I Wanna be a Cowboy

Photograph by Robert John Kley

Our Magnificent Seven cowboy essentials

We based this look on The Magnificent Seven (1960)—starring one of the greatest casts ever assembled for an American Western film.

Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, Robert Vaughn, Horst Buchholz, Brad Dexter and James Coburn played the seven gunfighters in a movie as timeless as this classic Western look.

EASY DOES IT
The actors’ look was quietly confident, just like they were. So there is no need to put on flashy boots and oversized buckles if they’re not your thing. A simple Western shirt and some denim jeans will do the trick. But to be a movie star cowboy, you need the works:

1. BOSS OF THE PLAINS
J.B. Stetson is credited with inventing the cowboy hat in 1865 when he put to market the high, open crown and broad-rim "Boss of the Plains" hat. Today, versions like Manny Gammage’s Original Gus Hat ($410 and up; texashatters.com) remain the universal image of the American West.

2. YOKES ON YOU
Snap buttons, flap pockets and the yoke—a shoulder embellishment where the back and front
seams meet to form a point—combine to make a "Western" shirt like Mavi’s Andy denim shirt in cherry ($98; mavi.com).

3. FIT TO BE TIED
We’re not saying you have to rope yourself a little filly. You can tack your lasso to the wall to add a little bit of Western charm above your bunk, or just keep it on hand for your next ride. Cactus Ropes, the official rope of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (cactusropes.com).

4. ALWAYS ON WATCH
When you’re off the clock and can’t hear the dinner bell, you need something durable and rugged on your wrist—like Bremont’s ALT1-C/CR timepiece ($5,900; bremont.com).

5. DRESSED-UP DENIM
Every man needs a quality pair of dark-wash, slimfit denim jeans. Now if you don’t feel comfortable wearing yours as tight as Luke Bryant does, try a more classic fit like these WeirdGuy Left Hand Twill Selvedge jeans from Naked & Famous Denim ($140; Feature, 3735 Spring Mountain Road, Las Vegas).

6. BUCKLE DOWN
Unlike other gear that originated from the styles of real working cowboys—today’s ornate belt buckles are Hollywood fashion statements. In the 1950s, Hollywood’s Western stars began wearing flashier belts with large, shiny buckles often depicting horses, cattle and Western motifs. Tribal Star Buckle ($140; gistsilversmith.com).

7. COWBOY UP
Paired with a decorative buckle, a hand-tooled leather belt can make an artistic statement. Justin black belt ($42; Pinto Ranch/Fashion Show).