We’ve never been the ones for in-your-face, rah-rah, chest-beating type of patriotism that persists in many corners of this country. We were always more of the quiet, internalized patriotism type, where we won’t necessarily wear it on our sleeves and vocalize it too often, but runs just as deep as the former. Relax…this isn’t a politic article. We just want to make the point that we’re less of an American cheerleader than we are a Tom Landry when it comes to love for our country.
We also believe that to be American is a result of dumb luck in the majority of cases, with most of us being born here and not necessarily having a choice in our nationality, but benefitting from it just the same. This is why Nationalism never made sense to us; having a superiority complex based on something that we just Forrest-Gumped our way into isn’t really an accomplishment as it is a stroke of good fortune. That being said, we can still be absolute softies for our country and for some of our nation’s heroes. And, since we’re dedicated to the pursuit of men’s fashion and celebrating those who embody the qualities of stylish men, we wanted to look at some of our country’s biggest heroes who just happened to be overlooked style icons. Enjoy.
Mark Twain
America’s greatest satirist/advocate of the white suit before Tom Wolfe.
Neil Armstrong
If you’re the first man on the Moon, you get a free pass to smoke a big stogey anywhere you want.
The Wright Brothers
First in flight, first in Bowler hats. Just because you’re working on planes doesn’t mean you can’t dress like a first-class passenger.
Albert Einstein
An American by choice, everyone’s favorite scientist was always a snazzy dresser.
Walt Whitman
The original Hipster/Captain Fantastic. Also wrote occasionally.
James Baldwin
The thinking-man’s writer/Civil Rights icon.
Ernest Hemingway
We can’t confirm this, but we’re pretty sure Pappy killed and then ate this dog just seconds after this photo was taken.
Bruce Lee
Master of the “One-Inch Punch” and badass weekender style.
MANNER 