Ok gentlemen, it’s officially a new decade and it’s time we pulled up our socks (literally) when it comes to dressing. My co-conspirator on the Fashion Show and editor of Drum Magazine, Carol Odero wrote an article on her weekly column chastising men in Kenya for their wardrobe choices and I have to say she was spot on. I don’t think most Kenyan men necessarily prioritize dressing. In fact just Google ‘best dressed men + Kenya’ and you will find a dearth of information or lists. Some of the common dress faux pas I regularly see include: wearing clothes that are too big, too short ties (top of the belt buckle please), tags on jacket sleeves, white socks with leather shoes, branded polo shirts, matching pocket handkerchief and tie combo’s, and watches so large they swallow your wrist. And a special dishonorable mention must go to that long nail on the finger – enough said!
You know being a man of a certain age and disposition, my nights out are few and far between, but last weekend, I put on my party shoes and revived the days of my misspent youth by doing a club crawl. Most of the girls were predictably wearing their uniform of skinny jeans, heels and tops. That’s a blog post for another day but I won’t be giving any demerits to the fairer sex for they may have been predictable for a night out on the town but they put in a little effort. As for my fellow gentlemen (and I use that word loosely sartorially speaking), to put it mildly I was disappointed. It was a sea of baggy t-shirts, sagging jeans, baseball caps, sneakers and even shorts and mandals (male sandals). And this was irrespective of age or venue. I may have been off the scene for sometime, but what happened to bouncers enforcing dress codes - and did I miss that memo that said anything goes?
Gentlemen, if you are no longer in school or college, start dressing like an adult when going out. I know it is particularly challenging during this warm weather to look stylish and dress comfortably at the same time but evenings can get a little chilly so try wearing a blazer or jacket for one. You can throw that over a pair of slim dark jeans and keep the sneakers but at least you’ll look a lot less than you’re starring in your own rap video. In my humble opinion men should never expose their toes in public unless there’s sand between them tootsies. Khakis and corduroys are a great alternative to jeans – just make sure they are cut on the slimmer side.
Guess what guys, a recent survey (admittedly done in America, but still relevant I believe to us here in Kenya) reported that 87% of women in relationships would be willing to sacrifice something (going out to dinner, cell phone, vacation days, etc.) to have a better-dressed partner. The same survey reported 85% of women "think a guy who dresses well is sexier than one who has a lot of money," 78% of women "believe dressing well is one of the hottest things a guy can do" and 64% believe that "women are more likely to marry a well-dressed man than one who isn't as well put together." See the full results of the survey here
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