October 2017 20 Western wear gets inspiration from the rodeo as we head into the fall season! Cowgirls, It’s Time to Giddy Up! We’re riding high with Western-inspired fare made for city slickers and country gals. We haven’t seen this many cool rodeo-inspired looks and we’re still obsessed with mud- splattered jeans and big buckled belts. You know, if you’re not a rock star or heading to the Calgary Stampede, designers like Anna Sui and Ralph Lauren have the answer. The latter showed an edgy, slightly darker version with black fringed leather jackets and diaphanous prairie girl- inspired print dresses, while the former included a fuchsia one-shouldered gown with a serious slit, accessorized with a choker and a Stetson. Choosing one or two Western-infused pieces is the key to taking this trend from runway to real way. If bling is your thing, you’ll want to add a Rodarte crystal- encrusted fringe jacket or a pair of Roberto Cavalli embellished trousers to your spring wish list. Other must- haves include a suede and leather belted jacket (seen at Coach), faded prairie girl prints (spotted at Marc Jacobs) and an oversized embellished belt—or two. Alberta Ferretti went for the double effect, layering on two different styles this season. Whether you dive Stetson-first into this trend with a head- to-toe Rockabilly look, or simply want to dip your toes in (a pair of ankle booties featuring saddle-worthy scrollwork will do the trick), now’s the time to welcome the Wild West into your wardrobe. Why not try mixing your Yeezy with a little Yee-haw? Cowboys, Embrace the American West! As we welcome October, the return of The Walking Dead on AMC, and the celebration of all things layered and Pendleton when it comes to fall clothes, it’s time to mention the Great American West. Specifically, men can really pull off cowboy gear — the hats, the boots, the yoked shirts — in any respectable manner worthy of style in 2017. You think the belt buckles are too big? No way. Can a steak be too big? A dinner-plate- sized belt buckle may be hard to wear but looks impressive. Wearing anything well is partly situational but being aware of the history of the cowboy archetype is recommended here: “Fictional cowboys are never bored. Real cowboys were often so bored that they memorized the labels on tin cans and then played games to see how well they could recite them.” — from a fantastic article called “Ten-Gallon Hero” by David B. Davis. TREND REPORT: Rodeo Inspired