Are your parents stylish / brand conscious?

[gazman70k]

Phat's photo with him mother got me thinking about whether parents had any influence over their children's sartorial adventures.

My parents were rather stylish when they were young but they began to lag behind after having three kids. However, they weren't particularly into brands. On the other spectrum, the parents of some of my friends are really into high end clothing. A friend's mother has an extensive collections of Issey Miyaki while her father is into Japanese bespoke suits, including some gory examples from the sixties with peaked lapels and skin tight flairs accompanied by long collar shirts (he breaks these out everytime there is a sixites themed party).

How stylish are your parents? And if so, what brands are they into in a big way?

Gaz

 

[Hany]

Both of them are extremely elegant.

 

[anon]

my dad wears white mid-calf socks with his open-toed sandals

he did have an overcoat custom made when he was in Korea, though, so I think he wanted to try to dress nice. the material is supposedly cashmere but feels like a rug to me.

 

[gazman70k]

Originally Posted by Hany

Both of them are extremely elegant.

Care to elaborate? In what way are they extremely elegant?

 

[gazman70k]

Originally Posted by anon

my dad wears white mid-calf socks with his open-toed sandals

Ah! The pinnacle of middle American male fashion. And I only thought they did that when they visited other countries as a joke. Unless you are German. I've seen Germans dress like Americans.

Are the socks by Tom Ford?

 

[barims]

This deserves more elaboration later, but I'll point out that I wear a number of pieces inherited from or gifted by my father, especially shirts, ties and altered suits. The chances I take with colour are more derived from my mother, I think. They know their stuff

 

[embowafa]

no.

 

[Mr. Moo]

They both clean up very well (for the opera, a nice restaurant, etc.) but don't "dress up" for day-to-day things (including work).

 

[MetroStyles]

My mother is very elegant and somewhat trendy (=/). My dad - uhm...not so much. He does not care what he wears as long as it wasn't too expensive.

To tie it all together - I was taught nothing about clothes from my parents at all. I learned it all on my own (with my fair share of mistakes and faux pas) and of course with the help of SF (although - more for business attire than casual wear).

 

[bullethead]

My dad was stylish before he retired-lots of chalk striped db's and suede shoes.

Mom was, too. Taught me about trying to buy quality goods. After WWII (they were still in Europe) she told me how she once worked for a month for a certain skirt. She would cringe at some of the designer stuff i brought home in the late eighties, early nineties.

 

[SkinnyGoomba]

my mother very much so, she's always well dressed. My dad, not now but he was when he was younger.

My grandparents are very well dressed on both sides all the way through to my great grandpa who is turning 93 this year.

He had a suit bespoke by a Brooklyn, NY tailor for my cousin Anthony's wedding 2 years ago.

 

[gazman70k]

Originally Posted by barims

This deserves more elaboration later, but I'll point out that I wear a number of pieces inherited from or gifted by my father, especially shirts, ties and altered suits. The chances I take with colour are more derived from my mother, I think. They know their stuff

Judging from your location, you have hit on a very important point about American vs English.

I would hypothesise that there is a higher probability that English participants of this forum and in general, would have more stylish parents than Americans. There is also a higher probability, like yourself, for inheriting fine bespoke clothes if you are English.

My second hypothesis is that there is a higher probability that Asian participants would have more brand conscious parents than others.

NOTE: I did state "higher probability" so there could be examples of the opposite but less likely in my opinion.

I wonder if KitonBrioni's kids (or had kids as I don't know his personal circumstance) dress as well as he does or would they rebel against a sartorial parent and dress cheap.

 

[Gus]

My dad used to wear the most baggy clothes you could imagine. He thought they were comfortable that way. His idea of a special brand was buying a flannel shirt from LL Bean. When he ordered wine it was "red". All of his ties had gravy spots on them and were as wide as a car. People really liked him because he was friendly and genuine. He wasn't out to impress anyone. Was he stylish? No. Did he have his own appealing style? Yes.

 

[AdamInSF]

Not even a little bit, although my step-father did pick up a new suit for my wedding, and seemed pretty excited about it.

 

[gazman70k]

Originally Posted by MetroStyles

My mother is very elegant and somewhat trendy (=/). My dad - uhm...not so much. He does not care what he wears as long as it wasn't too expensive.

To tie it all together - I was taught nothing about clothes from my parents at all. I learned it all on my own (with my fair share of mistakes and faux pas) and of course with the help of SF (although - more for business attire than casual wear).

A good observation. Thanks for sharing.

My dad had a collection of loud paisley ties which I find a real turn off. He was a little price conscious too and hence many of his shirts were synthetic and not cotton, as were his suits and the scary safari suits I found. Talk about mosters in a wardrobe!

Gaz