Men and Style: Essays, Interviews and Considerations

If you are in search of or require a “how to” manual or a book that speaks of the usual icons of men’s style, then please move on as those aspects of men and their individual style are not contained within. Coggins has deftly provided the reader with a series of interviews, remembrances, anecdotes and possibly some cautionary tales about fashion and style at particular moments in time.

There is no question that the author has drawn the line in the sand to distinguish between fashion and style. Perhaps Ralph Lauren summed it up best when he said, “Style is very personal. It has nothing to do with fashion. Fashion is over quickly. Style is forever.” Coggins and company more than verify Mr. Lauren’s sage words.

This reviewer was totally rapt with all of what was being transmitted via these pages, but part of the fascination and degree of engagement was facilitated by the ability to place all these “moments” into a time frame. The reader’s level of interest might depend on the scope of their frame of reference as well as their knowledge of fashion. Since many of the men interviewed might not be familiar to the reader, the prospective reader might want to examine the contributors list at the end of the book before even starting to read of those interviewed and their sartorial journeys with Mr. Coggins. “Always consider the source,” which is certainly applicable here as these men are rock solid examples of men with style.

It might be proffered that Coggins has really authored a standalone book as the contents don’t preach about fashion or style. Each reader will either take a walk down memory lane or learn something from each of the interviewed subjects or both! The book is both pure joy and pleasure as it couldn’t be easier to read or more evocative to those who might recall certain eras of life and how we reacted to them in this self-expressive way called style.

Coggins states at the beginning of the book and best sums up the entire text when he writes, “it’s about learning from singular men who’ve lived well and have something to tell us about how they earned their worldview.” This reader is grateful to all who participated as well as the author who put it all into context in a world where style counts more than ever.