Looking for a cute cowgirl outfit that’s fashionable and not too costumey?

If you want in on the western trend, stick around.

We’ll share our top hints, tips and tricks for embracing the western style.

We’ll also give you some of our favourite product recommendations at the end of this post.

Let’s saddle up and ride this new fashion frontier y’all!

How to dress like a cow girl.

Let’s start with the basics.

If you wanna embrace the western style, you’ll need to include at least one (but ideally 2 or 3) of the following elements into your outfit:

• Cowgirl boots
• A western style (wide brimmed) hat
• Jeans or jeanshorts
• A plaid shirt
• Anything with fringing
• Cowprint
• Denim skirt or jacket
• Leather (or vegan leather)
• A cute prairie dress
• An oversized belt buckle
• A neckerchief
• A vest
• Americana inspired prints

Let’s talk a little more about these classic staple pieces of the western fashion style.

Boots and hats:

I’m all for saving money and buying timeless pieces that will stand the test of time. Which is why when it comes to cowboy boots – I prefer to buy a pair in a classic style and a neutral color.

Same goes for hats.

Western is a style that never goes out of fashion. Staples like a great pair of cowboy boots or an awesome straw hat will last you through several seasons.

Make sure you go for a neutral color like black, white, beige, or tan though.

If leather isn’t your thing, or even if it is, check out options for vegan and faux leather cowboy boots.

Cowboy hats usually come in either felt or straw.

Straw is breathable and better for summer. But felt will give you more protection from the elements in winter.

Denim:

Many a fabulous cowgirl outfit starts with denim.

If you’re going for a casual look or you’re on a budget then a great pair of blue or black jeans can be your best-western friend.

You could also base your cowgirl outfit around a cute pair of jean shorts. Or a denim skirt (long or short both work well) or even a denim dress.

A denim jacket will also be a fantastic addition to any cowgirl ensemble. Especially if it has some rhinestones on it or you throw it on over the top of a western style tee.

A (plaid) shirt

Ok, it doesn’t have to be plaid.

Any cute shirt, print or no, is going to gel perfectly with your cowgirl vibes.

When I say shirt, I mean button down.

Here’s a great video on what to look for in a cowgirl shirt:

Try a crisp white shirt, a black shirt, or something with embroidery or rhinestones. You could also try a classic plaid number if that’s what your heart wants!

Fringed clothing or accessories:

Adding a touch of fringing to your cowgirl outfit can be super fun!

You can incorporate fringing in so many different ways.

A fringed hem on a skirt, a little fringing on the arms of a jacket. A little fringing on a tee, a poncho, your boots, or even on the front or back of your shirt will work.

Less is more though, a simple fringed handbag will do the trick without being overkill.

Cowprint:

You need to be careful with cowprint.

Warning! Cowprint appears heavily in western costumes. You’ll need to think carefully about how you can make it look more high fashion and less Jesse from Toy Story.

Try using a little at first. Add a cowprint belt, handbag, or shoes to your outfit for example.

Leather:

Leather is another staple of the cowgirl look.

A leather belt, boots, skirt or trousers can all be welcome editions to your western wardrobe.

If you don’t support the leather industry, then there are plenty of cruelty-free and vegan options.

Prairie dresses:

The clue’s in the name, right?

Prairie dresses are a great way to embrace the cowgirl style in a softer, more feminine way.

If denim jackets, leather and biker chic ain’t your thing, you might wanna try a floaty prairie dress. Long or short both work well)with a cute pair of cowboy boots or a western belt.

Prairie dresses work really well with the boho style, so if that’s your jam, rock on!

Prints and accessories:

When it comes to choosing prints, you can’t go wrong with plaid, cowprint or navaho style prints.

When it comes to plaid, anything red white, or blue is going to give you that patriotic look. This look is so authentically western.

And if you wanna mix things up, go for plaid in a color that’s less predictable. Like a pastel or bright shade of your favourite color.

Feel free to play around with accessories.

Oversized belt buckles, neck scarves, statement jewelry and western-themed hair accessories. These can all help to pull your cowgirl outfit together.

How to avoid looking like you’re wearing a costume.

You don’t always need to go traditional to achieve an awesome western-inspired look.

While you want your look to read well as “western” you can always mix things up – and have a little fun.

You can do this by incorporating an iconic-looking western item into your outfit. Something that has a modern twist.

Think bright colors, metallics and on-trend patterns. Like Gigi Hadid’s tie-dye cowboy boots or Cardi B’s pastel pink chaps for example.

