MATAGORDA: Double D Ranch's 2020 Fall Transition Collection

30th Anniversary

Matagorda

Transition 2020

Plaza Charro Jacket, Riata Hat, Cover and This Spread: Stevie Tunic, Matagorda Skirt, Gauchos Hat, Double D Les Ranch Jewelry, Conquista Boot, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt Vintage Double D Ranch Belt

Matagorda Where does the inspiration for Double D Ranch come from? Short answer: everywhere.

“I am a hoarder of inspiration, influence, and information,” said DDR Designer Cheryl McMullen. “From trinkets to trend reports to torn-out magazine pages, I am incessantly filing away what makes an impression on me. And I have always been that way, since long before we founded Double D Ranch. Maybe that’s a more accurate way to put it; impression and influence, rather than inspiration. I do look for fresh inspiration for every collection, but as a whole, Double D Ranch is a lifetime cumulation of things, people, and places that have made an impression on me.”

As we looked ahead to the 30th anniversary collection of Double D Ranch, we found ourselves looking back, reflecting on all the experiences and adventures that have shaped us throughout our lives, from our roots to our road trips to our role models. The result was a mental map of our memory lane, a collection dedicated to geographical locations from our upbringing that had an indelible impact on us. Matagorda County, the south Texas region that raised us; Cody, Wyoming, the home of the Buffalo Bill Museum that blew our minds; Nashville, the motherland of country music and the epicenter of cowgirl couture; and Taos, our favorite stop-and-shop town in the Land of Enchantment, where this wild ride started for us.

“I struggled to come up with an overarching name that would really encompass the intention of this collection,” Cheryl said. “Until I was riding down the road with my son, and ‘I Go Back’ by Kenny Chesney came on the radio, and it just clicked. I turned to him and said, ‘Sammy, this is it.

I Go Back.’ The final piece of the 30th fall collection fell into place.”

The kickoff collection for I Go Back is an homage to our upbringing in Matagorda County, and it transitions from summer to fall with colorful collage prints, stunning serape, solid staple denims, and the new neutral: animal print. We mimicked meaningful pieces from our past, like a retro FFA jacket, an Army-style jumpsuit in honor of our uncle, Private Fimbel, and some old school ledger art.

Every collection is a reflection of us in a way. But this, this is like peering into our past; wearable representations of the beautiful building blocks that formed our foundation. It’s our history and our future. We’re moving forward, and we’re looking back. Because the only way to appreciate how far you’ve come is to remember where you started.

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September Vest, Matagorda Tee, Double D Ranch Jewelry

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Both Pages: Running on Empty Jacket, Denim Workshirt, Wild West Pant, El Paso Boot, Double D Ranch Jewelry

Both Pages: Lucio Dress, Double D Ranch Jewelry

Giant: Riata, Fall 2019

Jypsy Rose Poncho, Long Tall Sally Boot, Double D Ranch Jewlery

Vintage Double D Ranch Belt

Audrey’s Kirk Smith When you’ve been buying, selling, and collecting vintage pieces as long as we have, it’s almost inevitable that you’re eventually going to lose track of something. Forget you had it, forget where you put it, forget which sister you loaned it to and when. Sooner or later, you take stock of things, and once in a blue moon, you realize you’ve had a wearable work of art right underneath your nose for no telling how long.

“We grew up surrounded

by Mexican culture interwoven with classic Texana. It’s something I’ve always enjoyed and admired, particularly in terms of fashion.”

Like a Kirk Smith concho belt. A thing of beauty that you find one day while rummaging around in your closet, and you realize it must’ve been there for at least a decade.

Though he first started tinkering with silver around the ripe old age of 7 in his grandfather’s workshop, the widely renowned and highly revered Kirk Smith really came into his own as a Navajo artisan in the 1980s.

Skilled in creating everything from statement cuffs to squash blossoms, Kirk is perhaps most often associated with his concho belts. His pieces can be recognized by his heavy, detailed silver work and for his use of high-grade turquoise. He was passionate about handcrafting his work and creating pieces of quality and value that he was proud to put his name on, because his grandfather instilled in him, “When you leave something here, your name will always be here.” An eerily foreshadowing mantra in hindsight, as Kirk was tragically killed in 2012 at just 55 years old.

