As the sartorial wheel of fortune turns, western-inspired everything has been chosen by the fashion gods for the current look of choice. The last time cowboy boots appeared on the runways, iPods and flip phones were the coolest accessories to own, Britney Spears was pre-meltdown and Myspace was the social media outlet of choice...hello early 2000s, it's been a while! Yes, the Wild West trend is being recycled (as fashion so frequently does) but the difference this time is it's a lot less literal. Distant memories of Madonna strutting in full costume-party style cowgirl outfit in her music video 'Don't tell me' should be left alone, deep in the fashion archives.
White maxi dress, €75, from M&S. Porsche Design sunglasses, €365, from O’Hea Opticians. Green stone ring, €29, Green stone ring, €29, Woven chain necklace, €154, all from Porto.
Gingham, denim, cowboy boots and white smock dresses are the key players of this trend and very readily available on the high street, updating your wardrobe has never been so easy! Even the relentless choker trend got a cowgirl makeover, with Bolo Tie-styles and Bandanas replacing the overused velvet versions. If you don't want to splash out on buying new pieces for your wardrobe, accessorizing is the way forward, turquoise jewelry gives instant #wildwestvibes but the ultimate pop to a 'meh' outfit is a cool hat. If you are feeling unsure about how bold you want to go with your headwear you can start by dipping your toes into the fashion pond with a simple Panama hat before taking the plunge with a statement Stetson.
High-waist denim jeans, now €49.50, Black shirt, now €44.50, both from 1-2-3 Paris. Silver chain necklace, €236, Silver cuff with magnetic clasp, €36, Silver bangles set of 2, €30, all from Porto. Hat stylist’s own.
I was pretty excited when I noticed the trend might be popping back into our wardrobes, as some of my favourite movies stylistically are based around this theme - 'No Country for Old Men' for example, actually almost everything by the Cohen Brothers. The ultimate movie wardrobe has got to be Tarantino's 'True Romance', if you want to be inspired to have some fun with your outfits, watch Patricia Arquette strut around the Californian desert in ensembles that can only be described as 'so kitsch they are cool'. Look out for a sea of animal print, faded denim and cobalt cowboy boots.
LEFT: Light denim jacket, €36, Gingham trousers, now €14, both from F&F. Red balcony lace bra, now €12.50, from M&S. Etina Barcelona black cat eye sunglasses, €179, from O’Hea Opticians. Gold clip earrings, €60, from Porto. Gingham scarf, stylist’s own. RIGHT: High-waist denim jeans, now €49.50, from 1-2-3 Paris. Silver chain necklace, €236, Silver cuff with magnetic clasp, €36, Silver bangles set of 2, €30, all from Porto. Hat stylist’s own.
At the Autumn/Winter 2018 Haute Couture shows in Paris, calf-high metallic cowboy boots were one of the biggest standout items, with Maison Margiela and Alexandre Vauthier flaunting the current breed of celeb-slash-models-slash-robots, Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid wearing their newest (and shiniest) must-have masterpieces. Dior's 2018 Resort Collection was nothing short of the wardrobe of a spaghetti western, Maria Grazia Chiuri the current creative director of Dior, must have been getting some serious Clint Eastwood inspo for the collection. The rodeo-ready collection was awash with wide-brimmed hats, suede/tasseled ponchos and an enormous amount of turquoise embellishment.
Khaki Jumpsuit, now €82.50, from 1-2-3 Paris. Marc Jacobs chain aviators, €194, from O’Hea Optician’s. Silver chain bracelet, €126, Snake bracelet, €50, Amber ring, €29, Copper coil ring, €10, all from Porto.
Unlike the early-noughties version of the Wild West trend, this time around there is a much more mature approach to the look - just a suggestion to it. Regardless of how much time you actually spent curating the perfect outfit to go to your friends summer BBQ, it should look as if you have carelessly thrown something together that is effortlessly cool. The golden rule of removing one accessory before you leave the house most definitely applies. The key elements of this look are quite simple, just adapt the look to suit your individual style. If you are more of a girly-girl, opt for a floaty white summer dress, chunky jewelry and some boots to give an edge. If you prefer a more relaxed style, go for some torn, relaxed-fit shorts and basically anything gingham. Let out your inner cowgirl this summer, you know you want to.
Black push-up bra, now €12.50, High waist denim skirt, now ¨15, Black heel boots, now ¨20, all from M&S. Tan backpack with Turquoise studs, €265, Turquoise necklace, €35, Turquoise earrings, €16, Snake bracelet, €50, Silver bangle set, €30, Drawstring bracelet, €62, all from Porto. Hat stylist’s own.