Bell Bottoms and Beyond: Lainey Wilson’s Bold Sense of Style

Lainey Wilson's signature bell bottoms are as much a part of her as her Louisiana drawl. They were a bold but savvy choice that ensured she would be noticed. It was partly her own style preference, but also an acknowledgement that women in country music often need more than a great voice and strong songs to succeed.

When Wilson got her first pair of bell bottom pants as a child (they were blue leopard print), she felt like they bestowed special powers. "They made me feel sassy and like I could do anything," she remembers. Later on, when a CMT executive casually mentioned that "all the legends can be recognized by their silhouette," Wilson took that advice to heart and started incorporating bell bottoms into her look when she was still an unknown in Nashville.

Wilson's style has evolved to include nods to traditional western wear, a choice rooted in her farm and rodeo upbringing. Cowboy hats and wide-brimmed hats have become integral to her look, along with chunky, eye-catching jewelry and embellishments that evoke the classic country fashions of Nudie's Rodeo Tailors.

Wilson's fans have taken notice. At every concert, they now show up wearing their own interpretations of her signature look.

Explore Wilson’s rise to the top of the charts in the exhibit "Lainey Wilson: Tough as Nails," open now through June 2026.

Reserve tickets today: https://countrymusichalloffame.org/ca…