COWGIRL CLOSETS: CYNTHIA, Double D Ranch's 2021 Spring Collection

Cowgirl Closets: Cynthia, Spring 2021

Cynthia Cynthia Ann Parker is a remarkable woman with a story of legendary proportions.

Born Anglo, Cynthia was captured and adopted into a Comanche family at age 10 and became so ingrained in the Native American culture she forgot her white ways entirely. She married chieftain Peta Nocona with whom she had three children — two sons (one being legendary Quanah Parker, the last free Comanche chief) and one daughter. Eventually and reluctantly, Cynthia was recaptured and returned to her biological kin late in her life. Desperate to reunite with her sons and devastated by the untimely death of her daughter, Cynthia essentially starved herself to death after multiple failed attempts to flee Anglo life.

Her upbringing and cultural identity were multifaceted and complex. In concepting a vision for Cynthia’s Closet, we aimed to capture that complexity, acknowledging her Anglo origins but celebrating the Comanche culture she ultimately chose as her own.

“Cynthia’s story is beautiful and tragic and really quite incredible,” said Cheryl McMullen, designer for Double D Ranch. “I think that’s what endeared her to me. It’s hard to imagine the events of her life, but as a woman, and a mother, I can appreciate her deep connection and commitment to her children and her willingness to sacrifice all else in an attempt to reunite her family. She was a pioneer and a legend, and an inspiration.”

The Cynthia Collection is less of a literal interpretation of what might have been in her closet and more of a channeling of her spirit, dedicated to her strength.

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Cover & This Spread: Last Comanche Chief Jacket, Bandit Pant, Great Raid of 1840 Hat, Double D Ranch Jewelry

Plaza Charro Jacket, Riata Hat, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt

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“Cynthia’s story is beautiful and tragic and really quite incredible. I think that’s what endeared her to me.”

- Cheryl McMullen

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Last Comanche Chief Jacket, Great Raid of 1840 Hat, Double D Ranch Jewelry

Plaza Charro Jacket, Riata Hat, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt

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Plaza Charro Jacket, Riata Hat, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt

Both Pages: Tracker’s Art Vest, Luciana Top, Bandit Pant, Making Horse Medicine Hat, Stockyards Boot, Double D Ranch Jewelry

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Double D Ranch Jewelry

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Flight Feather Dress, Last Chief Boot, Double D Ranch Jewelry

Flight Feather Dress, Double D Ranch Jewelry

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Plaza Charro Jacket, Riata Hat, Double D Ranch Comancheria Jacket, Jewelry, Flight Feather Dress, Vintage Double Making Horse Medicine D RanchHat, Belt Double D Ranch Jewelry

Comancheria Jacket, Flight Feather Dress, Making Horse Medicine Hat, Last Chief Boot, Double D Ranch Jewelry

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This Page: Double D Ranch Jewelry Opposite Page: Prairie Flower Top, Making Horse Medicine Hat, Double D Ranch Jewelry

Plaza Charro Jacket, Riata Hat, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt

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Flight Feather Romper, Dream Weaver Boot, Double D Ranch Jewelry

Rompin’ Around Rompers are a little outside the box for DDR, but we are loving this look. Rompers originated in the early 1900s, originally designed for children as play clothes because the silhouette made it easy for — you guessed it — rompin’ around. The style was quickly adapted into adult fashions, and while it’s ebbed and flowed in popularity throughout the decades, the romper remains the height of spring chic.

Worried you can’t pull off the style? We get that. Not every romper is for everybody, but there is a romper for every body. Give a few a try! What’s important is that you feel comfortable, and above all, confident in it.

Plaza Charro Jacket, Riata Hat, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt

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Flight Feather Top, Flight Feather Skirt, Double D Ranch Jewelry

Flight Feather Top, Bandit Pant, Double D Ranch Jewelry

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Captured Scout Jacket, Double D Ranch Jewelry

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Both Pages: Captured Scout Jacket, Gathered Stories Skirt, Comancheria Tee, Ledger Art Boot, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt

Plaza Charro Jacket, Riata Hat, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt

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Opposite Page: Comancheria Tee, Double D Ranch Jewelry

Comancheria Tee, Double D Ranch Jewelry

“Resilience is accepting your new reality, even if it’s less good than the one you had before. You can fight it, you can do nothing but scream about what you’ve lost, or you can accept that and try to put together something that’s good.”

- Elizabeth Edwards

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Ledger Art Boot

Plaza Charro Jacket, Riata Hat, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt

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Plaza Charro Jacket, Riata Hat, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt

Our Compliments to Complements We’d venture to guess the average person doesn’t spend a great deal of time contemplating color theory.

