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Clothes make the man: a fascinating NYTimes article

viva

Veteran

I just read this and enjoyed what it had to say about fashion, as well as its male point of view. The author, a fashion writer for the NYT, decides to spend a day wearing head-to-toe fashions from each of five designers, departing from his indistinct urban uniform.

There are interesting thoughts on certain cuts/designers changing your posture, making you smarter (made me think about Approprio's comment to me about dressing to shop), and also a brilliant observation about the value of dressing on trend and living in the moment.

Enjoy!

http://tiny.cc/4bcz7x

17 replies

Latest reply was from Lyn D.

chirico (Chiara)

(website)

Veteran

Loved it!
I especially like this quote:
"

Women, it seems to me, understand something about clothing that may lie beyond the grasp of most male consumers. They know that in changing clothes, it is easy to try on fresh identities."

Or may be, instead of "fresh identities", it should read "another of our identities"

Anonymous

I loved it too! A fab piece of writing and so fascinating. I too liked that quote mentioned by Chirico and I also liked the Oscar Wilde Quote “Fashion is a form of ugliness so absolutely unbearable that we have to alter it every six months!” Ha! — The Author of the piece states how much he felt 'in the present' when wearing a very trendy, of the moment outfit. A lot of food for thought. Thanks Viva!

viva

Veteran

I noticed both of those moments in the writing, Chirico and Diane! A great piece, for sure.

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks for posting! And interesting and enjoyable read. I also enjoyed the pictures...

Helena

Veteran

This was a really interesting read - I wonder, though, do the clothes make the person? Or does a person wearing clothes not aligned with their personality look like a fashion victim where someone with the right personality would look like a fashionista? THIS is what fascinates me so much about personal style - how does it intersect with the individual's whole being?

I do love Chirico's point "it should read, another of our indentities" ... if fashion and style can help us develop areas of ourselves that we've previously overlooked, that is a wonderful thing!

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I was going to post this one, too, but you beat me. I loved the insights about how clothes can change the way you feel about yourself rather than being a reflection of yourself or mood.

Anonymous

Great article. I liked that he talked about "'enclothed cognition,' a theory proposing that the clothes we wear affect not just how others see us, but how we ourselves think and behave." This concept has always fascinated me. I was just thinking yesterday of how my siblings and I always behaved better as children when we were dressed up. I am glad to see that men are getting more options these days in how they present themselves to the world (although I wouldn't advise wearing a leopard-print suit just anywhere).

Cococat

Veteran

'Enclothed cognition' is a great term and I tend to agree with the concept. What I wear can have a big impact on how I feel and even behave. For example, I choose certain outfits for certain types of meetings because they make me feel confident, which then makes me more assertive.

chirico (Chiara)

(website)

Veteran

I also was thinking of when I was doing ballet. We'd always perform better during our "costume" reharsal than in any other rearsals. Maybe because we really got into the part?

Anonymous

Interesting read, and I like his writing style. I only wish there had been better, clearer photographs of what he wore. Personally, if I were a man, I'd be wearing Public School all the time (when I wasn't wearing my $6000 Ralph Lauren suit). Thom Browne leaves me cold.

rachylou

Veteran

I want to reread this, slowly. My dad was into fashion, but he was not American. I have never really understood American men's relationship with fashion. I don't know how, for the fashionable ones, they really approach / reconcile that American desire for no fuss and plainness. The perceived need to be ready to chop wood at any time. You know, the sharpest American male dressers I've known... All gangsters. Real gangsters. Double OGs. And the car is a part of it. OOGs don't chop wood on principle...

Peri

Veteran

Or we could go with Mark Twain..."it's true that clothes make the man. Naked people have little to no influence in society,"

Caro in Oz

Veteran

Thanks so much for sharing - I hadn't seen this. I'm very interested in the concept 'enclothed cognition'.

Ryan Dichter's comment about sending customers to another designer if they don't "feel" the RL look is priceless.

Colette

Veteran

I finally had a minute to read this. Interesting, thanks for sharing. The writer makes me think of my grammar school days and my constant lamenting to my Parent's because they would not allow my Brother and I to wear jeans to school. We needed to be properly dressed according to them and jeans were obviously not proper to them at the time. My Father always said, that if you dress like ladies and gentlemen you will act like ladies and gentlemen.

Runcarla

Veteran

Thanks for sharing this enjoyable article.

SarahTheWhite

Veteran

Thank you for this. It was so interesting!

Lyn D.

Veteran

Loved it!
I wanted more photos too.