My mom can never understand why I always bolt to Europe when I go on vacation. Even if I have to stay at a dive (ok... ya know that doesn't happen), I always find Europe to be a wonderful place for the senses. One of the reasons I go is for visual excite of dress. I have commented in the past that people in Europe dress more and dress better than their American counterparts. Wow. That statement usually manages to stir up a hive of bees. I have been called a snob by my mother... and we won't touch the fiber content of fabric issue. Many of my male friends think I am crazy when I mention men in Europe dress. They don't believe me as many of them have not spent any considerable time there. If a men were to perhaps agree to with the statement it would be with the caveat saying they have nothing to get dressed up for.
REALLY? Come on... REALLY?Do you guys really buy that? Oh come on! Do you really buy into the statement that there is no place to go, anyone to see or be seen by or any reason to get to get dressed up? THAT's CRAP. I don't buy it.What about the sheer joy of LOOKING HOT... and knowing it. What about having the confidence in know that while one may not be George Clooney, one can still look breath-takingly startling to someone else... even if that person is a total stranger and one may never see them again. I had that very event happen to me in Venice one year. A beautiful bespoke tan and russet plaid-suited gentleman was a feast for the eyes. His face, I truly can't recall... but the suit. OMG. I just had to have it (the best I could afford however was the sportscoat, but I digress). But it wasn't loud or obnoxious. It was incredibly sexy and totally masculine at the same time.
I remember recently going to the markets in Madrid and Seville. The produce market... veggies, meats, etc,... nothing special or out of the ordinary in some respects. But is was a stage of fashion. I saw men in jackets, suits and women in dresses, suits and with gloves. YES, suits. It was lovely to see. I felt visually at peace. I felt calm. The people shopping weren't trying to show off. They had stuff to do and errands to get done but they had an air about them that was dignified and beautiful. They were just picking up their groceries but they were great eye candy in themselves. Have we lost that art? Do we know how to be eye candy anymore?
In another instance in Madrid at the Royal Palace Garden. The gardens were filled with people from offices on siesta. Visually it was fun. Guys in business suits peeling down to sunbath. Ladies doing very much that same but with more modesty. It was hot. It was sexy. Americans just let it all hang out so there is nothing left to the surprise.Of major concern.
So much of what we wear defines who we are. Many men wear rugged looking clothing because we want to look macho and tough. Most don't know about style. Perhaps style was not taught to them as a child. I can understand that. Typically, a boy in Europe (particularly Italy) will go to the tailor with his dad at a young age. He learns about fit and style from day one. It is not uncommon to see father/son outfits like one finds mother/daughter dresses here.
But here in the U.S., we tend to take our kids to sporting events and skip the personal grooming. BTW - I didn't know this but Armani makes children's wear and so does Lanvin. Can't find that in Chicago. Answer any female this question: Can a typical man buy a pair a pants? More than likely, she will answer that with a resounding "NO." There is also a terrible trend that we have grown accustomed to seeing. It is of men wearing pants/jeans that expose more than we want to see — butt crack, underwear, pubes... or more. What are we instilling in our children? What sense of pride are we displaying by not allowing ourselves to look good and by teaching them what is appropriate dress.
I am sure I will get flack for that statement.Often I hear that people don't have the cash to look good. Let's think about that statement. Author Pam Powell of Tailored Fashion Design is from Australia and lived in London before coming to the US. She says American's don't buy quality. They mass merchandise and don't make investment purchases for their wardrobe. They view garments as disposable and only wear them a season. Personally, I think that is the case and it can be supported by looking at just one company — WALMART. 40% of the American retail dollar goes to Walmart. It is a sizable chunk. One Walmart fashion executive in Bensenville, AK recently told me that when people get enough disposable income, they stop shopping for clothes at Walmart and go to other more trendy stores.
But analyze that statement from another point of view — 40% of the retail dollar goes to Walmart. 
That is significant chunk of the Americans that do not consider fashion important. While Walmart is known for economy, it is not know for fashion. It does not believe in designer merchandise or merchandise that is in anyway related to a specific designer at all. That is part of their policy. It has not been as successful in many portions of Europe as it had hoped partly because the views of many Europeans do not buy into the Walmart mentality and many Europeans are very fashion forward. Germany is a good example as Walmart pulled out completely after disastrous sales. H&M and Zara, economy brands of Europe are not coming into the US. All I can say is THANK GOD.Also consider this small fact: the United States only has ONE major fashion hub. LA really doesn't compare as it doesn't have the volume and the US has 50 states. Europe by contrast has many fashion weeks in many major capitols. Milan, London and Paris are joined by many other major cities that host major fashion events and weeks devoted to style... not just ready to wear, but also couture, men's wear, fur and leather weeks too.
OUCH! Do I sound harsh?I don't think so. I think I sound honest. The US has lost it's stylish edge. When Claire McCardell came up with the Popover Dress, she was trying to give the American consumer an affordable option for looking good. She made American sportswear at a time when we made 95% of our clothing in this country. Now that we make 5% domestically (according CFDA). Have we exported our design and sense of taste as well? Have we gotten rid of style for economies sake? If so, what does that say about our values but more importantly, what does that say about where we are going?
But all this is subjective right? Well... see for yourself. I posted a few images from two of the most contradictory sites in the bloggisphere. It is very easy to distinguish between the two.
The images of the European men come from The Sartorialist - Scott Schuman at www.Sartorialist.com 
This man as the most gifted eye for taking images of the most handsome people around the world. In his travels, he takes candid images of people on the street in their regular clothing. He is in many respects our leader for those who have lost their design eye. His images inspire but they also teach. He is brilliant at capturing the moment and also defining elegance. The other images are from www.peopleofwalmart.com. Three people (AJK, ADK, LDW) - started the site. It was "founded in August of 2009 by three friends and roommates after an inspirational trip to Walmart." It was not exactly what I would call "inspirational"... like Walmart, they are making money off it. I'll let you be the judge and decide for yourself if we have lost our edge. Take a look at the contrast. See if you don't find the differences positively startling and perhaps just a little scary about our future.
I really would like to thank Scott Schuman. I get inspired by is photographs. He lets me know style is not dead. One just has to look elsewhere to find it.
http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/
http://www.thesartorialist.com/
