Foghorn style guru Chloe Schildhause ran into Nick Votaw, a freshman economics major, outside the cafeteria. Nick sports a full, authentic ranch-style ensemble. He keeps the sun out with a cowboy hat, rocks a wild, wild west belt buckle, and treks around campus in perfectly worn-in boots. Photos by Melissa Stihl/Foghorn

Nick Votaw was spotted walking up the pathway to Crossroads on a quiet Wednesday evening.  I saw his intriguing look and knew at that moment he was a style icon.  Nick’s white Stetson is from Boot Barn in Saint Martin (near Nick’s homeland, Morgan Hill), his button up shirt is from Boot Barn, the t-shirt peaking out from underneath is from high school, his zip-up beige jacket belonged to his dad (“We share the same clothes sometimes,” Nick said.) the belt and its massive gold eagle buckle is from Boot Barn, the jeans are from Boot Barn, the brown worn-in boots are from Boot Barn and the wooden cross that hangs around his neck dangling from a black rope was a gift from Nick’s girlfriend.

“[Boot Barn] is pretty much the only place I shop,” Nick said, “I’ve known it since I was alive.” Nick has no style icons, “I just do my own thing.” And his process of getting dressed in the morning is pretty simple. “I just slap some stuff on,” Nick said, “I was born and raised on a ranch, I don’t do this just for show. This is me, this ain’t fashion.”

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