Style Change Related to Stereotyping

[Professor Melon]

  Ahoy, Honestjohnny. Good question. Before going sly, in early November 2006, I was a long-time example of scruffy academic traditionalism--ties (reps usually), jackets, trousers, all held-overs from the Rogers Peet era (1950s/60s). Shaving my head really shook things up. I had not ever actually considered what looks well with what. The new look precipitated a new wardrobe. Very soon discovered turtlenecks--which I had not worn in years--shades, stainless steel jewelry, designer sweaters. My wife was delighted. She could actually give me stuff for Christmas with the knowledge that I would wear it. Still do the academic-professional uniform at the college, but, otherwise, have developed two other distinct modes: the sweatshirt and jeans combo for work around the house, and the "sophisticated casual" look for the weekends. The latter is focused on complementing the dome. My daily shower-and-shave routine has made me conscious of clothing in a way I had never been before. I had never spent money on a decent razor, gel, skin conditioner, or "finishing" topical (e.g. Headlube) in my life. After going through all that, it just seemed wrong to get into my worn-out old clothing. I felt it was time for a sartorial change. BTW, working out again also prompted some concern about appearances. Some of the "tough guy" stuff is appealing: black leather jackets, not just the delapidated brown bomber, dark colors, maybe even a tatoo. Giving all the old clothing to Goodwill also gave me a sense of starting anew. Karen has supported the new look enthusiastically from the beginning; she actually has in-put in what I buy now, whereas before that area was my own thing. I have worn glasses for driving and long-distant viewing for many years. I have not yet experimented with contacts, but the day may come. The style and shape of the frames did change--at Karen's insistence--when I went sly. Threw out the larger gold-frames and bought almost unframed glasses with steel-grey nose-piece and ear-pieces; they almost disappear on the face. Also, almost simultaneously with shaving my head for the first time, chopped the full grey beard down to a better shaped goatee, which I have maintained ever since. Toyed with the idea of coloring it, but have not because, in general, I go with the notion that "natural" is both more honest, less bothersome to maintain, and cheaper. When I look at pics from "before," I neither regret going sly nor much identify with the previous persona. That happens only when I look at photos from my 30s--but such nostalgia is sad and counterproductive, so I hold it to a minimum. I hope this answers the question. All best, Professor Melon

[Timmay]

OH MY ...MELON....its a novel.  LOL  Just rubbin ya man.  I havent found I have changed my dressing habits ..yet.  Although I had to work at the funeral home the other night and I had to wear my suit and tie.  WOW DID I GET THE COMPLIMENTS that night.  Not that everyone should wear a suit and tie..but I think a sly guy looks cool in a suit..oh but gotta wear the sunglasses with that look too...
lol

[PigPen]

I still dress like a redneck most of the time, unless I'm at work. At work it's nice pants, polos or short sleeve dress shirts in the summer. Winter is nice pants and long sleeve shirts and ties. 
But on the weekend I still wear jeans, overalls, t-shirts, sleeveless t-shirts or sleeveless pearl snap shirts. If we happen to be going out for the evening maybe a nice dress shirt or a t-shirt. I'll wear shorts every now and then, but it's not a pretty sight.

[Paul]

I still dress like a redneck most of the time, ... I'll wear shorts every now and then, but it's not a pretty sight.

Thanks for the mental image there PigPen..Redneck and White legs :

[Penguins Fan]

Before shaving my head, I did not like to dress up at all and never wore long sleeve shirts.

After getting rid of the hair, I like how I look in a suit.  I also like it when I have on a solid black T-shirt and my size 34 jeans with my wraparound sunglasses.  When I match it with my stainless steel watch and white gold wedding band and hoop earrings I think it looks sharp.

Being bald is a fashion accessory and what you do with it is your choice.

[herronm]

I haven't changed my style, except for my brand new SlyBaldGuys Tee Shirt!!!  Our dress code at work is business casual, but I've always dressed that way.  My time is spent in tee shirts and shorts, jeans in the winter.

