JAYPLAY
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The University Daily Kansan > Jayplay > April 13,2000
They don't wear sweats on campus. They don't wear a brown belt with black shoes. They're fashion-conscious — and they're men.
Banana Republic, $40-$50
Pretty boys
Stylish studs don designer duds
Story by BriAnne Hess ♦ Photos by Brad Dreier
- Stephen Clemens (left), San Mateo, Calif., senior, has been dubbed "California Steve" by some of his friends. He said he didn't really care about fashion until he stopped playing sports all the time.
"As you get older, girls get in the picture, and you don't want to go up to them all dirty," he said. "That's pretty good motivation."
Favorite brand: Ralph Lauren's Polo. "I don't really have
"I don't really see too many people here wearing it." He also said that even though stores in California and Kansas offered the same brands, clothes in California were different.
stuff gets to Kansas a little later," he said. Frequency: Shops when he goes home for the holidays.
How he does it: Out of his own pocket. "I used to work a lot over the summer and during high school, I had a really good job that let me save a lot of money," he said.
Projected expenditure: Spent $400 on Spring Break; $500-$600 on Winter Break because he was low on funds — he probably spends $3,000 a year on clothes.
Prized fashion item: A pair of old-school Nikes purchased in New York. "They look like you'd find them in 1988 — I love those." Clemens said.
Influences: Grew up in California. Spent last summer in New York City, where his cousin worked for the designer Escada.
"I'd stumble in there, and she'd tell me what was in and what designers were in," he said.
Fashion hang-ups: Guys who wear long-sleeve button-up shirts with shorts. "If it's warm enough to wear shorts, why wear the long-sleeve shirt?"
- Eric Snider, Wichita junior, said he was a clean dresser more than a fashion mogul. "I'm not particularly innovative but I try to look as sharp as I can," he said. "I think the most important thing with fashion it being comfortable with what you're wearing. If I were comfortable wearing sweats and a tank
ing. If I were comfortable wearing sweats and a tank top, I would."
Preferred brand; a Fan of Gap Inc. — Banana Republic, Gap and Old Navy. "I worked at the Gap last summer part time," Snider said. "Basically, I abused the discount and bought a lot of clothes."
Frequency: Shops when the seasons change and when supplements are needed.
Projected expenditure: $120 to $200 per trip. "It's kind of skewed because I got heavy discounts with the Gap all summer." he said.
How he does it: "I am a poor college student, so my parents help out a little bit," Snider said. He said he tried to buy a lot of basics to wear anytime and also gets clothes for major holidays.
Fashion hang-ups: Won't wear sweats on campus and doesn't really like shorts, although he does wear them. He prefers pants.
Prized fashion item: "The crew will make fall of my shoes," he said. "They're cutting edge, I suppose. Someone nicknamed them the Ladykillers. He described them as black with crossing straps and buckles on both sides.
"They're comfy, and I think they look pretty cool," Snider said.
"They don't work, but they do get attention."
Jeans:
Polo, $50-$60
Influences: Mostly what is in the stores. Does get Esquire.
"Magazines are sometimes a little out there," Snider said.
- Chris Vetter, (*right*) Shawne sophomore, said his look was a little preppy, but probably more classic-contemporary.
Preferred brand: Works for Banana Republic and buys most of his clothes there. He also worked for Abercrombie and Fitch for a while, but prefers his current employer's brand.
"I don't like to limit myself to one style," he said. His typical class wear is khaki pants, a collared shirt and black shoes.
"Abercrombie stuff you kind of grow out of," Vetter said. "Banana is a more mature line of clothing." Also likes Rainb Lauren's Polo, Perry Ellis and Kenneth Cole.
"I'm not a big Old Navy fan," Vetter said. "Gap owns all of them, and it's scale quality. If I buy clothes, I want them to last for a while."
Shades:
Ralph Lauren, $80
Vetter doesn't really like Tommy Hilfiger, either.
"He likes to announce his clothes as Tommy clothes," Vetter said. "I don't like to announce the brands I wear a lot — it's just not my style."
Most spent on one item: Cashmere sweater for $100 — $200 before the Banana Republic discount.
Projected expenditure: Vetter said he probably spent $150 a month on clothing with his Banana Republic discount where he works on the weekends. He said if he weren't getting the discount, his shopping bill would be at least $300 a month.
"I shop every day I work," Vetter said. "To tell you the truth, I'm losing money working there."
Vetter also said that high-water pants were not cool. "Even when this guy is walking around you can see his socks — and they're not colored, they're white tube socks — those poor lost souls."
Hang-ups: "Black shoes and black belt — you're supposed to keep them together," Vetter said. "It just chaps me."
Shoes:
J. Crew loafers, $80
- Robert Sweet, Springfield, Mo., senior,
said his style was trendy or contemporary.
"it's kind of different," Sweet said. "I don't stick out, but I just know it not the same."
Preferred shopping arena: Not much locally except the Plaza in Kansas City, Mo. He tries to shop when he's on vacation, too.
Places of purchase; Banana Republic, Saks Fifth Avenue, Urban Outfitters; online New York boutiques, Blue Fly and The Guy Shop.
Frequency: Once every two weeks.
Projected expenditure: $200 to $300 a shopping trip;
$5,000 to $6,000 a year.
Influences: TV and magazines such as Wallpaper, Details,
Maxim.
- Matthew Hufft, Springfield, Mo., senior, said his style was pretty liberal, but not radical — more West Coast, where he buys most of his clothes.
How he does it: Mostly family-financed with a little job money thrown in the mix.
"There's some crazy stuff out there, like capris for men. I don't wear that stuff."
Framed brand: Diesel — which isn't available in the Midwest.
Jeans; worn-in. Shirts: classic style, but made of funky material like slightly transparent, blended silk, linen or stretchy spandex.
Places of purchase: "I have family in California, and I go there a lot." Hufft also likes to shop online.
Frequency: Three to four times a month.
Projected expenditure: Has no idea. "Too much," Hufft said, "I just don't want to think about it, really."
I just don't want to think about
Most spent on a shirt: $100
How he does it: Saves his own money, but most of it comes from gifts from his family.
Belt:
Best friend's ex-girlfriend's (Express or Limited), $25-30
JAYPLAY inside
Shoes:
Kenneth Cole, $120
Pants:
Banana Republic, $88
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