"Men and Style"

What you always wanted to know about Elegance, but were afraid to ask!
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uppercase
Posts: 1769
Joined: Fri Feb 11, 2005 3:49 pm

Thu Oct 13, 2016 7:27 pm

…only reached page 13 of David Coggins new book, but looks like it will be a satisfying read.

The introduction by Glenn O'Brien is inspiring.

I will have to first learn many unfamiliar designations of men interested in the "art of life" :
-dandy
-fop
-peacock
-frak
-flamer
-idler
-flaneur
-boulevardier

All this in the first page. Phew.

Obviously a lot of learning to do.

Indeed, Coggins introduction is titled Higher Learning.

I am game. And think that this will be an interesting book. See you all on the boulevard once I get through this promising book.
uppercase
Posts: 1769
Joined: Fri Feb 11, 2005 3:49 pm

Mon Oct 17, 2016 9:01 pm

Here's a quote I like from this book when the author asks G. Bruce Boyer : do you have any rules??

"I have very few rules.
One : you should dress your age. I think you can look good at any age. I think it looks ridiculous when 60-year-old guys try to look like their surfer son.
Two: Buy the best quality that you can afford.
And going along with that idea, you should keep your clothes forever.
It's the best diet you can get. "
couch
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Tue Oct 18, 2016 2:34 am

Great quote.

I like all three rules, though some people are needlessly paranoid about the first one. If you're alert, you'll know whether you still look as suitable in jeans at 60 as you did in college.

But the last one I endorse wholeheartedly. (And following it helps with the first rule.)
davidhuh
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Tue Oct 18, 2016 11:41 pm

uppercase wrote: And going along with that idea, you should keep your clothes forever.
It's the best diet you can get. "
:lol: :lol: - brilliant
hectorm
Posts: 1667
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Wed Oct 19, 2016 10:01 pm

uppercase wrote:
The introduction by Glenn O'Brien is inspiring.
I finished the book last night and I agree with your assessment of the introduction by Glenn O´Brien. Actually it´s a brilliant piece and by far the best of all sections.
Unfortunately, it creates some expectations and the book itself does not follow at that level.
Not that it wasn´t a pleasurable reading. It even contains several passages that stroke a personal chord with me and managed to generate very warm feelings. But IMO -as far as "men and style" hard-covers I think should go- it´s a lazy book, rustled up the easy way for the print without the benefit of engaging the best of Coggins´s intellect. Well, at least he's not trying - I believe- to doctor us on what to wear or preying on the vulnerable pushing things.
BTW, one entertaining way of approaching the book is to do parallel research on who the quoted, pictured, and interviewed gentlemen (and some women) are. Besides the ubiquitous Boyers, Mashburns, Hacketts, etc., most of them I didn´t know :oops:
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