Reader Question: What To Wear To A Country Bar (With a Mechanical Bull)

Question:

I have a friend's birthday party at the end of the month. We are celebrating at a country bar– the kind that has a mechanical bull and everything. She is turning 33 (I am 28) and she's the friend who I always go to for fashion advice (since I have no clue when it comes to that). WWYW? (What Would You Wear, haha. 🙂

Tegan

Answer:

Tegan – Obviously my first thought was daisy-dukes, cowboy boots and a triangle bikini top.  I'm thinking pink gingham. 

No?  Really?  Ok.

So I have to admit:  I have never ridden a mechanical bull.  Which is weird, since I live in Denver.  I mean, we ARE the Wild West.  I wonder if I can get kicked out for this.

Anyway.  Back to your question.  I wanted to make sure I was on the right bull-riding track with your birthday party outfit, so I went to the experts:  My sister Scotti and my friend Amber.  Scotti is currently bar-tending (minus a mechanical bull) but has been to such a bar in San Diego.  And Amber?  Well, Amber has NO fear, is a Colorado native, and, just like I thought…YES.  She has actually ridden a mechanical bull.

Here's Scotti's take on a Country Bar outfit:

I personally would wear a "cowboy chic" outfit.  First of all, if she wears anything remotely trendy or puts any extra effort into her outfit, she will be the best dressed girl there! 

I have a purple buffalo plaid shirt that I got from the GAP.  It buttons up the front and has a little ruffle up the front . . . I think the color and the ruffle update it a little bit.  If she could find a cute buffalo plaid shirt (hence cowboy "chic"), pair it with some skinny jeans and motorcycle boots, add some long necklaces (which she could take off to ride the bull) or cute earrings and a chunky cocktail ring . . . she'd fit in and stand out at the same time! 🙂

For Scotti's outfit, try the following pieces:

Scotti's ruffled plaid shirt is almost sold out at the Gap, but I actually like JCPenny's I Heart Ronson Plaid Ruffle shirt better.  It's currently on sale for $15.  Throw this shirt on over a push-up bra, make sure it's unbuttoned enough to show some cleavage, and roll the sleeves up a bit.  Pair it with some skinny jeans (shown above from Forever 21, $24.80), some motorcycle boots (shown from Target, $50) and some cool jewelry.  I like a serious silver cuff, like Forever 21's Floral Scallop Metal Cuff, $5.80.

Amber loved Scotti's outfit, but she would swap out the ruffled plaid shirt for the ubiquitous "hubby beater" and go nuts with accessories.  You could try some layered necklaces, stacked bangles, and a pair of huge hoop earrings (all shown below are from Forever 21, and are less than $6).  Click the pics below to be taken to Forever 21. 

Scotti's last idea (and my personal fav) is to don a cute floral sundress with some kind of ankle boot.  If that sounds cold, you can actually go with any kind of serious boot (motorcycle, cowboy, anything fairly substantial), and add a denim jacket for warmth.  Still too cold?  Add opaque black tights (yes, even if your boots are brown).

Here are my picks:

A denim jacket is a wardrobe staple.  It's classic, and looks good (in a completely effortless way) thrown over a dress. And you don't have to spend money to get one that looks amazing.  My friend Tara was asked in a bar once if the denim jacket she was wearing was Versace.  "Old Navy" she replied.  On that note, the denim jacket I've pictured is $30 from Forever 21.  The dress is called the April in Paris dress, $50 from ModCloth, and I love the lower bust and empire-waist combo for moms.  This shape flatters larger chests and hides poochy stomachs.  Lastly, I love these Frye Carmen Harness boots, $348 from shopbop.com.  This is exactly the serious kind of boot that looks amazing with little floral dresses and denim jackets. 

I think it goes without saying that the last outfit is probably not a bull-riding outfit.  Which is too bad, because it's my top pick, and bull-riding, according to Amber, is a blast.  Hmmmm….if you choose to wear the last outfit, you might want to put a swimsuit bottom on under your dress.  You know…..just in case.

hee hee.

xo,

S