DO CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN?

Elliot Ackerman suggests they can help ... or hinder.  "There is nothing emasculating about being deliberate with your appearance. In fact, to do otherwise is unmasculine and childish."

We might still have John T. Molloy offering such advice.  Let Mr Ackerman offer reinforcement.

Men are on the rise. Kamala Harris’s Brat Summer led to Trump’s Bro Fall. But so many of these “manosphere” dudes look like clowns. Leaping tech titans in too tight—or too baggy (looking at you, Zuck)—T-shirts. Political appointees with American-flag pocket squares. Do you blow your nose into Old Glory? And do I really need to mention Senator John Fetterman—who isn’t a tech bro, but still—who thought the inauguration a fitting venue for a hoodie and shorts? C’mon, bros. Do better.

That might be reading too much cultural change into the election returns, which is an annoying tic of the coastal cosmopolitans, irrespective of their politics.  His advice, though, can be distilled into a short take.  "And if you are in fashion today, inevitably, you will be out of fashion tomorrow. Style is different. If done right, it lasts forever."

The substance of style, to borrow from Virginia Postrel, is vintage Molloy.

If I were to give my younger self some advice, I would tell him to start with a dark navy suit, a gray suit, two white shirts, two light-blue shirts, and a pair of black shoes—loafers or oxfords. These items can be mixed and matched and will take you far. I would also suggest going to see a tailor. You don’t necessarily have to buy anything from this tailor, but if you tell him that you’d like to up your game, and that you’re interested in buying a new jacket or pair of trousers, not only will you be surprised by what you’ll learn, but you’ll also be surprised to find that most tailors are craftsmen who enjoy discussing their craft.

Don’t be shy. We’re men, and men like crafts, from craft beer to craft furniture. It’s craftsman; not craftswoman. And beautiful clothing is certainly a craft.

Not surprisingly, a man with military experience would continue with a "make your bed in the morning" theme.

There is a difference between getting dressed and putting on your clothes. The former is deliberate; the latter is not. A person who gets dressed is a person who is intentional. It communicates a plan. During the darkest days of the pandemic, when there was no reason to wear anything but pajamas during quarantine, I made a point of getting dressed each morning. This was something I could control. Try it. Put on a jacket or even a tie the next time you don’t really need to. I bet it will give you a boost.

Put another way, giving the impression of being prepared might be more important than the preparation itself.  All the preparation in the world is of no effect if people don't take the presenter seriously.  "Dress is a potent form of visual communication."