Mastering the Art of Americana Style:
A Complete Guide for Men’s Fashion
Americana style mixes workwear, western wear, military surplus and sportswear into something rugged, practical and quietly romantic. Think denim jeans, chambray shirts, flannels, leather jackets, chore coats, cowboy boots, varsity knits – all rooted in real American history, not just trends.
This guide is AVANT’s overview of Americana menswear: where it comes from, the key pieces, how to build a wardrobe and which brands to explore – from Levi’s and Wrangler to RRL, Stetson and Japanese Americana labels.
What Is Americana Style?
Americana style is a heritage-focused way of dressing built on garments originally made for work, ranch life, the military and sport:
Clothes built for durability and function
Fabrics like denim, canvas, wool, flannel and leather
Colours pulled from nature and uniforms: indigo, khaki, olive, brown, cream
Over the 20th century, these garments moved from pioneers, cowboys, railroad workers and soldiers to Hollywood rebels and, eventually, global fashion.
Americana today isn’t necessarily “dressing like a cowboy.” It’s more about wearing honest, well-made clothes that quietly reference those worlds.
A Short History of Americana Menswear
Frontier Workwear
19th-century American workers – miners, ranch hands, railroad workers – needed hard-wearing clothes. Denim, duck canvas and heavy twill became the uniform: jeans, overalls, chore coats and early denim jackets.
Western & Cowboy Imagery
Military Surplus & Ivy Influence
On the plains and ranches, the cowboy hat, denim, bandanas and boots formed another visual code. Later, Hollywood westerns and country music exported this look to the world, turning it into a mythic symbol of freedom and individualism.
After WWII, military garments – field jackets, chinos, pea coats – flooded surplus stores and were adopted by students, beatniks and protesters for their utility and symbolism.
At the same time, the American campus wardrobe (varsity jackets, sweatshirts, Oxford shirts) helped shape a more collegiate side of Americana.
From Subculture to Global Style
By the late 20th century, brands in Japan and Europe were obsessively studying American workwear and denim, recreating it with even higher levels of craftsmanship – this is where Japanese Americana enters the story, with brands like Kapital, Warehouse & Co, OrSlow, etc.
Today, Americana is a global language of menswear – still rooted in those original garments.
The Four Pillars of Americana Style
Workwear
Western Wear
Key pieces:
Western shirts (snap buttons, pointed yokes)
Cowboy boots
Western belts and buckles
Cowboy hats (Stetson, etc.)
Military &
Utility
Key pieces:
Field jacket / M-65
Chinos (originally military)
Peacoats and deck jackets
Fatigue pants and cargo trousers
Sportswear & Campus
Key pieces:
Crewneck sweatshirts & hoodies
Varsity / letterman jackets
Baseball caps
High-top canvas sneakers
Key Americana Brands to Explore
RRL keeps a relatively tight distribution, which reinforces its cult aura.
Key buying channels:
Official Ralph Lauren / Double RL stores and e-shops – the fullest seasonal selection, both clothing and accessories
Specialist heritage & denim retailers – carefully curated selections, sometimes with exclusive pieces
High-end department stores and online luxury platforms – a mix of evergreen icons and seasonal highlights.
How to avoid fakes
Because RRL is relatively niche and high-priced, the counterfeit market is smaller than for mainstream Ralph Lauren, but still present on resale platforms.
Basic checks:
Stitching quality and hardware (buttons, rivets, zippers) – RRL details are usually excellent
Inner labels – fonts and logo placement should be clean and consistent
Compare suspicious pieces with official product images on the Ralph Lauren website
Americana Shopping Guide
AVANT Editor’s Picks for building an Americana Wardrobe with 12 essentials
RRL jackets are where the brand’s storytelling really comes alive: denim, workwear, military and leather all treated with the same obsession for fabric, fade and detail. Below is our current selection of RRL jackets curated by AVANT – pieces that work hard in real life and will only look better with time.
