Stagecoach-inspired festival style: How to nail the modern Western vibe
Golden West Boots director Michael Petry helped assemble cowboy-inspired looks.
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Western and Americana style is bigger than ever! With Stagecoach fast approaching, CMA Week in June, a new Kacey Musgraves album out on May 1, and countless other country music tours happening this summer, we want to help you explore this genre of fashion without looking like you're wearing a costume.
To help, we sought some expert advice and spent countless hours curating a solid list of wearables from trusted brands like Wrangler, CAT Workwear, American Eagle (the official Stagecoach clothing sponsor, FYI!) and many more.
Whether you're heading to one of the season's biggest events or just a country karaoke night at your local bar, keep reading to get tips on how to be your most stylish self.
Meet our expert
To help us curate the best pieces and get tips on how to get the Western vibe, we spoke with Michael Petry, the creative director behind Lainey Wilson's Golden West cowboy boot brand.
Petry's resume reads like a who's who of Americana fashion: He was at the helm of Frye Boots for eight years, worked directly with American fashion titan Ralph Lauren for another half decade, and, fittingly, will be hand-delivering custom boots fresh from the factory to Wilson before her headlining set at Stagecoach.
Our picks below reflect the lessons he imbued, offering help on how to go full cowboy without, in his words, "looking like you parked your horse out front."
Shop our accessories table: Boots, belts, hats and bags
"What's happening is a cultural shift in the United States, and it's sort of a romanticizing of American fashion," Petry explained, adding, "If you're from New York City or LA, maybe that's not in your wardrobe, and to go out and get an all-new wardrobe is a little excessive. So accessorize it."
Sprinkle in a touch of Western with chunky silver details, cowboy or trucker hats, and, most importantly, a pair of stylish yet comfortable boots you'll want to wear over and over again.
For ladies, a bag can make or break the whole look. Our picks from Stand Oil, Brahmin, Hammitt and Kate Spade are perfectly at home on any cowgirl's arm, but they're also versatile enough to use everyday.
Look #1: Monochrome Cowgirl
One way to keep things simple while looking cool is to go monochrome. Petry mentioned wearing head-to-toe neutrals such as dusty tans, plus adding pops of turquoise to give it that Western edge.
We chose to go slightly bolder with an all-black look a la Johnny Cash and had fun sprinkling in studded details via a perfectly sized Hammitt bag, deep midnight blue with the luxurious Clementine silk scarf, and faux turquoise and silver detailing with the belt and boots from Urban Outfitters.
Look #2: Menswear for the modern cowpoke
Petry recalled the historic origins of where workwear and Western wear collide when leaning into a look for men.
"It's really rooted in workwear -- that's what denim is, that's where the boots were ... that's where it all originated from: those American workers," he said.
Cowboys, farmhands, railroad workers and the like -- all are and have been hardworking professions that required clothes to keep up, so leaning that direction for a stylish and functional menswear look makes perfect sense. The CAT Workwear separates below have the benefit of sturdy yet lightweight construction in a shade that works great for Stagecoach's desert setting, but they also got instant cool points when Ryan Gosling wore them multiple times during the recent "Project Hail Mary" press tour.
To dress it up, we added a silk bandana from popular brand Lost Pattern, as well as a classic horse bolo tie from Tie Bar.
More Western-inspired picks seen on ABC News Live
Segment hosts Will Ganss and Kelsey Legg both opted for Wrangler pieces to model the Western look, with Gaans donning a classic Cowboy Cut jacket and Legg in the Printed Wrancher jean.
Shop both below, plus some more picks from the brand to look effortlessly rodeo-ready, including pieces from the brand's collabs with Lainey Wilson and streetwear brand Avirex.
