As every other shop on University Boulevard is a small women’s boutique, it’s evident that the women on campus are spoiled when it comes to shopping. The men, however, are left scouring for fashionable items, picking through the discount rack like a vulture who arrived at the roadkill a little too late.
For men on campus, shopping for new threads isn’t a walk in the park, or even a walk down University. Department stores and online shopping can help fill their closets, but since when has anyone ever found anything unique at Dillard’s? Male fashionistas like you demand originality.
“Tucson is one of those places where we’re very slow,” said Michael McKisson, an adjunct instructor of journalism at the UA and creator of TucsonInStyle.com. “We get the new hot restaurant months after it’s everywhere else, so I don’t think there’s a lot of places to get [nice clothes] now.”
Tucson is known for its diverse mix of cultures, which can leaves men wondering why that isn’t reflected in the city’s shopping. Thankfully, thrift stores are everywhere around campus, providing a mecca of great finds.
“Tucson’s really interesting because — and thrifting for men is really interesting because — there’s not as many men who are doing thrift shopping, so you’ll often find good pieces,” McKisson said. “But I also think what happens is that a lot of men retire from the East Coast and they come out to Tucson after they retire and they trade in all their work clothes.”
Thrift stores like Casa de los Niños or Goodwill on Fourth Avenue are rumored to have a few hidden gems, but these small shops are only the beginning. The trend now is to tailor thrifted pieces to ensure a better fit.
In addition, because Tucson shopping can be so limited, men are turning to more creative ideas in order to keep up with the trends. Men’s fashion blogs are on the rise, and with the help of GQ style guides, no one has an excuse for not knowing how to dress.
“I shop around a lot, like sometimes you can find a specific Tumblr and people will just post where they get their stuff,” said Tracy Martino, a tattoo artist at Sanctity on University Boulevard. “Sometimes, too, it’s not too hard to make your own clothes. Especially being a tattooer and all, it’s pretty easy for me to draw something.”
Martino often uses a company here in Tucson called Yeah Right! to get his artwork screen-printed. A big fan of patterns and colors, Martino applies his talents to create a sense of individuality in his wardrobe. For those who don’t have an artistic bent, places like BLX Skate Shop offer great finds with street style flair.
“It’s interesting because in Tucson there isn’t really unique stuff … With men, you really can’t do too much until you’ve become very avant-garde,” McKisson said. “There [are] always little things you can do.”
