Country music star Lainey Wilson recently explained the roots and progression of her popular “Bell Bottom Country” look at the Country Music Hall of Fame’s CMA Theater.
The Sept. 6 event was a part of “Tough As Nails,” the vocalist’s exhibition at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, which runs until June 2026.
The event was hosted by veteran journalist Jon Freeman, who is now a writer and editor in the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Museum Services department. Wilson’s creative director, Cece Dawson and her wardrobe designer, Raina Gir, also joined the conversation.
How has Lainey Wilson evolved her ‘Bell Bottom Country’ look?
Wilson drew a full house at the 800-seat CMA Theater, underscoring the strong public interest in her evolving image and artistry. During the event, Freeman emphasized how Wilson’s “holistic brand building” has enabled a seamless stylistic progression from her childhood roots as a fourth-generation cowgirl to her current status as a genre-blending performer. Her signature “Bell Bottom Country” aesthetic, once grounded in practicality, has since matured into a versatile fashion identity, equally suited for high-energy stage performances, red carpet appearances, and screen-ready couture.
Wilson grew up as a horse-riding, fourth-generation cowgirl who sang the National Anthem at local rodeos. Thus, she’s been wearing boot-cut, flared Wrangler jeans and Western wear her whole life. Musically, though raised on country, her personal tastes veer towards ’60s and ’70s-era female artists at the intersection of country, pop and rock like Janis Joplin, Dolly Parton and Stevie Nicks.
“Being a singer-songwriter isn’t enough. Walking into a room holding your head high with confidence sometimes means making a statement every time you dress up,” Wilson said. “Bell Bottom Country is country with a flare.”
Lainey Wilson and two of her main creative collaborators — CeCe Dawson and Raina Gir — sit with Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum writer-editor Jon Freeman at the Museum’s CMA Theater, September 6, 2025
For wardrobe designer Raina Gir, pushing the boundaries of Lainey Wilson’s “Bell Bottom Country” aesthetic has become routine. As Wilson’s live shows grow more dynamic, Gir’s creations have followed suit, becoming increasingly elaborate and performance-ready. Each custom piece undergoes a durability test before hitting the stage: Wilson might jump on a trampoline for ten minutes in concho-adorned pants, or Gir might suspend vests and Western shirts from a fast-spinning ceiling fan to simulate movement and wear. The goal is clear: fashion that can withstand the spotlight without sacrificing flair.
Gir’s now digging into Wilson’s past again, repurposing and transforming equestrian gear. For New Year’s Eve 2024 festivities, Wilson wore black velvet chaps artfully strapped to her arms as a cape of sorts.
“Innovation is experimentation,” Gir said.
What’s next for Lainey Wilson’s stylistic evolution?
Belmont University graduate Cece Dawson’s work has grown from dropping sepia-tinged Instagram filters on Wilson’s photos to evolving the aesthetics of Wilson’s brand to be more broadly inclusive of country, Western, swampy and psychedelic rock themes.
“The colors match the landscapes,” she said, about the song and video for her latest single, “Somewhere Over Laredo,” which blends those influences.
“They’re all my superhero capes,” Wilson said. “It’s the best of grit meets glam.”
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: How Lainey Wilson’s ‘Bell Bottom Country’ fashion evolved
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