New Handbags

A few months ago I did a little article on what we carry in our handbags. Since then we have some really fun handbags in the store. We have a little something for everyone from this

fun and funky animal print bag and wallet.

to this flirty and fashionable fringe bag

to this sweet and sassy ruffled bag

Of course this got me thinking do we match our handbags to our personality or our clothing. So once again it is time for a poll of the Burns Girls and winning by a landslide is matching your handbag to your personality. If it is cute and appeals to us, we get it :)

Fashion Friday

This weeks fashion Friday look comes to us from Southern Thread and Lucchese. The plaid weave top by Southern Thread features roll tab sleeves, flocked and embroidered accents as well as grey marbled snaps. The complimentary pairing of the violet and lime makes this an eye catching look.

The jeans are also brought to us by Southern Thread. They are their Adriane Jeans, featuring a vintage cast on the denim and a down to earth rip and repair detailing. This lower rise, slim fit jean is completed with a flare leg and a 20" leg opening perfect for wearing with boots.

And the boots chosen to finish off this fun look are these exclusive Burns Design Lucchese Cowgirl Boots. These destroyed purple ruffle goat boots with silver and gold wing and cross accents bring a pop of color to your feet as well as tying the entire outfit together.

You can click on each picture to find these great items on our website.

Spring Dresses

Another item you will want to add to your spring wardrobe is a dress. Dresses bring such a feminine touch to your wardrobe and they come in so many styles, from casual to romantic.

This sweet and sexy dress by Stetson is made of a lightweight cotton voile that enhances the flowing skirt. You will find cotton lace insets on the bodice and skirt. This dress will definately bring a romantic and feminine touch to your wardrobe. Pair with boots to show a little of your playful side.

These dresses by Rock & Roll Cowgirl definately bring fun and sexy to the mix. These sleeveless lightweight knit racerback dresses feature cute and unique embroidered accents. The twisted straps feature 2 wooden beads each and pass through a tube hem on the back giving these dresses personality from the back.

This cap sleeve knit dress also by Rock & Roll Cowgirl features smocking at the front waistband. Embroidered fleur de lis accents are set off by nailheads. The back is finished off by embroidered crossed guns and wings.

Whether you are looking for soft and romantic or fun and sassy, there is a great spring dress out there for you. Click here to check out our website for these and other fun dresses.

Capris and Shorts

One of the funnest things about spring has to be breaking out the shorts, bermudas and capris. We have some really fun styles from Rock 47, Cruel Girl and Ariat.

These cute capris are brought to us from Rock 47 by Wrangler. They are a low rise with a dark wash and fun cross detail on the back pockets. Definately a comfortable fun addition to any spring wardrobe.

These fun purple plaid bermuda shorts come from Cruel Girl. They are low rise, slim through the hip and thigh. These bermudas are a great casual, relaxed addition to any wardrobe.

These slimming, sexy bermuda shorts come from the new Ariat Denim collection. They are a low rise, dark wash with a frayed hemline for a touch of fun.

Click here to view these three styles plus other styles avaliable on our Burns Saddlery website So have fun and grab some "short pants" and enjoy spring.

Cowgirl Tuff Jeans

I am a huge fan of jeans. They are right at the top of my list next to boots and I love it when I find a line of jeans that are amazing. To me an amazing jean must fit great, look great and still do that after I have washed them. I have fallen in love with Cowgirl Tuff Jeans. They are made from 98% cotton and 2% spandex which gives them a great fit. They give just enough without getting stretched out. They have yet to shrink and I do dry my jeans 80% of the way. A great jean must also look great and come in several different styles. Cowgirl Tuff has so many fun looks from casual to dressy, light to dark wash, and from lots of embellishments and bling to none at all. One of the coolest things about Cowgirl Tuff Jeans is we have a great promotion going on with select styles. Buy 2 get 1 free. You can choose from the Ain't My Day to Care, Chrome Gypsy, Orange Don't Fence Me In and Wild Thing. Come in the store and check them out or check them out on our website.

What Is In Your Handbag?

