While it may be true that “Every girl crazy 'bout a sharp dressed man” according to famed blues-tinged rockers ZZ Top – I've always maintained, personally, that there's a time and place to suit up as well as a time and place to look a bit more “rough around the edges”. If a casual outfit is co-ordinated correctly to emphasize more masculine and rugged features, it can be equally powerful and attractive to the opposite sex.
Leather Jackets and Boots, Denim Jeans, and Fitted T's – Creating the Classic Bad Boy Mystique
Most men can pull off a more rugged look quite easily, though it is important to use discretion when choosing the four staple items I recommend to build a proper masculine ensemble.
- The Leather Jacket – Forget the trench-coat and stick to half-length or three-quarter length leather jackets. Leather trench-coats are generally associated with the goth subset or the like. Whether it is new, or worn – leather looks better when broken in to fit against the shape of your body – ensure that the garment is genuine leather, and not vinyl or pleather. Nothing says poseur quite like a false leather jacket.
- The Leather Boots – While cowboy boots might be overdoing it, leather dress or casual boots can look extremely good when paired with some well-travelled, well-worn denim jeans. Mark Nason is most likely the best men's designer in this area, with his “Crowbar” styling being a leader of the pack.
- The Denim Jeans – Avoid black, grey, or white jeans as well as the typical “work jean” dye. Dark blue or indigo denim jeans with brown or slight charcoal fading are the real entrants to look for, enhancing and emphasizing a more tumbled look.
- The Fitted T's – This one is a bit flexible depending upon your own build, though I strongly recommend wearing clothes that fit more snugly with this type of outfit unless you are quite out of shape and sorts. Black is the colour of choice, and a screen printed design is acceptable, though not preferable. Plain black or a plain black with a slight design works best, though navy and dark brown may also fit depending on the colour of your jacket, boots, and jeans.
Why Dress More Masculine? Why Does it Matter?
While it certainly is not a necessity to set out on a journey of assembling a more rugged and masculine ensemble – I recommend it strongly for the purposes of self-esteem as well as for more practical reasons of romantic attraction. While women may be used to seeing scads of ill-dressed men or starchy accountants in conservative business suits, a well dressed man wearing properly fitted clothes – particularly nice leather jackets and designer boots – may make quite the impression.
Standing out from the crowd while providing a strong visual imprint on those who will be encountering you is a major plus, no matter what the situation, enhancing and projecting both your self-confidence as well as your sense of style. Building a rugged casual wardrobe is an important and underappreciated aspect of men's style – though this simply means that there is an appreciative audience out on those streets that is just ripe for the picking!
Nicholas Morine - Nicholas Morine Bachelor of Arts, English Language & Literature Master of Philosophy, Humanities (Candidate) Memorial University ...
