How to Attract Women

Lauren Yates, model, style blogger@ponytailjournal, and burgeoning clothing designer is at the end of a busy two-week visit to New York. While shooting a top-secret fashion spread she got the chance to sample the best of NYC's famous restaurants. She also got a good look at the city's three million men. So she was well prepared to dissect and advise on American style (Yates is from Thailand and Australia) when she came in to the GQ offices for a chat. We asked this major babe (meaning smart, talented, dream girlfriend) how a regular guy should dress for a night out of trying to meet women. Pay close attention, this is going to change your life forever and make you an international playboy.

What makes a guy well-dressed?

Well I can only say based on my own opinion. I reckon, I would date a guy who thinks about what he's wearing. Not too much... He's put together, for example there's thought behind what kind of socks or what kind of shirt he's wearing. It's the whole package of how he's composed. The color coordination or maybe a specific style that references something from the past or something specific in culture. But never like a costume. When you see a guy who looks costume-y you just immediately turn off. Like that typical hipster manicured mustache or if you're totally covered in tattoos. Also, he should wear a nice watch. It doesn't have to be a gold Rolex. But he's thought about what kind of watch he's wearing. Even if he can't afford a crazy one maybe he's invested in a nice leather strap. At the end of the day it's not all about money. It's about the fact that a guy has thought about what he's wearing before going outside.

What are the simplest can't fail things a guy can put on to attract women this fall?

Cool patterned socks. Don't be timid about playing with your sock patterns. Nice clean chinos. They don't have to be ironed, just as long as they're clean. A nice crisp oxford shirt, again, doesn't have to be ironed just has to be clean. He smells good, that's so important. He has to smell good, 'cause you remember people by how they smell. Like if you think about all your ex-boyfriends you can remember their smell. He's got a nice blazer, it can be just like a casual jacket—smart casual. A good watch, good shoes, not too crazy, no Kanye boots, NO future shoes. NO elongated pointy toed shoes, we don't want to date elves. But that's just me.

Do you prefer a guy with a beard or no beard?

That's up to the person. Because that defines who they are. But I think the biggest turn off is when you see a guy that's way too flashy and they're trying to impress you on the gear, rather than themselves. By  Liza Corsillo (Lauren Yates, a.k.a. @ponytailjourna)