A decade ago, the most dependable outfit combination in menswear looked something like this: a long, slinky tee (usually curved at the hem), skinny jeans (usually stacked higher than IHOP pancakes), and rare sneakers (usually a Jordan 1 or—gulp—a Nike Roshe Run). We’ve come a long way since then. Want proof? Nowadays, almost the exact opposite is true. Pants arebaggyandhigh-waisted,tees arecroppedandboxy, andtwo jacket lengthsreign supreme.
Heady stuff, right? Well not to be a total buzzkill, but the guiding ethos behind the shift isn't quite as titillating. In fact, it's downrightmathematical. The secret is menswear's golden ratio, also known as the rule of thirds, where your tee, shirt, or jacket comprises one-third of an outfit while the pants make up the remainder. Put it another way: It’s a dead-simple guide to proportions. The golden ratio is the reason young-gun red carpet legends likePaul Mescaland Austin Butler swear by their cropped T-shirts, and why every menswear influencer on TikTok hasfollowed suit.
All of which begs the question: What's the best way to nail the defining look of 2024 without ringing up a stylist—or thumbing your way through an infinite scroll of GRWM clips? For answers, we turned to three dudes who wear and sell the vibe better than almost anyone we know. Read more from them after the jump, and check out an exemplary "golden ratio" combo below.Read more>>
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