The great American western shirt is no longer hiding in the back of grandpa's closet-it is now a highly collectible piece of American fashion history, a treasured piece of Western Americana. Western Shirts: A Classic American Fashion is the resource on understanding the history behind these uniquely American pieces of art, and on what to look for in collecting them, because while fashion trends may come and go, quality design and construction are always recognizable. The book contains a complete list of 250 western shirt labels to help identify the manufacturer and date of your finds, and though many of the early brands are gone, this survey of makers and their designs covers the quality of design, workmanship and materials of the different brands on the market from the last 70 years. The good old shirts get bought by collectors and go out of circulation, which is why this book is so necessary-and so cool.