I'm referring to the fact that everything the first cowboys wore meant function and function alone, for survival in the harsh conditions of the wild west.
Cowboy has function over appearance on an imaginary scale, I'm not saying to look like a Homeless man, after all appearance is also a function, it just depends on what imaginary level we put it on compared to the functionality and usage.

I'll point out that my backpack is the most functional thing I have, after my toolbox,

I have everything in it like, rope, carabiner, a tiny first aid kit, bulletproof plates, even a 30cm piece of pipe
(I know its weird but what Im gonna do when i want to to rappel out of the window, i don't have enough strength in my hands, but i have a piece of steel pipe that i can use as a seat and rappelling will definitely be less painful, or more simply just breaking windows, prying, etc.),

and on top of that i have other things that change depending on where I'm going or what im going to do.

It gives me an imaginary illusion of safety, so it also has a great function, even if it's just a sentimental one.