If Midland’s look appears to be meticulously designed, that’s because it is. Country Music Star is a second career for all three members of Midland. They all had jobs that involved a strong sense of fashion before forming their band. Lead singer Mark Wystrach (below right) was a model and actor, guitarist Jess Carson (below center) owned a thrift shop in Austin, TX, and bassist Cameron Duddy (below left) was a music video director and won an MTV VMA for directing “Locked Out of Heaven” by Bruno Mars. The three grew up listening to honkytonk era country music and were drawn to the fashion as much as the sound. They understood the importance of matching their look to their sound from the inception of Midland.
Now the Honkytonk Thrift Shop Chic look that Midland epitomizes has permeated into popular fashion. Gucci started showing heavy influences from 1970s fashion in their lines a few years ago and many high fashion brands soon followed. The age of Disco and Hard Rock is visible all over the fashion world. It has crossed paths with classic American Western style that has always been around the fashion industry to one extent or another. Ralph Lauren has championed the cowboy look half a century now. Brands ranging from Tom Ford to J.Crew have taken Western influences from Ralph over the years. But 2020 has seen a strong resurgence in Western style with a decidedly vintage tone to it.
Freemans Sporting Club has built their reputation on Japanese tailoring and British waxed-cotton jackets but the highlight of their SS20 collection is a western shirt in a Native American print. This is a bold rendition of the pearl snap buttoned denim shirt that has always been the centerpiece of Western style. Robert Redford first brought the western shirt into popular fashion after playing the notorious outlaw-cowboy Sundance Kid in 1969. Wrangler and Levi’s have produced these shirts for over a century and either brand is ideal for the original look. The best modern update on the look comes from Billy Reid who replaced the pearl snaps with solid brass fixtures.