When it comes to dating, we all have a type. Tall, dark, skinny, blond, buff. The list goes on. Over the last two years I’ve noticed that I’m no longer attracted to the type I once was—preppy, frat-tastic. I suppose this transformation had a lot to do with my changing political beliefs and my deepening interest in music and art. Not to say  fratties can’t be liberal or into music; it’s just rare. These days I’ve become interested in what I like to call the Kentucky Mountain Man.

First off, a Kentucky Mountain Man must have a beard. The longer the better. Secondly, he’s gotta wear plaid, although rustic pearl snap shirts work, too . Both add to his mountain man-ness. The plaid shirt and beard combo screams lumberjack, which is where the term originated. Does he look like he spends time in the Appalachian Mountains chopping wood and singing tunes on his guitar? If so, he’s a KMM. He doesn’t necessarily have to hail from Kentucky or play an instrument, but he’s gotta look rugged and he has to love good music. Perhaps the most endearing part of a KMM are his soulful eyes. Because his entire face is covered with hair all you have to look at are his eyes, but those can tell you a lot about someone.

Below is an example of the ultimate KMM, Tyler Ramsey. Ramsey is singer-songwriter who most recently joined one of my favorite bands Band of Horses. I will probably never meet him but I’m confident there are plenty of Kentucky Mountain Men living right here in Chicago.

**Update: Google ads I saw next to this post were for Mountain Man Clothing and Kentucky Dating.

Tyler Ramsey of Band of Horses (Via rorris, Flickr Creative Commons Lincense)