How to be country

With the recent revival of country aesthetics in popular music, fashion, and lifestyle, we’re all wondering what exactly it takes to be “country”.

Is it simply a sensibility or is there a hidden layer of intricacy?

Can anyone be country or is it an elite society you’re born into?

These are some of the questions you might be saddled with after the influx of country awareness thanks to musicians and designers.

Even though the general consensus is that you can’t become country, you can at least try to assimilate for however long the trend will last. Only time will tell if this trend becomes the new normal or if it’s simply a fad. So, hold onto your horses (and sheep and chickens) – we’re about to explore the infamous country lifestyle.

The look

We’ve all seen those ridiculous party rental costumes with badly done cowboy hats, cheap boots and flannel shirts – that’s exactly the look we’re going for. Just kidding. If we take inspiration from Lady Gaga and Kesha, who’ve both recently expanded their musical repertoire to include quasi-country, we find that it’s all in the details and embellishments. The aim is not to look like you work at a construction site, but rather like you would fit into nature – in the sense that you’re not wearing something distinctly urban.

Fabric choice is important as your looks should seem breathable and semi-comfortable. Denim, leather, cotton and linen are good choices. Resist the urge to inject country elements head to toe. Instead, pair one country element with more muted pieces. For example, don’t pair a cowboy hat and cowboy boots in the same look. Break them up with T-shirts and jeans to form two separate country-inspired ensembles.  Cut-off jeans are your new best friend. Pair them with a band T-shirt and a pair of cowboy boots for a country-rock feel, or pair them with an embellished blazer and flowy hair for a more traditionally Western style.

The ride

If you’ve seen any country-pop music video in the last decade, you’ll have noticed that the ride is a crucial part of the country lifestyle. There’s no point in revising your wardrobe if your wheels don’t match your new aesthetic. Your city-slicker hatchback will no longer do the trick. Instead, make an entrance at your next outdoor occasion with a second hand Ford.

If the pickup truck is too deep-country for you, fear not because you have other options. For that high-country appearance, go for some variation of the vintage muscle car. Make sure it’s old enough to be vintage but modern enough not to be considered antique. Anything from the 60s onwards will do.

The colour of the car, whether you choose the vintage or the truck, is as important as the car itself. Steer clear of flashy reds and oranges and rather opt for pastels. Think blush pink, baby blue or mellow yellow (yes, that’s an actual colour). Ultimately, you want to look like you belong in a classic country movie with your hair blowing in the wind and the steel guitar blaring from your stereo.

The lifestyle

Now that the outward appearance of your countryness has been taken care of, it’s time to inject some honky tonk into the rest of your life. The first and most obvious place to start is your playlist. If your daily jams don’t include Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton already, you might need to reconsider. At any given point someone should be able to find a country album and a dedicated country playlist on your phone.

Next, let’s move on to how you keep yourself busy. No more weekend visits to the local dance club or your favourite upmarket restaurant. If popular music videos are anything to go by, you’ll now be spending your time dancing barefoot in a field and driving around in your pickup truck. If this sounds amazing to you, then your dreams of living a country music video life will soon be a reality.

Finally, if you want to lead a modern country life, you need to be as environmentally-friendly as possible. This includes growing your own produce, turning waste into compost and recycling. Modern country is all about being good to nature and that won’t be possible when you’re making decisions that harm it. What good will your new image be if there’s no nature to take Instagram photos in.

The most important thing to keep in mind is that being country is all in the execution. Even if you weren’t born country, you can pull it off with the right level of execution. In other words, go all out and hope for the best.