Fort Worth’s Style
by Pete WannEditors Note: Being completely devoid of sense when it comes to sartorial issues, I thought it better left up to our readers to weigh in on this topic. -PeteW
Loyal reader FWTacoma sent this in:
What is Fort Worth’s style? Austin has the tommy bahama, care-free, casual style where many things are very dressed down. Dallas has the urban dewsh style. San Antonio has the mexican thing.
So what is our style? We’ve got the casual attitude coming from a lot of people (especially with all the people that come in from the west) and from TCU. We’ve got the cosmopolitan people who hang out in certain bars downtown and from a portion of the TCU crowd. We’ve got the mexican thing going on. And we’ve got the cowboy thing. Plus we’ve kind of got an Indie/hippie thing going on.
When I first met Fort Worth I remember that you could hang out in downtown in whatever made you comfortable. Now it seems like the bar has been raised. Thats probably not a bad thing but I think we need to figure out what our style is to help our identiy. Or is our style much like what we are - a melitng pot of everything?
I was at the Flying Saucer the other night and you had the girls in the nice dresses, the girls in the jeans, the guys dressed extremely urban, and those dressed like they just rode in from weatherford. I thought it was cool, but I have a feeling if we don’t establish ourselves as that melting pot type of city, the urban (dallas) look is going to take over. I would rather us have our own style that provides one more distinction between us and our neighbors.
Fellow Fort Worthians — What do you think? (Personally, I like this style — only with cowboy boots, which I’ve totally seen him wear with that outfit.)
9 Comments, Comments or Pings
Ann
It’s hard to name one style for all of Fort Worth…but overall I see Fort Worth as being somewhat casual but on the trendy side. People around here do follow the “rules” of seasonal dress more than where I was raised. On a trip back to my homestate of CA I was taken aback by how causal everyone was in LA. Flip flops in December really stood out to me after living in TX for 18 years. But their awesome weather makes that doable.
As a stay at home mom my style is either trendy casual stuff or workout clothes. LOL The western stuff is not for me at all but I was not born or raised here. I do however own cowboy boots but it took me living here for over 15 years before I got them. I’m curious to hear how others see Fort Worth style.
Jul 21st, 2008
FWTacoma
So Ann, are you thinking something similar to Austin, but with more emphasis on the season?
Jul 21st, 2008
vinnyv28
Fort Worth needs to remain moderate in every sense of that word. Not too “country-style” that says we’re inbred rednecks that just got off the late-shift of manning the ferris wheel at the state fair. But, I abhor the idea of turning too “urban-style” that says ‘hey, look at me because I never got enough attention as a child and I desperately need to fit in with some crowd so I’ll try my best to look like Dallas trash who are desperately trying to look like Manhattan Yuppie trash who are desperately trying to look like European aristocratic trash who are desperately trying to obscure the fact that they are desperately unhappy and have small penises.
So, I guess what I’m trying to say is: Jeans and T-shirts for bars and save the incredibly sexy attire for the clubs. Fair enough?
The notable exception being New Years. Then all women should wear heels and thigh highs and all men should be slobbering drunk by midnight.
Jul 22nd, 2008
Kevin Buchanan
I’m in trouble, then - can’t stand jeans and haven’t owned a pair in over a decade. I’m the guy whose idea of “casual” is slacks and a vintage loop collar shirt, and who still puts on a suit and tie when I go out.
Jul 22nd, 2008
Pete Wann
There is always room for eccentricity, Kevin!
Jul 22nd, 2008
FWTacoma
I don’t see why Kevin’s style wouldn’t also fit in if we maintain the melting pot idea. But, my concern is that the melting pot style isn’t enough to hold an identity. For many, its not an identity, but instead, a bunch of minority identities. Thats fine, but I think the dallas style is going to take over if we don’t define the style soon.
Jul 24th, 2008
Steve-O
Anything involving a fez, a smoking jacket or spats, I am all for.
In lieu of that, I would like to offer some possibilities.
