Part of what makes it weird is what makes it important: The Subreddit is not run by industry experts or stylists. There’s a hard stance on blocking spammers and marketers and brands. The advice comes from regular people who aren’t necessarily trying to look stylish but rather to just not look bad. That's what makes it so accessible.Here's r/malefashionadvice/. There are 2.2 million members.
Founder Jeremy Wagner-Kaiser started the Subreddit 10 years ago after going off on another thread with other users about fashion advice. “I had a huge inclination that I was dressing like a slob,” he says. “It was created explicitly to give advice to people who don't have any idea what they're doing. We want them to have clear, straightforward answers.” That means learning what outfits are considered business casual, how pants and shirts should fit, and what shoes are actually worth investing in....
Just to pick an example (almost randomly), here's a guy whose "normal style for the past 13 or so years has roughly been a mixture of grunge-emo-metalhead-nerd.... Think Kurt Cobain meets a modern metalcore/hardcore kid meets a nerd that watches anime and cartoons and other 90s crap." He wants "to find a way to either mix my current style with a more sophisticated or I guess business casual look, or create a whole new look altogether to wear when I'm feeling myself."
The top-rated advice is: "do it incrementally. Focus on one aspect, e.g. Shoes, read up on it and improve your style within your own parameters. Then go to the next. Trying to do everything at once is a recipe for disaster. Good luck!"
A highly rated but more specific answer is:
Don't throw out all the tees you used to wear. You can keep things that interest you and still look good wearing them. For example, you could replace a loud-pattern flannel with a more simple* chambray or Oxford shirt and wear a t-shirt underneath. A well-fitting denim jacket or dark Harrington would also suit your style I feel. Vans are also fine, but I would suggest you clean them very often. Grey also tends to be less grungy and emo than black, while retaining the same aesthetic.Notice how practical, on-topic, and completely nice it is.
I'm blogging this not just because I'm interested in fashion and in the physical appearance of males. I love Reddit.
Posts
62 comments:
I have loved this site ever since it turned me on to shorts.
Don't throw those t-shirts away. People poorer than you can use them. In the alternative, they make dandy rags.
I could buy nearly all my clothes from Ben Silver, Land’s End and Orvis. Allen Edmonds for shoes. And then Creighton stuff.
White t-shirt, bermudas and crocs, every day. Add sweatsuit in winter.
Reddit reminds me of the old community message boards of early internet, often pre-web days. Slashdot had threads like that for geeks nervous about job interviews 20 years ago.
There’s places on reddit where... my friend went a couple times, hoping it would be better... that would be shut down in a better world.
I bet Reddit has a good 'Japanese Schoolgirls' page.
I've never looked for it, but I'm reasonably sure it's there.
I am Laslo.
I wonder if a page for women's fashion would be as nice.
Queer eye for the straight guy, at least it's first incarnation, has a similar vibe.
Reddit is amazing, and feels somehow different than so much of the web. Thanks for that list of subs you posted when I asked back a while ago - was fun exploring, in part just to see what appeals to Althouse ;-)
I've been there. 'I see balls'. Thank you...
Reddit is annoying, mostly because of the upvoting, difficult comment threads, and the hugbox the up/ downvoting enforces.
I hope it's full of complaints about fashionable suits being two sizes too small and too narrow. Worse than shorts for making men look like boys. The trousers ride so low you can see shirt below the coat's button.
"Reddit is annoying, mostly because of the upvoting, difficult comment threads, and the hugbox the up/ downvoting enforces."
I don't try to write there. I commented there exactly once (because I had a precise answer to a question). But I love reading it. I have joined groups in a way that causes me to get an interesting and very funny feed so that I can go there every day and read for an hour if I want and get lots of laughs and a few serious things worth thinking about (like "Am I the asshole?" scenarios).
