Esquire taps Atlantan as 'Best Dressed Real Man'

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By A. Scott Walton
Atlanta – the biggest city in the U.S. that still seems starved for sartorial validation – gets a heaping dose of salutation in the October 2010 edition of Esquire.
The venerable men’s fashion, lifestyle and entertainment magazine has just declared Angel Ramos as this year’s winner of its annual “Best Dressed Real Man” competition. Ramos, a “luxury real estate” agent, earns a $20,000 grand prize that includes a $10,000 Kenneth Cole wardrobe, an IWC chronograph and VIP seating at a New York Fashion Week runway show.
According to an online Esquire preview of the issue that’s slowly rolling out to newsstands this week, Ramos found the designation “humbling”.
“It just shows that you don’t have to be a millionaire or someone famous to be acknowledged for your style…anyone can do it,” he said.
Aspects of Ramos’ style that Esquire latched onto included: The Uneven Tie; Bold, Vintage Eyewear; and The Functional Pocket Square.
Ramos, who has since re-located to Miami during the process of being judged against thousands of other entrants, confessed: “I use my pocket square to wipe the sweat.”
Perhaps now – given Ramos’ coronation and connections to the city – Atlanta can wipe its brow and relax.
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Esquire Singles Atlantan Man Out

Cross your fingers, Atlanta.
Some time next month on NBC’s “Today Show” one of your very own could be announced as the Best Dressed Real Man in America, as determined by Esquire magazine.
After culling through thousands of entrants in the online contest, Esquire chose Atlanta real estate broker Santino Lattimore as one of five finalists. The 2009 grand prize winner receives a package that includes $15,000 in cash and a $10,000 Kenneth Cole wardrobe.
Oddly, Lattimore has no definable presence on Facebook. But we get an early glimpse of him and the other four finalists in the September issue of Esquire on newsstands now.
Lattimore, 34, is the sole finalist not pictured wearing a shirt and tie. His competitors are a quartest of dandies from Philly, New York (2) and Coralville, Iowa (of all places).
In print and in his online profiles, Lattimore makes the argument for wearing scarves, rather than neckties, to work. Decide the merits of that for yourself.
Voting, incidentally, is already closed.
And, for some reason, Lattimore’s clothes are the only one portrayed by Esquire in the four-page spread that look better on a “How to Buy It” mannequin than on the man himself.
Like I said, cross your fingers.
Photo: Esquire