Sunday, September 6, 2009

Style, for some of us, is a word that spreads fear throughout every part of our body. For others, it is something to be laughed at. Let's face it, most guys are either wearing the old fashioned suit and tie, or even better, jeans and t-shirt. My style is shorts and polo shirt during the summer or jeans and rugby shirts for the winter. Very simple, very suburban yuppie as my flat mate so eloquently puts it.

Last night I was planning to attend my first "bear" night at a bar in Chicago. I was going to wear my normal "going out" attire; jeans, golf shirt, and a pair of cross trainers. My flat mate laughed and was a bit concerned that I would actually wear that to a bear event. So, off came the cross trainers and on went the black work boots I normally would wear in the winter. Off came the golf shirt and on went a regular t-shirt, one with a bit of suggestive prose on it.

Style is dictated by whatever group you happen to with at the moment. Style is not so much the latest trend, but your destination. For example, I wouldn't wear a suit to a family barbecue nor would I wear shorts and t-shirt to go to the symphony. But, let's face reality, there are some things, as an individual, we would never wear. I, for example, would never wear a shirt with horizontal stripes. I'm already big enough without having something on that accentuates my girth. For me, style is more about comfort, color, and what looks good on me.

This brings me to what I just saw in the newspaper online today. Jean Paul Gautier has shown his spring line for men in Paris. I try to think of myself as having a fairly receptive outlook on what is the latest in fashion trends, but really, how many guys do you know who would wear something like this? Every time I imagine any one of my friends wearing this in public, the ball game, or even a bar I can't help but laugh. It makes me wonder why designers are creating clothing that makes men look less like a man and more like an androgynous manikin.

So much for me being up on style.