Customer Reviews

Style and the Man

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

If you're seeking information on how to tell fine menswear from bad, skip this book and go directly to Flusser's new one.

If you're a would-be dandy looking for information on where to buy men's furnishings around the world, buy the book (with a minor caution). Many of the stores in the U.S. have relocated and some have closed.

On the other hand, I've used it to find choices in London and Paris that I would never have known about otherwise. And once you've made the initial investment in the measurements, you can patronize many of these establishments by telephone.

A number of earlier reviews criticise Flusser for focusing on the finest quality and most expensive clothing in the world. It is, and he does. But for people who do or want to play that game, it's still the best source of information.

As noted by many reviewers, the clothing fact information is first rate.

The second part of the book on shopping and retail establishments is so out of date in 2005 that I really question whether a purchase is worthwhile if retailer information is primary purpose of proposed purchase. A good 60% of the information on establishments in the US and London is totally outdated or the stores have gone out of business.

Try the library or borrowing from a friend to see if any of the desired information is still relevant before purchasing. This book needs a serious update.

Somehow Flusser has managed to win acclaim for a book that is one-half tourist guide for only the rich and famous (where to buy fine clothes in Milan, etc, which is useless to most of us)and one-half a pompous, overly opinionated instruction-manual on tailored clothing. The instruction in this part is useful, but it's not worth the price of the book. Take away the travel guide and then clip away Flusser's dreadfully affected, ornate writing manner, and the total amount of instruction here on men's clothing boils down to about 50 pages. As for those 50 pages: they are good for providing basic information about tailored clothing, but they are nearly ruined by overly rigid sartorial rules. Flusser, who seems to have an unwarrantedly high opinon of himself, judging from his pronoucements, does not tell the reader that many of his judgments are not shared by everyone. This is a crime against the reader who buys Flusser's book as an objective guide to men's clothing and doesn't realize it's one very opinionated man's view. And some of these views are questionable to say the least. This book should be read with caution, and in conjunction with other, less opinionated books for those who are interested in men's tailored clothing. Also, a lot of this book is historical, and Flusser has no list of reference books in the back to tell the reader where he gets his info. from.

Length:: 4:19 Mins

Summary
Alan Flusser's book "Style and the Man" is an excellent introduction to the world of menswear. In about 140 pages, he covers the foundations of menswear and for any man looking for an introductory guide this book will be hard to beat. Although it does have a few shortcomings, I can't give less than five stars to a book that costs less than two coffee's at Starbucks yet provides a lifetime of sartorial insight. The book itself is of high quality build and has simple yet clear illustrations.

Introduction - My qualifications to review this book
My name is Antonio and I founded an online custom clothier. I talk with men on a daily basis about how to dress properly and have written articles on men's style. I have owned this edition of Style and the Man for 3 months, and have owned the first edition for 10 years.

What I Love about this Book
1. Quality Content - In one sitting, a quick reader can learn the basics of menswear. Alan Flusser does an excellent job hitting on the points that need to be addressed when introducing the foundations of dressing well. His writing style is clear, understandable, and comprehensive to a degree. He doesn't use too many 50 cent words, and attempts to organize his writing in a manner that allows you to build off concepts he taught you in earlier chapters. When explaining somewhat complicated concepts, he makes sure to bring in a drawing to illustrate his point. Most importantly, I feel Alan's writings create a hunger within the curious to learn more.
2. Hardcover Build - The book is physically beautiful - the binding is crisp and clean and the text small but readable. Also the hardcover gives it a higher perceived value in terms of gift giving!
3. Simple Black and White Images - Some people will complain about this, but I like the simplicity of the drawings as they clearly illustrate the point. There is no confusion as to what Flusser is trying to show you.
4. Value - I would have paid $40 for this book - the information is both solid and timeless. As of Fall 2010 it can be had for 1/4 this cost, an amazing bargain for those that understand the value of information.

What I do not Like
1. Very few updates from the 1st Edition - I loved the first edition that Alan published in 1996. It was much larger, with 2/3 the book being about where to shop and the details pertaining to dozens of men's stores around the world. Unfortunately this dated the book, and drew many complaints. The 2010 edition is this same book, with 2/3 the 1998 version cut out, and with the remaining 1/3 "updated". However, this update seems to have resulted in less than 5% of the content changing. Even the introduction is almost exactly the same! Granted the information is timeless.....but I was hoping for more.
2. Organization could be improved - At 140 pages, this book needs a bit more sectioning in the table of contents and deserves an index. With both of these being defunct, this book is not the easiest to navigate.
3. If you own first edition, not worth the upgrade - There is no new material, 95% of the content is the same from the 1st edition and the few changes are cosmetic.

Final Recommendation
5 out of 5 Stars. Although it has a major fault in not being a big improvement from the first edition, its value price and breadth make it an unbeatable value for any man who does not own the first volume. I recommend buying this book.

