Can We Take a Moment

Originally published July 25, 2014 here.

Yes, let’s take a moment here. Normcore at its worst — the light blue button down and khakis — is what Banana Republic has deemed the “Startup Guy” look. The look is not cool. It’s boring. Not even so boring that it’s cool. Just plain boring. The half tuck does not make the shirt cool. The belt is not cool either, it’s bland. This is Walter White pre-Heisenberg if he had decided to peg his pants and lose his socks.

But this is supposedly the Startup Guy look. Even though guys who work at startups don’t dress like this. No cool sneakers, mismatched funky socks, and printed tees. No hoodies. This is for aspirational startup guys who want to dress better, right? I think not. I think startup guys like the way they dress and on occasion will clean up for a date which still would not mean boring light blue button down and pegged khakis with no socks and oxfords. This look is for boring guys who always have and always will dress boring. Now they can re-brand themselves as “The Startup Guy.”

And where is the STARTUP GIRL?! Does no one aspire to dress like her? Or do we not even exist? Maybe Banana Republic thinks people who aren’t in San Francisco/Silicon Valley think this is what startup guys dress like. Or it’s all a big mind@#$% by BR to drive revenue through pure marketing, in which case I say: Well played.

Originally published at https://www.tumblr.com.