I'm Michael Hainey, the Deputy Editor of GQ. Ask Me Anything.

What is your opinion of /r/malefashionadvice ?

For me, anything that gets men thinking about looking sharper and living smarter...we endorse.

have the GQ guys ever had an Anchorman-esque rumble with the Esquire guys and Details guys? If not, you should.

First rule of Men's Wear Fight Club...

What's the most outrageous, controversial story you've had to handle on GQ?

socks or no socks.

How does GQ editorial regard Reddit's homegrown fashion board (r/malefashionadvice) and men's internet fashion message boards in general (Styleforum/Superfuture/Stylezietgiest/Hypebeast/AAAC)?

I see them give a lot of love to #menswear tumblrs but i see much more cutting edge and interesting stuff coming out of the boards (though it's obviously less curated).

We've got some plans to go beyond lurking to actually getting involved. Love to hear your ideas / comments. Think of this AMA as our way of saying hello. So, yo.

What advice would you give to a magazine journalism student hoping to become a feature writer after graduation?

Learn to become a great reporter first. Great reporting makes your writing better. Always.

As a young man, I find that ridicule is common towards men who take an interest in fashion. Do you have any words of wisdom for young men such as myself? Also, huge fan, not to sound cliché. Thanks!

Why do you care what others think? As I said recently to the New York Times regarding Thom Browne -- he always stands alone. In other words: be an individual. And then you will never be sorry.

what's an antiquated fashion trend that you would like to see make a comeback?

Manners.

When is it okay for a guy to go without a belt?

When he's about to have sex.

How has the rise of #menswear and street style blogging changed men's style over the past 5 years or so? Do you think that it has democratized it and made people in general more aware of how they dress, or is it just a case of people who were already conscious of that scene just becoming more obsessive about it and having a more public outlet?

Also, dub monks: have they actually worked outside of a street style shoot at Pitti/NYFW?

I share your dub monks skepticism, my friend. Personally, the only monk I stand by is Thelonious. Still, no one can rock a monk like a Milanese man. Respect.

Do you think that GQ will still be printing physical magazines in 10 years?

I think so. How do you read the magazine?

What do you think is the difference between someone being a hipster and fashionable? I think that the term hipster really doesn't apply anymore since fashion really has become what we called people being hipsters three years ago.

It's like porn: you know it when you see it.

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The GQ Fashion Team, lead by Mr. Jim Moore, is responsible for conceiving the look of every shoot and then styling it all. It's an amazing and rigorous process that is a wonder to behold. In total, I think the Fashion Dept has a dozen people working in it. For some big stories, they might work on it for weeks, to get the looks right. No detail is too small. That's what makes the difference.

How much control does GQ have over trends and styles in the US? Do you see them as cyclical?

All of it. Know that movie with Nicolas Cage, "National Treasure?" There was a whole scene cut out about GQ... Because WE cut it.

DID YOU GO TO SEE RAMPART?

Walk away from the bong, Woody.

Is this Woody Harrelson? Bro! What's up?

Who would you say is the most interesting person to have been interviewed for the magazine? Or, in general, have you any articles that you really enjoyed?

We could write a book on that... but the people I've enjoyed interviewing have been Clint Eastwood, current-cover man Bruce Willis, Dustin Hoffman and most certainly Keith Richards. Respect.

What current fad do you see now that will leave us scratching our heads years later?

Meggings. In a word: no.

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I love me some 'tooth. I had it made for me by the nice folks at Ralph Lauren. If you like it, wear it. And google yourself a photo of Bear Bryant's 'tooth hat. Talk about badass.

What led you to the bestowing the title "After Visiting Friends: A Son's Story" on your book? The description of the book seems much more fascinating than the title.

Whoa, you don't like the title? I've heard nothing but good things about it. Well, the title comes from a clue that sets me on the trail... give it a read and let me know what you think.

What's a style pet peeve of yours that everyone else loves?

Gloves in chest-pockets. I mean, c'mon.

I have tons of interest which is makes it difficult in choosing a career path. Any advice?

Go towards what interests you and you won't be sorry. Don't think of a "career" -- that's some weird term they teach you in high school... think of what you want to make of your life. You only get one shot.

