Esquire’s recent article Sharp Dress, Man gets into the evolving landscape of men’s fashion, tracing highlights from the last 70 years and today’s gradual cultural shifts.
The article explores how celebrities have challenged norms, though it questions their impact, noting that "being a performer gives a free pass to buck convention not afforded to the man on the street". It also examines the influence of fashion labels, with designer Nick Hart suggesting that:
"the message doesn’t have to be that this is men wearing more obviously ‘feminine’ clothing [...] it’s probably all part of men going through identity issues more broadly now, questioning their place in the world and ideas of masculinity."
While pearl necklaces and nail polish are becoming more common, the piece acknowledges that certain trends aren't exactly new:
"there is a history of attempts to break down the barriers... and the track record is not one of success."
Gen Z is adding momentum, making "the conventional look increasingly fragile" and having little issue shopping across gender lines. Still, Sharp Dress, Man points out that fashion freedom is still a work in progress that requires a deeper shift to truly go mainstream.
Nice post. Iffy article overall, though. A bit redundant, actually. I was disappointed not to see the post’s lead image and theme (“Nice dress, man”) addressed at all! That leopard dress looks good (what I can see of it).
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From March 15-30, 2025, Hard As Nails is inviting men in the UK to paint their nails and take part in a research study on masculinity, confidence, and social norms....
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2 commentaires
@JCNY yes it’s a bit long-winded – I tried to pull out some of the best quotes here. They have a few good images.
I used a stock image that I thought was fitting for the title – as far as I know there’s no story behind it, but the style is there :)
https://unsplash.com/photos/person-wearing-spaghetti-strap-top-grayscale-photo-33OXwBJfQsI
Nice post. Iffy article overall, though. A bit redundant, actually. I was disappointed not to see the post’s lead image and theme (“Nice dress, man”) addressed at all! That leopard dress looks good (what I can see of it).