As with so many moments in the cultural zeitgeist, Beyoncé played a major part. In May 2023, the Renaissance tour began, and thousands of Beyhive members mirrored the icon’s album cover by donning shimmering silver cowboy hats in the crowd. A few months earlier, Kevin Costner won a best actor Golden Globe for his role in the hit neo-Western show Yellowstone, which has been beaming classic cowboy style across the nation since 2018. When Pharrell Williams dropped his second menswear collection for Louis Vuitton in January 2024 complete with nods to Black and Indigenous cowboy style, it was solidified that the Western look had entered the high fashion lexicon. Then, the final shoe dropped as Beyoncé donned a white Stetson at the Grammy’s and released two songs from her upcoming country album in a Super Bowl commercial. Country Western has officially become a major trend for 2024.
Not surprisingly, this style moment is translating to the wedding space, too. “We’ve been seeing a revival in Western ready-to-wear fashion over the past few years, but it’s definitely become more of a staple in wedding fashion over the past year or so,” shares bridal stylist Gabrielle Hurwitz. “Even if you don’t fully commit to a head-to-toe Western look, you can still find ways to incorporate a little Western flair into your wardrobe. There are so many elements you can take inspiration from like fringe, denim, leather, suede, and even ditsy florals and earthy colors. Bolo ties, pearl buttons, and turquoise jewelry are fun options, too.”
Hurwitz says that when infusing Western influence into bridal looks, she often turns to Ralph Lauren, Patricia Voto from One/Of, and Markarian. “There should be an ease to a Western look that I don’t necessarily associate with structured tailoring and stiff fabrics,” she says. “Instead, look for pieces with movement, whether it be a fringe jacket or a flowy skirt. Incorporating lace, swiss dot, eyelet, and denim will also help achieve the Western look.”