To my friends, family and clients, I’ve always made it no secret that the sexiest thing a man can wear is his masculinity.
No matter what season or occasion, there’s just a natural ease and simplicity about embracing a bit of facial hair (minus the hard neck-lining…unless you’re going to a leather bar, let it grow!) and being able to run your fingers through your hair without leaving your hands coated in product. The sex appeal mostly comes from looking sharp without looking like you’ve spent hours to achieve it.
This is one of my favorite facts about the long march through Fall/Winter (especially over the past few years), that the transition to heavier fabrics lends itself well to complementing a more masculine look. But, where men typically fall short is in the details. Born from necessity (those NorEasters can be frightfully cold!), the mistake is often made to match the dreary shift into shorter daylight hours by layering on heavy sweaters and bulky jackets in unimpressive shades of black or brown.
Well, with the continued rise of paisleys, plaids and gingham checks (you should already own dress shirts, ties and pocket squares in all three), this season is all about enhancing your masculinity instead of covering it up with boring and muting it down with a yawn. Think wingtip shoes and vintage work boots; mid-weight, micro-wale cords in unconventional colors such as pine and plum; twill dress shirts with wool ties. Then, pull those more detailed pieces together with a simple V-neck sweater or cardigan in a neutral color (read neutral vs. dark: cream, grey, navy and lighter/richer shades of brown work nicely).
For those required to suit up for the office, rock a flannel one instead of that wool stalwart you’ve worn forever, pairing with plaid shirt and knitted tie. Ditch the tie or change into a denim shirt after work, and I guarantee you’ll turn some heads and maybe even get a number or two at the bar. Whatever you wear, do it with confidence—and be careful not to overdo it!
Remember, men: it’s about paying attention to the details without all the fussiness and dandy-ism more appropriate for 20-something hipsters.
