How to Wear the Western Look This Winter

October 18, 2024

In this post – some outfit ideas for how to style the current denim dress trend.

This January we are heading to a retirement party at the Denver Rodeo and I need something to wear. Needless to say, I’ve got denim outfits on the brain, specifically denim dresses. What better ~~excuse~~ ahem – time to find the perfect denim frock, right? Denim is hot this winter. And luckily, it’s also warm, as in I-might-survive-winter-in-Denver warm. Our recent travels have taken us to places like Colorado and the beautiful city of Nashville, where country-style reigns. I’m inspired to work more western into my wardrobe. (You bet your boots I already bought my boots in Nashville!) I’m excited to share what I’ve found with you! Saddle up!

Outfit #1: Rustic & Refined
Outfit #2: Sleek Suede Neutrals
Outfit #3: Sophisticated City Slicker
Outfit #4: Classic Cream
Outfit #5: Tailored Cowgirl
Outfit #6: Fun & Flirty
In other fashion news…
Pin It!

Outfit #1: Rustic & Refined

This first outfit is the perfect mix of high and low style. This affordable GAP dress with a pin-tuck waist is an affordable option for dipping your toe into western wear. Plus, I love GAP because they carry tall sizes! The purse and belt are both Ralph Lauren. The boots are from my new favorite western brand Ariat.

Outfit #2: Sleek Suede Neutrals

This denim dress from Madewell offers another example of mixing high and low. It wears like a shirt tucked into a pair of jeans. The medium wash denim has a very casual look, so I paired it with sleek, modern boots and accessories. The belt is by Reiss and the purse is by Ralph Lauren. The boots are by Veronica Beard. The neutral colors of all three complement the lighter denim.

Outfit #3: Sophisticated City Slicker

Oooh la la! This is the sexiest of the six outfits I’m sharing. I love this short dark denim dress by Cinq a Sept. (Did you know “cinq a sept” is French for 5 to 7 o’clock? It denotes a time in France for lovers to meet.) The off-set full-length zipper gives the dress a slight motorcycle jacket vibe. I paired it with a beautiful navy bag by Ralph Lauren. The tall black boots are by Dingo. Their style and contrast stitching gives them a tough western look, plus the tall shaft height complements the short hemline.

Outfit #4: Classic Cream

This outfit is much more conservative than the last but still has plenty of style and will keep you warm! The dress is by Madewell and has more traditional denim styling and stitching. The creamy white woven belt is from Ralph Lauren, as is the beautiful bag. I featured this bag in a post featuring the best suede bags for fall, which you can read here. The tall cream suede boots are by Jeffrey Campbell. I love the light stacked-wood heel on them.

Outfit #5: Tailored Cowgirl

I like the details on this dress by Madewell. It has a more feminine cut than some of the others and the darker blue color is pretty. I decided to swap out the matching tie belt with a chestnut suede belt from Ralph Lauren. The chestnut brown bag is also from – you guessed it – Ralph Lauren. The medium height shaft boots in Elmwood suede are by Vince. I like the look of these because they remind me of the boots I found in Nashville at Ariat. Their warm tone complements the deep blue denim perfectly.

Outfit #6: Fun & Flirty

The final outfit is a bit too youthful for my taste. However, this outfit was inspired by these all white cowboy boots by Jeffrey Campbell. They are spectacular (and I’m sure a total nightmare to keep clean.) I think these boots were made for walking – onto the dance floor only. You’re definitely not shoveling out a stall in them! I paired them with a sleeveless dress by Rails. It has such a cute fit and cut. Fun yellow accessories, including a belt and bag from Ralph Lauren complete the look. All this outfit needs now is a cute white cowboy hat!

In other fashion news…

I received some happy mail from Amazon today. I ordered a couple of books that I intend to read as soon as possible. (Pay no attention to the stacks of books currently waiting for me both here and in the Bay Area.) The first one is “How to Build a Fashion Icon” by Law Roach. He refers to himself as the world’s only fashion architect and has worked with celebrities like Zendaya and Celine Dion. I’m looking forward to learning a lot about style and confidence from his book. Fun fact – we used to live around the corner from Zendaya’s grandmother in the Bay Area. Unfortunately we never got a chance to meet her.

The other book I received isn’t fashion-related but is food-related. The queen of great recipes, Ina Garten, has published a memoir called “Be Ready When the Luck Happens”. I have a collection of her cookbooks. Every recipe I try turns out delicious, in spite of my cooking. I’m looking forward to reading about how she became the rock star home chef that she is today. Side note – I am definitely not a food blogger. I don’t consider myself to be a cook. I can do it, but frankly, it’s a lot of work for very little reward in my opinion. Hats off to those of you who are great cooks! You deserve a medal (or at least a cookie!)