One of the best things about the western style is its stayability. That means that you can always get your hands on creative upgrades to the classic cowgirl look.

Adding in an unexpected material, color or print will help keep your look fresh and modern without being too costumey.

Stay true to your style and personality

Western style is amazingly versatile. It can be whatever you want it to be.

Whether you’re boho, biker, or anywhere between – the western style can work for you,

Wanna add a pair of western boots or a hat to a power suit or blazer for a night out? Awesome!

Wanna keep it classic? Go for it!

Fancy taking your rock chick style to the next level? Why not add a few western touches to the ensemble? Rock and western style share so many elements like leather, fringe and boots.

Feel free to combine tough and soft elements too. Like wearing a floaty prairie dress with a western-style leather jacket.

Or a pair of kick-ass moto boots.

You don’t need to conform to any stereotypical cowgirl look (unless of course, you want to! – in which case you go for it honey!).

If you wanna cover yourself in rhinestones or throw on cowboy boots over your sweatpants (hey- if it’s good enough for Kendall Jenner…)

Just make sure you have fun playing with the western style and express yourself however you want!

Staying true to your own personal style will give you a western moment that feels authentic.

Do you and you’ll feel comfortable and confident – and who doesn’t want that?

A great pair of boots

Boots

If you’re looking for the perfect balance between comfort and style, these mid-calf boots from Charles Albert are a great find!

They are faux leather, have a comfortable 2.5 inch heel and they’re ridiculously cute!

But my favorite thing about these boots is the choice of colors.

There are 10 different options. You get the usual colors like black, white, brown and gray – but also blush pink, navy and red. You can even get a snakeskin pattern – yee-haw!

Ok, let’s talk about the fit.

Sometimes the more pointy cowboy boots have a tendency to pinch around the toes. But these boots are almond-shaped so that doesn’t happen.

The opening is also nice and wide which means that these boots are super easy to slip on and off.

They are comfortable to wear for long periods. So don’t really need breaking in and they hold up well for a night of dancing!

These boots are not leather but the material is good quality and feels nice and soft.

Great value for money because these boots go with everything. From jeans and shorts to skirts and dresses.

You can easily dress them up or down too, so you will get a ton of wear out of them.

Pros:

• Comfortable (with low heel, decent cushioning and good support)
• Go with everything
• Easy to get on and off
• Super cute!
• Lots of color options
• Plenty of calf room
• Great value for money
• Can wear all year round
• Good for those with wide feet

Cons:

• The boot opening can be a bit wide if you have narrow calves
• Sizing can run small – consider ordering a size up

A cute western hat

Hat

A good cowgirl hat can be hard to find!

We like this 100% straw one because it has a classic look and a nice wide brim.

It also comes in a lot of different styles and doesn’t cost the earth!

If you’re looking for an inexpensive but cute and good quality cowboy hat then this is a great choice.

The construction is pretty sturdy, which means that this hat will keep its shape really well.

The downside of that is that you can’t play around with it to get the perfect angle.

This cowgirl hat has good sun protection and good ventilation, so no need to worry about sweaty hair.

It also has a comfort band inside that helps keep the hat in place and allows you to get the perfect fit.

This particular hat is unisex, and there are 16 different designs for you to choose from, can I get a yee-haw?

Whether you want a classic style, or something with a little more flair, this hat will deliver.

With so many design options, you’re sure to find a style that suits your personality and the look you’re going for.

The quality you get for the price with this hat is amazing. You’ll be surprised at just how nice it is for the money.

Pros:

• Very high quality for the price point
• Cute and sturdy
• Comfortable to wear all day
• Good quality gems used (on the designs with gems).
• UPF protection from the sun’s harmful rays
• Comes with a fitted comfort band inside
• Band also helps hat stay on
• The colors look better in real life
• Huge choice of styles
• Great for costume and fashion /photoshoots

Cons:

• Packaging isn’t the best
• It’s not mouldable / bendable
• Some folks received hats with stones missing

An adorable prairie dress

If boho western style is your thing, check out this fun and flirty prairie dress from Ecowish.

The reviews and ratings for this adorable dress are great, and when you order it it’s easy to see why.

This dress is a beautiful light soft pink color. It has spaghetti straps, crochet detailing at the chest and ruffles – yay!

It’s the perfect summer dress whether you’re going for a western look or not!

This dress looks great on women of all sizes too. The V neck is especially flattering on curvy figures and the tie back allows you to get a good fit round the bust.

