jiwilde

I attended NYU for my B.A. in maxillo-mandibular folliculontology, and then earned my M.F.A. at New York's School of Visual Arts post-grad sculpting department, where they have a little-known program dedicated to the craft of shaping facial hair.

That's a lie. I work at GQ and either edit stories or write a bunch about grooming in all its many beautiful forms. So.

Honestly, I think it's a weird look. The facial hair equivalent of walking out of the house without a pair of pants. In other words.

Two things.

1. Write like hell. Wherever you can, however you can. There are a lot of people out there who want to write, but the best of them have both a nose for a story and a faith in the power of their singular voice, and you can't develop either without putting in the hours. I'm a decade into this career and still can't claim to have perfected either.

2. Read great magazine writing. Read John Jeremiah Sullivan. Read Wells Towers. Read Michael Paterniti. Read David Grann. Read Luke Mogelson

Alternatively, tell people you're an expert on facial hair and grooming, then they'll give you a magazine editing job where you just do AMAs all day.

On Thom Browne: menswear visionary who has radically altered the way every guy dresses these days, whether they know it or not. Basically he and Hedi Slimane saved us from the dark days of JNCO jeans and Big Dog sweatshirts and shoulder pads. TB is why you can go pick up a slim-tailored suit for a couple hundred dollars at Uniqlo, and every well-dressed guy out there should include him when they say grace at dinner.

On the Thom Browne aesthetic: I can't personally pull off that kind extremely truncated look, because I am top tall, and my disproportionately shorter legs combined with broad shoulders and a knuckle-dragging ape arm situation up top would have me pulling a Chris Farley in no time.

They prefer two things: whatever it is they prefer, and not being called "chicks." To the former, it's a toss up. My wife's skin is actually allergic to my facial hair, especially when it's stubbly. But a coworker's wife just asked him to grow a big beard. There's no one-beard-fits-all rule for what women like. So go with what you like. You'll be happier.

As for the razor, it really comes down to what type of blade plays best with your skin. For some, the five-bladed super-teched-out razors from Gillette work well. For some, something simple (and snazzy looking) from Harry's does the job best. Try a bunch out.