Ask the MB: GQ and Sweatpants

March 12, 2012

Q: Did you see this? I think I just died a little inside.
—Ben

A: We love imagining the look on "Style Guy" Glenn O'Brien's face when he learned underlings at GQ were suggesting fleece sweatpants ... with ankle-hugging elastic. He probably died a little bit, too, on the outside.

Despite the likes of prodigy designer Alexander Wang and shrunken-man designer Thom Browne doing fleece sweats — if you're insane you can buy a pair of Browne's sweatshorts for $300 — this is a clothing item best left to Rocky Balboa and George Costanza.

For times when we need the functionality of sweatpants — usually a tennis warm-up session and not training for a fight against Apollo Creed — we wear bottoms than emphasize the pants over the sweat. That is, pockets in both front and rear, unfettered leg openings, zip flys, and above all, no fleece. It's the fleece that gives off the "I give up" look.

Try Prada Sport if you can swing it, Fila if you can't.

Note: Due to an unusually high number of entries into the Allyn Scura eyewear contest, the winner won't be announced until tomorrow.

MBartender: Just Add Laphroaig

January 26, 2012

When Bryan Swanson invented the Magnificent Bastard Cocktail in 2010, there was some grumbling from some single malt scotch purists that mixing Laphroaig into a cocktail was fundamentally wrong. While we could kind of see their point at first, we couldn't after enjoying a few of these tasty, slightly smoky treats.

Now, nearly two years later, the February 2012 issue of GQ says, "any cocktail joint worth its Boston shaker is working the smoky stuff (i.e. single malts such as Laphroaig) into drinks."

While they recommend something called Penecillin, try the MB instead:

2 oz Bulleit bourbon
1 oz Berentzen Apfelkorn
1/8 oz Laphroaig 10-year scotch
2 dashes Angostura bitters

Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass filled with ice. Stir vigorously for 20-30 seconds. Strain into ice-filled rocks glass.

Ask the MB: Espadrilles

June 15, 2011

ASOS Gingham Espadrille Shoes via asos.com, $17.24 — ASOS Gingham Espadrille Shoes via asos.com. $17.24.

Q: What is your take on espadrilles?
—Bill

A: In the June 2011 GQ creative director Jim Moore stops just short of endorsing them but recognizes their popularity saying they're "a big trend this summer," and that they're best "anytime you'd wear your flip-flops." [page 58]

Even though they were invented in the 14th century (principle of archaism), and are usually made of canvas and rope (principle of organic materials), for us they fall into the footwear no-mans land between a shoe and a sandal, currently occupied by MB bête noires Sanuks and Crocs.

However, if your preferred pedicurist is booked — June is Pedicure Awareness Month, BTW — we say go for it, as long as they're a. less than 20 bucks, and b. gingham.

Earlier: Brad Pitt wears Sanuks so they're OK. Right?

Earlier: 4 year-old Rory McDermott lost the nail on his big toe thanks to Crocs. Ow!

Ask the MB: Rugby Shirts

February 3, 2011

Rugby shirts as endorsed by <em>GQ</em>, January 2011 — Rugby shirts as endorsed by GQ, January 2011

Q: Rugby jerseys, yay or nay?
--Charlie

A: In theory, we ought to like rugby shirts on grounds of Anglophilia and tradition. In practice, well, you'd never want to wear an authentic rugby shirt off the pitch -- unless you want to look even goofier than your friend the cyclist who thinks his Team Radio Shack jersey looks good off the bike. Meanwhile, the more understated striped versions that have been showing up in designer collections in recent years tend to remind us of wrapping paper. Every once in a while we see one that almost changes our mind, but there are none in our closet at the moment.

