Image via Complex Original
Americana and Made in USA clothing have made a large resurgence over the past few years—you can not only find selvedge denim, Red Wing boots, and chambray shirts on your local urban lumberjack, but at the closest shopping mall. Even with the streets filled with men who look more appropriately placed in a Montana cabin, we felt there were better style icons for those who want to dress like Paul Bunyan: the stars of "redneck" TV. Admit, you've watched a reality show based on folks who are from Alaska, Louisiana, or Iowa, and are skilled as moonshiners, professional "pickers," or can properly wield an axe. These burly dudes also might be some of the steeziest characters currently on television. So, in their honor, we've compiled their best sartorial moments. Here are 10 Style Tips You Can Learn From Redneck TV.
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There's Never Such Thing as Too Much Denim
Who has beef with the Canadian tuxedo? Seriously, we want to know. There is no such thing as too much denim. Never. Overalls might not be your first choice of denim, but we've seen André 3000 and Justin Bieber rock them. American Pickers' Mike Wolfe rocks a denim chore coat and pair of raw denim better than most Americana bros you'll see around New York. So, if you ever look in the mirror and ask yourself, "am I wearing too much denim?" The answer is always, "no."
Be Honest, Every Dude Looks Better in Plaid
There's an added durability and comfort level that only a flannel shirt can give you. Dudes rock this cold-weather staple not only because it looks cool, but it will soon become your favorite shirt. If a shirt is good enough for guys who are real lumberjacks, live in Alaska, or make illegal alcohol—it's good enough for the guy whose most laborious task is brushing off his car after a morning snow.
Keep it Simple, Stupid
You shouldn't have to throw on 37 items of clothing to look your best. The most stylish of bros can leave the house in a T-shirt, jeans, and hat and still look their best. It's rare that you'll see a dude on "redneck TV" in more than needs to be worn. In fact, if you can't look great in a "dressed-down" outfit, you might need to reevaluate your personal style. Even 70-something-year-old Jim Tom from Moonshiners looks great in a grey T-shirt and fedora (and fedoras suck). Plus, he has no teeth. What's your excuse?
Some of the Freshest Gear Is Thrifted
Mike Wolfe of American Pickers has every menswear bro's dream job, he's a professional thrifter. When Wolfe isn't digging for earlier remnants of Americana and motorcycle parts in your grandfather's barn in Wisconsin, he's also scoring cool vintage gear. On several occasions, Wolfe has come up on historical leather jackets, and even an Indian Motorcycles sweater. So, step your thrift game up, you might look as cool as this guy.
Facial Hair Makes Ugly Dudes Less Unattractive
Usually, the most dapper of men chose to present a clean-shaven face, but what about those who weren't blessed with the greatest looks? This is your chance to rock a beard. The added facial hair will not only make you look more badass, it will also distract from your less desirable traits. Plus, there is something inherently more "manly" about dudes with facial hair. This is your opportunity to stunt on the well-dressed "pretty boys," and show your genetic superiority—that of a beard-grower.
Clothes Look Better When They're Worn-In, Not Distressed
Clothes with a story always look better and mean more to the wearer. Distressed clothes can look cool from time-to-time, but there's nothing like a pair of hard-worn denim. How does one accrue such gear? Well, it doesn't hurt if you work in the woods or with your hands for a living. But if you don't live in the Pacific Northwest or wrestle alligators for your 9 to 5, you can still score sweet faded gear by copping quality clothes and rocking them on a daily basis.
Always Dress for the Situation
You don't see many dudes who work in the woods in three-piece suits with the latest double monks, there's a reason for that: you should always dress appropriate for the situation. If you're going to a wedding or on a job interview: wear a suit. However, you should probably wear shorts or old jeans and a T-shirt if you're invited to a backyard game of Wiffle Ball. Also, you look cooler if you're dressed properly, not the oddball who wore a shirt-and-tie to eat pizza and drink beer with his college bros (who were dressed in whatever clothes weren't dirty).
Find Your Look and Roll With It
You don't have to wear the hottest brands, you just need to look like yourself. Surprise. Even though copping fresh gear helps, most of the best-dressed dudes that we continually champion rarely rock the hottest collaboration—they just dress in a manner that fits them. Whether that means you rock cowboy boots, overalls, or you and your family members all dress in duck-print gear, you'll look a lot better than the legion of dudes who were dressed by the Internet.
Dress for Your Body Type
You've probably seen the dude who is 5'8, pushing 225 lbs, and thinks he can rock slim denim and a size small shirt. It's disgusting. However, if he had grabbed a pair of straight-cut jeans, and a shirt that fits, he'd look great. Take a look at these dudes, a lot of them are big and burly, but they dress for their body types. It also helps that workwear has a fuller-cut, but even skinny dudes like American Pickers' Mike Wolfe knows he's better off with slim-cut clothes, because he's thin.
If All Else Fails, Throw on Camo
Before streetwear and menswear caught onto camo-print, and even long before skateboarders rocked the much-used fabric, good 'ol backwoods boys wore the hell out of this functional clothing. If your favorite pastime revolves around hiding in the woods and shooting things, there's a good probability your closet is going to look like an army/navy surplus store. Peep the dudes from Duck Dynasty, Moonshiners, and Gold Rush: Alaska, they know how to get down.