In 2022, these are the tastemakers and style setters we’re following.
It’s official: “social influencer” is no longer a novelty title. In fact, it’s not just a job, either — it’s a full-fledged marketing strategy that can yield tangible, bottom-line results. This year, we’ve identified 20 influencers from Western and English disciplines worth following. Read on to find out who they are, what styles they like, and a few trends they wish would disappear.
English
Bethany Aalee
Instagram: @myequestrianstyle
Loves: “I really love how English disciplines and mainstream fashion continue to incorporate Western apparel! Love a western belt, cowboy boots, and my personal favorite: a wide-brimmed hat!”
Erin Lane
Instagram: @erinlaneequestrian
Loves: “For me, everything I wear needs to hold up to the hustle of daily life with a horse career — running from meetings to the barn to ranch chores to shows. I’m hard on my stuff so it needs to be comfy, stain resistant, and perform like athletic wear.”
Hates: “What I hate: overpriced, crazy expensive pieces; mass-produced, overly trendy items; low waists; old-school styles that are stuck in tradition; and clothes that are restrictive, uncomfortable, and don’t move with you.”
Karina Harris
Instagram: @thehunt_eq
Loves: “My favorite trend would probably be high-waisted breeches.”
Nicola Mellor
Instagram: @nicolajmellor
Loves: “I am currently loving the color blocking on clothing such as the Kingsland KLMelany hoodie, which I have to get my hands on!”
Hates: “The one I wish would go away is tucking a sweater into the jeans waistband, just the weirdest thing ever to tuck such a bulky item in!”
Charl Battersby
Instagram: @charl.equestrian
Loves: “My favorite fashion trend in the equestrian world is definitely riding leggings. They are a game changer — so light, breathable, comfortable, and most of them have a pocket big enough to put your phone in without it falling out. I live in riding leggings now, hardly ever wear breeches.”
Marina Layton
Instagram: @marinalayton
Loves: “A trend I absolutely adore is tweed clothing! Tweed is a timeless staple in anyone’s wardrobe, especially for fall and winter. It has the power to completely elevate your outfit, leaving you with a super smart look. It is very popular in the U.K. for a reason! Thrilled it is making a big comeback in North America.”
Hates: “A trend that needs to end, in my humble opinion, would be snake print. Not a fan of majority of animal prints, but snake print in particular gives me the ick!”
Megan K Cameron-Muscarella
Instagram: @meggoleggos25
Loves: “I would love to see both amateurs and juniors lean into each other for support. I believe fashion is a very personal choice and can help bring confidence to any rider — personal style can be so liberating, and although I personally thrive when I am feeling classic and chic, I know it may not be the same for my peers, and that’s OK. We all need to learn to embrace our personal style and accept others’ along the way.”
Lily Rhodes
Instagram: @lilybrhodes
Loves: “A trend I love is mixing English and Western apparel to make really unique riding outfits!”
Hellen Abrams
Instagram: @life_equestrian
Loves: “I love seeing the trend of breeches with silicone knee patches. They provide so much more stick in the saddle and are easy to wash and care for. Struck breeches are my favorite! If you are looking for more of a fashion trend, I think the best would be the clean lines and the use of technical fabrics for show coats.”
Yulia Bratkovkaya
Instagram: @yulia_brat
Loves: “It’s funny how not so long ago in English riding we were all very uptight with the shirt tucked in the breeches, with a mandatory belt. And then — boom — the era of leggings has come without an announcement. And now riding leggings are a huge part of our lives. I love that we finally have pockets on the sides of all the new models of pants.”
Western
Marijka Hunsaker
Instagram: @marijka_dam
Loves: “My favorite fashion trend currently are cowboy boots. They are the new sneaker this season. I have been seeing fashion cowboy boots being worn in all kinds of different environments. I have personally loved seeing cowboy boots being styled with contemporary styles in big cities and I have also loved seeing cowboy boots being styled in rural America by Western fashionistas! Cowboy boots are timeless, can be worn by anyone, and boots will continue to be around for centuries.”
Cait Luca
Instagram: @cowgirl.cait
Loves: “To me, Western women, cowgirls, and fashion has always been about strength, beauty, and grace, while still being classy. On the flip side, I hope turquoise, serape (I am an AZ gal, after all), vintage finds (obsessed with Rockies), and handmade items by female makers never go out of style. One of my favorite parts about being a member of this community is being able to collaborate with other female small-business owners and makers.”
Sam Wooton
Instagram: @retro.amiga
Loves: “My favorite trend to date is the expansion of Western fashion. We are starting to see staple Western pieces like cowboy hats, boots, big hair, turquoise, men’s jeans, etc. being thrown in the mix with modern trends like grunge, street style, bohemian, and more. We’re seeing our heritage and lifestyle making an impact on other fashion trends, mixing both personalities. The versatility is absolutely amazing.”
Celeste Jones
Instagram: @celesteofthewest
Loves: “I love a gritty Western feel, re-creating outfits from classic western films! Pearl snaps, layers, rigs, dirt — I love it all!”
Brianna Pafford
Instagram: @pretty.stumped
Loves: "My favorite trends are leather/fringe and retro Western.”
Gabrielle Sage
Instagram: @western.sage
Loves: “I think more than ever we’ve seen vintage pieces become trendy and I absolutely love that! I wear at least something from a thrift shop daily and it’s not only amazing to wear clothing that has history, but it’s so important to reduce the waste fast fashion produces. Wearing vintage is also a great way to make sure you have fantastic fashion pieces no one else does!”
Mackenzie Kimbro
Instagram: @kenziegk
Loves: “I will say — one hurdle I come across each fall, when the array of printed cardigans, sweaters, and pearl snaps comes around — is that so many of the beautiful prints are made in a horizontally oriented pattern, which is not the most flattering style on all body types! I would love to see more of those gorgeous prints made with a vertical orientation, so we have some options that might help elongate the looks instead of broadening them.”
Kiley Cude
Instagram: @transpecosmama
Loves: “My favorite trend/look that I don’t want to go anywhere is high-rise jeans. It took me a long time to get on the bandwagon with them, but I don’t think I could go back to low rise.”
Trends she hates: “In contrast, I’d love to see the shacket trend go. I never feel like they look flattering on me and always opt out of the shacked group. I know that’s likely an unpopular opinion, but it’s just not for me.”
Mikayla Woodzell
Instagram: @wranglin.m
Loves: “As far as current trends, I’m loving all the old-school, retro styles that are coming back. Corduroy and suede everything, high-waisted jeans, all the Pendleton-style prints, I love all of it! Honestly, no matter what’s trending, I think everyone should wear whatever makes them happy and comfortable — make your own style and set your own trends.”
Lucia Clemetson
Instagram: @reata_rose
Loves: “My favorite trend is vintage Western fashion, but more specifically the smiley arrow pockets. Originally created in the 1930s to keep pockets from tearing for work shirts, I like how they have made their way through the decades giving a stylish and classy look. It’s a signature look in Western fashion today.”
From the January 2022 issue of W&E Today, the ultimate resource for Western retailers from the editors of Cowboys & Indians.
Photography: (all images) courtesy influencers
