Does fashion exist in Hartford?

Do the people in Hartford really have a "look"? The Hartford Business Journal recently wrote an article entitled The Fabric Of Our City: Does business in Hartford have a look? and reports from three angles: companies that have a distinct dress code, companies who don't and companies who have become relaxed. Fair and balanced? We think they did a good job at pointing out that "corporate dress" is a thing of the past. However, the article got us thinking a little further than the nine-to-fiver who comes into Hartford and flees right after work.

It's fair to say that you can sum up New York fashion in a few words. Very clean, stylish, trendy, Wall Street, funky. Boston conjures up images of Dockers, boat shoes and yuppies. But what about good ole' Hartford? What's the look of our little city when the lights go down?

We like to think that there are a few different looks:

Dress to Impress. Those who make an effort.
If you ever find yourself at Emperor, Koji or Room 960 on any given weekend, you're bound to run into some well groomed guys dressed in chic button down shirts or trendy t-shirts and pretty little girls prancing around in pumps and short skirts. People in these places actually make an effort to look good and don their best threads. Good to see people actually look in the mirror before they go out!

Those who can care less.
Have you been up to the joints by Union Station lately? My God. We have to wear our sunglasses at night just to hide! Trust us, it really is that scary! There are those who dress up like they just left the office (ahem, see HBJ article on khakis and polos) and then there are the others who look like they just rolled out of bed. For Christ sake, make an effort!! No one wants to look at you in the clothes you dusted off from your storage bins. Get out and shop!

Ghettofantabulous.
We're all for individual expression, but nothing gets us going more than seeing a grown man with his ass crack hanging out and pants falling down to his knees. Does anyone really dress like this? New rule: Carry an extra belt, because if you see someone like this first whack them with it and then do the right thing by putting it on their pants!

There's no real secret to looking good when going out. Be creative and expressive. What you wear tends to say a lot about you. Guys, for a never-ending list of fashion tips, make sure to check out GQ or Details Magazine online. Lots of good stuff here. And for the ladies, check in with the mother of all women's magazines, Vogue.

And if you're feeling really adventurous, check out Tuesday's Clothing or Stackpole, Moore & Tryon in downtown Hartford for some local fashion flavors. It's also worth noting that Tuesday's is no longer on the corner of Asylum and Ann Street. They're now up on the corner of Pratt and Trumbull.

And that's the scoop...
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