Understand the lumberjack style and learn how to adhere to the look that never goes out of style
In recent years, the lumberjack style has come back into fashion. This is particularly true in urban areas, where men who want to channel a virility vibe have made the "lumberjack" super trendy.
The lumberjack look has nothing to do with sloppiness and lack of care. It is simply a rescue of the rustic and vintage style revisited by the modern man.
In fact, men who dress like that even have a classification of their own: Lumbersexuals. Lumbersexuals is a portmanteau of the word lumberjack and metrosexual. That is, it is a modern, urban and sexy lumberjack style.
The fashion caught on even in Hollywood, with stars like Ryan Reynolds and Chris Pine wearing leather boots and a plaid shirt.
The style echoes a rustic, manly look, similar to the classic lumberjack from Hollywood movies. Hence also comes the name of American lumberjack style.
As the bigger beard is a striking point of the look, it ends up being a lot of inspiration for men who like long beards. Another striking feature is the more comfortable clothes, inspired by the hipster universe of indie rock. The plaid shirt reigns supreme in this style. But it's not just that.
If you're curious about the lumberjack look, read on for all the information and adopt this style which is not just a passing trend, but a way of life, as many would-be "modern lumberjacks" enjoy craft beers, woodworking and frequent niche stores.
The story behind the urban lumberjack style or lumbersexuals
When studying the lumbersexuals style, it is important that we understand what fueled their inspiration. Specifically, I'm talking about the man known as a lumberjack.
Here's a brief history.
Lumberjacks are men (and women) who work in the lumber industry and are responsible for harvesting and transporting trees. Thanks to their labor-intensive work, they help make many of the products you use every day possible. Examples include paper, medicine, furniture, stickers, and even clothing.
In fact, the term lumberjack is a bit of a throwback to a bygone era in America, just before 1945. You see, back then, men who cut trees did it without the aid of machines. Instead, they used hand tools and relied on their muscles. It was like an intense upper body workout!
A curiosity, the popular endurance event "Tough Mudder", a competition with obstacles, a lot of mud and that requires body resistance; was in part inspired by the iconic lumberjacks.
An article written by Adam Tomczik talks about the nomenclature of men employed in the lumber industry at the time.
Being a lumberjack meant working in dangerous and fatal situations where the hours were long and the conditions were brutal.
While many romanticize lumberjacks, it's important to keep in mind the reality of their work. These men worked for hours outdoors in all types of weather, including severe storms, blinding blizzards, and scorching heat.
What's more, the pay for this kind of work was ridiculously low. For shelter, men stayed in primitive forms of housing, such as destroyed cabins and makeshift tents.
What eventually emerged from the lumberjack culture of the time was an emphasis on masculinity, fearlessness, and a strong resistance to modernization.
Inspired by this rugged, outdoorsy approach to living, lumbersexuals were born.
Features of the lumberjack style
You will see in detail what defines the most "woody" style and how to achieve it. It's very simple, you just need to be careful. Check out:
1. The lumberjack beard style
If your goal is to achieve a sexy and manly lumberjack look, you need to grow some facial hair. That doesn't mean a long, shaggy beard hanging over your face. But you will need some growth.
The hallmark of a lumberjack-style masculine face is always a squarer chin and you get that with a beard. To get the classic lumberjack beard you must grow facial hair. In about 4 months, the hairs reach an average size and, to be really big, around 1 year.
Let the beard grow and keep doing the maintenance, which is not difficult. The lumberjack beard is less voluminous at the sides than at the bottom. To do this, trim the largest and most pointy hairs with scissors or a zero-cut machine. You do this with movements of hovering the tool over the beard.
Then shave the hair on the neckline, about 3 fingers past the chin line, and shave the cheekbones as well. Trim the sideburns, joining the hair or making a gradient, to lighten the look.
But in the modern era, many men who go for that rustic-stripped look opt for a shorter beard, and that's okay. Try letting hair grow on your face for at least five days and see how it goes. This beard style is called Stubble Beard, better known as stubble.
