Summary - 6 influencers came together and dress up all draper calling themselves @thepridesg and better known as #TheGentlemansPride on Instagram.
Who are they? To be honest I only know Darren Tan, ex singing contest winner/actor, Benjamin from Sam Willows and this "familiar yet not really" face - Nicholas. I believe many guys remember him as the "fresh imp" guy but I also remember him as the guy on TV when I was young. I believe he was a TV presenter for some teenager shows back then. But again I might be wrong.
I actually do not want to break this down but too many people have been asking me about this and also sharing their thoughts with me so I thought I might as well talk about this.
Do you prefer the good news 1st or bad news? Let us go with the good 1st.
The Good
These guys suited up
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| Barney would be proud of them and also because suits are awesome. Actually this is also kinda the source of the problem. |
They really put in effort for the photo shoot
I have to give it to these guys that they actually managed to find a group of guys to get all draper dressed up, take pictures and post it online. I can hardly find man to even take pictures with me less say suit up and take pictures.
Of course, after the good comes the bad and to be honest I have been hearing more bad than good from friends and what i am reading off the internet. Isn't it funny how netizen reacts to well dressed man on instagram vs well dressed woman on the internet? Anyway, let me share the bad.
The Bad
#TheHashtagGameIsStrong
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| Self explanatory. Not even sure if that is their end game? To help clients/partners do shout out? Or maybe sell suits? |
I shall try my best to explain this without making you guys feel bored or misinterpreting my point. As much as I believe this might not be what they are trying to achieve but somehow it does reflect very strongly in this way to mass audiences. The pictures shouts strongly "we are better than you", "we are richer than you" and because we are all suited up "we are gentlemen and you ain't".
I guess this is partly because their group consist of celebrities, singers and business owners and ain't our daily "superheroes"? It's not exactly one of those movement that speaks "I can do it so could you", "Being a gentleman is something everyman should do", "Being a gentleman doesn't mean you have to blow a hole in your wallet".
Do note that this is what I am saying and hearing. I am not saying this is what the pride is trying to do or even imply which they kinda did somehow.
Media Beauty
Like how the media has made woman believe that size 0 is the new size 4. Big boobs and deep cleavage is beauty. Makeup is a must. Many I have spoken to and read online feels that this is actually forcing a strong and wrong sense of "gentlemen" image onto both man and woman. If with the help of media, a real gentleman has to be dressed like this all day long, what would happen to guys like us who goes out in jeans and basic t-shirts on sunny island Singapore?
Pretentious
As much as I gave them the thumbs up for awesome photoshoot. This is just.... Nice pic no doubt but not too sure if this is Tennis to me. I would like to know what went down behind the scene. Sorry for the lack of better word but this is just... #ICannot
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| And those hashtags again... |
Although it is just a word that we could have close an eye on, (speaking for myself) I cannot agree that dressing like this is "gentlemanly" cause being gentleman is from inside. I would totally find no fault if they call themselves something else. I don't know, Suit Man SG, Suits Are Awesome or something. I don't know.
Not Really bad but... You might not know ...
As pointed out by Carrie, this ain't exactly something original. There's this book/group of people known as gentleman of bacongo. Of course, I don't really know much about them besides the fact that they look really happy. Not too sure if they gotten some backlash (which i doubt) but I guess the whole vibe was kinda different. Instead of being all elitist, they look happy. Like Will Pharrell Happy.
The Ugly
Defensive Singaporean Man are Defensive
As much as I am not a fan of the whole gentleman's pride motion of just wearing all nice suit and tie, neither can I agree with some of the comments I am reading online. These guys are yelling that gentleman is not about suit but I am quite sure at the same time, being a keyboard warrior and insulting other's movement ain't that all gentlemanly as well. Calling names and all ain't helping to be honest.
My best guess is that Singaporean man are being very defensive. Scare that this would become an expectation. To be honest, I would like to dressed up like this too.
So What Makes A Real Gentleman?
Like many have spoken, gentleman is of course above what you wear but to me it is above just opening doors and any action as well. I think action can be faked but being a gentleman is something you can't. It is about sacrifice. It is about taking care of your love ones, protecting them and providing for them. Being responsible as a man. That is true gentlemen.
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| This is my friend Theo. Happy belated fathers' day! |
TL;DR Version:
Topic: The Gentleman's Pride SG
Yay of Nay: Nay
Why: Not against them doing it but really not my style. Too impractical.
For Your Interest:
http://singapore.coconuts.co/2015/06/22/meet-singapores-most-reviled-well-dressed-men-pride
http://www.5meanders.com/no-gentlemen-its-just-pride/
In case you got bored... (Actually I hate this song.)
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