Whoever said western culture couldn’t be luxurious and fashion forward hasn’t made it to Rawhide, 209 E. Main St., a western culture boutique in Norman.

The boutique offers luxury clothing, cowboy hats and boots, a variety of exquisite western furniture and a hosts a few parties each year. Although the store is located in Norman, the fan base of the store’s high-end western design stretches much further.

“What I wanted to bring to Oklahoma is a sophisticated ranch style store,” said Rawhide owner Angie Bailey. “We have luxury items that help customers create a high-end western lifestyle.”

Bailey said the boutique shows the side of western wear that many people don’t think of. Instead of the typical grungy cowboy stereotype, the designs seen at Rawhide feature a variety of sleekly cut fibers with a few cowboy and cowgirl touches.

“There is not one particular item that is most in demand at Rawhide,” Bailey said. “Some people come in for western dog collars, some for western furniture and some for the designer cowboy boots.”

Kent J. Buehler, OU archaeology professor, said he has been leading a western lifestyle for a long time and is glad to have a shop like Rawhide in Norman.

“When I was a kid, cowboy shows were all over TV and the entertainment business,” Buehler said. “Western culture has been a part of my life ever since and Rawhide is a great place to get high quality products.”

Buehler said the cowboy era was a big part of American history and is something he would suggest college students open their minds to. He said America is associated with cowboys and the lifestyle is still alive today.

“Rawhide is a neat store with nice owners and high quality merchandise,” Buehler said. “Anyone who spends time exploring western heritage will find it rewarding.”

Teea Rogers, public relations sophomore, said she was raised in a small town and grew up wearing western clothing.

“Where I come from, Southern wear is what is in style,” Rogers said. “I love my pointed toe cowboy boots and my rhinestone cowboy belt.”

Rogers said it is great to have a shop in Norman that sells the clothes she loves to wear in designs that don’t sacrifice style.

She said even if western wear is not a person’s everyday fashion preference, the store is a great place to shop for the inevitable college theme party.

“I feel like a lot of college students are close-minded when it comes to western style,” Rogers said. “But if they would visit high end stores like Rawhide, their perceptions would probably change.”