HORSE & STYLE MAGAZINE: We'll Bring The Horses

HORSE & STYLE MAGAZINE | Behind The Brand | Written by Laurie Berglie

Horse & Style Magazine has always held a special place in our hearts, it's the equestrian-centric publication where founder Alli Addison initially got her start in the horse media world having produced a series of stories and content for the H&S Team. For their latest rebranded issue under a new and expanded team, we were approached by our dear friend and author Laurie Berglie about doing a Behind the Brand feature, and naturally, immediately said "yes!"

"The name's Alli, but you can call her Milton. Seriously, she doesn't mind. Fashionable, horse-obsessed, California-native Alli Addison has been behind @miltonmenasco, the wildly popular Instagram account, for almost a decade. What started as a way to visually compile the works of art created by her late great uncle Milton Menasco has now blossomed into a luxury lifestyle brand that's been embraced by both horse lovers and non-horse people alike. A sprinkle of english equestrian, a dash of western cowpoke, and a whole lot of horse girl energy were poured into the making of the Milton Menasco brand, and we have a feeling that with Alli at the helm, absolutely anything is possible."

Read the entire Q&A here (starting on page 34) as Laurie Berglie of Horse & Style Magazine dives into the humble beginnings of our little brand and what the future holds. Big surprise, it's filled with more collaborations and lots of horses.

Read the entire feature here.

COWGIRL MAGAZINE: Ahead Of The Curve, Milton Menasco Predicts Sporty Cowgirl Trend

COWGIRL MAGAZINE | Cowgirl Style | Written by Andrea Thorpe | Photography by Elizabeth Hay

We've been feeling sporty lately, so we were honored when Cowgirl Magazine took notice and whole heartedly agreed, Sporty Cowgirl is the next big thing. "Coastal Cowgirl has taken the crown in Summer 2023 fashion but what’s the next big thing? Milton Menasco, a California-based, Western brand has a hunch and we feel pretty good about it – enter Sporty Cowgirl."

Alli Addison of Milton Menasco explains the thought behind their upcoming collections based around the Sporty Cowgirl aesthetic:Coastal Cowgirl has certainly had a moment this season, but we’re gonna come out and say it, Sporty Cowgirl is THE next moment, and one that is here to stay. The Rise of the Sporty Cowgirl, an intersection of atheleisure and horse girl culture. “In the wake of the coastal cowgirl trend (no pun intended),” says Addison, “we wanted to present a series of collections and style direction that could transcend seasons, demographics, disciplines and beyond. The sporty aesthetic didn’t just feel current, it felt classic. I could see longevity in this direction,” she continues. “There is tremendous effort in what we do, as all brands can agree, and it would be our hope that years down the road you still reach for that favorite ball cap, those stand out pants, and that cozy well-worn sweater. We design and craft to stand the test of time.

How does the Sporty Cowgirl dress?

"We recently launched two new collections this month (Country Club by Milton Menasco and our collaboration collection SPORT – Milton Menasco x Street & Saddle) rooted in athleticism yet brimming with Western influence. Think tear away track pants with functioning black pearl snaps, high rise bike shorts and coordinating bralettes with western yoke details, oversized rugby sweaters with pearl snaps and exaggerated Western collars (lovingly referred to as the Rodeo Rugby), unisex ringer tees with vintage graphics and athletic icons, Country club inspired ball caps, Diamond tennis necklaces and so much more. Sport tech fabrics and hand crafted construction lend an approachable but elevated feel to the pieces."

The SPORT collaboration collection with Street & Saddle is best described as vintage athletic style with a Western twist, and the Country Club Collection embodies a club environment that is equal parts high brow and down home – cheeky, vintage-inspired and timelessly horse girl chic.

Read the entire feature here.

'COUNTRY CLUB' Cream Graphic Sweatshirt

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THE COMFY COWGAL

Getting Cozy with Madi McCall Dunbar | Written by Morgan Edwards for Milton Menasco

To know her is to love her, and gosh do we adore her. We asked Madi McCall Dunbar, a New Mexico native turned Texas cattle rancher wife (shoutout to Dunbar Brothers Beef Company), marketing whiz and western style content creator, to show us the ins and outs of embracing the ‘cozy cowgirl’ lifestyle in fashion and the home, and her predictions for cozy trends in 2023 and beyond.

