- Words Daisy Ayscough
Saddle up for summer, with festivals just around the corner, we look at why cowboy style is going to be this season’s hottest look.
We’re caught in the eye of a cowboy storm and the forecast isn’t changing. The world is going mad for Western attire: with the seismic release of Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter, Pharell’s Americana-infused Louis Vuitton AW24 collection, fashion’s tassel obsession turning everyone’s attention to the Wild West.
Not to mention, everyone and their mum seems to have a pair of cowboy boots. We’ve all seen them stomping around the streets of London, on the catwalk and Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour; they’re completely unavoidable. Nevertheless, ranch romance extends way beyond fashion’s fave boot. Fringe shirts, concho belts, bolo ties, and even Stetson hats are also everywhere. On the runway, Pharrell’s Louis Vuitton AW24 collection doubled down on all things Western, from fringe to flashy turquoise detailing. But why are we stuck in this love affair?
Country is at an all-time high. Western-inspired music is stealing the show from Cowboy Carter’s popularity to country folk artists like Adrianne Lenker and Kacey Musgraves. Not only that, cowboys have undisputed cool, evoking images of classic films like Legends of the Fall – who doesn’t want to be reminded of Brad Pitt riding off into the sunset? All this has placed country bang in the centre of our current cultural zeitgeist.
So, is this the summer to make us all cowboys? With festival season just around the corner, will we see crowds of skinny blue jeans, suede waist coats and leather belts trecking across muddy fields? Are we in store for the most rodeo Glastonbury in history? Coachella certainly jumped on the bandwagon, with Lana Del Rey’s diamante cowboy boots catching our eye, as well as Paris Hilton’s classic Stetson hat straight from Texas.
As designers, celebrities, and artists add country flair to their looks, it’s hard to refuse the mystical charm of dressing like a cowboy. Although it’s not everyone’s taste, there’s something unusually tempting in adding dress-up elements to an everyday look. And who’s to say if any more of us will join the cowboy parade this summer, but there’s no denying the effortless cool of a cowboy boot or sheriff’s hat.