Taking Pride In Your Appearance: What’s the Big Deal, Anyway?

I have a friend — let’s call him Brad. His real name is Michael, but calling him Brad just sounds fun.

Brad is anti-style. He’s anti-fashion. Anti-taking-pride-in-his-appearance. I was recently telling him about how I watched an old Coldplay video and the boys were wearing baggy jeans and graphic tees (the video is for “Shiver,” if you’re interested). I found this very interesting seeing as they are quite a stylish bunch these days. But then I realized that the video was from 2005, an era where everyone was wearing jeans and tees.

I told Brad what a relief it was that Coldplay and I were all on the same style-growth rotation and he said, “I just let those things pass me by.”

“Well yeah, Brad, that’s obvious,” I thought as I gave him a once-over. Striped, collared polo that was too big, cargo shorts, flip flops (shudder) and a short haircut that could have been accidental for all I know.

So the guy doesn’t dress well. What’s the big deal?

The big deal is this: in every movie ever, there is a makeover montage. To be current and stick with the times (rather than detailing the miraculous transformation that is Laney Boggs in She’s All That) I would like to use, as Exhibit A, the movie Crazy Stupid Love.

In the film, Ryan Gosling’s character Jacob wears suits. He wears tight-fitting, plain t-shirts. He wears shoes that match his belt, and he even wears man jewelry. The point is, Jacob takes pride in his appearance. He knows that he’s a fairly good looking man (okay, who are we kidding, he’s gorgeous), and he uses his clothing to enhance this. Steve Carell’s character Cal does not. He wears clothes simply because it’s illegal not to. But after the aforementioned makeover montage, a few suits and a real haircut transform Cal from a middle-aged doofus into a sexy, confident hottie.

So next time you feel like you’re too good for fashion — or having a sense of style — remember Cal. Remember that before his makeover montage, his wife was divorcing him and he had nothing to live for.

In the end…well, I don’t want to spoil the movie, but let’s just say the clothes really do make the man. ♦ ♦ ♦

Amanda Taylor is SOUND’s opinionated style correspondent. She is currently a senior at BYU studying journalism and has worked as an editor for The Daily Universe. Amanda hails from Salt Lake City, UT.

Tags: Coldplay, Crazy Stupid Love, Culture, Ryan Gosling, Shiver, Steve Carell, Style, Suit up

About the Author

Amanda Taylor is an outspoken pop culture lover who majored in journalism and minored in gossip. Referred to as “endearingly manic,” she knows that just means she’s a lunatic. In her illustrious career, she has written for a museum, a candy store, a U.S. Senator and had one review published in an actual newspaper. She now writes for Entertainment Weekly. Find her in 140 characters @amandataylor88.