The Bohemian Beach Style for Men-"You got that ...."

 Thinking about wardrobe, I recently started updating some of my clothes. Things get old, especially when you’re more of an outdoor person and your clothing actually gets used. Eventually, it gets to the point where you have to admit, “Yeah, these pants have had a good life,” and into the trash they go. As you get older, though, you also realize you need less stuff and more of the things you actually like. I pretty much know how many pairs of pants I need, how many casual outfits I need, and what works for different situations. As things wear out, I replace them with something new. I occasionally pay attention to what’s in fashion, too. I’m not exactly Mr. Fashion, although I can be—and have been—at various points in my life. It really depends on whether I’m interested at the time. For the most part, though, I like practical clothing that fits my outdoor lifestyle. Even when I’m dressing up for an event, there’s usually going to be a little outdoorsy flavor to it. Maybe it’s a vest, maybe it’s a slightly looser pair of pants, but there’s usually some practical reason behind what I’m wearing. Fashion is nice, but if I can’t move in it, I’m probably not buying it.

(Illustrative Only)
Sort of like this.🙃

Recently, I was shopping at one of my favorite stores: Costco. Yes, Costco. They actually have some pretty good clothes, and you can pick up nice stuff at a reasonable price (I was looking for coffee and jeans.). Every once in a while, though, you have to venture outside your normal shopping territory and see what else is out there. Anyway, I was going through the checkout when one of the employees looked at me and said, “Wow, you really have that Johnny Depp thing going on.” Apparently, I had accidentally wandered into a fashion category without even knowing it. Apparently, the Johnny Depp look is a little relaxed, a little bohemian, a mix of old and new, non conformist, slightly messy but uniquely stylish. In other words, I looked like I had a plan, even though I really didn't.

What I was wearing wasn't particularly complicated: a blue button-up shirt, not buttoned all the way to the top, brown linen pants because it was hot, and sandals. The piece that really pulled everything together, though, was a leather necklace. I actually know how to make these. A friend made this one for me, and after learning how, I made a couple for other people. They liked them enough that they still wear them, so I guess I haven't completely embarrassed myself as a craftsperson. I like homemade things because crafting is an art skill that seems to have faded somewhat in the United States. Previous generations made a lot of these things themselves, and I enjoy keeping some of those skills alive. This particular necklace is pretty simple—some beads, a leather strap, and a casual design—but it adds a little something to an otherwise ordinary outfit. Apparently, it adds enough to make somebody think Johnny Depp.

My hair probably helped, too. It’s a little longer than normal right now. I’m used to keeping it short, partly because of firefighting, outdoor activities, and just my general lifestyle. But I made a bet with one of my AMVETS friends, who is also a veteran. Neither of us has really grown our hair long before, so we decided neither of us would cut it for a year. The loser has to buy the winner a mini pitcher of beer, which costs about three dollars in Michigan. So, obviously, this is now a matter of principle. I refuse to lose a three-dollar beer bet. If necessary, I may have to endure another bad hair day—or several hundred of them—to protect my investment.

Put it all together—the longer hair, leather necklace, linen pants, blue shirt, and sandals—and apparently the outfit worked. The funny thing is, I wasn't even trying. Sometimes you just accidentally put the right pieces together and end up looking like you know what you're doing. I actually like this combination because it works in a lot of situations. I can wear it during the day, go to the beach, go shopping, grab lunch, or wander around town, and it doesn't look out of place. It's comfortable, practical, and still has a little style.

I probably wouldn't wear it to a really high-end restaurant at night unless it was one of those upscale beach-casual places where looking slightly beach casual is apparently a feature rather than a problem. But for everyday life, it works pretty well. And the best part? I didn't even have to try to be fashionable. Apparently, sometimes you just put on your clothes, walk out the door, and accidentally become Johnny Depp.

(Ok...I'm taking the complement, they are rare, so appreciate when they come :)

Dress and the Psychology of First Impressions

• Clothing, hairstyles, makeup, and accessories play an important role in how people form first impressions, yet dress has historically received less attention in social psychology than facial and physical characteristics.
• The authors argue that dress should be incorporated into models of person perception because people naturally evaluate someone's appearance as a combination of their face, body, clothing, and surrounding context.
• Dress can provide clues about a person's social identity, including perceived occupation, cultural background, gender expression, group affiliation, interests, and other social categories.
• Clothing can also influence perceptions of a person's mental state, social status, wealth, power, and aesthetic preferences. These perceptions are shaped not only by the clothing itself but also by the observer's cultural knowledge, stereotypes, attitudes, and experiences.
• The authors conclude that future research needs to examine dress in more realistic and culturally diverse settings. Understanding how clothing influences perception could improve our understanding of first impressions, social interaction, workplace judgments, and other everyday decisions.

Hester, N., & Hehman, E. (2023). Dress is a fundamental component of person perception. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 27(4), 414–433. https://doi.org/10.1177/10888683231157961