Looking To Past Style Icons Can Influence A Man’s Personal Style
Everyday we are presented with the slightly terrifying prospect of presenting ourselves to the world through the prism of our clothes. Our clothes tell people who we are, what we think about our bodies and trends happening in the world.
The largest slice of the fashion industry pie is devoted to women and creating a rainbow of flavors and designs to fulfill the every whim in a woman’s mind. What about men?
As teenagers, boys have their choice of costume to use to declare what they are into. From aligning with bands like Death Cab for Cutie with jean skinny styles or blasting Jay-Z with oversized jeans strapped underneath their buts with belts. Extreme? Sure, but also part of the teenage experience. Outside of being a performer, it becomes more difficult for adult men to carve out their identities in an understated way.
Once the overly flamboyant fashions of the Victorian era passed, men’s clothing styles have followed similar and fundamental rules that look fresh and stylish decade after decade. Three piece suits, vests, dress shirts, polo shirts, slacks, cashmere and even leather jackets are all timeless pieces that any man can adopt. The most important facet of these pieces is their fit- it cannot be overstressed that the defining characteristic of a great outfit is the tailoring involved fitting an individual’s body.
The simple style of Steve McQueen with his jeans, lumberjack shirts and leather brown boots added to his coolness which translates as easy in the 21st century as it did in the 1970′s. A stylish man owns who he is, much like the dark suit and skinny black ties of champion Muhammad Ali or white button down oxford shirts of actor Paul Newman. Silhouettes that are more than 40 years old still looks as sharp today- dismissing something that works is counter-intuitive to creating your fashion identity.
Allow your clothes to speak with you and your personality, rather than broadcasting messages that don’t apply to who you are. A man who knows himself and doesn’t fawn over being fashion forward is extremely attractive.
Accessorizing with a hat, a men’s sport watch, or even the fabric of a well-cut blazer can add something to any outfit. For men, the goal is to keep fashion simple and clean, nodding to the past and finding in it the keys a personal style that will last lifetime. Playing with trends is encouraged but should be thought of as gilding the lily of your everyday established sartorial identity.
Paul Newman launches newman’s own
