What to Wear To A Men's Studies Conference?

In just a few hours I shall be attending my first academic conference. I woke up this morning racked with anxiety. What does one wear to these things? I want to be the hip young upstart, bursting with new ideas and good style. At the same time, I don't want to be too informal lest I alienate Michael Kimmel and other leading men's studies scholars. So I looked on IMDB for inspiration.

Obviously, the best dressed professor in movies or literature or movies from literature is Jeremy Irons in Lolita. But then again, in what role is Jeremy Irons not the best dressed whatever? Best dressed Aramis. Best dressed Scar. Best dressed Fokine. He always manages to be both refined and informal. Frank Langella, also a favorite professorial type, is a little bit too chunky and purposefully fits the aesthetic of a semi-defeated academic. Bill Murray as Professor Peter Venkman in Ghostbusters is beholdent to the fashion schemata of the 1980's. Therefore, Irons is my archetype. Of course, my own sartorial choices are somewhat limited by my decision to bring only one pair of pants, two dress shirts and one sweater. Nevertheless, delimited by my lack of choice, I've sought to preserve Irons' elan.

-- JOSHUA DAVID STEIN

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Comments

[mikey]

adorbs!

[Dunc]

Not to split hairs, but James Mason's Humbert was pretty sharp, too. He was an awesome Rommel, too - and Rommel was clearly the best dressed man in history.
http://users.skynet.be/fa101291/personen/foto/rommel4.jpg