Over the past few years, Southern culture has taken Gen Z by storm. From Bama Rush outfit videos blowing up on TikTok a few years ago to Beyoncé topping the charts with her country album “Cowboy Carter” this year, no one can deny the South has permeated fashion, music and many other facets of pop culture. This may not be Texas, but your outfits sure can be ready for a real life hoedown.
Denim Galore
To make sure your boots are properly styled, a pair of wide-legged jeans or denim skirt is a must. Any wash of denim works for the most part, but we recommend a light or dark blue hue to achieve the quintessential Southern look. Bell bottom jeans or another flared variant will add movement and additional shape to your outfit, but straight leg cuts also go work well — especially for those of you a little scared to dive head first into the extravagance of the bell bottom.
The Big Bad Buckle
To finish off the bottom half of your outfit, you should consider rocking a leather belt with a chunky and flashy buckle: the bigger belt buckle, the better. Belt buckles make for great accent pieces and can bring additional textures to your outfit. Also, you can find belt buckles with elaborate patterns and designs that can let your personality shine through in the tiniest of details.
Top It Off With a Hat
When anyone thinks of Southern fashion staple pieces, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Cowboy hats. However, you shouldn’t just run to your local Party City or the Amazon storefront, buy the first cowboy hat you see and throw it on with any old outfit — unless you’re buying a bedazzled pink cowboy hat for a themed house party.
For cowboy hats that are durable and high quality, head to a Bass Pro Shops, Cavender’s or a local Western store. Go for neutral colors such as beige, black or dark brown that will go with everything. When styling, color matching is the key to making sure the hat doesn’t look just plopped on your head for the hell of it.
Throw On That Leather
To tie the bow, anything leather will bring that extra umph to your wardrobe. In fact, some people go as far as wearing nearly all leather from head to toe to tie everything together. However, considering the infamous South Florida humidity, that might not be ideal.
You can sprinkle leather into any outfit by purchasing tops and bottoms with leather accents, such as the jacket worn by this model.
Patterns, Patterns, Patterns
Now that you’ve got the bottom half of your outfit figured out, it’s time to move to the top half. Casual button downs, blouses or vests are usually the way to go, but the key is a dynamic and fun pattern. Flowers, embroidery, geometric shapes or stripes with color are a great way to add even more color to your outfit.If you really want to go the extra mile to achieve the Southern look, anything with fringe will do the trick.
Fill Those Boots
If you don’t automatically think of cowboy hats when you hear the term Southern fashion, you’re more than likely picturing a pair of cowboy boots. Although a nice pair of cowboy boots can run you hundreds or even thousands of dollars, you can always head to a local boutique or thrift store and get a pair for a fraction of the cost.
The most popular cowboy boots are usually white, black or brown but don’t be afraid to spice up your outfit and rock a pair of colorful boots for a pop of color. Even if you’re not rocking a Southern get up from head to hoe, cowboy boots are a great staple piece to add some flare to your wardrobe.
words_andrew mccleskey. photo_sharron lou. design_marita gavioti.
This article was published in Distraction’s Summer 2024 print issue.
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