(InStyle.com) -- The co-star of "27 Dresses" discusses his personal style.



"I just feel dirty," says James Marsden. Not to be alarmed: There's nothing indecent going on here.



James Marsden talks about his favorite kind of clothes and how his style has changed over the years.



The 34-year-old is explaining what it feels like to be sporting facial hair for a film he's working on with Cameron Diaz.



Yet even the newly grown whiskers can't hide the finely chiseled features of an actor who seems to have cornered the Hollywood market on hottie-who-loses-the-girl roles ("Enchanted," "Superman Returns" and, of course, "The Notebook.")



But the Oklahoma-bred star doesn't mind his wholesome image. "That's really me," he says. "I'm a little dorky -- awkward." However, his onscreen luck could be changing with his latest film, "27 Dresses," a romantic comedy co-starring Katherine Heigl. Scruffy or not, we'll be watching.



You've played a prince in "Enchanted" and the superhero Cyclops in the "X-Men" movies. Is that a big deal to your kids and their friends?



My daughter, Mary, is only 2, and my son, Jack, is 7. He has a Cyclops action figure, but he's really into Spider-Man and Pixar movies -- Buzz Lightyear is his guy. No "Superman," no "X-Men." I think he just assumes that everyone at his school has a dad who's a big superhero.



You also played Corny Collins, the TV dance-show host in "Hairspray." What were you like in high school?



That's when I came out of my shell and became more social -- people thought I was funny. I got into a whole preppy thing -- Duck Head shorts and Dockers.



How would you describe your style now?



Functional comfort. For a guy, it shouldn't ever look like you thought about it too much, like the clothes are wearing you.



Whose clothes do you like?



Paul Smith off the rack -- it's a slim cut, and I don't need to have it tailored. I always feel like an 8-year-old when I dress up in a suit, like, when can I take this thing off? But I wore a black Dolce & Gabbana suit to the première of "Hairspray" that was like, OK, now I know what a great suit is. Classic, clean lines -- sharp, sharp, sharp.



Do you change your style from coast to coast?



In L.A. it's too easy to throw on a pair of American Apparel sweats, a T-shirt and running shoes and just wear those for days. In New York, I actually like looking nice. Maybe I'm just getting older, but young guys need to pull their pants up.



Do you ever shop for your wife?



I love shopping for dresses, and I actually do a pretty good job. When I was in New York, I went into J. Crew in Soho and got her a cool fifties type dress with tiny polka dots. Style-wise I'm good, but figuring out sizing is a different story.



What do you find sexy on a woman?



I like spaghetti straps for my wife -- she has great shoulders and a great neck. I love when she puts her hair up, because I can see the back of her neck, so delicate and vulnerable. It's the vampire in me. Or my obsession with cheerleaders -- their hair up in a ponytail. When I was young, I could never have that.



Never got the cheerleader?



Eventually -- my wife was a cheerleader.



What does your wife find sexy on you?



A button-front shirt with [baby] spit-up on the shoulder. That means a guy is taking care of the kids and is a good father --
Who likes to dress up? Where was James Marsden born? When did Marsden show off his preppy side? What did Marsden do in high school? Who can shop style for women? Who showed off his prepper side in high school? What did Marsden show off in high school? What does Marsden like to do? What does Marsden like to do other than throw on sweats?
James Marsden Oklahoma-bred high school? came out of my shell and became more social James Marsden. James Marsden Duck Head shorts and Dockers. looking nice. looking nice.
question: Who likes to dress up?, answer: James Marsden | question: Where was James Marsden born?, answer: Oklahoma-bred | question: When did Marsden show off his preppy side?, answer: high school? | question: What did Marsden do in high school?, answer: came out of my shell and became more social | question: Who can shop style for women?, answer: James Marsden. | question: Who showed off his prepper side in high school?, answer: James Marsden | question: What did Marsden show off in high school?, answer: Duck Head shorts and Dockers. | question: What does Marsden like to do?, answer: looking nice. | question: What does Marsden like to do other than throw on sweats?, answer: looking nice.