Few menswear accessories are as distinctive as the bolo tie. A classic staple of American ranch wear and Western style, when done right, it is bold, fresh, and totally unique, offering a singular spin on your traditional necktie options. Though you might think of bolo ties as cowboy costume, they’re just as versatile as a cowboy hat or cowboy boots, and can be integrated into many different kinds of outfits without looking like you’ve just rolled up to the local saloon. Yes, they evoke a certain desert state of mind, but if you know how to pull off the best bolo ties for cowboy cocktail attire, you'll even be ready for fancy events.
The bolo is a simple piece of braided leather fastened with a small decorative clasp that tightens as it’s pulled. It has its roots in the old American West and among indigenous tribes around the Southern United States and Mexico. Through the 20th century, it became nearly synonymous with style in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. (Fun trivia fact: In those three places, the bolo has been designated the official state neckwear.) But the bolo is stylish enough that it transcends time and place, and over the years it’s grown a reputation as a hip, laid-back alternative to classic neckties and bowties. Which, let's be honest, have their time and place, but never underestimate the power of the bolo flex.
You’ll often see bolo ties on celebrities at awards shows and on the red carpet, and for good reason: It’s an easy way to make formalwear stand apart without looking too gimmicky (hey, they want their photo to show up in tomorrow's news). You can add a bolo to any suit or tux combo for an accessory that really pops, and you can pair a bolo with any collared shirt that would normally handle a tie for an easy but upscale, showstopping piece. From holiday parties to a workday at the office and beyond, it’s one item that will immediately draw eyes your way in all the right ways. And if you happen to get invited to the Grammys, may we suggest the ultra-sleek Prada bolo tie? Let Nick Jonas and Quavo be your guide. For more low-key occasions, you can find some very fine bolo ties for under $20 online.
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The most common way to wear the bolo, of course, is in the spirit of the cowboy: Pair the leather tie with a denim shirt or patterned Western button-down to easily achieve the look. It can work in a full cowboy ensemble with a cowboy hat and boots. But even the bolo with a simple denim shirt gives a bit of Old West flavor without having to commit entirely to the aesthetic, and without coming off as try-hard. Pro tip: A black Western shirt from Levi’s paired with a bolo in black leather is the perfect way to embrace the bolo with subtlety and charm.
This is an especially great way to channel the spirit of the West (again, as much a region as a state of mind) when the occasion calls for cowboy cocktail. A variation on cocktail attire that emphasizes Western touches, cowboy cocktail has been trending lately, and if you don’t know how best to approach the look, adding a bolo to an otherwise ordinary cocktail attire outfit like a suit jacket and dark blue jeans is a great way to join the bolo train without going whole hog into John Wayne/Clint Eastwood regalia. Though, honestly, there's nothing wrong with strutting in that look if the moment calls for it. The bolo gives instant cowboy credibility and coordinates even when the rest of the outfit has nothing Western about it, so it’s an easy way to “cowboyify” your look if the cowboy cocktail events come calling. People will be intrigued. They'll ask about your bolo tie. It might become a conversation piece. But everyone will walk away respecting your subtly distinctive touch.
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For something completely different, you can also try adding a bolo to different kinds of collared shirts and non-Western button-downs, from leather shirts to bowling shirts to Hawaiian-patterned shirts and more. Because it’s not quite as formal as the necktie (though appropriate for many formal events), it can even be worn in situations and with outfits that wouldn’t normally call for ties to be worn at all, like a polo shirt or even a simple white tee. That’s what we mean when we say that the bolo is versatile: It really does work with just about everything.
The best part is how unbelievably easy it is to put on. Forget having to fuss around with tying the necktie (let alone the bowtie, which is even more complicated to figure out). To wear a bolo, all you need to do is loop it around your head like a necklace and pull the strings at the front to tighten it, then pull loose to remove later. It legitimately could not be any simpler. If you’re the kind of guy that needs a helping hand to get the tie just right before a formal occasion, the bolo might just be your new best friend.
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