We travel to enjoy art and architecture, food and design. We can also learn a few things about how to dress. That’s why it’s fun to sit at a cafe or on a park bench and watch the locals pass by. I’m inspired when I see an older Italian gentleman cycling down the streets of Florence while eating gelato. I love watching a Parisian man buy food in the market while wearing vivid burgundy corduroys. We can bring some of those good ideas back home with us. Yes, you can do some shopping — but the inspiration is free.
Here are some of my favorite stylish cities.
London: Enlightened Footsteps
There are many reasons Englishmen look great — they grew up dressing formally; it’s their native sartorial language. Nobody looks more natural in black tie. One thing I always notice in London is all the stellar shoe stores. That’s no surprise since great companies like Crockett & Jones and Edward Green have been in business in Northampton for over a century. Or you can go to the original John Lobb or George Cleverley and have shoes made right there. It’s a commitment — they begin by shaping a wooden last (or mold) that resembles your foot. Whether brogues, Oxfords or Chelsea boots, they can handle serious conditions and cobblestones, too. It’s great to be in a city where men don’t rely on an endless stream of sneakers.
Milan: Tailoring Fluency
Milan is sartorially conservative for an Italian city. But there are plenty of men who want to look dapper even in a business meeting. What we can learn here is the power of understated tailoring. Too often, the blue suit is a depressing default option. It’s what you get when you have your first interview, or when you start a new job you don’t like. But it doesn’t have to be that way! A well-tailored deep blue suit in a quality fabric flatters every man. Of course, you can veer from this recipe: What about a good cashmere sports coat and some gray flannel trousers? Now, this is a good equation. With the suede shoes you got in London, you’ll look great wherever you are.
Illustration by Hilbrand Bos
Paris: Ambitious Accessories
Years ago, I was in Paris on one of the first cool days of fall. I wanted to wear a scarf but didn’t want to appear overeager. I need not have worried. The men strolling around the Luxembourg Gardens and down the Rue Jacob were way ahead of me. Scarves of every color were on display: ochre, aubergine, moss, plum. And these scarves were draped and wrapped with such care. It was a reminder, if any was needed, that accessories are an easy way to bring pleasure and a sense of festivity to anything you wear. Though you don’t want to bring everything back with you — if you get the urge to buy a beret, try to resist it.
Tokyo: Global Thinking
Japanese men know a good thing when they see it, regardless of where it’s from. They embrace American denim, Italian tailoring and English shoes. The sense of curiosity is always inspiring. They also love to shop. Not surprisingly, many of the best men’s stores in the world are in Tokyo, from Beams to Isetan to United Arrows. These buyers seek out the smartest knits, outerwear, luggage and tailoring worldwide, bringing it back to Japan for an eager audience. In many cases, the Japanese improve on the original (which is why Japanese denim now sets the standard). I love the way all these elements are reinterpreted on many of the men I see in Tokyo. The lesson is: If something looks good and is well-made, it doesn’t matter where it comes from.
New York City: Fearless Confidence
I live in New York City and am accustomed to crowded streets. There aren’t as many men in suits these days, which is probably fine for most people, but it is still a little sad for me. The city is full of people rushing to where they need to go. That confidence can be charismatic. If you don’t believe in what you’re doing (or wearing), then nobody’s going to do it on your behalf. They say if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere, and that’s what you expect a New Yorker to say! Whether that’s true or not, the spirit remains. Many of the best-dressed men bring self-assurance to what they wear. I didn’t know you were allowed to wear that, you ask. Well, when you dress in a way that’s true to yourself, you can get away with more than you think.
A Minnesotan turned New Yorker, David Coggins is the author of the New York Times bestseller Men and Style and writes a column for Artful Living.