Please check out the photos on the listing to get a really good idea of how you’ll look in this cutie.

I just love how beautiful and elegant this dress is. It’s downright cute.

Throw on a cute pair of cowgirl boots and a hat and you’re ready for the beach, brunch or a photoshoot.

If it’s chilly out, a cardigan or a denim jacket will look great with this.

Pros:

• Good price
• Adorable
• Flattering on many body types
• You can adjust the tie to fit your body
• Nice length
• Cute crochet and ruffle detailing
• Nice bow/tie detailing at the back
• Decent quality – the lining stops it from being see-through
• Strong elastic around the waist
• Can wear without a bra (you might need pasties!)

Cons:

• Color looks a bit different than on photos
• Top can be a little loose if you have small breasts
• Very low cut

A stylish cowgirl shirt

This classic long-sleeved western shirt from Wrangler is perfect for any cowgirl ensemble.

It fastens with snaps and comes in (are you ready for this?) 30 different patterns.

Yes, girl. You heard me right!

There are 30 awesome colors and designs to choose from.

They have everything from classic blue and black denim to Navaho and retro-inspired prints.

Love a bit of embroidery? They’ve got that too! Personally, I’m in love with the indigo version with the little embroidered cacti on the shoulder…

Anyway, this is an awesome shirt that fits well, washes well and that you’ll get a ton of wear out of.

This is a classic fit that will never go out of style. It looks perfect with skinny jeans.

Pros:

• Vibrant colors
• Great quality
• Beautiful embroidery
• Looks great with skinny jeans
• Classic style
• Lightweight material
• Comfortable
• Good price

Cons:

• Sizing on certain models runs a little large – you may need to consider going down a size
• Color is different in real life
• Fabric can be a bit stiff at first (but softens after a few washes)

A simple western fringed tee

Looking for an easy way to create a fun casual western look that won’t break the bank?

Then why not try this awesome fringed tee?

It’s so versatile. You can wear it with jeans, shorts or skirts and it’s really cute!

This tassel-tastic tee comes in 33 flavors.

Maybe you like a plain minimal look that lets the tassels do the talking. Then try one of the 7 plain options. Including black, white, navy, burgundy, lake green, dark green, and turquoise.

Or even a black and white stripe.

Want something a little more adventurous?

No problem.

This round neck tee with fringe also comes in 13 different floral patterns.

Also 2 leopard print options, 2 ink splash combos, camo and 6 tie dye variations!

Good luck choosing!

The material is soft and comfortable (feels silky). Its got a decent amount of stretch and the cut is very flattering.

This is a great tee for all ages. It’s perfect for summer and autumn and so easy to dress up or down.

Pros:

• Nice feeling silky material with good stretch
• Goes with everything
• Super cute!
• Not too clingy
• Comfortable and stylish
• Vibrant colors
• Works for all ages
• Looks nice with leggings or skinny jeans
• Good value

Cons:

• Runs a little large – consider sizing down if you like a fitted look
• The tassels are not tied and some people think this looks unfinished
• A little bit long

Our favourite western style graphic tees

If you wanna rock a western style graphic tee with your jeans (or with a pleated skirt and cowboy boots perhaps?) then we’d recommend checking out these Western Bison tees.

There are 5 super cool designs to choose from in either gray, burnt orange or vibrant yellow.

Please don’t ask me which one to go for. I can’t choose as I love them all!

Ok, you’ve twisted my arm. If I could only have 1 — I’d probably go for the light gray with the blue background and the longhorn.

These shirts are well made and true to size. The printing and design is high quality and the material is super soft and feels nice against your skin.

Pros:

• Great quality for the price
• Nice graphics
• Printing stands up well to washes
• Good fit
• Good stretch in the material
• True to size

Cons:

• Its cotton so may shrink a little after the first wash
• Neck hole is a bit on the large side

Final thoughts

Well, butter my biscuit! If we haven’t gone and reached the end of this round up already!

By now you should feel pretty confident about how to put together a super cute cowgirl outfit without looking like you’re out trick-or-treating.

Remember – you can easily incorporate the western elements we’ve talked about in this post into your own personal style.

This is just a guide. In fashion, you get to make up your own rules.

Maybe you want to combine western and retro looks, or western and boho style.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with the western cowgirl style, and have fun with it!

If you’re still a little nervous, or if you’re not sure whether the western look is for you. Then start small (a graphic tee with your jeans, or a plaid shirt) and see how you feel.

Thanks for reading this, I hope you found my advice helpful and I wish you the best on your fashion journey.