You don't have to swoon over Garth Brooks, drive a pickup truck or sleep in cowboy boots to enjoy dressing with a Western flair.
Western influence in design has staying power on the fashion scene this winter and spring because of its enduring comfort and charm, says Chris Schrauf, fashion buyer for Miss ZC department for all Utah and Idaho ZCMI stores."People enjoy dressing comfortably and also want something that is novel. They want to wear something to create a little conversation - something that people would notice. Western wear allows both," she said.
Denim is the key to the success of Western wear, she said. Denim can be casual or dressy. It's a great foundation for a versatile wardrobe.
For instance, a plaid, wool jacket can be worn with a denim skirt with silver button covers or an interesting belt to create a classy look for the office.
Denim or white blouses with a Western motif embroidered or beaded on the collar, yoke or sleeves are especially popular. The designs adds a tailor-made look that can be colorful and unique.
Cowboy boots have maintained popularity - especially in Utah where boots are both decorative and practical for walking in snow, said Schrauf.
Western accessories - ear rings, scarfs, bracelets, pins, watchbands - provide endless possibilities for imaginative combinations.
A denim blouse can be dressed up by adding pearls. "There definitely is not a masculine connotation to Western wear. The Western look can be extremely feminine because of the variety of accessories and textures that can be added," she said.
Prairie and ruffled skirt have a distinct, feminine flavor.
The Western wear scene is changing slightly. Bright cowboy patterns are being replaced by more subtle Indian-theme prints in turquoise and earth tones.
"Western wear captures our sense of adventure," said Schrauf. "It allows us individual expression and a change from the traditional. You can be daring, feminine or casual - depending on your mood."
Trends generally move from the east coast to the West coast, but Western wear is something the West can take claim for originating, said Schrauf.
On a national scene, Tina Sutton, fashion consultant for Hit-or-Miss, a national off-price chain, agrees with Schrauf.
"Designers, those dictators of taste in major fashion markets, may tell you the Western look is deader than Boot Hill. But it's not.
"It's a perennial fashion style that just has had more attention than usual lately," said Sutton.
She advises that this is a particularly good time to buy Western-influenced items, as retailers are making way for sweaters, woolly scarves and glittery bead-encrusted dresses.
"Western has always been around, but designers made a big deal about it a few seasons ago, and everyone jumped on it. But fame is fleeting in a designer's eye, so as they push the `grunge look,' Western gets less attention," said Sutton.
When buyers find a look that works, they'll keep buying it, even if it is not on runways. Consider Lycra-enhanced leggings and oversize sweaters; nearly every woman has included that look in her wardrobe and will continue to do so.
Cowboy boots in red, turquoise or multicolors are on the market from $89 and up. Or look at the ankle-boot versions with the look of animal skins for slightly less, said Sutton.
Fringed leather jackets and beautifully patterned wool coats, short and long, are still found in knockoff versions of Ralph Lauren Polo coats.
There's a smattering of Western-inspired fashion in many general-merchandise catalogues: A pure wool scarf in blanket pattern, for example, is featured at Eddie Bauer, $45.
One of the best Western-influenced catalogues is Second Nature, the National Wildlife Federation's publication. An American Indian motif cotton chamois shirt for women, $47, has a white background with turquoise, red and dark green shapes.
And Schrauf will continue to "buy Western" for Utah stores as long as denim and cowboy boots capture the imagination of the West.