Friday Challenge - Connection

[d4nimal]

The first set of cufflinks were a gift from beloved late wife who passed away three years ago (I wore them today because yesterday would have been her birthday). The second pair of Elsa Peretti-designed cufflinks are from Tiffany’s and are a gift from my new bride. I wore the third pair, which are part of a black tie set, to my wedding to my bride back in December. Last, but not least, the third set have my initials engraved and are a gift from my dad.



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Wow. Thank you so much for sharing those memories with us. Really powerful.

 

[ld111134]

Wow. Thank you so much for sharing those memories with us. Really powerful.

You are most welcome.

 

[d4nimal]

Hello all,

Thanks to those who already contributed to the Friday Challenge - Connection, or clothes/accessories you have some sort of connection to.

We still have a week left of the challenge, and it would be great to see some more things that resonate with you. I'm also loosening the restrictions on the entries. You don't have to post a real fit, though it's always encouraged.

Here's the Speedmaster I got to celebrate the birth of my son. He may or may not get it one day, depending on how cool he is. He's almost 2 right now, and is being a bit of a buttmunch.

 

[Clouseau]

Hello all,

Thanks to those who already contributed to the Friday Challenge - Connection, or clothes/accessories you have some sort of connection to.

We still have a week left of the challenge, and it would be great to see some more things that resonate with you. I'm also loosening the restrictions on the entries. You don't have to post a real fit, though it's always encouraged.

Here's the Speedmaster I got to celebrate the birth of my son. He may or may not get it one day, depending on how cool he is. He's almost 2 right now, and is being a bit of a buttmunch.

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This reminds me of another item i have a strong connection with.

This Rolex belonged to my older brother. He gave it to me a few days before his disappearance.
My brother had a daughter. She was a young teenager at the time. I kept the watch until three years ago, when she married. I gave it to her to celebrate. She now has a two years old boy, i hope he will get it one day, as it comes from his great father.

 

[ld111134]

This reminds me of another item i have a strong connection with.

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This Rolex belonged to my older brother. He gave it to me a few days before his disappearance.
My brother had a daughter. She was a young teenager at the time. I kept the watch until three years ago, when she married. I gave it to her to celebrate. She now has a two years old boy, i hope he will get it one day, as it comes from his great father.

What a beautiful story.

 

[Sir Jack II]

Hello all,

Sorry for the late post. The challenge for this round is going to be "connection," that is an article of clothing/accessory that connects with you in some way more than just pure aesthetics. The outlines for this challenge are fairly loose; "connection" can mean anything that resonates with you, a certain memory, a place, person, time in your life, philosophy, etc. It doesn't need to be something super deep, either - we'll leave it relatively wide open, just write a few words of backstory on the item. A full outfit or portrait picture is preferred. I realize a few people may have a smaller accessory that means something to them, but it would be nice to have something more than just a picture of the item.

I don't have much for other peoples' inspirations, but as an example here's an old picture of mine from 2019 wearing an indigo sashiko sport coat from Freemans Sporting Club Japan (RIP) that my wife bought for me while we were in Japan 2016. At the time, sashiko fabric was very rare in the US. A year or two later, I walked into Unionmade SF with it on and one of the guys there stopped me and asked me where I got it. I still really like it to this day, even if I'd style it slightly differently now, and I think about our trip whenever I wear it.

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We'll run the challenge for 2 weeks ending March 25. Looking forward to seeing your entries!

I have to say, your sport coat is my ideal of what a casual jacket should be. I have one that's kind of like it (like you, I have great taste ), but it's just not quite as cool as yours.

 

[upr_crust]

The weather in NYC is overcoast and cool today, not that it matters very much, as per medical advice, I am to limit my walking as much as possible for the immediate future, to allow my right ankle to heal (a cortisone shot this morning is working its magic as I write).

This is my entry for this challenge. Between my hyperactive memory, and my oversized wardrobe, my closet is a goldmine of the evocative. Today's suit was next in rotation to be worn, and, as it turns out, carries its own set of memories, as I've packed and worn this suit a couple of times, pre-pandemic, to London. A short perusal of the photo files from the last couple of vacations to London produced photos from three different dining venues, all wearing today's suit. As I'm unlikely to see London soon (or go anywhere until my ankle is healed), I will have to settle for pleasant memories of sojourns past. These I share with you - dinners at Rules, Simpson's in the Strand, and Roast.

Today's attire:

Suit - Paul Stuart/Phineas Cole
Shirt - Brooks Brothers MTM
Tie - Brooks Brothers
Cufflinks - Deakin & Francis, London
Braces - Albert Thurston
Pocket square - Alain Figaret, Paris
Shoes - Crockett & Jones, model name Edgware

 

[eightace]

Here's my contribution:

It's 1996, and it's my first trip overseas.
In London, I meet up with an old friend. He asks "Where are you going next?" I tell him I'm going to Ireland.
He says: "Buy some Donegal tweed."
I remember thinking "Why the hell would I do that? And what is Donegal tweed? What is tweed?"
I go to Ireland. I find myself in Galway. Somehow, I end up in Frank McDonagh & Co Menswear, in Eyre Square. I know nothing about menswear, I'm not even interested in menswear, but here I am. There's a sports coat I like. I've never owned a sports coat. It costs more than any piece of clothing I've ever owned, but I buy it, continue my travels, and bring it home.
A quarter of a century later, this Magee jacket is one of my clothing treasures. The fabric has a wonderful soft hand, and still feels new. The houndstooth is not black but blue.
I love wearing it, which I do all too rarely because it hardly ever gets cold enough in Sydney. It always reminds me of that first, amazing trip.

Maybe I should move back to Melbourne.

 

[Mr Knightley]

Just in time, hopefully. In the late 1960s, as a young suedehead, I frequented bespoke tailors. The sought-after look then was fairly slim with a three button jacket with narrow lapels.

I returned to bespoke tailoring a few years ago, wanting to see if I could find a tailor who could help me connect with those halcyon days through a new commission. I found an East London tailor who had been a modernist back in the day. This was one of the first results - a navy blazer and pow trousers.

 

[d4nimal]

The voting thread for the Friday Challenge is up. Please stop by and cast your vote to show your support! Well done, guys!