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Lady Porn: Men At Work, Looking Sharp

By Sarah Carlson | Posted Under Seriously Random Lists | Comments (37)



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It’s hard to explain, but there’s something about a man in a well-tailored suit that can leave me weak in the knees. Who needs to see skin when they’re coming at you with hair slicked back, tie clipped, vest buttoned? OK, I’m a fan of the skin, too. But sometimes, all it takes is just a shirt sleeve rolled up and the sight of their forearms to make me appreciate the beauty of man (even if I sound Victorian).

From the classic 1960s cuts on “Mad Men” to the updated threads on “Suits,” TV has no shortage of good-looking men donning slick ensembles at the workplace. And some of the gents aren’t traditionally handsome, either. It’s the confidence that comes with duds that makes them appealing. Clothes really do make the man.

Here are my picks for the best-dressed male characters currently on TV. Some of them also can be seen sans clothes in love scenes, but even when they’re not, it’s still difficult to look anywhere else.

Don Draper (Jon Hamm), “Mad Men”
Classic. The styles sported on the AMC show have even inspired a new line from Banana Republic.

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Jared Harris (Lane Pryce), “Mad Men”
Still classic, yet a bit more refined. And the glasses are hot.

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Neal Caffrey (Matt Bomer), “White Collar”
Caffrey works the ’60s looks in an updated way, and most importantly, he’s not afraid to wear a hat.

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Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht), “Suits”
A slick lawyer requires slick suits and slicked hair.

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Will Gardner (Josh Charles), “The Good Wife”
Ditto. The lawyers know how to do it.

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Stephen Colbert (Stephen Colbert), “The Colbert Report”
This fake pundit also knows how to look his best. Colbert gets props for usually sporting cuff links.

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Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer), “True Blood”
Now that he’s a politician, this vampire dresses up and immediately commands attention. Nice use of the double-breasted jacket.

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Hector Madden (Dominic West), “The Hour”
He’s a 1950s BBC broadcaster, but he looks just as good off-camera as on.

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The Doctor (Matt Smith), “Doctor Who”
He’s not nearly as refined, but The Doctor sure can rock the professorial look with the tweed jacket, suspenders and bow tie. Bow ties are cool.

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Nucky Thompson (Steve Buscemi), “Boardwalk Empire”
And if you think the right clothes can’t make a man attractive, look no further than this 1920s Atlantic City politician.

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Sarah Carlson has a front-row seat to the decline of the newspaper industry and lives in Alabama with her overly excitable Pembroke Welsh corgi.









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Comments

Where's Neal Caffrey?! He surely belongs on this list. Also? Thank you. Thank you very, very much. Mmmmm.

Posted by: Scully at September 2, 2011 1:16 PM

OK. I obviously skipped right past Neal. Nevermind. Must be my computer, subtly trying to cure my addiction.

Posted by: Scully at September 2, 2011 1:18 PM

A man rocking a three-piece suit just KILLS me in the ladybits. I don't really find Jared Harris attractive, but when Lane comes out looking all buttoned up and casually old-world elegant and so stinkingly *British* I just want to gnaw on him.

I know we're talking 'bout TV, but Daniel Craig as Bond in the last scene of Casino Royale? He could've killed that dude with his navy three-piece hotness instead of his Walther.

Posted by: eva-lon at September 2, 2011 1:25 PM

I wouldn't complain about a movie edition either. In addition to Daniel Craig as Bond, I'd nominate the entire Inception cast. Oh and my.

I feel this post needs the famous slow suit undressing Pajiba comment.

Posted by: Scully at September 2, 2011 1:29 PM

No Joseph Gordon-Levitt?? I call shenanigans. He's ridiculously adorable in a suit.

Posted by: MM at September 2, 2011 1:31 PM

I wish this included movies for the Inception cast. Especially JGL. Mmmm...

Posted by: KatSings at September 2, 2011 1:36 PM

No Tenth Doctor? For shame

Posted by: YesPlease at September 2, 2011 1:38 PM

Reading comprehension fail that these are TV dudes in suits. Quick: Movie dudes in suits, please!!

Posted by: MM at September 2, 2011 1:43 PM

Shirt collar: wide spread (3 inch points is best, curved is also acceptable).
Cuffs: French. Always. (Turnback is only acceptable in casual gatherings.)
Shirt: Fitted only.
Tie: As long as a double Windsor is present any width is fine. Though Colbert's up above is a bit too wide for me. (Fellas: your tie should barely graze your belt buckle.)

Bonus: a vest is always a welcome addition.

Finally, the collar should never, ever be button down. Ever.

Lady porn indeed.

Posted by: Scully at September 2, 2011 1:46 PM

Thank you.

And now if we could just bring back Swing music...

Posted by: MRod at September 2, 2011 1:50 PM

Josh Charles can do me, not just it.

Posted by: Jerry at September 2, 2011 1:51 PM

No love for Clooney and Strathairn in Good Night, And Good Luck?

Posted by: Todd at September 2, 2011 1:52 PM

Peeps: It's a list of characters currently on TV. We'll do a movie post later. Thanks for the feedback, though! -- Sarah

Posted by: Sarah Carlson at September 2, 2011 1:56 PM

MMMMmmmm..... nice list. I must say that in my job, about 75% of the dudes around me are in a suit. It's very nice to behold.
Additionally, about 50% the ladyfolk are too. I must say I never feel as sexy as when I show up to work in my power suit. I feel uber confident and love to rock that look with some stiletto pumps.

