HOF: What Are You Wearing Right Now - Part IV (starting May 2014)

I know what I am implying In Stitches and you are right and wrong.
I'm not saying everyone should like only what I like and as I said earlier subtle pattern matching, where you don't really notice it from a few metres away is very clever.
Some of the attempts here though are just a lot of very bright items, which may theoretically match but all seem to stand out individually, which means you look from one item to another to another, not seeing an overall well blended outfit.
I think this may be partly cultural - let me qualify by saying Australians in general are among the worst dressed people in the western world - the British are known for their bright bengal shirts and so on, the Americans have a preppy hangover perhaps which may be a lingering influence ... red pants, plaid jackets etc.
I was in Rome a couple of years ago and it seemed virtually everybody wore a navy suit or a grey suit or a navy blazer and grey pants (there was a disturbing trend to pair it all with sneakers, albeit suede, however).
To most people that's all dead boring and it is really, but the cut and fabric of a lot of it was the most eye-catching aspect which impressed me.
Regarding patterns personally I stick to one if it is not all solids - say a blue and white striped shirt with navy solid tie, or a subtle small pattern tie with the rest solids.
Foxx is a great example of what I'm talking about (apart from his latest tie iteration).
Dress however you like but you have criticised my pics for being dull and lifeless so let me chime in when I see something which makes my eyes water please.
If you are going to take constant shots at my preference, do a Google pic search for Cary Grant, regarded as the best dressed man ever by many people. Of the 100 or so pics you will see about three where his ties are not solid and apart from one they are from his very early days.
Same goes for Sean Connery's James Bond in the first four movies. Even Steve McQueen in the Thomas Crown Affair.
People here decry my quest for this type of "elegance" but I guess to many that means cramming as many patterns as possible into your outfits.



spectre said:

Spoiler

know what I am implying In Stitches and you are right and wrong.
I'm not saying everyone should like only what I like and as I said earlier subtle pattern matching, where you don't really notice it from a few metres away is very clever.
Some of the attempts here though are just a lot of very bright items, which may theoretically match but all seem to stand out individually, which means you look from one item to another to another, not seeing an overall well blended outfit.
I think this may be partly cultural - let me qualify by saying Australians in general are among the worst dressed people in the western world - the British are known for their bright bengal shirts and so on, the Americans have a preppy hangover perhaps which may be a lingering influence ... red pants, plaid jackets etc.
I was in Rome a couple of years ago and it seemed virtually everybody wore a navy suit or a grey suit or a navy blazer and grey pants (there was a disturbing trend to pair it all with sneakers, albeit suede, however).
To most people that's all dead boring and it is really, but the cut and fabric of a lot of it was the most eye-catching aspect which impressed me.
Regarding patterns personally I stick to one if it is not all solids - say a blue and white striped shirt with navy solid tie, or a subtle small pattern tie with the rest solids.
Foxx is a great example of what I'm talking about (apart from his latest tie iteration).
Dress however you like but you have criticised my pics for being dull and lifeless so let me chime in when I see something which makes my eyes water please.
If you are going to take constant shots at my preference, do a Google pic search for Cary Grant, regarded as the best dressed man ever by many people. Of the 100 or so pics you will see about three where his ties are not solid and apart from one they are from his very early days.
Same goes for Sean Connery's James Bond in the first four movies. Even Steve McQueen in the Thomas Crown Affair.
People here decry my quest for this type of "elegance" but I guess to many that means cramming as many patterns as possible into your outfits.

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The issue with your criticism thus far is it's directed to the forum in general and that's neither here nor there. Nothing constructive.

I heard this pose was a thing, so I did it. Also, in regards to patterns, I find that I rarely attempt more than 2.

^ L2B... I like the top half and the shoes.. especially the tie, jacket, PS combo but I'm not sold on the pants and can't really tell if the shirt is different than the pants (although I believe it is). Jacket seems a bit short as well. Perhaps this wouldn't catch my eye so much if the pants were something other than white.



kulata said:

I just knew you were a Cary Grant groupie and I was expecting you to say it for the longest. But newsflash, most of us may admire Cary Grant but not everybody wants to dress like him all the time. Context is important here.

The issue with your criticism thus far is it's directed to the forum in general and that's neither here nor there. Nothing constructive.

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Almost none of you dress like Cary Grant any of the time. I have no idea what "nothing constructive" means and "context" apparently means anything you think you look good in. I am just trying to explain my position in a little more depth.
Now I'm a Cary Grant groupie. You could do worse. I'll refrain from saying most of you do.

notjustties said:

7.25.14

Very quiet outfit today. So, was my choice of the PS better this time? Grenadine tie + Paisley square?

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That shirt collar works much better.

