1960s • ACME • Chocolate Vine-Stitch Western • Women’s 8

1980s–90s • Thieves Market for Larry Mahan • Pictorial Rodeo & Desert Inlay Boots • Women’s 8.5 B

Why We Love Them

Graphic, stage-ready, and unmistakably Southwestern. Thieves Market built these for the Larry Mahan line with full-color inlays—red bronc rider, teal birds, and desert cacti—set on black leather with red flame toes. Shorty height and a sharp snip toe keep the silhouette sleek; the artwork does the talking.

Spec Card

• Maker: Thieves Market for Larry Mahan
• Era: Late 1980s–1990s
• Size: Women’s 8.5 B (US)
• Height: Shorty/Pee-wee shaft (approx. 9–10”)
• Upper: Black leather with red bronc-rider, teal birds, and green cactus inlays; red collar details
• Vamp: Black with red wing/flame overlays
• Toe: Snip/pointed
• Heel: Traditional underslung cowboy heel
• Lining: Full leather
• Construction: Goodyear-welted leather soles; stacked leather heels with rubber taps
• Details: Contrast piping and pull tabs, multi-tone pictorial inlay set

Condition

Clean vintage wear: small scuffs at toes, light creasing, and typical sole/heel wear with plenty of life left. Stitching and inlays are tight and vivid.

The Story

Larry Mahan’s name stands for rodeo pedigree; Thieves Market brought the flair. Known for their pictorial showboots out of the Southwest, they turned classic Western themes into bold, collectible inlay work. This pair lands right in that sweet spot—authentic rodeo iconography with boutique craftsmanship.

Nashville Booted Notes

Short shaft + snip toe = easy with denim, dresses, or stage fits. If you collect graphic inlays (butterflies, thunderbirds, border-boots), these slot in perfectly—distinct, wearable, and hard to find in this size.

1990s • Dan Post • “Blue Birds” Inlay Boots • Women’s 8 M

Why We Love Them

Dan Post’s Blue Birds are a love letter to 1940s inlay art—swallows in flight, heart and floral cut-outs, all on a rich chestnut hide. They wear like true stage boots: light on the foot, big in presence, and easy to dress up or down.

Spec Card

• Maker: Dan Post
• Model: Blue Birds (multi-color inlay)
• Era: Late 1980s Early 90s
• Size: Women’s 8 M
• Shaft/Upper: Chestnut leather with robin’s-egg blue bird, red heart, and floral inlays; scalloped pull tabs
• Vamp: Matching chestnut leather with cut-out leaf motifs and decorative stitching
• Toe: Snip/pointed
• Heel: Western underslung (~1½”)
• Height: Approx. 10–11” shaft
• Lining: Full leather
• Outsole: Leather soles, stacked leather heels with rubber taps
• Construction: Welted
• Condition Notes: Honest vintage wear—toe scuffs, surface creasing, and patina throughout; soles show use but plenty of road left. Inlays are intact and secure.

The Story

Dan Post revived classic mid-century showboot graphics in the ‘90s, and the Blue Birds became an instant favorite. The swallow motif nods to luck and safe travels; the hearts and florals keep the look playful without losing its Western bite.

Nashville Booted Notes

Collector-grade pattern, wearable height, and a pointed profile that reads long and lean. Pair with a slip dress, raw denim, or stage blacks—these carry the outfit. If you’ve been hunting a graphic vintage boot under the four-figure custom tier, this is the sweet spot.

Repair 

I took these boots to Golden Boot cobbler on West End Ave here in Nashville where they sewed up a small area along the lining that I highlighted in a picture. These boots are solid and good to go for years to come and that’s our guarantee. 

1970s • Texas Boot Co. • “Golden Starburst” Inlay Boots • Women’s 8 A (narrow)

A radiant pair of Texas classics — sky-white leather kissed with golden star and almond inlays. Showpieces from the golden era of honky-tonk elegance.

Era & Build

• Maker: Texas Boot Company
• Era: 1970s (mid-century Texas production)
• Upper: Smooth sky-white leather with gold piping and metallic inlay stars
• Construction: Stitched welt, leather sole, stacked leather heel with rubber cap
• Toe / Heel: Snip toe, underslung cowboy heel
• Height: ~12” shaft

Size & Fit

• Tagged size: Women’s 8 A (narrow)
• Fit notes: Vintage Texas boots typically run true to narrow; best for A/B width feet.

Condition Grade: Vintage A+

Hardly worn, if at all. 

• Crisp leather soles with near-zero wear
• Clean uppers with minimal storage marks
• Original box included — a rare survivor’s set

Why We Love Them

A museum-worthy pair channeling mid-century showtime glamour. The gold inlays shimmer against pale leather — the kind of boots built for stage lights, dance floors, or display cases. Perfect for collectors chasing rare Texas craftsmanship.

Notes & Care

Condition with neutral cream; store with cedar inserts to preserve shape and glow.

SKU: NB-TEXAS-70S-STARBURST-W8A

Custom 1981 Eagle + Stars Inlay Cowgirl Boots – Ladies 8.5

A true piece of wearable Americana. These custom-made cowgirl boots were crafted in October of 1981 by bootmaker Dennis Rowley, designed specifically for their original owner. The bold white eagle and star inlays set against a rich tan leather make these a one-of-a-kind statement piece.

• Size: Ladies 8.5
• Custom Build: Hand-cut eagle and star inlays that celebrate Western iconography
• Maker’s Mark: Signed inside by Dennis Rowley with the date of creation (10-81)
• Premium Leather: Beautifully aged with a warm patina and supple feel
• Classic Construction: Traditional cowboy heel, pull straps, and pegged leather soles

These boots are more than just footwear — they’re a snapshot of early ’80s Western style and craftsmanship.

Vintage 1970’s Ralph Lauren Cowgirl Boots – Ladies 8 C (NOS)

An exceptional and nearly impossible-to-find pair from the early days of Ralph Lauren’s Western influence. These 1970’s cowgirl boots are new old stock (NOS) – meaning they’ve survived five decades without being worn, a true rarity in the world of vintage footwear.

Crafted in a striking golden-tan leather with bold floral and flame inlays, these boots carry the unmistakable elegance and refinement Ralph Lauren brought to the Western aesthetic in the 1970s.

• Size: Ladies 8 C
• Condition: NOS (New Old Stock) – light storage wear on soles only
• Era: 1970’s – an early Ralph Lauren design, likely produced in extremely limited numbers
• Details: Classic 12” shaft with contrast piping, leather soles, stacked leather heel, hand-stitched vamp pattern