Survey Finds America’s Best-Dressed Men Live in New Jersey

Does a dapper-looking man in a tailored suit turn your head? Or are you more of a laid-back jeans and t-shirt kind of girl? Perhaps you have a hankering for a man in a cowboy hat and boots, or maybe that preppy collegiate look is what sets your heart a flutter.

Across the U.S., history, culture, weather, climate, and economic conditions tend to determine what we wear. For instance, in New York, urban sophistication reigns supreme, but transplant this look onto the beaches of Hawaii, and it would look quite out of place against the colorful shorts and bright prints that are so popular on the beach. 

We surveyed 3,000 women across the country to determine which looks they loved best on a man. And the results are a bit surprising.

The favorite look for women across the nation? The Urban Edge fashion demonstrated by men of New Jersey. This effortless blend of street style and urban chic held the most appeal with its fitted jeans, designer sneakers, and leather jackets. 

The men of Pennsylvania scooped second place with their Classic Americana look, featuring a preppy but practical mix of jeans, polos, and sportswear. In third place were the men of Oklahoma with their Classic Cowboy fashion, complete with button-downs, cowboy hats, and boots — ready for the rodeo or the ranch.

Here are the favored looks in each state:

On the other side of the coin, certain looks just weren’t doing anything for American women. This was the case for North Dakota’s Durable Prairie attire, with ladies saying the focus on warmth and practicality with heavy flannels and coats did little to make men look attractive. 

The Bayou Blends of Louisiana also weren’t particularly popular. The light fabrics mixed with boots and hats were less culturally cool and more completely confusing. 

While the survey respondents weren’t privy to which look belonged to which state, interestingly, several women ended up siding with their state’s men anyway. This was the case in Alabama, where women loved their men’s Southern classic looks, with khaki pants, loafers, and the occasional seersucker suit being the order of the day. 

Hoosier women, too, loved a homegrown look, favoring Midwestern comfort with laid-back work boots, jeans, and plaid shirts. Another state that loved its own fashion was Ohio, where women showed love for men in Buckeye team gear, displaying clear regional pride. Finally, Washington women also loved the casual appearance favored by their men, with a love for an outdoorsy, rugged look.

Men’s dating coach Hunt Ethridge said, “Men think they know the power of a well-dressed man. But they totally underestimate the effect it can have, both on the women and on themself! As most all fashion has to shoot for the middle as a mass-produced article, most men have never worn something that fits them the way it’s meant to fit them. Your local tailor is your best friend.”

We also asked survey respondents if they were to ban one men’s fashion faux pas forever, what would it be? Approximately 35% said that socks with sandals are simply a no-go, while 23% voted against any form of bling, saying that over-the-top glitter and gold were best saved for Hollywood. 

Another 18% also said that the 2000s could have their low-rise jeans back, while 14% thought that oversized sports jerseys were best saved for game day. Finally, 10% of respondents simply hate cargo shorts, thinking they are best saved for home.

In terms of which fashion trend women across the country would retire if they could, survey respondents voted as follows:

• Neon gym wear (after all, we’re not in the ’90s anymore) — 27%
• Flip-flops as everyday shoes (just… no) — 24%
• Big belt buckles (save it for the rodeo) — 20%
• Hawaiian shirts in every color (less is more) —  18%
• Edgy leather jackets (unless you’re a rockstar, maybe not) — 11%

Finally, we also asked women what looks they would consider a dealbreaker on a first date. A whopping 32% of women would turn right back around if they were to walk in and see their date wearing head-to-toe camo. 

Surprisingly, 19% of women surveyed said they would also leave if a man arrived at a date wearing a casual look of jeans and sneakers. Another 18% felt similarly about their date showing up in sandals and shorts. 

Furthermore, 16% of survey respondents said that loud graphic tees had no place on a first date, while 15% of women believed that cowboy boots should also be left at home. 

Our resident men’s dating expert, Hunt Ethridge, has some advice for single guys today: “Find a few basics (blazer, nice jeans, dress shirt) and take them to your tailor. For a small fee, they will make you look better than if you had bought really expensive clothes off the rack. The fit will make you feel better, which will make you more confident, which will get you noticed more. Everybody wins!”

We carefully selected 3,000 single women from a geographically representative online panel of double opt-in members. This selection was further tailored to meet the precise criteria required for each unique survey. Throughout the survey, we designed questions to carefully screen and authenticate respondents, guaranteeing the alignment of the survey with the ideal participants.

To ensure the integrity of our data collection, we employed an array of data quality methods and conventional measures, including digital fingerprinting, bot checks, geo-verification, and speeding detection. Each response underwent a thorough review by a dedicated team member to ensure quality and contextual accuracy. Our commitment extended to open-ended responses, subjecting them to scrutiny for gibberish answers and plagiarism detection.