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Men and Style: Essays, Interviews and Considerations
Men and Style reaches beyond standard “what to wear” It is equal parts style guide and intriguing conversation about the masculine identity within the world of fashion. David Coggins explores the history of men’s style and learns from some of the most notable tastemakers in the industry and beyond. Its essays and interviews discuss the lessons men learned from their fathers, the mistakes they made as young men, and how they emerged to become better men. Some of the most dapper men in the world discuss bad mustaches, misguided cologne choices, and unfortunate prom tuxedos. All the men here have arrived at a place in the world and have a keen understanding about how they fit in it. Men and Style celebrates singular men who’ve lived well and can tell us about how they earned their worldview. They’re smart enough to absorb the wisdom that’s hidden in the world, and even smarter to wear that wisdom lightly.
- GenresFashionNonfictionDesign
274 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 11, 2016
67 people are currently reading
590 people want to read
About the author
David Coggins
4 books72 followersDavid Coggins is the author of "The Believer: A Year in the Fly Fishing Life" (Scribner). His previous books include "The Optimist," "Men and Manners" and the NY Times best-seller "Men and Style" (Abrams). He writes The Contender, a newsletter about style, travel and design. His work appears in numerous publications, including Esquire, the Financial Times magazine and Robb Report. He lives in New York.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 20, 2016
Men should have more style. Let's start with shoes. I love shoes. Today I am wearing ETQ Trainers in white faux croc. It's a sneaker brand out of Amsterdam that makes some killer kicks. Not widely known but that is really the point. Frankly women should judge a man by his shoes. Steve Jobs had the same pair of shoes and never really wore anything else. He was driven and singular in purpose but not fun. And for a long time his feet stunk. Not good. Men should read books. And not a lot of books about stuff that really didn't happen. Non-fiction is better so you know what has happened, what might happen and what is happening right now. Two people have told me I should write more instead of reading so much. I do write. I am writing right now. Not as much as I should but that is because it is also part of my job in advertising. And one of those people doesn't do anything at all so I take that into consideration. Books help you carry on a conversation. A man should be able to control a conversation at a dinner or a meeting and make it his playground. He should be able to make people laugh, cry, interested, compelled...or just plain curious. That is what Sinatra could do... I don't always do it because sometimes I hate the other shoes that are sitting around that table. But I can if I need to...and especially if I WANT to. Clothing matters. It does. Most men dress horribly. Everyone will make mistakes but they should be making an effort. I love it when someone says..."Where the hell did you get that and where can I get one?" Call me an attention whore, call me desperate or just call me a savvy dresser who likes to curate really cool shirts, shoes, jackets, etc. Men should collect things they like. Be it cars, sneakers, shirts, playing cards, books, watches, matchbooks, or wine. And men should collect wine most of all. A man should be able to take a sip of wine and know what kind of wine it is. Is it a cab, merlot, pinot, blend, classic bordeaux, or just sheer crap? If a man can't do that he should at least be able to converse with the sommelier. And men should be good at some sport. If you are a man and you don't know the thrill of athletic competition....NOT GOOD. Get out there and beat someone at something and then drink some wine in celebration. And men should be able to carry a tune. It comes in handy when you are drinking wine. Ok, I am gonna go and drink some incredible wine now in celebration of manly pursuits. Good day.
August 12, 2018
Books on men's style are plentiful, but the bar is higher than cynics might expect. Typically, the goal isn't to encourage wild flamboyance but to offer practical, historical guidelines and encourage individuality. Alan Flusser’s “Dressing the Man" is the encyclopedic standard, a good combination of practical advice and historical backgrounds, in spite of some dated 90s images and terminology.
David Coggins' "Men and Style: Essays, Interviews, and Considerations" attempts a more idiosyncratic take on the genre. At best it’s mildly eccentric, at worst tone-deaf and deeply elitist. The reader will feel like they were accidentally inducted into Skull and Bones but are waiting to be taught the secret handshakes.
Coggins comments on the idea of style obliquely, relying on anecdotes from a series of B-list “creatives” with Jay McInerney and director Whit Stillman rising dubiously to the top. The central thesis, supported by Coggins’ raft of plummy talking heads, is that style is basically inherited as a received idea through family, education and locale, at which point personal embellishment takes place. Invariably, the commentators’ family preoccupations consist of legacy admissions and Brooks Brothers. One hopes that Whit Stillman reads the entire volume and recasts it as one of his satires on aristocratic Easterners.
Coggins provides his own humble-bragging essays about his style journey and the book hits a nadir with his praise of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” as a primer on life’s finest offerings. That book is the polar opposite, a cautionary reflection on ephemeral vanities. Coggins’ warped admiration increases when his parents buy him a first edition as a college graduation present. Keep in mind that a copy with dust jacket sells for as much as a new Aston Martin.