We look for:
Authentic heritage details (triple-needle stitching, period-correct hardware, archival patterns)
Versatility – jackets you can wear with denim, chinos or tailoring
Longevity – fabrics and constructions that will age gracefully, not fall apart
Browse the edit, find the jacket that matches your wardrobe and climate, and then let it do what RRL does best: collect stories.
Denim & Work Jackets
Think chore coats, barn jackets and trucker styles in denim, canvas or twill. These are the easiest entry point into RRL outerwear: throw them on over a tee in summer or layer with knitwear in winter.
Shop Denim & Work Jackets
Our pick of season’s best RRL chore coats, denim jackets and canvas work pieces.
Military & Field Jackets
Field jackets, parkas and officer-style coats that nod to WWII and post-war military garments. Perfect if your style leans more utilitarian than cowboy.
Shop Military & Field Jackets
RRL field jackets and parkas with practical pockets, rugged fabrics and muted tones.
Leather & Suede Jackets
When you want a true investment piece, look here: leather truckers, motorcycle jackets, western-influenced styles and suede blousons.
Shop Leather & Suede Jackets
Statement pieces designed to be worn for years, not seasons.
If denim is the backbone of RRL, the shirts are the voice… they’re where the western, workwear and military influences become really obvious. From snap-front westerns to soft flannels and chambray work shirts, these are the pieces you’ll wear all week, not just on special occasions.
In our RRL shirt selection, we look for:
– Honest fabrics: cotton twill, chambray, denim, brushed flannel, linen
– Heritage details: snap buttons, pointed yokes, triple-needle seams, utility pockets
– Wearability: shirts that work alone, open over a tee, or layered under jackets
RRL Shopping Guide
AVANT Editor’s Picks for shirts
Western Shirts
Signature RRL territory: pointed yokes, snap buttons, sometimes embroidery or contrast piping. These are the shirts that lean most clearly into western and rodeo language.
Shop RRL Western Shirts
Snap-front shirts with western yokes, perfect with denim and boots.
Work & Chambray Shirts
Chambray and work shirts are the quieter, more utilitarian side of RRL: less showy than westerns, easier to wear in almost any context.
Shop RRL Work & Chambray Shirts
Durable everyday shirts inspired by railworkers, mechanics and factory uniforms.
Flannel & Seasonal Shirts
Brushed cotton flannels and heavier seasonal shirts are where RRL nails the mountain / ranch / cabin feeling: plaids, faded colours, sometimes blanket-style patterns.
Shop RRL Flannel & Seasonal Shirts
Soft flannels and heavier shirts for colder days and layered looks.
This selection is updated regularly to reflect current availability and seasonal drops from RRL.
If RRL jackets tell the story, RRL denim is the paper it’s printed on. This is where you feel the brand’s obsession with fabric, fades and vintage fits. Below you’ll find AVANT’s current selection of RRL jeans and denim essentials – the pieces that will quietly anchor almost every Americana outfit you put together.
We look for:
– Honest fabrics: selvedge, proper weight, good yarn character
– Useful fits: straight, slim-straight, a bit of room where you need it
– Fade potential: jeans that will look better, not worse, after years of wear
RRL Shopping Guide
AVANT Editor’s Picks for denim
Core RRL Jean Fits
Start with the fundamentals: straight and slim-straight indigo jeans that work with everything from boots to sneakers.
Shop Core RRL Jeans
Everyday jeans in classic fits – your first step into RRL denim.
Selvedge & Special Denim
For the denim heads and collectors: heavier fabrics, selvedge details, limited washes and repro cuts inspired by specific decades.
Shop Selvedge & Special RRL Denim
Heavier fabrics, selvedge edges, unique washes and vintage-inspired cuts.
Washed, Faded & Broken-In
Not everyone wants to break in raw denim. RRL’s washed jeans give you archive-inspired fading and repairs straight off the rack.
Shop Washed & Faded RRL Jeans
Pre-washed jeans and vintage-effect fades for instant character.
This selection is updated regularly to reflect current availability and seasonal drops from RRL.