by 
Western boots seem to be bigger than ever right now, and Louisiana-raised country star Lainey Wilson is putting her personal stamp on the style with her own boot line, Golden West, which launched this year.
Wilson tapped fashion veteran Michael Petry, who has previously lent his talents to Frye, Tumi, Ralph Lauren, Prada and Adidas, to serve as creative director of the new venture. Available to shop now, the first Golden West collection features nine styles, ranging from the platform Atta Girl option which Wilson debuted at the American Music Awards in May to the classic snip-toe Forget Me Not boot featuring a metallic shaft with a butterfly design.
“There’s no better time than the present,” Wilson told FN via email, explaining why this is the right moment to enter the Western boot market. “After the whirlwind of the last few years, it feels great to jump into building a brand from the ground up — especially something that is so authentic to who I am — and have a creative outlet outside of my music. It’s a way to express myself through something I have worn all my life.”
No stranger to the fashion world and its intersections with Western style, Wilson’s fourth collaboration with Wrangler dropped in August; she also partnered with The Jewelry Group on a Western-inspired jewelry collection, which released in July. And now she’s ready to take on shoes.
Her personal connection to Western boots traces back to her earliest days. “I’ve been wearing boots since before I can remember — they’re the first shoes I remember putting on,” Wilson explained. “From working on the farm to performing on stage, boots have always been the first thing I reach for. I wanted to create my own brand because to me, boots are more than fashion — each pair tells a story through their craftsmanship and wear. I designed these boots with trailblazers in mind, with every handcrafted detail made with purpose and soul.”
Wilson explained why Petry makes for the ideal creative director for her brand: “I’m so grateful to Michael Petry for coming on board with us. He’s the fashion and brand expert who takes my vision and makes it happen. From the moment we met, we clicked creatively and I knew we’d have fun building Golden West Boots. I’m thrilled to work with people that pour as much of their heart and soul into the brand as I do. We make a great team.”
Some of the other styles available include the $395 high heel Mustang boot with fringe and the short $365 Appaloosa boot, which features brown and cream haircalf and maroon calfskin embellished with firebird embroidery.
With boots serving as another creative vehicle for Wilson, she wants the styles to tell stories like her songs do, and that means the details of each design, like leather and stitching, weaving together a distinctive tale.
Addressing how Western fashion relates to her identity as a musician and entertainer, Wilson said, “Western fashion is part of who I am and always has been. It’s second nature to me, on and off stage. There’s nothing more country than a broken-in pair of boots. I love putting my music into the brand, which is why you’ll see boots rooting back to some of my songs both in design inspiration and names.”
One such nod can be see with the To The Moon boot, which references her number one hit “4x4xU”; the song title can be seen among the gold metallic accents of the snip-toe boot. The short To The Stars boot, which is off-white with silver accents, tributes the song as well.
Wilson can’t easily pick her favorite style — “That’s like asking me to choose a favorite song!” — but there’s one boot she’s showing extra appreciation for lately, and it has a special connection to her youth.
“At the moment I’ve been reaching for Somewhere Over Laredo,” she shared, referencing a multicolored floral boot with burnt red, aquamarine and hues against an off-white backdrop. “They just make me happy with embroidered wildflowers inspired by my childhood. They make a statement with any outfit and they’re so fun and comfortable to wear.”
This first collection from Golden West is just the beginning — Wilson teased there might just be new styles dropping in time for the holidays.
