Herstory 101: The Evolution Of Cowgirl Fashion

Thanks to Gaga’s #Joanne, dusty rose cowgirl hats are on everyone’s must-have list this season. Whether you’re going back to school, going out on the town, or headed to meet your lady friends for bottomless mimosas, topping your look with some western flair not only makes a statement, but it shows that you’re wild, sexy, AND fun. But let’s be clear: there’s absolutely NO “stagecoach fashion” allowed in this post (if you don’t know what that is, a precursory google search will tell you it’s a world of “no.”) We’re talking Moschino meets cow print mules meets double denim fantasies, hunties!

Check out the herstory and evolution of cowgirl fashion and the many moo’s and don’ts:

First, there was Anne Oakley, and Dale Evans:

And it’s like:

And then I remembered this:

And:

Then came along OG’s sad girl Patsy Cline who switched up the game:

From fringe to color-blocked-frocks -til-you-drop, she revolutionized cowgirl fashion (MOOve over, Elvis!)

Dolly Parton, 1967-1975

EVERYTHING.

Cher, 1976

YAS.

Let’s just fast forward to this iconic moment that has forever changed our lives:

Shania Twain, 1997

Our first true country feminist (Hi, Taylor Swift!) She was a mix of The Nanny and Lord and Taylor and I can’t say enough great things about her camp and class.

RuPaul, 1997, “The RuPaul Show”

This. Is. How. You. Do. It.

Also:

Literally, stunning.

2000, Madonna

I often think about this era of Madge and how it profoundly impacted my life and people around my age. She just did it so flawlessly and the outfits didn’t wear her, she rocked the denim off of them!