The book is partly redeemed by a brief chapter written by journalist Gay Talese, who argues the opposite: style is not about decadence, class or wealth but a show of respect for a situation or another person. Talese is lucid and earthbound where Coggins is high on his own rarefied air. Tellingly, Talese’s counterattack appears to have passed unnoticed by Coggins, who fails to understand that the purest snobbery wears blinders.
David Coggins' "Men and Style: Essays, Interviews, and Considerations" attempts a more idiosyncratic take on the genre. At best it’s mildly eccentric, at worst tone-deaf and deeply elitist. The reader will feel like they were accidentally inducted into Skull and Bones but are waiting to be taught the secret handshakes.
Coggins comments on the idea of style obliquely, relying on anecdotes from a series of B-list “creatives” with Jay McInerney and director Whit Stillman rising dubiously to the top. The central thesis, supported by Coggins’ raft of plummy talking heads, is that style is basically inherited as a received idea through family, education and locale, at which point personal embellishment takes place. Invariably, the commentators’ family preoccupations consist of legacy admissions and Brooks Brothers. One hopes that Whit Stillman reads the entire volume and recasts it as one of his satires on aristocratic Easterners.
Coggins provides his own humble-bragging essays about his style journey and the book hits a nadir with his praise of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” as a primer on life’s finest offerings. That book is the polar opposite, a cautionary reflection on ephemeral vanities. Coggins’ warped admiration increases when his parents buy him a first edition as a college graduation present. Keep in mind that a copy with dust jacket sells for as much as a new Aston Martin.
The book is partly redeemed by a brief chapter written by journalist Gay Talese, who argues the opposite: style is not about decadence, class or wealth but a show of respect for a situation or another person. Talese is lucid and earthbound where Coggins is high on his own rarefied air. Tellingly, Talese’s counterattack appears to have passed unnoticed by Coggins, who fails to understand that the purest snobbery wears blinders.
June 10, 2024
Coggins is wonderful in his sections but not all of the other contributors were to my liking (shocker)
Strange but I think this book would be more enjoyable if I followed all of the contributors on social media...fat chance of that.
For aspects of style, why not talk about how expensive style AND fashion can be? This is a meditation on living a good life and I don't think Coggins is a snob but man, it would be cool to see how he thinks you can still be stylish when small children, work and daily life get in the way...
Strange but I think this book would be more enjoyable if I followed all of the contributors on social media...fat chance of that.
For aspects of style, why not talk about how expensive style AND fashion can be? This is a meditation on living a good life and I don't think Coggins is a snob but man, it would be cool to see how he thinks you can still be stylish when small children, work and daily life get in the way...
May 29, 2017
Entertaining portmanteau of a book - some essays of Coggins, a number of amalgams of colleagues and notable's memories and recitations ("my first suit," etc).
A fun read with some good ideas, engaging and bite sized, with lovely design.
A fun read with some good ideas, engaging and bite sized, with lovely design.
May 20, 2017
Leiðin til hins fullkomna persónubundna stíls er erfið og löng. Löggiltir fagmenn spjalla um allt milli himins og jarðar og greina frá mismunandi tímabilum í lífi sínu.
May 5, 2018
Sone interesting stories. Cool topics. A bit arrogant, smattered with name dropping. But slightly fun
February 25, 2019
This book generally won't appeal to many outside of New York City. Written for a very small group of people.
May 13, 2023
honestly not very interesting overall, but the lifestyle and mind set is so foreign to me that I wanted to read it all
November 25, 2023
A charming read on the style adapted within one’s wardrobe and lifestyle at large. The essays had their moments, the ‘interviews’ (more aptly referred to as Q&A) could have used a round of edits.
February 2, 2021
A short, fun read. Imminently practical, nothing super revolutionary, but chalk full of reminders on how to be a good human being.
September 27, 2016
An enjoyable look at men's style told through interviews. Men are asked what they wore as a child, teen, etc. and what phases they went through.
They were also asked what their Father's and Grandfather's wore.
Humorous tales of bad clothing/fashion choices.
Packed with clear, easy to see photographs.
This is a great book, even if the man in your life isn't into clothes. It isn't that kind of book. It doesn't tell men what to wear, or how to dress.
It is a look back and memories shared, and I enjoyed every story told.
They were also asked what their Father's and Grandfather's wore.
Humorous tales of bad clothing/fashion choices.
Packed with clear, easy to see photographs.
This is a great book, even if the man in your life isn't into clothes. It isn't that kind of book. It doesn't tell men what to wear, or how to dress.
It is a look back and memories shared, and I enjoyed every story told.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews