Creating Your Own Style with Western Wear for Women

Unless you're dressing up for a show or competition, the question of western wear for women can be answered with a slight interrogation into what appeals to you. Yes, there are trends and patterns to follow, but it’s not like you absolutely need to wear a pair of gloves and show pants or do your makeup a certain way lest you score poorly.

When the matter of women’s western wear becomes one of fashion and preference you can take the reins of style and make your own impression. Hang the jury - you can make of it what you want.

With that being said, there are some styles that are decided in league with western fashion, and those that aren’t. The original image of western wear was shaped by function, and today we are left with the dregs of that. The image remains.

So, while you can still wear a western hat to keep the sun off your eyes or a pair of cowboy boots to make getting your feet in and out of the stirrups easier, today, the main focus in western fashion is on appeal.

Start here if you want to get some ideas for how to create the perfect western outfit for yourself, and if you have any questions remaining you can always call us up, or better yet, visit us in-store!

Jeans? Show Pants? Chaps? You Decide!

Since a lot of the fashion statements that you make in western wear for women will be made with your hat, boots, top, and accessories, let’s start with bottoms. It’s rare that the spotlight of your western ensemble will fall on your western pants; they’re more like supporting accouterments, so you can start with them.

While it’s customary to create a western getup that includes jeans, you can also dress in show pants if the fancy strikes you. Admittedly, these are usually reserved for handling and competition, but if the rest of your outfit makes more sense with show pants then you can certainly make moves with them. The customary silky black appearance of western show pants has a decidedly more formal tone to them, anyway. And, let’s not forget, as adaptable as jeans are, they aren’t perfect for everything.

Nonetheless, a good pair of jeans is not only the perfect mate to most western looks, it’s also comfortable in a way that’s out of this world. Either you know the comfort of a good pair of worn jeans or you don’t; there’s no in-between.

Plus, even though jeans look very casual most of the time, you can dress up in your finest western wear with a fresh, new pair of form-fitting jeans. They might take some getting used to, but there are some really nicely embroidered western shirts for women in our shop that would look dazzling over a pair of new blue jeans. Not like they would when matched to show pants, but very nice nonetheless. When all else fails, you can turn to a pair of blue jeans, anyway. They go with almost any hats and boots, and they look pretty smart with nearly any top or accessory as well.

As for chaps, there are a few ways to go about this, but it’s very difficult to make an understated appearance with chaps. Either you are wearing them for their function in the field while riding, or they are going to make a bold statement. We offer many unique pairs of chaps here at Jackson’s English & Western Store, so whether you want them for dress or function, you can have it your way.

Belt Buckles Aren't Just for Gentlemen

One of the more noteworthy accessories that makes a statement in western wear - both for men and women - is a big, bright belt buckle. While it’s true that the basic design aesthetic for belt buckles will vary between men’s and women’s western fashion, there are still many ways to up your ‘western intrigue’ with a belt buckle as a part of your outfit.

By other standards, belt buckles designed for both men and women are glaringly front-and-center, but within the scope of western fashion, men’s buckles tend to be more dramatically overstated whereas buckles designed to attract the fancy of women are slighter and more glittery.

Many belt buckles designed for the ladies are studded with gems like rhinestones to add a feminine flash. Sometimes they are even decorated more prominently with silver than with gold. However, there are no hard and fast rules here, and anything goes, at least if it appeals to you.

Therefore, if you’re more drawn to one of those large, squared-off gold and silver belt buckles that are crafted to catch attention on a men’s belt, have at it. It just might be the one thing about your overall outfit that really fascinates the attention. Sometimes the most noteworthy piece of the ensemble is the belt buckle, so take control of the finished look how you please.

Oh, and check out our collection of belts and western belt buckles while you’re here creating your perfect western look. We dare you to look through it without being struck by at least one of them. More than likely, you’ll settle on several favorites.

A Classic Women’s Western Shirt

Once you’ve gotten this far with your western clothing, you can get onto picking out a women’s western shirt that will really set the stage for the rest of your outfit. In our collection of women’s western shirts and blouses, you can find cowgirl clothing that will brighten up your passion for fashion in a hurry.

In women’s western shirts, there are a few things you could be looking for, including but not limited to some of the following design features:

-Collars that don’t button - This is not something that you’ll find in all western wear for women nowadays, but a lot of western shirts, including western shirts for ladies, don’t button at the neck. Originally, this may have been to keep the wearer cool and it is very common on men’s western shirts; today, it is really just a relic from those bygone days. Either way, it’s a common feature in western shirts.

