Sartorial Slimfast
By Izzy
It was perhaps no accident that the demise of the suit went hand in hand with the rise of the men’s fitness craze. Men’s jackets were perfected at a time when gentlemen did not mind carrying around a few extra pounds, which helps to explain why sportcoats are so flattering to the portly.
The above photo of James Gandolfini, who’s clearly unafraid to enjoy a cannoli or three, demonstrates this to great effect. Not only does his jacket reduce his visual bulk, but its vertical lines, from either pinstripes or a herringbone pattern, emphasize height and not width. He also wisely wears a goatee, which can create a chin where none exists.
April 20th, 2006 at 2:48 am
The ‘bloatee’ is where a dude of gravity grows a goatee to cover the double chin! It doesn’t work. He looks better clean shaven. A bloatee is the facial hair equivalent of the combover. Either go the full beard, or shave it off.
Tony Soprano is sexy as hell. Thank you, James Gandolfini, for making heavy, middle aged, balding men hot!! It’s great for this middle aged, heavy, balding man. :)
April 20th, 2006 at 3:03 am
You go on believing that, Gary.
April 20th, 2006 at 6:21 pm
Your last statement, Izzy, conflicts with an opinion of the Manolo mentioned earlier on this blog. Namely that the goatee “http://manolomen.com/2005/01/10/the-goatee/”>does NOT give you a chin if you don’t have one.
April 20th, 2006 at 6:22 pm
Looks like I need to brush up on my html skills…
April 20th, 2006 at 6:23 pm
*sigh* Forgive me, I meant to link to this post:
The Goatee
April 21st, 2006 at 1:16 am
The Rob D. he is exactly correct in this case, it is the opinion of the Manolo that the fat men should not wear the goatee in the erroneous belief that such facial hair will magically produce the chin line.
Indeed, the James Gandolfini proves the long held thesis of the Manolo, that the goatee on the fat man makes one look like the Burl Ives, or, in the case of the Gandolfini the sinister Burl Ives.
However, the Izzy, he is exactly correct otherwise, that the sports coat flatters the fat man, and that this one it is quite nice.
By the way, at the first glance the Manolo thought this person above was the Jon Favreau, another portly man of some fame.
April 21st, 2006 at 3:20 pm
[…] Some of Izzy’s readers, and even the Manolo himself, have thrown down a bespoke gauntlet by denying that a goatee can improve the facial appearance of the portly. In his defense, Izzy asks you to consider the following pieces of evidence. […]
April 23rd, 2006 at 2:49 am
It is not all in the goatee. It is how one wears one. If Michael Moore had *simply* grown a goatee, instead of completely revamping his appearance in a positive way, he would still be a fat blabbermouth, just a fat blabbermouth with a goatee. Now J. Gandolfini, is a man of class and talent, who not only has the wherewithal to dress according to his station, but is confident enough to look good doing it.
We posit that it has little to do with whether one wears a goatee, or if one achieves a makeover. It has to do with being confident in oneself enough to make the goatee pointless.
April 25th, 2006 at 10:59 am
Dear Manolo and Izzy, were you aware that rebarbative was actually the “Word of the Day” on Dictionary.com yesterday! Yipee! (Or is that too rebarbative for ya?)