An unpinned thread: Digmenow's journey toward sartorial self improvement.

After spending a fair bit of time up until now posting on styleforum, I have come to an understanding of the purpose of some of the megathreads and I realize that sometimes, my needs are at odds with those purposes. For that reason, this thread will serve as my personal "growth chart" and repository for all things "Dig". I will post my fits, such as they, are here for review and comment by any and all comers. Conversely, feel free to ignore this thread should it prove to not be of interest to you. If there's the occasionally well received effort, then I will include it in one of the aforementioned megathreads. Thanks to all who have made the effort to help me try to improve.

I have also moved my encyclopedia of links to this thread from the "Thread Closet". This is my personal effort to maintain sf links which I find most interesting/useful and prefer not to have to swim through Search results to locate them. Since my ability to edit these links expires after a default time period, it will occasionally be repeated farther down the thread to allow for additions and updates. It should always be available by clicking on the "Dig" signature at the bottom of my posts in the event that anyone else finds it useful as well. I invite you to suggest additions to this effort by posting a reply to this thread that includes the link. I'll take it from there.

Encyclopaedia Thread / Forum Armarium encyclopedia

Welcome! A Beginner's Guide to MC. Look here once before posting. by pvrhye

Ties
Basic Tie Questions by BBdude
Working List of Mid and High Range Tie Makers/Labels by jrd617
Culling neckties (New ties added) by Threadbearer
Soporific Tie Porn by Manton
Help me round out my tie wardrobe. by Threadbearer esp. Post 9 by edmorel

 

Shirts
The Definitive Guide to Slim Fit Shirts by imageWIS
Folded Up Shirt Porn by Manton
Cuff Porn by mafoofan

 

Suits/Tailoring
Balance Explained by a tailor
www.moderntailor.com Custom Tailored Clothing Official Thread by moderntailoremma
The (hopefully) definitive thread on NYC tailors by tgfny
DB jacket proportions - lapel width & button position by aj_del (featuring the mafoofan/apropos discussion)
Indochino suits? by crease
HOF: How to measure for ebay by A Harris
The alteration cost thread by LooknGr8
The StyleForum Working Hierarchical Suit Quality List (SFWHSQL!) by Cognacad
Baltimore area tailor by JohnGalt for Dig's use.
Back Pockets by GBR

Fits
(Official?) Fit Critique Thread by Edgar Allan Pwn
The (hopefully) definitive thread on NYC tailors by tgfny
CBD WAYWRN: An Experiment by Manton
HOF: What Are You Wearing Right Now - Part II by LabelKing
HOF: What Are You Wearing Right Now - Part III by Mr.K
WAYWRN All-Stars by TRINI
WAYWRN: MC Casual Style by acecow

Footwear
Shoes Explained by A Harris
Allen Edmonds Appreciation Thread by Mild Mannered
Gaziano & Girling Appreciation & Shoo Porn Theard by luk-cha
RM Williams Boots - Everything You Wanted to Know by Sator
suede shoes - post 'em here! by srivats
Shoe Damage Report & Porn Central - Part I by von Rothbart
Shoe Damage Report & Shoe Porn Central - Part II by Oyaji
Unusually colored shoelaces by SpooPoker
Rock Your Socks- show your sock, shoe & pant combos by pocketsquareguy
Wearing white trousers - white socks? by BareSolid

Formal Wear
Quarter-lined Dinner Jacket: a Stroke of Stupidity or Genius? by mafoofan
The State of Black Tie: Your Observations by mafoofan

Accessories
Pocket Squares: A Discussion Thread, Questions, Opinions, Suggestions.....by pocketsquareguy
Men's Scarves, Ascots & Neckerchiefs - photos, discussion, inspiration by pocketsquareguy
Kent Wang pocket squares, cuff links, ties, shirts, and more - Affiliate thread by Kent Wang
Lapel flower (boutonniere) by Kent Wang
Cuff Link Damage by California Dreamer
The Watch P0rn Thread by gdl203
Poor man's watch thread by SirGrotius
The umbrella, cane, riding crop and miscellaneous accessories porn thread by DocHolliday
Briefcase porn thread by zjpj83

Cloth
Unfunded Liabilities: a/k/a The Cloth Thread by Manton
Denim 101 for Men's Clothing by kaxixi

Color
In Praise of Navy by Parker
In Praise of Gray by niidawg3
In Praise of Brown by TRINI

Sartorialism
Recent Sartorialist Looks by TRINI
Recent non-Sartorialist Looks by aj_del
Creepy Sartorial Images by mafoofan

Vision
Randolph Engineering Sunglasses Preferences by mr monty

Scent
Creed Cologne discounted? by sunman42000

Maintenance
**The Official Shoe Care Thread: Tutorials, Photos, etc.** by Mr. Moo
shoe care supply checklist by aybojs
guide to touching up your suit without wrecking it

Where to Buy
The official thrift/discount store bragging thread by j
Crane's Country Store - affiliate thread by LA Guy

Buying and Selling
Recent Purchases by A Harris
FS: Attolini pink cashmere unlined tie by Connemara

Loose Threads!
Glossary of terms/ Best posts/ FAQ/ Links by j
Get Foofed by mafoofan
Things that you know are "inferior" but still prefer by gdl203
Most Ridiculous Nit Ever Picked On Style Forum by Manton (Reef knot vs. Granny knot on footwear)
The Mr. Sam Gallery of Snarky Masterpieces Thread by voxsartoria
Mafoofan buys a wallet at Hermes: Green cows hold their breasts by mafoofan
How To Roll Up Shirt Sleeves by F. Corbera
Style Forum secret code by patrickBOOTH

Instructions for dressing well
Practical Thoughts on Coherent Combinations for Beginners by F. Corbera

Links to off-StyleForum sites and blogs

ASK ANDY ABOUT CLOTHES

"Clothes and the Man" by Alan Flusser

A Suitable Wardrobe: Will's thoughts on dressing with style.