The Handbag or purse as it is referred to in American English dates back to the 14th century when both men and women would attach pouches to their girdle. The pouch would vary according to the fashion, status, and lifestyle of the wearer. Not much has changed over the past 600 years, with the exception of the contents. I had a fun experience with the contents of my handbag recently and thought it would be great to find out what the top 5 must haves for the Burns Girls are in theirs. So drum roll please, the top 5 things are: 1. Lip Gloss, Chapstick or Lipstick 2. Wallet (with lots of money of course) 3. Gum 4. Ibuprofen or some type of pain reliever 5. Lotion Of course this wasn't everything, just the 5 that were mentioned the most. Here are some of the other things we carry: knife or leatherman tool, feminine products, diapers & wipes (definitely from our mom of little ones), keys, cell phone, mirror and planner. The most interesting reply came from Wendy our Marketing Gal Extraordinaire, ropes, rope gloves, bell boots, dally rubber and a water bottle. Stay tuned and we will bring you some pretty amazing handbag options to carry all of your necessities in.

If The Boot Fits

Another weekend in Park City, and I am still so amazed at how many people comment on the fact that they already own cowboy boots and don't wear them because they hurt their feet.

It is so important to be fit properly. With boots, size is a guideline, you cannot get stuck on the fact that you have always worn a certian size. You have a size range, most of us that own several pairs of boots, have several different sizes and widths of boots depending on leather and style.

Wearing boots is different than wearing a tennis shoe, it is more like wearing a slipper or clog. Your heel should slip when you put on a new pair of boots. It is perfectly acceptable to slip up to 1 1/2 inches. The slip will subside once you have worn the boots several times and the boot begins to conform to your foot.

A boot should never be tight, pinch or pull any on your foot. If it does, the boot is too small and you will own a pair of boots that you do not want to wear. Your foot should feel comfortable when you try on the boot and you shouldn't assume that it will "stretch" so you need a smaller size. It is true some leathers will give but only a little and not enough to justify buying a boot that is too small.

At the Burns family of stores, we want your boot to fit. All of our associates are trained in the proper fitting of a boot. We want you to proudly and comfortably wear the boots that you purchase from us. We want you to love your boots as much as we do.

Cowgirl Apparel

I read the best article on CowgirlDiary.com (see link at right for blogs & websites we love, the article is dated February 26th). It's called Cowgirl Apparel, the author has been having a lot of the same musings that I have lately. What makes people choose the clothing that they do?

This was big on my mind last week as I placed a job posting for a sales associate for the store. In the requirements I included "attire appropriate for the western industry". I did not have as many responses as I did a few months ago to another listing that did not specify any attire. This is the only thing I could think of that would make much of a difference.

So what exactly is cowgirl apparel or western attire? It really depends on where you are and what you are doing. To me appropriate western attire definately includes boots. Of course my 5 toe Lucchese Classics might not be the boot for a girl taking her horse for a ride, but they do look pretty great running around the store. It also includes a favorite pair of jeans. It doesn't matter what brand, what cut, or what style as long as you feel amazing in them. Then what ever top you are in the mood for be it a t-shirt, a plaid button down, or a light peasant top.

Western attire has definately evolved from the roper and brushpopper days. It is all about comfort, style and individuality. There is no right or wrong item to include, just what suits your personality best.

Fashion Friday

Today's outfit was put together by Emily. It features a brown long sleeved henley tee with a distressed coral screen print by Cruel Girl. This top features custom hardware accents and buttons. Paired with a coral tank, it is a fun pop of color for spring.

Also featured are the Cruel Girl Shawna jeans. The Shawna features heavy, wicked embroidery details all over this stretch jean. Cream and Khaki toned saddle stitiching accents the yokes and pockets. Whiskers and baked creases add flair to the rinsed denim. Finished off with an eye catching back pocket, these jeans can be your favorite for riding or going out.

This is definately a great transition outfit from the blahs of winter to the fun of spring.

Marching into Spring

I must admit I LOVE SPRING. It is by far my most favorite season of all. There is so much promise in spring, warmer weather, green grass and trees, blossoming flowers, longer days, I could go on and on. One of the best things about spring is being able to get out a whole new wardrobe (at least here in Utah). One thing about our climate is we have 2 distinctive wardrobes to accommodate the extreme changes in temperature.

