I recently got a western-inspired fix in a very unexpected place: JC Penney's!? I have to admit I probably hadn't stepped foot in that store since middle school, but on a recent therapeutic shopping excursion to the mall with my sister and stepmother, I came across several surprisingly cute tops in JCPenney's American Living collection. The line is sort of a cross between 70's Ralph Lauren and a dressy cowgirl -- I purchased the top below, and it looks great with my riding boots and a long cardigan:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSPmzxKTEylqk1np2a0n3J3tQAnBN5HeMkjZmDM9Fk9rD7jOJBkkOK-yZm1psCjTZ_A3inGDPuWJFUxaoY0GFyrxE8yX8spjSY9LrSh_Fonl1yUB5PpHF9osVwO_bPuSTrKcyomJvHzVU/s400/jc+penney+plaid.gif)
American Living Ruffle Front Shirt, $41.25.
Many of the American Living tops remind me of the latest Built by Wendy collection, but without the heftier price-tag. Here are some other cute tops from the collection (obviously I'm loving the plaid right now!)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi01ZtQlNErtyLfNgC-ZKBYZ0l16ZWEPsHhHpAnirVNvjIqt-zEbXeRVsRp4XhX_W1FgJ2jo5OhtryuVy3ZyZvFkroeyqPi7HQV1SypXbql-KKBYvRUJbMJEb_1WXQ4lN0qWjuINqfFwsw/s400/jc+penney+plaid+3.gif)
American Living puff-sleeve shirt, $55
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxnH6cY7PA1LLUuI-RGW9uarCLUP6fOIAjm6xFZrFp4pjep9JkE3EkxGWWIJLi4KnFmuEWoSOloEYGXpuCzdwzKLLoxlGOLyBqEg0gY76xLXKaAGohW4PhAlNx0mKjMlhmbYxT4bipsK8/s400/jc+penney+plaid+2.gif)
American Living ruffle-front shirt, $48.75
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5eZ8b5WIh_FqHYov8eZWxQI-Y0ppHh8MKTil-JsKcikHk_94deaSdWuJPueilxi7IVodnV45S4g7XfTpbY7GxF5PdEVyKywryiowrNiQQuoK0olJIGgqO4m9zdQnACDZM8maZzZ6c9GQ/s400/jc+penney+plaid+4.gif)
American Living tie-neck shirt, $60
Here are some of my favorite western pieces that I already own and love --
My perfectly worn-in boots from Nashville:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcprs5UIELn0_-3bvP-mDPyc23p1F_4WwBcYjgyA_fEYO7KOGmvdxy2gJeXjL6ON5qUDfBGIHa0ydVHABaqihyphenhyphen28dP84qgFI49cWH8-BDzND1CBMA_aCDSUUfAnDitBM_JFDYHwzfahR4/s400/western+023.JPG)
A vintage western blouse from the 40's...even better, handed down by my grandmother:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1NCMxFIAMrkLeJ_XAqz5z0d77pd4V5tMFi2kWkrNEASblpRq9tbzBoK6LN4jP197-CTsX_Kek3Z_PuR9ZHJqdCrPIZUVOUcugtSIWQ-9CwglnLL4q4HHyqF2E7NnuPt8ap3GKB-i3PxQ/s400/western+012.JPG)
My suede vest that just screams "Young Guns":
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPHYuVsLeYH7MyERY0tzpaQESJHkVXmeQMt_EX_0v906eQunVCimbMzvtuUSmYK2JiRoXLe96jOd_F8oswIfulp31cOC2j7vK8Ue8CevlwXQYoXeZ3ry8RjeR61CPWc-pkZ251IlJL7-g/s400/western+017.JPG)
My garish red cowgirl hat -- given to me by my boyfriend:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLpUzLeStcXhhD7BWeo-LREY6tJAe7egbn4NmgyHq63-9xjnolvngceKEAl4V4nz4ic7g3x45Thzu3nXU2isHK9Pw0tuJKRellqieSlqu1d0KKfjn9zwTSO6fIbCUMbNftkghnoFg3me4/s400/western+020.JPG)
(Don't worry. I don't wear them all at the same time.)