Tip the MB: You're Wrong About Tie Width

October 28, 2010

Not a tip, but I need to point out where you have made an error. GQ has certainly not given up on skinny ties. (See previous post in question.) The tie Ryan Reynolds is wearing is probably 2.75 inches wide, which is about what Gitman Bros runs. If you are still not sure, just compare it to the width of his wrist right on top of it. They are the same. My wrist is 2.5 inches wide. Still don't believe me? Look at the Michael Kenneth Williams spread later. The only tie over 3" is the Tom Ford. Now, I get that you like wider ties, but you have been calling the peak of the thin tie trend for two years. It is starting to feel like wishful bastardly thinking.
--Miller

A: You know what, Miller? You are right and we are wrong. We regret the error. That black herringbone tie worn by Ryan Reynolds on the October GQ cover is in fact exactly 2.75" wide according to Gitman Bros, not the 3+" we suggested.

We're glad you brought up Tom Ford, though, because he's the canary in the lapel and tie-width coal mine. For F/W 2010 he's widening pretty significantly (top) and everyone else will follow.

Meanwhile, to switch the metaphor from mining to parade-going, EXPRESS is the equivalent of the dudes at the end sweeping up the elephant shit, and from their advertisement from the same GQ issue, they're still in the 1.5" - 2.5" range (bottom).

GQ Finally Off Skinny Tie Kick?

September 17, 2010

<em>GQ</em> Finally Off Skinny Tie Kick?

Literally a couple of years after skinny ties were post-peak, GQ covers still featured them, as recently as August with funnymen Zach Galifianakis and Paul Rudd both in ties in sub-3" widths. For September LeBron James was in a Ralph Lauren Purple Label cashmere tie that's pushing 4" at its widest point, and the newly released October issue has Ryan Reynolds in a Gitman Bros. herringbone that looks to be about 3 3/8".

Like Lindsay Lohan, who graced the cover of the August German GQ, we also prefer our ties with a little meat on their bones. Anything in the 3" to 3 1/2" range works for fall 2010.

Ask the MB: Aviator Eyeglasses?

June 2, 2010

Q: You seem to really like the aviator style for sunglasses. Do you consider them MB for eyeglasses as well?
--John

A: Aviator frames without tinted lenses are like non-alcoholic beer or vegetarian Beefaroni -- they're missing the thing that makes the thing the thing! To illustrate our point, look at Bradley Cooper in tinted aviators (top) and GQ Style Editor Jim Moore in aviators with clear lenses. The former displays classic MB style. The latter, as we've observed in the past, looks like our high school algebra teacher. If you want to stay on the winning side of this equation, leave the clear aviators to Moore and Lumberg, mmm'kay?

Ask the MB: GQ's Jim Moore

November 16, 2009

Q: Around a month ago I watched GQ Rules: How to dress better in 15 days. What caught my attention was Jim Moore's tie and collar buttons. Is it MB to tie your tie a bit loose just like Jim Moore? Also, I know you are not supposed to wear a tie with a shirt with button collars. What do you guys think? I uploaded a picture here http://i34.tinypic.com/4h3w3m.jpg of Jim Moore just in case you guys haven't watched it yet.
--Franco

A: First, it's certainly OK to wear a tie with a button-down collar. Second, this is Jim Moore's version of artful dishevelment and it's definitely endorsable (though the tie width and knot size is not). Finally, one thing we don't get about Jim Moore's look is the eyewear. We're pretty sure he got those at our high school algebra teacher's garage sale.

Tip the MB: GQ Losing Its Touch

September 30, 2009

Tip the MB: <em>GQ</em> Losing Its Touch

Q: Have you seen this yet? GQ is on a downward spiral with their "good" fashion tips. Collar stays? Really?
--Perry

A: GQ is like a machine. Every month they need to produce x amount of words to fill a magazine, and when that happens you're bound to get some bad (and often contradictory) advice. Not to mention, Glenn O'Brien (The Style Guy) can't write everything. Collar stays aren't just out, they prevent successful artful dishevelment. Take a close look at George Clooney's beautifully disheveled collar and you can clearly see there is definitely not a collar stay.

Spring 2010 According to Conde Nast

July 8, 2009

Details/GQ unveiled the Top 10 Looks for Spring 2010 and we deem most can safely be ingored. Double-breasted suits, gladiator sandals, tights under shorts, shorts suits, red ... brrrrrrrp. No. A couple of things that may transfer from the runway to your closet: black and white, and tank tops. You've got 9 months to prepare those arms for increased display.