I thought it would be fun to have different members of our team put together outfits from head to toe for Fashion-Forward Fridays. We can showcase some of the new items we have in and how to put them together for a fun fashion- forward look. So check us out every Friday and see what we have come up with.

In or Out

In or Out?? This is a big question on my mind lately, do I wear my boots in (under my jeans) or out (over my jeans)? I have always been a boot under my jeans girl, but the quarters (tops) of most of my boots are so cute, why not show them off?

Obviously there is the matter of what type of jeans you have on. If you are wearing boot cut jeans, it is a given that your jeans go over your boots. It's difficult to pull off the boots tucked in with the extra denim at the bottom of a boot cut jean. And of course with skinny jeans, boots outside will only work, because of the lack of denim at the bottom.

Really there should be no problem then, pick your jean and wear it accordingly. A couple of the girls at our Cowboy Shop often wear their boots out and it definately gives the boot a new look so I did just that. I will admit it felt a little strange at first and my 14 year old daughter wasn't sure that it was a good idea to leave the house that way, but I figured what the heck.

So for the first day out, I chose my triad cut mosaic caimen boots with the bronze quarters, my most flashy boots. I was at first a little self conscious, but quickly became comfortable with the look. To me it was a little more fashionable look, and that is somewhere I am excited to go. I am thinking boots in are a little more casual and comfortable, boots out are a little more fashionable and edgy.

It's so much fun being able to experiment with different styles and being able to get two styles out of one item.

Ariat Denim

Burns Saddlery is excited to be carrying the Ariat line of denim for men and ladies. The design is focused for the rider to have a great riding jean as well as a fashionable jean.

The ladies jean comes in 2 fits as of now, Ruby which is a low rise slimmer fit, and Turquoise that is a mid rise with a slightly more relaxed fit. In the fall, they are coming out with the Amber fit that is between the two fits avaliable now. We were lucky enough to have our Ariat Apparel rep here and try on the sample. They are great.

Ariat denim is built to hold up, with 100 % ringspun cotton , comfort inseams that lay flat to prevent irritation, anchored belt loops, true fit waist band, high -quality zippers and hardware, no see pocket lines as well as slimming back pockets. Ariat designers work to provide a fashionable jean that will take you from the saddle to out on the town.

Check them out on Burns Saddlery's website .

Hat Couture

Since I have raved about boots so much lately, I am going to talk about another great accessory, Hats. Wearing a hat definitely can give you an attitude or change the attitude you already have, but you have to have the right hat. You could go in to a local chain store and pick one off the shelf, but it will lack something, character. Character is what you will get when you work with a master hatter in designing a hat that is uniquely you.

Beginning with just the right color, finding the correct crown height for you, creating the shape that flatters you and adding the finishing touches to make it so you. Everything about a hat is suited to who you are and what you want to convey.

Sometimes people shy away from buying a hat, because it looks new and everyone will think you are just "trying to be a cowboy". Well first of all who cares what everyone thinks and secondly there is a really cool way around that new look. Distressing is a really cool trend in hats right now.

Of course there are those that say why buy something that looks used? That is the point, it's all broken in without any of the work. Plus it looks like it is something you have had for a while and no one will even know the difference. Also distressing adds that character that we are looking for.

So if you are looking for a little attitude or to change the attitude you have, try on a hat you may be pleasantly surprised.

Lucchese Classics 101

I know I have written a lot about boots on this blog. I will admit I am a little obsessed, I am so smitten with the quality, construction and visual appeal of the Lucchese Classics. The possibilities are so endless when it comes to choosing a boot.

What if you just aren't finding quite the boot you want? First you can choose from a huge variety of leathers and colors. You can add silk stitching or a cording pattern. You can combine different types of leather; one for the vamp and a different for the quarters. You can add inlays and overlays for a unique dimensional look. Tooling and filigreeing give an artistic look that is absolutely beautiful. There are also so many finishes such as burnishing, stonewashing and destroying. The possibilities are endless.

