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STYLISH DADS: WHAT IT TAKES TO BE ONE

06/17/2022

With Father’s Day coming up on June 17, I thought it was an appropriate time to recognize some of the cool dads in today’s America, especially since Q. Contrary is in the business of helping men be more stylish as well as helping them develop or enhance their own personal style.

So, what is personal style?   Some men have it and some men don’t.  It’s a little hard to define, but after researching the topic, I’ve come up with a few key points.

  • It’s about more than just clothes. It’s not about fashion or about being the most fashionable person in the room.
  • It should represent who you are because it’s “personal.”
  • It’s about self-expression, but it’s so much more.
  • It’s about function and wearing clothes that make you feel comfortable in your own skin.
  • Personal style is confidence. When wearing clothes that fit properly and are comfortable, you feel confident.  There is no reason you need to compromise between looking good and being comfortable.

Still a little confused about personal style?  They say, “a picture is worth a thousand words.”  So, here are my top five examples of men who display personal style.

Let’s start with Kevin Costner.  The dude is over 65 and still has personal style.  I’d describe it as rugged, American, casual, laid back, and even cool, whether you think of him 30+ years ago in “Dances With Wolves,” accepting the best actor award at the Oscars, or in the current television series “Yellowstone.”

Ryan Gosling.  Though much younger than Kevin Costner, Gosling also has personal style.  When not working on films such as “The Notebook,” “LaLa Land,” and “Blade Runner,” he is the “king of casual,” sporting denim jackets, white or black t-shirts, and jeans.  That’s not to say he doesn’t dress up.  He’s known for his bold colored suits and coordinated glasses, and especially “no ties,” at formal events.  His style boils down to simple retro American, mainstream, but indie at heart, and effortlessly cool.

“The Rock,” Dwayne Johnson.  It’s not often that a former wrestler is known as a modern-day fashion leader.  With his immense physical presence, 6-foot 5-inch frame and muscular 265.5 lbs., he has become a dominant figure in Hollywood.  His natural charisma defines his persona not only on-screen but is also central to his considerable appeal off-screen.  “The Rock”exhibits a clean, classic, and accessible sense of style that everyday men can identify with.  Bottomline, he has a simplistic but enduringly stylish sense

David Beckham.  David Beckham, a former British soccer star, has become a fashion icon.  In my book, he’s a top scorer.  An article I read described Beckham as “having a thematic approach to style and playing many roles from biker to Brooklyn hipster to James Bond and lastly, the English gent.”  To sum up his personal style, I would say it’s classic, preppy, but still cool with a bit of hipster.

Tom Ford.  It’s said that everything is bigger in Texas, and, as a native Texan, Tom Ford has certainly lived up to that adage.  A premier fashion designer and filmmaker, he truly is a visionary. Ford is known for his eponymous luxury brand and his very focused sense of design and small details.  His personal style is that of a gentleman, elegant and appearing perfectly poised in everything he wears.

American men have never been as interested in style as say, the Italian guys.  However, in the last decade, men have become far more conscious of what they are wearing.  So long story short, your personal style is very important.  It reflects who you are – your likes, creativity, and lifestyle and can impact people’s impressions and judgments of you.

I’m Mary from Q. Contrary.  Check out my shop at 3168 East Camelback Road in Phoenix, or visit my online store.  I believe any guy can have great personal style regardless of his size or budget.  My goal as a men’s clothier is to help my customers find their own version of personal style in an easy, straight forward way.  I’d be delighted to have the opportunity to help you discover or refine yours.

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