America's 40 Worst-Dressed Cities

Even New York, LA embarrassing
By Sarah Whitmire,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 15, 2011 3:57 PM CDT
Worst Dressed Cities in America: GQ Poll
Ed Hardy, brought to you by Los Angeles.   (?www.ShootJoeC.com)

US fashion is as diversified and geographically distinct as food or accent, but as GQ found when ranking 40 American cities based on fashion, our bad taste in clothing is rampant regardless of which coast you’re on. Take a look at the results of their “deeply scientific, irrefutable poll” to see where your city stacks up, or check out the unlikely worst five below (along with GQ’s scathing criticism):

  1. Boston: Because its residents consist overwhelmingly of undergrads, it’s hard for this preppy metropolis to be anywhere but the bottom. Forever plagued by pleats and frat boys, “if you wonder how a people can live like this, well, it's Jurassic Park for fashion troglodytes: Life finds a way."
  2. Los Angeles: In this seemingly fashionable city, it’s important to note that Ed Hardy, leggings, and jeggings will all make an appearance. “Fantasy-dressing reigns: Men dress like boys, women like tweens, and middle-aged women like the trophy wives they once were.”
  3. Pittsburgh: Described as somewhere between “Game Day Casual” and “Meth Lab Formal,” a Pittsburgher’s wardrobe likely includes saggy jean shorts, the obligatory Steelers jersey, and a fluorescent/camouflage/NASCAR baseball cap.
  4. Chicago: For this city, long, harsh winters are a godsend—bulky parkas do a great job of hiding the Chicagoan's uniform of “blown-out Nikes, torn cargoes, favorite novelty T-shirt, Bears/Bulls/Blackhawks hoodie.”
  5. Manhattan: Sure, it’s known for street fashion, design schools, and runway shows, but much of the island remains decidedly un-posh: Like "the pack of nine guys who walk down the street in unison, should-to-shoulder, outfitted in tacky black ‘Go Out’ button-downs, embroidered denim, and product-inspired conflagrations on their head.”
Check out GQ's full list. (More Boston stories.)

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