Inspiration

Pretty much perfect.

Inspiration

Last days of tweed.

Inspiration

Today at the Thrift - Brookfield and Corbin

Every now and then, I find a remarkable jacket, something very special. This usually comes in the form of a tartan or madras I've never seen before. Today, I came across a rather conventional chalk stripe pattern of the most striking colors. The top suit here, by Brookfield, is of a rich, hunter green with orange stripes. So often, we think of the people who owned pieces like this, and what they might be like. Where was this suit worn? What drew it's owner to purchase it, anyway? But I'm really left wondering why more suits don't look like this today. I'm not speaking of the craftsmanship, which is excellent, but simply the color scheme. I realize navy and grey have always held the forefront in traditional suiting, and that and olive/brown suit literally looks like ****, but I want more of this vibrant green. I'm sure Holland and Sherry has a cloth like this amidst its brilliant collections, but who's going to put such a cloth into mass production outside of, perhaps, Phineas Cole or Purple Label?

The second piece may not be as special, but I'm always delighted to find old Corbin goods. I could go on and on about my love of what Corbin used to be, but I'll save that for another post. However, the of Huntington seen on the label references the Huntington from which I live an hour away. The Corbin brand has its roots in West Virginia and represented great style and quality for years.

Do you have pieces from Brookfield or Corbin, any stories to share?

Boweautiful

Approximately 425 bow ties are shown here... 426 if you count the one being worn. I hate to waste time tumbling through Tumblr, but this photo was absolutely worth finding. One of these days, I'm setting up my ties like this. I may only have 37 bow ties, but I have more than enough regular ties to fill a wall.

Summer in September

Once again calling on family for inspiration, I assembled today's church outfit in honor of my uncle Philip. Though he wintered in Coral Gables and spent summers here in Charleston, he shared a single wardrobe with both locales. That wardrobe was one of impeccable fit, vibrant colors and preppy styling. Living somewhere it's always summer has its sartorial benefits. For my uncle Philip, this meant bespoke linen and silk jackets of spring green, coral and lavender, crisp white linen trousers and equally crisp, monogrammed pocket squares. And though I now own those jackets and trousers, today's outfit is influenced by Uncle Philip but is all my own, pocket square (accidentally) not included.

Blazer - Paul Fredrick (very) lightweight wool/cashmere blend - paulfredrick.com, $75

Shirt - vintage Polo 120s broadcloth - ralphlauren.com, $36

Tie - Ralph Lauren Purple Label - eBay, $16

Trouser - Polo cotton chino (as mentioned here) - ralphlauren.com, $52

Socks (not pictured) - Club Room light blue (matches blazer) - $1.50

*Shoes - Allen Emonds - eBay, $22

*These are my favorite shoes - the most comfortable, (nearly) most beat up, most patinated, most burnished shoes I own - and I wouldn't have them any other way.

My "Dad Outfit"

I've been told I dress very well for my age. I suppose I should take that as a compliment, given the how most twenty-four year old guys dress. I've also been told I dress like an "old rakish gent," or an "old man", in general. I certainly take those remarks as compliments, given how my father inspires the way I dress. From my childhood I remember him wearing tasseled kilties everywhere. In fact, on the weekends he would wear outfits just like this - a cardigan or rugby layered over a sport shirt, madras shorts and his beat up kilties. Call such an outfit trendy and trad, I don't care. To me, this is simple, timeless, American style.

Cardigan - Merona marled cotton - Target clearance sale, $8

Shirt - Polo cotton/silk blend - eBay, $12

Shorts - vintage bleeding madras - thrift shop, $3

Shoes - vintage Florsheim Barletta - thrift shop, $1

How has your father inspired your style?

Three Wise Men

After happening to watch the Godfather (Coppola, left), Midnight in Paris (Allen, middle), and Gangs of New York (Scorsese, right) over the last two days, I thought it appropriate to share one of my favorite photos.

A Perfect Pairing

It's not often I love an entire look. Browsing the blogosphere each day, I find plenty of inspiration in individual items I'd wear. However, I rarely come across an outfit and say, "I want that!" This is that rare exception, an example of a look with which I identify completely, a look from which I wouldn't change a thing.

I don't know this gentleman and I'm not familiar with the photographer, Rose Callahan. I pulled this image from Tumblr because not only do I enjoy the outfit, I truly appreciate the casual confidence required to pull it off. Take away the incredible blazer and you still have a guy with a simple, clean look and the nice touch of a collar pin. The tie falls to the proper spot, the trousers aren't neo-prep skinny, and the hat is an absolute classic. So, it's the combination of this simple base and the plaid on top that make me want this look for myself.

So much of pulling off an outfit is carrying yourself with confidence and panache. You think fellas at the Kentucky Derby, wearing pants in every color of the rainbow, give a damn what anyone else thinks about those pants on Derby day or otherwise? You think the gent above cares what you have to say about his blazer being too loud? Too bright?

Doubtful.



As I said, I'd gladly wear this setup, piece by piece. But, without that jacket, I'll be turning to my supply of madras. After all, isn't that the root of style - taking something you see and making it your own. We'll see how it goes, tomorrow.

