Cowboy boots are usually worn with blue jeans and flannels, right? Not anymore. Cowboy boots have been worn by celebrities from Kendall Jenner to ASAP Rocky and are now a staple in many people’s closets. Shoe companies like Jeffery Campbell retail their boots for $270 and and Dolce Vita sells them for $260.
The western theme was a hit at this year’s Coachella music festival, in Indio, Calif. This could be due to the dust and intense heat in the desert or the rise in country music such as Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” with country music star Billy Ray Cyrus. The festival is known for its extravagant outfits and is all about showing off, but this year, the western theme was unavoidable. Emma Chamberlain, an influencer and Youtuber, wore cowboy boots to the second day of the festival. She posted to Instagram in a monochrome red outfit, accessorizing with sunglasses, a red crossbody bag, and red cowboy boots.
Lauren Wolfe, who has more than 750,000 followers on Tiktok, is known for her style and outfits. She has said that she constantly receives compliments on her Roper cowboy boots from Amazon, and even has them in three different colors.
Maximilian Foster is an employee at Boot Barn in Torrance, which sells Western apparel. Foster says he has seen an upward trend in cowboy boots amongst young women. He grew up on a ranch in Lake Tahoe.
Boot Barn, located in Torrance, California.
When asked why he thinks cowboy boots have become popular, Foster said, “Definitely because of Yellowstone. Also we have been selling a lot more boots for motorcycles because Sons of Anarchy and The Mayans came out. It’s good to see everyone branching out, it’s broadening the spectrum of Los Angeles.”
Yellowstone, a television show starring Kevin Costner and Cole Hauser, is a drama about cowboys who live on a Montana ranch. It was the most-watched show on cable in 2020.
Arielle Ashley, who has more than 30,000 followers on Instagram, wears cowboy boots with dresses and skirts. She owns one pair of white boots from an online boutique called Princess Polly and thinks they are a great way to spice up an outfit.
“I think they can be super unique to anyone. Someone who is actually on a ranch might like a different style versus someone who is just wearing cowboy boots down the street to be trendy,” said Ashley.