Fall Style Report: Denim, Boots, and the Slow Fashion Revival

The Editors of Palomino County Tap the Wanderlust Girls for Fall Fashion Insights

Isn’t it time we get back to our roots? Slow waltzing, slow cooking, slow fashion. Across the country, rural and rustic aesthetics are surging back to the forefront. From horseback riding in Montana to creekside dining in Tennessee, Americana traditions are shaping not just how we spend our weekends, but how we dress for them.

This season, Emily Bache and Abigail Breslin—fashion, lifestyle, and travel experts, otherwise known as the Wanderlust Girls—are pointing us toward two of Fall’s defining trends: denim and boots. Both are timeless, both are versatile, and both embody the kind of style that lasts.

They sat down with Lucchese’s Gianni Gibson, and the founder of Denim Donna, Ashly Donna, to give us the ultimate Fall fashion scoop.

Boots: The Foundation of Americana

"Not Your Darlin" boots by Lucchese: $1995

A good pair of boots anchors any wardrobe, especially as the air turns crisp and the days shorten. Lucchese, founded in 1883, remains a benchmark for heritage craftsmanship. Gibson, Western style expert for the brand, explained why boots remain essential.

“One of the many things I find special about Americana and Western style is the consistency it holds,” Gibson says. “Trends come and go, but this look is like a spoke on the wheel of time—always present, always steady. Western style never disappears. It adapts, it reinvents itself, but it never loses sight of where it came from. That sense of continuity is what makes it so enduring.”

Lucchese boots with mid jean skirt.

That consistency comes from quality. Nearly every Lucchese boot is still made by hand, using generations-old techniques. “This human touch ensures each boot is not only beautifully made but built to last,” adds Gibson. Leather remains a cornerstone of slow style—a material that gains character the more it’s worn.

Wanderlust Styling Tip: 

Emily and Abigail suggest pairing boots with a midi dress or skirt for transitional days, or cropped raw-hem jeans with ankle booties for a modern edge. “A boot should be versatile enough to take you from brunch to a barn dance,” they remind us.

Denim on Denim: The Canadian Tuxedo Returns

While boots provide the foundation, denim is the heart of Americana fashion. Durable, adaptable, and forever cool—denim is Fall’s main character.

Corset belt crafted by Denim Donna

But today’s designers are breathing new life into it. Ashly Donna of Denim Donna is leading the charge with inventive upcycling—think corsets, patchwork chaps, and handbags made from old jeans. “I’ve seen a huge upkick in the Canadian tuxedo over the last few years, and I’m here for it,” says Donna. “Denim on denim on denim, baby!”

Her process favors history over newness. “Secondhand fabrics have already been washed, shrunk, etc. I’ve had plenty of issues with new fabric shrinking after you finish a garment,” she notes. “A tattered quilt never lets me down. I love the character it adds to a piece.”

For Donna, sustainability is inseparable from style: “Breathing new life into older textiles brings me joy. I love the history that comes with older fabrics. I hope my brand inspires creativity and innovation to others.”

Wanderlust Styling Tip: 

The girls say the secret to pulling off the Canadian tuxedo is contrast. “Mix washes—light jacket with dark jeans—or balance a structured denim blazer with a slouchy wide leg. Throw on a belt to break it up if you’re nervous.” They also love adding one playful twist: “Try a vintage denim corset layered over a crisp white blouse, or swap your leather handbag for a denim one-of-a-kind.”

The Fall Formula

If Fall ’25 has a uniform, it’s this: a perfectly broken-in pair of jeans, a denim jacket layered with personality, and handcrafted boots that carry you from the city to the ranch.

As the Wanderlust Girls remind us, this season is about embracing fashion with longevity—pieces that feel rooted, real, and built for the long haul.

So whether you’re headed to a dude ranch getaway, an autumn road trip, or just slow dancing in your kitchen, make it denim. Make it boots. And most of all, make it last.

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