The most important thing: your shoes
If you only read one thing on this page, make it this: what you put on your feet matters more than anything else you wear. This is not a fashion statement - it is a dance floor reality.
Cowboy boots are ideal. A leather sole lets you pivot, spin, and glide across the floor. The slight heel helps with balance and weight transfer. If you already own a pair, wear them. If you do not, they are worth buying before your first lesson.
Any leather-soled shoe works. Dress shoes, loafers, jazz oxfords - if the sole is smooth leather, you can dance in them. The goal is a sole that slides just enough to let you turn without twisting your knee.
Avoid rubber soles. Sneakers, athletic shoes, and most casual shoes grip the floor and make every turn a fight against friction. You will get tired faster and your technique will suffer.
Avoid open-toed shoes. Real dance floors have real traffic. Feet get stepped on. It happens to everyone, but it hurts a lot less in boots.
Where to get boots in Austin: Allen's Boots on South Congress (allensboots.com) has been fitting Austin dancers since 1977. Tecovas (tecovas.com) is Austin-founded and has a store on South Congress - great quality at a fair price. Heritage Boot Co (heritagebootco.com) does custom boots out of East Austin if you want something made for your foot.
The rest of your outfit
Jeans
Jeans are always right at an Austin honky-tonk. Fitted jeans let you move more freely than baggy cuts. A straight or slim fit through the leg is ideal for dancing. Avoid overly stiff new denim - break them in first.
Top
Anything goes. A nice button-down, a fitted tee, a Western shirt with snaps - all appropriate. If you are dancing for a few hours, breathable fabric matters. Avoid anything so loose it becomes a hazard on the floor.
Western shirts and pearl snaps
A Western-cut shirt with pearl snap buttons is the classic honky-tonk look and for good reason. It fits the culture, it photographs well, and the structured cut actually looks better when you are dancing than a standard shirt. Not required at all - but if you want to lean into the aesthetic, this is the move.
Hat
Optional. Plenty of dancers wear hats; plenty do not. If you wear one, be aware of your surroundings - a wide brim can catch a partner in turns. Felt hats for cooler months, straw for summer. Texas Hatters in Lockhart (texashatters.com) is a 45-minute drive and worth every mile.
What to avoid
- Flip flops or sandals - dangerous on a crowded floor
- Brand new boots - break them in first or you will have blisters by the second song
- Overly formal clothing - Austin honky-tonks are casual. You do not need a blazer.
- Anything too precious to sweat in - dancing is physical and Austin is warm
Dress code at specific Austin venues
Broken Spoke: No dress code. Come as you are. The regulars run the full range from working cowboys to tourists in shorts.
Sagebrush: Casual. Boots and jeans fit right in, but there is no enforcement.
White Horse: East Austin casual. Wear what you want. Vintage Western and modern streetwear coexist peacefully.
Donn's Depot: Classic honky-tonk crowd. Western wear looks natural here.
Most Austin venues are 21+. Bring your ID regardless of how old you look.
Ready to get on the floor?
Double or Nothing Two-Step - Austin's Honky-Tonk Dance School - teaches lessons every week at Sagebrush and Donn's Depot. No partner needed.
See Lesson Schedule ↗