Coastal Country

Annie Parker’s passion for Western wear inspired by her love of all things equine

When it comes to style, you could say Annie Parker kicks it … perhaps in part, because the Santa Rosa Beach jewelry designer inevitably tops (or bottoms) off her look with a pair of cowboy boots. Her favorite way to boot up (out of a collection of about 10 pairs) is in black ostrich beauties by Lucchese that she lassoed in Nashville, Tennessee, after seeing them in her favorite magazine, Cowboys & Indians.

Parker’s boots were made for walkin’ but also ridin’. On most road trips, the back seat of her Lexus GX 470 is filled with boots.

“They go everywhere I do,” she says.

So what is it about cowboy boots that appeals to the effervescent, blue-eyed 53-year-old beach gal?

“They form to your feet and are just easy, like bedroom slippers,” she swoons. “And, of course, they go with dresses or jeans, so you can dress them up or down.”

Her coastal country style is rooted in her love for animals, specifically horses, which became a clear passion when Parker was in her mid-20s.

“I fell in love with everything about horses, including Western wear, and that includes hats and boots,” she says, her lilting North Carolina accent apparent with each word.

Parker used to ride regularly while working at a horse farm as a “trail boss,” but these days she is busy cracking the whip on herself, churning out plans for a new studio where she can step up to the demand for her handcrafted leather jewelry and usher in a new collection of leather handbags due out in the spring.

After four years in the marketplace, Parker’s jewelry line has become popular with Southern brides wanting to marry their wedding day to the Western chic trend.

“I guess my work is popular because it’s versatile, and it’s a classic way to show your own style,” she says.