What is Classically American?
or is it all borrowed from somewhere else?
When I hear the words “classically American”, I think of cable knit, rocky coasts, American flag sweaters, worn out boat shoes and hydrangeas. My New England roots run deep and have left a lasting impact on my design style. Lately, I’ve asked myself, “What does classically American actually mean?” America is only 250 years old, after all, and most styles we have are borrowed from a richer history in European and Asian cultures.
I did a little deep dive into what, if anything, has originated from this melting pot of a country and found a fun history of famous American icons that originated here.
Hydrangeas
While most hydrangeas originated from Japan, there are two native species in the United States. The varieties listed below grew in American woodlands naturally and have been cultivated in landscapes all over the country.
The Annabelle hydrangea is a smooth hydrangea with creamy white petals that loves the sun and doesn’t get too overgrown.
The Oakleaf hydrangea has a wider petal and dramatic leaf shape that loves the shade.
Iced Tea
Iced tea was popularized at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair on a hot summer day when legend has it a tea plantation owner poured the hot beverage over ice when no one would purchase his tea hot. At the time, ice was a luxury so cold drinks were not common. It was so refreshing that news of the “new” beverage spread immediately and is now an American icon.
Deep Front Porches
Front porches have been around for thousands of years, but the concept of a deep porch was created by colonial settlers in the South who were new to the heat. The porches gave them a place to cool off while not being exposed to the elements and became a cultural symbol of community and home. The marking differentiator between American front porches and European were the 8-12 foot depth that were used as outside living spaces.
Denim
While the fabric itself stems from 1600s European factories, the concept of denim was made American by 19th century American workers. We all know Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis, who created the first true pair of blue jeans when the patent was granted on May 20, 1873. The 501 is my jean of choice and I wear them at least 3 times a week.
Rocking Chairs
Fun fact: the term rocking chair was added to the Oxford English dictionary in 1787. American colonists are credited with putting rockers on chairs in the early 1700s for a retreat from work. They were placed on porches and in nurseries.
I have about 100 more items to add to this list but I will spare you for now. Here is the key takeaway: while America is a beautiful melting pot of ideas and styles, there are items that are quintessentially American. They were created to support hard labor, family and the rugged terrain this country is defined by.
I love this article! This is a topic I’ve been pondering while diving into the Ralph Lauren style. I didn’t get very far but love learning these iconic Americana things are truly American.
Love this.