Cowboy Style for People Who Have Never Been on a Horse

Cowboy Style for People Who Have Never Been on a Horse

Cowboy style has moved from costume to wardrobe, with suede, denim, belts and boots now worn on city streets. I sorted the tops, jackets and the rest for people who have never seen a rodeo.

The ranch comes to town

The West has been a fashion reference on and off for fifty years, but this round feels less ironic. Fringe is still around, though the more convincing pieces are plain: a good belt, a worn denim jacket, a boot with some height.

Numbered collage of six cowboy boots from this edit: PAIGE Greta Boot, ALOHAS Gema Boot, Ariat Cate Boot, Seychelles Begging You Boot, Free People Cat Nap Cowboy Boot and Paris Texas Jane Boot 60.

More tops

Start with a plain tank or a worn denim shirt and let the boots do the talking. Tops do the quiet work in an edit like this, changing an outfit more than they seem to.

Still more tops

These are the plain tops I would build the rest of the outfit around, from ribbed tanks to a check shirt. They sit under a jacket or inside a belted jean without asking for attention.

Jackets

I would start with a jacket that brings one western cue, then let the rest of the outfit stay familiar. Fringe, suede, or denim gives the layer shape without turning the whole look into a costume.

More jackets

I would let one jacket carry the western reference and keep the rest of the outfit familiar. Suede or fringe gives these layers their texture without turning them into costumes.

Denim

The easiest way in is denim, worn the way it would be on a ranch, with some weight to it. Denim anchors the rest of the outfit, and the cut matters more than the wash.

Cowboy Boots and the Shoes Around Them

Lucchese has been making boots since 1883, when Salvatore Lucchese, a Sicilian immigrant, opened a shop in San Antonio with his brothers and sold to the cavalry officers at Fort Sam Houston. I think that history is why cowboy boots for women read as a real wardrobe shoe now and not a costume. The shape was built for work, and it still looks like it.

 

The newer names are having fun with it. Miron Crosby was started in Dallas in 2017 by two sisters, Lizzie Means Duplantis and Sarah Means, who grew up on their family's cattle ranch in West Texas, and their boots are the embroidered, colorful end of this grid. Paris Texas and GANNI push the stitching even further, while Tecovas, Frye and Ariat keep things plain.

 

If you are buying one pair, start with a stacked heel and a quiet color, like the Tecovas Annie in Sequoia or the Lucchese Savannah in black, and wear it under a straight jean so only the toe shows. The Dingo Out West in blue and the Corral embroidered pair are for your second pair, once you know how often you reach for the first. The mules and clogs mixed in are for the days a boot feels like too much.

 

What I would skip: a tall shaft with a skinny jean tucked in. It is the one combination that still reads as a theme party.

Accessories

Hats, belts and a bandana are the quickest way to nod to the West without changing the outfit underneath. Pick one of them to be the statement and keep the rest quiet.

Trousers and shorts

Suede shorts and flares look best over a tall boot. The bottom half sets the proportion, so these are worth choosing carefully.

Jewelry

I would let one piece of jewelry do the talking here. The bolo necklace nods to the West, while hoops and a cuff keep the rest easy.

Dresses

One western detail, like fringe or a bandana print, is enough. A dress is the fastest way into the trend, since one piece is the whole outfit.

Skirts

A fringe or plaid skirt does the work of a whole outfit. It changes the mood of a plain top more than almost anything else here.

Knitwear

Fringe cardigans and horse-motif knits do the western part, so keep the bottom half plain. Knits bring the cold-weather texture that the season needs.

Bags

A small suede or studded bag is plenty. It is the accent, and it is where the outfit gets a bit of personality.

Mini dresses

Denim and fringe minis are the easiest way to wear this without a theme. They come in every length and cut, so it is simple to match one to an occasion.

More from the edit

A few more pieces that did not fit the other groups, from a fringe jean jacket to a rodeo belt. Each one carries a single western cue, so mix them with what you own.

Also in the edit

The rest of the edit, mixed together: more boots, a run of belts, and a few hats and dresses. Treat it as a shelf to pick one or two pieces from.

Keeping it a wardrobe and not a costume

Wear one western piece at a time. Two is a theme and three is a party.