Most Men Don’t Embrace Fashion. Here’s Why You Should
A Customer Came To Visit Me At The Factory Recently….
I could tell he wanted to talk about it, as in “what is fashion?” He walked around the topic. Not quite ready to embrace fashion or address it head-on because, I believe, he didn’t want to say something that wasn’t right.
He told me that at certain points in life he had been intrigued by fashion, but felt he wouldn’t be good at it, so he never engaged in it.
I can understand why men don’t embrace fashion. When I first started Todd Shelton, I didn’t embrace fashion because I didn’t understand it. I was open-minded, I just didn’t understand it. I knew I was interested in clothing and style, but fashion – like the clothing we see on runways, I didn’t understand.
Over the past few years, I have been fortunate to have met some friends who truly understand fashion, and I’ve let them talk. I’ve come to understand and embrace fashion, and because of it, I’m better equipped to understand life – and style.
Here is what I remember saying to the customer who visited:
“Fashion is like a conversation happening within society. The conversation is non-verbal and it’s communicated through what we wear. People send messages about what they’re thinking – their worldview – through what they choose to wear. To participate in fashion is to be a participating member of your community. To not participate, especially if done in a cavalier way, is not admirable at all. Show how you think by what you wear. Create content for people to look at. Participate, it’s admirable.”
Last fall I decided I was tired of brown leather shoes and boots. I‘d been wearing them for a decade. I still like them, I just needed a change. I decided to buy white sneakers, the style that is current right now. The first time I walked into the studio wearing the new sneakers, a member of our team said, “You look like you’re up for anything.” Just by changing my shoes, this person felt my worldview had changed. It felt good hearing it, but more importantly, the statement revealed the power of clothing.
It’s important in life to stay current, to engage with your community, fashion helps do that.
The customer I mentioned came back to the studio the following weekend. He had thought about our conversation. And he decided to trade in his old (non-Todd Shelton) washed out jeans (that were too baggy) for a fitted black jean. His golf shirt was switched out for a black t-shirt with 7.5” sleeves. He looked like a different guy. I can imagine the people he sees regularly (his community), will see him in an elevated way. The transformation was significant – and extremely positive. He created content for his community.
My closing message: try not to be cynical about fashion. Be open-minded.
