Flyers Vote on “Best-Dressed” Male Faculty Members of the 2022-2023 Year
By Dylan Long ‘23 & Zachary Stoyer ‘23
Recently, Chaminade High School students were given the opportunity to settle one of campus’ most important questions: Who is the best-dressed male faculty member? Who can most successfully work within the Chaminade dress code to display personal style and confidence?
Via the morning announcements, students were asked to respond to a poll where they could choose from four nominees: Mr. Richard DeMarco ’12, with his Tuesday and Friday bowties; Mr. Ahmed Sarhan, wearing his iconic two-tone shoes; Mr. Matthew Kaplan ’97, with his perfectly peaked pocket squares; and Mr. Brian Hayes ’99, who brightens the hallways with his colorful shirts and ties.
After almost 700 students voted, this burning question was finally answered. By a thin margin, Chaminade’s best-dressed male teacher is officially Mr. DeMarco!
Asked about his distinctive style, Demarco remarked, “I would say the most recognizable aspect of my outfit is the bowtie. The vast majority of both students and teachers elect to wear regular ties, so a bowtie stands out a bit more. I’ve been wearing bowties since I was a student at Chaminade myself; during junior year, my friend Kevin Sowkey ’12 began wearing a pink bowtie along with the classic pink shirt on Fridays, and after borrowing his a few times, I started buying my own. It was just as unique of a choice back then as it is now.”
“At first,” DeMarco continued, “it was just a Friday thing…A decade later, now that my collection of bowties is larger, I wear them twice a week: Tuesdays and Fridays. It’s a fun way for me to mix up my style from regular ties, and it reminds me where we are in the week.”
He continued by explaining the reason for his distinctive clothing. “As teachers,” he said, “we don’t just impart classroom knowledge to the students; we also serve as examples of professionalism through our appearance. One of the greatest non-academic benefits I remember possessing upon graduating Chaminade and starting college was the ability to dress well, including how to match an outfit with a tie or bowtie.”
The second-place finisher was Mr. Sarhan. When asked about his fashion choices, he explained, “My outfits usually consist of a lot of color. I’ve never been a big fan of plain white shirts, and I personally think adding pops of color helps to brighten your day. Oftentimes, it is difficult to utilize colors and patterns in a meaningful way for clothing.”
On what makes a good outfit, he explained, “I do plan out my outfits on most days. I try to have subtle levels of matching between my shirt, tie, and socks. I used to think matching was just about wearing everything of the same color, but it’s more about matching the smaller components: the accent color of a tie matching with your socks, or socks with a shirt pattern.”
In third place was Mr. Kaplan, who expounded on the value of dressing well. “How we dress or how we present ourselves matters,” he stated, “whether we realize it or not. A tattered blazer, an untied shoelace, a stained shirt…what kind of impression do they make? People are looking; people are paying attention. When I help students prepare for their college interviews, the first question I ask is, ‘What are you wearing to the interview?’ Details matter. Plus, when we look good, we feel good.”
Rounding out the best-dressed list was Mr. Hayes, who elevated his style for the 2022-2023 school year. Hayes revealed, “My four-year-old daughter, Brooke, has inspired my wardrobe. Brooke and I share a 50-minute commute to school every day. I started wearing my bright-colored shirts and holiday-themed ties to put a smile on her face when I had to wake her up early to get her out of the house every morning. Turns out that they also put a smile on my face.”
Echoing Kaplan’s words, Hayes added, “Look good…feel good!”
These teachers inspire the students with their style choices and model how the “Chaminade Man” should present himself to the world.
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