The stubble isn't lumberjack style, but being a lumbersexual is much more than just having a beefy beard. So for men who don't want long facial hair, there's nothing stopping them from adopting the stubble look, it's just that the rest of the look is consistent with the lumberjack style, according to the next topics.
To have a stubble beard, just let the beard grow for a few days and then do the maintenance. Shave along the neckline, cheekbones and keep the beard trimmed. In fact, this style that was once seen as sloppy has acquired a charming look today.
Men who want to look like a lumberjack are really trying to channel a masculine, rugged appearance. And nothing says more vitality than a solid colored beard.
If your facial hair is uneven or gray is showing, don't be afraid to color it. This is extremely easy to do at home.
Buy a box of beard paint, but be sure to choose the color closest to your natural shade. A tip not to make mistakes, if you are in doubt, choose a lighter color and not the darkest one, because if it is too dark, the result will not be natural.
2. Checkered print flannel shirts
The most iconic shirt of this style is the flannel shirt with a plaid print. Personally, I like the classic red and black plaid. This shirt is the face of the lumbersexual style.
Some men wear a T-shirt under their unbuttoned shirt. On warmer days, you can roll up the sleeves to stay cooler and, of course, choose a lighter flannel. The shirt underneath can be any color you prefer, but if in doubt, opt for neutral tones such as white, black and gray and without flashy prints.
The heavier, padded flannel jacket is perfect for cold days.
3. Shirt and denim jacket
Another really cool option is the long-sleeved denim shirt, which, like the flannel one, you can roll up the sleeves on the hottest days and also combine with a neutral t-shirt underneath. The ideal thing is that the jeans have a more classic wash and without prints, embroidery and appliqués that escape the rustic vibe.
The same goes for the denim jacket. The simple, non-padded denim jacket is perfect for those times when you want to put on a third piece but aren't too cold.
4. Jeans
It can be slim or wider, depending on what you prefer, but ideally it should be in a sober color, like the famous blue, and without flashy details. The charm is due to minimalism. If you can, invest in more durable clothes with well-made seams.
5. Boots and boots
Military style boots and boots are ideal to compose the woodcutter man's style. They are heavy and resistant shoes, conveying the idea of strength and durability. Black goes well, but brown leather has a special charm.
6. Accessories
Accessories are also welcome, after all we are talking about the urban lumberjack. Thin chains with a discreet, rustic pendant are ideal. Leather bracelets are also used. There are numerous models, but brown or black leather bracelets with braided details look good on everyone, there's no mistake.
When it comes to belts, the more neutral ones with discreet buckles make up the look better.
A small detail, but one that is important for anyone who wants to be a lumbersexual is the sock. Lumberjacks didn't wear white socks. Instead, they did their best to wear woolen fabrics. The reasons are obvious: warmth and comfort. Choose socks that aren't too thick so you don't have to put your boots on.
7. The right perfume
To make a special impression, you'll need something that smells woody and manly. Stay away from anything that contains a floral scent.
If you don't know where to start, you don't have to go far. O Boticário's Malbec cologne is woody and perfect for style. It is a very good fragrance, made of woody and fresh notes, being drier and not too sweet, it tends to please most men.
8. pocket knife
Something modern lumberjacks often carry is a pocket knife. If you're interested in this, you might be wondering why own a pocket knife.
Many men of this style like manual activities, and having a pocket knife can be very useful for small cuts, being able to serve as an instrument of your survival kit in the wild, for example.
If you're like most guys, you probably don't want something gigantic. Just a small pocket knife that comes with a pocket clip is enough for basic cuts.
Conclusion
The great advantage of adhering to the lumbersexual look is that this style never goes out of style, because they are contemporary outfits and having a beard is something that many men like. The style is still attractive, masculine and effortless.
I hope you found this guide helpful. Thanks for taking the time to read!
Reference:
Tomczik, Adam. "“He-Men Could Talk to He-Men in He-Man Language”: Lumberjack Work Culture in Maine and Minnesota, 1840–1940." The Historian 70.4 (2008): 697-715.