We rounded up our favorite looks from the CMA Awards and spoke with two of the designers behind the country couture.
The CMA Awards highlight the best of country music, bringing distinctive takes on red carpet style to the forefront. Set apart from other award shows of its kind, the CMAs boast a signature feel that can only be found in Nashville — chic, modern design paired with an homage to generations of country music legacy.
TK Trask, founder of Molly & Gidget, a Nashville-based fashion house catering to country music clients, has long studied the fashion formulas we see come to life at the CMAs. Having made “Best Dressed” lists for her work with country group Runaway June in 2022, Trask has insider insight on what makes a look stick on the country red carpet.
“Nashville is truly a melting pot of people from all walks of life, who have the respect for the legends who walked the streets before like Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Patsy Cline,” Trask tells C&I. “Those currently succeeding in country music sing and write songs that are made for today’s world but with chords and instruments that keep it true to country. When it comes to fashion in Nashville and country music, it hits the same with a blend of contemporary structure and Western aesthetic.”
Our favorite looks of the night all exude this quality — a touch of country influence framed in modern silhouettes and materials. In fact, many trends of the night emerged in the form of modern red carpet-wear with simple touches that were unequivocally Western. Thomas Rhett was a shining example of this, mixing a black Western string tie with a timeless suit.
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Marcus Dowling, an award-winning journalist for the Tenneseean and USA Today, who conducted live interviews at the CMAs was also a standout of modern meets tradition, sporting a croc-embossed jacket finished with a Montana Silversmiths buckle. Trask, who designed the statement piece, says the balance of elements is what gives the look interest. “I designed it with a nod to his love for street style that met my eye for timeless Western,” Trask says.
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For the country starlets, there seems to be a pull back to full-length, flowing dresses popularized by Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette, as seen during the on-stage performance of Ella Langley and Carrie Underwood.
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Dolly Parton-era glam was also center stage, as seen on Kacey Musgraves who took feathers and crystals over the top paired with the perfect shade of denim blue.
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Another major trend of the evening was a return to traditional Western jewelry, specifically engraved silver and turquoise jewelry. MUD, designed by Shannon Lowery, has become a household name in jewelry for the stars in Nashville, outfitting the likes of Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Blanco Brown, and Jackson Dean, just to name a few. “We look forward to the award shows every year and are always hoping we get invited to be a part of someone’s outfit,” Lowery tells C&I. “I worked with Kim, who is Jackson Dean’s stylist. We made pins for his BMI and CMA Awards outfits. I then was asked by Carrie Underwood’s stylists, Courtney and Marina, to make some turquoise pieces. Miranda wore a turquoise ring on the red carpet, thanks to her stylist Tiffany. And then my friend Blanco Brown wore a bolo and rings. So, I got to see my work on display all night, which doesn’t even feel real.”
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Clearly, the accessories are all about small details, hitting the perfect mix of artisan-made and custom pieces that fit the moment. Turquoise pins, layered necklaces, statement earrings, and intricate concho belts are overflowing with personality, letting Western artistry take the stage. As for the overall feel of the event, the fashion speaks to individual tastes and tailoring - it’s all about personality, right down to the smallest details. As it turns out, denim, leather, silver, and turquoise go with just about everything!
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PHOTOGRAPHY: (Cover image) Caylee Robillard/Ella Langley's Instagram; (Products) courtesy vendors
