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Rosie

Veteran

Do you have one? I was thinking the other day that while we often look to females to figure out what kind of styles we like, males may actually give us a better sense of what we truly value in a person's style. Since we (generally) aren't looking at men's outfits for what to wear ourselves, when we like an outfit or how a man presents himself, it might be easier to pinpoint exactly what it is about the clothes that please us. Color? Styling? Neatness?

Do you ever analyze what you like about a man's outfit that catches your eye? Do you see any consistencies? I really have no idea if this theory is true, but have you thought about it?

I find The Sartorialist to have some of the best photos of men's fashion. http://thesartorialist.blogspot.com/

General

18 replies

Latest reply was from crazyone

Itari

(website)

I don't really care about men, but I like to watch how people are dressed. Sure, I can decide if a man looks good, but that's all.

When it comes to fashion, I like unusual, edgy details and accessories, but I tend to like similar styles on both men and women. Sorry, I'm not much help

Rosie

Veteran

Actually, you answered the question just fine. There is no right/wrong or helpful/not helpful! Most likely we will like the same kinds of things on men and women, but who knows! Your answer showed that you do know the kinds of details you like whether they are on men or women! A+.

Maya

Veteran

All the time. Sloppy, overly casual, ill fitting clothes, inappropriate clothes, and bad grooming are a MAJOR put-off for me in both men and women, but men seem to get away with it more which makes me that much more critical! I do have my own set of style preferences for men, but I would never force them on anyone, just like I don't force my trendy style on women. As long as they meet the minimum requirements above, I will notice and appreciate the effort, just as with women.

Ok, BIG surprise ahead: As far as my personal preferences go, I love how Jared Leto dresses. I know, you're falling off your chairs in disbelief...

I once saw an older man on the train with a seersucker suit, Hercule Poirot-esque mustache, white shoes, and a white summer hat. No way is that my style and he was far too old for me to think of him as anything but a father figure, but he put a smile on my face. And I don't even like mustaches!

Sarah Baker

(website)

Stanley Marcus, of Neiman-Marcus, was always meticulously dressed. I worked in downtown Dallas for a few years and whenever I saw him, he was dressed beautifully for the season-seersucker and straw in summer, wool in winter.

In terms of Classic Hollywood, I have never seen a photo of Charles Farrell or Cary Grant I didn't love. James Dean was another epitome of style but in a more casual way.

In terms of current Hollywood, George Clooney has my vote.

Frances

Rosie, this is a great question! Would saying "Don Draper" be too obvious? Seriously, a man in a well-tailored suit usually does it for me. And of course, as Maya points out, attention to grooming is essential. For some reason, I gravitate toward men in suits and, for more casual attire, men with a somewhat academic, tweedy style.

I recently hopped into a cab after a business meeting for which I had worn a suit. I got into this conversation with the cab driver about suits, and he told me he and his buddies always suit up when they go bar crawling on Saturday nights. When I told him that men in suits always make me swoon, he seemed delighted that I had confirmed his choice of Saturday night attire to be a wise one.

Beth

Veteran

I love a man in classic tailored looks. Give me Pierce Brosnan in "The Thomas Crowne Affair" any day.

Oh my. I feel flushed.

Maya

Veteran

I too wish more men wore suits, but I guess it's not a fair expectation until women start wearing corsets with their 50's dresses again. The thing that gets me is that so many men who DO wear suits wear ones that are ill fitting ones or cheap-looking! Pants too long, or too short, tons of creases, etc.

Men could really have so much fun with their clothes if they just *wanted* to. Hats, ties, fabrics, patterns, colors, shapes. I think I should order that ultra slim cut Ben Sherman suit and keep it as a litmus test for future relationships. "Will you wear this suit and like it?" If not, REJECT! :p

Rosie

Veteran

"Suit up!" (Any How I Met your Mother fans out there?) Men in suits are beautiful. When they fit! Maya, I think I like a lot of the photos on the Sartorialist for the reasons you mention. Men are having FUN with their clothes. I love a man who wears color.

I like your suit test. My best friend insists a guy eats sushi, why not wear a specific suit?

Grooming is most definitely important. Do you see yourself in the men whose appearances you like? For some of you it sounds like you love men with similar styles to your own - edgy, hip, etc. For others - do we just love Don Draper and Pierce in Thomas Crown because they look hot, or is there more to it? Like Pierce looks impeccable - is the tailoring what we admire, too?

Mellllls

Veteran

How a man is dressed is more important to me if it's a stranger. For example, I will pick a seat on the subway next to the man who is dressed the nicest. Or, if I'm lost I'd ask the nicest dressed man I see for directions. Other than that, I don't think men's style influences me much.

Back in college, a couple of my guy friends were studying abroad in London and there Friday night favorite thing to do was put on their suits go to expensive bars and pretend to be Wall Street bankers on business. They claim it always impressed the ladies...

