{"id":578,"date":"2017-02-10T15:02:48","date_gmt":"2017-02-10T15:02:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/backend.walshtx.com\/?p=578"},"modified":"2022-10-05T16:04:39","modified_gmt":"2022-10-05T21:04:39","slug":"rustic-refined-style-john-ripps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/walshtx.com\/news\/community\/rustic-refined-style-john-ripps\/","title":{"rendered":"Walsh Community – John Ripps’ Rustic And Refined Style"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1\/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]\n

Texas Exceptionalism embodies the values of Fort Worth and the ethos of a Texan\u2019s drive to settle the American west.<\/h2>\n

At Walsh, the concept of Texas Exceptionalism inspires us to push the boundaries of convention and create a home our residents will be proud of. In this continuing series of profiles, we shine the spotlight on individuals who personify the ideal that anything is possible, heeding the call to be extraordinary in their everyday lives.<\/p>\n

Anointed \u201cBoot King\u201d by Texas Monthly<\/i>, the 95-year-old M. L. Leddy is one of the oldest and largest boot-making companies in Texas. And at their flagship store in the Fort Worth Stockyards, they\u2019re renowned for their authentic approach to western style. The company also crafts hand-tooled saddles and belts and has a full range of suits and jackets that pair fashion and function in a way that makes them ideal for the modern oilman, rancher and rodeo star (not to mention the occasional actor or musician).<\/p>\n

Within the shop\u2019s crowded, bustling environs, you\u2019ll find John Ripps, a longtime veteran of the garment industry who originally joined Leddy\u2019s 21 years ago as a general manager. Over the decades, his role has evolved to mastermind of the shop\u2019s apparel, and he collaborates with top American-made tailoring companies such as Oxxford in Chicago, Hickey Freeman in Rochester, New York, and Hamilton in Houston to create custom silhouettes. Beginning his career at John L. Ashe in the 1960s, Ripps eventually moved on to Neiman Marcus before bringing his concept of Cowboyism to Leddy\u2019s. Loquacious and charming, Ripps\u2019 personal style blends Savile Row-ready tailoring with best-of-the-West details such as color-coordinated boutonnieres and a signature scarf at his throat. With his guidance and the edict that \u201cgood taste is always fashionable,\u201d any man can express his inner cowboy, beginning with the right pair of boots and a perfectly tailored suit.[\/vc_column_text]

<\/div><\/div>
\"A<\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div>[vc_column_text]Walsh:<\/strong> \u201cTell us about your journey.\u201d<\/p>\n

John Ripps:<\/strong> \u201cOut of high school I needed a job and a friend of mine\u2019s dad ran a lady\u2019s shoe department in an old store in downtown Fort Worth. I was there about six months and the manager of the Young Texan Shop asked me to transfer. I (eventually) went to John Tarleton State (in Stephenville, Texas), and that\u2019s kind of how I got involved with Cowboyism.<\/p>\n

\u201cI came back and was going to Texas Wesleyan and (started working) at John L. Ashe, a small quality clothing company, and I was there for almost 20 years.\u201d<\/p>\n

W:<\/strong> \u201cAfter joining Leddy, did your role change over the years?\u201d<\/p>\n

JR:<\/strong> \u201cI was hired as general manager, and as time moved along we needed somebody to take care of the apparel. My expertise was in that. When we started this, there was always western wear but it was always a lower price point. We decided we wanted a little better product. I told the owner of the store, if we’re selling alligator boots, why not have the finest coat you can have?<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had to go out and search somebody who would do what we needed them to do. I didn\u2019t want the typical piece of cloth with leather lapped over the yoke (of the jacket), I wanted something a guy could wear into the boardroom and wouldn\u2019t feel intimidated or be intimidating.\u201d<\/p>\n

W:<\/strong> \u201cWho are you inspired by, stylistically speaking?\u201d<\/p>\n

JR:<\/strong> \u201cA lot of our clients follow Ralph Lauren, so we try to be in the same zip code as he is. His fabric choices are very tasty\u2014they\u2019re always in good taste. When we\u2019re at market and thinking about our customer, if it has a Ralph Lauren flavor to it, it\u2019s in the right place.\u201d<\/p>\n