L2B I have a similar jacket like yours except mine doesn't have a breast patch, only hip pouch pockets. I wear mine with dark grey strides, and only in the fall/winter. That jacket should probably be longer, and I probably wouldn't wear pants that bright with it either. But I do like your trouser's cut and loafers.



spectre said:

Almost none of you dress like Cary Grant any of the time. I have no idea what "nothing constructive" means and "context" apparently means anything you think you look good in. I am just trying to explain my position in a little more depth.
Now I'm a Cary Grant groupie. You could do worse. I'll refrain from saying most of you do.

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Context as you pointed out cultural background? Jobs? Moods? Purpose?

If you really have anything constructive to say about Bradock's fit then offer suggestions rather than bemoaning state of the forum not being to your liking/standard (nobody dresses like Cary Grant ).

It will also be beneficial if you post more fits.

spectre said:

Almost none of you dress like Cary Grant any of the time. I have no idea what "nothing constructive" means and "context" apparently means anything you think you look good in. I am just trying to explain my position in a little more depth.
Now I'm a Cary Grant groupie. You could do worse. I'll refrain from saying most of you do.

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So I guess the type of elegance you're on a quest for isn't the type that includes coming across well on the internet.

notjustties said:

Thanks for the advice! Would a white linen PS with e.g. a navy border have fitted better?

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White linen is always a good option with a suit. If you want to add some color, something like what Pingson is wearing in the photo below is also an option. The key is that people see color and not color+pattern when their eyes fall on the square.

http://mostlyharmless.se/image/90575656530
(Pingson, sorry for stealing from your blog).



kulata said:

Context as you pointed out cultural background? Jobs? Moods? Purpose?

If you really have anything constructive to say about Bradock's fit then offer suggestions rather than bemoaning state of the forum not being to your liking/standard (nobody dresses like Cary Grant ).

It will also be beneficial if you post more fits.

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Why? They'd all look the same to you.
As to his fit there's no real point deconstructing the whole outfit. There are just too many loud colours together.
I dress like Cary Grant and so do others who have never heard of this forum, nor have any interest in discussing mens clothes.
Italians (Naples excepted) frequently dress like him. You ever been there? You would see, it just comes naturally to them, no trying too hard to get all sorts of things to match, which is the over-riding problem here.
I'm flogging a dead horse here, I can see that. Apparently no-one agrees with my view so carry on.

I think @spectre 's long post did a pretty good job of the aesthetic that he likes.

I think his comments are still a little pointy, but he's certainly entitled to enjoy the aesthetic that he likes. I think he's being plenty constructive to the argument he's espousing.

@spectre I think people get what you're saying in terms of your personal preference, and also that there is validity to it, but you simply will not get people to change their own preferences because you don't like them. You are making a circular argument that always leads back to "here is what I like (solids and simplicity) and here is what I don't like (multiple patterns)".

Beyond constantly repeating this mantra, you are adding nothing to the conversation. You have a point of view, and many will agree it's a valid one (though they may not agree with it). Saying you dislike everything that does not meet your personal aesthetic helps no one and is not a particularly compelling read.

Rather than say you hate what Braddock's doing altogether, you might suggest subtle adjustments you think might improve his fit (all solids/single small pattern obviously won't work). You may note people here offer subtle, constructive criticism on fits they would not necessarily wear themselves (or even care for aesthetically), merely in an attempt to help that particular wearer get the most out out of what he is attempting to do.

You can't change the river's flow, so either you go with it, or you will constantly be paddling upstream. It gets tiring after a while.

May I add, I'd suggest very few people here would "decry my quest for this type of "elegance" ", rather they would take issue with the fact you do so at the exclusion of all other possibilities. Personally I appreciate your aesthetic and your sense of classic simplicity. I also appreciate many other aesthetics, Braddock's included. That doesn't necessarily mean I want to dress like him, or feel it would be appropriate for me, but I definitely admire it, as well as a variety of other looks when they are well executed. Plain vanilla gets boring after a while, though YMMV.

in stitches said:

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Get your elbow in (might me the angle of the photo, though). Otherwise, looking good!



Kid Nickels said:

^ L2B... I like the top half and the shoes.. especially the tie, jacket, PS combo but I'm not sold on the pants and can't really tell if the shirt is different than the pants (although I believe it is). Jacket seems a bit short as well. Perhaps this wouldn't catch my eye so much if the pants were something other than white.

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MGD83 said:

L2B I have a similar jacket like yours except mine doesn't have a breast patch, only hip pouch pockets. I wear mine with dark grey strides, and only in the fall/winter. That jacket should probably be longer, and I probably wouldn't wear pants that bright with it either. But I do like your trouser's cut and loafers.

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This might be the first time I disagree with feedback I'm receiving. I have done this jacket/tie/shirt combo before but with cream trousers and bluchers. Got a lot of feedback on that one.

I'm pretty happy with how his second effort turned out. My single greatest concern was that the top block would be too dark. I feel that the loafers ground dark in the bottom as well though, and I feel it works.

I will keep reading your guys' comments and looking closely. I appreciate the feedback regardless, but I'm having a hard time agreeing. This typically isn't too difficult for me and I am certainly fairly critical of my own fits. Thanks, again!