Modern Western Costume Ideas for Halloween

By Shrey Sankalp

...So this is probably a question you're sick of being asked by this point, but did you catch Westworld? Of course you did, we all know how irresistible that combination of slick western costumes, a cool production design and typical HBO-ness was, and the sudden uptick in the sales of modern western costumes only serves to validate that. Of course, I have to mention this recent upswing in the popularity of western costumes, both modern and classic, isn't simply due to Westworld's popularity - it's due to the resurgence in popularity the whole western genre is enjoying at the moment. I talked about this last year, making some tall claims as to how you'd see a lot more western costumes at Halloween thanks to The Magnificent Seven, The Hateful Eight and whatnot, and hey, if you looked out your window this past Halloween, you know I was right. I don't see that craze for westerns going away anytime soon, so I thought I'd help you get started on joining the western bandwagon by cherry-picking five of the best (how about we call it...The Fantastic Five?) modern western costumes (hey, if everything's gonna go with the flow, western costumes might as well too) for this Halloween! Here we go.

1. Gruesome Outlaw

Ain't no western costume gonna top that, son.

The Gruesome Outlaw Men Costume is the perfect example of what a modern western costume should aspire to be. The perfect blend of classic designs seen in countless older westerns and the utilitarian and gritty take on them seen in the modern ones, this costume adds its own stylistic flourishes such as the shawl and the face-mask that make it legitimately chilling, while never losing its roots. And hey, when you're in the market for a quality western costume, that just might be what you're looking for.

2. Hoedown Hottie Dress

A costume that has found just the balance between the old new.

The Hoedown Hottie Womens Costume is another great option for enthusiasts looking for a western costume that mixes the old and new deftly. The costume's design takes its cues from the costumes seen in the westerns of yore and puts a modern spin on it by utilizing and implementing those design cues in ways associated more with a western intended for an IMAX screen. If you're looking for a modern western costume heavily invested in being an eye-catcher, you can't do better than this costume right there.

3. Best In The West Mens Cowboy Costume

Hey, you know the name says it all.

Yes, agreed that this might be a more traditional western costume than some of the other costumes of this list, but come on, one look at it and you know why it's here. Combining all the beloved elements of an ideal western costume - the hat, the vest, the scarf and even the pants! - this is the closest you'll get to paying an homage to the classic western costume designs without sacrificing on the practicality and snazziness  associated with the modern costumes.

4. Wild West Show Women Costume

An excellent costume for those looking to spice things up a little!

If we're talking about a modern western costume, it gets neither more modern, nor more western than the Wild West Show Women Costume. Arguably the most modern costume on our list, the costume features a thoroughly contemporary design, but puts a wild west spin on it by employing boots and a hat with a fittingly old-fashioned trim. The classic costume inspired designs on the bracelets and the main portion of the costume are simply the cherry on the cake.

5. Saloon Madame Women Costume

A modern western costume doesn't get more evocative than this.

Rounding out our quintuplet of modern western costumes is the Saloon Madame Women Costume. With a design that's sure to evoke desire, this costume has all the right flourishes you'd expect from a western costume in all the right places, while not  once compromising on the ones you'd desire of a costume today. This is sure to be the costume to have at a theme party or a cosplay because of those very qualities, and the guarantee of having all eyes on you is just an added bonus. ...and that's a wrap on our list of the five modern western costume you'd do well to get started with for Halloween! Of course, these are just the tip of a very, very large iceberg, and you know you only have to visit Wonder Costumes and go through our exhaustive collection of western costumes to verify the veracity of our claims.