The Black Tie Guide: A Gentleman's Guide to Evening Wear

Ian's Shoelace Site - Bringing you the fun, fashion & science of shoelaces

fit is king <~~ Use this link when searching for something on Buy and Sell or double dumbass on you!

Dig's fits to date of this thread's origination. WARNING: There's some bad stuff here so click the spoiler at your own risk. Srsly! Some of the worst of Digmenow (Click to show)
Edited by Digmenow - 3/13/12 at 5:30am

I don't know if I have the energy for that! Lemme think about it. Outstanding! Some of those previous fits were already critiqued in the WAYWRN thread with some valuable advice that I have tried to follow as I move forward. I was pulling everything into one thread but you have given me a fresh outlook on specific issues. That said, I welcome any and all input from anyone who can help and though it may not seem that I am listening, I really am, more than most know. You are correct in that most of these items are thrifted but the worst examples are those that come from my own closet, directly from 1985! I will pore over your advice more closely before making any further purchases. Some of the items you mentioned are long gone or headed that way. Many thanks! And here's today's offering. There have been no alterations to these items as yet. Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

Thanks, Mike. A lot of what was included in the OP was from my early days when I hadn't found much and was depending on my own wardrobe. I lost a hundred pounds in 2009/10 and I am still losing a bit more. I had expected to bottom out in a 42R and had even gotten some alterations done (waist suppression, etc) but yesterday's blue jacket is a 40S! I wasn't even going to wear it until 10 more pounds came off but I wanted Spoo to know that I was paying attention to what he's been trying to tell me in WAYWRN. @ gladhands: I don't think I could ever write without proofreading but if I DID start a blog, I'd need a catchy name for it. How does, "The Thrifty Guy" sound? (j/k Orgetorix!)

You present an interesting point of view and it is not the first time you have suggested this to me. I believe it was that very thread you mentioned above in which you said something that sounded almost like heresy on the Men's Clothing side of the forum. On my arrival here at sf just over 4 months ago, I was looking for a better, more classic way to dress. SW&D bore little relation to my world and likely would not have intrigued me even if I was 30 years younger. MC, on the other hand, caught my attention immediately. The trouble was, if you look back over that period, most everything posted (nyc ranger excepted) was CBD or sport coats and ties.

I recall a post by SkinnyG where he mentioned that he didn't remove his tie even though his father-in-law felt a bit uncomfortable with him wearing it. That, along with some other prevailing opinions, said to me, "Wear a coat and tie every day and a suit if possible."

While I have amassed quite a collection of coats, shirts, ties and pants over this time, I do feel that I have become more discriminating in my choices. I no longer grab every Brooks Brothers dress shirt within 4 neck sizes in either direction. I look for slim fit and colors that others have suggested will work better with my skin tone, whatever that may be. The skin tone thing is still a bit hazy to me.

I suppose that I could back off the thrift throttle a bit and focus on some more casual pieces but this is the best that I have looked in my life. To answer your original question above, I don't want to give that up entirely but perhaps it is time for casual Friday (and Saturday/Sunday...it's retail, after all) to work its way back into my wardrobe. It's true that I now dress better than 95% of the people in the company where I work, including many of the executives. I've come to enjoy the wearing of a nicely knotted tie and a quality fitted shirt. The coat is removed when I arrive and I put it on again only when I leave. I have attended meetings where the other managers have asked about how I am dressed but I just tell them that I'm moving in a different direction and they seem to accept it.

I DO love the thrill of the hunt and I now have nearly 30 thrifts in my monthly "circuit". Honestly, for me, a big part is knowing that I spent $5 for a shirt that the rest of the world pays $75 for when it's on sale! I doubt that I'd get half the enjoyment from a brand new $350 sale priced Brooks Brothers blazer than I do from a gently used $8 find at the Goodwill.

I'll keep all of this in mind while I continue to shop. I'm afraid that I've become addicted to the practice but I think I have reached a point where I understand my personal needs a bit better than in those first days and no doubt, as time goes by, my sense of style will become more refined. Perhaps some day, it will even become second nature but I've started a bit late in life for that, I think. For now, though, I'm doing what I think is best, secure in the knowledge that there are folks like you and others who have already posted here and in WAYWRN who will be standing by to point out the error of my ways.

Baby steps, vox. I am a manchild among men, here and I look about in awe as the sartorial world unfolds before me.

Thank you.

The technical information is a wonderful gift, SG. Thanks so much for your time and effort. Your voice will be another that I hear when I consider an article of clothing for purchase from now on. I hope there's room up there cuz it's getting crowded, even for a skinny goomba like you! Thanks again!

I wuz gunna post in TB's 'beat the heat' thread but I suppose I understand how he feels...

A question of boxiness. It has been frequently pointed out to me that many of the items I wear make me look boxy. Today, while rummaging through the racks of a Goodwill that was near where I had to be, I came across this grey plaid United Colors of Benetton Italian made sport coat. It was the thinnest material I have ever felt in a sport coat and the lining was equally minimal. Shoulders? Zero padding. The only thing I have ever worn that is less structured was a Hanes tee shirt.

So, knowing all of this, take a look at the pictures below. I realize the sleeves are too short, the quarters are closed at the bottom and there's a tiny bit of room for waist suppression but...the shoulders!

Wut?




Am I the ghost of Mike?