To Look Like the Jungle Cat
You have to first think like the jungle cat.
There’s a certain energy that existed in the 1970s which revealed itself in men’s fashion.
It’s rare today.
Probably because the psychological posture behind that energy is rare today.
The energy I’m talking about is Refined Sensuality.
Think feline elegance. Long, sleek, fluid, sculpted lines.
Men don’t dress like this today because men don’t think like this today.
The way we present ourselves is connected to how we think, how we behave, how we move. And design of clothing, like architecture, industrial design and interiors flows to meet the vibe of the times.
Objects of Desire
The looks of the 1970s I’m referring to come from how men saw themselves: comfortable being physical objects of desire, not through overt displays of intensity or dominance, but through skillfully sculpted lines on the body.
A man had to display that he was worthy as a partner in the dance. The culture code was “lithe.”
The core trait of men wanting to be admired and appreciated hasn’t changed. and probably never will. It’s human nature. But the difference over the last fifty years is in how men want to draw attention.
In the 1970s, the energy was in the pull. Not a push.
Intended to draw women in with beautiful contours.
It was Courvoisier, not creatine.
Selected examples of the same energy:
1970 Jaguar E-type
Long, low, elegant. Reserved. Sensuous contours, not harsh angularity. Performance, sex appeal, danger.
Disco
Physical, precise, spatial and sexually assertive. Display, performance. Lean and lithe. Men had never moved quite like this before.
Design of Pants
High rise, clean and slim through the hips and flared below the knee. Hemline kissing the ground. Deliberate, nuanced sculpting to achieve a particular flattering, elongated silhouette.
Silhouette
This is a form of artistry and intentionality in clothing design where elegance is achieved first through shape. Long, grounded, natural, flowing.
Two-thirds legs; one-third torso.
The Beautiful Lines of the Suit
From a Fabric Ad, Esquire Magazine, 1977: A man wearing a three-piece at home holding hands with his woman, possibly expecting guests.
The vibe is composed. Control. Presence. Conservative yet unconventional at the same time.
Check the long collar points and the width of the tie. That’s having a position.
Check the cut of the jacket, obviously tailored for him. Strong shoulder; fluid lines drawing the eye from the sweep of the lapel down to the cutaway at the hem. Beautiful roll, parallel vertical front quarters. No puckering, no tugging, no clinging. The sleeves perfectly formed.
Jungle cat energy.
Interiors
The focus here is on an environment that intends to feel inviting. Once again, the pull. The furniture suggests a feeling and a movement. It’s not a bed. It’s not a sofa. It’s not a sound system console. This isn’t even a room.
It’s space sculpted for pleasure, experience and sensation.
Looks like a fun date.
At the heart of any of these design moves is energy
How we present ourselves comes from how we want to live. And it has to come from the energy inside. What energy do you want to inhabit and move in?
Dressing is a form of self-definition.
To look and live like the jungle cat, you have to first think like the jungle cat.
Another fascinating and informative article Patrick