It’s been a little over a year since I last wrote one of my “Style Icons” articles.

I really like writing these. I tend to need to devote a bit more time to them than my regular articles, so I can only do them once-in-a-while when my work and family schedules are lighter than normal, which as you dads know, is infrequent, to say the least.

Today’s subject in Father Style’s “Under-Appreciated Style Icons” series is Pulitzer Prize-winning author and historian, Jon Meacham.

I first became aware of who Jon Meacham was when I saw him on a handful of episodes of “Real Time With Bill Maher”. Since then, I’ve seen him on a number of other talk shows, like the “Late Show with Stephen Colbert”. I have never read any of Meacham’s books, though, which is something I should definitely remedy soon.

Overtime: Trace Adkins, Julia Ioffe, Jon Meacham | Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO)

Jon Meacham: Our Better Angels | Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO)

“We’re In A Moral Crisis” – Jon Meacham On America’s Fragile Democratic Experiment

What struck me about Mr. Meacham, before I even noticed his wardrobe, was his demeanor: calm, measured, pleasant.

His speech is a little slow (befitting his southern heritage) but it’s mostly because his words are thoughtful and deliberately chosen.

Meacham feels like the adult in the room. He feels like the one others go to for advice. And his wardrobe plays a big part in that.

What I love so much about Meacham’s style is the simplicity and what that simplicity conveys.

He often chooses some combination of dark suit, white (or light-blue) shirt, and dark tie. Usually, no pocket square. Black shoes and socks. Sometimes cufflinks, but mostly simple, barrel cuffs.

No watch. No rings.

There is nothing flashy. Nothing ostentatious. Nothing attention-grabbing. Just simple, sober, serious, professional.

There is a maturity in Mr. Meacham’s appearance, which is helped by the fact that he clearly embraces his age (which is a good thing).

Look at how Meacham’s dark suits contrast beautifully with his white hair. Again, simplicity and maturity. They combine to create this sense of approachability without losing his gravitas.

His suits are notch-lapeled and strong-shouldered. No soft, dandyish, Neapolitan tailoring here. Very classic American. Likely Brooks Brothers or J. Press or something along those lines.

Meacham isn’t trying to be casual. He isn’t trying to “dress down”. He isn’t worried that people will think he is “trying too hard”. He dresses like a grown-up. He wears his structured, dark suits and ties because that’s proper dress for a man who needs to give off an air of authority. He understands how to dress if one wants to be listened to.

And listen we do.

We listen because we aren’t distracted by what he’s wearing. We see his dark suits and simple shirt-and-tie combos and mentally register that as the uniform of someone who probably has something important to say.

Meacham appears to understand that one’s clothes shouldn’t be the most interesting thing about them.

Even though Meacham is a wealth of knowledge of American history, what I think I love most is watching him listen to others.

It’s a phenomenal skill to be able to actively listen to other people. Meacham does it with a warmth and sincerity that is incredibly authentic. And that, more than his wardrobe, is what makes him so stylish.

I am always impressed when I see someone really use the language of clothes to their advantage. Meacham strips away all the fluff and all the unnecessary bits to create a simple, powerful image which encourages the viewer to listen to and trust him, despite wherever he, or the viewer, may lean, politically.

In writing this article, I was actually surprised at how little I have to say about Meacham’s wardrobe. I have been wanting to write this article for some time and was surprised that I was only able to muster less than 1,000 words on the subject.

But thinking about it, that’s kind of a compliment in itself of Meacham’s style.

There isn’t a ton to unpack. It’s very straightforward and to-the-point. Clear and concise. All the unnecessary fat has been trimmed. Meacham’s style is the sartorial equivalent of a Hemingway passage.

Meacham often has A LOT to say, which is why he is such a good talk show guest. But his views and insights might sometimes get a bit lost if his personal style wasn’t as minimalistic as it is.

Meacham has perfected the look of powerful understatement which, I believe, is what many men strive for.