evolving style

Professional

This is what I wore the day I did my comprehensive exam. 

This is about as conservative as I get. In theory, it’s a very conservative outfit (red socks notwithstanding). In practice, however, a trim double breasted on a young man is not particularly conservative, since you will definitely call attention to yourself. That’s why dressing well is all about context. Think of this as my take on conservative business dress.

Pattern Mixing

This would be destroyed by the Style Forum community. There is a trope over there that pulling off denim and tailored jackets is next to impossible. Also, what the hell am I doing wearing desert boots with a double breasted jacket? I’m experimenting. 

Recently, I’ve been greatly informed by the ‘coherent combinations’ thread that I’ve posted about. But, today I decided to make a wild departure from that. I’ve put together four patterns, trying to be cognizant of mixing scale. I do not have enough options in my wardrobe to play with textures and materials as much as I might have liked.

On the bottom I’ve gone totally casual. I think it looks pretty great, although others might think it incoherent.

#FormalFriday

I work from home, so there is no expectation or requirement that I wear a tie. I could stay in my pajama pants and t-shirt all day. But, I refuse to fall into that trap. As a personal kick in the pants, I decided that Friday will be ‘formal,’ which for me means full suit. Some of my suits would not pass muster in a formal work environment, but I like having an excuse to wear one.

Here, I’ve paired my gray flannel DB with a green PS and a paisley tie in blue, green, pink and orange. The tie is a new eBay acquisition after my partner indicated she likes it when I wear paisley. 

Behind me you can see a map of the world. I’m busy plotting my take-over…

To counter some of the Dan T. hate, of late. 

At risk of gilding the lily, here are the details of my DB WIWT posted yesterday.

Pocket square: no name 100% silk bought from a woman who advised me to match the square to my tie.

Tie: Silver Drakes Grenadine

Shirt: Charles Tyrwhitt cutaway houndstooth

Unseen

Socks: no name.

Shoes: Allen Edmonds Park Avenues (if you don’t have a pair, get some on eBay, they go for a song, and they are simple and conservative - pairing well with pink socks).

I was a bit overwhelmed by yesterday’s response. I didn’t expect a HTTTGAP reblog. That certainly brought this entire operation onto the radar of a lot more people, some of whom may be put off when they discover that I include so many words with my pics. However, the most exciting thing to me was this:

Are you kidding me? An under-acknowledged #menswear god. I’m humbled that he decided to follow based on my DB. He threw down his own response in the DB challenge. 

And, speaking of the challenge, at risk of undermining his reputation as King Asshole of #menswear on Tumblr, this was the incredibly classy response of Nice Try, Bro:

That’s precisely what I’m trying to do here, provoke dialogue to the end of improving my own and others style. So, thanks to everyone who decided I’m somewhat worth paying attention to. I hope I don’t disappoint.

Pulling off a DB?

I’m putting myself into a challenge I have no business trying to be a part of. Nice Try, Bro has repeatedly espoused his hatred for the double-breasted jacket. He claims theylook bad 99% of the time. In response, #menswear heavy-hitters Ethan Desu and Phat Guido have defended the DB and demonstrated it looking good in action. NTB’s response to PG was that he’s the ‘Nick Wooster of the East,’ so not a good representation of how most men are wearing a DB. ED responded that he is no Nick Wooster, but will still wear the DB. 

Now, I’m no Nick Wooster, or PG or ED. But, I’ll also still rock the DB.

This gray flannel DB suit is an Oxxford I got off eBay for $90. I’ve had it tailored to shorten and taper the legs, as well as letting out the waist of the pants. I also had the waist of the jacket taken in a bit. The jacket fits really well in the shoulders and has minimal padding. 

Part of the reason I like the DB is because men my age aren’t wearing them. I consider it a greater challenge to try and look good and appropriate in one. The outfit I’ve put together here is what I wore to my wife’s grandmother’s 90th birthday (although with a white linen rather than pink silk pocket square). I thought it was appropriately conservative for the occasion, while still looking young enough to be appropriate for a man in his 30s.

Who knows, maybe others will consider this a  massive fail, but I think I’m doing okay for a guy only in the game for a year.