When Dressing for Masculinity Starts to Look Off

There’s a certain type of style advice aimed at men that shows up online. It usually centers around enhancing their masculinity. There is a lot of talk about lifting weights, showing off your physique and projecting confidence. It all sounds pretty straightforward. I would even say helpful at times. Taking care of your health matters. […]

Why Leather Jackets Mostly Don’t Work

I usually don’t like leather jackets on people. But there are clear exceptions. And the exceptions are what made it confusing. The Obvious Exception The most obvious one is motorcycles. A leather jacket on someone riding a motorcycle looks right. Nothing about it feels styled or intentional. There’s wind, speed and exposure. The material is […]

Why Does Everything Need Visual Interest?

I’ve been reading The Eyes of the Skin by Juhani Pallasmaa. He talks about something called the hegemonic eye. The idea is that modern design tends to prioritize sight over the other senses. As a result, architectural spaces suffer when they are designed to be seen, rather than inhabited. When I read that, it felt […]