“I’m Still Me”: K. Michelle on Country Music & Personal Style

At Nashville’s National Museum of African American Music, K. Michelle celebrated Jesus & Whiskey and unveiled the custom look behind “Yodel.” Her three-word answer about style inspired this fall edit.

By J Valentyn | A Wear To Stare Moment

“How has your personal style evolved along with your music?” I asked K. Michelle.

“I’m still me,” she said.

On November 6, the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville hosted An Afternoon with K. Michelle, an intimate gathering celebrating her country album Jesus & Whiskey. The afternoon featured music from the project and a conversation about the stories that shaped it. For Wear To Stare, I wanted to see how that evolution showed up in her personal style.

K. Michelle described her personal style as “super chill.” She likes to keep things simple, wears a lot of Ralph Lauren, and often has pieces custom-made. Now that’s a down-to-earth country girl! I loved that she mentioned both simple and custom in the same breath; There’s an ease in knowing what you like to wear and a peace of mind in having something made just for you.

From the “Yodel” Cover to the Museum

We got to see one of those custom pieces up close. The museum unveiled the Michael Costello jumpsuit K. Michelle wore on the cover of her single “Yodel.” On the cover, the jumpsuit is part of how we first encounter the song. The Turquoise stones used throughout the garment as decorative embellishments, one could presume, were a nod to the deep cultural heritage of Country & Western Style.

Country music can take you from a heartbreak ballad to a Saturday night on a honky-tonk dance floor. “Yodel” has that Saturday-night energy, and the fringe lets you see it before you hear a note. I could picture it swinging with every turn, even as the jumpsuit stood still behind glass. Fringe has been doing that work in country fashion for decades. In his 1986 video for “Honky Tonk Man,” Dwight Yoakam wore a Western jacket trimmed with fringe (Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum). Costello gives that familiar detail a different silhouette in K. Michelle’s jumpsuit.

There’s a story in the title, too. K. Michelle’s yodeling helped earn her a music scholarship to Florida A&M University, my alma mater. That detail made me think back to how quickly she told me, “I’m still me.” On “Yodel,” she’s having fun with a skill she’s had since she was a teenager. At the National Museum of African American Music, visitors can see how she dressed for that moment in her country career and how much of the song’s personality comes through in a single look.

Events at NMAAM are open to the public. Visit their events page here: National Museum of African American Music event listing

In this one-minute conversation, she shares what that looks like when she gets dressed, from keeping it simple in Ralph Lauren to having pieces made just for her. Our conversation gave me a starting point for the six fall looks I’d style for her.

Keeping It Simple: Six Fall Looks for K. Michelle That Feel Wear To Stare

When K. Michelle mentioned Ralph Lauren, I thought about my time as a Ralph Lauren Category Ambassador at Saks Fifth Avenue in Bal Harbour. I’ve always appreciated how much a considered silhouette, a rich texture, or a beautiful pair of boots can bring to a simple outfit. I approached these six looks with that in mind, from relaxed denim and tailoring to pieces I’d style for an evening out.

After Dark

When K. Michelle told me she likes to keep things simple, I thought about how much you can do with an all-black look. I’d leave the embellished blouse completely open over the bodysuit so you can see the sheer panel sweep diagonally across her waist. The silver lines would catch the light as she moves, and the lace-up front on the flared pants brings in a little of that Western attitude from “Yodel.” I’d finish with pointed black boots peeking out from under the hem and a pair of small silver hoops. I’d wear this for a night when the music is good and I plan to stay awhile.

Red, Gold & A Little Edge

I’d tuck the ivory blouse into the gold wide-leg trousers and leave a few buttons undone to show a hint of the leopard-print lace bralette. I love the softness of the blouse against the red moto jacket, which I’d wear open so you can see the print and the high waist of the trousers. I’d hem the trousers so the pointed toes of those glossy red boots peek out with each step. The gold heels echo the trousers, and a pair of small gold hoops is all I’d add. I could see K. Michelle wearing this to a holiday party in Nashville.

A Ralph Lauren Kind of Fall

When K. said she wears a lot of Ralph Lauren, this is the kind of look I pictured. I’d tuck the pale blue button-down into the cream fringe skirt, define the waist with the double-buckle belt, and leave the brown vest open so its plush collar frames the blue shirt. The tall cognac boots give the look that classic Ralph Lauren equestrian feel. My favorite detail is the way the cream fringe would swing against the boots as she walks. It’s a subtle callback to her “Yodel” jumpsuit, this time for a crisp fall afternoon in Nashville.

Chocolate Brown & Winter White

I’d pair the glossy, croc-textured corset with the ivory wide-leg trousers and wear the plush chocolate coat open so you can see the shape of the corset against all that soft volume. The spotted bucket hat and matching gloves are my favorite part. They pull the brown and ivory together and bring a little playfulness to the look. I’d finish with pointed chocolate pumps just peeking out beneath the hem. I could see K. Michelle wearing this to dinner on a cold Nashville night. The coat, hat, and gloves make an entrance, and once she takes them off, the corset has a moment of its own.

Gold After Dark

I’d style K. Michelle in the full gold suit and leave the double-breasted blazer draped over the shoulders, making the lace-up halter top the star of the show. I love how the suit has a soft metallic sheen while the top catches the light in little flashes. And when she takes the blazer off, you get to see the lacing along the sides. I’d finish with slim bronze sandals just visible beneath the wide-leg trousers and sculptural gold earrings. This is the look I’d pull for her next listening party.

A Touch of Western

I’d tuck the black Western shirt into the cream wrap skirt and leave the brown vest open so the fringe across the chest still shows. I love how that fringe picks up again at the skirt’s hem. You’d see it sway against the tall cognac boots as K. Michelle walks, a little reminder of all that movement in her “Yodel” jumpsuit. The plush collar and warm brown leather give the look that classic Ralph Lauren fall feel, but we can also lose the vest altogether. I’d keep the jewelry to small gold hoops to echo the buckles on the boots.

Still Me, Still Blooming

I kept thinking about how quickly K. Michelle answered my question. “I’m still me.” I heard that same ease when she talked about wearing Ralph Lauren, keeping things simple, and having a piece made just for her when she wants one. It’s what I took away from Jesus & Whiskey, too. Blooming can look like trusting yourself enough to make the music you want to make and showing up as yourself while you do it.

If you’re still figuring out your personal style, start with one thing you wear on repeat. What makes you reach for it? Maybe it’s the way your favorite jeans fit or how you feel when you put on that one jacket. Keep that piece on and try it with something you’ve never paired it with. You might surprise yourself and still look in the mirror and think, “That’s me.”