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Fellow western apparel aficionados, I hate to be the bearer of sad news if you haven't already heard, but last month, the inventor of the pearl snap shirt left us for the big rodeo in the sky. You heard me right, ladies and gentlemen: "Papa Jack" Weil passed away in August 2008 at the ripe old age of 107. For those not in the know, Jack A. Weil was the founder and CEO of one of the most famous American purveyors of western wear, Rockmount Ranch Wear in Denver, Colorado. Weil was not only a shop owner, he was an innovator in classic American fashion. It's because of Weil that bolos began to be produced commercially, western wear shirts have "yokes" and "smile pockets," those pocket have sawtooth flaps, and of course, the shirts have pearl snap buttons (Weil could be credited for putting up to 17 of them on one shirt!) This king of cowboy couture far exceeded his early ambitions of owning a western apparel store by taking it much further and actually inventing much of the western apparel he carried. The guy was no-doubt a pioneer in his industry, and had a great influence on western wear and American fashion in general. Weil credited his old age and longevity to giving up cigarettes at age 60 (after starting at age 40), drinking at age 90, and eating red meat at age 100. Weil did take a medicinal shot of Jack Daniels twice a week for good health (perhaps this is the fountain of youth we've all been looking for?). Right up until his death, Weil remained CEO of Rockmount Ranch Wear and showed up to work--always in a cowboy hat and cowboy boots--regularly. Weil's designs have been worn by celebrities from Clarke Gable to Matt McConaughey. Jake Gyllenhall and Heath Ledger wore the Rockmount pearl snap on the set of the film "Brokeback Mountain." The appeal of Papa Jack's western wear shirts is that they are tailored close to the body, with "yokes" that give the illusion of broader shoulders. Probably the best part of all are the snaps, which mattered a great deal to cowboys who weren't very good at, much less fond of, sewing. Another advantage was that the shirts would break open easily if they got caught on a thorn, not to mention the cowboy could dramatically bare his chest should the opportunity arise... Papa Jack Weil, the "cowboy's dresser," will be missed, but memorialized by cowpokes and city slickers alike who proudly wear his designs. In true western fashion, hardly a day went by that Jack himself didn't proudly sport the classic western wear outfit: one of his own snap button shirts, a nice bolo, top of the line cowboy hat, big belt buckle, and of course, cowboy boots.
Article Source: http://blisspublisher.com
Written by Kacy Suther. Brand name cowboy boots and western wear at The Boot Store online store for western apparel. Ariat boots, Justin boots more at western-wear-store.com
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