I'm right, but lack visual evidence of my rightness

November 6, 2009 12:45 PM

Help me find images of handsome, manly men in white sweaters. I'm trying to convince my husband that a white sweater is as versatile as his dour browns, blacks and grays. If they are layered with shirts under or jackets over, all the better. Thank you!
posted by B-squared to clothing, beauty, & fashion (28 comments total)

Howzat?
posted by Pollomacho at 12:51 PM on November 6, 2009 [1 favorite]

This reminds me of an old Kids in the Hall sketch where two friends are about to get into a fight in a back alley, and one says to the other, "I'll get the good looking one, and you get the ugly one" (or something) and then they both run over to the same guy--hilarity ensues.

In any event, rather than identify handsome, manly men for you, I give you the google images search for Aran sweaters. Many a manly Irish man has worn an Aran sweater, and the evidence of such awaits you.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 12:53 PM on November 6, 2009

Manly enough for you?
posted by Pollomacho at 12:53 PM on November 6, 2009

(So manly the search in the link wasn't even spelled right! Yeah, that's manly!)
posted by Pollomacho at 12:55 PM on November 6, 2009

i hate to use reference this dude, but... robert pattinson makes this white sweater look pretty good.
posted by hagelslaag at 12:56 PM on November 6, 2009

here
posted by leigh1 at 1:03 PM on November 6, 2009

It doesn't get any manlier than the Love Detective.
posted by sanko at 1:07 PM on November 6, 2009

I've seen pictures of Steve McQueen in a white sweater. Depends on the body type, really. Sweaters look better on well-built (not overweight) guys.

And wool ones tend to look better than cotton, which sags and becomes disheveled.
posted by dfriedman at 1:07 PM on November 6, 2009

A white sweater isn't as versatile as brown, black, and gray.
posted by citron at 1:08 PM on November 6, 2009 [5 favorites]

Pollomacho beat me to it, but yeah, I was going with Papa(s)!
posted by cestmoi15 at 1:11 PM on November 6, 2009

Gear Patrol's number two sweater

Sexy, but maybe not manly
posted by girlpublisher at 1:14 PM on November 6, 2009

Not a direct answer to your question, and I don't mean to step on any toes... but all the sexy pictures in the world might not convince him if he just doesn't want to wear white. I cut white almost entirely out of my wardrobe years ago because white clothes are super effective dirt and spill magnets, and no amount of "but you'd look so good" will change my mind.
posted by Metroid Baby at 1:18 PM on November 6, 2009 [3 favorites]

You could just photoshop white sweater on Bear Grylls.
posted by leigh1 at 1:21 PM on November 6, 2009 [1 favorite]

IANAL, IANYL, but I think your boyfriend is right. I find these pictures singularly unconvincing. You may be right that a good layering presentation would help, but I haven't seen one.
posted by grobstein at 1:21 PM on November 6, 2009

You are wrong here, white sweaters have a tacky country club/90's R&B group vibe. Earth tones are best for sweaters on dudes.
posted by BobbyDigital at 1:23 PM on November 6, 2009

After reviewing the evidence, your boyfriend is right.
posted by Jezztek at 1:32 PM on November 6, 2009

I think your boyfriend is right.

Even Aran sweaters, which look awesome in their cream-colored incarnations, look much more awesome in gray or dark blue.
posted by Sidhedevil at 1:34 PM on November 6, 2009

The RAF pilot's uniform during WWII included a white turtleneck sweater. That's pretty manly.

It's pretty tough, though, to wear one out in the world. Creams that are the base for a tweed are easier, though - rustic, rugged, not so precious.
posted by peachfuzz at 1:47 PM on November 6, 2009

I'm not convinced that white is sexier or more versatile. Is there a reason it has to be white? Can you suggest some other colors to him beyond black, brown and grey? Green? Orange? If the goal is to get beyond the "dour" colors, there are many choices beyond white that could prove much easier to convince him of wearing and that won't end up with coffee stains down the front.
posted by otherwordlyglow at 1:47 PM on November 6, 2009

Cary Grant is not interested in helping your argument.
posted by oinopaponton at 1:51 PM on November 6, 2009 [1 favorite]

(but I agree with everyone above about aran sweaters done right. That guy might not be the sexiest man on earth, but I wouldn't bet against him in a fight.)
posted by oinopaponton at 1:55 PM on November 6, 2009

I live in the South, where despite what others say we wear white year-round because it's frickin' hot, and even I don't think a white sweater is as versatile as brown, grey or black.

One of the reasons for this is that, since white is not considered a "cold weather" color, he won't find as much to layer with a white sweater in the first place. Fall colors (earth tones) and winter tones (where the lightest is the ubiquitous "winter white") are designed to be worn in layers, while whites, vivid primary hues and pastels are more for spring or summer wear.

You could maybe argue for navy, or khaki, or olive, or even red.
posted by misha at 1:58 PM on November 6, 2009

Bonjour ma chérie. C'est Jules.
posted by Beautiful Screaming Lady at 2:08 PM on November 6, 2009 [1 favorite]

Does he have some prejudice against actual colors? Blue, green, red, even orange?
posted by MadamM at 2:51 PM on November 6, 2009

White sweaters can look good, though not on everyone. But they are not as versatile. And someone who has a preference against white sweaters is unlikely to change his mind because of pictures from the internet of men who are not him wearing white sweaters.

Perhaps you could suggest instead that he add color as accessories or other layers. He could wear an orange shirt that peeks out from behind one of his "dour" brown sweaters and look pretty good in all likelihood.
posted by asciident at 6:02 PM on November 6, 2009

Your boyfriend is right. White is usually hideous, but even when it isn't, it is certainly not versatile.
posted by spaltavian at 8:37 PM on November 6, 2009

Don't show your husband this.

White sweaters make me think of preppy, yacht club types. Roger Federer can certainly pull off the look, but I think tan, beige, and blues and greens are far more versatile and flattering on most people.
posted by emd3737 at 10:21 PM on November 6, 2009

Errol Flynn?
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 5:33 PM on November 7, 2009