Fashion is often considered a feminine pastime, but a man who can creatively style his duds is something to be appreciated. The popular saying “when you look good, you feel good” doesn’t just apply to weight loss, makeover shows, and women. Men should also embrace that saying and apply it to how they dress.
“You live in Victoria, it’s not a high fashion capital, but also it’s not the middle of nowhere. You can wear something nice and not feel like a dork about it,” says Jordan Stout, manager and assistant buyer at Still Life for Him and Her. “Victoria is a cool, weird, eclectic city, as well as a Euro-English feeling city, so dressing decent doesn’t look out of place.”
In Victoria, men’s fashion trends reflect the temperate climate. Pacific Northwest styling inspired by outdoor adventure has heavily influenced Victoria’s fashion scene.
“It’s been a trend in menswear for a while, this adventure- and worker-inspired look from the mid-century,” says Stout. “Back to basics is a big look.”
Currently, men’s fashion is all about investment pieces. In the span of two years, buying a pair of $200 jeans is a better investment than having to continually replace cheap jeans.
“A lot of guys aren’t shopping as frequently as they use to, or as much as girls do, but they’re buying better stuff,” says Stout.
Another focus is fit. Sure, a guy can look beautiful and have the features of a rugged, chiselled hunk, but if he’s wearing ill-fitting, cheap jeans and a XXL shirt when it should only be L, he’s not doing himself any favours.
“The first way a guy can look unflattering or not himself is by having poorly fitting clothes,” says Stout. “If it’s a small, tiny guy and something is too big for him, it’s going to make him look smaller and sicklier. You lose all definition and shape if you’re sized too big.”
Since menswear stores in Victoria are generally in the mid-to-high price point, Stout recommends students on a budget peruse thrift shops and second-hand stores and have a trusted tailor to fit the clothes perfectly to their body.
“If you find a blazer at Value Village for $20 and it looks almost right, take it to a tailor,” says Stout. “For $20-30 you’ll have it fit perfectly. If you bought the blazer new it would probably cost $200.”
Just remember, men have it pretty simple compared to their female counterparts.
“Men’s fashion is pretty straightforward,” says Stout. “It’s men’s clothing, it’s literally just T-shirts, shirts, sweaters, pants, boots, socks. It’s not as complicated as women’s fashion.”
Five Victoria essentials for men:
A good pair of jeans
Men can wear a nice pair of jeans almost anywhere in the city and not feel underdressed. Ideally choose a dark wash and raw denim (not washed out). “Raw denim looks better every time you wear them,” says Still Life for Him and Her manager and assistant buyer Jordan Stout.
Waxed canvas jacket
Avoid the Gortex-style rain jackets and opt for a nice wax-finished canvas or cotton jacket. The water will just shed right off!
Knitwear
Instead of staying warm in a generic hoodie, try a well-fitted sweater.
Multipurpose footwear
Whether it’s boots or leather sneakers, make sure the quality is high so you can wear them to dinner, work, or going out with your buddies.
Tote bag or backpack
A good bag is essential to keep all of your belongings safe. Search around for a good quality canvas or leather backpack, instead of buying an average Roxy or Billabong backpack.
None of this is about fashion, it’s consumerism. It’s just about being rich enough to buy all those pricey items. I got a student loan! Victoria aint’ wall street, our Provence was defined by logging. C’mon Nexus, outside the box. (even for fashion)