Making the man

>> Men’s fashion consultant offers tips for guys who want to dress sharp

by CHRIS BARRY

Name: Arlik aka Steve Gandell

Age: 37

Occupation: Men’s fashion consultant/accountant

Bio: This rugged Plateau resident had “always been into fashion. In college, I dressed all goth, using clothing to express who I was. And it wasn’t like I’d dress a certain way to go out to a club, I’d dress the same no matter what I was doing, usually pretty funky.” Nevertheless, after graduating university and finding work as an accountant, Marvi let himself go to pot for a while, piling on the pounds until finally, six years ago, he shed 35 pounds from his 5-foot-4 frame and “made a conscious decision to change my image.” So impressed with his new look, friends soon started coming to Marvi in droves for style advice, requesting that he take them out clothes shopping. Eventually invited to speak at a seminar that his friend, a lifestyle and dating coach, was giving, Marvi found himself inundated with so many requests for his clothes shopping/image advice services that “a lightbulb went off in my head” and he decided to go pro. Contact him via Marviarlik.com

What Marvi will do for you: “Basically, I help guys better develop their own sense of self.” For roughly $300, Marvi will evaluate your style situation, take you on a five-hour clothes shopping excursion where “I have clients try on as many different sets of clothing and styles as possible to better open their minds as to all the different types of clothing they can wear so they’ll later be able to go out shopping for clothes on their own.” Also included in the price is unlimited e-mail access to Marvi with respect to your future clothing purchases.

Has he ever had a client who had an actual, real-life girlfriend? “Yes, a few. And I’ve even been thanked by some of their girlfriends. Most of my clients are either recently divorced or separated and just getting back into the dating scene—guys going out on a lot of first dates where initial impressions are very important. You know, if a guy doesn’t take care of himself in terms of fashion, the girl might start thinking, like, ‘What else does he not care about in his life? Maybe he doesn’t have his life together.’ Men don’t realize all the things that go through a woman’s mind on a first date with a guy.”

Is he determined to turn everyone metrosexual? “No, you can have a great sense of style and still look very masculine. That’s very important to most of my customers. They want to attract women.”

Does he get many clients who figure that since he seems to know so much about fashion that he must know everything there is to know about life in general and want his opinion on, say, whether they should go back to school to become a dentist? “No, but I do get lots of questions about dating and women.”

Last book read: Way of the Peaceful Warrior, by Dan Millman.

Musical preferences: Underworld, Dubtribe Sound System, Nouvelle Vague.

Words of wisdom: “Good teeth and shoes are very important.”

Comments: Dimwit@openface.ca