https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-classic-american-style Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Fri, 24 Apr 2026 17:26:54 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-classic-american-style/page/2#post-450006 Sat, 22 Oct 2011 21:38:18 +0000 goldenpig 450006@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Whatever Classic American Style is, I don't think I qualify. Rich East Coast Preppy is the stereotype in my mind. It seems like a very, shall we say, non-diverse style. No bright colors, ethnic prints or patterns (unless you count tartan/plaids) so no, I don't think that appeals to me. Of course, I don't mean to knock anyone who dresses in that style...a lot of YLF members do it so well. I think it's a very classic look (obviously). But just not my thing. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-classic-american-style/page/2#post-449825 Sat, 22 Oct 2011 17:00:14 +0000 Vildy 449825@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think Michael Kors, definitely, as the luxe outgrowth of American classic. I'm less sympathetic to Ralph Lauren. I recently noticed a Lauren ad and the outfit was amazing, pants, perfect leather jacket, ruffly shirt. And then I caught myself and wondered who on earth (besides a fantasizing Lauren customer) would wear this and where. You'd look like you were striding up Madison Avenue looking for your riding crop and whoa, people better get out of the way when you find it. Lauren, I think, made up this Americana stuff out of whole cloth. Once read where the by now traditional trappings of an American Christmas had a lot to do with movie depictions offered up by my fellow Jews who were in the movie industry. The perfect fantasies took off. Same with Lauren, in my eyes. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-classic-american-style/page/2#post-449772 Sat, 22 Oct 2011 15:06:44 +0000 Angie 449772@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Super info, Scarlet and Jennifer. I got my wires crossed a little, but do recall Mr. Levis Strauss being the German immigrant who had something to do with wearing jeans in the US for the first time. And the name denim coming from France (de Nimes). I guess jeans are as Euro as they are American.</p> <p>Jonesy and Denise, it's interesting that you brought up Michael Kors. I don't think of the designer as AC, but perhaps I should </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-classic-american-style/page/2#post-449704 Sat, 22 Oct 2011 11:42:02 +0000 Jenniferblue 449704@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>The history of denim and jeans is really international<br /> From Wikipedia<br /> Denim (French town of Nîmes, from which 'denim' (de Nîmes) gets its name) is a rugged cotton twill textile, in which the weft passes under two (twi- "double") or more warp threads. This produces the familiar diagonal ribbing identifiable on the reverse of the fabric, which distinguishes denim from cotton duck. Denim has been in American usage since the late 18th century.[1] The word comes from the name of a sturdy fabric called serge, originally made in Nîmes, France, by the André family. Originally called serge de Nîmes, the name was soon shortened to denim.[2] Denim was traditionally colored blue with indigo dye to make blue "jeans", though "jean" then denoted a different, lighter cotton textile; the contemporary use of jean comes from the French word for Genoa, Italy (Gênes), where the first denim trousers were made.</p> <p>So jeans are really French??????? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-classic-american-style/page/2#post-449691 Sat, 22 Oct 2011 07:40:38 +0000 Scarlet 449691@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Sarah--you are right that RL sometimes has a strong Western element. I wasn't thinking of that.</p> <p>Suz/Angie--jeans were invented by a German immigrant (Levi Strauss) in America. At least that's the story according to my German language textbook. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-classic-american-style/page/2#post-449633 Sat, 22 Oct 2011 01:58:40 +0000 Angie 449633@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This was a GREAT response. I love reading your perceptions!</p> <p>Nakidra made a very interesting point what I had hoped would come up - the difference between what we perceive as CAS, and what most American people wear. </p> <p>Great list, ironkurtin.</p> <p>Suz, I think that jeans were invented in Germany and brought over to America </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-classic-american-style/page/2#post-449584 Sat, 22 Oct 2011 00:53:23 +0000 modgrl 449584@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>When I think of classic American style, I think of rugged, distressed, natural denim and leather western style looks. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-classic-american-style/page/2#post-449575 Sat, 22 Oct 2011 00:44:20 +0000 annagybe 449575@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think there are several variations. We are after all a melting pot. Ralph Lauren does bridge the widest looks, from preppy to western. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-classic-american-style/page/2#post-449571 Sat, 22 Oct 2011 00:41:50 +0000 nicoleb 449571@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yeah i'd say Ralph Lauren or Tommy Hilfiger </p> <p>All the Hampton talk is making me think of one of my new favorite show addictions, "Revenge" *_* </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-classic-american-style/page/2#post-449545 Sat, 22 Oct 2011 00:08:25 +0000 Anonymous 449545@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Actually, it's how I'd describe my own style.</p> <p>I see it as preppy, but also casual, edgy, and with lots of denim. I picture a cross between James Dean and a Harvard man Interestingly, I keep thinking of menswear. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-classic-american-style/page/2#post-449544 Sat, 22 Oct 2011 00:00:52 +0000 Anonymous 449544@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ralph Lauren would be so happy to read this! ( ; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-classic-american-style/page/2#post-449485 Fri, 21 Oct 2011 23:13:04 +0000 Jonesy 449485@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I tend to think of a Michael Kors aesthetic: sportswear; clean, classic lines; luxurious materials; colors like navy, black, camel, gray flannel. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-classic-american-style/page/2#post-449481 Fri, 21 Oct 2011 23:10:45 +0000 Mellllls 449481@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>i agree with a lot of whats been said--ralph lauren, preppy, khaki, denim, denim jackets, and white buttondowns. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-classic-american-style/page/2#post-449473 Fri, 21 Oct 2011 23:05:17 +0000 Suz 449473@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oooh, CocoLion - LOVE those Babe Paley shots. </p> <p>Look at her layered pearls, though. Was she channelling Coco Chanel and a kind of Eurochic? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-classic-american-style/page/2#post-449331 Fri, 21 Oct 2011 21:38:25 +0000 sarah 449331@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Scarlet - I was thinking about his blanket coats and cowboy boots and jeans being far from twin sets and boat shoes and button downs and izods. But now that I think about what I see in the stores of RL's, it is pretty east coast preppy. I think I had in mind the 80s and those delicious RL ad campaigns with all of the silver/turquoise jewelry and long skirts and bolero ties, etc., which I guess is only one end of the RL spectrum.</p> <p>I do agree with Nakidra that there's also a JCrew/Land'sEndCanvas sort of casual American style that seems very characteristic. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-classic-american-style#post-449328 Fri, 21 Oct 2011 21:29:19 +0000 Ginny 449328@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I also think Ralph Lauren, blazers, boat shoes, Crisp white shirts and denim. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-classic-american-style#post-449304 Fri, 21 Oct 2011 20:36:18 +0000 Beth 449304@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm not sure there is only one type of American classic and I think personal definitions will definitely vary depending on region. If it doesn't sound too self-centered, I'll admit that my first thought was me. My style is a combination of classic preppy and modern classic, and that says AC in my head:)</p> <p>I don't really think of it as casual vs. formal. What does come to mind are clean lines, natural fabrics, matte fabrics, understated use of prints and minimal jewelry. IMO, Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger just cannibalized the style as it was around long before they were! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-classic-american-style#post-449298 Fri, 21 Oct 2011 20:33:41 +0000 CocoLion 449298@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>The first thing that came to my mind was Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger. Calvin Klein to a certain extent; he has built a design empire and had a lot to do with furthering denim and t-shirts (a la James Dean). But his style is minimalist which I think of as more of a minority American type of style. His designs are edgy to me because they are minimalist. Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger are not edgy More than anything, they play into that money - preppy - East Coast thing.</p> <p>I also thought of Babe Paley. (Pictured below.) She pre-dates Jackie and influenced American designers like Bill Blass who influenced later designers like Ralph Lauren.</p> <p>So when I hear "classic American" I do think more East Coast preppy while if you want to define other American styles, they have names like "Western" or "California style." </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-classic-american-style#post-449295 Fri, 21 Oct 2011 20:26:48 +0000 greenglove 449295@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ralph Lauren all the way!! I think other designers have tried to do what he does but no one gets it better. He throws in a bit of western and preppie. I adore his looks although they do not always work for me. I love his ads. Think of how many company's like jcrew use the basics of his iconic styles. He is a true American classic. He is also self- made which is very American. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-classic-american-style#post-449286 Fri, 21 Oct 2011 20:10:33 +0000 missvee 449286@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Michael Kors is the designer I think of for classic American style. Beautiful fabrics, and clothes that are well cut and most of all, wearable. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-classic-american-style#post-449240 Fri, 21 Oct 2011 19:17:38 +0000 Nakidra 449240@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think there's a difference between Classic American Style and "What most Americans wear", KWIM? If the question was what do many/most Americans wear I may have said, fleeces, denim, sneakers, sweatpants ... etc. I didn't think that was where Angie was going. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-classic-american-style#post-449233 Fri, 21 Oct 2011 19:11:06 +0000 ironkurtin 449233@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don't think of classic American style as boxy at all, although many of you do. Or as pale denim. Huh. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-classic-american-style#post-449229 Fri, 21 Oct 2011 19:04:13 +0000 Nakidra 449229@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I was thinking more Lands End Canvas and L.L.Bean Signature lines ... they are the more upscale and better fitting versions of regular Lands End and LLBean. They are both ageless, casual yet tailored and "classic.' I live in the Midwest where I don't see the Tommy H and Ralph Lauren style a lot except on the very wealthy older Gold Coast Chicago types so I agree with the previous poster who mentioned a regional difference. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-classic-american-style#post-449225 Fri, 21 Oct 2011 18:57:07 +0000 Vildy 449225@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm on board with the "boxy" comment. May have waisted elements, but not stressing about it. American style was originally supposed to be about sportswear. Easy care, simple shapes, clearer colors, little extraneous detail except maybe one element for<br /> whimsy/punch. Clothes that didn't need to be carefully fitted at the dressmaker. Less<br /> darts in general. More of a daytime look than a cocktail look. Carolina Herrara with her<br /> white shirt and ball skirt would be very "American." More matte, less glitz and shine.<br /> Modest in terms of conspicuous display of affluence, though the items might cost plenty.<br /> Fresh. Innocent and wholesome of outlook. New world optimism. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-classic-american-style#post-449197 Fri, 21 Oct 2011 18:06:28 +0000 Lisa 449197@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Preppy, especially with layered sweaters/shirts. One piece items, those two in one tops that look like a shirt layered underneath but really is not, in general less layered looks. </p> <p>Jeans, sweatshirts, fleece, sneakers (especially white one's), prints, lots of color, looser fit, lighter colors (unless we are talking east coat, then lot's of black), less quality and more quantity. It's very easy to go into a store and walk out with a gallon of milk and a new top. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-classic-american-style#post-449193 Fri, 21 Oct 2011 18:00:47 +0000 Scarlet 449193@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>How does Ralph Lauren not fit with classic East coast preppy? I am curious because I think it does. I think Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, and Tommy Hilfiger, even though all distinct, all define classic American. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-classic-american-style#post-449184 Fri, 21 Oct 2011 17:51:26 +0000 HelenInCanada 449184@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'll chime in. I believe the "classic" American look is evolving a bit, but generally I view it as a casually conservative, "relaxed" look - light wash blue jeans, khakis, coloured t-shirts(tight fitted or loose), denim button-down shirts, perhaps a baseball cap or cowboy hat, and sneakers or loafers. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-classic-american-style#post-449183 Fri, 21 Oct 2011 17:50:42 +0000 rachylou 449183@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>@ironkurtin - That's a good list!</p> <p>I feel conflicted about whether preppy can stand for American style. Preppy rests on Europhilia. Preppies, by virtue of class, would also have been the most traveled. And I mean, Ralph Lauren is an outgrowth of the '70s and lives in Jamaica, which was a sandbox for the titled back in the day. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-classic-american-style#post-449172 Fri, 21 Oct 2011 17:34:19 +0000 ironkurtin 449172@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Also, seeing the leggings thread, I am very much afraid that American style can also mean BAD style. But I'm assuming we're all striving for the stars here! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-classic-american-style#post-449171 Fri, 21 Oct 2011 17:32:01 +0000 Suz 449171@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hmmm. Interesting. My initial thought was what Khris said. But it's clear that America is also home of several other iconic looks. </p> <p>Another question might be when does a classic of one style become a classic of another? I.e. jean originated in America but now are very much a feature of Eurochic. </p>