Australian Members

[Oli2012]

If you guys had to pick 6-8 ties as a 'must' for a gentlemen's wardrobe what would you pick? I'm thinking:

x1 predominantly red stripe
x1 predominantly blue/white stripe
x1 Navy grenadine
x1 Dark red grenadine
x1 Silver check
x1 Sports motif (I can't help myself - RMW bulls)

Need to be all rounders for law courts to be mixed with predominantly mid grey and navy suits.

 

[JimmyHoffa]

If you guys had to pick 6-8 ties as a 'must' for a gentlemen's wardrobe what would you pick? I'm thinking:

x1 predominantly red stripe
x1 predominantly blue/white stripe
x1 Navy grenadine
x1 Dark red grenadine
x1 Silver check
x1 Sports motif (I can't help myself - RMW bulls)

Need to be all rounders for law courts to be mixed with predominantly mid grey and navy suits.

I was asking the same question a few pages back. I went with 3 HC ties - purple, green and burgundy.

 

[jmills]

Re Ties: There was a small thread about it on SF recently, here. In particular, take a look at the series of articles about ties written by PTO which someone linked in that thread. They're a mine of information, and they also have some hints about starting a collection. Grenadines and simple stripes are good starters, so it sounds as though you're all set.

To go to another topic, anyone know who makes a decent double breasted short coat, similar (if not a homage to) the Burberry London trench? Not sure I can justify $1600 for the few chilly evenings remaining this year.

Also one last thing of note, I've been doing some research, and it turns out we can get calf Vass shoes for less than $500 AUD, including shipping!

 

[ColdEyedPugilist]



Off topic but I'm now the proud father of a beautiful baby girl
Ok as you were...

Congrats!

I was where you were 3 years ago.

Treasure the moment; they grow too quick.

 

[DartagnanRed]

Does anyone here watch The Walking Dead? Just watched episode 3 of season 3.
SHEEEEEIIITTTTTT..

I'm up to two thirds of the way through season 2, is it worth me still watching? I found it a bit soap-opera-with-zombies. The acting in particular is well below the other great shows on at the moment.

 

[thebrownman]



I'm up to two thirds of the way through season 2, is it worth me still watching? I found it a bit soap-opera-with-zombies. The acting in particular is well below the other great shows on at the moment.

Yeah, Season 2 drags a bit towards the end. Especially with the whole Sophia story, but Season 3 is a whole new ball game. Some new characters, some old ones return and you're sitting there, like, "SHEEEITT"

 

[sliq]

Re Ties: There was a small thread about it on SF recently, here. In particular, take a look at the series of articles about ties written by PTO which someone linked in that thread. They're a mine of information, and they also have some hints about starting a collection. Grenadines and simple stripes are good starters, so it sounds as though you're all set.

To go to another topic, anyone know who makes a decent double breasted short coat, similar (if not a homage to) the Burberry London trench? Not sure I can justify $1600 for the few chilly evenings remaining this year.

Also one last thing of note, I've been doing some research, and it turns out we can get calf Vass shoes for less than $500 AUD, including shipping!

apparently there's major sales in the UK and US where the trenches can be had for $500. if you can wait for one, might be worthwhile getting it if you ever travel there.

i think they're a good investment - if looked after well it'll last 30 years plus.

 

[fox81]



thanks guys

anyone know where to get bespoke baby clothes for girls? Im thinking a seersucker dress for summer 

there was a thread on here a while ago about some guys wife recycling old mens clothes into clothes for their young daughter. it was really good stuff. it was probably 2+ years ago though

 

[Journeyman]



there was a thread on here a while ago about some guys wife recycling old mens clothes into clothes for their young daughter. it was really good stuff. it was probably 2+ years ago though

Here you go: "Second life for a suit"

 

[Prince of Paisley]

