Country Music: Out , Cowboy Boots: In
Have you found yourself more frequently grabbing for a pair of overalls? Or, maybe you’ve spent hours searching through Depop to find the perfect pair of cowboy boots. Either way, you’re not alone. Cowboy chic has taken the fashion world by storm, and ALL our favorite influencers have joined in on the fun.
Kendall Jenner, Emily Ratajkowski, and Dua Lipa all participated in the trend over the summer. Kendall has sported them casually or even paired them with a bikini. Miss Ratajkowski has iconically matched them with mini, midi, and even maxi skirts. While Dua Lipa has been spotted wearing them with the shortest of shorts.
It appears that there is no real rule of when or where it is acceptable to rock your favorite cowgirl boots. Beach? Party? Dinner date? You decide. However, it makes me beg the question: is cowboy chic here to stay?
While it is unknown if Western fashion will be a microtrend, it is confirmed that cowboy hats, boots, and chaps have been around for centuries. However, Harper's Bazaar suggests Gen-Z’s fascination with rodeo-wear came from Hannah Montana herself. We all grew up watching a young Miley incorporate cowgirl boots with her Y2k fashion.
Still, we wonder if Miley really is the inspiration for Gen-Z’s obsession with Western fashion. The rise of this trend seemed to emerge in full throttle during the music festival season of 2020-2021. Celebrities and influencers sported hats, boots, and even assless chaps in James Charles’ case.
Rather than pointing to influencers as the creators of this trend, maybe we should look at the source: country music stars. Country singers have been sporting Western fashion since the beginning of time. Dolly Parton, Carrie Underwood, and Miranda Lambert can definitely say they wore a pair of cowboy boots before Kendall Jenner even had the idea.
After reflecting on the people likely responsible for the trend, I feel like a poser. I wear my cowgirl boots every chance I get, but I hardly listen to country music of any kind. Do the two go hand in hand?
This is a question that is answered differently depending on who you ask. Often, Gen-Z seeks out the look without associating it with Western culture. Cowgirl boots are worn in both New York City AND the Kentucky countryside. But are they being worn in the same way?
It is likely the answer to that question is a hard no. However, I cannot be certain. All I know is that cowgirl boots do have a purpose that is specific to farmland. The boots originated at the end of the Civil War in 1865. Cowboys in the West wore out their military boots from transporting their cattle cross-country.
The boots made for war were not fit for enduring long hours in stirrups. Cowboys would ride through trails with brush, creeks, snakes, and thorns. Their tattered war boots were not tough enough. As a result, a cowboy asked a shoemaker to create a boot tough enough to withstand such conditions. The boots had a pointed toe to get into the stirrups more easily and were made with thick leather to prevent cowboys’ ankles from rubbing against horses uncomfortably.
It is a shame no one knows who exactly created the first pair of boots because they would be highly praised today. While initially designed for hard-working cowboys, the boots have been adopted by fashion girlies worldwide.
Whether you wear the boots for function or fashion, there is no doubt that cowboy chic is present in society today. According to the Country Music Association, the number of Americans listening to country music has increased by 9% over the past 5 years.
The cowboy-chic trend and the rise in country music listeners may not go hand in hand, but we do not know for sure. Fashion influencers may have helped Luke Bryan get more listens on Spotify this month. Or, if you’re anything like me, you’ve disassociated your music taste with your fashion choices. Maybe that makes me a poser. At least I know I’m not the only one.
Strike Out,
Bella Kubach
Boca Raton
Bella Kubach is a Content Writer for Strike Magazine Boca. Most of her free time is occupied by buying things she doesn’t need, reading her horoscope religiously, and making an endless amount of Spotify playlists. You can reach her at bellakubachxox@gmail.com