I'm Choosing…the West
There is no denying it. The West has officially ridden into mainstream culture.
Not just fashion, but everything. Streaming content. Series. Music. Festivals. Travel. It seems everyone is chasing a slower pace, open skies, and a little authenticity. Who needs another vacay in Europe, elbowing through crowded streets when the mountains of Calgary or the rolling plains of Wyoming are calling?
Maybe it started with Yellowstone. Maybe it's the explosion of country artists like Ella Langley. Whatever the reason, the West has become a state of mind, and I am completely here for it.
The key, however, is to embrace Western influence, not a Western costume. You don't want to look like Jesse from Toy Story. Think of Western style as seasoning rather than the entire meal.
A suede fringe jacket instantly elevates a pair of jeans. (Bootcut gets my vote). A beautifully crafted leather bag with subtle fringe adds movement and personality. A silk neck scarf tied cowboy style gives even the simplest shirt a fresh perspective. I love a great belt buckle, and Western inspired boots pair beautifully with dresses, maxi skirts, and tailored trousers without looking like you're headed to a costume party. Pearl snap shirts, horse prints, prairie florals, paisley prints, classic Western yokes, soft plaid checks, suede, fringe, turquoise, and handcrafted sterling silver all add just enough Western soul without feeling overdone. Again, pick one or two accents and add lightly.
One of my favourite places to browse authentic Western wear is Lammle's. Yes, it's famous for cowboy boots, but it is also a treasure trove of beautifully made jackets, shirts, skirts, scarves, hats, and accessories. If you love the thrill of the hunt, Western resale stores are full of incredible pieces that have already lived a few stories.
Designers have been borrowing from the American West for decades. Ralph Lauren built an empire celebrating it. This season brands like Zimmerman, Isabel Marant, Spell, Faithfull, Free People, and Anthropologie continue to reinterpret Western style in fresh, wearable ways. Whether your budget is luxury, contemporary, or somewhere in between, the inspiration is everywhere. The secret is simple. Dress like yourself, with just a little Western confidence.
That confidence is something I discovered firsthand during a recent trip to Cheyenne Frontier Days in Wyoming. During one interview, I asked a local woman a simple question: "If you had one word to describe the West, what would it be?" She didn't hesitate. "Grit." I haven't stopped thinking about that answer.
Later that weekend, I attended Cowboy Church, where Pastor Mark Eaton delivered a message about fragility. I'm paraphrasing from my notes, but his teaching challenged the idea that somewhere along the way we've begun expecting life to be comfortable. We avoid hardship whenever possible, shield ourselves from discomfort, and often try to do the same for our children.
The problem is that Scripture never promises us an easy life. Jesus says in John 16:33,
"I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” (NLT) I read this and notice what He doesn't promise. He doesn't promise comfort. He doesn't promise an absence of suffering. He promises victory.
The Apostle Paul carries that thought even further in Romans 5:3-5. "We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment...” (NLT)
Endurance produces character. Character produces hope. That isn't just beautiful theology. It's a blueprint for life. Maybe that's what drew me to the West. Western life isn't easy. The days are long. The work is physical. The weather doesn't care about your plans. Horses don't read your calendar. Yet everywhere I went I met people whose lives reflected quiet confidence, deep faith, extraordinary generosity, and remarkably little complaining.
Just grit.
Maybe my faith walk needs a little less Instagram perfection and a little more Western resilience. Less curating. More living. Less chasing comfort. More embracing the challenges God uses to shape my character.
One of my favourite moments all weekend wasn't at the rodeo. It was standing in Cowboy Church singing Love and Pinto Beans, written by Clay Edwards. The song celebrates a life rooted in faith, family, gratitude, and simple blessings. One lyric has stayed with me ever since. "It's gonna be okay." Not because life is always easy. But because for those who admit they are sinners, believe that Jesus Christ died and rose again, and confess Him as Lord, our hope is not based on circumstances. It is based on the One who has already overcome the world.
The West reminded me that grit and grace belong together. Faith is not the absence of hardship. It is the confidence that God is faithful in the middle of it. So yes, I'll happily wear the fringe jacket this fall. More importantly, I hope I carry a little of the spirit that inspired it.
Because Western style may be trending, but it’s Western grit, and the hope we have in Christ that are in my forever wardrobe.
Kara’s favourite musts this month:
Lammles Western Wear: https://www.lammles.com
Get the look:
DB studios: Discover it on Instagram by clicking here.
Seconds Collective Pop Up: Discover it on Instagram by clicking here.
Refashioned:www.refashioned.com (the coolest denim jackets) or on Instagram here.
Chris Cross Custom – www.chriscrosscustom.com OR on Instagram by clicking here.
Suede Shirt: Buy it here.
Farm Rio Maxi Skirt: Buy it here.
Vocal Suede Fringe Jacket: Buy it here.
Zara Paisley Belted Maxi Skirt: Buy it here.
H & M patterned Neck Scarf: Get it here.
St. Agni Fringe Skirt-Belt: Get it here.
Listening on repeat: https://music.apple.com/us/song/love-and-pinto-beans-someday/1744117434