Maya

Veteran

I like and appreciate all kinds of styles, but I have a very soft spot for a skinny mod boy. Throw in an accent of some kind and I'm sold.

It's true that I do like "my" style transplanted on to a bloke, but it's not that important. It is more important to me for men to have fun with style and not be stupid about it (ie "fashion's for girls and gay guys"). I'm not modern classic at all, but I can totally appreciate that style on a dude.

What I don't like are men who just don't care, or who are so insecure that they avoid looking nice just so they won't be perceived as feminine or gay. My ex ALWAYS used to be approached by gay guys at his school, and several of my friends were tactful enough to ask me if he was gay just because he was thin and well dressed. As for not caring, I consider dressing nicely to be a show of respect, and I hold men to that standard as well.

Theresa

(website)

Veteran

oh my BethW - we can swoon together - Pierce Brosnan in TCA, actually no, Pierce Brosnan in anything (or nothing LOL)... *flushing here too LOL*

But, one of the reasons I absolutely LOVE going to the races is because all the boys dress up - usually not a suit jacket because even in Winter its too hot here, but great pants, dress shirts and co-ordinating ties... yuuummmmmyyyyy!!!! Especially when I see the boys I know who are farmers or mechanics or similar "dirty career" types, all dressed nicely... and smelling nicely too...

Other than that, I must admit that in my recent flurry of evenings out at the pub, I'm loving a well fitted pair of jeans, and a nice T on a toned body...

And, cos I'm a country girl at heart, I love seeing a cute farmer in his work clothes out on the job - with the cows and whatever... I find farmers (the cute ones) incredibly attractive.

OK enough of this or I'll need a cold shower LOL

Frances

I feel a little badly for most men when it comes to style. I'm not sure style has the same weight of importance in their upbringing that it often does for girls, who are often pouring over fashion magazines as soon as they hit junior high. I remember in high school and college, a lot of my guy friends were just oblivious or bewildered and would ask kind of shy, curious questions sometimes about style and grooming (not that I was in any position to advise them at that point in my life!). I wonder if some men just never outgrow that? It personally took me years to understand what fit me well and what cuts of clothing suited me better than others, so I can sympathize. Also, in a culture where shorts and t-shirts are often the norm, I think suit-shopping must be genuinely intimidating for young men. A decent suit is usually pricey, so unless they're going to be wearing them to work every day, I think a lot of men just buy one for special occasions, like post-college job interviews, and if you're not practiced at suit-shopping and buy off the rack without guidance, you can easily get the tailoring aspect all wrong. Fortunately, there are now more men's style manuals out there to assist. As for the poor grooming, I know a lot of young men go through a sort of long-haired, facial hair experimental hippie phase (no judgment--like many girls, I was attracted to that when I was in college), but I draw the line at poor hygiene. Unless they're truly homeless and don't have access to safe bathroom facilities, there's no excuse for not bathing and brushing the teeth daily, learning how to do laundry (routinely!) and keeping the fingernails trimmed and clean. But incredibly, this evades some men. I actually know a 38-year old man who takes his clothes into the shower with him to "launder" them!

taylor

Veteran

Cary Grant....the epitome of class and style

Lena

I like a variety of styles: the slim mod style; a tailored suit ala old Hollywood; sometimes rocker (especially glam rock) or biker elements. But above all, it has to be neat, well fitting and appropriate for the occasion.

Like Frances, I sympathize with guys in ill-fitting suites.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Simon le Bon, Tom Cruise, Chris Cornell, Justin Timberlake and Will Smith are snappy dressers in my book. All different but perfectly fab.

Iris

From a high school senior -> college student's perspective, let me break it down in terms of economics.

Most guys I know actually want to be better dressed, but while it's very easy to find affordable fashion for women, like $20 a top/pants/skirt, men have it much harder, because most affordable stores stock oversized sweatshirts, carpenter jeans, and skater logo t-shirts. The snappier stores, like Express Men and Armani Exchange, are out of their price range, even if it fits their body and style persona better. Also, anyone that is smaller than a L is usually out of luck when it comes good fit.

Unless fashion designers begin to trickle down the high street fashion to men as well, we will forever see a dearth of too-casual men who either stick it out in a t-shirt or shorts, or doomed to a preppy uniform of polos and jeans. I very rarely see an inbetween.

NK

Yes, a man in a well fitting suit does it for me.

I've noticed that on the show Rules of Engagement, the Adam character, played by Oliver Hudson (Kate Hudson's brother) always seems to dress well and creatively. I've tried to pick out some clothes for my husband using his style on the show.

crazyone

Veteran

Roger Federer in a suit is just...amazing (also, I think he has the best male hair I've ever seen).

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