https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/for-those-who-are-not-urban-etc---join-here-no-just-kidding Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Mon, 18 May 2026 04:22:50 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/for-those-who-are-not-urban-etc---join-here-no-just-kidding/page/2#post-814427 Thu, 10 Jan 2013 20:23:44 +0000 rachylou 814427@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You know, I rather like "Not Urban." It sorta says what it means.</p> <p>***<br /> Mandipa, you struck a chord with me when you talked about taking inspiration from various categories yet maybe being better off with a wholly different moniker.</p> <p>***<br /> I have another one to throw out there: Urban Homesteader. For me this covers farming in an urban setting and making a living through hi-tech out on the farm. Oh wait, I just remembered: my original name for this is Hipster Ag. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/for-those-who-are-not-urban-etc---join-here-no-just-kidding/page/2#post-814343 Thu, 10 Jan 2013 19:22:51 +0000 Astrid 814343@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks Fern! I agree that "rustic" is universal and the better term. And you can change it up way more easily, like my "refined rustic". </p> <p>I love your pics too, but I can see the difference. As for my #7, I love that one. Seriously, I looked that cape up, but sadly it wasn't available any longer. I mean, a waist defining plaid cape in a gorgeous green? Sigh. I think I'm going to try sewing something like this one day. When I brushed up on my sewing skills a bit... I think I have your #3 pinned too, I must have overlooked that one. And I LOVE your #8, that gets pinned immediatly. </p> <p>I agree that just pulling the "rustic" ones was very enlightening. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/for-those-who-are-not-urban-etc---join-here-no-just-kidding/page/2#post-814324 Thu, 10 Jan 2013 19:11:47 +0000 fern 814324@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Here are some of mine - and I learned something just from pulling them.<br /> Of course, I saved your #7 immediately - </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/for-those-who-are-not-urban-etc---join-here-no-just-kidding/page/2#post-814281 Thu, 10 Jan 2013 18:39:44 +0000 fern 814281@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Astrid, Gorgeous photos!!!<br /> My style inspiration is a little different than yours - next door, maybe. Let me find some photos.<br /> I love Manidipa's musings - "country" doesn't work as a descriptor, in my mind, because it also relates to nations / nationalism. As in, "what country are you from?" where rustic is more universal. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/for-those-who-are-not-urban-etc---join-here-no-just-kidding/page/2#post-814255 Thu, 10 Jan 2013 18:24:23 +0000 Astrid 814255@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think I'm happy with my style descriptor as it is, but I agree that 'refined rustic' is a good theme. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/for-those-who-are-not-urban-etc---join-here-no-just-kidding/page/2#post-814252 Thu, 10 Jan 2013 18:21:48 +0000 cciele 814252@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Refined Rustic? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/for-those-who-are-not-urban-etc---join-here-no-just-kidding/page/2#post-814247 Thu, 10 Jan 2013 18:17:08 +0000 Astrid 814247@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Una, that's a good description. I think the 'refined' is important to me and ties into the feminine, the 'girl'. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/for-those-who-are-not-urban-etc---join-here-no-just-kidding/page/2#post-814220 Thu, 10 Jan 2013 17:41:09 +0000 catgirl 814220@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Your pics say Ralph Lauren to me. Refined country estate style... tweeds, plaids, boots and skirts! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/for-those-who-are-not-urban-etc---join-here-no-just-kidding/page/2#post-814158 Thu, 10 Jan 2013 17:16:15 +0000 Astrid 814158@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I actually don't listen to much country either. Nora Jones is great though, you're right. I mostly hear radio where they mix current hits with older songs, rock and pop. I love some classic from time to time and other instrumental or traditional European music. Just love Klezmer, but I guess that's because I also play the clarinet. Everything else besides "Schlager", techno and rap is great too.</p> <p>I'm posting some of my Pinterest pins below. It was a bit difficult to seperate those out, because I often feel like my pins are all of my style directions rolled into one and it's hard to differentiate. But well, you don't have to agree with me on those. Tadaa - my version of Euro Prairie. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/for-those-who-are-not-urban-etc---join-here-no-just-kidding/page/2#post-814111 Thu, 10 Jan 2013 16:53:58 +0000 texstyle 814111@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Astrid, I know what you mean about various types of music - one type of music I don't really listen to at all (ironically) is country. With maybe a few crossover exceptions. Nora Jones is pretty amazing and Willie Nelson can't be ignored. But day to day I'm more of the current top hits listener I think. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/for-those-who-are-not-urban-etc---join-here-no-just-kidding/page/2#post-814090 Thu, 10 Jan 2013 16:33:31 +0000 Astrid 814090@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Texstyle, modern country sounds great. Maybe try if it works for you? I myself love the tones you mentioned for Prairie style, but I also love color. I guess that's the Bohemian part of me. As for music, I listen to very different music, all over the place. I think it would be easier to say what I don't like. I love to listen to the Radio too, I like the variety. </p> <p>Hello Vix, great to see you here! I agree, it definitely needs more pictures. I love pictures! I could post some pics from my Pinterest, but it would be great if we could get some visuals from different persons. Like we just discussed, I think there's a lot of variation possible here. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/for-those-who-are-not-urban-etc---join-here-no-just-kidding/page/2#post-814043 Thu, 10 Jan 2013 16:00:17 +0000 Vix 814043@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hi all --</p> <p>Cheering from the not-right-for-me-but-highly-appealing onlooker sidelines. </p> <p>FWIW, the theme makes me think of handmade items plus brands Peruvian Connection, Sundance, and Ralph Lauren to some degree...highly tactile, highly movement-friendly.</p> <p>Does this thread need more photos? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/for-those-who-are-not-urban-etc---join-here-no-just-kidding/page/2#post-813964 Thu, 10 Jan 2013 14:54:37 +0000 texstyle 813964@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What about Modern Country? (maybe that's more for me than Astrid though) To me traditional "country" is what others have already said - in America it seems to be very much cowboy boots, turquoise jewelry (if any), florals, gingham, etc. Modern for me takes it to a different place.</p> <p>Modern Country Homesteader is my true lifestyle. I live in the country, I have a big vegetable garden, make my own bread, can foods, etc. but I do software for a living, still like fashion and want to feel and look "current" or "modern."</p> <p>For me personally, Prarie doesn't work but I think it works for several others here - I don't really wear skirts or long jackets and hate to be "buttoned up." I also like a variety of color and I guess "Prarie" seems very neutral or "moody" toned to me (lots of browns, straw, charcoal grays, white, black and blues).</p> <p>At the same time I do enjoy a little bit of rock and roll myself. I wonder if the music one likes can be associated to their style personna? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/for-those-who-are-not-urban-etc---join-here-no-just-kidding/page/2#post-813888 Thu, 10 Jan 2013 13:52:19 +0000 Astrid 813888@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Okay, I've got it now. And you're right of course! Maybe I should have adressed it to the "country" girls instead of putting a negation in there. My excuse - I was (and still am) a bit befuddled by all this terminology. I agree that it's possible to be inspired by a category without being defined by it. And of course when I look at all the visuals at YLF I'm influenced by all of them, even if they don't define my personal style. I think everyone should be able to look at all fashion and then pick the favourites. Categories are there to help you, not to restrict. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/for-those-who-are-not-urban-etc---join-here-no-just-kidding#post-813856 Thu, 10 Jan 2013 12:30:32 +0000 ManidipaM 813856@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Astrid, I found myself pretty confusing there! </p> <p>I think I was trying to say (trying again, ha!): For some of us, while we don't subscribe strongly to Urban (speaking to your thread title here), it is possible we don't subscribe strongly to Country either. Or maybe we want elements of both, and it doesn't matter too much which one is more relevant at a given time. For such people, possibly defining themselves per entirely different categories (which may or may not overlap/intersect the Country or Urban) may be more useful --- the same way not everyone has to be royalty or peasant ;-)</p> <p>I thought that could be the case with Diana or Rachy, for example, or even Jeanne, who might take inspiration from either category, but the category itself does not *define* their style... Wonder if they'd agree? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/for-those-who-are-not-urban-etc---join-here-no-just-kidding#post-813829 Thu, 10 Jan 2013 10:22:51 +0000 Astrid 813829@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Megan, that sounds great! I'd love to have a dog myself someday, when I have more space and money.</p> <p>Caro, of course you can visit! The more the merrier. :)</p> <p>Welcome, Sarah! I love that you put a 'refined' before the descriptor.