The Bolo Tie
- Barbara Behrens
- Dec 12, 2025
- 6 min read
A bolo tie (also known as a bola, cowboy, or string tie) is a type of neckwear consisting of a piece of braided cord or leather secured with a decorative clasp or slide, often featuring ornamental tips. They are a classic accessory in Western and Southwestern fashion and serve as an alternative to a traditional necktie.
In the United States, bolo ties are usually associated with Western wear and are generally most common in the Western and Southwestern areas of the country.
Bolo ties have been part of Hopi, Navajo, Zuni, and Puebloan silversmithing traditions since the mid-20th century. Silversmiths have used bolo ties to demonstrate their skills and craftsmanship often entering their creations in various competitions often winning ribbons for their work.
The bolo tie has been recognized as the official neckwear by the Governors in the states of Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. This means that if someone must appear in court, rather than wearing a typical necktie, a bolo tie is completely acceptable.
Tommy Singer, Navajo bolo tie with Kingman turquoise
Bolo Ties have been showing up around the necks of many different people lately…
 |  |  Clint Eastwood |  |  |
 |  Julia Roberts |  |  Tom Cruise |  |
If you thought that bolo ties were just for fun, they are not. New Mexico passed a non-binding measure to designate the bolo as the state’s official neckwear in 1987. The State Legislature adopted the bolo tie as the official State Tie on March 13, 2007.
The bolo tie is a Western fashion staple, hailed for its comfort and versatility. Employing several types of clasps, the bolo tie can be worn with a closed or loosened collar. In the 1930’s, Navajo men would fasten a silver concha to their necks with a string. The bolo tie is also traced to the neckerchiefs worn by Boy Scouts and Argentine cowboys. In the United States bolo ties are widely associated with Western wear and are common in the western areas of the country.
The first "official" bolo tie design is generally credited to Victor E. Cedarstaff, an Arizona silversmith who is said to have found inspiration when his hat flew off while he and some friends were on horseback. He used his silver-bordered hat band to secure the hat around his neck. His friends complimented him on his "new tie," which led him to create a line of accessories made up of a braided leather string, with silver tips placed on each end to prevent fraying, with a sliding turquoise stone clasp used to keep the string in place around the neck. He called it a "bolo tie" after the boleadoras used by Argentine gauchos as weapons, which were made up of two leather cords with weights on the ends.
Cedarstaff applied for a patent in 1954 and his trademark application referred to his product as "Slide For A Necktie" and detailed its improvement to traditional "slide-type neckties," claiming his version "tends to stay in place at the neck rather than slip downwardly in an undesired manner...and yet will also slide freely up and down the braid without scuffing the braid." Cedarstaff was granted his patent in 1959.
Popular Bolo Ties and Where to Find Them
Reputable jewelry stores throughout the southwest tend to carry bolo ties in addition to the jewelry they sell.
Silversmiths can show off and refine their skills using many different semi-precious and precious stones setting them in either sterling or 14 carat gold. Bolo ties have made their mark on the fashion scene and are here to stay! Many wedding parties have found that they make a splash as a different look for the groom and groomsmen that is more comfortable to wear than traditional neckwear.
As with all artwork, the price that one pays will be dependent upon the reputation of the artist, quality of the work, materials used and skill of the artist. Prices for bolo ties vary greatly can range from less than $100 to thousands of dollars depending upon the materials and craftsmanship. Those with precious stones and gold tend to be at the higher end of the price spectrum.
Here’s a list of some celebrities past and present who have been spotted wearing bolo ties:
Jimmy Buffett: The singer-songwriter and entrepreneur wore a bolo tie to the opening night of his musical Escape to Margaritaville on Broadway in 2018.
Johnny Cash: The legendary country singer often wore bolo ties with his signature black outfits.
Timothée Chalamet: The actor and heartthrob wore a bolo tie to the 2020 Academy Awards, where he presented an award with Natalie Portman.
Clint Eastwood: The actor and filmmaker wore bolo ties in many of his westerns, such as The Good, the Bad and the Ugly and Pale Rider.
Billie Eilish: The singer and songwriter wore a bolo tie to the 2020 Grammy Awards, where she swept all four major categories, including Album of the Year for When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
Jerry Garcia (of The Grateful Dead): The lead guitarist and vocalist of the psychedelic rock band wore bolo ties with his tie-dyed shirts and jeans.
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson: The wrestler-turned-actor wore a bolo tie to the premiere of his movie Rampage in 2018.
Nick Jonas: The singer and actor wore a bolo tie by Prada to the 2019 Billboard Music Awards, where he performed with his brothers as the Jonas Brothers.
Kris Kristofferson: The singer-songwriter and actor frequently wore bolo ties in his movies and concerts.
Lizzo: The singer and rapper wore a bolo tie to the 2020 Grammy Awards, where she won three awards, including Best Pop Solo Performance for "Truth Hurts".
Post Malone: The rapper and singer-songwriter wore a bolo tie to the 2018 American Music Awards, where he won three awards.
Ty Murray and Tuff Hedeman: The professional bull riders often wore bolo ties as part of their western attire.
Kacey Musgraves: The country-pop singer wore a bolo tie to the 2019 Academy of Country Music Awards, where she won Album of the Year for Golden Hour.
Lil Nas X: The rapper and singer behind the viral hit "Old Town Road" wore a bolo tie to the 2019 BET Awards, where he performed with Billy Ray Cyrus.
Willie Nelson: The iconic outlaw country star is known for his braided hair and bolo ties.
Brad Pitt: The actor and producer wore a bolo tie to the 2020 Screen Actors Guild Awards, where he won Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
Billy Porter: The actor and singer wore a bolo tie to the 2020 Critics' Choice Awards, where he was nominated for Best Actor in a Drama Series for Pose.
Prada models: The Italian fashion house featured bolo ties in its fall/winter 2019 menswear collection, which was inspired by Frankenstein and horror movies.
Robert Redford: The actor and director sported bolo ties in films like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and The Electric Horseman.
Harry Styles: The singer and former member of One Direction wore a bolo tie to the 2020 Brit Awards, where he performed his song "Falling".
John Travolta: The actor and dancer wore a bolo tie to the premiere of his movie Trading Paint in 2019, where he played a race car driver. He also famously wore a bolo tie in Pulp Fiction.
Lil Uzi Vert: The rapper and singer wore a bolo tie to the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards, where he was nominated for Best Collaboration for "Futsal Shuffle 2020".
Pharrell Williams: The rapper and producer wore a bolo tie to the 2020 Grammy Awards, where he was nominated for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical.
Dwight Yoakam: Since the start of his music career, he's demonstrated that he’s more than just another guy with a guitar and a hat. He has risen from hot country star to being one of country music's biggest influences. While doing that, he has also become a critically acclaimed actor.
Bolo ties effortlessly transcend musical genres and generations. It’s no wonder they’ve stood the test of time—they’re a distinctive, stylish, and make a memorable addition to any accessory wardrobe.
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