But in our business — it’s essential. Anyone can look at this outfit, or just this serape even, and declare, “Those colors look beautiful together!” Well, it doesn’t happen by accident and it isn’t magic; it’s science.

Way back in 1666, Isaac Newton invented the color wheel, and for centuries, artists and designers have used it to coordinate complementary colors, which you can determine by choosing a color on the wheel and locating its direct opposite. In this case, it’s the turquoise and orange that grab your eye and make the pattern pop. (It’s also why turquoise and orange spiny oyster are a popular combination in Southwestern jewelry.) The more you know.

Plaza Charro Jacket, Riata Hat, Cynthia’s Dress, Segovia Boot, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Double D Ranch Jewelry Vintage Double D Ranch Belt

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This Page: Cynthia’s Dress, Segovia Boot, Double D Ranch Jewelry Opposite Page: Cynthia’s Dress, Double D Ranch Jewelry

Plaza Charro Jacket, Riata Hat, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt

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Cheetah Feather Top, Great Raid of 1840 Hat, Double D Ranch Jewelry

Mariana Top, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt

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Plaza Charro Jacket, Riata Hat, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt

This Page: Cheetah Feather Top, Spoils of Linnville Short, Last Chief Boot, Double D Ranch Jewelry Opposite Page: Cheetah Feather Top, Great Raid of 1840 Hat, Double D Ranch Jewelry

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Stolen Ponies Top, Cody Hat, Double D Ranch Jewelry

Double D Ranch Jewelry

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Spoils of Linnville Pant, Segovia Boot, Double D Ranch Jewelry

Madonna of the Plains Top, Spoils of Linnville Short, Double D Ranch Jewelry

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Madonna of the Plains There are only two known photos in existence of Cynthia Ann Parker, and we find this one of her and her daughter particularly moving. It depicts her shortly after her re-capture by the Texas Rangers en route to being returned to her birth family; her hair is cut, a Comanche sign of mourning, and she’s feeding her daughter “Prairie Flower”, the only one of her children she was able to take with her. It’s a powerful image and we felt it needed to be paid homage within the Cynthia collection, so we commissioned world-renowned beadwork artist and restorer of Native American artifacts, Angela Swedberg, and she created this work of art.

The bag is ochre painted, brain-tanned deer hide, handbeaded with antique Italian seed beads, some more modern “Picasso” finished beads, and dentalium shells, which were and still are a prized trade shell. The silver spots are antiques and in the same style as those found on high-top moccasins of Comanche women.

“I was thinking to the ‘Madonna of the Plains’ and how Cynthia Parker to me, better represents this image,” Angela explained. “She has many descendants among the Comanche people, who hold her in high praise. I see her as a heroine and not a tragic figure. I changed her daughter who was wrapped in a blanket in the original photo, to one of her carrying her in a beaded baby board; the ultimate symbol of a mother’s love for her child, to wrap her up and protect her in beauty.”

Double D Ranch Accessories

“[Cynthia] has many descendants among the Comanche people, who hold her in high praise. I see her as a heroine and not a tragic figure.”

- Angela Swedberg

Wide Trail Top, Double D Ranch Jewelry

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Both Pages: Wide Trail Top, Double D Ranch Jewelry

Plaza Charro Jacket, Riata Hat, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt

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Plaza Charro Jacket, Riata Hat, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt

Opposite Page: Cynthia’s Sock Pack This Page: Plains Quill Top, Cynthia’s Skirt, Dream Weaver Boot, Double D Ranch Jewelry

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Spoils of Linnville Decades ago, in a small South Texas junior high school, a captivated 7th grader sat in her history class, wide-eyed and enthralled, listening to a tale of a historic battle that took place not that far from where she sat. It’s never left her.

In August of 1840, a troop of Comanche warriors set out to attack south Texas, the towns of Victoria and what was formerly the town of Linnville, in an attempt to force settlers to the coast. At the time, there was about $300,000 worth of goods being stored in a warehouse that was raided. The warriors helped themselves to case after case of extravagant hats and umbrellas and spools of ribbon. Unfamiliar with the Anglo accoutrements, they loaded themselves and their horses with all they could carry, becoming a colorful — almost comical — display of spoils as they continued their attack.