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

No I don't mean try hard - altho that may well be true.
I suppose like a lot of these things its hard to put in words but easier to show if I could get pics of the same person wearing hard then softer look.
Basically I think one of the big things wrong with most men here in Oz and possibly everywhere else - is dressing for a hard business look. I assume its tied up with Abbott like notions of masculinity and toughness vs femininity and softness, although many women do it too, possibly they are just as influenced by notions of masculinity = hardness and success /power in business.
I think the hard look is a bit overdone in business (one reason I like a lot of IVY influenced stuff) but is particularly problematic in casual clothes and at weekends.
Quickly - lets contrast say - in the same milieu - or meeting room - a dark grey/charcoal nondescript suit that you see everywhere - worsted - or even a navy suit ( which I don't see that much) and white poplin shirt with the usual good quality silk tie with a bit of shine and sparkle and black mirror shine spit polish shoes captoes with black nylon short socks, big blokey watch silver expanding link band - my other bloke is in a mid navy textured ,say hopsack weave, wool jacket, oxford cloth medium spread shirt, possibly even a plain blue silk knit tie, medium grey flannel ( I mean slight nap not necessarily full on unworsted flannel) grey wool OTC ribbed socks and dark brown suede shoes, plain flat medium size watch and brown leather strap.
Bloke No1 one is dressed hard - bloke No 2 soft.
No 2 in most cases is dressed more than appropriately for most situations these days. Or bloke two can dress in flannel suit, same blue shirt, medium dark brown leather shoes and subdued grenadine tie - still softer.
Now its not all that bad in a business situation but going casual and what do you see No 1 - casual fridays - (really casual Sunday to Saturday but lets leave that) jeans - even nice jeans are a bit hard looking, black polished shoes or boots, white shirt poplin and say an old worsted suit jacket - still a hard look. No 2 might go, clean khaki chinos, blue OCBD, suede chukkas or brown leather chukkas, relaxed cotton blue jacket.
An even harder look ,which sadly many suburban dads seem compelled to emulate (badly), is the rocker/ bikie look, leather jacket, jeans, dark t shirt, black boots leather, big belt buckle. Or some weak suburban variation of this look with leather car coat, Russian Mafia style, floral shirt or denim shirt, or the horror of horrors the orphan suit jacket worn over a T shirt etc.
The english - well at least those interested - might argue city vs country model - I'm more interested, at the moment, in hard vs soft in some ways.
Any of that make sense?

Okay, I think I understand what you are on about (the try hard comment was partly tongue in cheek but I think you got me there ;-)

So "hard" is about contrasts, often too stark; straight lines, dark vs light, shine versus dark matt... as you say your typical "power dressing". Personally I don't see anything inherently wrong with the dark plain navy suit, power red tie, napisan white shirt, shiny black captoes look, apart from it's boring and predictable. Softening it up with a lighter (dare I say it blogger) blue suit, black or dark brown brogues, patterned moroon tie, light blue shirt... if nothing else it's more interesting and shows more personality and imagination. You might call that "softer".

As far as casual goes, there is no doubt that stark contrasts can be in your face - e.g. a bright pink shirt under a muted jacket a la Preston. You might call this high contrast style "hard", which it probably is, but I'm not sure it's any less viable than a "soft" expression, say if you replace the bright shirt with a powder blue one. The two types of dress communicate different things. One is louder and full of contrast (harder), one is softer and blends elements of an outfit. Depending on your context and your personality I would argue both are equally acceptable, all other things being equal.

Personally, I'm probably a "soft" dresser 80% of the time. Makes up for my hard face. Sometimes I'll dress hard as well if I'm in a confident mood. Dressing hard is fine as long as you understand what you're communicating when you do it.

PS - congratulations Rob.

 

[Prince of Paisley]



If you guys had to pick 6-8 ties as a 'must' for a gentlemen's wardrobe what would you pick? I'm thinking:

x1 predominantly red stripe
x1 predominantly blue/white stripe
x1 Navy grenadine 
x1 Dark red grenadine 
x1 Silver check 
x1 Sports motif (I can't help myself - RMW bulls)

Need to be all rounders for law courts to be mixed with predominantly mid grey and navy suits.

It really all depends on your shirts. You say you have mid grey and navy suits - these will go with just about anything in terms of ties. I tend to wear patterned ties (paisley for example) so I'll answer your question in terms of base colours. You should probably start with:

2 blue-base ties (preferably different shades, e.g. one navy, one mid-blue - nothing light blue they generally look awful)
1-2 maroon base ties
1 brown base tie (you'll get use out of it if you wear brown shoes)
1 purple/indigo base tie

These are just suggestions for base colours. Choice of pattern or motif is untirely up to individual tastes and I don't know you so can't comment on what you'd like. You can experiment with other base colours as well (steer clear of yellow or kermit green ties, they are ghastly), but I would start with those 5-6 as basics. If you have 2 suits then that's at least 12 outfits (before taking shirts into account) as all those colours should go pretty well with navy or mid grey.

 

[quar]

Anyone interested in the "P Johnson Napoli" stuff appearing on their Tumblr?

Manufactured by Orazio Luciano I'm told.

Orders can be made potentially next month. I'm going to the South Melbourne Showroom to investigate tomorrow, and plan an order for when they start taking them. It's a great product from what I've seen at The Armoury.

 

[thebrownman]

Ah, so that's why you're the Prince of Paisley

 

[Romp]

Anyone interested in the "P Johnson Napoli" stuff appearing on their Tumblr?
Manufactured by Orazio Luciano I'm told.
Orders can be made potentially next month. I'm going to the South Melbourne Showroom to investigate tomorrow, and plan an order for when they start taking them. It's a great product from what I've seen at The Armoury.

i tried on Patch's unlined, unstructured jacket (yes no canvassing, no lining, no padding) the other day (ive lost weight and can squeeze into his jackets now)

its the best, so hard to make but feels so light on...the ultimate soft jacket and id feel fine wearing it on a warm aussie summer day

 

[quar]

I assume they can make their more standard offerings also. I'd prefer a work-horse coat with a chest canvas, and quarter-lined.