Happy Trails, The Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum Collection is up for auction at Christies

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Happy Trails, The Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum Collection is up for auction at Christies

Giddy up to iconic western style like no other or be inspired for your own Home on the Range

Here’s a little tidbit that most of you don’t know, I may be a native NYC girl with a post-modern loft that has minimalist sculptural designs but when it was time to redecorate our vacation place in Wyoming, my design motivation was a homage to iconic western legends, Dale Evans and Roy Rogers!

LOT-81 NUDIE THE RODEO TAILOR A pink and turquoise gabardine ensemble made by Nudie for Roy, comprising a lace-up top with a Native American theme, embroidered headdresses on the pink, black and blue leather fringed yoke, female Native Americans embroidered on the sleeves and arrows on the pearl butt

When it comes to design, of any kind, you need some inspiration as a launch point- whether it is your wardrobe or your home.

Most old school western style is very tan and bland for me and the more contemporary fair is too similar to what we have in New York so I needed something quirky, vintage, and unique to give our “out West” vacay place some cowboy punch without getting hokey.

Who better than iconic Western legends “The King of the Cowboys,” Roy Rogers and “The Queen of the West,” Dale Evans to use as a design launch point? Not to mention Trigger, Buttermilk, Bullet, and photos of the Rogers clan that I was able to scrounge up.

If you act fast, you can rustle a real part of Western Americana for yourself, although I hope a museum gobbles up more of the historic items.

The Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum in Branson, Missouri closed their doors last fall after over four decades and its property of over 300 iconic lots from suits by Nudie the Rodeo Tailor, saddles, personal photos, awards, the famous Nellybelle jeep from the 1950s TV Show, to arguably, the most famous horse of all time, Trigger are on auction at Christie’s Rockefeller Galleries in New York, July 14 – July 15, 2010 in association with High Noon Western Americana.

SHOP: Modern Western Boots

Lot 80- NUDIE THE RODEO TAILOR A pink gabardine ensemble made by Nudie for Dale, comprising a cropped vest and gouchos overlaid with white leather, cut outs to reveal a celestial motif, embellished with pearl buttons, rhinestones and leather fringe studded with rhinestones, the gouchos with a Nudie label and Dale Evans Rogers

As a city slicker, we have our images of the Wild West and it’s influence on Americana, for me, there was nothing more interesting and relevant than the costumes and merchandising of what has come to symbolize the most glamorous and wholesome part of the Western way of life from the 1940′s to 1950′s.

To move forward, we need to look back and it’s hard to see dress-up rodeo finery, a precisely folded neckerchief, perfectly fitted blue jeans, fringe trim skirts, or even gussied up cowboy boots and not think of Dale Evans and Roy Rogers and their place in what has become pop culture for the Old West in cowboy-inspired fashion today.

Although the everyday cowboy gear of Western snap shirts and inlay western boots were hallmarked by Rogers, it’s the flashy showman and showgal outfits by Nudie the Rodeo Tailor that I can’t get out of my mind. ?”It started in Madison Square Garden- kids couldn’t see my father in the middle of the arena, so they started putting rhinestones on the suits and they would pop out,” says Roy Rogers Jr. (aka Dusty).

It’s ironic that when the accompanying photos arrived today that I was sitting with our friend, the musician and artist Alan Vega of Suicide. Alan, had an interesting summation of the glitz and glamour, “Western a go-go Librace.” And I think he hit is right on the last gleaming rhinestone fringe.

Please enjoy the photo gallery of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum items on auction:

[Show as slideshow]

The historic world of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans is open to anyone with a winning bid and saddle worth sittin’ in at Christie’s Rockefeller Galleries; please see www.christies.com for more information.

_{Photos: Christie’s Images Ltd., 2010}
_{Lead photo via royrogers.com}

As mentioned in the auction press release:
Among the most popular exhibits at the Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum were Roy’s trusty horse Trigger, his loyal dog Bullet, and Dale’s buckskin horse, Buttermilk, all previously displayed for fans in the Branson museum.

Please note that High Noon Western Americana, in conjunction with the Rogers family, did try to place Trigger, Buttermilk and Bullet with a national museum, so that they could be continued to be enjoyed by all fans. However, the recession has left most institutions struggling to maintain their staffs let alone expand their permanent collections.

Published on July 13, 2010

Sharon Haver

Resident fashion expert- With just about 20 years experience in the glamour industry as a New York-based photography fashion stylist, syndicated columnist, contributing editor, lecturer, on-air television/radio fashion expert, and founder / editor in chief of FocusOnStyle.com. Sharon Haver knows the modern-thinking woman wants easygoing style that suits her individual needs, spiced with just the right amount of flip and wit to make it personal.

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Tags: Alan Vega , Americana , auction , Bullet , Buttermilk , celebrity , Christie's , cowboy , Dale Evans , Dusty Rogers , Happy Trails , Home on the Range , Nudie the Rodeo Tailor , Roy Rogers , Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum , Roy Rogers auction , Roy Rogers Jr. , Trigger , Western , Wyoming