For more about Kirk Smith, his art, and his famed family, visit our Double Talk blog on DoubleDRanch.com.

- Cheryl McMullen

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

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Magic Carpet Jacket, Tiger Cat Tee, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt

Magic Carpet Jacket, Double D Ranch Jewelry

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Both Pages: Matagorda Tee, Wild West Pant, Del Rio Boot, Double D Ranch Jewelry

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Matagorda Tunic, Double D Ranch Jewelry

Double D Ranch Jewelry

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The New Neutral We’ll say it: beige is boring, and khakis have just never really scratched our itch to stand out.

You’ll likely never hear us say anything is the “new black” – we love it too much and it’s too essential – but man, we are really loving the trend of embracing animal print as the new neutral.

We are all for the idea of enhancing your everyday look, and fashion is trending toward funky these days, so the concept of swapping out solid staples for a kickass cat print is going mainstream, and we. are. here for it.

Whether it’s leopard or cheetah (yes, there is a difference, by the way) or even tiger stripe, fashionable feline prints are all over the runway in everything from jackets to jeggings. Of course, you can still let it be the statement piece of your outfit, tempered down with black or denim, but a lot of the so-called rules that used to restrict the way you wear animal print have gone by the wayside. Feel free to mix patterns, pair it with other bold pieces like bright colors and big accessories, or rock it on top and bottom.

Take a walk on the wild side.

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Nilla Jacket, Double D Ranch Jewelry

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Tiger Cat Legging, Conquista Boot

Joe Bar Price Top, Tiger Cat Legging, Conquista Boot, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt

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This Page: Tiger Cat Dress, Matagorda Hat, Long Tall Sally Boot, Double D Ranch Jewelry Left Page: Lay Down Sally Jacket, Tiger Cat Dress, Matagorda Hat, Double D Ranch Jewelry

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This Page: Southern Nights Jacket, Tiger Cat Tee, Double D Ranch Jewelry Opposite Page: Southern Nights Jacket, Double D Ranch Jewelry

This Page: Tiger Cat Jacket, Wild West Pant, Del Rio Boot, Double D Ranch Jewelry Opposite Page: Tiger Cat Tee, Matagorda Scarf, Cody Hat, Double D Ranch Jewelry

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Giant: Riata, Fall 2019

Goodbye Girl Jacket, Denim Workshirt, Goodbye Girl Shorts, Double D Ranch Jewelry

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This Page: Tiger Cat Legging, The Cattleman Boot Opposite Page: Velenda Top, Tiger Cat Legging, The Cattleman Boot, Double D Ranch Jewelry

Double D Ranch Jewelry

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Honky Tonk Cowgirl Tee, Les Gauchos Hat, Double D Ranch Jewelry

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This Page: Skat Kat Boot Opposite Page: Tiger Cat Tunic, Skat Kat Boot, Double D Ranch Jewelry

Both Pages: Salina Cruz Top, Matagorda Hat, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt

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This Page: Del Rio Boot Opposite Page: Land of Enchantment Top, Matagorda Scarf, Cody Hat, Double D Ranch Jewelry

Private Fimbel All of Matagorda has a significance to us in one way or another. But the Private Fimbel pieces are especially meaningful.

Private Fimbel was our Uncle Mike. He served two tours in the Navy during the Vietnam War, and while we were too young to really comprehend the war at the time, we knew that our Uncle Mike was a brave man, doing scary things, in a faraway place.

“In the summers, I spent a lot of time with his wife, my Aunt Marsha,” Cheryl said. “Uncle Mike was overseas, and I have distinct memories of when his letters would come. She would read parts of them to us, and sometimes she would show us pictures he sent.”

“His first tour, he was on a river boat that transported troops up the rivers into Vietnam,” said his son Scott, who has been with Double D Ranch for 24 years. “It was pretty horrible.

They engaged in a pretty heated battle that he was awarded a medal for.”