"Hugbox" is a new term for me, and I believe it's derived from Temple Grandin's invention for calming a person with autism. I like the way Reddit allows that. You can start your own subreddit if you don't like the way moderators are controlling theirs. They have strong tools against trolls and the people who originate a forum get to protect themselves if they want. It works really well! And I'm saying that as a person who's provided a commenting forum and maintained it with almost NO tools. That has allowed a certain type of commenter to drive out another type.
The only fashion advice I ever took was from this blog. Other than kayaking and a few hot days, the shorts stay on the shelf. With my legs it's probably for the best. Never noticed how many men dress like they were in grade school till Althouse mentioned it.
My advice? Match the season and the terrain. Never actual camouflage, that makes you look militant.
"A well-fitting denim jacket or dark Harrington would also suit your style I feel."
A "Harrington" is a Barracuda or G-9 jacket. So this site is telling a guy who have no style to purchase a $300 poplin jacket. But, yes Harringtons are cool.
There was a time when a young man would go to a traditional men's clothing store to get advice and be outfitted by professional, who would guide one into an affordable wardrobe over time. The kid would look like a million dollars.
Help Me People!
What the heck do they mean, by This?
Vans are also fine, but I would suggest you clean them very often.
I'm sure that they Don't mean what i think it means (so don't "help" by mentioning a carwash!)
I'm guessing they're some sort of shoe? or corset?
Ralph L
Correct, "fashionable" suits all look like wearing a suit you bought in 8th grade to the senior prom.
Does any straight male still read "Esquire ?"
What's disturbing, is when your SO takes you to a faux vintage clothing store,
and you see that Not Only are they Selling NEW versions of concert T's you own;
That they're Selling NEW versions of the concert T you HAVE ON
There was a time when a young man would go to a traditional men's clothing store to get advice and be outfitted by professional, who would guide one into an affordable wardrobe over time. The kid would look like a million dollars.
Those are hard to find these days. Department stores no longer carry much of a selection, and what they have is often ill-fitting and too "trendy" to last long. From what I've seen, men's clothing stores that are still around tend to be either the high end, or the "Buy one suit get two free" places that are hit-and-miss regarding quality and fit.
I had a suit once, I bought it at Value Village and carried it over my arm for a job interview.
Reddit is amazing, and feels somehow different than so much of the web.
I've never used reddit and thought it might be a bit like the old Usenet, which was almost impossible to censor or control (❤ ❤), but apparently the only similarity is a hierarchical(?) structure.
And a note to the ladies. If you're going to wear a billboard on your butt, I'm going to wear my reading glasses.
David Begley
Ben Silver is top drawer, as is Brooks, J. Press and O'Connell's. I prefer O'Connell's, Gitman or Micheal Spencer shirts and Alden shoes. FYI, check out O'Connell's trousers, I suspect they are the same make as Silver's label and a better price point.
There was a time when every city and university town had a Ben Silver type store.
Most interesting is that it’s reddit. I get a constant barrage of “reddit = incel” or “reddit = racist loser white guy”. Am I the only one who finds the rest of the web full of anti-redditry?
I gotta say, Ann has missed the connotation of “hugbox”.
Mr Wibble
There is some truth to that. But, there is gold at Men's Warehouse if you know what to look for, even Macys. I'm not talking bespoke, but well made traditional clothing that is timeless. Wardrobes are built over time, start with the basics. Invest in good shoes, I'm wearing a pair of Aldens today I bought in 1978 with a tropical weight wool navy blazer I bought in 1982.
There is some truth to that. But, there is gold at Men's Warehouse if you know what to look for, even Macys. I'm not talking bespoke, but well made traditional clothing that is timeless. Wardrobes are built over time, start with the basics. Invest in good shoes, I'm wearing a pair of Aldens today I bought in 1978 with a tropical weight wool navy blazer I bought in 1982.
