Crystal Ballin #2
Over here at bigFACTS, we reject any type of trend or fad. We believe that fashion is timeless and good style is universal. Trends and fads occur when the general population becomes aware of a niche interest or item and is then infatuated with is for a short period of time before finding a new thing to latch on to. In this column, we will examine some things to look out for in the near future.
Cowboys!!
From Mexican drug lords to TikTok’s #foryou page, cowboy hats are taking over our society. Anyone following the liberal mainstream media should be more than aware that, at this point, climate change is a legitimate issue in society. Moreover, with its many dangers, climate change brings on new fashion opportunities. Long considered a look relegated to Hal- loween costumes and cosplaying rednecks, this style will soon take over society.
As we move towards a bleak future that looks more and more like the post-apocalyptic society that has been imagined in fiction for the past century, the cowboy look seems very suitable. In addition, the hats will help protect our skin from the potentially hazardous rays of sunlight slipping through a rapidly deteriorating ozone layer.
The Power of the Dog, a brilliant film about gay cowboys, does incredibly well at showing us cowboy looks for every season and every occasion. The most notable of the fits is worn by Peter, played by an actor named Smit-McPhee. His top buttoned off-white shirt and matching hat would not seem out of place in a hip club in any coastal city.
Back to the topic of Mexican drug lords, Bad Bunny, the number one international superstar, recently had a turn on the Netflix series Narcos playing a rich kid turned narco. Although he doesn’t really wear any cowboy hats on the show, Benito, as he’s known to fans, has been a prominent pioneer of the casual cowboy look, complementing many of his fits with a strategic cowboy hat.
Fashion houses have been paying attention as well. A quick scan of recent collections shows a massive influx of cowboys and wild-west-inspired looks. The most notable of the bunch has to be Casablanca SS23 which designer Charaf Tajer described as a “Psychedelic Ranch” and featured plenty of horse poop. The outfits were straight out of a cowboy’s acid trip. Hats of all shapes and sizes paired with boots, lace, and beads of all colors proved to be a departure from Casablanca’s usual tennis-chic vibe. Other culprits this season were Wales Bonner, with her exaggerated collars straight out of Don Quixote and Dries Van Noten’s Matador-inspired satin shirts.
In its essence, dressing like a cowboy is a fun, silly thing to do. But, as we move towards a post-ironic world, these little novelties start to have more meaning and are so much more fun.