Retailers Break Down the Trend

Did you attend Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter Tour? Do you want “two pairs of Luccheses” like Kane Brown? The western craze continues to kickstart boot sales.

Beyoncé’s album “Cowboy Carter,” which earned the superstar her first Album of the Year Grammy in February, generated great interest in cowboy boots when it was released in 2024, and the album tour running this year revived the surge as concertgoers flocked to stadiums in all kinds of western footwear — from classic cowboy boots to fringy animal print styles.

But it’s not just concertgoers who are seeking out western shoes for specific events. James Anderton, the owner of West in Beverly Hills, said the trend is also taking off at wedding events.

“Every rehearsal dinner, if not wedding, is a western theme. And the trips to Montana or Wyoming, we see a large uptick from that,” said Anderton. He noted that his ankle height, nine-inch, and 13 to 17-inch boot silhouettes are selling about equally, and colorful inlay patterns are in.

Beyoncé isn’t the only pop culture figure driving interest in western fashion. Anderton pointed toward the projects of Taylor Sheridan, which include the Kevin Costner-led series “Yellowstone” and the Billy Bob Thornton-led series “Landman,” among other western titles, as boosting the trend as well.
Additionally, Anderton and Isha Nicole, senior vice president of creative and marketing at Boot Barn, both noted the influence of Pharrell’s fall 2024 western collection for Louis Vuitton, which featured the work of one of Anderton’s boot makers in El Paso.

Also in the pop culture realm, country artist Kane Brown recently released a song called “2 Pair,” which is a love letter to Lucchese cowboy boots — it kicks off with the lyrics, “Hey I like the snakeskin, I like the Buckaroos/I like my leather shined up with a shade of blue.” Closely connected to country music, the brand has collaborated with artists like Parker McCollum.

And there are many more country stars with a love of boots. Nicole shared that Idyllwind Fueled by Miranda Lambert, a Boot Barn exclusive, “has been dominating the market across a wide range of female consumers,” with metallic and retro styles standing out as particularly popular. Among men, meanwhile, Nicole revealed that the upscale Cody James Black 1978 collection featuring “minimalistic styling and a simple hand-laid cording detail,” has grown in popularity.

Nicole conveyed that crossover artists and the blending of genres have partially driven the western influence in modern fashion, pointing toward Pharrell and Beyoncé.

“This shift in pop culture is a tribute to Americana and a true celebration of the American spirit. And nothing is more American than the cowboy,” the Boot Barn executive said. “The cowboy’s iconic persona speaks to a celebration of our heritage while symbolizing nonconformity. In the AI era with technological overstimulation, there is a shared appreciation for a more organic, humble, and authentic existence. This yearning is reflected in today’s fashion trends, from western boots to the Y2K aesthetic.”

There’s also been a rising interest in line dancing lately, particularly within the Black community, with the song “Boots on the Ground” and its correlating fan-accompanied dance making waves across the country.

“We’re definitely seeing customers wanting boots they can be active in. Whether it’s line dancing, concerts, or everyday outings, comfort is at the center of what they’re shopping for,” said Melissa Collins, chief marketing officer at Cavender’s, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. “People are realizing that western boots aren’t just for style — they’re built to support movement, last through long days, and still feel great. That’s especially important for first-time boot buyers who are often surprised by how wearable they really are. It may start with a fun event, but once they experience the comfort and versatility, many become loyal boot wearers.”

On what’s selling right now, Collins said: “At Cavender’s, we carry a curated mix of legacy and emerging brands — from longtime customer favorites to exclusive lines like JRC & Sons, which honors our founders, and our Cavender’s line, which are a great option for women who are first-time boot buyers.”

Anderton explained how much work goes into crafting the boots at West. “We have a category of merchandise that is still handmade the way it was made 100 years ago, and that is reflected in the price. And some people, when they pick up a handmade boot and turn it over, they see the price, and they were expecting something else.”

How does he hook them in? “You introduce them into this different level of product based on materials and craftsmanship. These really are almost wearable works of art. We enjoy educating people on how they are constructed, what the purpose of the inlay was, what the purpose of the stitch pattern was — that was to keep a boot upright and not slouch down when you were in the saddle, for instance.”

As for how western boots will adapt for spring 2026, Nicole forecasted that neutrals along with a wide range of browns and whites will remain strong as well as classic western details. New trends for spring 2026 will include greens, ranging from jelly mint to teal, blues, and pops of pink and fuchsia, she said.

Anderton, Nicole and Collins all stressed that western boots are transcendent of passing trends. Collins offered, “For many, western is no longer just a trend — it’s a lifestyle. As that audience grows, so does the appetite for boots that can move seamlessly from everyday wear to more fashion-forward moments.”