Sleeves Magazine April 2016 | Page 17

Fashion Think about it. Isn't it funny the way beers fade in and out of vogue as quickly as collars or cuffs, silks or chiffon? Right now a locally brewed craft ale might be in style, but come the summer a big brand lager may again have its day. Adding fruit flavours to beers has become quite a trend here in London, as in the rest of Europe, but the time will come when an old-fashioned throaty stout is all the rage once more. Every choice our man in the pub makes, from his football team to his wristwatch, from his dinner to his dog, is motivated at least somewhat by a desire to be part of something, to fit in, to be seen in a certain way, or just to feel a certain way about himself. BEER Every person you meet is telling a story without even speaking, in their clothes, their hair, their skin, their eyecontact, their bodylanguage. COLLARS Even the least fashion conscious among us (and I'm thinking squarely of the stereotypical 'pub male' here) has spent a lifetime cultivating his look, his attitude. Every decision is relevant, every non-decision a choice in its own right. He wears certain clothing, likes certain music, has certain opinions, and all of these things say something about him, contribute to his existence, his being, his impact. And crucially, he knows it. WRISTWATCH Sleeves Magazine 16