hey, y’all! i’m glad you’re back. today i’d like to talk about an essential piece of a cowboy’s wardrobe.. wild rags.
the first wild rags were actually cut squares out of flour sacks in the early 1800s. they were used to keep their necks warm in the bitter cold, as well as protect them from the sun in the summer. In the 1880’s wild rags really took a hit. upper-class cowboy & cattleman wore silk wild rags to show their dignity. famous cattleman including Charlie Goodnight & Oliver Loving styled silk wild rags around their necks. but dignified cattlemen weren’t the only ones to wear fancy rags. outlaws like Curly Bill & Johnny Ringo also wore wild rags.
wild rags are practical to the western working class since they serve many purposes. you see them most frequently wrapped & tied around a neck in a stylish knot. knots themselves have evolved over the years from basic ties to square knots & buckaroo knots.
besides the obvious of using a wild rag for warmth, they have also been used as protection from the summer sun, keep dust off cowboys’ faces in long cattle drives & of course, used by outlaws & thieves to protect their identity.
wild rags were not only worn by cattlemen & cowboys, but also by the women of the west. famous woman outlaws like Belle Starr, professional entertainers like Annie Oakley & Helen Gibson as well as many more ranching & rodeoing women.
in todays world wild rags are worn both as a crucial part of my worlds uniform, as well as a fashion statement. the western fashion industry has recently taken wild rag fashion to the next level. they are now worn as bracelets, tied in hair-do’s, worn as a fashion belt & even as a shirt.
i’ve asked some lovely ladies to share with me some of their favorite ways to style a rag.. this is what i got! weather you’re a working cowboy staying true to the "old cowboy way” or looking for a way to spice up your outfits, everyone can appreciate a good wild rag.
most of the wild rags used in these photos are made by my personal favorite Daisy If You Do Co. not only are her rags loud & vibrant, they’re also handmade. Daisy If You Do Co. offers custom rags as well as logo rags for businesses- & yes, The Flying 6 rags are made by Daisy If You Do Co.
if you’re new here you might not have heard, The Flying 6 now offers logo wild rags! to order please reach out to me on any of my social medias or email me.
