The cowgirl trend has become THE go-to look for SS24. First inspired by the Beyonce Renaissance album back in 2023, which saw a disco version of western country attire, the trend has transformed to nod back to its traditional roots for Spring 2024.
Style expert at premium clothing brand Fairfax & Favor, Charlie Cooke, has shared her tips for styling the trend without veering into fancy dress territory. Take a look at her advice here:
“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 costumey.
Styling suede
“Suede is seeing a huge comeback, especially in tan and dark brown shades, so 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 combination 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.
How to style cowboy boots
“Cowboy boots can be notoriously hard to style, as getting this wrong can lead to mismatched proportions of your body. 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. A mini dress also works well with cowboy boots for a more balanced look.
Bringing fringe into your wardrobe
“The fringe revival has come at the perfect time as these pieces always look so great in Spring and Summer. The trick for styling this is to draw inspiration from the 2000s bohemian trend. Encompass noughties influence this with western country hallmarks and bring the look to a modern aesthetic for 2024. 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 warmer toned clothing pieces to adhere to the inspiration of bohemian millennial attire.
Embracing embroidery
“For embroidery pieces investing in quality clothing is a good idea. Opting for lower quality embroidered items can leave them looking cheap and unfinished, depending on where you shop. 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 of cowboy costume. 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.”