Oh, I know. I'm almost forty and I've done the same thing as you. But you have to know what you're looking for and be patient. Unfortunately, that's difficult to do, especially if you're a young man looking for a first suit after you get done with school, with no guidance from the rest of society as to what looks appropriate. And that really is the crux of the problem: we don't dress up for most occasions anymore. Look at pictures of sporting events from the 1940s-60s versus today. Everyone then wore suits, blazers, etc. Today you're lucky if they don't show up in pajama bottoms and an oversized jersey. Go out to a bar and it's d-bags in Ed Hardy and bedazzed jeans, women in ill-fitting dresses that leave nothing to the imagination. Workplaces are full of guys who've never worn a tie, women who don't know how to dress appropriately for their job, etc.
It's wonderful that there is a helpful, civil web forum for this topic. Moms, sisters and girlfriends are also a great resource, if available.
gilbar: Vans are a brand of athletic shoe, mainly associated with skateboarders. Usually low top, fairly plain looking, in fabric or leather.
I love Reddit too. That's why I had to quit it cold turkey, it was taking over my life. The ability to do anonymous posting and commenting was key, I could be completely honest in a way I can't be on FB or IG or any other social media. And unlike FB, which I also quit cold turkey, I do miss Reddit a lot.
Frankly, I don't trust a man who would be that interested in his clothing styles.
"Frankly, I don't trust a man who would be that interested in his clothing styles."
Mock, don't you want to talk fashion on your date?
Reddit has been censoring Conservative forums for years. But if you just stick to cats, fashion, or sports they are good.
The Up-vote function keeps the trolls in check, and helps highlight good comments. one problem with disqus is that everyone just responses to "the best" comment, and you can 't fin any of the other good comments.
Men in tech industries are the worst dressers IMO. Some of them look like normal people and some look like they just grabbed some dirty clothes off the floor and put them on. I used to work with a man whose wife picked out his clothes for him every day because he admitted he had no idea which clothes matched or which shoes and belt he should wear with an outfit. We all made fun of him but he did look pretty well put together.
Maybe an old fuddy duddy here. But most of the guys looked to me to either be gay, or wished that they were gay. Or at least live in NYC. And if you really want to look like a beta loser, wear a man bun, or maybe a tiny knit hat. Most of the stuff I saw there looked very urban, and in my view, that isn’t a compliment.
I think that I can speak for a good number of the cis straight males here, and say that developing a personal style that you are comfortable with has never been that hard. At work, it’s pretty easy - you look at the men just above you, and then above them. Don’t dress too high, or you won’t be seen as a team player. Too low, and you look like you have no ambition. Man buns say that your ambitions is working at Starbucks, and getting your exercise on weekends as an Anti First Amendment (AntiFA) fascist thug. Even business casual is a uniform. I remember being our IP attorney at Alliance meetings. IBM people were all dressed in kackies and either button down or polo shirts. Apple people were all in collarless shirts and skinny pants. And we were still wearing pinstriped suits.
’I'm wearing a pair of Aldens today...’
I have eight pairs of Aldens dating from ca. 1979 on, and still wear them. They’ve all been back for reconditioning at least once, but my original pair of shell Cordovan loafers were the rejected last time. It was a sad day...
I live at Twitter and Reddit. And Althouse.
I must see if there's a women's wear sub.
he admitted he had no idea which clothes matched or which shoes and belt he should wear with an outfit
Children used to have Garanimals (not sure if its still a trademark or not). You’d match the tags on the clothes to wear together. Giraffes with giraffes. Crocodiles with crocodiles. Hippos with hippos. They need those for adults.
GarManimals
Laslo,
There may be a sub for subs in subs.
rehajm - that (garanimals) is exactly what we said about his wife picking out his clothes LOL. If she could have sewed the little animal labels in his shirts and pants he could have picked out his outfits by himself. Although he still might need help with shoes and belts.
Bruce Hayden I agree that man buns look really stupid. If a guy wants to have long hair maybe a ponytail is OK but not the dreaded man bun.