Which One is GQ's Most Stylish Man in America?

February 16, 2009

Which One is <em>GQ</em>'s Most Stylish Man in America?

Here's why friends don't let friends read too much GQ.

Ask the MB -- Copying Your Boss's Style

August 14, 2008

Q: I wear a lot of buttondown shirts to work, and I see my boss not buttoning down his collars. So I ask the MB, should I follow his example?
--Mike

A: Mike, you can laugh at his jokes, maybe order a similar drink at happy hour, and own his pet project, but never compromise your own style. Keep your buttons buttoned. Besides, unbuttoned buttondown shirts is a little TTH. Even worse is GQ's Style Guy Glenn O'Brien, who, in a recent column, admitted to buttoning one and leaving the other unbuttoned, which is artful dishevelment all wrong.

GQ's 'Style Guy' Increasingly Out to Lunch

August 5, 2008

<em>GQ</em>'s 'Style Guy' Increasingly Out to Lunch

In the August issue of GQ -- the one with Seth Rogen on the cover -- "Style Guy" Glenn O'Brien admits to leaving a single button-down collar button unbuttoned, calling it a "je ne sais quoi casualness" and "flaunted carelessness." We think he means "artful dishevelment," but this is "overly-engineered dishevelment," and trying way, way too hard. The desired go-to-hell air needs to look completely uncalculated.

In the same issue, he endorses the hoodie, primarily for its blue-collar roots and utility. White-collar roots are preferable, and that damn hood is non-functional and simply in the way at least 90% of the time. Also, Suede from Project Runway wears them a lot.

Follow his advice at your own risk.

Skinny Ties -- Dead

May 12, 2008

In their most recent issue, men's mag Details declares "Enough With the Skinny Ties." Men's site magnificentbastard.com called this in 2007. Welcome aboard Details! Now we'll patiently wait for GQ to finally get with it.

Someone Get GQ the Memo: Skinny is Over

January 3, 2008

Someone Get <em>GQ</em> the Memo: Skinny is Over

Just because GQ Editor-in-Chief Tim Nelson still wears skinny ties from Band of Outsiders, it doesn't mean it's OK to dress Josh Brolin up in one and have his readers think it's still cool. LY, baby; or, more precisely, 2006.

GQ Brain Trust Looking a Little Long in the Tooth

January 3, 2008

<em>GQ</em> Brain Trust Looking a Little Long in the Tooth

Glenn O'Brien (aka "The Style Guy") is still the shit (even though in November he goofed badly by recommending wearing legible clothing to the gym), but the GQ team is looking like they may not be the most appropriate gang to be providing style advice to today's younger MBs.

Ask the MB

November 9, 2007

Q: So we have closed down the t and blazer look for fall, but can I throw a thin hoodie or a track jacket under a wool blazer or a corduroy blazer?
—Jared

A: In the November 2007 issue of GQ, über designer and Magnificent Bastard Extraordinaire Tom Ford calls the blazer "the best piece of clothing of the past 50 years." Look at the picture. Notice the collared shirt. Follow along.

Ask the MB

August 17, 2007

Q: I was curious if it was appropriate to tuck just the front part of one's shirt in his pants, thus exposing his fashionable belt buckle. It is so clearly depicted on the front page of the site. In fact, it is almost luring me towards such mentioned behavior. So I ask: Appropriate, or Toolbag-ish? That is the question.
—The Buckler

A: The banner photo doesn't show it, but the white shirt is fully tucked in save for that wisp to your left. It took the Magnificent Subject and Magnificent Photographer's Handlers about 20 minutes to achieve the precice amount of artful dishevelment for that photograph.

Also pictured is Michael Bastian from the August GQ. He, too, with a fully considered amount of artful dishelvelment; and he's about the best designer going right now.

Hope that answers your question, asshole.

GQ Flops

July 12, 2007

This summer GQ recommended wearing plastic flip flops to a summer wedding. If you wear plastic flip flops to a magnificent bastard's wedding, prepare to be beaten to within an inch of your life with them.