Petty Officer Jay Michael Fimbel, Jr. was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal in 1969 for “heroic achievement” in a battle lasting approximately three hours that resulted in enemy retreat.

“Though it took place overseas, during that era, the war seemed to be everywhere you looked, even in the clothing,” Cheryl recalled. “Everyone was wearing POW bracelets, and CPO jackets, and even fatigues were turned into fashion. This was during my formative years, and it had a lasting impact, so designing the Private Fimbel pieces was a powerful experience for me.”

Now, Uncle Mike’s grandson, Scott’s son, is carrying on the legacy of the Fimbel family’s military service. Specialist Michael Logan Fimbel has just reenlisted for a second term in the United States Army and is on the path to Sergeant.

We owe a debt to these men that we could never repay, but we are exceptionally proud to honor them in the small way that we can, with the Private Fimbel collection.

Lay Down Sally Jacket, Salina Cruz Top, Private Fimbel Pant, Cody Hat, Double D Ranch Jewelry

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This Page: Private Fimbel Pant, Double D Ranch Jewlery Opposite Page: Salina Cruz Top, Private Fimbel Pant, Cody Hat, Double D Ranch Jewelry

This Page: Private Fimbel Jacket, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt Opposite Page: Quintana Roo Boot, Double D Ranch Jewelry

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Cut From a Different Cloth Defying the odds is in our DNA. It’s in the very fibers of our family and the fabric of this company.

And that’s what makes this serape so meaningful to Matagorda; it’s truly a metaphor for our meager beginnings. We might’ve been as green as we were broke, but we were every bit as hungry.

We’ve always had a competitive spirit – we come by it honestly from both sides, with a “dare you to do it” daddy and a “dare you to tell me I can’t” momma. And I don’t think we were ever scared of adversity. A lifetime of adventures and endeavors taught us the wind in your face can fill your sails if you can adapt to changing course a little.

But one thing’s for certain, a surefire way to get a McMullen sister to accomplish something is to tell them it can’t be done.

We’ve disproven it time and time again over the years. It happened with this very serape.

We compiled this gorgeous combination of colors from our vintage serapes and colors that reminded us of the Matagorda coast from our childhood. Too many colors, according to our weavers. “It’s too complicated, it’s too intricate. There’s no way.”

And yet, here we are. Presenting you with the beautiful, unusual, and one-of-a-kind Matagorda Serape that was custom woven exclusively for Double D Ranch. Hey, we didn’t say it wouldn’t be difficult, we just said it wasn’t impossible.

If being in business for three decades has taught us anything, it’s this: be flexible on things that aren’t important, but be absolutely firm on things that are.

Matagorda Serape Workshirt, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt

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Matagorda Serape Dress, Dream Weaver Boot, Double D Ranch Jewelry

Matagorda Serape Dress, Double D Ranch Jewelry

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This Page: Matagorda Serape Jacket, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt, Opposite Page: Dream Weaver Boot

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Brianna Top, Matagorda Serape Pant, Double D Ranch Jewelry

Brianna Top, Double D Ranch Jewelry

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This Page: El Paso Boot Opposite Page: Ganado Tee, El Paso Boot, Double D Ranch Jewelry

This Page: Dead Heads Top, Double D Ranch Jewelry Opposite Page: Matagorda Livestock Show Top, Double D Ranch Jewelry

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The Legend of Ledger Art Ledger art derives its name from the obvious – that is, art that is often drawn or painted onto actual ledgers. But it wasn’t always.

That medium came into play due to two coinciding factors: the intentional eradication of buffalo and the confinement of the Native American artists to either prisons or reservations.

When the Plains Indians had free reign over the land and buffalo were ample, their artwork was created on animal hides using natural pigments derived from things like minerals or berries. Women primarily painted abstract art, while men often painted more narrative style works, depicting battles or acclaimed hunting feats.

However, as buffalo became more scarce and the U.S. government became more imposing on indigenous tribes, the art transitioned to using manmade materials they had access to, such as pencils, watercolors, and ink, and creating on paper, of which ledger books were often the most readily available.

While the origin of ledger art dates back to the decadesspanning the 1860s to 1920s, there was a brief revival in the 1960s, and to this day, you can still find artists who do their own versions of replicating that style.