-Western yokes - Above all other things, it is probably the western yoke that defines what it means to be a western yoke, for men and women. Most modern shirts have a straight yoke across the back, but most western shirts have a curved yoke that comes to a point. Whatever the functional reason for this, it’s a dead giveaway in western design and something to look for in our collection - you’ll see it.

-Colorful embroidery - Many western shirts are also made with beautiful, bright embroidery. Bright embroidery, and in fact, it can be hard to tell men’s shirts from women’s shirts based on this alone. Oftentimes the motifs are geometric and floral and represent designs that are uniformly appealing both to masculine and feminine tastes. Look for floral patterns as well as colorful geometric patterns and embroidery and you’ll see them in our collection as well.

-Longer tails and roomy sleeves - It’s also fairly common for western shirts to have longer tails and roomier sleeves. As in other areas of western design, today this is largely cosmetic. However, in some areas, there is still a measure of function associated with it. Western shirts originally had roomy sleeves and longer tails (and many rodeo shirts, like Cinch shirts, still do) because it gives the person wearing them a lot more room to move freely. As for the shirttails, they are designed to remain tucked in even if the person wearing them is actively going through the motions. Regardless, it is a staple of western design that you will still find in many western shirts today.

-“Southwestern” color schemes - There isn’t a handbook on what does and does not constitute the “western” palette of colors, but if you spend enough time getting to know western fashion, you’ll develop an innate sense of recognition. To look at it generally, western or southwestern colors tend to reflect the colors of the sky and earth of the West. Turquoise blues of the sky, sandy and peachy earth tones of the sun and desert, and occasionally even black and white can all be considered western in some degree or other. Look for them in our western clothing and you’ll find them.

Extras Up Top

In addition to the classic look of many of our western shirts for ladies, we also offer a lot of extras to complement an ensemble, including but not limited to shawls and coverings decorated with fringes and bright colors, cardigans, pullovers and sweaters, and much more. Once you pick out your favorite shirt from our collection, you can accessorize it with some of our pullovers and other accents. They’re waiting for you to discover them.

A Cowboy - or Cowgirl - Hat

We could have started with the hat. Whether you’re competing or you are just trying to cut a western caper, you can’t finish the look without a good western hat - and this goes for the ladies as well as the men.

Just like in other areas, the western hat originated with function in mind. Good fur hats will keep you warm even as they keep the sun out of your eyes and off your face and shoulders in the heat. Many of them are even waterproof, protecting you against the rain as well. Of course, in addition to felted wool western hats, we also feature straw and leather hats, so whatever strikes your fancy can be yours.

Since you probably won’t be investing in the hat as armor against the elements, what you need most is a hat that goes well with the rest of the western women’s wear you have picked out. In our collection of western hats, there’s something for every taste.

Do you like the simple, timeless elegance of a brown or neutral tones felted fur hat, with a suave hatband and limitless poise? If so, look no further than our shop. Maybe you want a straw hat with some turquoise accents to match your blouse. In either case, you can find several pleasantly decorated highlights from our collection.

Also, while it’s not decidedly western, it bears noting that you can find a number of quality baseball caps at the link above, interspersed with our western hats.

Don’t Forget the Boots

The final important central piece of the western picture is the boots - and don’t think you can get away without them. You just can’t put together a western outfit and leave the boots out of the picture.

Lucky for you, here at Jackson’s we carry some of the most popular brands in women’s western boots, including but not limited to Ariat, Twisted X, and Durango. Our collection is so broad that you’ll have no trouble finding a pair of boots to match the rest of your wardrobe, even getting down to minute details like the stitching pattern and decoration.

Need to find a pair of ladies’ boots with a bright traditional stitching pattern? We have them! Are you looking for something in an exotic print or skin? We have them too - pictures say more than words, so visit our collection via the link above and get to it.

On the subject of boots, one of the best reasons to visit us in-store (if you can) is to take advantage of our complimentary services, which include but are not limited to boot fitting, stretching, and break-in.

Gloves? Jewelry? Accessories? We Have Them

Finally, if you’re looking for the last touch to put on your western getup, don’t miss a chance to check out our collection of women’s western accessories with many highlights for the ladies, including gloves, jewelry, and much more. They’re the perfect way to make a match for the rest of your wardrobe, so don’t miss out.

By the way, even if you can only shop with us online, remember, we are never more than a call away, at 269-792-2550, so get in touch with us if you need help!