Making Class a Casual Effort: Male Edition

By Charlotte Horton Sometimes I dig it when a guy looks rugged and dirty, like he just got home from a sweaty workout or an hour-long bedroom sesh. It’s sexy when a man looks like, well, a man. But then, there’s just something about a guy in a suit, a button-down vest, or a skinny tie and suspenders that’s just so suave. And if a guy can pull this look off without looking like a dweeb or a rich prick, it’s just fucking sexy. Matthew Fennelly, a junior film major from New Jersey, has perfected this “class with a casual effort,” to the t. But girls, before you start chasing him down, see what he has to say about his slick sense of style.

Q: What got you to start dressing like this every day?

A: I guess, subconsciously, it started with my dad. He’s very successful at his job so I assume that seeing him wear suits every day—always wearing ties and nice shirts for work—it got me to appreciate the habit. Unfortunately, I didn’t take part in the act until later in life. Fast forward to sophomore year at Syracuse; I realized I had a lot of dressy clothes in my closet that I wasn’t taking advantage of. I started wearing one or two classy outfits a week and then it kind of just morphed into a daily habit.

What motivates you to dress so dapper all the time?

I think it’s funny because there is this expression: “You grow up to be your parents.” And though I always resented my dad for telling me to dress up when I was younger, I now really respect how he dresses. I’m also motivated to dress dapper every day out of paranoia for who I might run into in my daily activities. I want to “dress to impress,” so to speak. I also dress like this to be the best version of myself because I think someone’s presentation of himself or herself is a key step in that process.

What are some positive and negative reactions people have had to your newfound sense of style?

I guess one of the positives would be that every time I wear a tie, people notice. And who wouldn’t want to be noticed for great style? I once was talking to a female friend of mine who turned to her boyfriend and said, “Why can’t you dress like that? Look how good he looks!” Now for the negative: The only thing that comes up from dressing like this is that when people ask me why I’m dressed up for a normal day, I usually don’t have a good reason except that I simply felt like it. I just respond with a “What can I say, I’m a classy motherfucker.”

Describe the outfit you feel most confident in:

I don’t have a specific outfit because I define my style as very sporadic. But I usually like an outfit that makes me feel like I’m right out of the movies or someone I aspire to be. It ties back to being a film major, I guess, with the glitz and glamour of Hollywood in my mind.

Where do you typically shop?

I typically shop at the Gap, J. Crew, Macy’s, Lord & Taylor, and Banana Republic.

Who are some of your style icons?

Some of my style icons are Ryan Gosling, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, The Beatles, Johnny Cash, and James Dean