DiplomaticTies
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I am sure that we all have clothes and accessories in our closets that we never use. It could be that suit that was a little too "fashion forward", or maybe a vintage coat that simply looks too old fashioned. Or the hideous tie your children gave you for fathers day that you can't throw away, or the knitted cardigan your aunt gave you that really should be burned, but you have to wear the damn thing every time she visits, or the cufflinks with the funny (offensive?) motive that you bought at an airport waiting for a delayed flight. Sometimes it's hard to know exactly why you don't wear a particular garment. Maybe the colour wasn't exactly right, or it's uncomfortable, or it's just "not you".
This week's challenge is to dig that "what the hell was I thinking" garment/accessory out of the closet, and make it work.
Since I don't want to prejudge what kind of garment you will show off, the challenge allows for both formal and casual fits. Just make sure that you land in the CM-part of the spectrum. Don't come here with crocs and shorts.
I can't really post inspiration pictures because then I would have to assume that the wearer did not like what they wore, but I will make sure to post my own contribution early to give you a hint of what I'm thinking about.
It was suggested to me that this challenge should be extended. Apparently it has been done before. The SF is summer slow at the moment and on top of that the Americans in the SF have a big holiday coming up and we Europeans are busy supporting Iceland in the European Championship. Therefore the deadline for entries will be Sunday 10th July at noon (CE time).
This week's challenge is to dig that "what the hell was I thinking" garment/accessory out of the closet, and make it work.
Since I don't want to prejudge what kind of garment you will show off, the challenge allows for both formal and casual fits. Just make sure that you land in the CM-part of the spectrum. Don't come here with crocs and shorts.
I can't really post inspiration pictures because then I would have to assume that the wearer did not like what they wore, but I will make sure to post my own contribution early to give you a hint of what I'm thinking about.
It was suggested to me that this challenge should be extended. Apparently it has been done before. The SF is summer slow at the moment and on top of that the Americans in the SF have a big holiday coming up and we Europeans are busy supporting Iceland in the European Championship. Therefore the deadline for entries will be Sunday 10th July at noon (CE time).
This is a beige corduroy shirt with a floral motive. Yes, you read that right. Beige. Floral. Corduroy.
Pictures are not entirely new which you can see by the fact that it's clearly not a fit suitable for summer. I bought this shirt myself many years ago in the belief that I was cool. That was a mistake. But I thought I should test and see if it could work with a tie.
The last tie I bought can help me entering this challenge, cause I bought it online, where the colours seemed to be quite mat, and less shining. So when I received it, I really thought: "what the hell was I thinking ...". But finally it is not that bad
suit: Camps de Luca
Shirt: Luigi Borrelli
Tie: Marinella
PS: Corneliani
Monks: Carmina
Clags I could forgive the untucked shirt, the pinstriped odd trousers, the ... whatever you call that thing on top, but I can never forgive that disgusting ginger beard. Bad enough when you go unshaven but when you go full on Wyndham Wizard I need some eye bleach!
Anyway, feel free to reciprocate comments with my entry. I actually posted this in a FC many years ago and the only reaction I received was a single facepalm emoticon. I am the proud owner of FOUR boating blazers. What was I thinking? Well they were bought at a time when I was aiming for a career in academia and thought they would make up nice casual Friday outfits - any derision could be masked by me playing the eccentric professor from England ('hey we all dress like this back home!'). Anyway my career took me in another direction and the blazers rarely see the light of day. I understand the colonials had some sort of celebration on Monday so I entered into the spirit of things wearing red, white and blue ...
I had a similar experience with a pair of cords - these were supposed to be darker irl but, no, they are quite bright, which causes what Coxy would probably term 'cognitive dissonance' given they are winter weight but summer-y colour. I've since come to the conclusion that casual wear either with a rough tweed jacket and no tie, or just with a jumper and scarf are the best ways forward, and I still wear them occasionally as the are supremely comfortable.
I'm sure much of my wardrobe falls into the realm of this challenge for many people, but one garment I have an extremely hard time making work is this J. Crew Patchwork jacket. In particular, I keeping trying to wear it with a tie with varying levels of failure/success. Here's my attempt from Thursday.
Well... for what it's worth...
I bought this sleeveless top in Queenstown, New Zealand, about three years ago. It's from a local designer, made from a blend of merino wool, possum, silk and nylon.
It's actually really beautifully made and quite unique, but I've never worn it, as I really don't know how to make it work within an overall outfit.
At the same time, I can't bear to throw it out or pass it on to a charity - the quality is definitely there.
Definitely a "what was I thinking?" purchase.
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