The Resurgence Of Western Fashion

Dirt on your boots, vintage Levi's and slower living - what isn’t there to romanticise about a Western way of life? Why wouldn’t we want to imagine ourselves riding into the sunset on a horse with no name? We seem to return to the idolisation of cowboy living every few years, with this being the ultimate boomerang trend.

In times of conflict and confusion, we seem to want to run back to something that we know - something classic, maybe even rustic. Or so this appears to be the case as in a modern world, we seem to flock back to dreams of classic Americana living every few years. And it’s not the Lana Del Ray, Coca Cola Americana, but something that existed long before the song Video Games went viral. I’m talking about the true Cowboy Western American – the Good, the Bad and the Ugly – or at least as close to this as we can get whilst still retaining modern ideologies.

Not our first rodeo

This return to Western styles is not by any means a new phenomenon. The obvious obsession with the style first arose in the 60s and 70s in primarily men’s fashion. But, this is only when the style breached its way into fashion, the wild west has been a significant genre in pop culture since 1894, when a series of short film reels about the world of Cowboys was released. Western movies have continued to be a classic genre, although have dipped in popularity in recent years. Despite this, Western styles remain prominent in the fashion world, with the return of cowboy boots being a reliable instance that occurs once every couple of years.

Of course, the repeated popularity of these styles is aided by the world of the western, with the fashion being only a small aspect of a larger universe. Western movies clearly reinforce the vibe of the style, as we are given a really easy way to visualise it and understand the world from the comfort of our homes. We can also further immerse ourselves into it by listening to country music: whether you opt for old classics like Glen Campbell, treasured favourites like Dolly Parton, or new additions like Cowboy Carter, you can feel inspired to dust off your boots by what you listen to.  

Return to the Ranch

In recent fashion, there is an apparent urge to go back to the Wild West. With a return to Cowboy boots and hats, suede, vintage jeans in classic silhouettes, Western belts and styles that feel reminiscent of horse riding being prominent and popular. And though the style will always be well-liked as it’s a subculture that’s heavily embedded into our world, the recent resurgence was kickstarted with the aid of popular artists like Beyonce and Sabrina Carpenter, who (with the help from our treasured favourites) have started to bring this world back into the mainstream again through their music.  

Although it should be noted that with the current recycling of this trend, there is variation in the way that it is popular: there is a modernised version of the trend, along with a classic version. The modernised version of Western is much more feminised than previous versions. It can be encapsulated entirely by a pink, glittery cowboy hat and embodied by the style of artists like Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter. It’s essentially the clubification of cowboys, as this style hats and boots are being made into party attire. The opposite version of the trend is the classic variation: this is the one which comes with an effortless ability to ride and speak to horses. It comes with the desert, Frye boots, Levi's, and turquoise jewellery. It’s the pure version of the trend, which feels like it’ll never truly go out of style, at least not as long as we have access to the song Wichita Lineman on Spotify.

Riding into the Sunset

With modern pressures and stresses, we can crave a time that appears rustically romanticised, one that we feel like we know through past life memories and the music of Dolly Parton. There’s not much that we know for sure, but I’m pretty certain that our return to rodeo fashion every few years, whether it’s in its classic form or revamped with a new attitude, is something we can count on. And it’s a nice reassurance! Some days, we simply just want to ride off into the sunset, and occasionally, the clothes we wear make this dream more possible.