Also, weathered tees and hoodies: what up?

[Bona Drag]

Speaking of the thrift-store look (which I was in my last thread): is intentionally aging and fading your new duds as soon as you get them legit? This is sort of a dumb question on the surface (and may be dumb underneath, too) because the look is ubiquitous now, and has been for some time, and we all do it (I think - or at least most of us). However, I was recently digging through Glenn O'Brien's (GQ's Style Guy) archives and found a Q&A in which he railed against artificially-faded stuff (I think the word "decadent" was used); he was actually talking about jeans, and I sort of felt where he was coming from - I think his answer was from a few years back, when the comically overdone ripped and faded trend was at its apex. I got the impression, though, that he would agree with the SF consensus that slight fading is completely acceptable, and that doing the six-month wearing-in of raw denim is totally the way to go.

Anyway, I guess my point is this: denim is one thing, but $200 for a ripped hoodie? WTFF? I mean, I've done it, but when I take a step back I wonder if I'm being a complete tool. Can someone offer a sort of aesthetic, conceptual defense of this whole trend so I can go back to abusing my credit cards?

Also, once that's taken care of, and I can do so in good conscience, can someone maybe tell us how to make new cotton look old? I'm talking about turning AA or even Army surplus tees and hoodies into something like Ever or the like. I've heard that a prolonged soak in a beach and saltwater solution, plus a little sandpaper, plus a line-dry and then a hard wash will get you most of the way there; I've also heard this is completely bogus. Your theories? AA is cheap, so I'm not afraid to experiment.

 

[j]

Originally Posted by Bona Drag

Anyway, I guess my point is this: denim is one thing, but $200 for a ripped hoodie? WTFF? I mean, I've done it, but when I take a step back I wonder if I'm being a complete tool. Can someone offer a sort of aesthetic, conceptual defense of this whole trend so I can go back to abusing my credit cards?

As a "trend", I can't defend it, since that implies doing it because it is currently popular and not because you like it. However, an aesthetic argument can be made for looking at least less than perfect, all the way to wearing stuff that looks nearly destroyed. Actually, it's not even new - it was said of Fred Astaire that he would take his new suits and throw them against a wall a few times to keep them from looking too new. I admit, I much prefer authentic wear, but I have been known to do some work to cheat and create artificial wear or patinas on various items. Also, there is something to be said for wearing something that's already broken in - the comfort you get when you don't have to worry about getting the first scuff or stain. It allows you to carry yourself in a little more relaxed way (though taken to an extreme, this is usually a bad thing).

I don't really like the weathered/ripped look for myself, but I can appreciate it when done well.

 

[Bona Drag]

Thanks j - nicely done with the Astaire reference. I neglected to say that I actually do like the look, I just sometimes can't get past the feeling that I'm cheating somehow. On the other hand, hunting thrift stores for the real deal or actually wearing cotton until it's nice and beat up takes too damn long, so screw it.

As for a nice fading and weathering recipe - you got one? Anyone? Cheapmutha, master of the denim wash? LA Guy, friend of fader extraordinaire Jay Allen? Or are those both trade secrets?

 

[j]

I could tell you how to antique some shoes, but other than that I'm not much help, sorry.

 

[LA Guy]

Jay's shirts are weathered, but not distressed. He explained the process to me once, but I don't remember the details. I'll ask him when I talk to him, and post something then.