For All Seasons

This is a favorite outfit of mine, from an old Ralph Lauren runway show. I've had this image saved for awhile so I don't remember whether this is a spring/summer or fall/winter look, and the blurriness doesn't help. However, I'm rather glad about that - it speaks to the functionality of color and pattern rather than fabric. Too often we limit ourselves to bright colors for warm weather, dull colors in the cold. I say that anything goes, anytime.

Were this a spring/summer look, the tie would likely be made of silk or cotton, the blazer of silk/linen, and the trouser of lightweight cotton twill.

For fall/winter, the tie and jacket would certainly be heavy wools, with the trouser composed of corduroy.

With the weather warmed up a bit, it's time to utilize madras and such, but you shouldn't have hesitation in going bright and bold now when such opportunity is yours all year. This is the perfect time to stock up on off-season sales of corduroys and tartans. So, get to shopping now and you'll be ready to move straight into lavish lavender lambswool and cozy cranberry cashmere.

Rolls Royce Phantom

Every car should look something like this...

or like a Ferrari.

I'm not picky.

Farewell to Fair Isle

It seems winter's gone for good, 

but I just had to share one of my favorite 

cold-weather kits from Tumblr.

Bathing Beauty

Sometimes inspiration can be drawn even from within the bathroom... or the bathroom itself.

Questions From the Audience - Personal Style

I received the following question last week from a new reader, a college student looking to redefine his style. 

CKC,

Do people ever make fun of the way you dress? Part of me wants to start going to that style, however, I'm getting a lot of negative feed back from close friends..... Should I just say f*** it and do what I want? What do you think?

 

There's never a better time to reinvent yourself than college. Being only a year removed, I'm just now able to reflect on how much not only my style has grown, but my personality as well. Style tends to reflect your personality, and as such, you shouldn't force yourself to wear anything which makes you feel very uncomfortable. If most of your friends have a different style, so what? Cliche as it may sound, your true friends will love you for who you are, not what you wear.

As I progressed through high school, I began to find my personal style. This happened for several reasons. I wanted girls to notice me, and I wanted to fit in with the "popular" guys. The pseudo-prep vibe at my high school included a North Face jacket, Ralph Lauren polo, khaki chinos, and either boat shoes, loafers or boots (depending on season). I started dressing that way and was never made fun of for it.

Entering college, my style devolved slightly as I wore American Eagle and Abercrombie (though never the logo-plastered stuff). While doing advertising (my major) research on companies like AE and A&F, I read up on the teen demographics they try to reach. I concluded that I shouldn't keep buying stuff made for an 18 year old because I'll look like a joke when I reach my mid-twenties. My studies in advertising and public relations, and a growing interest in my personal style, led me to research the history of men's style. Eventually, I began to understand and respect how my father dressed - rather traditionally. I started thrifting and things really turned around. I'd always liked Polo and Brooks Brothers but could rarely afford them. Thrifting gave me the opportunity to wear much nicer stuff for only a few bucks.

Cut to four years later and my style keeps evolving, keeps being refined. Thanks to thrift shops, eBay, and lots of Macy's clearance sales, I've built a wardrobe of which I'm quite proud. This wardrobe has grown and matured as I have. Whether friends or bloggers call it preppy, trad, ivy, WASP, or anything else doesn't matter to me. I dress the way I do not because my friends and family tell me to, certainly not because a Polo ad tells me to, but because I feel well when I'm dressed well (especially in comparison to the tools wearing Ed Hardy and Affliction tees).

Required Reading - Showboats

 Interested in westward expansion? 

Gambling? Prostitution? 

All things illegitimate?

The American institution that is the showboat has long since faded from its heyday, but there's never a bad time to learn about part of the country's often forgotten past. 

I picked up my copy at an antique shop. You can find yours here on eBay.

Well, I'm off to watch the final scenes of Maverick.

Shoe Shine Shot

It's Simple Sometimes

Isn’t it strange

How we change

For the better sometimes

Maybe that’s why I’d try

To keep thinking of

A better life of love

And joy and all the things

That make the world go round again

Make my heart spin faster can’t outlast

The ride

You’re on life’s rollercoaster this time

Don’t live the past

Each day is passed

Morning noon and night

Maybe time means nothing at all

Just enjoy the greater fall

From moment to moment

You cry then smile you make it better

Sometimes racing sometimes pacing

Life’s got you moving again

On Gentlemen

After reading YWP's latest post, the Elusive Gentleman, I found pseudo-poetic inspiration.

***

A gentleman is

Kind, humble, caring.

Trustworthy, thoughtful, wise.

Courteous, passionate, attentive.

A gentleman is charitable 

but not concerned for his own riches.

A gentleman treasures the value of women 

and the finer things in life 

but never boasts of such things.

A gentleman finds joy in making others happy 

but seeks no recognition for doing so.

A gentleman is never perfect at all these things

but makes no excuses for his shortcomings.

A gentleman is my father.

***

P.S. A gentleman always holds the door.

Required Reading

I visited to the antique mall and all I got were these lousy books.

And by lousy, I mean fascinating.

Advertising Right on Target

I don't know a great deal about women's clothing, but I know advertising. 

Jason Wu, about whom I know nothing at all, just released a collection exclusive to Target 

and I know I love this whimsical, creative campaign.