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!

Do women influence men? Or men women? Or both? Or neither? I'm so confused.

We all know about menswear in women's fashion; hell, it's what half my closet is made of.  My favorite shoes are not my leopard heels, but rather my J Crew Elsbeth oxfords.  But what happens when the boys borrow from the girls?? This:

The Long-tailed Shirt

  Now I know fashion is organic and ever-changing--it's almost impossible to keep track of what started where after awhile--but I always thought the long-tailed shirt was made to cover the booties of us women less courageous in our spandex.  Since not many men wear spandex leggings (but if you do, hey, you're fabulous!) I never gave the shirts a second thought as menswear.   But I rather like it!   Lord knows if my boyfriend had a shirt like the Oak one above I'd take him to custody court for it if we ever broke up. 

The High Heel

Now the girls have owned this one for over a century, and we aren't giving it up easily (although if men want equal bunion rights, who are we to deny them their equality?); after all, we stole them first:



What do Louis XIV and Chuck Norris have in common?  They both wore lifts.  And rocked them.



Above: legs of a pilates god

But this mission is more "stealth" than "coup d'etat;"  designers are slowly re-introducing (or rather desensitizing) us to man-heels by 1/2 inch increments.




Mr. Jeffrey Campbell



I just hope the 2-foot-tall wigs aren't included. 

The Harem Pant

Alright, we all know the sordid story on this style: from fave of Aladdin's, to the untouchable wardrobe staple of Mr. Hammer, then stolen by the girls a few years ago.   But apparently men have snuck them back.  This reminds me of a particular trend in middle school, when the cheerleaders' boyfriends would borrow and wear their girlfriends letter jackets.  And think they were cool.  In shrunken cheerleading jackets.   Adolescence is a confusing time for us all. 
Anyway...
The boys can have this one back.  If they promise to give it its last hurrah and never speak of it again. 


Speaking of going out with a bang...

Lord.