/fa/ - Fashion

>>17371819
Just look for western stores, they seem to exist pretty much everywhere in North America. Not sure where you are in New England but there are Boot Barns in PA and NJ, might be worth the trip if you're not that far from there, and otherwise there's a good chance there's some independent western store around. Find one and go look at and try stuff in person. Brand doesn't really matter in western wear so don't worry too much about it.

As for hats, don't try to cheap out on them. Just forget about them for now, like >>17372469 says they're the hardest piece to pull off, and the cheaper the hat the more costumey it's likely to look. When you do get one it's a decent idea to start with a straw hat, you get a lot more bang for your buck there, but traditionally they're only for the warm parts of the year, while felt is only for colder weather.

>>17372454
IMO they're not gateway enough. My gateway boots were a pair of Ariat Heritage Ropers and I'd highly recommend a pair, they're comfortable, break in fast, reasonably priced, and with pants worn over them (which is how you should ALWAYS wear western boots unless you're an actual cowboy on the job) they just look like generic brown shoes if people aren't really scrutinizing them.

As for Filson, I wouldn't really consider them western, but they're definitely western-adjacent and wearable with western stuff. (And often sold in western stores.) IMO western is part of a larger category of styles that includes workwear, vintage-style outdoor gear, and even some milsurp, and can all be pretty freely mixed and matched and doing it right can help avoid looking too costumey.

>>16013578
>>16013632
I'm on a cowboy kick lately myself and want to get some boots too. I was looking at these Ariat ropers, they've got good reviews and I feel like they strike a good balance where they won't come off as totally larpy.