Insurrection's new store continues the Western tradition

Cowboy boots first rode into the American West on the feet of Civil War soldiers making new lives on the unknown frontier after battle weapons had been laid to rest. The pointed toes allowed them to slip easily into their mount's stirrups, while the raised heel kept them there. Should they fall off and be dragged through the dust, the loose shaft would allow their foot to slip out and end the ride -- with luck, before an encounter with a sharp rock did.

Traipsing around Seattle, we don't encounter too many of the dangers known to a Union soldier or pioneering prospector. But Insurrection is here nonetheless to outfit urban cowboys (and -girls) in the gear we need to round up the troops -- even if it's just for a trip to the nearest watering hole.

The 1 1/2-year-old Greenwood store has just opened a second store in Roosevelt. In the new shop you'll find the same vintage T's and Western shirts ($6-$140), Levi's 501s ($15-$35), reconstructed denim skirts ($30-$40), sassy dresses ($75-$180) and perfectly worn cafe racer jackets ($80-$550). You'll also find tube socks, belts and plenty of black leather to finish off an outfit.

The boots are the same visions of Western craftsmanship the store has built a following on: vintage finds for both men and women from the 1940s to the 1970s, with exquisite inlay patterns, colors and stitch work. The boot stock at the Roosevelt store is a bit more accessible, though, with price tags falling in the $100 range, instead of the collector-worthy prices of some of the Greenwood finds.

Owners Carrie Van Dyke and Wade Bundy have coined a bad-ass urban style that totally repositions Western wear. This is the big city, and these boots are made for rockin'.

Copyright © The Seattle Times Company