he sophisticated French author Francois Sagan adored clothes, fast cars and sex. She loved to drive from Paris to Monte Carlo in an Aston Martin or Jaguar - she owned two of each - for a night of champagne, gambling and debauchery. She took lovers - male or female - whenever she felt like it and regarded monogamy as a bourgeois joke. With an almost insatiable appetite for pleasure Sagan knew a great deal about the power of physical attraction. She once said: 'A dress makes no sense unless it inspires men to want to take it off you.' Notice she said 'men' not 'a man'.
But what of guys - does the same apply? Can we say a suit makes no sense unless it inspires women to rip it from our backs? If that were true we'd have to say there are many senseless suits about.
A quick glance around any MTR carriage or bar in Lan Kwai Fong yields an eyeful of saggy, baggy, and just plain woeful clothing that should make any self-respecting gal take a vow of chastity. Although the sleek styling of the metrosexual has been around for a decade, most men ignore its rules.
What to do? Plenty. Men can look stylish and sexy enough for any Sagan who might be out there, by following a few simple rules.
It all starts with the body. There's no designer on earth who can do much for a bulging gut or poor posture. Clothes demand a good profile and a daily workout routine should precede any significant expenditure on a new wardrobe. This is mandatory. Treadmill and reps are more important than Dior or Gucci. Manners may maketh the man but when it comes to dressing well a low body fat index carries more weight.
Next up is the suits. Men who want to be regarded as elegant and fashionable need several well-tailored ones. Custom-made suits are the perfect solution but there are alternatives. Valentino, Zegna, Dior, Paul Smith and Ted Baker all use fine materials. It's best to buy the trousers a few sizes too large and have a tailor cut them to fit. That way you can get a custom look for a fraction of the price.