Dappered

Affordable Men's Style

  • Don’t Miss Anything
  • Start Here
  • Essentials Shop
  • Latest Deals
  • Style Scenarios
  • Reviews

On masculine style, or lack thereof.

March 1, 2012 By Beth | Heads up: Buying via our links results in us getting a commission (not always, but just about), which helps keep the lights on around here. We also take your privacy rights seriously. Head here to learn more.

Ask A Woman: Rejecting the feminine influence in men’s style.  Too Macho?

If you’ve got a question that needs the female treatment, chances are you’re not the only one who wants to ask it. Beth is our source for the answers. From opinions on men’s style to decoding the sometimes mysterious ways of women, she’ll take on a different question every Thursday. And don’t worry, your identity will be protected too. Click here to get to know Beth, then get in touch with her by sending your question to: askawoman@dappered.com

 

Beth,

Recently we have seen men taking up more feminine dressing habits.  Skinny jeans, floral designs on guy’s shirts, men wearing tighter or shorter clothing, brighter colors, etc…  My question for you is how much is too much?  What is the line between boyfriend and girlfriend?  Should the machos calm down or have guys gone too far?

– Dan

 

Hi Dan,

Everyone plug your nose, we’re about to dive into the pool of gender politics.  Here’s the deal:  I am both a style columnist, and a real person.  Sometimes what I think as a columnist is different from what I think as a real person.  That is, for me it’s important to recognize the difference between what is considered stylish and what I like.  And I think that’s what you’re getting at, Dan.  Although skinny jeans, florals, bright colors, short/tight clothing, and pashminas are all (somewhat arguably) on-trend and appear in magazines and stores… do I think this is a good look for men?

So I’m going to answer this, but first… Sex and the City.  Have you missed it?  Yes you have, don’t lie.  Season 2, episode 18:  Miranda doesn’t know if she wants to be exclusive with her boyfriend Steve, so Carrie suggest making a list of pros and cons about him to help her decide.  Miranda hesitates, saying, “That seems so judgmental.”  Carrie wisely says, “You ARE judgmental.  Put it to good use.”  I hesitate to be so judgmental, but as Carrie says, I am anyway, so I may as well use it to inform my readers.

Motley Crue.  Singing about unbridled masculinity, while wearing makeup and big hair.

Floral designs:  Unless it’s on a tie, I don’t like it.  It’s too feminine for my taste.  Plus, the floral design on men’s t-shirts was a trend that I suspect was motivated by profit margin.  Hey, look, we took a plain t-shirt and drew some swirly lilies on it and now we can tack an extra $40 onto the price!  Graphic tees in general (for men and women) are bothersome to me.  Instead of depending on excellent construction, timeless silhouette or beautifully rendered fabric, they stamped a few witty words and dumped the glitter from your third grade craft drawer on an ill-fitting tee and hoped you’d be distracted by the sparkles.

Skinny jeans:  Meh, I don’t care much either way if you have the body to pull it off.  If you’re a tall, toned, and lithe guy, skinny jeans work.  Here’s why: they accentuate the difference in width between your thighs and your calves, so if you’re thin, the effect is one long line, which, on the bottom half of a man, is a masculine look.  But!  If you’re carrying an extra 50 pounds of weight, or if you have a big ole’ booty, skinny jeans are going to make you look like you have wide hips and shapely thighs that taper down to a thin ankle.  Hmmm, what does that sound like?

Tight clothing:  Clothing should skim, not cling, not billow.  So no, I don’t like tight clothing, but I don’t think it has anything to do with whether it’s a feminine look or not.  I assume decades before The Jersey Shore polluted our TV screens there were juiced guys walking in tiny t-shirts (T-SHIRT TIME!) in order to show off the guns.  I just don’t think it’s particularly attractive, plus my particular aesthetic leans toward modesty, not showiness.

