Be Well Dressed Without Looking Metrosexual
How to Command an Image, Avoid Impressions of the Effete, Feminine
Oct 7, 2009
Popular men's magazines such as GQ and Details are excellent sources of information for men looking to upgrade their look and to take pride in their wardrobes and the way that they look in a fine suit. That being said, fashion magazines of this persuasion have been trending dangerously close to crossing the ultimate line in the sand that makes them utterly useless to most men – wearability.
Things to Avoid in Modern Men's Fashion – Skinny Suits, Skinny Jeans
There are several key pieces of clothing that are now being heavily advocated by popular men's style magazines that are simply unwearable for a vast majority of men. The first of these is what is termed as the “skinny” suit – essentially the implementation of the emo scene's “skinny jean” into the realm of men's fashion.
While it is obviously desirable to have a suit that is properly fitted (that is, providing a degree of a silhouette, and being snug without being taut – the skinny suit is truly designed for fashion models and for extremely slim men – looking literally foolish when worn by men of average build or greater.
Put a Decent Hem in Those Suit Pants, Forgo the GQ and Details Advice
Recent articles in GQ and Details have also offered advice with regards to the hemming of pants, suggesting that one should always tell the tailor that they wish to have no break whatsoever at the bottom of their pant, and that the hem should fall an inch (or more) above the block to ensure a straight line.
The practical outcome of this suggestion is that men who ask for this type of cut with almost always end up with what look to be flood pants, and have effectively either ruined or scarred what is sure to be an expensive garment. Dress pants are meant to fall exactly to the top of the block of a shoe. This ensures that while walking, your pant legs do not flap around your shins, revealing your mismatched socks the entire time you are in motion.
Further, men with shorter legs than the average fashion model will end up looking entirely ridiculous by adopting this style, especially if they are not of slim build.
Leather Jackets, Bombers, and Outerwear for Professional Men
Finally, with the approach of the fall and winter seasons, many men will have an outerwear purchase on their mind as they peruse the selection for men this year. More than anything else, this will be a direct appeal to comfort – as outerwear is specifically important in more than a purely aesthetic sense.
The current online edition of GQ.com features a contrasting image of a man wearing a slightly oversized leather jacket opposite a model wearing a skin-tight designer leather half-coat.
The truth of the matter is that the gentleman in the slightly oversized jacket looks much more appropriately dressed, as his jacket does not look spray-painted on. He is, further, dressed in extremely slack, pleated khakis and hunched over, lending an even baggier look to his fit. The model is wearing skin-tight flat front pants, and is standing erect. In photography, pose, props, and crop is everything.
When selecting a leather jacket, ensure that it is not extremely snug – a leather jacket needs a little wiggle room for containing different outfits. Perhaps one would like to wear a blazer beneath their jacket to protect it from the elements, or a thick sweater or cardigan perhaps. A too-tight leather jacket will seriously draw the wrong kind of attention from men and women alike as they attempt to discern whether or not this is an attempt to be humorous or ironic in one's appearance.
The Bottom Line – Fitted Without Cutting Off Circulation
The bottom line when it comes to walking that tightrope between well-dressed and “metrosexual” is that it boils down to mediating one's image to be approachable yet impactful. This can be done without appealing to the radical form posited by over-enthusiasts that are commonly found within the halls of pop fashion magazines.
Pants should fit with a degree of slack to ensure their versatility and comfort. Pants that are too tight are not nearly formal enough to be worn to a ball or a job interview, let alone to a common meeting. Pants that are fitted and professional looking are much more impressive to the opposite sex as well as to business affiliates and co-workers.
Jackets that are so tight as to to be uncomfortable will rarely provide the type of protection against the elements that is the primary reason for buying such a garment in the first place. Also, wearing a leather jacket that snugly will cause the lower half of your wardrobe to look very baggy in comparison, unless you are of extremely slim stature wearing slim fitted pants.
Essentially, it is important to be discerning when it comes to wardrobe choice. Meeting wardrobe consultants on a one-to-one basis is the best way to become a well-dressed gentleman without treading too deeply into a high-fashion “metro” territory that may not suit at all.
Other Articles Pertaining to Men's Fashion and Lifestyle
Looking for the perfect fit? Here's an article on How to Take Accurate Body Measurements. Also included are articles on How to Tie a Necktie as well as How to Dress Smart Casual.
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