Disclaimer: From time to time, we like to invite people from different backgrounds to write about BonneGueule. Today, it's the stylist Isabelle Thomas who will give you her vision, and a certain comparison of men's fashion and women's fashion.
She runs the blog Mode Personnel(le) , while also being a style coach. She has also written several books on fashion and style, the best known of which is called You're So French .
Note that Benoit also wrote an article on his blog, where he talks about women's and men's shopping .
As for his latest book, So Shoes , it will be published soon.
You'll see, she shares our intelligent vision of men's fashion: buy less, but better! Now, I give the floor to the person concerned...
“Do you prefer to dress men or women? »
When people ask about my work as a personal stylist, this is the question that comes up most often, followed by " But still, it's easier to give a guy a makeover." Just make him put on a suit, right? ". Ah ha, if it were that simple, men's fashion advice guides would be limited to one page. And my sessions would last ten minutes.
Look around you, are you blown away by the elegance of the “suits and ties” who take advantage of their vaporettes as they leave the offices? Are you fascinated by the chic of our politicians? Of course, some people do well, even like fashionista chefs, and that's so much the better!
Moreover, for several years, the men's fashion market has posted an annual growth rate of 14%, or twice as much as women's. Normal, since for three decades, the choice of styles, boutiques and brands offered to girls has been so vast that we started filling our wardrobes well before you did.
The crooked tie, the much too long pants that look like baggy pants: “ Are you fascinated by the chic of our politicians? ”
So, are the fashionistas hiding?
I am in bad faith. While many men still say they hate shopping, more and more of them are becoming aware of the benefits they can get from looking good and looking neat.
Exactly. Filled with images of overdressed hunks, overstyled hipsters, contradictory suggestions and advice, apps in every direction, they don't always know which direction to go.
During a recent shopping trip, a man told me that he found it easier to wear a uniform: black shirt + black suit = zero hassle, zero risk. You still have to be sure of your choices.
Too big black suit and black t-shirt are a combo that we would like to see disappear.
I repeat, clothing-wise, we are a few steps ahead (I'm not talking about the elegant Louis XIV and his high heels). We have all more or less had time to assimilate the basics of the famous French chic : the refusal of the total look, the mixture of new and old, cheap and chic brands, timeless pieces and tics of the moment, etc. . Men are more shy.
As soon as they find a store that suits them - not just because the saleswoman is friendly - they never let it go. Like these women who, for fear of making a mistake, systematically turn to their favorite brand, they buy the same shirt, the same jeans, the same moccasins, duplicated in x number of copies.
But when they get tired of going in circles - or their lover kindly points out to them that "the uniform is very nice, but hey, we're bored" - they end up deciding: " Come on, I’m going to make myself (even more) beautiful for you, for me… ”
Even with an orange sweater, this look struggles to find flavor...
In recent years, however, I have found that boys are catching a taste for clothing. Although my clients, men and women, are wary of fashion going out of fashion, they all quickly become good students when we teach them a lesson.
Attentive and curious, they are ready to understand why clothing is a language, why black is not a guarantee of elegance, how soles that are too thin can make people look shorter on their legs, what shirt to wear with jeans, what is the right hem length, the difference between a French collar and an Italian collar, and so on!
Of course, they are not ready to gobble up just any pink chinos or colorful shirts. Still happy. We only feel good in clothes that flatter us and look like us.
Clothing has a language specific to each person's personality.
Afterwards, it's crazy to see how much some men get into the game. If I meet women whose wardrobes are overflowing, I also meet knowledgeable collectors. When they fall in love with shoes or tailor-made suits in the finest fabrics, they become fine specialists, capable of debating for hours about glazing, patina or vintage Prince of Wales.
In short, they don't do things by halves. They amaze us when they find a trendy brand of glasses, go wild with checked pants or an arty patterned t-shirt.
It's not for nothing that we're going to steal more and more from their wardrobe!
A brief focus on errors of taste in men's fashion
The sacrosanct “fashion” shirt, too colorful, with patterned lining and double collar. Note from Florian: “yes, it stings the eyes, I know”.
I'm not the type to scream at a lack of taste. Moreover, unlike the simple copy-paste, it is often thanks to little stupidities that the style is refined. However, there are things that make me cringe. No, that's not possible!
We can group the errors of taste in men's fashion into categories that are omnipresent in everyday life:
The suit :
- The suit jacket with dropped shoulders,
- the blazer too long,
- the pants pulled up to the navel,
- the suit shirt over jeans,
It's not Justin Timberlake who will teach us the rules of wearing a suit.
- the suit belt on casual pants,
- the bling-bling logo belt,
- the shirt with office pants,
- the tie in the pants,
- the corny fancy patterned tie and socks.
Casual:
- the oversized t-shirt, with flowing sleeves that go down to the elbows,
- the t-shirt tucked into the jeans,
- the patterned t-shirt with dubious humor,
- the logo cap when you're not a rapper,
- jeans that are too wide, badly faded, badly holed, falsely aged,
Holey, faded jeans with a belt with a big logo are definitely a bad idea.
- the hem of jeans tucked inside and ironed,
- jeans that are too tight, exposed beam effect,
- cropped pants with multi-pockets and drawstrings,
- wide mid-calf pants,
- “invisible” glasses, with large rivets or “fancy” temples,
- the cell phone worn on the belt,
- white or black sports socks with something other than sneakers,
- the pilled and threadbare scarf,
- dirty hair,
- the beard full of leftovers,
- the ponytail made with a rat’s tail.
The shoes :
- flip flops in town,
- Velcro sandals outside of hiking trails,
- unpolished shoes, worn heels,
- pointy moccasins.
The accessories :
- fancy patterned boxer shorts that stick out from the pants,
- sunglasses at night.
The cheap-looking bag, with the logo too visible.
Of course, the goal is not to rationalize at all costs, but these errors are above the maxim about tastes and colors. Besides, explore your creativity, sharpen your eye for detail, and do what women have been doing for decades with fashion: have fun!
Finally, discover our vision of women's fashion on Isabelle Thomas' blog: Mode Personnel(le) .
