30 Western Wear

Western wear

Thank you to Oriskany Creek Thank you to Oriskany Creek Farms for allowing us to Farms for allowing us to shoot at their location. shoot at their location.

Western wear

writer: Julia Radomisli photographers: Jack Grossi and Sophia Viscarello beauty: Anna Villamil and Jade Levitin models: Rj Corba, Ellie Whelan, Jackson Harrison, George Herrera, and Zoe Sauve stylists: Louisa Crozier, Jason Le, Emmy Goodwin, Cole Kuczek, and Aisling Mockler layout: Piper Williams

Western style is back. Cowboy boots are now not only seen on Wyoming ranches but flooding the streets of Manhattan. Those and other elements of Western wear have become extremely popular recently as famous models and celebrities have started to incorporate them into their everyday looks. Western wear pieces can be added into outfits to both dress up casual looks or to add a bit of spunk to a more mundane outfit. Along with fringe vests, bootcut jeans, and cowboy hats and boots, cow print has also returned on all sorts of clothing and accessories, from purses to crop tops. Wrangler Jeans, a company founded in 1943 and endorsed by professional rodeo cowboys four years later, now makes clothing for anyone — not just cowboys and ranchers. Western wear is everywhere, and it might just stay a while. The “Wild West’’ has played an important role in the identity and national memory of The United States, making its way into the world of high fashion. This year’s Met Gala theme, In America: A Lexicon of Fashion, featured many aspects of the style, including Jennifer Lopez’s stunning leather dress and Leon Bridges’s fringed Bode jacket. Despite these fun trends, we have more to consider regarding Western fantasy than just the appealing fashion. American culture has painted the old “Wild West” as a world of embellished boots, swinging saloon doors, and lawless activities. Films, books, and TV shows have all shown a similar image of big adventures and even bigger hats; however, this glamorized time of rebellion has an insidious past. Media often portrays a “Cowboys versus Indians” narrative that is historically inaccurate, as federal soldiers were often the ones who instigated violence under federal orders. Motivated by the rhetoric of Manifest Destiny -- the belief that Western settlement is justified and inevitable -- American settlers drove out Indigenous communities, murdering many and forcefully relocating others to reservations. In addition to changing the narrative of such atrocities, the media has painted a monolithic image of the cowboy as a free-spirited hero. The cowboy image often consists of white men with high boots, large hats, fringe vests, shiny guns, and ample bravery. This image, too, fails to tell the whole story. According to BBC, many cowboys were black, and this black presence in the “Wild West” has been forgotten in contemporary history. These cowboys were an essential part of the American West, though very rarely acknowledged or heard of.

We must acknowledge our colonial history and stand in solidarity with the Shenandoah, Kirkland Initiative

It is also important to recognize that our own campus is built on stolen land. Hamilton College is located on the lands of the Oneida people. The Hamilton-Oneida Academy was founded in 1793 by Chief Shenandoah and Rev. Samuel Kirkland. We must acknowledge our colonial history and stand in solidarity with the ShenandoahKirkland Initiative. I urge everyone to research the history of Chief Shenandoah and Rev. Samuel Kirkland and to support the Oneida people today. These summaries are of massive oversimplifications, but it can be easy to get caught up in the fun of Western pieces and outfits without thinking about their historical implications. The rise of Western style highlights the importance of raising awareness about American atrocities during a time that is so often glorified for its lawlessness and freedom. When thinking about these trends, consider what you can do to support Indigenous communities by donating, researching the land you are on, and raising awareness. Honoring Western style has served to create and maintain a particular idealized image of the West, however, we must acknowledge the whole story. The American cowboy is a nuanced symbol, but the sense of adventure and individualism is not something we should forget. Enjoy these staples of uniquely American fashion, but remember not to take everything at face value. 30