Urban Cowboy Style

From the athletic jock to the metro sexual...just like women, guys have their own unique style personalities. Today, some tips on how to do the urban cowboy look in a modern way.

1) Ditch the flannel shirt. For a more fashionable look, go for a vintage looking Western style button down shirt. Use your shirt as your statement piece and get one with details like pearl buttons or some embroidered details.


2) When it comes to your jeans, a distressed and/or faded style is best. It just ups the "cool" factor of your look, without making it look like you are trying to hard. Also, make sure they are not too tight or you'll risk looking "dated". You want a nice boot cut and somewhat fitted, but never tight! For dressier occasions, go for a darker wash.

3) For some extra fashion flair, a cool belt buckle will do the trick. Think chunky silver or if you're really daring (and it works with the rest or your outfit), turquoise.

4) And lastly, but most importantly, you can't be an Urban Cowboy without the cowboy boots. Some may say you should get creative with snakeskin or two toned boots, but I say the when it comes to the footwear, the simpler the better. A classic brown, black, or even grey pair will always look the best, and provide more versatilty within your wardrobe. YEE HAW!

Accessorizing yourself

Accessories (specifically jewellery) are not only the easiest and least expensive way to update your look, but are the best way for showing off your style personality!

So, next time you are shopping for some new accessories, think about your style personality and what "goes" with it. Even when you are wearing the most basic of outfits - like a pair of jeans and a simple top (or you have to wear a uniform for work), your choice of accessories are the perfect way to show off your personality to the world. Some examples...

"Dramatic", a bold and chunky pendant necklace
"Natural", a turquoise beaded necklace and bracelet
"Classic", a thick silver bangle
"Creative", a big and flashy gemstone ring
"Romatic", long strands of flirty and feminine pearls

"Fashion fades, only Style remains the same" - Coco Chanel

Contrary to popular belief, Style has nothing to do with Fashion. Nor is it something reserved for the thin, famous, or wealthy…or something you are born with. Sure, it does come easier for some, but it is a skill that can be taught if you are willing to learn.

Here, the Practical Fashionista’s top three tips to get you on the road to always looking your best and discovering your personal style…

1) Get to know your body shape so you can dress accordingly. In other words, learn how to amplify your assets while downplaying the parts you aren’t so fond of.
2) Go through your closet and get rid of anything that no longer fits, is outdated, or doesn’t make you feel GREAT when you wear it.
3) When shopping, be brutally honest about whether the item you are thinking of buying will fit in with the rest of your wardrobe, matches your style personality, and flatters your body type and shape. If not, skip it.

The "IT" Factor

This is a bit of a long post, and yes pretty self promotional. But since I have made it my mission in life that everyone look and feel their best (and I want to teach them how), it’s important for me to say.
What is style? Do you have it? And if not, how do you get it?

It’s true, for some people, looking put together and stylish just seems to come easily…like it’s in their DNA. But for most, this isn’t the case. The good news is, it’s something that can be taught. It’s not rocket science, but it is a skill.

So, what does it come down to? Simply put, it’s all about knowing yourself inside and out.

Starting from the inside, developing a personal style that will have you always looking your best means being honest about who you are, your values, and the image you wish to project. From the outside, it means acknowledging and appreciating your assets. So many times, we focus on our “flaws” and how to disguise them. I want people to start to turn their attention toward their assets and amplify them. Because when you do that, no one’s going to notice your so called “flaws”, all they’ll be able to see is your stunning style and confidence.

So, the next question is, how do you do all of this? Well, if you don’t know where to start, it can be tricky. That’s where an Image Coach/Image Consultant/Personal Stylist like myself comes in! Someone that can be objective about you and your appearance, someone who isn’t “weighed” down with your past baggage about who you are, what you look like, or what you have been told about either of those things by other people. And unlike a retail sales person, we’re not working on commission, so an Image Coach will be honest about what does and doesn’t work for you. So, how do we do it?

First of all, it begins with truly understanding who you are on the inside. From there, we can recommend the best “look” for you…something called your “Style Personality”. As well, an Image Coach will work with you to determine your individual body type, shape, colouring, lifestyle, and budget to determine the best clothing for you. From clothing cuts, styles, fabrics, colours, textures, etc.

I can hear it now though, “I can’t afford an Image Coach. It must be so expensive. That’s something only the rich or famous have.” Well, you’d probably be surprised to learn how inexpensive it is. The knowledge you’ll gain is priceless, and when you do the math, the return on investment is really quite big. Imagine…

- A renewed sense of pride in the way you look
- Loving ALL of your clothes
- Not having to stress about “What to Wear” because you’ll have a fun and functional wardrobe full of clothes that flatter YOU
- Knowing that you always make a great first impression (professionally and socially)
- Being able to shop with confidence knowing what works and doesn’t work for you, and saving tons of time and money because of it

So, are you ready to invest in YOU? If so, drop me a line at lisa@practicalfashionista.com so we can discuss your needs.

And if you’re not convinced yet, I’ll let one of my client testimonials sum it up for you…

“I love it b/c I now have a guidance of what to look for and what to try on. That's always been the main reason why I've hesitated to go shopping. This is excellent because with this info in mind, I'll feel more confident trying things on and making my purchase decisions. Also, thanks for the product & clothing line recommendations! I'll definitely recommend Lisa - I had a great time and felt comfortable with her and trusted her.” - Dixie, Toronto