</p> <p>Thanks Angie! I think I think of the same, but like Manidipa wrote below, 'country' is different for everyone. I think that's why L'Abeille called my style Euro Prairie. </p> <p>Una, I love your new kitchen! Don't love the word 'rustic' as much, the German 'rustikal' somehow has a negative connotation for me. </p> <p>Sarah, yes you're right. Although I don't have 'country' in my descriptor, but I guess 'prairie could be confusing too. Although too many terms might be a bit unwieldy. So that would be Bohemian Euro Prairie Girl? That's a mouthful. </p> <p>Fern, I love Forest Warrior Princess! Makes me think of Kira Knightley in King Arthur. Although she is probably more warrior than princess. Weapon of choice - bow and arrow. ;)</p> <p>Karie, that's perfectly alright! Sounds like you get to have all the fun. :)</p> <p>Manidipa, thanks for another great contribution. I love how you always put it in a nutshell. I agree that it makes sense to see 'organic' as the term that encompasses the others. Your argument that 'urban' and 'organic' can go together, but then only with a certain kind of tension, makes sense to me. I would also see 'organic'/'industrial' together and agree that 'country' is too ambiguous, at least when we are using a shared vocabulary in a community like this. So that maybe would need to be specified for every person. I guess it can happen like with the subcategory 'prairie', although that doesn't say Euro to me either. I'm not sure how that could be solved. I confess you lost me a bit with that last paragraph, I'm going to read that again, very slowly... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/for-those-who-are-not-urban-etc---join-here-no-just-kidding#post-813786 Thu, 10 Jan 2013 07:52:24 +0000 ManidipaM 813786@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love how we've got this really ORGANIC network of style threads from the one UWP discussion --- and each and every thread so far has been simultaneously hilarious and eye-opening and thought-provoking. We're spinning a web of YLF styles together! </p> <p>(Angie, I haven't had THIS much fun with fashion in years! Not even when I stopped SYCing and went shopping. Woo-hoo! --- THANK YOU.)</p> <p>I think Angie's 'Folksy' locates me in here too. </p> <p>Astrid, your 'organic' may be different from my 'earthy/eco' --- but at the same time, I rather suspect organic may be the better umbrella term for both, as Caro suggested on my thread. I can certainly relate to the same elements and the same meanings you state. I too see 'organic' as the obverse of 'industrial/technological'. </p> <p>Yes, Rachy has a point that the 'urban' can include 'organic' --- we speak of the organic growth of cities, say --- but I also feel we don't immediately or necessarily encompass 'organic' when we utter 'urban' (or vice versa). There is a tension between them. Their coexistence, even when harmonious, represents an yoking together ('Eclectic'?) Which is to say, the two *can* work together and not be at odds (they seem to for Rachy's own styleboards!); but they aren't necessarily an overlap --- not perhaps opposites, more parallels? Diana's steampunk/Victoriana also represents this tension of the industrial/urban with the organic.</p> <p>Which is also why it seems to make sense to have the Organic&lt;-&gt;Industrial dichotomy model an Urban&lt;-&gt;Country dichotomy. But I have to agree with those who note that 'country' is also more problematic than 'urban' as a label that we can use to communicate with others via a *shared vocabulary*. </p> <p>Where 'urban' is more of a global phenomenon and represents a certain flattening/uniformity (there is a close alliance to Industrial/Tech there), at least throughout the developed world, 'country' tends to beg the question 'which country?'. Das Land? The Wild West? Indian folk? British countryside? Japanese fishing village? Mongolian nomadic? African tribal? Native American reservation? Aztec inspiration? It all ends up here... and it gets confusing to call *yourself* just 'Country'. You need to qualify or explain, or at least substitute a subcategory (Angie did this when she labelled your style 'Prairie') when speaking of each person's style, I suspect. </p> <p>But the umbrella term for the lot of us, yes, needs to be Country or Natural (reminds me of Kibbe again) or Traditional. (I'm personally having difficulty with 'country', but I suspect it is because of a linguistic issue --- when I read 'country' in English, I usually thing of Anglophone cultures, especially British and American...)</p> <p>I also suspect that for some of us, depending on where we stand on the spectrum of juxtaposition vs coherence/integrity with regards to the Urban&lt;-&gt;Country/Traditional dichotomy, 'Eclectic' or 'Bohemian' (as opposed to hippie/boho) may resonate better than Urban/Country. It takes the description on a tangent to 'Urban/Country', because that is just the more practically useful label for *that* particular style (whatever its affiliations to Urban/Country) --- that's actually why I thought of a web to visualize the styles. Yes, there are these spectrums, but the straight lines of those also intersect... </p> <p>Um. Am I sounding very off-the-wall at this point...? (I guess it comes down to not knowing where to stand myself :-p) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/for-those-who-are-not-urban-etc---join-here-no-just-kidding#post-813631 Thu, 10 Jan 2013 03:31:15 +0000 Karie 813631@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have absolutely no idea what group I belong to! If there's a "hot mess" group, I should be their leader!<br /> I think I'm a little bit country, a little bit rock n' roll! