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Fashion Forward Nashville men have created a look that’s all their own. So what’s next?
“Nashville is the most casual of the entertainment centers. It’s closer to Austin than New York or L.A. in what counts as style,” says Coke Sams, filmmaker and partner of RuckusFilm. “We’re easy going and as eccentric as hell. Here you can be comfortable wearing almost anything and people will accept it as stylish.” Men from all walks of life call Nashville home. This, coupled with the recent influx of transplants from other cities, has caused a cross-pollination of styles and trends that’s begun attracting attention from the media. Now even people outside Middle Tennessee are becoming aware of the “Nashville Look.” “Nashville’s casual, confident style has spread across the state and is now the standard,” says Paul LeQuire, regional manager of Bachrach. “We created the trend of looking good and being comfortable at the same time.” Still, while casual is king, some Nashville men are going back to the future by sporting retro-inspired looks. When Tennessee native Justin Timberlake declared he was bringing sexy back, he did so in a three-piece suit and tie. Women swooned and men took notice. The fashion pendulum these days is swinging away from the disheveled, albeit carefully coiffed, look. Not that the boys have much of a choice. With the parade of ladylike garments that sauntered down the women’s fall runways, the just-rolled-out-of-bed menswear look of seasons past won’t do. “Nashville is a city that is finally conscious about fashion,” says couture designer (and Nashvillian) Manuel. “The men are competing with the women on all levels. They are open to new ideas.” Three- and four-buttoned suits, vests and narrower, monochromatic ties conjure up images reminiscent of ‘50s and ‘60s Madison Avenue masculine elegance. Though it’s doubtful the country crooners on lower Broadway will embrace this buttoned-up trend – tattered jeans are, after all, as much a part of Nashville as the Grand Ole Opry – the crowds that congregate at those swanky Gulch-area clubs are more than willing to suit up, so to speak. But while metropolitan males in New York, L.A. and various European cities are opting to top off their classy and kempt look with a hat, few local men are jumping on the bandwagon. Cowboy hats notwithstanding, one fashion-insider quips, “The only hats in Nashville are toupees.” After years of men donning dressed-down duds regardless of the occasion, this new look is refreshing. Suits and ties have always represented those coveted male attributes of power and confidence. But while this season’s menswear trends are cemented in tradition the looks are ultimately modern. And watching our own Eddie George transition from a Titans jersey to the best-dressed sportscaster on television is a prime example. It’s only logical that men would start dressing up again. The metrosexual revolution moved men’s vanity from being a dirty little secret to a booming industry. Debonair clothing is an extension of that mentality. But these days, dressing for success doesn’t stop at the neck. The face is the first thing people look at, so men are starting to pay as much attention to their skin as they do to their clothing. No longer are male grooming habits limited to a bar of soap, a razor and a comb. In the United States alone men are spending $33 billion on their appearance. Males are the fastest growing target market in the fashion and grooming industries. And it’s not surprising. Men have always been vain – it’s just that until recently, most of them didn’t feel comfortable admitting it. Nashville men, on the other hand, have never been ashamed of taking pride in their appearance. That’s why they’re at the forefront of this trend. And now, more than ever, they have the ability to get what they want. Trish Townsend, wardrobe stylist for Jon Bon Jovi, Vince Gill and more, says, “Men are definitely more willing to take chances these days. Their options are so much greater in Nashville between new male boutiques and online accessibilities.” But whether they prefer dressing down in denim or sprucing up in suits, Nashville men know that their attitude is more important than their wardrobe. The equation for great style is to look good, feel good and ultimately to have confidence. Says John Bridges, author of The Gentlemen’s Book series (How to Be a Gentleman and others), “Style is all about self-esteem. If you’re comfortable in your own skin, whatever you put over it will look good.” So remember, guys, knowledge is power. And in terms of style, looking good = feeling good = confidence = success! Michele Probst is an internationally known celebrity makeup artist and the founder of Menaji Skincare, a pioneer in undetectable male cosmetics. Her clientele includes Antonio Banderas, Johnny Depp, John Edwards, Eddie George, Al Gore Jr., Rascal Flatts, Tim McGraw, Paul McCartney, Barack Obama and Kid Rock. www.menskincare.com. []Similar |
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