W:<\/strong> \u201cHow has the Leddy look evolved over the years?\u201d<\/p>\n

JR:<\/strong> \u201cI always thought there was nothing wrong with a cowboy being elegant, and that\u2019s what we keep in mind. We want it to be in good taste and inviting without being faddish at our price point. You don\u2019t want to spend $4,000 today and have it be out of style next season.<\/p>\n

\u201cI also didn\u2019t buy into the skinny look. Our customers are not skinny cowboys, they\u2019re big chested guys. We had a gentleman this morning who bought a jacket because he could get on a horse in competition and not feel restrained.\u201d<\/p>\n

W:<\/strong> \u201cHow has Fort Worth style evolved in your opinion?\u201d<\/p>\n

JR:<\/strong> \u201cI don\u2019t want to sound arrogant, but because of us they\u2019ve stepped up a little.\u201d<\/p>\n

W:<\/strong> \u201cHow could someone who isn\u2019t Fort Worth get the Fort Worth look?\u201d<\/p>\n

JR:<\/strong> \u201cWe\u2019ve been on this corner since 1941, and we\u2019ve always had this belief in the look. When they walk in here, we want to Leddyize them, and if that\u2019s not what they\u2019re looking for, then there are other stores on other corners that might fit the bill for them.\u201d<\/p>\n

W:<\/strong> \u201cWhat does the idea of Texas exceptionalism mean to you?\u201d<\/p>\n

JR:<\/strong> \u201cIt\u2019s a state of mind. We see people from all over the world, literally: China, Russia. It\u2019s amazing when they walk in here what they leave with. The best way to describe it is a warm fuzzy. It\u2019s the ability to create that. We had 20 men in here last night from all over the world for a meeting and they all thanked us as they were leaving like we had really done something special for them.\u201d<\/p>\n

W:<\/strong> \u201cHow do you define Cowboyism?\u201d<\/p>\n

JR:<\/strong> \u201cIt\u2019s a frame of mind more than anything else. Without being a clich\u00e9 it\u2019s the Boy Scout way of being prepared. And treat everyone with dignity and fairness.\u201d<\/p>\n

W:<\/strong> \u201cIs it still passed down today?\u201d<\/p>\n

JR:<\/strong> \u201cLook at the Walshes as a pretty good example. The Walsh ranch is going to have a lot of neighbors that have a lot of tradition and heritage the Walshes have preserved. As my friend Lyle Lovett says, \u2018I know you\u2019re not from Texas, but Texas wants you anyway.\u2019\u201d[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]By: Kendall Morgan<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1\/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text] Texas Exceptionalism embodies the values of…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":958,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"yst_prominent_words":[353,1333,76,61,1557,1878,1903,1843,1711,1571,1869,1858,1911,1093,1883,120,151,20,78],"class_list":{"0":"post-578","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-community"},"yoast_head":"\nWalsh Community - John Ripps' Rustic And Refined Style<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"At Walsh, the concept of Texas Exceptionalism inspires us to push the boundaries of convention and create homes our residents will be proud of.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow\" \/>\n<meta name=\"googlebot\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"bingbot\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/walshtx.com\/news\/community\/rustic-refined-style-john-ripps\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Walsh Community - John Ripps' Rustic And Refined Style\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"At Walsh, the concept of Texas Exceptionalism inspires us to push the boundaries of convention and create homes our residents will be proud of.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/walshtx.com\/news\/community\/rustic-refined-style-john-ripps\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"WALSH\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/walshtexas\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2017-02-10T15:02:48+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2022-10-05T21:04:39+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/walshtx.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/refined-style-john-ripps.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1440\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"960\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@walshtexas\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@walshtexas\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/walshtx.com\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Walsh\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/walshtx.com\/\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/walshtexas\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/walshtexas\/\",\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/walshtexas\"],\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/walshtx.com\/#logo\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/walshtx.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/walsh-seo.png\",\"width\":600,\"height\":600,\"caption\":\"Walsh\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/walshtx.com\/#logo\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/walshtx.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/walshtx.com\/\",\"name\":\"WALSH\",\"description\":\"Walsh is the next great neighborhood of Fort Worth. 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