Then you can choose your toe and heel combination as well as the sole for your boot. Say you see a boot that you like, but the toe is a little narrow for your preference, you can just order it with a different toe. Or maybe the heel isn't quiet you, order a different heel. Lucchese has a toe and heel chart on their website (click the link :http://www.lucchese.com/files/faqs8.pdf and page down to page 7)

The Lucchese Classic boot is so well made. First and foremost the boots are all handmade by skilled craftsmen. No one that makes a Lucchese Classic has worked for the company less than 15 years. The twisted cone last is unique to the Lucchese Classic, all boots are hand lasted using a unique last to provide optimum support and comfort. This kind of care and artistry take time. A custom ordered pair of boots will take a minimum of 12 weeks. The wait is so worth it though, there is nothing quite like getting your own unique quality, custom made pair of boots.

Signature Pieces

I think it would be appropriate to give a little history on myself. I am not a cowgirl, in fact I have never been on a horse other than the merry go round kind. Up until a few years ago I had no interest in western fashion and certainly did not see myself purchasing let alone wearing anything remotely western.

I have a good friend that is actually married to our company President and we were at an activity and I noticed her boots. They were cute and made such a statement. Like myself, she is not a cowgirl, she doesn't dress western from head to toe. Just the boots. I would say that is the point I fell in love with western fashion.

It doesn't need to be a head to toe type of thing. Pick a signature piece weather it be boots, a hat, jeans, a belt,tops, jackets, or jewelry. What ever makes you feel great and fits your personality. I have some trendy tops that I sometimes pair with some slacks and flats or heels, but I pair it with jeans and a pair of boots and it creates a great and unique look that is all my own. A fun plaid button down looks really great with a pair of skinny jeans and flats also just as cute with boot cut jeans and boots (of course)

Pick just one piece and add it to your current wardrobe and you'll find yourself wanting to try incorporating other unique things.

Spring Trends

I read an article that stated, Trends begin, they evolve, and then they fade or simply become a standard. This is certainly true in the world of fashion. I set out to come up with an exciting report on the fashion trends of Spring 2011, and came up flat. Yes, there are some very exciting and different trends for the spring in the fashion world, but none seemed to really apply to the fashion of The Cowboy Way.

Why is that? Because the western style of fashion is a standard and not a trend. Not to say that there aren't trends that play into a standard, but they are in the details. So taking a different approach I came up with some of the great details that we will be seeing this spring.

Beginning with what I consider the standard of my wardrobe, jeans. This spring we will continue to see a lot of heavy embroidery and saddle stitching. Stitching adds a lot of interest and texture. Flap pockets are also another hot detail for the spring. Feminine rhinestones and studs are adding that extra little something. Another thing I noticed was that distressing is coming more in shades and tones on the denim with less fraying and tearing of the fabric itself. Boot cut still ranks number one, but Rock & Roll Cowgirl has an adorable pair of skinny jeans great for tucking into and showing off your boots.

In tops, fitted, feminine plaid button ups continue to be a great staple in both long and short sleeved. Fun, bright colors and topstitching are keeping things fresh. Burnout fabric seems to have carried over into spring fashions as well. There are some fun tops with burnout fabric used for the sleeves in a layered look. Flourishes are adding fun details to several tops.

There are also so many fun accessories to add to your wardrobe in boots, hats and jewelry. I will spotlight those items next time.

Under Kody's Hat

I am so excited one of my fellow co-workers at Burns Saddlery is starting a new blog. Kody our hat specialist is just getting his blog Under Kody's Hat up and running. It will feature cool facts, great tips and stories about cowboy hats.

It is so exciting to discover the fun way you can use western wear as an accessory to your other wardrobe items. You don't have to be a working cowboy to wear the attire. Just as I have learned that boots are one of the coolest accessories, a hat can definately give you an entirely new attitude.

So check out Kody's blog at http://www.underkodyshat.blogspot.com/ and learn about the great ways to incorporate a hat into your wardrobe.

