the well-shod man

It's a well-worn joke: when a couple talks about their shared closet space, the man bemoans the exile of his clothes to one small rack (or a corner) while the woman's bounty runneth over.  I see no reason why men don't fight back (or, preferably, take over another closet) when it comes to the Risk-like game of shared closet organization.  The best stereotype to toss?  A man owning just two pairs of shoes (or three if you include those brown flip-flops that are apparently in the Male Starter Kit).

 First: the requisite too-primo-for-words rock star boots that cost nearly as much as one month's salary...

 then the clean, simple yet stylish lace-up that shows you give a damn...

 The double-monk to spice up your weekday...

 Add a pair of shoes meant for a Sunday stroll through the park...





And finish off a well-curated shoe collection with a dash--or smack o'er the head--of studs. 

 For you stud, you!

Jay Bell tells men what buy and wear 'til it falls apart

Upon first starting this project/blog/self-education I came in with the assumption/stereotype that men's fashion had not changed much in the last fifty years.  And that may be partially true.  Aside from brief fads (trucker hats, piano key neckties, and popped collars), the shape of men's clothing stays true to a basic silhouette.  Case in point:



on the left, James Dean (obviously), and on the right, a look styled by Jay Bell for Barney's blog.

  But where men's fashion differs from women's is a focus on quality and utility: why mess with what so obviously works?  Men are often edged out of the fashion world; too fashionable/trendy and labels and stereotypes start to fly.  But men are adaptable and have chosen a different way to style themselves--their fashion language may be more like ASL: not loud, but rich with its own nuances.  To be concise: I love it. 


James pic courtesy of www.recliningpig.com