Today is the first day of my annual weeklong sojourn at the beach. I’m honored to present the first-ever contributor post at BAMF Style. Please enjoy the following submission by BAMF Style reader “W.T. Hatch”.
L.Q. Jones as County Commissioner Pat Webb in Casino (1995)
Vitals
L.Q. Jones as Pat Webb, cowboy Clark County commissioner
Las Vegas, Spring 1977
Film: Casino
Release Date: November 22, 1995
Director: Martin Scorsese
Costume Design: Rita Ryack & John A. Dunn
Background
I appreciate you taking the time to see a poor old civil servant.
In a rare moment of uncontrolled anger, Tangiers casino boss Sam “Ace” Rothstein (Robert De Niro) fires his slot machine manager Don Ward, accusing him of outright incompetence or collusion with a gaming scam. Don hails from an influential Las Vegas family and is the brother-in-law of powerful county commissioner Pat Webb (played by Hollywood character actor L.Q. Jones).
Shortly thereafter, Webb makes an unannounced visit to request Sam rehire Don as a personal favor. Unfortunately, Sam fails to see the bigger issue at stake and refuses Webb’s request to disastrous effect. Although he appears in just four all-too-brief scenes, Webb leaves a lasting impression on both the viewer and eventually Sam himself.
What’d He Wear?
Pat Webb’s cowboy-themed ensemble contrasts against Sam Rothstein’s flashy silk suits, further highlighting the clash of cultures inherent between these two determined men. Commissioner Webb wears a light tan unstructured corduroy jacket, ideal for the Nevada climate, which lends an air of quiet authority and professionalism befitting his position. The jacket is minimalist and understated, with a single peak front and a simple yoke on the back. There are two large pockets with flaps on the bottom of the jacket mirroring the yoke design from the coat’s backside. The buttonless sleeves show a bit of flair through stitched-on brown suede elbow patches. The jacket has two buttons on the front, but Webb wears his coat unbuttoned, further demonstrating his folksy openness. Like the rest of the coat, the deeply cut notch lapels are conservative in their width, thereby avoiding the worst pitfalls of late ’70s fashion. Indeed, Webb’s corduroy coat, like much of his clothing, would not seem out of place in the western United States today.
Webb and Rothstein look out over the latter’s Tangiers “casino empire.”
Underneath the jacket, Webb wears a vibrant red shirt of uncertain material, but given the era, climate, and his personality, one would assume it to be made of cotton or perhaps rayon. Simplistic in design, the shirt has two large chest pockets with pointed flaps and a front placket with marbled brown buttons. More than anything, the solid red color symbolizes his power and influence as a presumably long standing member of the Las Vegas elite. Additionally, it serves as a fitting background to the obscenely large turquoise bolo tie worn in keeping with Webb’s cowboy image. The tie’s slide is likely of Native American design with a bear claw motif made from the turquoise stone and silver bear claws. Dark braided leather cords with 2″ silver bolo tips complete the look.
Barely visible throughout the brief, but pivotal, meeting are Webb’s silver and turquoise bracelet on his right wrist and his gold wristwatch on his left.
Unsurprisingly, Webb chooses to pair his corduroy coat with a pair of neatly pressed bootcut blue jeans. Although the exact manufacturer is unknown, the smart money is on the Wrangler brand.
The flared bootcut of the jeans may distract you, but check out the gold watch shining on Webb’s left wrist.
In addition to a large leather belt worn through his jeans’ belt loops, Webb has a second smaller belt of tooled leather below his waist. Webb wears these two belts as a gunfighter would have in the Old West – one for your pants and the other for your firearm– although it is unlikely he is exercising his Second Amendment rights in a casino. The larger belt is fastened with an ornate silver oval cowboy belt buckle whereas the second belt has a standard tongue and punch hole combination closure.
Webb hooks his thumbs through the smaller belt while cooling his heels in Rothstein’s outer office.
Webb’s rattlesnake skin cowboy boots are mostly hidden by the length of his pants. The shank of the boot is a much darker color, the details of which are further obscured by Rothstein’s desk when Webb unceremoniously throws himself into a chair.
The men’s differences are as obvious as their choices in footwear.
Webb tops off his outfit with a brown felt Stetson cowboy hat distinguished by its tall crown and rattlesnake headband. The lighter colored rattlesnake skin neatly contrasts with the darker brown of the hat, but the prominent placement of the open-mouthed snake head on the brim ensures it remains the focus.
Surprisingly, Webb wears a cowboy hat while indoors in each of his appearances – an oddity for a man who uses phrases like “little lady”– and who would normally remove his hat upon entering a building.
The snakehead reinforces Webb’s personality and approach while discussing his less than astute brother-in-law’s firing. Webb rattles several warnings to Rothstein about the consequences of his rather public dismissal – warnings that Sam, almost fatally, chooses to ignore. Webb would later strike Rothstein by moving up his gaming license hearing and simultaneously ensuring the board members unanimously voted against him. Enraged, Rothstein embarks on a long expletive rant later broadcast by multiple TV stations. Without a license, Sam may no longer legally manage the casino and his subsequent actions bring additional scrutiny to the mob’s involvement, ultimately leading to the downfall of the local mafia, Sam and the Tangiers itself.
How to Get the Look
Western or cowboy themed attire is a timeless American look perfect for formal and informal occasions.
- Tan pinwale corduroy single-breasted 2-button sportcoat with notch lapels, pointed Western front and back yokes, padded shoulders, brown suede elbow patches, set-in hip pockets (with pointed flaps), and single back vent
- Red cotton shirt with spread collar, brown urea buttons on front placket, chest pockets (with pointed flaps), button cuffs
- Blue denim jeans with tall belt loops and flared bootcut bottoms
- Rattlesnake skin cowboy boots
- Brown tooled leather cowboy belt with large oval two-tone silver & gold Western belt buckle
- Brown secondary belt for your (optional where legal) six-shooter
- Brown felt Stetson cowboy hat with tall crown and rattlesnake hat band
- Silver and turquoise bracelet
- Gold analog wristwatch
- And the pièce de résistance, a bear claw shaped turquoise and silver bolo tie
Do Yourself a Favor and…
Buy the movie.
The Quote
You have got me there. Ol’ Don’s as useless as tits on a boar.
