*this* is how to train a dragon!

With a great style choice! Hey guys, just popping in to let you know that I spotted Dean DeBlois, the guy who co-created animated hits "Lilo and Stitch" and "How to Train Your Dragon". I found him while scoping out some facebook pages to spam-up about the blog (yes, we here at bearstyle! are in full favor of shameless self-promo). Turns out, most of the pics of him showed him in really drab, flat collared button-downs with no shape, or like t-shirts. HOWEVER! Here he turns up in an amazing striped rugby from Canterbury of New Zealand, a personal favorite of mine. Now, with his skin tone especially, I wouldn't have gone for a white rugby with thinner stripes (white rugby with more pronounced stripes and detailing is ok on fairer skin, as long as the stripes are a dark, bold color to contrast). Nor would I have gone for that weird word right above the gut-line. Still, it's a dope piece and he rocks it well.

The rugby in general is a great fashion statement. I'm sure many of  you who are in the bear community already know about them as they've been a staple for awhile now. It started when the sport rugby was introduced in the gay community as a way to increase the community's athleticism and placate the need for competitive sports in an open, gay friendly atmosphere. Naturally, bears were attracted to the sport and the fashion/style followed.

They are usually slimmer fit, heavier polo shirts with wider collars. Some come in bizarre, confusing patterns with often mix-matched colors (these are called "uglies") while others keep it a simple two-tone. The key to rocking a rugby is to mix it up with another style. A red and black or green and black rugby with a tartan scarf, then a nice pair of chinos (greyish-silver dickies are always keen) or straight legged dark-wash jeans (black is good too).  I would advise against a more rugged jean like Levi or Lee's or Arizona, or cargos, or any kind of athletic shorts (for casual or evening wear) simply because your look will seem too mono-stylistic, if I may. Unless you're a rugby player, you don't want to go around looking like a rugby player because it will definitely come across as try-hard. Breaking up styles and fitting them to suit your personality is best.