Buckle Up

As a Christmas gift the Wrangler had Montana Silversmiths make a custom belt buckle for me, or rather, for Starr--my sassy, fun-loving alter ego.

It finally arrived last week, but not in time for the rodeo. "I really needed it for the rodeo. When will I ever wear it now?" I lamented, pondering whether my law firm's business casual dress code would include a huge belt buckle emblazoned with the name of one's sassy, fun-loving alter ego.

The Wrangler looked nonplussed. "Huh? When won't you wear it?"

All right then; here comes Starr. Watch out world.

From Chaps to Chanel

When I arrived at the barn this morning, my instructor had a western saddle on Francie and we had a great lesson! I respect and admire English equitation, but I'm not nearly as nervous in the western saddle. My instructor, who is all too aware of my fear of falling, often gets creative. Today in the western saddle I felt confident enough to ride with my eyes closed and without reins while my instructor led Francie at the trot. The point of the exercise was to learn to feel the horse's strides and movement, and I would have freaked out (FREAKED. OUT.) being led at the trot with eyes shut and no reins in an English saddle.

"I love the English style of riding, but I think I might be a cowgirl after all," I told the Wrangler as we waited for a price check on western riding chinks at the tack store this afternoon. (Chinks are similar to chaps but hit the mid-calf instead of running the whole length of the leg. They fasten behind the leg with a few buckles above the back of the knee, which allows the chinks to move more freely below the knee.) After buying my chinks, which can only be described as effing awesome, we swung by the mall on our way home. As I handed the salesperson my credit card at the Chanel store, I briefly wondered if AmEx would flag my account for unusual activity. Chaps and chinks and Chanel...well, I always said that I was an urban cowgirl.

While my riding chinks would have come in handy last week in Montana (you really can tear your jeans on those mountain trails), I'll admit that they're perhaps not a huge necessity here in the OC. But that didn't stop me from wearing them around the house the rest of the day.

Buckle Up

The Wrangler scored these custom-made cowgirl-appropriate belt buckles, one for each of the Six-Button Cowgirls. I'm commissioning the Denver-based Cowgirl, who is getting into leather crafts, to stamp or brand our names into the belts. Fancy!

1989 Called. It Wants Its Hair Back

A certain someone who will remain nameless just got a perm! In 2009! But those who scoff and make 80s jokes clearly are not In-the-Know. Only very, very hip and cool folks are aware of the Digital Perm that yields delightfully soft, shiny, curling iron-style curls (unlike the fried-and-frizzy 80s number).

The Digital Perm is hot overseas and isn't yet widely available in the States. In fact, it is so hard to find a Digital Perm stylist that one might have to peruse internet chat rooms, send a slew of emails, and make a series of discreet phone calls to locate an underground Digital Perm stylist who keeps the equipment in her garage. The availability of the underground stylist may be so limited that one might have to ask her boss if it's okay to miss a client meeting because the underground stylist is fully booked for a month, with the exception of one weekday morning. Not that I personally know anything about all this. I'm just saying.

The Digital Perm device has a series of hooks that hang down and clip into ceramic rollers. My, uh, "friend" noted that the contraption looked like a mind-control machine when the hooks were plugged into the rollers on her head. Digital Perms require about 3-4 hours and $300-400. My "friend" is extremely pleased with the results, although she is unsure which part is more mortifying on paper--having a perm, loving having a perm, spending $400 on a perm, or getting said perm in someone's garage.

Cowgirl Overload

During today's conference call to discuss our upcoming trip to the Sombrero Ranch in Colorado, the Six-Button Cowgirls concurred that we had gone a bit overboard on our last group shopping trip to the Boot Barn in Flagstaff. I guess we can blame it on our state-of-mind, which was decidedly "wild west," as we were about to embark on our mule ride to Phantom Ranch.

I mentioned during the call that I've realized that the clothes I'd bought on the trip are too over-the-top to wear around here. I mean, there's western-style and then there's just plain western without the style. Agreeing, the Denver-based Six-Button Cowgirl noted that a couple weeks ago, she put on the jeans, boots, one of the shirts, and the huge belt buckle she'd bought on that trip and did a double-take when she saw herself in the mirror. The shirts, which are heavy and have no darting or tailoring at the waist, are very unflattering. Add the crazy embroidered pattern, huge brass buttons, and...wow. I love my gigantic belt buckle and Roper Rockstar boots, though. But talk about trying too hard. I sure do feel sorry for all the locals who had to watch our sorry selves swaggering around town!

On the up side, the San Diego-based Six-Button Cowgirl said that she has no regrets purchasing the riding jeans with the "comfort fit" elastic waistband. She wears them when she plans to eat a lot.

The Mad Hatter

I bought a traditional raffia straw cowboy hat when I was in Montana last year, and I got a wool Stetson on the mule trip in Arizona this past winter. The latter makes me look like a railroad laborer circa 1850 and makes the Wrangler look like the tall guy who is Curious George's friend. At any rate, for the upcoming horseback riding / camping trip with the Six-Button Cowgirls, I'm tempted to get a Spanish gaucho-style hat--or is it a bolero? I don't know the difference. Think Penelope Cruz in All the Pretty Horses.

The raffia straw number would be far more appropriate, given the season and activity (camping). But one of the wranglers at the Mountain Sky Ranch had a striking custom blue bolero that I haven't forgotten. It cost her over $500, so she vowed to wear it, like, every day. I suppose it is the cowgirl version of Manolos. I've found a few similar hats for under $100, but they are not nearly as lovely as the beautiful blue bolero. Maybe I'll spring for the custom bolero for cowgirl camp next spring. I doubt I can pull off wearing it every day, though.

The Roper Rockstar

These boots are hot--my favorite pair right now. They're inexpensive, surprisingly very comfy, and the soles are non-slippery, i.e., perfect for dancing. It's a shame to cover these up with jeans. Let me know if you've seen any dresses or skirts that would look good with my Rockstars. Cowgirl boot-compatible skirts tend to be too dowdy (prairie skirt) or too hoochie (mini jean skirt).