Guys and Paper Dolls

We asked a quartet of men-about-town, each dapper in his own way, to demonstrate. We sent them off to different women’s retailers—a department store, a discount chain, a boutique, and a consignment shop—and, all in all, were surprised when they all turned up with styles that stressed comfort, grace, and even downright conservatism. Kevin Friedland first picked up a drop-dead see-through lacy number by Dolce & Gabbana and then decided it was too revealing, and while Mikal Arnold did settle on lace, it was used in a demure cocktail dress. Brant Kingman improvised a hip-skimming skirt to cover the fanny of some tight leather slacks, and Kieran Folliard topped off an ensemble for his wife with a modest—no, make that schoolmarm-y—cardigan. What can we conclude from this little experiment? Guys may enjoy mooning over their ladies at a candlelit restaurant, but it seems they don’t want anyone at the next table doing the same.

Kevin Friedland
Defender/midfielder for the Minnesota Thunder professional soccer team
Shopped at: Bumbershute, Wayzata
Currently attached to: Meghan, a student and volunteer Thunder cheerleader
What she usually wears: “Either a dress or jeans and some kind of top.”
What he likes a woman to wear: “I like black and I like color—not so much beige.”
On his date-night selection: “It’s not too over the top, not too lacy or see-through, but it’s still kind of sexy.”

Brant Kingman
Sculptor, designer, and noted party host
Shopped at: Nu Look Consignment Apparel, Minneapolis
Currently attached to: Kara, a dancer and IT project manager
What she usually wears: “A lot of Max Studio, BCBG. My favorite coat of hers is a Betsey Johnson—with a fitted, sort of frilly collar.”
It’s all in the details: “I like skirts that are cut on the bias … I like appliqué and embroidery … I’m partial to fringe.”
Holding up a skirt to his waist: “I happen to know that my hipbone-to-hipbone measurement is about the same as hers.”

Kieran Folliard
Owner of Kieran’s, The Local, and The Liffey
Shopped at: Target, downtown Minneapolis
Married (and divorced and re-married) to: Lisa, a dietician
On Target: “This is the bull’s eye, literally. It’s the only place I could’ve gone without going crazy. It’s laid out clean—I can be in, I can be out.”
Unsolicited praise from his son Jerome: “That outfit actually does look like Lisa. Very impressive!”

Mikal Arnold
Guitarist/songwriter for Revolver Modèle and master’s candidate in Spanish literature
Shopped at: Bloomingdale’s, Bloomington
Currently attached to: Jahna, a Neiman Marcus sales associate and fashion stylist
When examining a beaded dress: “I like it because it’s sort of a cross between flapper girl and Morticia Adams, which are two fetishes of mine.”
On his date-night selection: “It sort of looks like it’s been worn—like an heirloom.”
On the jewelry he picked out: “The skull is what I love. But she’d totally take that off right way. It’s also got the fleur-de-lis!”