The Cowgirl in Me & Your Own Twist Link Up #58

“Cowgirl is an attitude, really; a pioneer spirit, a special American brand of courage. The cowgirl faces life head on, lives by her own lights and make no excuses. Cowgirls take stands. They speak up. They defend the things they hold dear. A cowgirl might be a rancher, or a barrel racer, or a bull rider, or an actress. But she’s just as likely to be a checker at the local Winn Dixie, a full-time mother, a banker, an attorney, or an astronaut.”

Dale Evans, American actress, singer, songwriter, and cowgirl

Well, if that is the definition of a cowgirl, then I am most certainly that!

Nearly five years ago with the now defunct Fab 40s, we had chosen Western Wear as our monthly sartorial theme. As I was reading through that old post, it came to my attention that my inner cowgirl was not completely evolved five years ago. First of all, I owned only two pairs of cowgirl boots at the time. My very old black Ariat Fatbaby cowgirl boots and my custom made Buffalo leather monogrammed cowgirl boots that haven’t fit me since probably 2005. I also wasn’t very into the cowgirl aesthetic at that time even though I have always loved cowgirl boots.

However, since that post in 2018, my cowgirl strength has been growing! I have added eight more pairs of cowgirl boots to my collection and I don’t even know how many hats. Want to see them all? Of course you do!

I have gold floral boots and black floral ones, white boots, red boots, brown boots, and two-toned tan boots, too. I also have black boots with little studs and tall brown ones with a zipper. Some were thrifted, some were new, but I love them all the same! (Well, maybe not exactly the same. I do favor some of my cowgirl boots more than others.)

As for cowgirl style hats…I have a basic tan paper hat as well as a straw one, a solid white one, a white one with sunflowers and one with roses, a black one with a brightly colored band and a black one with a black and white band, a rainbow one, and my favorite painted hat. In addition to those, I have recently added to my collection a bright yellow hat, a black and mint one, one in fuchsia, a dark brown felt hat, a green one, a burgundy one, and the rust one I am wearing here. Boots and hats, hats and boots, these two things always seem to speak to me!

In true cowgirl fashion, I have been taking a stand and creating some wardrobe pieces of my own from old things in my closet. It seems whenever I get a style idea, I can never ever find exactly what I am looking for. So I recently decided to just start altering things to make them better suit me. A long time ago, I remember someone telling me that we should never try to change our bodies for the sole purpose of fitting into certain clothing. Rather, we should change the clothing to fit our bodies. But we can also change our clothing to fit our personalities as well. And it was this print mixed wrap that was the very thing that prompted me to get myself a sewing machine and make things the way I would like them to be. (Too bad sewing machines can’t alter the whole world in that way!)

I had these two old scarves in my overflowing scarf bin that I don’t really wear as scarves very often but I loved the way the two prints worked with each other. So I got the idea to sew them together and make a multi-patterned ruana. It was the very first one I made before my brightly colored “butterfly” ruana and my “Meg” wrap.

To allow my “new” wrap to make a statement, I layered it over a column of black…black leggings, black tunic, and black lace shirt extender. I have always been a fan of shades of brown paired with black. I think it is such a rich and striking color combination. Then I added my thrifted brown cowgirl boots, my new rust colored felt hat, and my awesome collection of preloved wooden necklaces for this easy, breezy cowgirl style.

About Your Own Twist

Your Own Twist is a monthly link party hosted by Monica of Monica Hayworth (formerly Jersey Girl, Texan Heart) and me on the third Thursday of every month with the goal of inspiring some of our friends to get creative with personal style. Unfortunately, I don’t think Monica is joining me this month. 

The idea behind this collaboration is to take one common piece or theme and style it our own way with our own twist…Monica and I have both taken a lot of fashion inspiration from one another over the past few years even though we have totally different styles. It is always fun to see how we can interpret similar items in unique ways or what kind of twist we will each bring to the chosen theme.

Monica is currently on an indefinite hiatus and unable to join me this month. But I do hope to see her back to playing dress up soon! 

I will let you know the themes well in advance in the event that you would like to use the theme for your own post and add it to the link party. However, any fashion posts are welcome regardless of whether you used the theme or not. Be sure to check out our upcoming style prompts below. You can read details about each theme here.

I will leave you with the words of Tim McGraw.

The Cowboy in Me by Tim McGraw

I don't know why I act the way I do
Like I ain't got a single thing to lose
Sometimes I'm my own worst enemy
I guess that's just the cowboy in me

I got a life that most would love to have
But sometimes I still wake up fightin' mad
At where this road I'm heading down might lead
I guess that's just the cowboy in me

The urge to run, the restlessness
The heart of stone I sometimes get
The things I've done for foolish pride
The me that's never satisfied
The face that's in the mirror when I don't like what I see
I guess that's just the cowboy in me

The urge to run, the restlessness
The heart of stone I sometimes get
The things I've done for foolish pride
The me that's never satisfied
The face that's in the mirror when I don't like what I see
I guess that's just the cowboy in me

Girl, I know there's times you must have thought
There ain't a line you've drawn I haven't crossed
But you set your mind to see this love on through
I guess that's just the cowboy in you

We ride and never worry about the fall
I guess that's just the cowboy in us all

Featured Favorite from Road Tripping

Jennifer of Curated by Jennifer

Keeping it on the edge,

Shelbee

Joining these Link Parties. 

Outfit Details: Leggings and Tunic-Torrid / Lace Extender-DressLily / Hat-Wona Trading / Ruana-Upcycled by me from old scarves (Leopard Scarf-Old Navy / Striped Scarf-Cato) / Boots and Necklaces-Thrifted / Earrings-Old