I saw that you wrote your book by waking up at 4:30 to write. Not only did you do this, you wrote the whole thing with pen and paper.

Do you think you've changed after this intense writing process?

Not so much changed as evolved... which is what I think the point of life is. Keep moving forward. Do the work that gets you work.

How did you get a position at GQ?

I was hired by Art Cooper fourteen years ago.

Do you have an all-time favorite piece of longform journalism?

Going way back here, but Let Us Now Praise Famous Men, by James Agee.

Do you love anything more than a tue bar worn in the correct position?

My wife. And red wine.

michael, who you would say are your style influences?

A range of guys... Jimmy Stewart in the Hitchcock era; George Harrison circa 1970... Philip Larkin... they're guys who were not trying to be anything but themselves. Dig it.

1) Favorite edition of GQ? 2) Most interesting thing you've seen in GQ? 3) Weirdest thing you've seen in GQ?

I can't pick a favorite section... I think the whole magazine is one seamless whole... weirdest thing I've seen in GQ? That's something we have to discuss off-line...

Hi Michael,

I actaully met you once in Greenwhich Village. I was soliciting donations for a charity and you rightly ignored me for the most part. Don't blame you.

I was wondering if you had a favorite article of clothing? Something you've maybe had for a long time. Also I know from your book that your dad passed when you were young, but is there anything he owned that you now have?

My wife says I wear my herringbone jacket too much.

And sorry about that donation thing. Jeez, makes me sound like one of those guys in "Trading Places."

How do you feel about the (what seems to me) recent surge in men's wear blogs and what they are doing to bring dressing yourself well to the masses? Blogs like Put This On, Broke & Bespoke, etc

Anything that helps make the world a better -- and better-styled place -- I'm all in favor of.

What did you find most challenging (on a personal level) while doing research and interviews for "After Visiting Friends"? Considering the topic, were you able to de-sensitize and approach it the same way you would for any other story?

Great question. I didn't de-sensitize, but I did have to get myself focused. I had to see it as a story I wanted to tell. And not let fear hold me back.

Hey I think GQ is an awesome magazine with some great stuff in there... but virtually everything is out of my price range with my grad school budget (which has enough for ramen and soap... with a tendency to skip the soap)

What do you recommend to do to get that GQ style when you're ballin' on a budget?

Don't get hung up on prices.... think about creating YOUR own style. Style is not something a man can buy. He can only create it. Be yourself.

Can you give some suggestions (aside from networking and applying for internships) for a Canadian journalism student trying to break into the U.S. job market?

Are you fluent in American?

But seriously, what kind of journalism do you want to do, eh?

Haha, touché. I have a lot of experience with print, but my true passion is telling stories through broadcast.

Take a chance on yourself. Get thee to New York. It worked for Peter Jennings and Michael J. Fox.

loafers, socks or no socks? i see both all the time.

Depends on the situation. If you pick up the March issue of GQ, we (and Jim Parsons of Big Bang) tell you everything you need to know re loafers.

thank you so much ill be sure to do it. also if I could get one more word in, why do your magazine not feature small southern companies popular with colleges such as collard green ties, social primer, southern proper, buffalo & co., southern tide...etc?

Did you see the story we did last year on Nashville?

No i didn't! and im from murfreesboro only 25 minutes away, any way i can read it online?

Here: http://www.gq.com/food-travel/travel-features/201207/nashville-guide-travel-fashion

Hi Michael, big fan of your style, contributions (video series on the GQ site especially), and surely your book.

Not a question, but please make your podcast available on iTunes.

Thank you... have you seen the Google Hangouts I have been doing?

Hi Michael! Who is your favorite artist? (or favorite artwork)? Thank you. Your book sounds interesting.

Currently studying Francis Bacon in great detail. Thanks for reading the book!

Are you also studying his supposed work as Shakespeare?

touche.

Do you have any advice for a writer pitching GQ?

Learn to throw the curve-ball.

Could you hook me up with a suit?

Is THIS Woody Harrelson?

How was Rampart?

WOODY! PUT DOWN THE BONG.