Western dressing has left the ranch. This fall it shows up on city sidewalks in a softer form: worn-in suede, deep brown leather, a slouch at the ankle instead of a spur. Think of the ease of a Colorado ranch weekend, then take it downtown on a Tuesday.
Start with the boot
The Etta Slouch Bootie and the Mazzi Scrunched Ankle Boot do most of the work. Both soften at the ankle, the Etta with a relaxed slouch and the Mazzi with a gentle scrunch, so they sit naturally under wide jeans and just as easily with a bare leg and a skirt. Choose the Etta in Dark Chocolate Distressed Leather for a pair that looks lived-in from day one, or Sandstone Split Suede for a lighter, sun-faded feel. The Mazzi in Caramel Kid Suede brings the warmest tone of the season.
“A study in texture and craft. Rich leather and suede, worn in like something already loved, with a quiet Western spirit.”
— The New West, Bernardo 1946
Three ways to wear it in the city
• With straight-leg denim: tuck in a crisp white shirt, add a leather belt and let the jeans break over the Etta or the Mazzi.
• With a midi skirt: the Eliza Knee-High Boot under a pleated or bias-cut midi, with a fine-knit sweater on top.
• With tailoring: the Everett Vintage Ankle Bootie under a wide trouser and a long wool coat. The Western note stays quiet.
Texture, not costume
The secret is restraint. Skip the full cowboy uniform and pair one Western piece with city basics: suede with wool, distressed leather with cashmere, a shearling collar with a clean trouser. Keep colors in the earth range of chocolate, almond, sandstone, caramel, cream and black.
When a boot is too much: the mule
On warmer fall days, or when the evening calls for a heel, the New West carries into two mules. The Brynn Heeled Mule in Sandstone or Dark Chocolate suede turns jeans and a blazer into a dinner look. The Porto Mule in Zebra Haircalf adds pattern without shouting, and it slips on as easily for a morning coffee as for a gallery opening.
Made to be worn in
Like every Bernardo design, the New West is drawn in New York and handcrafted in Brazil, in leathers and suedes that get better the more you wear them. Explore the full New West collection, or read more stories from the Journal.