Bruce has, IMO, the right idea about men's clothing. Following the general style of those you work with is the safest bet. And the 'casual preppy' look is still timeless and hard to beat. Quality rather than fashion is important. But 'kackies', Bruce? Or is that a trendy word for khakis? ;-D
The 'man bun' looks great on a young Japanese man but otherwise....
The Minnow Wrangler helpfully helped, saying...
gilbar: Vans are a brand of athletic shoe, mainly associated with skateboarders. Usually low top, fairly plain looking, in fabric or leather.
Thanx TMW! I kinda guessed (maybe) shoes, but had no idea what type
Mr. Forward said...And a note to the ladies. If you're going to wear a billboard on your butt, I'm going to wear my reading glasses.
--
Most of those appear to be sized for the vision impaired.
Triple ditto about the fashion suits! The young associate (Episcopal) priest at my church wears the skinniest black (and therefore "priest uniform") pants, and wears them so short his fun&crazy socks show. He's a lovely guy, three kids, one a newborn, but every time I see him I think "caricature of the handjive number from Grease."
Male fashion talk literally--I mean literally literally--makes my flesh crawl. I read that post and the advice and . . . yeww, lemme outta here.
I've only ever had one three-piece suit (worn a couple of times no more recently than than the late 80s probably); never owned or wore wingtip or duck(?) shoes (or vans--new word for me), suspenders, or, except for in and around the pool, eyeglass cords.
As an academic librarian I could have dressed like a total schlub (which is my natural state) but being old-fashioned in a lot of ways (and married to a hard-headed woman) I settled on dark or khaki pants, and long-sleeve, button-down plain shirts and ties-- in ties I was quite bold. But never bowties--those are for lawyers and B-school profs.
Jacket optional for important people and occasions-- I was in my small way a public figure and representative of my profession and employer, and owed them that much.
Narr
Dear, should I wear the mirliton tonight, or the shako?
Life ain't fair. If you are working in a profession, people will judge you by your appearance, especially as a first impression, and clothes are a huge part of that. If you can affect that impression by how you dress, why would you give up that edge?
It's over 40 years old but I still recommend that professional young men read Dress for Success by John Malloy. However you choose to, learn what colors are appropriate and powerful, and learn to tie a necktie correctly.
I was fortunate in that I was tall and of slender build and clothes looked good on me (there's a reason fashion models are tall and slender). If you are not, you still can dress in a manner that helps elicit the impression you desire.
I'm retired since April 1, and haven't had on a pair of long pants since then. South Florida living is great (most of the time).
It seems like usually men with wives or girlfriends (or boyfriends!) dress better. That might be a correlation vs. causation issue, as some of the IT professionals I have worked with would probably have a hard time finding a partner, due to slovenly appearance and poor social skills (of which dressing appropriately is one). They could still write amazing code even if their wardrobe looked like they bought it off the rack at the Salvation Army.
Interestingly, as a woman in IT, I had to back off the power suits and usually wore a skirt or pants with a blouse and a cardigan or loose jacket. I didn't have a problem working with men, but many women were intimidated by my assertive manner, and suits made it worse. Since I was in project management I needed to hear accurate and honest feedback from less tech-savvy personnel.
One of my character flaws is that I think I am always right. If someone had a hard time understanding what I was talking about, I guess I made them feel stupid although that was never my intention. I learned a better approach in a second career, where I supervised much lower skilled employees. I had to speak with people on their own level without making them feel dumb so that they would not be afraid to ask questions. This made me a better person and a better manager.
I follow the NO MEN'S SHORTS, EVAH! sub-sub-Reddit faithfully.
There was a time when a young man would go to a traditional men's clothing store to get advice and be outfitted by professional, who would guide one into an affordable wardrobe over time.
