I was shopping with a friend a while back, helping him out with his summer wardrobe. Spending the afternoon extolling the virtues of the pink button-front shirt with all the fervent passion I can muster from the depths of my being, I still couldn't get him to go for it. He, like many guys, associated pink with femininity: "Guys don't wear pink!" he insisted. Failing at convincing him to color, I then tried to entice him at least to pattern - to gingham - to which he blurted finitely, "Picnic table." Eventually, I got him to walk away with something close to pink: Lilac - in a micro gingham. It was a tough sell, a small coup, but I hear he actually fancies the shirt now. Perhaps next summer he'll graduate to the realm of pink proper and delight in its rosy glow. Moral of the story: Men should listen to women for a lot things concerning life, and when it comes to style, they should listen to me.
C'mon, fellas. Just because you wear pink doesn't emasculate you. In fact, I believe that pink is a color that only real men with genuine depth and unshakable conviction in his manhood can truly maximize on. It says that you're thoroughly secure with who you are, that you view the expression of your gentleness, sensitivity, and fearless sensuality as an enhancement to your (hu)man-ness. Pink is what separates men from boys. Boys - immature and brute - are afraid of pink; men - worldly, complex, intelligent, strong and sensual - invite and embrace pink. Boys have one night stands; men have love affairs, even if it's for a single magical night. That's what pink shirts say to me, anyway. Oh, and a hint of chest hair emerging from the silky pink curtain of a 170s two-ply Egyptian cotton dress shirt, coyly spread open by an unbuttoned collar ... oooh ... let ... me ... stop.
(Gaining composure ... clears throat ... Ahem!) Pink shirts look great year-round, but its defining moment is in spring, and especially summer. It's offers freshness amidst the oppressive, or rather - sultry - heat and humidity. It's gentle and refined, and depending on the type of shirt, adds elegance or playfulness to anything it pairs with. And even if you don't care for, or even understand, my waxing poetic over a stinking pink shirt, the bottom line is, it's just a great article of clothing you shouldn't be without! In fact, remember how much I've been gushing over the navy blazer? Well, think of the pink shirt as the yang to the navy blazer's yin. Add a pink button-front shirt under the navy jacket, and you've got the freshest, handsomest, totally irresistible color combo for spring/summer. The two unites to form an indestructible fashion whole.
So like my aforementioned friend, if you're still one of those guys that can't come correct with pink at the moment, better luck next year. But why not buy a couple of pink shirts now while they're on summer clearance so you can save some dough AND practice wearing them in your basement for a few months with all the doors locked? Hopefully by next year you'll emerge from your bunker on the dawn of spring, transformed as the harbinger of high style and reason. Don't worry though, groundhogs got nothing on you. Pink shirts not only separate men from boys - apparently it does the same for groundhogs.
That said, how about learning how to work them pink shirts? Stay tuned for the next post coming up in a couple of days, where I'll put together a few capsule looks revolving around the alluring pink shirt. See you then.
[Shirts by, appropriately, Thomas Pink. Hover over image for style and price info.]
