Decoding the Man Who Reads the 'New York Times' Men's Styles Section

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Who is the New York Times Men's Styles section reader? It's probably too soon to tell—the long-awaited insert, which will be added to the Styles section on the first Friday of every month, just dropped this morning. But we can put together and idea of the kind of man the Times is going for—just look at the headlines.

The New York Times Men's Styles Section Man doesn't use YouTube to tie a bow tie. He also doesn't use emoji. Unless he does. "You don't want to overthink it."

He would never actually use the moniker "gentleman farmer" to describe himself, although he does own a Wi-Fi garden sensor and a $235 apron. His idea of a good bachelor party involves no hangovers, and his version of "coming out" is coming out as gray.

He definitely doesn't scrub his body like a woman (whatever that means), and when he gets out of the shower, he puts on some aggressively packaged fragrances. He'd one day like to be powerful enough to wear the same thing every day, but not before finding a new freedom in men's suits. And while he's at it, maybe a non-iron shirt, a gold watch that isn't his uncle's, some statement socks, and a luxurious backpack.

He is all things at once, both rugged and calloused yet precisely groomed, a human mystery made of half–Ron Swanson and half–Tom Haverford. If he were an emoji, he'd be Diamond followed by Horse followed by Ghost—if he used them, that is.