Fort Worth has long known the pull of a good pair of boots. Lately, that quiet swagger feels a little louder — thanks to the glow of a boot-shaped neon sign and national recognition from The New York Times, which has named M.L. Leddy’s one of the 50 best clothing stores in America.

For locals, this isn’t exactly news — we’ve known for decades that Leddy’s is the kind of place where leather, craftsmanship, and Texas pride collide. Shoot, we even gave them some credit in our 2020 “Best Of” list. But seeing it earn a nod from New York’s fashion elite? That’s a different kind of validation. Established in 1922, now in its fourth generation of family ownership, Leddy’s isn’t just a store — it’s a shrine to cowboy boots of every size, color, and leather imaginable. From calf to alligator, even baby boots that can nestle in your palm, the shelves are a veritable museum of Western wear.

The New York Times write-up doesn’t mince words: “A boot-shaped neon sign beckons customers inside, where an assortment of custom and off-the-rack Western wear can be found. The star products are boots, thousands of which line shelves, in leathers ranging from calf to alligator.” And with that, Fort Worth joins a roster of must-visit destinations for anyone serious about style, from skate shops in Scottsdale to couture boutiques in Manhattan.

This recognition isn’t about hype or trends. The Times’ methodology is meticulous — they considered inventory, curation, proprietorship, customer service, ambience, location, and whether a visit was worth it even if nothing was bought. Over 120 stores were reviewed before 50 were selected, each visited by the paper’s team of reporters and photographers. No promotion, no pay-to-play — just pure, unadulterated shopping cred.

As the New York Times notes, Leddy’s has been “supplying handmade boots for a century.” For Fort Worth, that’s more than a line in an article — it’s proof that Texas fashion isn’t just about hats and jeans. It’s about authenticity, legacy, and walking into a room knowing your boots do all the talking.

Stores Mentioned in the New York Times “50 Best Clothing Stores in America” List:

  • Sidewalk Surfer — Scottsdale, Ariz.

  • A’maree’s — Newport Beach, Calif.

  • Departamento — Los Angeles

  • Greenspan’s — South Gate, Calif.

  • House of Bijan — Beverly Hills, Calif.

  • Just One Eye — Los Angeles

  • Luke’s — Los Angeles

  • Modern Appealing Clothing — San Francisco

  • Noodle Stories — Los Angeles

  • Reliquary — San Francisco

  • Scout — Los Angeles

  • Gorsuch — Vail, Colo.

  • Montbell — Boulder, Colo.

  • Plain Goods — New Preston, Conn.

  • A Ma Maniére — Washington, D.C.

  • The Church Mouse — Palm Beach, Fla.

  • Sid Mashburn — Atlanta

  • Truest — Honolulu

  • Junkyard Jeans — Boise, Idaho

  • Alcala’s Western Wear — Chicago

  • Judith — Portland, Maine

  • Circa — New Bedford, Mass.

  • AP Shop — Lakeside, Mich.

  • Coup D’état — Detroit

  • Equipment — Minneapolis

  • Hinton & Hinton — Oxford, Miss.

  • Dear Society — Kansas City, Mo.

  • Meridian Boutique — Bozeman, Mont.

  • 7017 Reign — Fort Lee, N.J.

  • Double Take — Santa Fe, N.M.

  • Homefrocks — Santa Fe, N.M.

  • The Armoury — Manhattan (TriBeCa)

  • La Garçonne — Manhattan (TriBeCa)

  • Blue in Green — Manhattan (SoHo)

  • C’H’C’M’ — Manhattan (NoHo)

  • Front General Store — Brooklyn (Dumbo)

  • Hirshleifers — Manhasset, N.Y.

  • O’Connell’s Clothing — Buffalo

  • Capitol — Charlotte, N.C.

  • Cuffs — Chagrin Falls, Ohio

  • Shop Boswell — Portland, Ore.

  • Stand Up Comedy — Portland, Ore.

  • Joan Shepp — Philadelphia

  • Royal Male — Newport, R.I.

  • Ben Silver — Charleston, S.C.

  • M.L. Leddy’s — Fort Worth

  • Mr. Larkin — Houston

  • Verdalina — Richmond, Va.

  • Windthrow — Seattle

  • Lou Taubert Ranch Outfitters — Casper, Wyo.