Western boutiques aren’t just filled with items for cowgirls and rodeo queens. Anyone with a soft spot for denim and turquoise or boots and bandanas can find iconic Western styles evoking a sense of wide-open spaces.
In the past, most fashionistas were limited to browsing local stores or perhaps making a few purchases while visiting a friend out of town. Today, Western boutiques across the nation offer a variety of items that suit every style through the power of online shopping.
However, the endless options available on the web can make it difficult to know when to click “add to cart” and when to keep browsing. You want to shop wisely, find the right products, and support the best stores—and we’re here to help.
Explore these three unique Western boutiques, each with a great backstory, where you can westernize your wardrobe and put a little yee-haw into your everyday look.
The Coyote Cowgirl
When Sarah Jo Otto’s beloved buffalo-and-cattle-ranching grandpa passed away, he left a gaping hole in her heart. As a means to preserve his memory, Sarah, at the time taking classes to earn her Master of Education, began designing T-shirts with images and sayings from her grandpa. She began selling tees online, and it blew up overnight.
What began as Otto’s hobby has now exploded into a full-time career.
“[I started] with no big plans—I just wanted to honor my Grandpa Austin Burdick,” Otto recalls.
Today, the 27-year-old entrepreneur has a permanent shop at Dallas Market Center as well as a 4,000 square foot space in Elkhart, Kansas, where she sells The Coyote Cowgirl merchandise.
One of The Coyote Cowgirl’s most popular T-shirts is “Rodeoin’ like it’s 1955,” a gray shirt bearing a black and white action shot of Otto’s grandpa riding a bull in 1955. A hand-painted sign in the background states, “Not responsible for accidents.” Another fan-favorite design reads, “Daddy said don’t go chasin’ cowboys.”
Her grandpa’s ranch is no longer in the family, but when Otto asked if she could do a photoshoot, the current owners said yes.
“Every photo my grandpa’s feed pickup is in, there is a ray of sunshine you can see or a sun beam off the windshield,” Otto shares. “I know Grandpa was there with me.”
All The Coyote Cowgirl products—women’s, men’s, and kids’ tees—tell a family-inspired story based on ranch living. Wear the legacy and honor Otto’s cowboy grandpa, when you shop at thecoyotecowgirl.net. Follow on Instagram @the_coyote_cowgirl.
Tin & Turquoise
If Western boutiques that offer style with an edge fit your vibe, Morriah Gilman’s online store Tin & Turquoise, based in Alberta, Canada, has you covered.
“I personally find myself gravitating toward gritty, edgier styles that are rooted in western heritage and cowboy culture,” shares Gilman, whose home is nestled near the Rocky Mountains. “I always had a hard time finding quality pieces that weren’t so mainstream. I like to think we are filling that void for like-minded women.”
As the shop’s name suggests, Tin & Turquoise prides itself on bringing authentic, native-made turquoise to shoppers in the form of earrings, necklaces, rings, and even jewelry boxes. They also carry authentic Navajo pearls.
In addition, Tin & Turquoise’s exclusive, in-house product line, Branded T, features stylish ranch wear, graphic tees, and home goods made with cowgirls in mind.
“We currently run all operations out of our home farm outside Didsbury, Alberta, where I can look out my windows and see our horses grazing,” Gilman says. “It’s simple, peaceful, and in my opinion, heaven on earth. With a little view of the mountains from our window and no shortage of animals running around, the little girl in me is living out her dreams.”
Gilman’s maternity-leave business launch began as a pivot from her career in equine health. Gilman had been both a vet tech as well as an equine massage therapist for racehorses. Now, her focus is on curating a shop to delight edgy cowgirls and cowboys (Tin & Turquoise also has merch for men) from all walks of life.
Add new wardrobe pieces with a punchy western flair to your closet when you shop tinandturquoise.ca. Stay current with the trends by following on Instagram @tinandturquoise.
MTN GRL
“You belong here” is the tagline for MTN GRL, located in Cody, Wyoming, just an hour from the east entrance to Yellowstone National Park. The 3,200 square foot western fusion boutique is in a historic location—an old bank on Sheridan Avenue, a shopping district in what has consistently been named “best small town to live in” and a popular tourist destination during the summer.
Melissa Donald, the owner of MTN GRL, wants to change the narrative of shopping at Western boutiques and help women feel valued, be uplifted, and have fun while finding confidence-inspiring looks. Her two-story shop has multiple mannequins so customers can easily envision a head-to-toe outfit with flattering silhouettes, beautiful colors, and patterns, all in a comfortable range of price points.
“Our core pieces and premium brands are strongly centered on quality and fit, with on-trend add-ins for value, variety, and easy seasonal updates,” Donald shares.
MTN GRL prides itself on size-inclusivity, with jeans from size 00 to 22, and strives to help women put together a complete look. The shop recently helped a traveler from Europe put together an ensemble of flare jeans and a cute top to wear to the rodeo during her U.S. travels.
At MTN GRL, Mauritius leather jackets, Aztec prints, and anything with a Yellowstone image are popular with shoppers. MTN GRL recently added Penelope Chilvers tassel boots, popularized by Kate Middleton, to their inventory, and welcomed the designer to their store in person.
Stop by and say hi when you take a Wyoming trip, or shop online at mtngrlwyo.com. Find more looks to love on Instagram @mtngrlwyoming.
This article about Western boutiques appeared in the Fall 2022 issue of Western Life Today. Click to subscribe!
