Recently on the Gentleman Within Facebook page, a follower commented on one of my photos with the following,
“I admire your drive and your heart. I think when it comes to your style, you dress well, but it is painfully predictable and common, nothing sets you aside from the other guy. Style should be unique and head turning, there is nothing head turning about the way you dress. I enjoy your videos.”
To which I replied,
Thanks for your comment. But you see, I have to respectfully disagree. Style should be unique, sure and in a sense everyone’s style is unique because there’s only one you and one me. And when you say that style should be head turning, I don’t believe that because I think some of the best style is nuanced, even subdued. When I first got into style and dressing better, I was of that mindset too, dressing in a way that would command attention with bold colors/patterns and accessories that leaned on the verge of overbearing and too try hard. These days, though I’m prefer neutral and more functional looks that are still stylish. I do agree that style should be unique though. Thanks for the love.
-K
This prompted me to run a poll on my Instagram stories asking followers what’s their take on style, ‘head turning’ or ‘nuanced’ to which 72% selected nuanced compared to 28% who chose head turning. Of course neither of these is wrong as style is a subjective thing, to each his own.
WHAT AM I GETTING AT?
Well for one, good style is different to everybody and so there’s no point in trying to shove your opinions down other people’s throats. And two, it’s interesting to see different perspectives on the topic of what makes up good style.
What Makes Up Good Style?
- Is it having an understanding of fit, silhouette, colors, proportion, and quality?
- Is it paying attention to the little details?
- Is it having sprezzatura?
- Is it a combination of all these things?
I think it’s a little bit of everything and I think that the best of anything is usually when there’s a good balance.
INSPIRING STYLE QUOTES
One of the best quotes on style I’ve seen is from skate legend Steve Caballero. He said,
“So what is style? To me…style is everything and it’s the essence of skateboarding. Style can be the way you dress, the tricks you choose to do, the way you hold your body composure with hands or arm positioning. Style is a choice, it starts when you decide how you want to present yourself to the world and those around you. Style matters and it’s how you will be perceived and how you will be accepted by others. Whether it’s riding a skateboard, riding a dirtbike, playing guitar, taking a photograph or creating artwork, it’s what defines you. Style is something that can be passed down, inspire others and it can also influence the next generation.”
—Steve Caballero
Such a poignant statement that beautifully encapsulates the essence of style—not only in the way that we dress and present ourselves, but as a defining role in the way that we express ourselves and live our lives.
I want to hear from you, what does style mean to you?
Let’s continue the discussion over in the Gentlemen Within Private Facebook Community.
Looking forward to seeing you in there.
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