Photo by Nichole Stephens
In the daring world of fashion, Western fashion influencer and stunt woman Cara Smith has a style everyone can’t help but fall for. The content creator found her stride in 2022 after a stunt injury left her sidelined from work. During that time, Smith began to dabble with video creation by styling Western outfits. During the following six months of recovery, TikTok became her creative outlet. Her page @tx_cara grew quickly as she became the bridge between those new to the Western fashion scene and those born in the industry. Between Instagram and TikTok, she has over 400,000 people watching her styling advice and outfits.
“I want to share outfits that inspire people to find their own way in fashion through what I share,” Smith said.
Daring to Do it
While growing up in the Lone Star State, Smith never considered herself a part of the Western industry. It was her love for the performing arts that slowly led her toward Western fashion content creation. Smith originally studied theatre at the University of Texas in Austin. It was there that her eyes were opened to Western fashion by her friends and classmates. After graduating, Smith started building her career as an actress and singer. She lived in Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, and even on cruise ships traveling the world. Smith’s excursions opened her eyes to a multitude of styles from different shores.
In 2018, Smith moved to the City of Angels, where she worked at Disneyland. Her time at the Happiest Place on Earth unlocked the opportunity for Smith to delve into stunt work. She went from portraying Belle for meet-and-greets to battling it out in a live-stage show as Marvel’s Black Widow. The 31-year-old’s background in competitive dance allowed her the ability to quickly pick up the sudden and fluent movements of stunt fighting. Smith recalled, “I just started to learn and train and network and then started working. I was still pursuing acting and still am. I started to just find my way in stunts because there are some people who are all-around stunt men and stunt women. They do fights and weapons and fire and driving and all the different things, but that didn’t quite feel like me. So, I just kind of found my own way in it and found the things that I specialized in.” As a stunt woman, she developed strong skills in fight choreography, falls, and wire work.
Photo by @disneystrength
For Smith, the stunts that she enjoys the most are the ones that burn her brain with challenges. Feats like being set on fire caused her to have to take control and calm her overthinking mind. This taught her how to turn off the noise in her head – the what-ifs that can follow the fight-or-flight response – in order to safely and effectively complete the hot task at hand.
“There’s a lot to consider. Being clear-headed and focused and being able to manage your mind is of utmost importance,” she declared.
Fashion with a Kick
Working on various film and theatre projects, Smith also learned the technical side of the industry – what makes visually alluring videos. “I know how to move in front of a camera; I know angles; I know how to find my light, and that’s all from my theater background and my film training. I know how to tell a story and that’s what I feel like I do in my videos,” Smith said.
As someone who wasn’t born and raised in the Western industry, Smith’s goal is “to connect girls who are not in the Western world at all, who are interested in dipping their toe into that fashion or that world. I really try to be that bridge in between.” When creating outfits, she pulls influence from different styles to keep looks versatile. Statement pieces like cowboy boots, turquoise jewelry or a cowboy hat can add a little bit of Western flair to a look without it being overpowering for someone still new to the style.
Overall, Smith strives to bridge the gap between those heavily engulfed in Western fashion and those looking to wade in. Many of the items used to create her outfits are linked on her Liketoknow.it or her Amazon storefront for those beginning their Western fashion journey. “There are some women that want to step into the Western fashion world right now, but they may not want to invest in a high quality, authentic piece because they don’t know if they if this is their fashion for the long term,” Smith said.
Photo by Nichole Stephens
For those looking to delve deeper, she tries to showcase genuine, heirloom-level articles of clothing. Pieces like eye-catching jackets, quality shirts for layering, iconic denim or authentic leather items can create a multitude of classic, elegant outfits.
No matter where you’re at in your styling journey, there are some items that never lose their spark. Smith loves to incorporate different textures like suede, lace, or denim. She believes “a lot of the roots in Western fashion just don’t go out of style. I feel like Western fashion has its pillars of pieces and styles within it, and they don’t change, which is super cool. I feel like the styles change around it, but a lot of the pieces themselves stay consistent.”
When styling outfits, Smith looks back at history and different genres of fashion to inspire her. Playing with looks from various cultures and style categories helped her to build creative and unique looks. The simple techniques of layering, trying different textures and accessorizing can make a huge difference in the final outcome of the look, no matter where the inspiration comes from. “Any and all of those things are always a part of my outfits,” Smith said.
Regardless of where you come from or what your goal is with styling an outfit, Smith advises women to “stay authentic to yourself and just keep going because you’ll eventually find your groove and you’ll find your people.”
