s . You can replace the laces and have shoes for your "townie" character.

Also look for the older felt mens dress hat(fedora). These can be reshaped and made into derbies or bowler hats. (the older the better)These can be found for just a few dollars. Compare it to $30 -40 from a hat dealer.

Modern felt cowboy hats of decent quality, without side vent holes, can be reshaped into a period correct crown and brim by soaking it it hot water, reshaping and letting it dry. A used felt Resistol can be had for $10 and save you $80 for a period correct hat.
Look for winter coats that can be made into a cowboy coat. Wool, or corduroy can be found quite frequently. Remove anything modern looking from it, change any modern buttons etc.

[gunsofsa]

test