by contributor Wendy Gordon
Gentlemen: this one’s for you. Yes, you. Listen up. The fine folks at Alton Lane and BrandlinkDC have done you a solid….actually, maybe, in this, they’ve helped women as well.
On Thursday evening, former men’s style editor of the New York Times Magazine and current fashion director of InStyle Magazine, Hal Rubenstein, appeared at the custom tailor locale on 19th Street in Dupont Circle in celebration of his newest book, The Gentry Man.
Rubenstein, impeccably dressed (as we just knew he would be), delighted the crowd in the packed clothier’s space among the perfectly crafted shirts and suits, with his banter and good natured acceptance of what will be today’s Facebook profile photos of man of the attendees. But more important, the personal signing of his newest read.
The Gentry Man: A Guide for the Civilized Male, is a compilation of articles from Gentry magazine, which, more than fifty years after it ceased publication, is still considered to be one of the most influential men’s magazines ever created.
Published between 1951 and 1957, this veritable style and culture bible for men is renowned for its innovation, superb design and production quality, keen eye for fashion, and excellent coverage of a broad spectrum of topics—art and culture; sports; food and drink; home, cars, and travel—not to mention diverse subjects on which every refined man should be well versed, from making a mean martini to playing craps.
“Gentry Magazine went against the whole concept of what everyone assumes American Men were like in the 50’s,” Rubenstein explained. “People think that men in that era were sitcom-like…like Father Knows best…and here’s this man, William Seagram, who invented this Magazine that said ‘No, life is more exciting than that.’”
Photo credit: Mark Silva Hal Rubenstein and Colin Hunter
Why does a magazine that was published from 1951-1957 resonate today? “I’m not saying that men should wear sailor suits or drive a Pontiac Bonneville with big fins or something like that, but that every man should be well rounded,” Rubenstein said.
“It’s not about money, it’s not about expensive suits or driving an expensive car, …life is not what you do for a living. Urban Americans have become so work obsessed, we have forgotten about what it really is that makes an interesting human being. Making a lot of money doesn’t make you an interesting person.”
Really? In THIS town??? Rubenstein swore to us this is not just a DC phenomenon. “Every person… every MAN has to be well rounded,” he explained. “What makes you an interesting person is knowing how to behave a certain way, how to treat a woman (you go, Hal!), how to enjoy life and have a sense of curiosity about every single day.”
In a nod to the ladies, Rubenstein also commented on his book 100 Unforgettable Dresses, a celebration of the staying power of notable creations and the lasting impact they’ve had in fashion, popular culture, and our own lives.
Does he have a favorite? Not really. “It starts with the Versace dress (referring to how a then unknown Elizabeth Hurley become world famous overnight, thanks to the paparazzi frenzy that ensued by her red-carpet appearance in the legendary safety-pin dress), but it shows the power of a dress to make her a star overnight. The right dress on the right person at the right time,” he added.
Suffice it to say not only did we love peering at the strikingly fabulous and shockingly reasonable custom shirts, neckties, incredibly natty suits and more at Alton Lane’s haberdashery, but with the addition of a style icon like Rubenstein, and his newest read, we have new hope that our men will be looking a whole lot better…and maybe learn a thing or two.
Hey, you guys…. we love a good bouquet of flowers and a little culture. Rubenstein knows this, and we’re just sayin…..
