Accessories

Western Accessories

Chaps are the start of a western outfit, and the accessories finish it. Chaps Fit makes leather and suede vests, hand-tooled belts, cowboy hats, gauntlet gloves and leather suspenders that are designed to be worn with a pair of chaps, whether you're riding in the arena, working on the ranch or cruising on a motorcycle.

Shop Chaps Fit Accessories by Category

• Western Vests: smooth leather, suede, fringed, beaded and laced vests for men and women, in sizes XXS to 5XL.
• Western Belts: hand-tooled, embossed and woven leather belts. Some feature turquoise or white floral work, and there are plainer dress styles too.
• Cowboy Hats: leather and felt western hats, including styles with braided bands, conchos and rivet studs.
• Gauntlet Gloves: long-cuff leather gloves in work browns and bright rodeo colors.
• Leather Suspenders: Y-back, X-back and harness-style suspenders with clips or hooks.

How to Wear Accessories with Chaps

Chaps change how everything else in your outfit sits. Most western style guides skip this, so here is how each accessory works with chaps.

Belts and Buckles

Chaps have their own belt, which usually rides lower on the hips than your jeans belt. The front of most chaps opens in a V below the chap belt, so your jeans belt and buckle stay visible. That's why a hand-tooled or turquoise-accented western belt shows off so well with chaps. Keep the buckle fairly flat so it doesn't press against the chap belt when you sit in the saddle.

Vests

A vest should end at or just above your chap belt. If it's longer, the two layers bunch together at the hip when you're mounted. A cropped vest, like our leather crop vest with fringe, leaves the chap belt and your jeans buckle in view. A longer western vest with snap pockets suits walking and working more than time in the saddle.

Suspenders

Leather suspenders clip to your trousers and replace your jeans belt. That removes one layer at your waist, so the chap belt lies flat without two belts stacked on top of each other. This helps on long days in heavy work chaps.

Gloves

Gauntlet gloves are the one accessory whose color people match most often to their chaps. Bright rodeo chaps look best with gauntlets in the same color or a contrasting one. Brown work chaps suit plain brown gauntlets.

Hats

A wide brim balances the visual weight of full-length leather chaps, which is why the classic western outline pairs a broad-brimmed cowboy hat with long chaps. Chinks and shorter chaps also work with a narrower brim or a leather outback style.

Matching Leather: Color, Finish and Hardware

• Color. Match within a tone family: dark brown with tan, or black with charcoal. An exact dye match isn't always possible, because every hide takes color a little differently. A slight contrast usually looks more intentional than a near-miss match.
• Finish. Suede and smooth leather both work in one outfit, but keep one finish dominant. A suede vest over smooth chaps looks deliberate. Three competing textures look busy.
• Hardware. Keep your metals consistent. If your chaps have silver conchos, choose a silver-toned belt buckle and hat decoration rather than mixing silver and brass.

Accessory Sets for Different Kinds of Riding

• Arena and rodeo: bright gauntlets, a fringed or beaded vest, a tooled belt and a light-colored hat, paired with western chaps.
• Ranch and work: brown work gauntlets, a snap-pocket vest, suspenders and a plain belt, paired with work chaps.
• Motorcycle: a black multi-pocket riding vest and a plain black belt, paired with motorcycle chaps.

Ordering Accessories from Chaps Fit

Most Chaps Fit accessories are made to order alongside our chaps. Ordering them together means your full outfit is made and shipped at the same time. Production and delivery times, and any current free-delivery threshold, are listed in our Shipping Policy. Before ordering, check the Return & Refund Policy, since made-to-order items follow different rules.