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Winter is the perfect season to don a warm pair of boots! (Tecovas/Instagram)
So you just moved to the capital of Texas—isn’t that honky-tonk flair contagious? While you make your transition into becoming a true Texan, it’s time to grab some local garb so you can look the part.
The classic cowboy look typically includes a trusty pair of boots, blue jeans so starched they can stand on their own, a colorful button-down, a brimmed hat suited to your taste and a vest if you’re feeling formal.
‘Round these parts, you’re unlikely to see someone wearing the full getup all at once. However, each element has its place in your wardrobe and can be used to add a little bit of country sparkle to almost any outfit.
If you need some help getting started, here are some trusted outfitters that will take care of you.
Tecovas, 1333 S Congress Ave. and 11701 Domain Blvd.
Possibly the most essential Texan garment, a good pair of boots will last you for years if properly taken care of but they will cost you a pretty penny. A quality pair is likely to cost you at least $200 but prices can reach the thousands, so make sure you’re ready to wear those boots for the long haul.
This Austin-based company makes its boots completely by hand, each set with over 200 steps, in León, Mexico. Tecovas takes a classic approach to boots, with the aim that the pair you buy will be “as in style today as they will be 30 years from now.” A pair of Tecovas tends to hover in the $200-$600 range, with options for every price range, and also sells clothing so you can nail down the whole look in one place.
Allen’s Boots, 1522 South Congress Ave. and 1051 Interstate 35 Frontage Rd.
An Austin staple since 1977, Allen’s Boots offers a touch more color and variety than the latter brand. Located along South Congress, Allen’s carries everything from the traditional cowboy shape to booties, from neutral colors to a rainbow of different leathers. Allen’s boots may cost a bit more on average than a pair of Tecovas, but the sales—oftentimes 50% off or more on certain styles—can’t be beaten. Make sure to check out Allen’s “Wall of Fame” when you stop by to catch a glimpse of its more famous customers, including George Strait, Faith Hill and Sam Elliott.
Texas Standard, Several boutique locations
From the classic Texas check sport shirt to the winter-friendly flannel to the summery guayabera, Texas Standard stocks western-wear essentials. With a passion for outfitting the “Texas Gentleman,” the clothing brand also sells western-cut jeans and accessories to boot. Plus, there’s a size for everyone with a range from small to XXXL. As a proudly Texan brand, the brand gives 10% of its proceeds to local charity organizations.
Tiny’s Western Wear, 8403 Research Blvd.
Hooking residents up with western clothing and specialty Hispanic-styled items since 1958, Tiny’s is the place to look for all your 10-gallon hat-wearing, bolo tie-donning and belt-buckling needs. In addition to the well-known Stetson, Tiny’s carries desert hats and straw hats to choose from. This is a great place to find leather purses, wallets and kids clothing as well.
Callahan’s General Store, 501 S. Highway 183
This old-timey shop carries a healthy selection of boots, Stetsons, jeans and a wide array of accessories for any aesthetic. This shop doesn’t just sell western-themed garb—it’s a full boutique of country caboodles—you can find home decor, gifts, skincare products, gardening tools, feed and animal supplies for your ranch, and hardware on top of that.
Get along now, ye hear?
Popular
(Coco)
The colorful little robots roaming the streets of Austin, delivering burritos and fried chicken, are likely not going anywhere soon. If anything, this might only be the beginning of the era of robotic delivery.
At least that was the sentiment at the City Council Mobility Committee meeting Thursday when the Transportation Department gave a presentation on the future of personal delivery devices, or PDDs, in the city and outlined the rules they must follow.
PDDs are defined as automated devices operating in pedestrian areas, like sidewalks, or on the shoulders, such as bike lanes. They are currently piloted by employees with a 360-degree view of the road via the cameras built into the machine. Think remote-controlled car but bigger.
PDDs were first seen in Austin in July 2016. In 2019, Senate Bill 969 went into effect, enacting statewide regulations for the robot delivery drivers. The robots aren’t permitted to exceed a speed limit of 10 miles per hour on a sidewalk and 20 miles per hour on a shoulder of a road, according to Texas code. They must have a braking system, front and rear lights if operating at night, and must display the operating company’s information on the device.
“I just see (the delivery robots) as a pretty effective way to get people some of the things that they need in a timely manner. And from everything that I can tell, it’s pretty safe,” Council Member Mackenzie Kelly said.
Currently, only two companies, Coco and Refraction AI, are using PPDs in Austin, but other PDDs on Austin streets or even in the air are on the horizon. One delivery robot, developed by Ford, takes parcels from trucks to customers’ doors, and Uber and Amazon Prime are preparing to deploy – or have deployed – drone-like devices.
“These are not currently in Austin, but these are things that have been developed and are operating in various parts of the world,” said Jacob Culberson, division manager of mobility for the Transportation Department.
Transportation has partnered with Coco and Refraction AI to ensure they are operating in compliance with state rules. The department is currently working with the companies to create best-practice guidelines, with rules such as prohibiting the use of parkland or avoiding state Capitol grounds.
“We think that transportation is important from the standpoint of getting things places more efficiently and more sustainably,” said Luke Schneider, CEO of Refraction AI.
Though the reception was mostly positive, Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison raised concerns that automating delivery services could take jobs away from people who might deliver items by bike, car or foot.
“Is there some sort of counterbalance for the workforce when we start to automate?” Harper-Madison asked.
“We are hiring, and we are hiring fast. We have plenty of places for these people to work who would ever be displaced by such a thing,” Schneider said.
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Rendering of Del Valle Health & Wellness Center (Central Health)
The Travis County Commissioners Court voted unanimously July 26th to require that Central Health undergo an unprecedented independent performance audit. Commissioners voted again August 2nd to go with the tougher of two proposals for the scope of that audit.
A key goal of the audit is to obtain nitty-gritty details about what medical services Dell Medical School has provided to low-income Travis County residents in return for the $35 million annual payments from Central Health—$280 million so far. Over the initial 25-year term, payments will add up to $875 million and every penny of it comes out of the pockets of Travis County property taxpayers.
Click here to read the full story from The Austin Bulldog.
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