Fashion

How the Cowboy Boot Became Summer's Favorite Shoe

The Western style has evolved past its nostalgic Americana roots. 

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@dualipa

Even in the summer heat, cowboy boots have been making the rounds as this season's trendiest footwear option. From Kendall Jenner to Dua Lipa, the leather shoe seems to be all over our Instagram pages. The latest reinterpretation of Western footwear makes them a surprising addition to bikini outfits, but cowboy boots have been worn outside of the ranch for decades. 

 

All-American brand Ralph Lauren first made cowboy boots fashionable on the runways in 1979, paired with natural Western accompaniments such as jeans and cowboy hats. Then, fashion icon Princess Diana started wearing the boots tucked into sweatpants and jeans. The Alexander McQueen-designed Givenchy Spring/Summer 1998 went outside the box with cutout boots paired with fringe dresses. Since then, the boots have rotated in and out of style, making a comeback with Calvin Klein and Celine's Fall/Winter 2017 collections.

The popularity of Lil Nas X's country-rap hit "Old Town Road" brought forth a surge of nostalgia for cowboy style, with the Grammy-awarded artist wearing Western boots at the red carpet. In recent years, Instagram stars have used the funky footwear to add an unconventional pop of Western style to their outfits. 

Here, take a look at how the cowboy boot has evolved over the years. 

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Ralph Lauren models in 1979
Chris Westwood wears cowboy boots to a Studio 54 party in 1980
Princess Diana pairs her boots with an oversized blazer for a polo event in 1988
Givenchy Spring/Summer 1998, designed by Alexander McQueen
Rihanna on the red carpet in 2005
Anna Sui Fall/Winter 2009
Calvin Klein Fall/Winter 2017
Celine Fall/Winter 2017
Maison Margiela Spring/Summer 2019
Natalia Vodianova at the Fashion For Relief show during the 71st Cannes Film Festival
Lil Nas X at the 2020 Grammy Awards
Gigi Hadid wears cowboy boots in the streets of New York City in 2018
Kourtney Kardashian pairs her cowboy boots with a bikini in 2021
Photo via Getty Images.
Dua Lipa via Instagram in 2021

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