Style Boston

Not long ago, a social print outlet in this part of the world published its "25 Most Stylish" People list. Not one to take a particular interest in the delicacies of lingerie or, for that matter, jockey shorts, I took little note of the event, until, buy third party, it came to me that an associate of mine IS on the list.

I called said associate to discuss the issue: "How," I asked,"could you be on such a list. I mean, look at yourself, you look like; you look like Bozo without hair orange dye -- a fat Bozo, a Woodstock reunion of Bozo; and you have a pot belly, and, for crying out loud, that tie is a throw out from TJ MAXX!"

"Sour grapes," he replied.

"Nonsense," I said, "I'd never make a list like that. It's not on my radar..."

"It should be," he retorted, "You almost did make it. They let me see the 'competition'. You were in the top 50."

I was shocked. Now mind you, I do not exactly buy my clothes at K Mart, but that's only because they closed the joint down on Western Avenue. I am a Target man now. So how is this possible?

My associate explained: "Style is not what you wear. It is who you are and what you are and have been. It is what you say, how you say it and what people think you will say. It is not about selling or telling someone to buy something. It is about the statement. YOU were seen speaking before a group of stuff shirts, about the time of the Mortgage meltdown. You were making a case for a way out of the mess. You brought the guys to tears -- sort of... What you said, and how you said it, did the trick."

So there you have it. Me in my Modells jeans and button down from Target, an arbiter of style. Ain't that a kick in the pants...