One thing I have noticed about Fort Worth is this: dressing down seems to always be acceptable. Jeans at the opera is not uncommon. There’s an unside to that — comfort. But there is also a downside — a lack of decorum.
I believe that some things in life you just have to get dressed up for. No matter what, if someone dies, I am going to put on a suit and tie and go to the funeral. Why? It’s not about my comfort, it’s about showing respect to the person you are there to honor.
I would like to see more of situationally appropriate dressing, but it won’t happen any time soon. give it 20 years, and I think you’ll see the backlash. Your grandkids will think black tie and tails are totally krunk.
But what is Fort Worth’s style? Depends on who you are looking at.
I love going to the stock show to see the folks in their ironed Wranglers, Stetsons and freshly shined boots. It’s not my look, but I admire that old school Texas look. My thing is more the GenX dad look with the cargo shorts, tshirt and sandals. Yeah, it’s the whole boy-who-never-grew-up thing, but it’s comfortable and cheap.
What I’d like to see more of:
> Boots
> Guayaberas
> Cowboy shirts — think Buck Owens, not Brooks and Dunn
> Coat and tie
> Hats
What I’d like to see less of:
> Tassel loafers
> Golf shirts
> Black tshirts with suits
I’m not going to veer to far into female fashions because I will quickly display my ignorance. However, low rise jeans — good move. Avoid showing the thong or coin slot. That’s just sleazy. But low rise jeans — yes. Dresses — yes. Longer rather than shorter. Velour tracksuits - no. Anything with text across the butt — no. Makeup — less is more.
Not sure that answered the question, but maybe it continues the conversation.
Jul 24th, 2008
ERA
What is Fort Worth Worth’s style? It’s HOME-TOWN CONFORMABLE - One may classify Dallas as a city atmosphere, strictly urban, and unfriendly; whereas Fort Worth has that “hometown friendly atmosphere with amenities of the largest cities within the U.S. We have world renowned museums, fantastic symphony, Bass Hall, Longhorn steers, beautiful parks, Concerts in the Park with the Ft. Worth Symphony, and lakes (Lake Worth needs renewal), outstanding zoo, and a downtown area that is changing toward metropolitan, with condos, and loft dwellings. Even with all of the above we RESPECT OUR HERITAGE! We dress to the occasion or event! Newcomers from the East or West, need to realize that it may well be a total change of their former resident, they need to adapt!
Sartorial issues? Folks should relearn what is appropriate and what is non-appropriate – to church, funerals, concerts, is for more defined to suits & tie, women in dresses; business offices in professional attire (men and women); restaurants – patrons should be dressed as appropriate and respectful of the reputation and decor of the establishment; Stockyards & Historic Stockyard area -let visitors know we love and respect our heritage; Parks, Zoo, Concerts in the Park – time to have fun, wearing decent comfortable clothing (no baggy pants with one’s crack showing or low huggers with one’s belly button glaring at you). It is not unusual to see a well dressed man dressed in western style suit or even a regular dress suit and bolo tie, wearing his Stetson and boots. There are periodic events to where we have to “gussie up”, and then can’t wait until we get home to change into something more comfortable, but we did dress for the occasion!
Fort Worth’s UNIQUE style could be broadly defined as: Respectful, time-honored, and suitable for occasion, in a home-town atmosphere within a multicultural population. Tattoos? Cover ‘em up (show ‘em off only where appropriate.) You NEVER went shopping downtown wearing SHORTS – that’s moved to the malls. Women NEVER dreamed of wearing pant suits to church, even some men did not favor their spouse wearing slacks. (Now, that has changed for some over time) Flip-Flops – NO WAY except for out-door private situations. They are even outlawed in some public schools due to causing possible serious injury if someone accidently steps on them from behind!
Times have changed, but being RESPECTFUL to all and having a since of PRIDE in one’s self should never change.
Jul 25th, 2008
Kevin Buchanan
For a little more on what I usually do, these are my peeps, so to speak:
http://www.classicstylemag.com/
Jul 25th, 2008
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