“This raid has always fascinated me,” said Cheryl. “For starters, we grew up in South Texas, so it was part of our history. But moreover, can you imagine that sight? These fierce warriors, who are just decimating this town, taking captives and burning buildings, and all the while are adorned with fancy women’s hats and parasols, and ribbons streaming out from behind their horses. What a juxtaposition, what a spectacle. That imagery, that visual — or how I imagined it — has always stuck with me.”

Fun fact: One of the victims of the raid, newlywed Juliet Watts, was spared her life when her corset prevented her arrow wound from being life-threatening. Gives a whole new meaning to the concept that your outfit is your armor.

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Spoils of Linville Jacket, Spoils of Linville Pant, Great Raid of 1840 Hat, Double D Ranch Jewelry

Plaza Charro Jacket, Riata Hat, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt

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Let’s Smoke the Peace Pipe Jacket, Saddlepack Skirt, Double D Ranch Jewelry

Let’s Smoke the Peace Pipe Jacket, Saddlepack Skirt, Double D Ranch Jewelry

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Plaza Charro Jacket, Riata Hat, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt

“She was not born strong, she was made strong.

She was sculpted to be her own hero when the world let her down, and she kept picking herself back up.”

- Jordan Sarah Weatherford

Gathered Stories Jacket, Gathered Stories Skirt, Dream Weaver Boot, Double D Ranch Jewelry

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Plaza Charro Jacket, Riata Hat, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt

Opposite Page: Gathered Stories Jacket, Gathered Stories Skirt, Double D Ranch Jewelry This Page: Dream Weaver Boot

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Panuelo Top, Cynthia’s Scarf, Double D Ranch Jewelry

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Peace Keeper Workshirt, Wild Plaza Charro Jacket, Riata Hat,West Skirt, Double Double D D Ranch Ranch Jewelry, Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt Vintage Double D Ranch Belt

Plaza Charro Jacket, Riata Hat, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt

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Plaza Charro Jacket, Riata Hat, Double D Ranch Jewelry, T3422 Peace Keeper Workshirt Vintage Double D Ranch Belt $125 S1729 Wild West Skirt $69

This Page: Peace Keeper Workshirt, Wild West Skirt, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt Opposite Page: Stolen Ponies Vest, Wild West Skirt, Double D Ranch Jewelry

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“Do not tame the wolf inside you just because you’ve met someone who doesn’t have the courage to handle you.”

- Belle Estreller

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Tracker’s Art Vest, Double D Ranch Jewelry

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Plaza Charro Jacket, Riata Hat, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt

Both Pages: Comanche Moon Jacket, Double D Ranch Jewelry

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This Page: Segovia Boot Opposite Page: Stolen Ponies Top, Stolen Ponies Pant, Double D Ranch Jewelry

Plaza Charro Jacket, Riata Hat, V968 Stolen Ponies Vest $120 Double D Ranch Jewelry, S1729 Wild West Skirt $69 Vintage Double D Ranch Belt

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Plaza Charro Jacket, Riata Hat, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt

Three Feather Tank, Gathered Stories Skirt, Cody Hat, Double D Ranch Jewelry

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Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt

Family Scrapbook Top, Double D Ranch Jewelry

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Last Chief Boots

Gathered Stories Jacket, Double D Ranch Jewelry

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This Page: Prairie Flower Top, Double D Ranch Jewelry Opposite Page: Double D Ranch Jewelry

Plaza Charro Jacket, Riata Hat, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt

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Accessory to Art We’ve offered more than one tutorial on ways to style your scarves – on your neck, your head, your ponytail, your bag – but there’s a whole new trend in scarves that has nothing to do with wearing them. They’ve become art.

That’s right, more and more people have taken to framing and mounting scarves that they find visually pleasing or that fit the motif of their home, particularly these extralarge square versions that really do have that aesthetic of a painting. It’s creative and chic, and we are here for it.

Plaza Charro Jacket, Riata Hat, Double Flight D Ranch Feather Jewelry, Scarf, Vintage Double Double D Ranch D Ranch Jewelry Belt

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Grass Dancer Jacket, Great Raid of 1840 Hat, Double D Ranch Jewelry

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Grass Dancer Pant Segovia Boot

Grass Dancer Jacket, Grass Dancer Pant, Great Raid of 1840 Hat, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt

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Luciana Dress, Making Horse Medicine Hat, Double D Ranch Jewelry

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Plaza Charro Jacket, Riata Hat, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt

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Vintage Double D Ranch Belts

“Above all, be the heroine of your life.”

- Nora Ephron

Quannah Parker Top, Gathered Stories Skirt, C aptured Scout Scarf, Double D Ranch Jewelry

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Cynthia’s Scarf, Double D Ranch Jewelry

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