An Exotic Experience

I walked into Burns Cowboy Shop in Park City with a pair of Blue Jean Stonewashed Mad Dog Goat boots in my heart. I had seen them in Carmel and was just sure that I had to have them, they would go with everything. Sitting to the right of "my boots" were a pair of Mosaic Caimen boots, it was love at first sight. I almost forgot I was after a pair of blue boots.
What a jump, these boots are not only unique and beautiful they are so versatile. I am such a fussy dresser. Black boots with black and grey shirts, brown with brown and cream shirts. I can wear these boots with any color and I really mean any color. They pick up the tone of whatever you are wearing. I had to have them and they are such a good investment. I can dress them up or down and they will just take on an entirely new personality.

During my time at the Cowboy Shop, I was so amazed at how incredibly versatile boots are. It's so fun to be able to try on boots that I didn't think that I would even consider and see just how they look. Taking a boot from the shelf and onto your foot opens you up to an entirely different perspective.

So take a risk, try on something that you normally wouldn't consider, you may be pleasantly surprised.

Boot Buying Tips

I have had the privilage of spending 10 days in Park City, Utah at our Cowboy Shop. I have learned so much about our Lucchese Classics and I am excited to share what I have learned.

I found it very interesting that several people commented on the fact that they have cowboy boots, and they love them, but they never just wear them. I began to wonder why that is, I mentioned it to Jeena and she said that it is because most people have been sized too small.

Most people aren't educated or aware of how a cowboy boot should properly fit. When putting your foot in the throat of the boot, your foot should comfortably "pop" into the boot. The boot should fit comfortably snug through the instep with no pinching or pulling. There should be up to 1 1/2" of heel slippage. The heel needs to be able to slip so that you can get your foot into and out of the boot. The slippage will subside some once you have worn the boot a couple of times.

Fit is the most important aspect of enjoying and wearing your boots. Second comes style. When choosing a pair of boots, I think they need to "speak" to you. They need to fit your personality and style. A good choice for a first time boot is definately a brown or black. They are both versatile colors and can be worn with many clothing choices. Goat,Buffalo Calf, Bison or Hippo are all great choices of leather for a first time pair, they are durable as well as comfortable.

I often say that I won't buy a boot I am not in love with. I have to first like it on the shelf, but once it is on my foot, I have to be in love. I have to know just what I am going to wear this pair of boots with and see the possibilities. A pair of boots is not just another purchase, it is an investment as well as a wearable work of art.

Buying your first pair of boots can be such a rewarding and fulfilling process. With the right components, it can be something that you look forward for years to come.

The Jean Report

One thing every girl needs regardless of whether she is a cowgirl or not, is a great pair of jeans. We are so lucky at Burns Saddlery and the Burns Cowboy Shops' that we get to wear jeans every day so having great jeans is a must. So what makes a pair of jeans go from just a pair of jeans to a great pair of jeans? I conducted a little survey of the ladies that work at Burns Saddlery and Burns Cowboy Shop in Park City to find out what they thought.

I first asked in their opinion, what the deciding factors they use when shopping for jeans. The factors that we all agree are the most important in jeans are fit, comfort and cut. The price, color and embellishments aren’t quite as crucial in our decision to buy a pair of jeans.

What makes us want to try on a pair of jeans? First they have to look good just sitting there, unique and stylish, then we have to be able to find our size. But the biggest reason for trying on a pair of jeans is to see how they fit and see how they look, especially if they are flattering to our assets.

So what takes a pair of jeans from just jeans to your favorite jeans? Hands down, comfort and fit are the most important factors in making a pair of jeans your favorite. I asked the girls what their favorite brands of jeans were (even ones that we don’t sell). Silver, Adiktd, Taverniti So., Miss Me and Q-Baby were some of the answers.

Of course I asked what line of jeans that we carry were their favorites and here are our winners:

Adiktid Jeans for fit

Rock & Roll Cowgirl for the bling factor


Cowgirl Tuff for the fit and look


Wrangler Q Baby for the stretch and comfort We would love to hear about your favorite jeans. Leave us a comment and we'll let everyone know what our readers favorites are.