It's not what you do, it's the way that you do it.

Oh, exactly. And a guy in a well-cut suit is very often hot. Like DB, for instance. I think he looks yummy on Bones.

Seconded, that a suit that fits properly can garner several extra sexiness points. Those points may only be collected, however, if the suit is worn ironically. (I can just imagine reams and reams of "Impetuous Virgin Secretary Tames Gordon Gekko," at which I can only wonder -- A. This dude thinks lunch is for wimps. Just guess what his attitude toward virginity is. and B. This dude is Michael Douglas!! Have you no taste?)

Mickey Mouse watches, suspenders, and funny socks all count as irony, in the business world.

cowboys, sheiks (?!), office romances with virgin heroines, billionaires

Sadly, it seems to be impossible to combine all these four into a single character of Ideal Masculinity. I'm also pretending I'm blind for the second category, because the potential for racist/exoticist stereotyping and insensitivity is staggering.

You know, I just realized -- billionaires is meant, as a category, to encompass modern Darcies, isn't it? I mean, I've never heard of a romance hero who was penniless, but the modern equivalent of the landed aristocracy is, like, a grandson of the Waltons.

I've never heard of a romance hero who was penniless, but the modern equivalent of the landed aristocracy is, like, a grandson of the Waltons.

Suh-nerk.

They've either got family money/business to run, or they're self-made men/millionaires at the age of roughly 33.

I don't get the sheik thing at. all.

Oh! Royalty is also big, even in the contemporary-set books. They're full of princes from small made-up countries. (Which actually worked for me in the movie The Prince and Me, even though that country was real.)

Wow. That's two hate-ons (okay, I exaggerate) for the Suits. I don't think I've ever noted a suit worn ironically in real life, but have hotted up for more than one man wearing them.

I mean, dear Lord.

::goes back to her corporate sellout ways::

I don't hate suits across the board (although I don't work with people who wear them), but about 90% of real people who wear suits wear them indifferently, with poor fit, poor tailoring, and unimaginative color/texture choices. In a word, they all look alike.

Which is not a way to be sexy. George, OTOH, can afford a tailor.

Although I find those men who wear velvet frock coats to Hollywood function often laughable, I also laud their trying out something other than the standard penguin suit.

You really can't judge a person by his outfit, you know?

Nothing to do with the outfit. Put a creative guy who can make me sing and dance as he plays killer music in an Armani three-piece and I'm right there.

But I HAD a corporate hottie chewtoy for a brief affair in the early eighties. Built like a porn star, Mister Big Money International Business Guy, and dear god WHAT a fucking bore. If I don't care about what he finds important, I don't care what he's wearing - I won't find him hot.

Although I find those men who wear velvet frock coats to Hollywood function often laughable

Daniel Day-Lewis wore a frock coat in 1989, when he got the oscar for best actor.

I had to have my tongue surgically removed from the screen.

90% of real people who wear suits wear them indifferently

Doesn't that cover 90% of people who wear clothes?

Harlouette, gentil Harlouette, Harlouette, gentil plumerie...

Curse you, Red Baron.

Doesn't that cover 90% of people who wear clothes?

Well, presumably when you're wearing an outfit that costs $200 (and you're a man, where the economy of fashion is far smaller on average), you ought to look spiff, or anyway spiffier than if you were in khakis and a t-shirt.