Turning cowgirl at 44

[WatermelonGatorJerky]

Hello there, so I’m 44 and currently on holiday in the US.

I discovered a store called Cavender’s and seem to be in the process of buying everything in it. So far I have bought myself cowboy boots, I’ll add a pic; a saddle bag; Rockin C torn jeans; Wrangler western T shirts…think cowboy hats and rodeo horses on the front in creams and browns; a plaid shirt and I’m seriously debating a small brimmed cowboy hat. Obviously I wouldn’t wear all of this together.

I’m in pretty good shape; size 10 UK, tallish and still keep my hair long and get told I don’t look 44…but…is this going to be acceptable or look a bit odd? Am I going to look like a stylish western country girl…or like I’m having a midlife crisis. Perhaps I should abandon the hat idea?

I have 30 days returns and am here for another 12 days.

Thoughts appreciated!

I don't think anyone would bat a eyelid except maybe for the hat.

Ariat is a good brand of boots and their country boots are known for being waterproof and comfortable and sold in the UK. Are they cheaper in the USA because if not I'd buy them from here

Cowboy boots save yourself the room in your luggage.

It’s a very, very dated look. I’m nearly your age and when I was a teen cowboy boots were massively in. & the wide brimmed felt hats. This look will definately age you because it’ll look like you’re stuck in your “heyday” look.

It’s also just a very “looks like you’re dressing up for Halloween look”.

I disagree with PP that you can be more expressive in your look in the USA compared to the UK. I don’t think that is the case at all.

Definitely go for it, don't worry about what anyone else thinks! I think cowgirl boots look lovely!

@WatermelonGatorJerky beautiful look . Just own it and who cares about others .
myself and a friend has cowboy boots on last month to a night out /event

If it makes you happy OP - go for it. If you can afford the clothes keep them and bring them back to the UK. I love the boots! Life is too short not to wear those boots! xx

The young ones seem to wearing cowboy boots here in Ireland. But that country vibe has always been popular in rural areas here I think.

I'm 44 and wear cowboy boots with dresses regularly. Also have a couple of checked shirts that I throw on over different outfits. Like you said, you wouldn't wear it all at once. I think the pictures you shared of how you plan to style your new clothes are great - go for it!

You don’t have to “get away with it”. I’m a size 16, well over 44, and I just wear the bloody cowboy boots. It never enters my head that I might be committing a (fashion) crime that I need to get away with.

If you go to the countryside in Northern Ireland loads of people look like that. Go there. They are your people 😂

More seriously, clothes are there to enjoy. If you love them wear them with joy. It really doesn’t matter what other people think.

I think it's great and fun, the boots are lovely and will definitely work. Your inspo pics work too. Do it! Why not

The boots are really not unusual. They are pretty high end work boots (horse, cattle, farming) that have made it over here. They last forever.

my kids buy their Ariats on Vinted and resell. They also buy the equestrian clothes. I would get the boots, get the rest here when you’re not in the holiday environment.

I think those boots are great!
I'm 62 and wear my Ariat Fatbabys (brown with turquoise detail) with everything, jeans, leggings, dresses.
All my (English) riding boots are Ariat too.
I'm not tall or slim, and boots cover my cankles so 🤷

I love the whole look. I had a pair of cowboy boots I bought in Wyoming in the early '00s, best boots ever, so comfortable and so well made they'd still be on my feet now if I hadn't somehow lost them in one of my moves since 😭

I still love Americana but lean more homesteady now. I'm like a magpie for anything plaid or flannel.

I can report via my DD and her DP plus several of their friends, that cowboy apparel is entirely acceptable at the moment. They are in their 20's - 30's.

Taylor Swift is apparently to blame for this situation.😁

Wow! Got up this morning and saw I had a tonne of responses, so sorry I can’t reply individually.

But really pleased with the feedback. Will definitely keep the clothes and boots, but will style them wisely. In fact, the responses have made me fall in love with my boots a lot more.

Some of the responses were also hilarious! I really enjoyed reading them. Some mumsnetters are funny, funny people with great humour.

And I looked back at my title and thought - cowgirl - how did I not make the sex link 😂

But thank you all for the feedback and for giving me the confidence to step out of my boring usual style.

Due to Beyoncé and Taylor Swift the boots are definitely in. Get them!

I think those boots are lovely OP. I’d wear them to the supermarket and not give a fuck what anyone thought of it!

Im amazed that someone would think the UK is quite conservative fashion wise, here, anything goes.

Go to Europe as you say or the US and people really are conservatve in their dress, nothing outlandish or out of the way or 'different' is viewed positively.

and another boring attitude. When I was a teen boho was a look and guess what???

I have got Doc Martins purple bikers....they are one of my winter staples.

I still wear Converse at 44, @godmum56 I have customised ones. Couldn’t give a shit if somebody I don’t know or care about sneers at it. Would happily also wear coloured Docs!

I'd love some Converse but I have got massively wide short feet so its a no go....I am in my 70's

i live in the US and married into a family of ranchers, and we lived on the family ranch for several years. I wear some things like this, but not everything all at once every day. My husband wears cowboy boots most days because they are practical for the work he does.

Wearing it when you go home is probably no different from what we saw when we were in the UK on vacation. Went to Primark as I forgot to pack socks and almost every shirt had something American printed on it - either a city, a state, a team, a skyline or landmark, a phrase, etc. In many cases I imagine the wearers couldn’t even locate those places on a map. But who cares? Wear what the heck you like. Enjoy your vacation here.

My cowboy boots are a winter staple, with Jeans (some ripped), tshirts, check shirts etc. But that's been my standard dress for the last 30 years or so. I have been known to throw a hat on too.

I got married wearing cowboy boots

Is it any worse than when I freuqently seen men and boys in a football kit. I saw some poor small boy last night, maybe about 8 years old, had shoes, socks, shorts and tshirt, all with football logos on, to match as well (dont ask me which team)