Style expert Paul Galvin plays the role of agony uncle as he answers all of your style questions.
If you have doubts as to whether you should wear socks with sandals or wear a fanny pack to a wedding, you should definitely read this wonderful feature to perfect your style dos and don’ts (plus you should never wear a fanny pack at all, never mind to a wedding).
Are you trying to impress that girl you like, or simply want to have that “look good, feel good” mentality? This feature will help you dress in the latest affordable styles to make sure you are looking your best, while also helping you to get through some sticky fashion conundrums.
Paul,
I was shopping with my missus the other day. Well actually she was doing the shopping, I was merely following her around. I sometimes do this to keep her happy because she feels we are spending quality time together. What it actually is in fact is her spending quality time in changing rooms, talking mainly to shop assistants and checkout girls and not me.
However, strategist that I am, it suits me for her to think this is our quality time together as it buys me time in lieu. I call this time me-time, or sometimes me-and-the-lads-time. I spend it watching football, playing X-box, browsing JOE.ie, and drinking with my friends. You know how it is Paul. It’s man stuff.
That said, my day out shopping has thrown me somewhat. I fear I may be having an early mid-life crisis. Why? Well, on our romantic jaunt around the shops I only went and saw a denim shirt in bloody Topshop that I really liked. It is meant to be worn oversized on girls. I’m sure that means a large one would fit me. The denim wash is great and it looks like a men’s shirt. I’ve been looking for one like this everywhere but can’t find any nice ones in the men’s stores. But this, this is a woman’s shirt. I really wanted to buy it but I was afraid the shop assistants would laugh at me. Why am I experiencing these feelings towards women’s clothing?
Image via Topshop.
Is this normal? What does this mean? Would wearing a girl’s shirt make me a cross-dresser? Will my girlfriend leave me? What should I do?
Dan,
Confused in Kildare.
Dan,
Ask your girlfriend to buy the shirt for you. If she does you’re golden. If she leaves you instead you’ll have more quality time to spend with the lads and you’ll no doubt pull many, many women when you go out wearing your oversized ladies shirt from Topshop. Some girl may be wearing the same one except it will look better on you, and she will tell all her friends about you and they will all think you’re so unique, quirky, free-spirited and interesting.
So, they will all want to talk to you and take you home but you won’t care so much about that as it will still be early in the night and so you will have pints to drink and a little more scouting to do, before you decide who you’re bedding that night. Eventually you might get back to one of them but all the while Dan The Man will be strolling around like the bull’s balls in your cool, cool oversized denim shirt from Topshop. Either way, it’s a win-win.
Be careful out there,
Paul.
Ps: Nothing is normal Dan.
Paul,
How are you?
I am enjoying the advice columns on JOE. I am more of a music fan than style or fashion but I have noticed recently the fashion has really propagated through the music scene. Every music video I see, every gig I see, fashion and personal style seems to be taking more and more importance in how the artist sells him or herself and, by extension, his or her music.
I think it only really dawned on me when Justin released his Suit and Tie single with Jay Z. What they wore in that video and the amount of references to high fashion brands, like Tom Ford, in the lyrics felt to me like a breakthrough moment when fashion was embraced by the mainstream music scene.
Why do you think this is? Is there a particular music video that highlights the marriage between music and fashion for you?
Justin in Tennessee.
Dear Justin,
I have also noticed the growing influence of fashion on the music scene. This isn’t a new phenomenon, merely a growing one. It has infiltrated from underground music scenes, as hip-hop once was, where fashion was always an important status symbol from the off, to the mainstream as you say.
Why is this? Well I don’t know for sure. I think that fashion is the most relevant cultural vehicle there is. Clothes, and how you wear them, say so much about you as an individual, so it makes sense for popstars and musicians to use fashion as a projection of their wealth, fame, success, talent etcetera. Hell, many of these stars now own their own clothing labels. This is a way to grow their personal brand and make some money of course. A little less cynically nice clothes just make people feel good and improves their mood and confidence. This helps if you’re shooting a music video or playing a live gig.
As regards music videos which highlight the significance of fashion as status symbol Suit and Tie is a good example, if a little obvious. I prefer this one by XO Man featuring Ed Sheeran. One of the collaborators on it, Sincere, has his own clothing label. Listen carefully to the lyrics. There are many subtle references to really cool, less well-known fashion labels.
Video via XO Man.
Enjoy and thank you,
Paul.
Paul,
I have just joined Instagram and I see you are quite active on it. Who are the most interesting and stylish people to follow? Men or women.
Thanks,
Kate, Dublin.
Kate,
Great to have an enquiry from a girl. Instagram is great place to find interesting people. I shall give you my top five, both male and female. After that you can find your own.
1. Johannes Heubl (johannesheubl). He is a photographer and model and the better half of New York-based model, blogger and socialite Olivia Palermo. Does a great line in stylish suiting mixed with All-American preppy, even though he’s German. Educated in Clongowes however, where he says he learned how to be stylish. Amongst other things I’m sure.
2. Olivia Palermo (therealoliviap). See above.
3. Dwyane Wade (dwyanewade). Professional basketballer with Miami Heat. Has his own sock line. Loves fashion. Definitely interesting. I’m just not sure if it’s good interesting or bad interesting. Make up your own mind.
4. Dani Alves (danid2ois). Brazilian footballer with Barcelona. His Instagram feed combines football, fashion (he loves his clothes) music (he plays piano) dancing (he is Brazilian after all) and motivational quotes aplenty (albeit in Portuguese). What’s not to like?
5. Laura Whitmore (thewhitmore). For a bit of Irish. This girl lives in good clothes. Her Instagram feed is full of backstage fun shots from her latest TV project or fashion collaboration mixed with great red carpet looks. Plus the odd night out on the town.
Hope this helps Kate,
Paul.
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