As other reviewers have noted, this book is really two books. One is a guide to the style of fine men's clothes, the other tells where to buy them. Most people will probably find the style information in the beginning the most useful part.

One reviewer thought that the author left out certain points of view on style issues. It is true, for example, that the author recommends only the four-in-hand tie knot, and not the questionable half-Windsor. I think that he makes a good case for the four-in-hand being better looking, anyway. You certainly won't go wrong following the author's conservative clothing advice.

There is good information on wearing difficult clothes properly, such as the bow tie, handkerchief, etc. The book also describes how to buy clothes and judge their quality.

I think that the style information could be expanded and spun-off into its own book. The shopping information could stand on its own as a travel guide quite well. I would reccommend this book, however. It seems to be the best of its kind.

While it's true that Flusser's book contains a guide to some of the most expensive menswear in the world, it's silly to downgrade the book for that reason. By telling you about suit construction, Flusser makes it possible to buy good cloths inexpensively by showing you what to look for. Admittedly the second part of this book is a guide to "the best" available, but it's still interesting to read and instructional even if I'll never buy a suit in Milan (and I won't).

I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy of Style & The Man and have to say, it's good to have Mr. Flusser back on the bookshelf. More than any other menswear writer, he understands what it takes to dress well at a personal level. Genuine style is what matters and that kind of style is a very personal thing. Your skin tone, hair color, eye color, face shape, body type and even your neck height, all play a part in finding the colors, patterns and styles that work for you. Are you short or tall, heavy or trim? Once you understand your own profile, you know what to look for when you go out to hit the stores. Flusser has spent his life figuring this stuff out and dressing some of the sharpest guys to walk down any street. There is a reason Ralph Lauren says he's one of the most knowledgeable experts on men's fashion.

The book is an updated take on the first half of the original Style & The Man - an outstanding book on its own. He's removed the extensive shopping guide that comprised the original book's second half. But that's OK because what we are left with is a straightforward guide on dressing well, fully updated for life in 2010. It's a trim, easily portable volume of 137 pages that's packed with great advice.

So many of these style "guide books" are just generic shopping guides filled with bland advice like where to buy a gray suit and get a big watch. Slim suits might be in right now, but you look bad in one, it's irrelevant. Flusser points out that dressing well is a skill that can be taught, and with the price of fine clothing only going up, men need to take charge of their wardrobes. He discuses what to look for with shirts, shoes and neck wear; explains the importance of a suit's shoulders fitting properly, why lapel width matters or what you get with a custom suit and why it's usually worth the money. Did you know that good foot wear and a hand rolled pocket square can make any outfit look better; do you know why? This is the practical yet elusive advice that makes a real difference.

Get this book and use it. Actually, get this book and read it because there are not a whole lot of pictures. This is a book that tells you how to dress well, dress for your body and personal style. You'll learn what to look for when you shop, how to wear your clothes and how to pull it all together with panache. Glossy pics of designer outfits may be cool, but they can't do all that. An excellent Father's Day gift.

It's true there's too much of the book devoted to cities most of us will never visit. It's true that his first book (Clothes and the Man) was better. But it's also true that you must have this book for the definitive answer on dressing.

I have numerous other books on style, and almost all of them reference Flusser at one point or another. You have to get the words straight from the horse's mouth. And even the shop reviews are good. You're likely to visit at least *one* of these cities in your life, right? Besides that, in this day and age stores have legs. The analyses of NY Barneys and Brooks Brothers easily translate. If you have any interest in dressing well and classic style, you really need this book above any other. And it looks great on your shelf.

This book, published in 1996 and half of which is a directory of shops, was bound to be outdated months after publication much less ten years after, as it is now. Hence the four stars instead of five.

Given that, the first part of the book is crammed with a precis or summary of Flusser's recommendations that he has used several hundred pages to expound in his other books ('Clothes And The Man', 'Dressing The Man') and makes the book worth the (used) book price.

I do not understand others who warn against this book because they think it is not objective enough! This is a book written by Flusser so of course you will get his subjective view. Had it been written by a committee of tailors, well then, I would expect a more balanced view, but it is not. It is up to the intelligent reader to understand they are getting a product of one man's opinion and then proceed accordingly.

Got to say this book rocks. Flusser writes in detail about all major components of a man's attire. He explains how to recognize a well made shirt, what makes a custom made shoe worthwhile and how to choose the right suit among others. Also others here have commented on the author's choice to include stores to buy fine mens wear as a detriment to the book. I kind of like it. I work in Manhattan and it's nice to have a (biased) view on what stores have what and the general flavor of the store. He of course lists the easily recognizable Madison Ave shops but he does have some select shops that specialize in specic things like shoes, cufflinks etc. Of course all these shops are pricey but some are not totally outrageous. This is not the book for those looking to skimp and save on garments but a book for those who want to be able recognize the best and consequently get a value for their money.