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- Sep 22, 2007
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Hmm. I think most of the replies to Ed have have reinforced my view that spectre's criticism and example will be very helpful here.
Very interesting. That's something that wasn't on my horizon, but I'm sure will be more in the coming years! Thanks for bringing my attention to it.
Love the scooter shots -- permanent front page material imo!
I agree w/ all of this, except perhaps the criticism of Spoo's jacket. But that could be because I grew up in Las Vegas.
I think you've demonstrated well the divide. But I'd like to challenge you on the thought that neither is better. Let's push further in the direction of the second group you mention. If we do, we get into Hermes Man territory. I think one reason people love to make fun of him is that he holds up a mirror to a part of us we don't want to admit exists.
One principle widespread on the forum is to buy fewer things but better things: Upgrade from those glued shoes to welted, from fused suits to canvased, etc. Members typically have little trouble making this move to a step or two above the general public. The peer pressure to do so is enormous here. But then we tend to stop. And we tend to start acquiring more and more of things at this mediocre level. As the peer pressure to move up to this level was enormous, so it is to accumulate many of these goods.
I wonder why we don't continue to pursue higher levels of excellence. Limited funds has something to do with of course, as you say. But Claghorn is right about the consumerism that pervades the forum. There has to be some balance of course, I'm not recommending owning just one pair of shoes, one suit, one shirt. But I do think we should always continue to advance in our pursuit of excellence, of quality over quantity.
Not to brag, but just to show that I try to practice as I preach, my first year out of grad school I bought nothing but one Chan suit. My second year out I bought a Chan sport coat and a pair of boots from DW Frommer. It took some discipline not to buy, for example, a Canali suit on sale for 1/4 the price of the Chan, or a few pairs of Aldens instead of the Frommer boots. But I'm glad I did what I did. Now that I have enough Chan things to get by, I'm contemplating another move up. If only Despos were in SF!
I like these socks, just not w/ that outfit. I'd reserve them for more casual outfits. And the shoes look a bit to bright to go w/ that suit imo, but it could just be the photo.
Very interesting. That's something that wasn't on my horizon, but I'm sure will be more in the coming years! Thanks for bringing my attention to it.
For the Tag Team Challenge!!
Love the scooter shots -- permanent front page material imo!
I)don't understand how spectre's two fits are seen as being lukewarm at best and in the same breath, people fawn over awful fitsYou don't need to see much of spectre's jacket (although thanks to SB for doing the full shots) to recognize the beautifully cut/fit of the shoulder line, the perfect armhole size (not up to his pits), the cut, size and gorge of the lapels, the shaping of the chest. Every thing is in perfect harmony to the man's physical attributes, if you saw him in person, you would not know who cut the suit or what regional style it is, you would notice a well dressed man in beautiful classic clothing. Its only boring in a world where loud suits with super slim sleeves and ridiculous high armholes (with the requisite rumpling around the arm scythe and shoulder line) are de riguer. His collar may be low but its probably more to do with the side view and stance (and I'm not a big fan of spread collars anyway).
The point is, you don't have to like his choice of cloths. You can very well dress in louder clothing or more patterned attite but if you don't recognize the beauty of the cut of his clothing, then you have more homework to do.
And I was one of the only guys defending Spoo when he would get ridiculed by some others when he started posting here, so I like to think that I have and "expanded" palate but that jacket, regardless of sexual orientation, should not be worn by any man. It is in fact hideous, neither the colorway nor the pattern do it any favors. Toss the jacket spoo, you are on the beach, you are a fit guy, just go with the pants and open shirt and loafers.
That is all :
I agree w/ all of this, except perhaps the criticism of Spoo's jacket. But that could be because I grew up in Las Vegas.
I think you've demonstrated well the divide. But I'd like to challenge you on the thought that neither is better. Let's push further in the direction of the second group you mention. If we do, we get into Hermes Man territory. I think one reason people love to make fun of him is that he holds up a mirror to a part of us we don't want to admit exists.
One principle widespread on the forum is to buy fewer things but better things: Upgrade from those glued shoes to welted, from fused suits to canvased, etc. Members typically have little trouble making this move to a step or two above the general public. The peer pressure to do so is enormous here. But then we tend to stop. And we tend to start acquiring more and more of things at this mediocre level. As the peer pressure to move up to this level was enormous, so it is to accumulate many of these goods.
I wonder why we don't continue to pursue higher levels of excellence. Limited funds has something to do with of course, as you say. But Claghorn is right about the consumerism that pervades the forum. There has to be some balance of course, I'm not recommending owning just one pair of shoes, one suit, one shirt. But I do think we should always continue to advance in our pursuit of excellence, of quality over quantity.
Not to brag, but just to show that I try to practice as I preach, my first year out of grad school I bought nothing but one Chan suit. My second year out I bought a Chan sport coat and a pair of boots from DW Frommer. It took some discipline not to buy, for example, a Canali suit on sale for 1/4 the price of the Chan, or a few pairs of Aldens instead of the Frommer boots. But I'm glad I did what I did. Now that I have enough Chan things to get by, I'm contemplating another move up. If only Despos were in SF!
HSM MTM suit
Hugo shirt
Canali tie
Sozzi socks
GG shoes
I like these socks, just not w/ that outfit. I'd reserve them for more casual outfits. And the shoes look a bit to bright to go w/ that suit imo, but it could just be the photo.
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