Time for another installment of our Style Girlfriend community spotlight series!

You guys know, it’s you—the SG community!—who are the lifeblood of Style Girlfriend. Without all of you showing up here every day to check out what’s new, shop our picks, and even work with us on updating your wardrobe, all of us here on Team SG would just be shouting “HOW ABOUT TRYING SOME CHINOS?!” into an empty void.

This week, we’re profiling Joe from Atlanta, who you might know in the comments as “Average Joe.” Thankfully, this Atlanta-based recruiter’s style is anything but average. Check out past features here, here, and here!

Below, a Style Girlfriend community spotlight on Joseph: 

Name, Age, Occupation, City

Joseph, 40, Technical Recruiter/Recruiting Sales, Atlanta

When did you first discover Style Girlfriend?

Probably eight years ago. I had taken a recent interest in updating my look and googled men’s style or something like that and came across Megan’s blog and was hooked. SG is still the first place I pull up in the morning when I log in to my computer.

Can you describe your “aha” moment about the importance of personal style?

There’s a scene in The Devil Wears Prada when Meryl Streep’s character is chastising Ann Hathaway’s character for dismissing high fashion. Meryl Streep explains how a couture designer will introduce a new color or style as a runway piece one season, and how two years later that trickles down to places like Banana Republic. I’ll summarize here, but she goes on to say that we might think we’re above the pretentiousness of high fashion because we thrift our style or bargain hunt. But if it weren’t for an artist taking a risk a few years back, we wouldn’t have the option to thrift the clothes we like in the first place.

When I watched that scene, I hit pause and was like “Wow.” I even went and bought the book and read it too.  (No shame!)

And secondly, there was a quote from Nick Wooster, who said, “Don’t be afraid to be the best-dressed man in the room.” This came at a time where guys in my generation/ age were all wearing graphic tees, cargo shorts, and flip flops; and we were self-conscious about showing up looking like we tried too hard with what we wore.

What does dressing well mean to you?

It’s a reflection of who you are on the inside.  I think most guys, no matter the style, wear clothes that represent who they are. Dressing well means being able to expand beyond that and maybe take some risks.

What was your first million bucks moment?

Anytime I put on a suit or sport coat I feel like a million bucks.  It always feels like I’m putting it on for the first time.

Quick Hits

Favorite “splurge” clothing brand?

Hugo Boss

Go-to “steal” clothing brand?

J.Crew

Grooming product you can’t live without?

Safety Razor & Shaving Brush

The oldest piece of clothing you have in your closet?

A Bloomingdale’s Marc New York Winter Coat. It’s probably 7 years old.

Night in or a night out?

Night out with my wife

Signature drink?

Manhattan. But Atlanta has a fantastic craft brewery community so there’s a lot of good beer readily available too.

First celebrity crush

Alicia Silverstone in Aerosmith’s “Cryin’” video

Summer wardrobe staple?

Lacoste Pique Polo Shirts. Atlanta is ridiculously hot and humid from May to September and you can’t be outside for more than 5 minutes without breaking into a full sweat.  A lot of people will wear dry fit work out clothes to compensate for this, but I think polo shirts look great whether you’re doing something active or not, and still keep the sweat away.

Celebrity style inspiration?

Idris Elba and Jeff Goldblum

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P.S. Are you still waiting for your own style upgrade-prompted epiphany? Then allow us to loudly toot the horn of shopping with Team SG! Honk honk, it’s the best!

Let us rescue you from shopping fatigue and sartorial apathy. Work with us to style upgrade ya, and we promise you’ll get a promotion at your job…No just kidding. We obviously can’t promise that. But we can promise the kind of personal attention and care that will make you feel like the best version of the awesome guy you already are! If you’re ready for a lewk to change your life, or simply jump right to the end of the shopping process, give us a shout.

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