The Western fashion trend can be as heavy-handed or as stylishly subtle as you like: for those interested in dabbling, start with a pair of flared jeans or ankle booties from the brand's We The Free collection; for those committed to a head-to-toe yeehaw look, layer any number of Badlands-inspired pieces (suede fringe jackets, felt wide-brimmed hats, or bolo-esque jewelry). Ahead, find our favorites from Free People's best Western-wear paired with some hot styling tips for fall.
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Super Flared Jeans
Flared jeans are crucial for accommodating high-rise cowboy boots — but they're also a bonafide statement pant, especially when paired with retro-leaning platform heels.
We The Free CRVY Super High-Rise Lace-Up Flare Jeans, $, available at Free People
We The Free Just Float On Flare Jeans, $, available at Free People
We The Free Pull On Corduroy Flare, $, available at Free People
High-Rise Skinny Jeans
If going wide-legged is too overwhelming — or if you'd like your pants to actually show off your cowboy boots — go for skinny jeans instead. They must be truly slim-fit at the ankles if you wanna get that smooth-as-leggings silhouette — which you can find in denim styles with a bit of stretch.
We The Free CRVY High-Rise Super Skinny Jeans, $, available at Free People
We The Free Riley Seamed Skinny Jeans, $, available at Free People
We The Free Raw High-Rise Jegging, $, available at Free People
Cowboy Boots
Cowboy boots make for the perfect transition-into-fall shoe because they're often high-rise enough to offer warmth and easy to slip on and off. Plus, they style beautifully with any number of bottoms including full-length pants, skirts, or shorts.
We The Free We The Free Montage Tall Boots, $, available at Free People
We The Free We The Free Bryce Equestrian Boots, $, available at Free People
We The Free We The Free Wesley Ankle Boots, $, available at Free People
Fringe Jackets
If you're looking to take your outerwear to the next level, select a moto with a fringe trim detail. Since these jackets are such bold, standout moments, ease up on the rest of your look with a simple white tee and jeans.
Understated Leather Howdy Studded Jacket, $, available at Free People
Free People After Hours Fringe Denim Jacket, $, available at Free People
[BLANKYNYC] Fringed Suede Moto Jacket, $, available at Free People
Western-Inspired Leather Belts
Chunky hardware is in — and these belts are on double-duty holding your pants in place and bringing some much-needed flair to any low-frills OOTD.
FP Collection Sunrise Suede Belt, $, available at Free People
Free People Black Rock Western Belt, $, available at Free People
FP Collection Archer Leather Belt, $, available at Free People
Western-Inspired Cowboy Hats
To keep this accessory from looking a bit much, wear a cowboy hat with any low-key look — perhaps with a non-descript sweater, a casual flouncy dress, or a standard white button-up.
wyeth Cash Cowboy Hat, $, available at Free People
Free People Wythe Leather Band Felt Hat, $, available at Free People
Lack of Colour Rancher Felt Hat, $, available at Free People
Western-Inspired Necklaces
These bolo-inspired necklaces are a refreshing take on the Western fashion trend without being too on the nose. These would look especially eye-catching with a plunging deep V neck or, alternatively, with a white high-neck tank top — the trick is to not have an in-between neckline in the way of the tasseled details.
Free People Making Memories Necklace, $, available at Free People
Revello I'm Not Shy Necklace, $, available at Free People
Free People Rewind Necklace, $, available at Free People
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In April, Bottega Veneta’s creative director Daniel Lee held an exclusive runway show at Berghain, Berlin’s famously impossible-to-get-into den of debauchery. Apart from the select few fashion insiders invited to behold his SALON 02 collection for the Italian fashion brand, including Virgil Abloh and Stefano Pilati, hardly anyone has seen the collection since, given that photos were never made public and the brand’s social media accounts went dark back in January. That changed on Friday when, five months after the show, Bottega Veneta finally released the SALON 02 collection and coinciding campaign. Aspects of it might surprise you — in a bizarrely satisfying way.
In addition to lug-soled thigh-highs, Big Bird-like feathered one-pieces, and shearling ponchos that will undoubtedly spark a meme or two, Lee’s just-released collection included a literally elevated take on fashion’s favorite “ugly” shoe: the rubber clog. A mix between the Bottega Veneta Puddle clog — a rubber slingback clog and a follow-up to Lee’s controversial Puddle Boots from the fall ‘20 collection — and the brand’s chunky-heeled leather Flash mules, the just-debuted style is not only comfortable, lightweight, and waterproof, it’s also appropriate for your next semi-formal event (remember events?), thanks to an almost four-inch heel.
The style, called the Rubber Flash Mule, is available now for pre-order, with an estimated arrival time of September 18, according to BottegaVeneta.com. Priced at $510, the heeled rain clogs come in a palette of neon orange, royal blue, and chocolate brown.
This isn’t the first time that rubber slides once reserved for grandmas who garden and tweens at the pool have received the heel treatment. In June, Gucci released a pair of monogram platform clogs, $410, made entirely of rubber. The style, which features a heavy lug sole and a thick heel, is currently available in fetching shades like lilac and off-white, and quickly becoming ubiquitous on Instagram.
The collaboration, titled “Balenciaga Crocs 2.0,” featured three shoe styles in total, with pool slides and rain boots also making the cut. But while the shoes themselves were unexpected — the last time we checked, stilettos and Crocs still occupied opposite sides of the footwear spectrum — the partnership was anything but surprising. Not after Balenciaga’s first collaboration with Crocs, which debuted at the brand’s spring ‘18 show and included a pair of bubblegum-pink platforms, sold out immediately. And that was with an $850 price tag, compared to Crocs’s normal price: a more budget-friendly $50.
“It’s a very innovative shoe,” Gvasalia told Vogue following the initial collaboration’s release. “It’s light, it’s a one-piece foam mold and to me, these kinds of techniques and working with these kinds of materials is very Balenciaga.”
The designer is hardly the only fashion-forward fan of the Boulder-based bulbous shoe company. With lockdown turning many onto a more comfort-driven style of dress, Crocs have spiked in popularity, showing up on red carpets, social media, and runways alike. In April, Questlove arrived at the 2021 Oscars wearing a navy blue tux (standard) and a pair of gold, spray-painted Crocs (not so standard). Later that month, Victoria Beckham received a pair from Justin Bieber’s Drew collaboration with the brand, sharing her thoughts on the style via Instagram stories.
In May, Crocs experienced their biggest win yet: Nicki Minaj announced the arrival of new music by posting a photo of herself wearing nothing but diamond jewelry and a pair of hot pink Crocs. (She accessorized the shoes with a constellation of Chanel brooches, as opposed to Jibbitz.) Within 12 hours, page views for the pink shoes had spiked by 94% on the global fashion shopping platform Lyst.
But with lockdown behind us (or so we like to tell ourselves), our appetite for standard-issue Crocs has started to wane. And yet, comfort is still just as important as it was a year ago, with many still working and going to school from home. Stuck in pandemic purgatory, it makes sense that our go-to house shoes during quarantine would adapt to fit our modern needs, which include going out to outdoor dinners and small parties, as well as staying in on a Friday night and taking calls at the kitchen table. We need our rubber clogs to do it all.
When all we need is a little extra height, it’s comforting to know that there are plenty of heeled rubber clogs on the market, just waiting to lift us up. Shop our favorites, below.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
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