Cowboy Boots, Grown Up

By Dana Holler

I’ve noticed a recent surge this summer with women choosing to pair floral sundresses with cowboy boots. While this look can be a flattering one for young ladies—romantic, with a bit of a rustic edge—it’s definitely a trend that, in my humble opinion, is becoming a bit too popular. The “cowboy-boots-over-skinny-jeans” look also has me looking for more fresh wardrobe options (same goes for riding boots in the winter time). As a result, after some time, I wrote off cowboy boots as just another over-used, over-rated item.

But then, I was inspired by a local blogger who made it her mission to find the perfect pair of cowboy boots, and thought, Why not come up with a different way to wear them? My source of inspiration is Nicole Richie’s layered look in which she sports some vintage Gucci cowboy boots.

With fall just around the corner, this is a great cool-weather look for the woman that doesn’t want to get lost in a sea of floral and appreciates a layered look with a bit more complexity. (Tip: Finish the look with a pair of black opaque tights.) Featuring a cashmere dress (available at Eloise) and 1883 Aviator boots by Lucchese (available at SCARPA), you can keep cowboy boots as a staple of your wardrobe while staying unique.

Dress by Autumn Cashmere, available at Eloise Charlottesville, $236

Dana (a.k.a. Cville Fashion) writes monthly columns for the Charlottesville Woman blog and quarterly columns in Charlottesville Woman magazine. In between you should definitely take the time to explore Cville Fashion for ideas on local fashion finds, fun health tips, beauty advice and so much more.