# Men: How often do you notice what another man is wearing? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 12, 2006, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-often-do-you-notice-what-another-man-is-wearing/376220 "2006-10-12T17:18:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2006, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-often-do-you-notice-what-another-man-is-wearing/376220/21 "2006-10-12T18:48:39Z")
The only time I notice what other guys are wearing when I need new clothes for work. Then I might take a look around the office to see what everyone else is wearing just refresh my memory on what the norm is. I don’t really express my personality through my clothes at work. I just want to be comfortable and not get laughed at. 😃 Other than that? Never ---
**Author:** ![trupa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aeb1de/32.png) [@trupa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/trupa)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2006, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-often-do-you-notice-what-another-man-is-wearing/376220/22 "2006-10-12T18:49:43Z")
I seem not to notice typos, either :smack: if _he_ were wearing… ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2006, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-often-do-you-notice-what-another-man-is-wearing/376220/23 "2006-10-12T18:59:44Z")
Unless somebody’s dressed in a clown suit or something I pretty much never notice what anyone is wearing. I just don’t care at all. If you were to catch me and cover my eyes at any random moment, the odds are that I’d be hard put to remember what **I** was wearing. I’m just not much for visual observation or memory. I tend to focus more on what people _say_. I have a very good recall for conversations. When it comes to women, I do notice if their showing a lot of _skin_, but I’m still not looking at the clothes. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Blue-Sighted\_Shadow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecae2f/32.png) [@The\_Blue-Sighted\_Shadow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Blue-Sighted_Shadow)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2006, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-often-do-you-notice-what-another-man-is-wearing/376220/24 "2006-10-12T19:27:42Z")
I recall one incident where one of the partners was soundly mocked for his clothing. He wore all white: white chinos, white sweater, white deck shoes, no socks (guys, all white is only a valid fashion choice if you’re playing tennis or in uniform.) I haven’t heard that much derision since elementary school. His wife (another partner in the firm) was traveling and when she returned, she was informed that she was never to leave again without picking out his outfits in advance, as that white outfit was not the only sartorial disaster while she was away. If there are board meetings, the partners will be in suits, and I overhear the occasional “nice tie” or “nice suit”, but it’s generally said in a mocking tone. The only other incident I recall was when one of the truckers was arrested wearing the company’s shirt and it made the front page, above the fold. He never did live that down. OTOH, I have _never_ heard men go gaga over, say, new shoes, like my co-workers did this morning. (I’m a girl.) ---
**Author:** ![Mindfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindfield/32/19759_2.png) [@Mindfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mindfield)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2006, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-often-do-you-notice-what-another-man-is-wearing/376220/25 "2006-10-12T19:36:42Z")
Wait, wait. You mean they make different styles of clothes for men? Erm, yeah. Ask me what my boss, whom I just saw thirty seconds ago, was wearing, and I’ll say “Shirt, pants, shoes. And I’m not sure about the shoes so I’ll have to assume he was wearing some because it’s expected around here. The shirt was blue, I think, or some kind of light colour that does not have any red hues in it. Don’t ask about belts. Belts are not for looking. There are equatorial issues.” Now, if it’s a serious fashion violation I’ll probably notice. I know nothing about fashion, but I know what burns my retinas, so I’ll notice that if it’s serious enough. Mild violations probably wouldn’t register though. I mean, I didn’t even realize that Herb Tarlek’s shoes always matched his belt 'til someone told me. I just knew he dressed geeky. And no, I won’t willfully comment on a guy’s mode of dress unless specifically asked my opinion. Even then my response wouldn’t be much more than “Good,” or “Nice.” Handsome is not in my vocabulary unless I’m using the word to explain what someone else said of me. There are rules, y’know. Now get away from my grill. Only I get to use the grill. ---
**Author:** ![Bobotheoptimist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/919ad9/32.png) [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2006, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-often-do-you-notice-what-another-man-is-wearing/376220/26 "2006-10-12T19:50:02Z")
Just returned from the restroom where I noticed, while washing my hands, that I’m not wearing what I thought I was wearing. Apparently I have on a bamboo patterned button up shirt and some tan almost-jeans. I wasn’t aware I owned such a thing and, up until that point, I thought I had on that polo shirt that I got from that one medical company and dockers. This is why I was so glad to have gay friends when I was single - they took me shopping and made me buy clothes that “matched” or some damn thing. ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2006, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-often-do-you-notice-what-another-man-is-wearing/376220/27 "2006-10-12T20:05:41Z")
By law, men are allowed to recognize and give comment to other men on: [ul][li]ties[/li][li]hats[/li][li]anything bearing the logo of a sports team, farm equipment, university, trucking company, military branch, or auto manufacturer[/li][li]a shirt with a humorous saying and/or half-naked woman on it[/li][li]beards in progress[/li][li]recent haircuts[/li][li]visible tattoos[/li][li]garish belt buckles up to and including rodeo souveniers, Stars & Bars, or Nascar logo[/ul]I choose to expand my observations, because I’m sort of a compulsive observer along the Sherlock Holmes model. I tend to notice unevenly worn shoes; large, muscular hands; military haircuts; burns, cuts and scrapes; bandages; facial scars; hearing aids; nose dents, as from spectacles; smokers’ wrinkles; and pierced ears.[/li] Clothes don’t usually make my radar. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2006, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-often-do-you-notice-what-another-man-is-wearing/376220/28 "2006-10-12T20:14:19Z")
There is one of my buddies at work that I make fun of when he comes to work because at one time he had some clothes tailored. Now I ask how much that shirt or pants cost. Other then that the only guy I’ve noticed was the one today who’s tie looked like it was a kids clip on it was so short. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2006, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-often-do-you-notice-what-another-man-is-wearing/376220/29 "2006-10-12T20:17:42Z")
Oh jeez - I just spit my coke at the monitor when reading this post, very good stuff! Extremely funny. You guys do know that homophobia is based in arrousal right? Just kidding, just kidding, I only saw the study once and it was inconclusive. I guess I should have kept my mouth shut 😃 [QUOTE=lieu] I rarely notice what another guy is wearing, but I _do_ notice when they have easy access to restoration lumber layin’ around… and get damn jealous about it too! Man, I’d trade my brown Carhartt work jacket and plaid Pendelton shirt for some restored 12x12x10 oak beams. [/QUOTE] Any time a barn comes down with-in 50 miles of this independant lumberyard/ hardware store, they always get it and sell it off. I’ll keep my eyes open for those beams… By the way I think I’ll go to the local hunting shop pick up some deer urine, and steel supershot for my hunting trip this weekend… While I’m at it, I had better uncover the 67’Chevelle from the garage, and tear ass around town before the thursday night games start. Heck I may even grab my Sig 40 and go shoot some shit in the back lawn for awhile to make sure which gender I was born into. lol ---
**Author:** ![js\_africanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@js\_africanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/js_africanus)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2006, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-often-do-you-notice-what-another-man-is-wearing/376220/30 "2006-10-12T21:05:00Z")
[QUOTE=Phlosphr] So, Men, do you notice what other men are wearing? If so what do you like? [/QUOTE] If you’ll forgive the odd phrasing, I don’t notice what men are wearing, but I do sometimes notice clothes. That is, I don’t look to see what men—and usually women as well—are wearing, but if I see an item that I really like, then I do notice it. Does that make any sense at all? Basically, imagine if nearly everybody was wearing a burlap bag; that’s how I see the world of clothing. But among those burlap bags, I’ll occassionally see something isn’t a burlap bag and that I really enjoy, and I will often comment on it. I don’t know how to describe what I like. On women, low-rise jeans, khaki pants, button-down shirts that are a few sizes too big, clunky shoes, stuff that makes you want to go up to her and say “What’s up, Brady Bunch?”; however, I do have my prurient side as well, and you can freely guess about that. For men? Shirts like one might imagine Mr. Blond wearing; toned-down versions of what Kramer wore; bowling-shirt retro; stuff that looks like you shot your grandmother’s couch and made a shirt out of it. I don’t own much stuff like that, but that’s what I think looks cool. I’m mostly just Land’s End button down shirts, J-Crew button down shirts, &c. ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2006, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-often-do-you-notice-what-another-man-is-wearing/376220/31 "2006-10-12T21:45:39Z")
[QUOTE=Phlosphr] Oh jeez - I just spit my coke at the monitor when reading this post, very good stuff! Extremely funny. You guys do know that homophobia is based in arrousal right? Just kidding, just kidding, I only saw the study once and it was inconclusive. I guess I should have kept my mouth shut 😃 [/quote] To be fairer, I do tend to get a general impression of someone’s clothes: formal, casual, beach, scruffy, wrinkly, professional, and so on. Having worked as an engraver/artist I do tend to recognize and remember company logos. Only occasionally do I retain that information after they’ve gone, and I rarely, if ever, try to analyze what that person _should have been wearing_ instead of what they’ve got on. You won’t hear me say, “That’s not a good color for him,” or “his belt doesn’t match his shoes,” or “the cut of that jacket is so 1985.” ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2006, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-often-do-you-notice-what-another-man-is-wearing/376220/32 "2006-10-12T22:13:05Z")
[QUOTE=Phlosphr] By the way I think I’ll go to the local hunting shop pick up some deer urine, and steel supershot for my hunting trip this weekend… While I’m at it, I had better uncover the 67’Chevelle from the garage, and tear ass around town before the thursday night games start. Heck I may even grab my Sig 40 and go shoot some shit in the back lawn for awhile to make sure which gender I was born into. lol [/QUOTE] I wasn’t aware that redneck was now defined as a gender. 🙂 I kid, I kid. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2006, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-often-do-you-notice-what-another-man-is-wearing/376220/33 "2006-10-12T22:50:00Z")
I often notice what others are wearing after losing a large amount of weight and trying to dress more fashionably as a result and even complimented a male co-worker on his vest this morning but he’s gay and I’m only about eighty percent straight. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2006, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-often-do-you-notice-what-another-man-is-wearing/376220/34 "2006-10-13T00:58:07Z")
I notice men’s suits. If a man is wearing a nice suit or, even better, a custom made suit, I will comment on it to my darling Marcie if she is with me but never to the man wearing it. I often compliment my darling Marcie on her choice of clothes but out of sight, out of mind. If I were to be asked ten minutes after she leaves for work, I wouldn’t be able to describe her outfit at all. I am nearly always clad in bluejeans, a tee shirt (plain, no logos for me) and a pair of Rockport shoes. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2006, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-often-do-you-notice-what-another-man-is-wearing/376220/35 "2006-10-13T00:59:32Z")
I never fail to notice what anyone, male or female, is wearing. And 9 times out of 10 it’s something ugly. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2006, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-often-do-you-notice-what-another-man-is-wearing/376220/36 "2006-10-13T03:22:05Z")
[QUOTE=Phlosphr] While I’m at it, I had better uncover the **67’Chevelle** from the garage, and tear ass around town [/QUOTE] Oh my God. I love you. Will you marry me? Or just sell me your car? ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2006, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-often-do-you-notice-what-another-man-is-wearing/376220/37 "2006-10-13T03:49:08Z")
[QUOTE=Bobotheoptimist] Just returned from the restroom where I noticed, while washing my hands, that I’m not wearing what I thought I was wearing. Apparently I have on a bamboo patterned button up shirt and some tan almost-jeans. I wasn’t aware I owned such a thing and, up until that point, I thought I had on that polo shirt that I got from that one medical company and dockers. This is why I was so glad to have gay friends when I was single - they took me shopping and made me buy clothes that “matched” or some damn thing. [/QUOTE] Oh my, I haven’t laughed so hard at a post in such a long time! I have a feeling I’m going to have to print this one out to show to my co-workers! That is just so…cute! Are you sure you’ll be able to get home all by yourself? Thank you…I really needed a good chuckle today…!!! ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2006, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-often-do-you-notice-what-another-man-is-wearing/376220/38 "2006-10-13T03:52:04Z")
[QUOTE=Ol’Gaffer] Well, I don’t notice clothes but I do checkout hats. I’m a hat guy. I wear one everyday and have, on occassion, been particularly impressed by a man’s choice of headwear. But actually complimenting the guy? I’d rather sit in the Black Hole at the Oakland Coliseum wearing an Elway throwback. [/QUOTE] If you’re a hat guy, you’ll like this movie: [http://www.bondagerotica.com/articles/gormoviereview.html](http://www.bondagerotica.com/articles/gormoviereview.html) Link disabled because it’s NSFW by the Dope’s ridiculously stringent standards, which is unusual for articles about movies about silly hats, but there you are. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2006, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-often-do-you-notice-what-another-man-is-wearing/376220/39 "2006-10-13T03:54:43Z")
Occasionally, if it’s an article of clothing I would like to have for myself, I will comment on it and ask where the man in question got it. I’m somewhat bisexual (as in, I’ve had sex with men but prefer relationships with women) but I don’t see what that has to do with anything. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2006, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-often-do-you-notice-what-another-man-is-wearing/376220/40 "2006-10-13T04:20:02Z")
[QUOTE=slortar] Ditto. Which is why I find it absolutely terrifying that most women I know can recognize a new shirt I’m wearing better than I can even though I’m the one who bought it and put it on that day. It’s like they have little fashion-oriented Geiger counters in their heads attuned to the newness of outfits. Hell, most of the time I have to look down to find out what I’m wearing on any given day. [/QUOTE] Fashion-oriented Geiger counter? No, no–it’s the fold marks. New shirts have fold marks that never, ever appear after the first time they’re worn (or laundered, if you’re the type to launder new duds before wearing). (Obviously if the fold marks are visible the shirt was not laundered before first wearing.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-often-do-you-notice-what-another-man-is-wearing/376220.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-how-often-do-you-notice-what-another-man-is-wearing/376220.md?page=3)