THE PRACTICE OF MAN (AND WOMAN?) REPELLING:
Today’s post has been written by my good friend Laura Hunter-Thomas from the amazing Obsessive Coolness. I’ve been in touch with Laura for a while, as I love her deep, insightful posts, and we decided to guest post on each other’s blog. Head over to her website to check my post.
It is a well-known fact that fashion does not always cater to the less fair sex. While women worship at the (fashionably adorned, of course) alter of harem pants, jumpsuits, feathers and fur, and madcap prints, men desperately offer sacrifices to the God-please-don’t-let-my-girlfriend-ever-wear-that. There’s even a hilarious and popular blog, The Man Repeller, dedicated to the “fashion do’s and fornication don’ts” that haunt men’s nightmares.
But while we are all, in varying degrees of distress, aware of the practice of warding off hetero men with women’s one true love – fashion – what about the revenge of the men: woman repelling? Of course there are the wannabe gangster faux pas (chains – “You are not a gangster, your necklace comes from Topman, and why are you wearing women’s accessories?” – and low-hanging trousers, namely), but what about the sartorial sexual setbacks of the chic and fashionable?
In the Libido Litigation Act version 1.0, it boils down to three items often sported among the male fash pack: bow ties, v-necks and skinny jeans. Yes, a guy can look incredibly chic in all of these items, but they will, quite frankly, do nothing for your powers of attraction (probably because each gives the impression that you bat for the other side). A bow tie worn outside of a situation warranting a tuxedo screams ‘not on your team’, while v-necks and skinny jeans (both often sported by Hayden Christensen wannabes going for the rocker-chic look) both leave you in competition with your paramour (I mean really, a guy shouldn’t have skinnier legs than his love interest, or more cleavage on show).
But here’s the thing – should you care? Well, only if you’re dressing for fornication rather than fashion. If your end-of-the-night goal is to be scoring photo ops with Mr. Lagerfeld rather than sharing your bed, well then, a bow tie is practically a required uniform! If you’re reading this, you most likely are, after all, a fashionista. Embrace your calling. Go on, be a (wo)man repeller.
Urbane Menswear for Beyond Fabric
By Gracie Razo & Nerie Valles
The world of menswear is slowly changing. It’s now more popular and accessible to men who are seeing how easy it is to look good with the least amount of effort. The Don Drapers, stylish musicians and men who look like they’re straight out of a GQ editorial are showing how to be more creative in day-to-day dressing.
This world of suits and shiny dress shoes is evolving into new ideas. Feminine accents, brighter colors and more patterns are steering menswear into a whole other direction. However, the days of clean, tailored trousers and sturdy pairs of leather boots are not dead. Men are now finding the middle ground between the two to create their own sense of personal style.
Likes
A man who has his own style, no matter what he sees in stores or magazines, is always attractive. This man has the confidence to wear what he likes and to wear what he feels comfortable in to best express himself. If he likes relaxed fit denim, he’ll pair it with his favorite T-shirt. But if this man wants to throw on a sharp three-piece suit, he’ll do just that. So regardless of what a man is wearing, his confidence will always be appealing.
As for actual pieces, we have our favorites. Blazers are a great piece to see on men. To us, they completely say “man” loud and clear. Dressed up or down, they can project his personality depending on how he wears them. A trusty button-up is another simple piece that can really be a good staple in a man’s wardrobe, especially if the sleeves are rolled up after a long day. A man’s scent - as long as it’s a good one - is also essential. Whether he prefers the clean fragrance of his cologne or just his body wash and deodorant, a scent will always leave a long-lasting impression.
Other pieces like dark denim, brogues and a signature hairstyle are some of our favorites. But none of them would mean nearly anything if they aren’t worn with absolute confidence.
Dislikes
Just like we said, a good scent will leave an impression, but so can a bad one. Not showering or taking care of yourself is a definite turn off. But overall, not taking the time to show your personality on the outside is a negative for us. Playing with clothing to display emotion and feeling is just another way of seeing who that person really is.
Men who think wearing whatever is on the runway without incorporating their own personal favorites is not what we think of when we talk about style. Often times, people confuse style with fashion. We would take style - a personal array of likes and dislikes, no matter the current trends - over fashion any day. But this should also come with a willingness to explore new options. Progress and open mindedness is always a plus. If there is one thing we always stress to our blog readers, it is probably fit.
Is there anything worse than seeing a man with too-tight jeans or a suit jacket that looks two sizes too big? Not in our eyes.