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/for-those-who-are-not-urban-etc---join-here-no-just-kidding#post-813624 Thu, 10 Jan 2013 03:26:05 +0000 fern 813624@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Right with you, Astrid -<br /> I joked on one of my posts about being a "Forest Warrior Princess", because I am 100% more interested in forest colors and natural textures than anything black &amp; studded. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/for-those-who-are-not-urban-etc---join-here-no-just-kidding#post-813568 Thu, 10 Jan 2013 02:35:42 +0000 amiable 813568@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ooh -- RUSTIC! I like that word!</p> <p>And, even though I am American, the Dolly Parton version of Country didn't even occur to me. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/for-those-who-are-not-urban-etc---join-here-no-just-kidding#post-813565 Thu, 10 Jan 2013 02:33:52 +0000 Sara L. 813565@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Maybe you could add Euro to your Country description? I live in New Mexico and when you say "country", I think cowgirl country - jeans, cowboy boots, western shirts, turquoise, etc. It's not just a style here, it's a way of life. I would find a description of your style as Country very confusing without the background from this thread. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/for-those-who-are-not-urban-etc---join-here-no-just-kidding#post-813532 Thu, 10 Jan 2013 02:14:43 +0000 catgirl 813532@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I like rustic. In fact, my kitchen was meant to be rustic modern organic... talk about confused! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/for-those-who-are-not-urban-etc---join-here-no-just-kidding#post-813436 Thu, 10 Jan 2013 01:17:38 +0000 Angie 813436@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>For what it's worth Astrid, I see Euro Countryside when I think of "Country" style. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/for-those-who-are-not-urban-etc---join-here-no-just-kidding#post-813434 Thu, 10 Jan 2013 01:13:07 +0000 Sarah A 813434@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'll join the non-urban bunch! I live in a very very small town on the outskirts of a small town and I love Jjsloan's preppy incarnations! I'll be watching the refined (?) "country" group... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/for-those-who-are-not-urban-etc---join-here-no-just-kidding#post-813425 Thu, 10 Jan 2013 01:04:42 +0000 Caro in Oz 813425@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great thread. I agree with rachylou that organic doesn't have to be country.<br /> The "arty, eco, organic" a la Japanese designers might just about nail it for the style I aspire to; hope I can still visit because I love your style:) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/for-those-who-are-not-urban-etc---join-here-no-just-kidding#post-813386 Thu, 10 Jan 2013 00:26:16 +0000 Anonymous 813386@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hi Astrid, thanks for the nice welcome! I'm finding learning herding handling difficult because I didn't grow up around livestock &amp; so I'm having to learn how to read the sheep, but my dog has good herding instincts. So, we are working on becoming a team. It's very rewarding &amp; it's strengthening our bond.</p> <p>Megan </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/for-those-who-are-not-urban-etc---join-here-no-just-kidding#post-813371 Thu, 10 Jan 2013 00:12:22 +0000 Astrid 813371@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Jenava, thanks for cheering for us! :)</p> <p>Angie, I agree with you. Since I'm European I don't have those associations either. I have a concept when somebody tells me 'British countryside', but 'Countryside' style does sound off. 'Country' seems to be the better term. </p> <p>Welcome to the group, Megan! (Is herding sheep very difficult?) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/for-those-who-are-not-urban-etc---join-here-no-just-kidding#post-813370 Thu, 10 Jan 2013 00:09:58 +0000 Anonymous 813370@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I appreciate seeing urban style, &amp; I'd like to add some of it to my wardrobe for when I visit Seattle or go to lunch or go listen to live music, etc. But the rest of the time I'm in the country--heck, I'm learning how to herd sheep--so I guess I'm non-urban.</p> <p>Megan </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/for-those-who-are-not-urban-etc---join-here-no-just-kidding#post-813360 Thu, 10 Jan 2013 00:03:03 +0000 Angie 813360@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Diana, "Countryside" style sounds off - no? I'm not American so I don't think of "Country" as American Country (a la Dolly Parton Country Music Style - or the Sundance Catalogue). Hope that makes sense, Astrid, Amiable and Diana! </p> <p>Country can be Earthy and Organic - but as Rachy says, that can be very Urban too :). Rural sounds blah. </p> <p>I like Country best. FWIW </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/for-those-who-are-not-urban-etc---join-here-no-just-kidding#post-813354 Wed, 09 Jan 2013 23:54:41 +0000 Jenava 813354@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm pretty urban in my style, but I'm cheering from the sidelines! (-: I find this discussion interesting. I think we all sort of "know what we mean" and finding the right words to describe this concept that already has a collective understanding is interesting. </p>