Traditional ledger art generally has three style elements in common: the canvas is a logbook of some sort, like old mining certificates, stock certificates, or general ledger; the subject is in narrative action and is the focus, omitting background or contextual details; and figures tend to be drawn in hard outlines with solid fields of color.

We’ve been drawn to the aesthetic since we were little, so we worked with a Native American artist to create our own Double D Ranch interpretation based on an old accounting ledger, and have designed it into the fall Matagorda collection.

Vintage Double D Ranch Belts

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Accounting Jacket, Denim Workshirt, Wild West Pant, El Paso Boot, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt

Accounting Jacket, Denim Workshirt, Double D Ranch Jewelry

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This Page: Ledger Art Boot Opposite Page: Accounting Top, Cody Hat, Double D Ranch Jewelry

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Taos Hat, Matagorda Scarf, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belts

Giant: Riata, Fall 2019

“Every collection is a reflection of us in a way.

But this, this is like peering into our past.”

- Cheryl McMullen

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Denim Workshirt, Double D Ranch Jewelry

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This Page: Wild West Pant, El Paso Boot Opposite Page: Denim Workshirt, Wild West Pant, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt

Agrouvateur

(Pronounced like “aggravator”) This horse is the end of an era.

Our entire childhood was shaped by racehorses and horse races. Buying, breeding, and racing horses was Daddy Doug’s greatest passion. And he was really good at it.

“Daddy just had an innate knack for picking horses,” Cheryl said. “He could walk through a stable of a hundred horses and tell you which five would either be champions or breed champions. Just by looking at them.”

Daddy passed away in 2010. Agrouvateur is the last living horse he bought.

“Pa Doug hadn’t bought a horse in 15 years before that,” said Taylor Franz, who’s following in his granddad’s footsteps at McMullen Legacy Farms.

“Then in 2006, he went to a sale in Oklahoma City, and came home with six horses. Agrouvateur was on that trailer, along with his 2007 World Champion, Illegal Memories.”

Audrey fell in love with Agrouvateur as soon as they unloaded her. So Daddy gave her to her.

“Well, technically, she’s Mom’s,” Audrey laughed. “But Daddy ‘gave her to me’ because I said I liked her when he brought her home. Probably so we would never sell her.”

And we never will. Despite being unraced, she’s proved to be another of Daddy’s solid picks.

“She never raced, so she’s a straight broodmare,” Taylor explained. “We’ve bred her the last 10 years, and four of those have been winners. She’s due to foal again in the spring, praying for another winner!”

It was important to us that we include her in the shoot for our 30th anniversary collection catalogs. She’s symbolic of our upbringing, of our background in horse racing, and of our dad.

Agrouvateur is now 15 years old. While she’s still got some life left in her, we know the day will come when we’ll have to say goodbye to the last remaining piece of Daddy’s passion. Truly, the end of an era.

Watanya Cicilla Jacket, Denim Workshirt, Denim Broom Skirt, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt

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Watanya Cicilla Jacket, Denim Workshirt, Denim Broom Skirt, The Cattleman Boot, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt

Watanya Cicilla Jacket, Denim Workshirt, Denim Broom Skirt, Double D Ranch Jewelry, Vintage Double D Ranch Belt

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This Page: Dirt Track Denim Jacket, Wild West Pant, The Cattleman Boot, Cody Hat, Double D Ranch Jewelry Opposite Page: Lucio Top, Double D Ranch Jewelry

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

“Agrouvateur’s symbolic of our upbringing, of our background in horse racing, and of our dad.”

- Audrey Franz

On Left: Revolution Top, Matagorda Hat, Dream Weaver Boot, Double D Ranch Jewelry On Right: Rodeo Sweetheart Jacket, Wild West Pant, The Cattleman Boot

Both Pages: Rodeo Sweetheart Jacket, Wild West Pant, Double D Ranch Jewelry

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Revolution Dress, Dream Weaver Boot, Double D Ranch Jewelry

Revolution Top, Matagorda Hat, Double D Ranch Jewelry

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