Sunday, August 23, 2009

Manly Monday: Fashion Blogs for Men

{photo via The Sartorialist}

In the somewhat eccentric world of literature graduate students, almost anything goes fashion-wise {mostly because we're poor and have to be creative}. But when school is finally over, we are thrust into a very competitive professional market, where appearances and grooming -- or lack thereof -- can cost an otherwise intelligent candidate a potential job. It's certainly not fair, but it's the state of things, nevertheless!

It's no wonder then that my friend Matt, who recently completed his PhD {woot!}, has started to worry more about his professional appearance on the job-market. Guys seem to have a harder time making a smooth transition from the typical jeans/t-shirt look to an appropriate "professional uniform." Luckily, there are many fun, informative online resources for the man who would never consider buying a GQ magazine at the store, but might be a little curious about how to step-up his look a notch or two in the hopes of making an appealing overall impression:

::Wasabi Nights -- excellent, real-world tips on everything from how to roll up your sleeves to keeping your clothing in pristine condition.

::Fashion Beans -- up-to-date fashion and trends for men.

::Street Etiquette -- two well-dressed men from NYC show off their personal style.

::The Sartorialist -- the original street-fashion blog features stylish men from around the world.

::Easy and Elegant Life -- this modern dandy perfectly balances elegance and ease with a bit of vintage charm {impressive drink tips and recipes, too!}

::Nerd Boyfriend -- a shopping and style guide for the fashionably-nerdy man.

::Refinery 29 -- a bit more advanced, right-off-the-runway style for the truly adventurous man.

Of course, once you've nailed a tenured position in academia, you can pretty much let yourself go -- as evidenced by the large amounts of corduroy, sandals with socks, middle-age-man ponytails, and Grizzly Adams beards among literature professors...

**Hope this helps, Matt!

Are there any men's fashion/style blogs that you would recommend, my stylish readers? What is your opinion on "professional dress" for men??