Men earn high fashion marks yet have a ways to go

By Greg Dew
Columbus Wired Columnist
9/3/02

Apparently men are utterly clueless when it comes to fashion do’s and don’ts. This revelation comes to us from the MSN website featuring news, entertainment and lifestyle articles.

In their recent piece on “5 male fashion crimes”, author Chris Rovny lists the following as fashion faux pas, scruffy denim shorts, socks with sandals, bike shorts, revealing tank tops
and skimpy bathing suits.

As a man with a pronounced fashion sense, I take offense this article was even published. Is a site, designed to cater to a mass audience, telling us that the general male population doesn’t know these basic rules?

In a very un-scientific survey collected with the use of my two eyes, I have been taking an account of the situation in the malls, bars, restaurants, streets and swimming holes of central Ohio.

I am happy to report the vast majority of my central Ohio brethren do indeed avoid committing these crimes. The scruffy denim shorts were generally reserved for laborers,
socks with sandals were seen (but thankfully not in great numbers), no bike shorts or revealing tank tops noticed outside an accepted athletic activity and thankfully only one pair of skimpy bathing suits. (The offending gentlemen inexplicably doing lawn work in a pair possibly picked up at a
Greg Louganis charity auction.)

This would lead to the conclusion that, for the most part, men do heed to the most basic fashion rules. Unfortunately this does not mean all is right in the dress of the average American man. But the contention has nothing to do with ignorance.

Once upon a time, men adorned themselves in the best they owned when going out in public. This care showed a sense of pride in the individual.  Tailored, pressed clothing, shined shoes and fine grooming were the hallmark of generations. Extending to transportation, automobiles were detailed consistently to keep up their appearance and to ensure a long life. I still hear stories about my father washing his car every single time he would pick up my mother for a date.

Times, as has been said many times, have changed. Not all of which has been for the bad. We are no longer required to be walking clones of each other.  Individuality and originality have been embraced. A night of entertainment has become the norm in lives rather than a beacon of light in a sea of hard
work.

Unfortunately we have lost something in this transformation. The Cary Grant’s and Clarke Gable’s of the past are no longer heroes. The John Goodman’s and Kevin James’ of the world have replaced them. They validate the expanding waistlines, dirty cars and unkempt appearance of men across
the country.

In the past year, national pride has been rampant across the country. Let us now keep this new passion and also focus on our individual pride. The solutions are simple. Stores across the country offer fashionable clothing to fit every price range. The president is pushing for all the country to get more exercise. (Good for health and appearance, a nice two for one special don’t you think?) Car washes make it simple to add that last finishing touch on the way to pick up our lady friends.

In fact, the ladies are the best and last argument for renewing our sense of pride. The women in my life have always outdone themselves to look their best whenever they have graced me with their presence. Judging by my previously mentioned eye-survey, I am not an exception. Men, it is time we re-paid our women by looking the best we can as well.

I know men as a whole are not ignorant to the rules of fashion. Let us now take the next step and awaken our long-dormant sense of pride.