Posted by: Nimue at September 2, 2011 2:03 PM

Sarah, I was with you ... right up until the moment I skidded into Buscemi. No matter what that man wears, he always looks like Don Knotts on crack.

Posted by: Carolina Girl at September 2, 2011 2:11 PM

I was finally coming around to the 11th doctor and then this spread in Shortlist really sealed the deal.

http://www.shortlist.com/entertainment/tv/matt-smith-snaps#

He cleans up quite nice, I have to admit.

And Mr. Bomer does make a hat look sharp again.

Posted by: Teresa at September 2, 2011 2:40 PM

As beautiful as Bomer et al are, that header pic wins ALL the prizes.

Posted by: Nicole at September 2, 2011 2:46 PM

@Nimue - Ditto that on the lady's business suit. Hot diggity damn is that sexy. I'll take a beautiful woman in a tailored suit over your negligeed starlets lying in front of or on mirrors any day. Some ultra-red lipstick, hair in a bun, and glasses? ***melts***

Posted by: NateS1973 at September 2, 2011 3:07 PM

Dear Lord. I wish I saw men in suits more often. Even if it's just business-lite. I can't imagine that it would be comfortable to get that dressed up every day, but a nice button up shirt and a good pair of slacks go a long way.

Posted by: Kala at September 2, 2011 4:04 PM

Where's Neal Patrick Harris? Of all people!

Posted by: KO at September 2, 2011 4:24 PM

Steve Buscemi's hat = bottle cap

He really tamped it down, didn't he?

Posted by: kirbyjay at September 2, 2011 5:37 PM

Good God, look at that jawline. That jawline could conquer worlds. He's like Superman, but better.

Posted by: figgy at September 2, 2011 5:54 PM

I'll take Roger Sterling over Lane Pryce, thankyouverymuch.

Posted by: TheEmpress at September 2, 2011 6:40 PM

* SIGH * Thank you.

Posted by: laneybot at September 2, 2011 8:02 PM

My boss rocks the hell out of suits. I think he should start a clothing line - sort of a Garanimals for men. Because that man has a color sense that is rare among men (and women, too). He also knows what to do with his hair, which helps sell the suit, which only some of the gentlemen above (or, more accurately, their show stylists) manage to do.

Posted by: Reba at September 2, 2011 8:09 PM

Well that was nice, but where is Cumberbatch?
Sherlock looks quite fine in his suit.

Posted by: Jules at September 2, 2011 8:46 PM

The title of this post made me think of White Collar, which made me think of Peter Burke, because I just watched the Bizarro Jerry episode of Seinfeld, and Peter Burke was Bizarro Jerry! It made me laugh when I realized it. How dorky did he used to look, eh?

Posted by: SaBrina at September 2, 2011 11:20 PM

Oh you and your Americanisms. I still have to think really hard about what you mean by suspenders otherwise I start imagining men in ladies undergarments!

Posted by: TS at September 3, 2011 6:00 AM

re: Scully

I believe you mean a Half Windsor. There is no double. It is clean and symmetrical. The Windsor (or Full Windsor) is a bit bulky for most collars unless you're going for a statement.
The shitty, tiny-knotted, asymmetrical knot everyone uses and everyone knows is the Four-in-Hand.

I prefer a Persian knot.

Posted by: grendel at September 3, 2011 2:01 PM

WHERE THE HELL IS NATHAN FILLION?

and where is alexander skarsgard?(he should be on this list instead of stephen moyer)

Posted by: lauwer at September 3, 2011 6:11 PM

What?! Roger Sterling rocks the shit out of a suit, much more so than Lane Pryce or even Don Draper. Mmm, three-piece suits.

Posted by: meritxell at September 3, 2011 7:27 PM

I love your list, but you are missing 2 important men in my life:

1. NPH on How I Met Your Mother. The very definition of suited up.

2. Joel McHale on The Soup. That man rocks a skinny tie.

Love!

Posted by: Cabbage at September 3, 2011 10:32 PM

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

I've been screaming this for years. Men are damn sexy in a suit, and even better with cufflinks.

Luckily, darling hubby feels the same and wears one every day. His younger co-irkers are doing the same, which makes the old former hippies he works with a little pissed off. (He's a college professor.) His ideal suit mentor is Sigfried Farnum from All Creatures Great and Small, but it's a little too hot in Florida for the tweed suit with a wool vest look.

Posted by: BWeaves at September 4, 2011 2:25 PM

grendel: Double Windsor Knot (also known as The Windsor or Full) is brought up on both sides which makes a symmetrical triangle. The Half Windsor (sometimes called the Single) is only brought up on one side.

Posted by: Scully at September 4, 2011 8:16 PM

My uterus just demanded Jon Hamm's baby.

Posted by: octogrammarian at September 4, 2011 9:07 PM

Am I alone in not finding Matt Smith cute? At all?

Posted by: samantha t at September 4, 2011 9:33 PM

Good God, no. He looks like a troll.

Posted by: figgy at September 5, 2011 12:59 AM