Madi McCall Dunbar, photographed by Elizabeth Hay, December 2022.

MM: You've coined the term 'Comfy Cowgal,' so how do you define it?

MMD: I started Comfy Cowgal as a way to express my own personal style, which is more street style western. I love feeling put together and chic, but I also want to be comfortable and feel like I can be productive and active. Comfy Cowgal gives people permission to wear sweats and sneakers with let's say, a blazer, or a really cozy maxi dress with tall boots, and a fun cozy cardigan or jean jacket. I love to mix opposing styles; things you normally wouldn't see together that give a cozy and effortless feel. Jeans can totally be dressed up for a night out or even the right event, but can also be great for lounging around at home with a white tee. It's all about versatility.

MM: When did you first start using the phrase?

MMD: I would get numerous comments from friends or followers about how I always made my outfits look effortless yet put together. I would dress up a pair of sweats or more oversized clothing for nights out. Eventually I got so many positive comments that I texted a friend one day and said "Okay, what do we think about the phrase 'comfy cowgal'?" She loved it and I made a post using it that very day. It took off, and now the hashtag is used widely among the western fashion industry. I love that it gives women who wear western fashion a reason to post not only an outfit they wore on a night out with the girls but also that cute choring outfit they wore to feed one morning. So much of western fashion is centered around sequins and rhinestones or crazy prints, and while that all has its place for sure, that's not what people on average are wearing on a daily basis. I wanted to create a space where more realistic outfits could exist. I also wanted women to see that you can add all the fun turquoise, prints and even sequins if that's your jam, in a more subtle, every day way.

MM: The key elements to a Comfy Cowgal look?

MMD: It's my personal opinion that you can be cute and put together with little effort, it just takes the right pieces in your closet. Basics mixed with a little spunk is what I shoot for. My closet consists of a lot of "go to" pieces like solid oversized tees, jeans in multiple washes and lots and lots of blazers. I can wear the tees with the jeans OR I can wear them alone with a pair of knee high boots. If I want to feel more chic or put together I'll add a blazer. Same goes with the jeans; I can wear them with a blazer and a simple tank top for a chic night on the town look or take the blazer away, add some sneakers and I have a cute errand outfit. This is just one example of how even just three different pieces of clothing can be extremely versatile. If you're into more color, then go for a fun graphic tee instead of a solid one, or do a fun patterned cardigan instead of a blazer. Comfy Cowgal is all about function and allowing your closet to essentially put the outfit together for you.”

MM: What are you forecasting for this trend into 2023 and ’24?

MMD: “The 70's feel is here to stay in the western fashion world. I think it always will, which I love. The 70's was all about expressing yourself and wearing what you felt most yourself in, so I feel like that's also a great representation of the western world. When attending WESA earlier this year, I saw lots of crocheted pieces; from vests, to jackets, to tops. I also saw a ton of jewel toned colors; deep purples, deep greens and royal blues. Neutrals will still have their place but in more "colorful" tones like pastel blue, light pink and sage green. I also saw a lot of 80's throwback patterns which I'm personally not too sure about but something I can get behind is the more 80's grunge style making its way back into the fashion world. There will be lots of black leather, studding and moto jackets.”

MM: What makes for a Comfy Cowgal home?

MMD: I love a good cozy home. Being from New Mexico originally I am naturally drawn to earth tones and I feel they immediately make a space feel more welcoming and homey. Earth tones tend to make people feel more calm and comfortable which is how I want people to feel when they enter our home. In true western tradition, rustic wood is something I look for when creating a "Comfy Cowgal" space. It adds a western feel but still feels timeless. White tones are something I gravitate towards as well. We are currently renovating our new ranch home and 98% of the time when the contractor asked what color I wanted something painted I told him white. We used the shade Simply White by Benjamin Moore for those inquiring. My husband gives me a hard time but I think having a white or neutral base leaves so much room for having more fun and playing up other things like bedding, pillows, artwork etc. Much like a Comfy Cowgal closet, when you keep your base simple there's room to mix and match as time goes on.

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SHOP THE LOOK

'BLACK STALLION' Black Dad Cap

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Follow Madi's complete story at @madimccall_, @comfycowgal and @dunbarbrothersbeefco