How To Create The Perfect Modern Cowboy Aesthetic

Do you have Yellowstone on repeat? Even if you haven’t seen the hit show, you’ve likely heard of it (or seen photos of heartthrob Rip Wheeler). He’s basically a handsome cowboy with a beard — even if you’ve never seen a picture, you know the type. It also helps that his wife, Beth, is a total fashion icon all on her own, and we’ve been swooning over her coats and prairie dresses.

With Yellowstone’s popularity, we’ve been drawn to a cowboy aesthetic but updated to modern times. Think country-music-turned-fashion-icon Kacey Musgraves, who has really helped the cause with her space cowgirl looks … Excuse us while we put her album on for the hundredth time.

With her unique sense of style and amazing vocals, she is one of our muses when it comes to modern cowgirl fashion.

When you want to try out these looks on your own, Cider is the place to pick up the pieces for the perfect modern cowboy/cowgirl aesthetic. Read on to learn how to bring some modern country to your closet. Can we get a yeehaw?

Suede Parade

When you think of suede, it is easy to picture a cowboy wearing suede leather boots. He’s also riding on a horse, wearing suede gloves, and trying to round up cattle. You get the point. It’s easy to cross the cowpoke line if you wear too many suede accessories at once.

Our tip when wearing suede is to keep it to one item of clothing, like a skirt or pair of wide-leg trousers. Pair with a slinky blouse, like chiffon or something silky that will play off of the soft-but-rugged texture of the suede.

Suede sets are also super cute, but make sure to pair them with sleek heels or sandals to keep them fresh and modern. A suede jacket is also the perfect alternative to a leather jacket because it’s softer and moves with you better than a stiff leather jacket would.

Pair your suede jacket with a flowy dress or top to keep things soft. A cool suede jacket with fringe can also give the edgiest of outfits a softer look that’s perfect for a concert or first date.

Flowy Dresses

Just imagine yourself standing in a prairie with the wind whipping around you while wearing a flowy dress. It gives just romantic and cottagecore vibes, which plays exactly into the modern cowboy/cowgirl look.

A flowy dress paired with western-style boots helps bring the farm life aesthetic to your wardrobe. Pair with sleek jewelry for a modern work look, or pair with statement earrings when going out. This look is also great for concerts since a flowy dress is fun to dance in, and the boots give your feet sturdy and fashionable support.

Shearling

Seen on the most hardened cowboys, shearling is not just versatile as a warm material but also as a stylish look. When shearling is used as trim with leather jackets, it can give edgy leather a touch of softness.

Take things up a notch when you layer a leather and shearling jacket over jeans and a plain tee. You still maintain a casual vibe, but the leather adds a touch of luxe.

Wearing an all-shearling coat is like living inside a fuzzy cloud. The look is so warm and inviting, and with a multitude of colors to choose from, you can find a shearling coat that can match any of your outfits.

You can even try a suede and shearling vest when you want a little of that western vibe, but it isn’t quite cool enough for a full coat.

Cowboy Boots

We can’t talk about a cowboy aesthetic without mentioning cowboy boots! They’re the most essential piece when you want to add some western flair to your wardrobe. While cowboy boots have had their fair share of time on the runway, this season's modern take on the cowboy boot means an update to colors and materials used.

We love the silhouette of the boot, with its sweeping pointed toe and recognizable top, but the modern take involves using a rainbow of colors and a multitude of patterns.

Think an all-black ensemble with snakeskin boots or a flowy dress with metallic boots. While the shape can be recognized anywhere, new colors give a fresh and modern vibe.

When wearing cowboy boots, you definitely want to pair them with a look that is a little less structured than the boot. If your boots are bright or personalized, allow them to be the star of the show and keep the rest of your outfit muted. Wearing a monochromatic look is another way to let your boots become the focal point of your outfit.

Cowboy boots truly get better with time. Not only does it take time to break them in, but a little bit of scuffing up makes them look like you’ve done some hard work in them, which makes the boots look even better.

Western-Style Shirts

Denim shirts are a piece of western wear that can fit into the modern wardrobe. Slimmer fits give an updated look to this classic workwear staple. While denim on denim is a favorite cowboy look, pairing it with a fun belt and mixing up the denim finishes keep you from looking like you’ve actually been doing farm chores all day.

A denim shirt made with different types of denim is another twist on a western classic. A fun way to wear this type of shirt is with colored pants of any variety or open over a crop top or dress.

Paisley shirts are another shirt with a western vibe that can easily receive a modern update. Wear a paisley shirt with leather wide-leg pants for a fresh twist.

Space Cowgirl

All the Kacey Musgraves fans will be excited for an in-depth look at this aesthetic. Also popularized by Lil Nas X, this is a western-meets-out-of-this-world aesthetic that is a fun outfit choice for music festivals, parties, and even your everyday wear.

Think of all the styles that are attributed to western fashion, like boots, hats, and button-up shirts. Then add in crazy colors, shimmery rhinestones, and a little more of a bodycon fit. Mix them all together, and you have the Space Cowgirl.

Now, this look is a little more popular on the bachelorette party scene. Also seen on #bamarush on TikTok, this aesthetic is great for themed celebrations. If you are wanting to inject a little space cowgirl in your day-to-day, pair a rhinestone-studded button-up with suede pants or fringed shorts with a neon top.

Denim Midi

While denim is a tried and true staple for cowboys and cowgirls, a denim skirt is a welcome update to the aesthetic. Coming in different finishes and lengths, you can incorporate a denim midi into almost any look without anyone saying “howdy” when they see you.

Denim is versatile, and you can dress it up or dress it down. A denim midi skirt is work-friendly, but you can easily dress it up for a night out on the town.

You can really amp up the western look by wearing it with cowgirl boots or a suede top. To make it more modern, pair it with a classic tee or blouse or accessorize with simple earrings and bracelets.

While wearing cowgirl boots will up the western factor, choosing a smaller bootie will be more low-key but still give you a subtle cowgirl aesthetic. Try pairing a corset top with a denim midi skirt for a balanced look.

Make It Modern With Cider

When you get hooked on a good show, you feel like you know the characters personally. Although you know it is a show, it may be easy to insert yourself in their positions and think about how you would do things differently.

On shows with great costumes, it’s only natural that we would want to copy some of the styles we see on the screen to outfits that we wear every day. The same is true for musicians that we listen to frequently, especially if our favorite TV shows and music are within the same general genre.

When inspiration strikes, Cider is your best pal in picking out updated pieces that still fit within the vibe you are looking to copy.

XOXO,

Cider 💋

Sources:

How the West Won Over High Fashion | Elle

What is Suede? | Leather Facts

How Taylor Sheridan Created America's Most Popular TV Show | The Atlantic

The Effect of TV Shows on Fashion Trends | Platform Magazine