7 Pop Culture-Inspired Cowgirl Halloween Costumes

The Yeehaw agenda is coming for us.

In case you’ve been living off the grid, let us just clarify: cowgirl couture and coastal cowgirl reigned supreme as the buzziest trends of 2024.

While countless celebrity Western fashion moments across movies and music are so iconic—cowgirl style is technically not really a trend—there’s no mistaking that the release of Beyoncé’s eighth studio album, Cowboy Carter, in March of this year ensured everyone was reaching for their Stetsons. There's also the 2023 Louis Vuitton menswear show by Pharrell that focused strongly on Americana codes, ushering in a fashion-wide phenomenon of Western staples going viral.

Are you going to be alone in channeling your inner wild wrangler this Halloween? Absolutely not. But with the theme set to be ultra-popular, we want to make sure you know your Calamity Jane from your Connie Girl references. Before saddling up this Halloween, here are 10 iconic pop culture moments to inspire your take on the trend. 

Beyoncé

Let’s just go ahead and say it: Beyoncé’s creative direction and styling team were working on triple time ahead of her album launch. To the extent that we don’t even know how to chart which of her cowgirl-core looks we loved the most! Her surprise appearance at the Grammy Awards in a checkered Louis Vuitton look and wide-brimmed Stetson? Her dramatic tuxedo and black hat ensemble at the Oscars Gold Party? Her boho Chloé cowgirl phase? Embroidered denim chaps and a Hanes tank? Her haute arrival at the Luar show during NYFW? Too many moments to choose from.

Jessie from "Toy Story"

The most bad-ass animated character of the ‘90s had to have been Pixar’s Jessie. The beloved Toy Story protagonist captured everyone’s hearts, so there’ll be no guessing who your red hat, cow print trousers, and yellow yoke shirt is nodding to. Howdy!

Connie ‘Connie Girl’ Fleming

When Beyoncé dusted down an archival Mugler look to wear on the Cowboy Carter vinyl, fashion fans instantly knew who it was in homage to. The red rhinestone corset, chaps, and hat were previously created for Connie Fleming. The legendary trans model, New York City door woman, and muse of Thierry Mugler first wore the look in the Western-themed spring/summer 1992 show, leading to one of the most iconic catwalk images of all time.

Mary J. Blige

Today's rappers dabbling in the nostalgic 1990s and noughties cowgirl look, such as Cardi B and Lizzo, have a lot to thank Mary J. Blige for. A pioneering style star in her own right, one of the most seminal pap shots of the performer sees her in a textured white cowgirl hat, fitted pink leather pantsuit, and snakeskin boots. The addition of blinged-out hoop earrings and gradient sunnies will finish the look to a T.

Madonna

The year 2000 brought no shortage of era-defining music videos, not least was the accompaniment for Madonna’s chart-topper "Don’t Tell Me." It also put Western fashion top of mind for the year, as the singer opted for then-contemporary and sexy takes on the trend with double denim, figure-hugging leather, and diamanés. Soon after, she gave us even more to mull over with the launch of the video for Music—we’ve never quite recovered from the ensemble she wore in the limo scene.

Kendall Jenner

Speaking of a look that’s not for the wallflowers in our midst, one of Kendall Jenner’s most daring takes on cowgirl couture was when she posted a sizzling snap in a bikini and Western hat. However the noted ‘horse girl’ is routinely dabbling in the trend, so there are other iterations you can try your hand at. Even if it’s just teaming a "J'adore Cowboys" tank with denim cutoffs. Supermodel-approved!

Kacey Musgraves

We’d be remiss not to talk about the cowgirl genre without referencing one of our generation’s breakthrough acts, Kacey Musgraves. The Texas-born "Dime Store Cowgirl" added a whole new spin with her sparkly stage costumes when she began gaining traction, prompting pop culture to confirm the “yeehaw agenda” really was here to stay.

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