What to Wear, What to Wear

Style is a shape-shifting, time-traveling, gender-bending thing—and our boys seem like they’re finally starting to accept it. Are men?

- By Leonard Pitts Jr.

My youngest grandson has pink hair. As near as I can tell, the boy-he's 13-intends no political statement and, indeed, no statement at all beyond "I like pink." If he's worried about the threat that poses to his masculinity, you couldn't tell. Which brings us to his uncles.

Back when they were his age, neither of my youngest sons would have been caught dead wearing pink anything-much less hair. One day, when I casually said that there was nothing wrong with a man wearing pink-a crisp pink dress shirt, let's say they recoiled, as if I'd suggested a trip to the ballet.