[jusbnme]

I've always, since I can remember, been a "jeans and T-shirt" kind of guy.  So I didn't just start wearing them with the new sly look, or to look more "tough guy."  I've always loved jeans.  I like them a little on the loose side.  I can't stand wearing any other kind of pants because they cling too much.  I will wear a pair of cargo or khaki shorts, and pants, once in a while.  I have, like other guys have mentioned, started wearing nicer shirts though.  Button up and island shirts to name a few.  Some polo type shirts as well.  I guess after the liberating head shave I decided to try some different things out. 

[PigPen]

I still dress like a redneck most of the time, ... I'll wear shorts every now and then, but it's not a pretty sight.

Thanks for the mental image there PigPen..Redneck and White legs :

No problem, consider it my version of a horror flick

[warhawk]

honestjohnny.... welcome 2 the sly fraternity.  since i went sly in april 2007, i really haven't changed my sense of fashion or style.  if anything.... i don't wear hats or ballcaps anymore.  i used 2 wear a ballcap if it was windy because it would mess my hair up.  now.... i welcome a windy day because it feels gr8 on the dome!!! 

welcoming windy days,

WARHAWK

[honestjohnny]

Great stuff, guys!! 

I think Baldandre hit the nail on the head when he said that--and I'm going to paraphrase now--slying is such a major change that it affects one's entire persona.  And it seems that the change is almost exclusively positive.   

Prof.--Wow, you didn't just change your wardrobe; you changed your whole image/identity! Not to mention your marriage.  Awesome!! I wonder how your students and fellow faculty have responded?

So in keeping with my original question, it seems that there is a style change (particularly for Prof.), but not one lending itself to any one stereotypical style, tough guy or otherwise.  At the least, there is a rekindled interesting in appearance/grooming, which seems logical given the nature of slying (I'm trying to create a new term, if you hadn't noticed). 

[Tyler]

 sleeveless pearl snap shirts.

Big fan of the pearl snap shirts!

[ChallengeMe]

Being bald is a fashion accessory and what you do with it is your choice.

I like that quote. It says a lot.

For most of us, we start with being sly then work around that to find what looks best with our slyness. For those with hair, they get the clothes, then style their hair to what they want.

Last year I started wearing darker shirts after I shaved my head. This year, I am more tan, darker, and wearing lighter shirts offsets my head. I have found I too like to dress up more, and have ordered prescription glasses to match my sly look.

[dalecooper]

what is funny about this is i actually wear nicer shirts more often now. when my hairline was making a beeline for my behind, i always had a ballcap on. i felt like a ballcap went with t-shirts only. so i wore t-shirts all the time. now, i don't even wear hats unless i am fishing. i just feel more confident and comfortable in nicer clothes. although black and darker colors have made it into my t-shirt collection more as well.

I'm the sameway...  I think I look stupid with a hat on now so I don't even wear one haha.  Before I would CONSTANTLY wear hats because I didn't want to put the effort into doing my hair.  I also like dressing nicer, I think it compliments the sly look in that people notice you because of the bald look, and then notice even more when they see how nice you're "put together".

[Bald_freak]

Hey, guys! I was intrigued by something Razor X said on the "Tough Guy Rxn" Thread.  He said that his personal style of dress changed as a result of his head shaving: polos and khakis to jeans and tees. 

This intrigues me because I find the same thing for myself, i.e. gravitating to dark colors and "tough guy clothing."  This despite the fact that I'm 27, 5'9, 150lbs and a total dork.  So I'm thinking that this is more of the conditioning that we have all fought/are fighting with respect to the hair/no hair style. 

My question then is do most guys go with the stereotype and garb themselves as tough guys or maintain their old mode of dress, or have some of you found a middle ground?

johnny welcome. from one skinny dork to another. Being sly does change your perception....which in turn changes people's perception of you. When my hair was long, no matter how I dressed people thought of me as a harmless hippy. dressing up in a suit gives us the Lex Luther appeal. Mysteriousness to the lay days. where as tees n jeans implies more of the brawler look. I've noticed since going sly that shooting a dirty look towards someone, they tend to step back. A response that didn't happen much when I sported "the hippy look". Of course the popping vien in my forhead probably enhances the effect.

[honestjohnny]

Hey, Dan.  Where are you in IN?