Outlaw Revival: a Yalternative Summer Style Guide
The call from beyond the city lights
By: The Lace Ledger
The heat lingers long after the sun goes down as condensation slides down the side of a plastic beer cup; the crowd grows louder, everyone angling for a better view of what comes next. The excitement is palpable.
You might be making your way to the stage at a festival or into the arena for a rodeo—either way, the energy is electric.
Spend enough time around both scenes and the similarities start to reveal themselves. The soundtrack may vary, but the cast rarely does. The people drawn to cowboy culture and alternative culture have always shared an affection for outsiders, troublemakers and anyone willing to carve their own path. Enter, yalternative.
Yalternative style channels that spirit through distressed denim, black cowboy boots, silver hardware, flannel, camo and vintage tees fit for everything from county fair rodeos to punk shows and sipping whiskey in neon-lit dives.
The Main Event
The foundation of any good Yalternative wardrobe should look as though it has collected a few stories along the way. Distressed denim, camo, ripped tanks, oversized flannel and black basics set the tone from retailers like Take to the Grave, The Drive Clothing, Hell Babes, Disturbia, Goth Cloth Clothing and BlackMilk.
Buckle Up
Once the foundation is in place, the details do the rest. Statement boots, silver hardware, black hats and jewellery with a darker point of view transform familiar Western staples into something with a little edge. Brands like Billy Bones Club, Blackcraft Cult, Lucchese, Untold, Wetkiss, Frye, Kxtana, Brandon C Mar and Foxblood specialize in the pieces that make people look twice.
The Night Shift
Outerwear is where the workwear influence becomes most apparent. A faded shacket, oversized flannel, dark denim or well-worn leather jacket adds character while remaining practical long after the sun goes down. Disturbia, Lively Ghosts, Straight to Hell and Free People specialize in the kind of layers that feel right at home draped over your shoulders beside a bonfire while somebody reaches for a guitar.
Like our favourite aesthetics, the essence of yalternative starts long before you style. The appeal lies in the stories attached to your favourite piece; a well worn pair of boots, a faded concert tee, jacket that somehow ends up accompanying every good adventure (and making it home after!). The aesthetic borrows from cowboy culture and alternative fashion alike because both understand that personal style is often built through lived experience.
Whether you're heading to a concert, a country fair or simply looking for an excuse to wear more black denim this summer, yalternative offers plenty of room to make the look your own.
What is your favourite yalternative brand?
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