Wardrobe Planning Hits and Misses Volume 2 – Week 8

It’s late February in Houston, Texas and that means it’s rodeo time! Last week cowboys, cowgirls, and some beautiful horses made their way into town during the annual trail ride. I was lucky enough to catch a glimpse of them, but with nasty weather and the final bit of a nasty head cold, my boyfriend Greg and I decided to skip the rodeo cook off. I did, however, have the perfect outfit for #GoTexan day thanks to stylist Natalie King of Nat King Couture. And the even better news is that the western look is on trend for this Spring. Think you don’t have anything that fits the bill in your closet? Check out our video (click the thumbnail below) and then read on to find out how the outfits worked out last week.

Natalie put together five outfits in case I wanted to get in the spirit all week, but as it turned out, only one got worn. Why only one? There were a number of reasons the most compelling of which was that I had a nasty head cold all week. And with colder than expected temperatures, I was feeling more like a thick sweater than a thin tee under a denim jacket. And, although my client office is fairly casual, I just didn’t feel quite right about wearing a denim jacket any day except traditionally casual Friday. Not to worry, now I’ll have Friday outfits to spread out over the rest of rodeo season. And, Natalie gave me enough options that I won’t feel like I’m wearing a “western” uniform every Friday.

I did change up this outfit a bit though. Since last Friday was Go Texan day here in Houston, I really wanted to wear my Lucchese boots. These were my first pair of “real” cowboy boots purchased about nine years ago, but if I’d known how comfortable they are, I would have started wearing them much sooner. The price point on these boots was not low, but given how well they have held up over the years, I’d say they were a great investment. No matter where you live, you can never go wrong with a good solid pair of cowboy boots which manage to become trendy fairly regularly.

I also really wanted to wear my bling belt. I am a lover of bling and rodeo is definitely associated with sparkle – think Rhinestone Cowboy or Rhinestone the movie. I bought this belt at the same time as my boots at a store here in Houston called Pinto Ranch. I probably paid a little more than I should have, but the folks there knew their stuff and once again, these pieces have certainly stood the test of time. If you have a western event to attend soon, their website is worth checking out if only for the ideas, but they do carry some unique and high quality clothing.

I also really wanted to wear this leopard skirt that Natalie paired with a plain brown long sleeve t-shirt and my blue denim jacket. Given that leopard has been in for a while, you are very likely to have some in your closet and it’s definitely a great western look. I would have never thought of that, but it makes perfect sense when you see it on particularly with boots. And of course, nothing says trail ride like denim. What caught me off guard was how much I loved blue denim with the leopard print. Originally Natalie wanted to pair this skirt with a blue denim shirt, but I don’t have one so we went with the jacket instead and I added another item to my “wardrobe holes” list.

With all the bling on my belt, I really didn’t need much in the way of jewelry, but I did add a few fun pieces. These earrings were part of my haul from local Houston boutique It’s All About You (see Wardrobe Planning Hits and Misses Volume 1 – Week 29). The pattern worked great with my leopard print motif and matched this bracelet that I acquired during a trip to Cuero, TX with some old friends last summer. Every time I wear this bracelet, I think of my buddies Anne and Debbie which makes it extra special! The smokey quartz ring was a gift from my sweet mom Jackie.

I’ll post the other outfits as I wear them – I’m super excited to have more than one go to rodeo ensemble for the season! What do you like to wear for rodeo season? I’d love to hear about your favorites! In the meantime, have a fabulous week!

XOXO,

Misty Ann