Book Appointment Now
Kristi Noem knows how to match her cowboy hat to her outfit
In December 2023, Kristi Noem attended the Las Vegas National Finals Rodeo — a place where it’s definitely appropriate to rock the country-Western aesthetic, otherwise known as the fashion gift that keeps on giving. Wearing a denim skirt, mid-calf white cowboy boots, and a multi-colored cardigan with fringe detail, Noem finished off the look with a cowboy hat that featured a band in various colors. The dominant shade of the band was yellow, which brought out the yellow in her cardigan in a great example of accessory matching.
Kristi Noem’s red cowboy hat was the ultimate statement
A cowboy hat is usually a statement in itself, but when you’re attending a rodeo — just as Kristi Noem did in February 2024 — sometimes you need an extra touch to stand out. So, it makes sense that she opted for a vibrant red hat, which she again matched to her ‘fit by going for a silk red blouse. To keep the look country (although the cowboy hat probably did that all by itself), she finished off the look with a suede fringe jacket in a gray-brown shade.
Kristi Noem received backlash after donning a cowboy hat while riding with Border Patrol
In February 2025, Kristi Noem was the subject of backlash after riding with Border Patrol while decked out in full cowboy attire. “I’m trying to picture her predecessor riding a horse and I can’t keep from laughing,” one X user commented on her post. But a year earlier in March 2024, Noem did the same thing, only dodging most of the controversy because she wasn’t yet in her role as Secretary of Homeland Security. While the all-denim look paired with the cowboy hat is chic out of context, this may be another inappropriate fashion flex that will always haunt Kristi Noem.
For Kristi Noem, a cowboy hat is a must for meeting Kid Rock
In August 2024, Kristi Noem rocked a cowboy hat for a meeting with Kid Rock. “This man is a patriot. He’s a great American. And he always makes me laugh!” she wrote in the caption of her post on Instagram after meeting Kid Rock at the airport to welcome him to South Dakota. While the star had his own country-inspired look with a plaid shirt and trucker hat, Noem went with a matching brown cowboy hat and jacket, black jeans, and a graphic tee.
Kristi Noem has a cowboy hat for every country occasion
Kristi Noem was back at it in September 2024, when she attended an event known as the Bull Bash. Appropriately dressed in a washed-out black denim shirt, medium-wash blue jeans tucked in with a statement Western belt, and a neutral cowboy hat, she certainly looked the part of a rancher. This particular hat with its multi-colored band has made several appearances on Noem over the years, so we’re guessing it’s one of her faves. The pretty band and feather detail demonstrates how to make Western fashion more feminine with country couture styling.
This Kristi Noem cowboy hat is the key to minimalist Westerncore
As a grandmother to four grandchildren, Kristi Noem often features the little ones on her social media, and they’re definitely included in her family’s ranching activities. “Family makes the Buffalo Roundup even more special!” she wrote on Instagram in October 2024. In the post, while posing with her grandkids, she wore a neutral, off-white cowboy hat to go with her jeans, chaps, and top. This hat featured a studded leather band rather than anything colored or embellished with feathers, and the simplicity worked well with her ‘fit, which quickly could have become overwhelming thanks to the fringed chaps.
Cowboy hats are Kristi Noem’s go-to for celebrity mingling, too
In November 2024, Kristi Noem went to see Lainey Wilson in concert in Sioux Falls and chose to wear none other than her favorite cowboy hat with the multi-colored band. This time, she wore it with a simple black dress and a pair of cowboy boots, fully getting into the country-music spirit. Lainey Wilson, who has had a stunning style transformation herself, also rocked a cowboy hat for the picture — hers black to match her leather flared pants and the fringe on her blue, white, and orange top.
When it comes to wearing cowboy hats, it’s not Kristi Noem’s first rodeo
Attending the Yellowstone Darby Xtreme Bareback Finals in Montana in June 2025, Kristi Noem surprised no one as she opted for yet another cowboy hat to hold the American flag while singer Mary Millben performed “The Star Spangled Banner.” We were excited to see a baby-pink cowboy hat thrown into the mix this time, but it could very well be a white hat turned pink by the glaring red lights. Noem went fully Western with a patterned shirt in a look that might not have scored her many points at fashion week, but was perfect for a Montana rodeo.
