Go wild for western but not the full John Wayne
EMMA JOHNSON gets tips on nailing cowboy-cool
BEYONCé’S foray into country music has got us going wild for western fashion.
Womenswear retailer Simply Be reports sales of cowboyinspired products are up by 73% year-on-year, while research from Boohoo reveals Google searches for ‘cowboy hat’ spiked by more than 200% after the music megastar was spotted wearing one at the Grammys and the Superbowl.
And the clamour for all things western-inspired has only grown stronger since the chart-topper dropped her new album Cowboy Carter last week
But before you sling on that stetson, how do you pull off #cowgirlcore without ending up in a cowboy costume drama?
Charlie Cooke, style expert at clothing brand Fairfax & Favor (fairfaxandfavor.com) says: “When it comes to cowgirl chic, getting the right balance of the pieces you style together will be of utmost importance to not looking too costume.”
Here Charlie shares top tips to make sure your look is more high fashion than High
Noon.
Styling suede
“Suede is seeing a huge comeback, especially in tan and dark brown shades,” says Charlie. “Pair this with other fabrics to keep your look interesting. Denim always works well with suede pieces, making a denim dress or skirt the perfect item to wear with a suede jacket, belt or boots. Ensure the denim piece you opt for is something more modern to avoid this looking like a cowboy costume.
“Suede also pairs beautifully with printed fabrics, think floral maxi dresses and paisley skirts to bring your look to a more bohemian aesthetic and veer away from western styling.”
Cowboy boots
“Cowboy boots can be notoriously hard to style,” says Charlie. “A key tip is to not wear a midi-length skirt which ends at the top of your boots, this will hide your legs and cause an unflattering silhouette, which could make you look shorter than you are.
“Pairing cowboy boots with jeans is a classic combination. Go for straight-leg jeans for better proportions. “
Fringing
Says Charlie: “The trick for styling this is to draw inspiration from the 2000s bohemian trend.
“With fringed accessories, less is always more. Only have one or two pieces with this detailing in your outfit to not overwhelm your look. Fringe looks best in suede fabrics, you should stick to classic colours such as black and tan. Pair your fringed bag or boots with warmertoned clothing pieces.”
Embroidery
“For embroidery pieces, investing in quality clothing is a good idea,” Charlie advises. “A premium embroidered bag, jacket or skirt is worth the investment to ensure the craftsmanship is evident in how they have paid attention to detail in the embroidery.
“Keep an eye out for unfinished stitching, such as loose threads on pieces, and avoid these where possible. Less is also more with this style, so opt for a statement embroidered jacket paired with a classic patterned dress and suede boots, to create a look moving away from classic cowboy clothing.”
What to avoid
“Pairing double denim with suede can set you on the path to cowboy costume,” Charlie warns. “Try to bring in other prints or fabrics and make the look your own. It is important to style the trend in a way that feels authentic to your usual outfit aesthetic. Scarves combined with denim clothing also takes you into the realms of western dress-up, so avoid these two styles put together.”