Saddling Up the ‘IT-Girl’
By: Alyssa Puentes
It doesn’t matter if you’ve woken up in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, for game day or running to catch the 6 train in New York City - it’s more than likely that either one of these scenarios this year are being accompanied with cowboy boots pressed against the shins and a big belt lassoed around the hip. Western style has always influenced fashion, but has truly taken the media by storm this year.
Fashion, politics, and an effortless sense of class and glamor was in the air on the early morning of October 9th, 1996 in Washington, D.C. Born Isabella Khair Hadid, of Dutch and Palestinian descent, she was raised on the West Coast of Santa Barbara, California. In where this young caterpillar would eventually bloom into the global-supermodel she has become. Gracing the cover of over 26 international Vogue covers, and named the 2022 Model of the Year, Bella has made a name for herself beyond just being a “Hadid”. Anyone who closely follows Hadid can easily tell you that her love for Western fashion and cowgirl showmanship did not happen overnight out of mere convenience. Growing up, Bella aspired to compete on the 2016 Olympic team as an equestrian, but it was cut short due to her on-going battle with Lyme disease.
In what better way would New York Fashion Week end without an appearance of Bella Hadid essentially closing out the monumental week for models and designers? Nonetheless, propped on a horse, in the streets of Manhattan - wearing a National Cutting Horse Association belt buckle strapped across her waist, (proving herself as a finalist in the competition); all while promoting “Horse Sense” the new documentary starring her professional horseman boyfriend. The entire night would be any fashionista cowgirl’s fantasy, a vision Bella Hadid helped come to light. One of the ever evolving and constantly in rotation of discussion in regards to the fashion industry is the idea of trends, more specifically their impact and longevity. What defers a fad from a long-lasting influence? To answer such a question in relation to the Western craze, is authenticity. Brands such as Ralph Lauren, since the 90s, have honed in on the “All American” vibe that keeps itself not only recognizable, but continuously drawing in audiences and consumers with its consistency.
Beyond that, I propose that a big reason Western wear has blown up this past year is due to the faces driving the aesthetic and the message they push. In late March, Beyonce pushed genre borders further by releasing her full-length country album “Cowboy Carter”, an homage to her hometown, Houston, with an offering of slight political commentary and lyrical symbolism as a Black woman in country music. Not only did she rattle the music industry, but struck nearly every media headline after its release.
We now see Hadid embracing the cowboy aesthetic even more than before. Hadid, much like Beyonce, is not afraid to stand her ground when it comes to what she believes in. It’s a trait that makes her stand out as far more than a model, but an activist, and all around role model given the large platform she has (seriously - 61.3 million followers and counting). In 2021, Hadid was seen attending Palestinian protests, and has continued to use her Instagram for the sake of educating her followers on the human rights crisis ongoing in the country her father’s family is from. I believe that in order for something to last, there needs to be a sense of genuineness from the people at the forefront, and those behind the scenes. Unlike the various trends that come and go, or seemingly recycle themselves throughout the year, there is a sense of familiarity in the Western style. Given that it is only seen as a craze in America, it’s safe to say that there is a certain sense of likeness to the idea of one’s country and the pride that correlates itself into that. Despite the current political climate, one that is heated and distinctly divided, Western style offers a sense of unity but akin to American culture and pride that sometimes feels guarded, or a realm only touched by certain areas of the country. The resurgence of Western culture can be the reclaim to feel a unified sense of Americanism through style.
“I love how Bella uses her platform for not just her career purpose, but also promoting stuff she cares about. Her opening up about her mental health a couple years ago really stood out to me. It was breaking down a barrier that we often don’t see in the modeling industry.” said one Marist student.
“Western culture has always filtered out of fashion. Each season, designers can be seen paying homage to the western culture - whether it’s Ralph Lauren's introduction of the Santa Fe collection in 1981 which featured large belt buckles and suede forward fashion or Jeremy Scott including fringe on pants in his fall 2016 RTW collection.” said Charlotte Covell, a fashion merchandising and business major at Marist. “The inclusion of the western aesthetic has the ability to pair very well with the NYC aesthetic of leather and mini skirts. It’s fun to see how designers are playing into the rugged and playfulness of the aesthetic.” Covell touched on Hadid closing out NYFW with her horse-riding movie premiere extravaganza, “Bella Hadid…proved how artistic and designers can be with this [Western] theme. I can see this trend continuing into other seasons especially now that fringe was such a large staple at this past NYFW. ”Western style is one that is here to stay. It’s something that not only celebrities are embracing, but everyday students, adults, or teenagers. Bella Hadid, is not just the essence of a fashionista cowgirl, but the perfect role model to pioneer the style into a couture sense.
