This is an early photograph of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans in extravagant western wear c.1940's.
By the 1950's technicolor popularized vibrant yellow, red and blue fabrics with western themed embroidery, fringe and studs. With the hippie movement of the 1960's these bright and lavish western styles were pushed aside for natural leather and earth toned stitching and fringe. 
An example of the rich embroidery made most popular in the 1950's.
A pattern for western shirts popular in the 1950's. Collectible labels from this era include Rockmount, Pendleton and Woolrich.
A very flashy jacket, thanks technicolor!
The other side of western themed clothes were more toned down and wearable and were made popular by musicians, like Roy Orbison and Elvis Presley, rather than actors. This later created the 'rockabilly' style, a culmination of rock n roll and hillbilly. Clean simple lines, black and greys and often polyester or rayon, are some of the trade marks.
By the 1970's Western wear was back in action in an array of styles. Polyester and denim worked their way into the scene with popular movies like Midnight Cowboy and Dirty Harry.
A few of the garish 70's styles of jackets, denim moved into great popularity at this time re-realizing Levi's and wranglers and putting them into popular culture again.
The 'prairie' western look came into fashion in the 1980's with Gunne Sax dresses being a staple in many girl's wardrobes. Western wear continues to go in and out of style and reemerging at a moments notice in many varied ways. Who knows what will be next...
