UNDER-THE-RADAR REBEL

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A woman wearing a large beige cowboy hat, yellow-tinted glasses, and a brown plaid blazer with a butterfly necklace, sitting in front of a gold perforated wall.

Here at The Texas Edit, we consider the bolo tie to be the unsung hero of western wear, typically receiving far less fanfare than the much-lauded cowboy hat, boots and bandana. Often overlooked, a good bolo tie can be the statement-making piece that makes an otherwise basic outfit shine. Think of it as the unexpected rebel cousin of the scarf, necktie or necklace.

Close-up of a man wearing a denim shirt, a brown jacket with a shearling collar, and a large silver star-shaped bolo tie.

A cowboy riding a white horse, with a darker horse beside him, in a grassy plain with mountains in the background.

Humble Beginnings

Like many hallmarks of Western and Americana style, the bolo tie comes from humble beginnings. What started as a utilitarian accessory, neckerchiefs secured with a slide worn by cowboys to block the sun, dust and dirt that would get kicked up on the range, evolved into a more formal adornment.

Rise to Notoriety

Many of the best known cowboys of the silver screen from the 1930s through the 1950s donned bolo ties with attractive silver slides in their films. Characters such as Hopalong Cassidy and the Cisco Kid made the accessory a recognizable symbol of pop culture and an alternative to the traditional necktie.

Iconic Design

Much of the beauty of the bolo tie comes from its simplicity: a cord secured with a slide. In our opinion, the very best design statements are extraordinarily simple, serving a purpose with the most no-frills execution possible. That’s not to say we don’t love a bolo tie that makes a statement. It’s also important to point out the duality of the bolo tie. It’s a style that is simultaneously dressy and polished, while also being entirely badass. How quintessentially Texan.

AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT

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A woman wearing a large black hat, a colorful scarf, a denim shirt, and a necklace with a large stone pendant.

In 2007, Texas House Concurrent Resolution No. 12 was filed by State Representative Armando Martinez, making the bolo tie the official state tie of Texas.

“WHEREAS, A singular fashion associated with the American West is the bolo tie, distinguished by its decorative clasp that fastens a length of cord or string; a staple of the western-wear fashions sported by a large number of Texans, the bolo tie conjures up the romance of the pioneer era and speaks to the determination and independence that figure so prominently in Lone Star lore…A fashion accessory that can be personalized to reflect the wearer’s taste and interests, the bolo tie is well matched to the individualism that is so much a part of the Texan identity; the selection of a bolo over a standard tie can suggest that the wearer refuses to be bound by convention and relishes the freedom to exhibit a distinctive sense of style.”

How badass.