Which brings me to a final thought about what it means to be “feminine” or “masculine.”  These words only have relative meaning, right?  I mean, Magnum, P.I. was running around in shorts we now only see on 19-year-old girls working at the car wash.  But was there anyone more traditionally masculine (God forgive me I love his mustache) than Magnum P.I.?  No.  And yet thirty years later you’d never live it down if you wore those out for a jog (although Robin Masters might ask you to do security for his house).

So I want to encourage everyone, myself especially, to relax about the rules that govern who should wear what. For those who don’t want or are unable to live inside specific gender constructions, we live in an era of unprecedented tolerance and compassion, and for that I say, it’s about goddamned time. I’m going to keep pushing myself to look outside these constructions and see beautiful clothing and fantastic style as just that, regardless of whether or not the person in the hot pink polo has XY chromosomes.
-Beth

Got a question for Beth? Send them to: askawoman@dappered.com

Filed Under: Clothing, Women Tagged With: Ask A Woman

Continue the Conversation …

Want to share your thoughts on this article? Send us a tweet, join the discussion on Facebook, or hit us up on Instagram!

Don’t Miss Anything

Subscribe via email to get articles in your inbox or add Dappered on Flipboard. You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Or subscribe to push notifications to get alerts immediately.

New Here?

Well, welcome to Dappered. Here are what we consider the most useful posts on the site if you're looking to put a little more effort into your appearance. Just want to see our favorite menswear products? Shop our essentials here.

Long Weekend Men’s Sales Roundup – 2023 Unofficial Start of Summer Edition

Long Weekend Men’s Sales Roundup – 2023 Unofficial Start of Summer Edition

25% off Bonobos. Target 20% off select (including a polopalooza winner.) 30% off BR. Grant Stone, Rhone, adidas, and $248 off the Billy Reid Bond Peacoat. Updated for the weekend.

J. Crew: 40% off Long Weekend Sale (new arrivals too)

J. Crew: 40% off Long Weekend Sale (new arrivals too)

Stretch chino shorts. Irish linen shirts. New sunglasses, camp mocs, seersucker short sleeve button downs, and more.

Repair, Don’t Replace – Getting Your Goodyear Welted Shoes Resoled

Repair, Don’t Replace – Getting Your Goodyear Welted Shoes Resoled

What’s worth it, when to do it, and what to expect when you’re getting your welted shoes fixed, recrafted, etc.

Follow Dappered on Instagram »

Men’s Fashion or Affordable Style?

Men's Fashion or Affordable Style?

Fashion is temporary and expensive. Style is timeless and affordable. Dappered® helps you work the retail system so that you can be comfortable, look sharp, and save money.

Want to share a great product? Email Us.
For a fit perspective, see Joe's measurements.
Make sure to read our affiliate disclosure.

CONNECT WITH DAPPERED

Thanks! Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Most Popular on Dappered

  • Long Weekend Men’s Sales Roundup – 2023 Unofficial Start of Summer Edition
  • J. Crew: 40% off Long Weekend Sale (new arrivals too)
  • Repair, Don’t Replace – Getting Your Goodyear Welted Shoes Resoled
  • The Dappered Space: Most Wanted Affordable Home Style May 2023
  • The Best Affordable Watches for Grads or Dads of 2023
  • Monday Men’s Sales Tripod – REI Anniversary Sale, Gustin’s CXL Briefcase, & More

Popular Topics

  • Best dress shirts to own
  • Best looking watches under $100
  • Best men’s dress shoes under $200
  • Nike Killshot sneaker alternatives
  • How to wear a suit without a tie
  • Suitsupply store review
  • Suitsupply Blue Line review
  • J. Crew Factory Thompson suit review
  • How much does it cost to tailor a suit?
  • Dopp kit essentials
  • Brown shoes with gray pants
  • Men’s style buying guide

Copyright © 2023 Dappered.com | Dappered, LLC | Dappered® is a registered trademark of Dappered, LLC

Hat tip: Magazine Pro Theme On Genesis Framework

Dappered does not collect or sell its users personal information | Disclosures: Privacy and Affiliates, Gilt.com, FTC

WPE

We work with partners that use cookies to understand how visitors use our site. Find out more.