ValleyWag today talks about Fashion No No’s for Valley guys. Its about time we talked about this. It’s not just that they don’t dress the part, but they don’t care about ever dressing the part. Paul Boutin gives us five pointers. Are you kidding? There should be at least twenty and I could keep writing. And I’m not sure I agree with their logic:
Their List:
1. Dyed hair -I think this depends on how you wear it frankly. It’s not an either or……have it done right and it can work wonders, just like it does with women — or not.
2. Wrong shirt – which is to say, almost any shirt. They say to stick to polos and oxfords. When in doubt, stay within the first ten pages of the L.L. Bean catalog. YAWN – New England-like and boring. Step above the crowd, wear colors and wear them proudly and hell, be creative. L.L. Bean catelog, c’mon. Its so 1980s.
3. Faded pants. They say no, that a worn seat is the classic old boy’s blind spot and that out here, it says you haven’t recovered from the dot-com crash. Los Angeles money would not agree – its all about the fade. Again, isn’t it how you wear it and what you do on top?
Sorry Paul, but you need a woman’s perspective here. It’s not about one piece on its own, its about the blend. And then to end with a suggestion to shop at Banana Republic? Not much better than The Gap or L.L. Bean I’m afraid. So much for being bold, daring and standing out ‘ABOVE’ the rest.
4. Cool shoes. Yes, cool shoes, but I have to agree that I’m a fan of simple but elegant shoes for men and women. They should make a statement but not take over your outfit.
5. Body odor. Yeah, well this one goes without saying and its amazing how often men forget to wear deoderant. There are other people around, ya know?
I could go on. He doesn’t say anything about the permanent cell phone and Blackberry fixture to their belt buckles – so attractive isn’t it girls? And the t-shirt (with logo), tattered sneaker combination with the loose jeans. If you have a great butt, why cover it? If you don’t, then replace an hour of computer time with an hour doing something physical to firm up the overall package.
Yes, fashion counts. So does healthy sparkling eyes that say, “I’ll be around for awhile because I take care of myself and have balance in my life,” sadly something that lacks in high tech circles.
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
