Exploring the elevated rustic lore

Would you consider elevated, rustic, Montana ranch-hand girl an aesthetic? I would, and it’s my current obsession.

Kendall Jenner was one of the most recent in the high-fashion world to coin cowgirl boots paired with a designer dress, but in my opinion, it is one of the most unique and fun vibes that isn’t talked about enough.

Well, maybe that’s because if I walked outside in a Lucchese cowhide leather belt in Georgia in May it would turn heads, and not in the best way.

After the release of her 818 Tequila, Jenner has continued to market herself as not only a model, but also a free-spirited horse girl that loves the outdoors. While this is something that may have been tacky when we were all in the 7th grade, I want leather fringe jackets, Ralph Lauren boho, wife beaters and layered metal belts to come back to stay.

Paige Lorenze founded Dairy Boy in 2021, which is a brand that carries not only branded clothing such as blue jeans, sweatsuits, and baseball caps, but also home decor and kitchenware that pulls from the “coastal cowgirl” aesthetic, as she grew up in a small town on the East-Coast in Connecticut, a commuting distance from Manhattan.

Lorenze still lives in Connecticut, surrounded by many acres of land and animals. She often vlogs “days-in-the-life,” where she wakes up early to feed and ride her horses and tend to her garden. Although she lived in New York City for many years, she went back to her roots, started Dairy Boy, and is fully embracing the rustic, farm-girl aesthetic.

She even launched her own brand of denim, as “an ode to her love of quality, vintage denim.” Personally, I live in the soft-sand camo sweatsuit set.

Miu Miu is another brand that has always done a great job of catering to those that are cowgirls at heart, and although their items cost a pretty penny, their hobo bags and vintage leather boots always catch my eye and make me wish I lived in a city where I could dig through thrift stores for high-end, vintage finds.

Similarly, Dior released their famously coveted Saddle Bag in 1999 at the spring/summer ready-to-wear fashion show, but it has more recently come back into the picture as they have continued to create new, unique patterns, including this vintage-y leather textured purse.

Fun fact: did you know Coach came out with the first saddle bag in 1972? It is called the “Soho Bag” and was duped by Dior as they entered the new millennium of fashion.

Although I may not live in the vicinity where it’s typically fashionable as a 21 year-old girl to wear leather shorts, hide jackets and big belts, maybe I’ll step out of my comfort zone this fall.

And, despite the fact that I don’t live within 500 miles of New York City where vintage stores are accessible at every corner, Poshmark may be my new best friend as I continue to devour the rustic aesthetic.