So, for my birthday, I got my very first cowboy hat (iconic, I know). I had this whole vision of walking into fall like a Yellowstone extra. Only problem? My head is huge. Like, pumpkin patch display huge. The hat did not fit, and I had to go swap it out for a bigger size. Two sizes bigger, to be exact.
And that’s how I found myself at Boot Barn for the very first time ... expecting to just do a quick exchange and leave. But no. Boot Barn is basically Disneyland for western wear, and I walked out not just with a hat that actually fits my head, but with an entirely new Pinterest board and the overwhelming urge to buy a whole lot of land. (That's not even a joke!)
Let me tell you...
The Hat Wall of Dreams (aka Why I Came)
The cowboy hat section at Boot Barn deserves its own store. It’s just a massive wall of felt and straw, and every color you didn’t even know hats came in. Black, tan, ivory, even ones with rhinestones that made me think, “Do I… need to become a country pop star?”
I wasn’t trying to reinvent myself (yet). We'll get there. I just wanted my same exact hat, one size bigger, and thank goodness they had it. Slid that thing on and suddenly I was like: “Yep, this is my hero origin story.”
Pinterest board additions: cowboy hats with flowy dresses, cowboy hats with denim on denim, cowboy hats with cozy sweaters and boots. Basically, cowboy hats with everything.
🌸 Prints & Patterns Everywhere
Floral boots, turquoise belts, cow-print purses ... it was giving western chic, not cheesy Halloween costume. Imagine a sleek all-black outfit with just a little cow-print bag? SOLD.
I didn’t buy anything (self-control, barely), but I left convinced: Western style is a lot more colorful (and cuter) than I gave it credit for.'
The Boots Situation
Let’s talk boots. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! SOO many aisles of them. Every style you can think of: tall, short, embroidered, plain, sparkly. My jaw was on the floor.
And then I made the mistake of looking at the kids’ section. Tiny glitter cowboy boots for little girls??? I almost cried. Do you know how unfair it is that I didn’t own those at age six? Or that they don't come in my size now??
The whole store smelled like leather, and suddenly I understood why people spend half their paycheck on boots. I didn’t even try any on this trip (self-restraint was at an all-time high), but mentally I left with about six pairs in my cart.
✨ What I Actually Left With
Just the hat. (& The crowd BOOOOS!) That’s it. One hat in a size that doesn’t give me a tension headache. But honestly? The Pinterest board I created in my head was priceless.
I’m already plotting outfits, dreaming about cow print accessories, and yes ... preparing myself for the inevitable “oops, I bought boots” moment. I've been daydreaming about it for almost a year now
💌 Final Thoughts: Boot Barn Rookie Era
If you’ve never been to Boot Barn, it’s one of those stores you walk into thinking, “I’ll just look,” and then suddenly you’re like, “Do I need a lasso? Should I start line dancing? (Why don't we have more line dancing options in Pittsburgh?) Do I own enough denim for this lifestyle?”
So yeah ... I get it now. I walked in to fix a hat situation and walked out feeling like a cowgirl-in-training.
Now tell me: have you been to Boot Barn? Or what's your favorite western wear store? What was your first purchase ... boots, a hat, or did cow print also call your name? ðŸ¤
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