Harkening back to the U.S.’s blue-collar roots, a major spring menswear trend is Americana: flannel shirts, cowboy boots, denim jackets, white tees and work boots. And yes, you can make it work without looking like the Brawny paper towel man. We spoke with Kim Rodriguez of KR Personal Style to learn about embracing Americana, even if you’ve never been on the set of “Yellowstone.”
Color And Fabric Matter
Nothing screams “fresh from the forest” quite like a traditional black-and-red buffalo check flannel (let alone a red, white and blue one), but leaning stylishly into Americana can mean trying different shades and tones. Rodriguez advises considering “a more muted color palette — brown, navy and gray.” You can also try alternative materials, like lightweight cotton or even gauze. “When you go to the lighter-weight fabrics,” she explains, “that alone makes it look less ‘lumberjack.’”
Know When To Invest
There’s room to play with both affordable staples and timeless pieces. That white cotton T-shirt can be anything from a basic Hanes tee to one from Buck Mason. The jeans can be brand new or vintage. “If you’re somebody who will go through those racks,” Rodriguez says, “you can really get great quality pieces that have stood the test of time.” She adds, however, that men’s footwear is a good place to invest. “You want quality leather, you want something to be comfortable,” she says. The same goes for outerwear: “It’s very practical and useful, and you want it to last. You want to have it for years.”
Mix And Match Accordingly
The biggest mistake Rodriguez sees people making with the Americana trend is doing too much at once. “If you’re somebody who’s dipping into a trend you’re not 100% sure of, choose one garment to play with,” she says, and blend that with items you already wear. Pair work boots with your regular jeans, or a denim shirt with your standard chinos. “It’s about stepping in slowly,” Rodriguez says. You also want to make sure whatever you’re wearing matches your lifestyle; if it doesn’t, you won’t be comfortable, and you won’t feel — or look — like yourself.