There was a men's store at SC when I was in college called "Stan Hall's." His salesmen were both black and terrific with the Ivy League fashion that was popular then. That was where I learned to dress. There were also "Silverwoods" mens stores around. When I moved to OC in the 70s, there was a store called "At Ease" where you could even get blue blazers and khaki slacks for boys 8 years old. It was in Fashion Island and closed about ten years ago. I was in Brooks Bros in Tucson a couple of weeks ago and it is half the size it was ten years ago and now mostly women's stuff. Maybe it is because the older generation of men (like me) wear the same clothes for 30 years.
I was going to say "Used to be that father's taught you that".
But then, my father would have had me always doing everything in a suit, which is what he grew up knowing.
Mainly, it's looking at what everyone else is wearing in similar circumstances and following that lead, varying it by what looks good on your frame.
Please note, however, that I will never be caught DEAD in a navy blue jacket and khakis/chinos.
Neither men nor women who want to be taken seriously in the workplace should be fashion trend-setters.
Unless, of course, he/she is a fashion designer...
My wife used to often insist that I was dressed too casually when we went out, but really I was just ahead of my time.
According to a Toynbeean model, we're seeing the influence of two adaptations and influences in the fact that since 1945, give or take, American adults have adopted the dress of formerly subordinate classes--children and tropical islanders. Look at pictures of Third World crowds from 100+ years ago and Western style hats are everywhere, on top of traditional clothes in a lot of instances.
Now the Western-style hat is stylized as the baseball cap (a direct descendant of the kepi militaire) and it's universal. On the other hand, Western male adults at leisure--especially in the US I think-- dress like six year-olds, cargo-cultists or the tough guys (team jerseys, cammies) they usually aren't.
I'll be donning my plain flannel-lined o.d., khaki, or other dull-colored workshirt as outerwear soon, I hope, cause it's hotter right now than it has been all summer.
Narr
I have fashion sense, I sensibly avoid it
I believe Vans was originally a company that made those insulated white rubber boots ( Mickey Mouse boots) made for the military worn in cold climes. They began making canvas one off tailor made sailing sneakers for rich yachtsmen. Then mass produced low top "tennis shoes" like the US Kids or Jack Purcells so popular in the 50s and 60s.
I've dressed the same way since I was ten or eleven, I'm now 68. That way is the Ivy League way, the Americanized version of English tailoring. It's be around for over a hundred year, but became main stream after WWII. It's been called "preppy", but "preppy" is a subset of a high schooler's way of dressing or how adults dress on the week ends, it's loud, think Ralph Lauren sports wear.
FYI, khaki pants did get mainstreamed into the Ivy League look till returning military men entered universities after WWII.
For those interested, http://www.ivy-style.com/
Some of the comments can be a little hardcore.
Robyn Wright doesn't even know his name: Sgt. 1st Class Elis Barreto Ortiz, 34, from Morovis, Puerto Rico.
Althouse: :"You're wrong. The name is in the article. Why make assertions without checking?"
I did check. My mistake was when I got to the bottom of the page where it says:
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I thought that was the end. Although now I see the article continues beyond that. Thank you so much for taking the time to point out my mistake.
Althouse: Really, Fen, your commenting needs improvement.
No, it really doesn't. It's been very sharp lately, more than usual. You are just saying that because I challenged you yesterday on another topic and you are holding a grudge. You sure you want to play that game? Because I am more stubborn than you.
Althouse: I'm going to start deleting you a lot more, beginning with this comment in half an hour. You may copy what you've written and attempt to rewrite it. If you don't want to go to the link and read or you need and don't want to get a subscription, you need to be circumspect about what you say is in the article.
OH. GO. FUCK. YOURSELF.
I will now happily copy everything I post here to repost 10 times over every time you delete it. And if you manage to ban this profile I will make several more and do it all over again.
OR
You can front page a public apology to me for being a vindictive bitch and singling me out because I had the audacity to challenge you on something stupid. What was it again? Oh right, I said I was "skeptical" that you were aware of the NPC meme. LOL.
(lets see now... New desktop folder: Althouse, new txt doc: Althouse1, copy and paste and save. Ready to launch upon deletion. Your turn....)
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