Living & Arts

To the boys: try harder, take a shower, look better

To-the-boys-try-harder-take-a-shower-look-better

Courtesy of businesswireindia.com

In print | October 1, 2009

To all the boys on Swarthmore campus: I love you. Really, I do. I do not, however, love that the first thing you give up on, when time is tight, is your appearance. And while the laid-back look is fine when you’re sprinting out the door to class, there comes a point where the sweats have just got to go. That point is now. But don’t worry: I’m here to help guide you away from the frumpy, comfy sweats that seem to exemplify college-guy fashion and into the world of the fashionable. A well-dressed man is forgiven for anything, so let’s turn all you male readers into well-dressed men. (Don’t worry though, girls. There’s something here for you, too. I’d hate to be gender exclusive.)

The first thing you have to know, boys and girls, is that you have to be clean. Showering is really fashionable right now. (And yes, as Swatties, we have millions of things to do, and sometimes when it’s 3 a.m. you don’t want to spend valuable sleep-time showering, but do it anyway.) Clothes, too, need to be clean. Laundry hardly takes time if you do it once a week, and folding clothes isn’t much more time consuming. Folding clothes is really important. If you don’t fold them, they get wrinkly and then look dirty even if they aren’t. Wrinkled or stained clothing isn’t the best way to make an impression.

While still on general appearances, I should mention shaving. Guys, you should really keep your faces clean-shaven. I know that it seems to be a thing with guys to have a bit of scruff or a 5-o’clock shadow, but clean-shaven always wins in my book. And here’s why: It shows that you care enough about your appearance to spend the time shaving. You immediately give off a vibe of being invested in your appearance, even if you aren’t. Now, you might argue: All the models in the magazines have a bit of scruff! Well, none of us are models in magazines. We girls can’t pull off any runway outfits on a daily basis, either, so don’t feel bad.

Now, onto the clothes you’re wearing. Jeans are good. I like jeans, you like jeans. They’re basically a staple of both girls’ and guys’ college fashion. Jeans are versatile. You can dress them up (slim fit, medium-dark wash with no holes or tears or bleach spots) or you can dress them down (medium-light wash with all the extras, preferably slim fit because that’s what’s in right now, but baggy jeans are okay too) and you look awesome. There is, however, one important rule about your jeans: they belong on your hips. Boxers are underwear, not outerwear. When girls have their thongs sticking out halfway up their backs, it’s inappropriate. When guys do it with their boxers, it’s sloppy. Avoiding it makes the world a better place. Make sure your jeans are the right length, too. When you’re sitting, your jeans should touch or almost touch the tops of your shoes.

Now that you’ve got the low-down on your bottom half, we should get you into some shirts. There are three basic styles of shirts for guys: T-shirts, polos and button-downs. Let’s start with T-shirts. Thin, lightweight ones are the best to have right now (over the thick, durable cotton ones). Vintage washes and graphic T-shirts are especially in, as are witty (but not rude, conceited or offensive) slogans. I love old band T-shirts both for girls and guys: a well-placed Rolling Stones logo immediately takes a T-shirt from 1 to 10 on the coolness scale. Polos are fun, and there’s a new market for graphic polos. The short-sleeved ones are good for when it’s not too cold, and you can easily wear a long-sleeved top (or another collared polo) under a short one for a fun, layered look that will still keep you nice and toasty. Button-down collared shirts look really classy with the sleeves rolled up to your elbows over a slim-fit white T-shirt or a ribbed tank; just leave the shirt open. Or, you can button the shirt up all the way (excluding the top button), and voila! You look great. (I love www.bridge55.com for men’s shirts. They’re fun and fashionable, and — after an extensive look at the website — you can’t go wrong with any of the clothing found there.)

So we’ve got you in jeans and shirts, but with the fall weather quickly getting colder, that probably won’t be enough even for a quick sprint to class or to Sharples. Scarves are very in for guys right now. I personally like the thinner and longer ones. Grey is always a safe color that matches with almost everything and can often highlight the color of your eyes. A good leather jacket or a sport coat is another way to keep warm in the early winter, as are lightweight, longer hoodies with kangaroo pockets. Don’t forget, though: you’ll still need a good winter coat for when it gets really cold. A sport coat or leather jacket will do you no good when there’s a mountain of snow outside, even if you’re wearing a scarf too.

Now, a little something for the girls: A boy’s button-down shirt paired with a skinny belt around your waist or over a white tank top (but leave your sleeves all the way down) looks pretty killer. And the best part is, you can always steal them from your guy friends. Boys’ jeans can also fit you, too — for a looser, more relaxed fit, just get your European size in men’s. And guys’ boxers make awesome pajama bottoms! Guys’ hoodies are the best to stay warm, since they’re usually big and fall over your hands enough to keep you covered and toasty.

So, boys, I hope that I’ve given you enough to go on to throw together some great outfits this fall. Just remember the tips, and you should be set. If, however, you still don’t think you’re ready to take on the world of the fashion-forward, check out www.trunkclub.com. This is a service exclusively for men (though they might be expanding to women) in which after a ten to 15 minute webcam interview, a professional stylist will choose and mail you a new wardrobe. You then get to mail back whatever you don’t like without ever leaving the comfort of your dorm or having to go shopping.

And girls! I hope I’ve shown you some of the options boys’ clothes have as cute outfits for you.
Play around with them. You can always borrow clothing from a guy friend if you want to experiment or steal the shirt your boyfriend forgot in your room last Saturday when you were “studying.” I’m sure he won’t mind.

Maya is a first-year. You can reach her at mmarzou1@swarthmore.edu.