Well, I hope everyone is enjoying the emergence of fall weather -- now is the time to throw on your western digs and have a backyard bingo party. Or if you'd rather stay cozy indoors, pop in one of these amazing westerns:
One of my childhood favorites -- Young Guns!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0wrc8eGO2CLYAnox_Lhxmxc7WNpR7fDhVw5Jhk2DvaPkLgm00b4F475sosW4Cz8mJs9cm7fNGpbsG5KIKMKWMW-L9T9imJmIzOL6CKG1lJ8jF4N5Vln_yd807avyAiUM7iSBjcPh7Ws/s400/young_guns_cast.jpg)
Lonesome Dove:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVF9qh7VowMdDKxpj8e0q4Ph8QXzHxdm8FWRW_A3smTRg1v5FoWeHhRnOy_XskiLI7flsgj2G8qX4bCCEbf1yRGZuC7vimkU-qS3fMG9b1FHSWgOOBFiZLQBN4RObGNzhirmT2GhrydvQ/s400/LonesomeDove_Widescreen.jpg)
Bonnie and Clyde:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgei-oi2NxpJMn-bzMmmbPgcQdbCJkcpqrerXJ5dxmoxKSH5M5UDsLz8k0aIIkO0CfTEA6EdZ8Fhj_3Rr-NyYUnLZTzBckcFTI1zXruj9ZObGutWg0RqmYG1piaG6G7jyjrDuXr0K39-do/s400/bonnieandclyde460.jpg)
Deadwood (pretty much the best show ever!):
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigUbrJ2NZKdIzKqmposxXoaZ0YkP7ffH8TfeSTfrJr4neVz8lvfNAH5Lp-8A_BEkHHWqZ3c408Y7OpaXIfTFxR2lYzoGZLYMhARIT4xv0FeMehIl0qiD8OrE2gDUJEba1HCUaz5kCnflo/s400/deadwood250.jpg)
And of course, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (no two more handsome men to be found in Hollywood):
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxur8CDXpsC9D8613h0tEfZEgkcz8VULtfkphEAU21cdxVMQv-Ro21E6iwwGHOy6ZXp43g3ildgnbl3YbY3oGncPKSN6XHlb3-Kpd_sDe9Rjhi8-24DhBDAt0WSma983LiXL2WuGaYsZg/s400/butch+cassidy.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSPmzxKTEylqk1np2a0n3J3tQAnBN5HeMkjZmDM9Fk9rD7jOJBkkOK-yZm1psCjTZ_A3inGDPuWJFUxaoY0GFyrxE8yX8spjSY9LrSh_Fonl1yUB5PpHF9osVwO_bPuSTrKcyomJvHzVU/s400/jc+penney+plaid.gif)
American Living Ruffle Front Shirt, $41.25.
Many of the American Living tops remind me of the latest Built by Wendy collection, but without the heftier price-tag. Here are some other cute tops from the collection (obviously I'm loving the plaid right now!)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi01ZtQlNErtyLfNgC-ZKBYZ0l16ZWEPsHhHpAnirVNvjIqt-zEbXeRVsRp4XhX_W1FgJ2jo5OhtryuVy3ZyZvFkroeyqPi7HQV1SypXbql-KKBYvRUJbMJEb_1WXQ4lN0qWjuINqfFwsw/s400/jc+penney+plaid+3.gif)
American Living puff-sleeve shirt, $55
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxnH6cY7PA1LLUuI-RGW9uarCLUP6fOIAjm6xFZrFp4pjep9JkE3EkxGWWIJLi4KnFmuEWoSOloEYGXpuCzdwzKLLoxlGOLyBqEg0gY76xLXKaAGohW4PhAlNx0mKjMlhmbYxT4bipsK8/s400/jc+penney+plaid+2.gif)
American Living ruffle-front shirt, $48.75
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5eZ8b5WIh_FqHYov8eZWxQI-Y0ppHh8MKTil-JsKcikHk_94deaSdWuJPueilxi7IVodnV45S4g7XfTpbY7GxF5PdEVyKywryiowrNiQQuoK0olJIGgqO4m9zdQnACDZM8maZzZ6c9GQ/s400/jc+penney+plaid+4.gif)
American Living tie-neck shirt, $60
Here are some of my favorite western pieces that I already own and love --
My perfectly worn-in boots from Nashville:
A vintage western blouse from the 40's...even better, handed down by my grandmother:
My suede vest that just screams "Young Guns":
My garish red cowgirl hat -- given to me by my boyfriend:
(Don't worry. I don't wear them all at the same time.)
Well, I hope everyone is enjoying the emergence of fall weather -- now is the time to throw on your western digs and have a backyard bingo party. Or if you'd rather stay cozy indoors, pop in one of these amazing westerns:
One of my childhood favorites -- Young Guns!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0wrc8eGO2CLYAnox_Lhxmxc7WNpR7fDhVw5Jhk2DvaPkLgm00b4F475sosW4Cz8mJs9cm7fNGpbsG5KIKMKWMW-L9T9imJmIzOL6CKG1lJ8jF4N5Vln_yd807avyAiUM7iSBjcPh7Ws/s400/young_guns_cast.jpg)
Lonesome Dove:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVF9qh7VowMdDKxpj8e0q4Ph8QXzHxdm8FWRW_A3smTRg1v5FoWeHhRnOy_XskiLI7flsgj2G8qX4bCCEbf1yRGZuC7vimkU-qS3fMG9b1FHSWgOOBFiZLQBN4RObGNzhirmT2GhrydvQ/s400/LonesomeDove_Widescreen.jpg)
Bonnie and Clyde:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgei-oi2NxpJMn-bzMmmbPgcQdbCJkcpqrerXJ5dxmoxKSH5M5UDsLz8k0aIIkO0CfTEA6EdZ8Fhj_3Rr-NyYUnLZTzBckcFTI1zXruj9ZObGutWg0RqmYG1piaG6G7jyjrDuXr0K39-do/s400/bonnieandclyde460.jpg)
Deadwood (pretty much the best show ever!):
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigUbrJ2NZKdIzKqmposxXoaZ0YkP7ffH8TfeSTfrJr4neVz8lvfNAH5Lp-8A_BEkHHWqZ3c408Y7OpaXIfTFxR2lYzoGZLYMhARIT4xv0FeMehIl0qiD8OrE2gDUJEba1HCUaz5kCnflo/s400/deadwood250.jpg)
And of course, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (no two more handsome men to be found in Hollywood):
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxur8CDXpsC9D8613h0tEfZEgkcz8VULtfkphEAU21cdxVMQv-Ro21E6iwwGHOy6ZXp43g3ildgnbl3YbY3oGncPKSN6XHlb3-Kpd_sDe9Rjhi8-24DhBDAt0WSma983LiXL2WuGaYsZg/s400/butch+cassidy.jpg)