I should never have entered Esquire's BDRM contest.

[Astan]

Originally Posted by mafoofan

Ever since I was a finalist and appeared on the Today show, I can't escape discussing my clothes with acquaintances and friends now eye me up and down every time I see them. Even worse, they always look disappointed and skeptical. I wore a blue OCBD under a navy cashmere v-neck jumper and grey trousers with longwings to a holiday party; an acquaintance approached me with a confused look on his face, then stated: "You aren't very well dressed today." Friends keep track of what I wear and say things like "Isn't that the same jacket you wore last week?" and "Oh, I heard wingtips were out of style" and "That's so 80's!" Of course, they also ask for advice, which I try not to give. But then push comes to shove, and I make a recommendation. At least a dozen male friends have asked me what kind of shirts I like to wear casually. When I tell them I like Brooks Brothers OCBDs (and explain what those are), they grimace and point out in a pitying tone that they've already upgraded to Pink or Tyrwhitt. I'm sick of explaining what my "hankie" is for and why it doesn't match my tie. Everyone has asked me at least once where to buy a "cool pinstriped blazer" to wear with jeans. A good friend introduced me to his girlfriend for the first time and pointed out proudly that I was one of the "best-dressed men in America." She laughed and blurted out "But you dress like a dad!" Somewhat sheepishly coming to my defense, he explains that I dress "very unique." Every guy asks me for what I think about their clothes, but in a disingenuous, bragging manner, as if to make sure I know I didn't deserve to be a finalist because his jacket is Kiton/Brioni/Zegna/Armani/RLBL. I always politely say "Very nice. I like it." They follow-up with: "Do you know where I got it?" "Huh, I dunno." "It's a Kiton/Brioni/Zegna/Armani/RLBL." "Oh, cool. Good stuff." "What designer is yours?" "Oh, I had a tailor make it." "Oh . . . well, check out Kiton/Brioni/Zegna/Armani/RLBL. I got a gay friend who works at Bergdorf/Saks/Bloomingdales who says it's the absolute best." And the shoes. Oh god. People look at my shoes like I'm a homeless person with dirty cardboard strapped under my feet. No, they're not Gucci or Ferragamo. Yes, I know I can get them for what I paid for these. Shut up, shut up, shut up.

Suddenly everyone's a critic and a fashion editor. It's not my self-esteem or confidence at stake, but my sanity. I don't like talking to people anymore because they can only seem to talk about what I'm wearing. Let this be a lesson to others.

totally serious, that sounds like ******* hell to me. I get enough of that noise from my friends, who think men ought to not care how they dress otherwise theyre gay. but on the epic scale you describe? sorry man

you're dealing with the marsupials extremely well though, snaps to you.

 

[dmac]

Foo

Next time someone points out his Kiton/Brioni, tell him he has a torqued sleeve or divots and take joy from the pained expression.

 

[neyus]

Originally Posted by mafoofan

Ever since I was a finalist and appeared on the Today show, I can't escape discussing my clothes with acquaintances and friends now eye me up and down every time I see them. Even worse, they always look disappointed and skeptical. I wore a blue OCBD under a navy cashmere v-neck jumper and grey trousers with longwings to a holiday party; an acquaintance approached me with a confused look on his face, then stated: "You aren't very well dressed today." Friends keep track of what I wear and say things like "Isn't that the same jacket you wore last week?" and "Oh, I heard wingtips were out of style" and "That's so 80's!" Of course, they also ask for advice, which I try not to give. But then push comes to shove, and I make a recommendation. At least a dozen male friends have asked me what kind of shirts I like to wear casually. When I tell them I like Brooks Brothers OCBDs (and explain what those are), they grimace and point out in a pitying tone that they've already upgraded to Pink or Tyrwhitt. I'm sick of explaining what my "hankie" is for and why it doesn't match my tie. Everyone has asked me at least once where to buy a "cool pinstriped blazer" to wear with jeans. A good friend introduced me to his girlfriend for the first time and pointed out proudly that I was one of the "best-dressed men in America." She laughed and blurted out "But you dress like a dad!" Somewhat sheepishly coming to my defense, he explains that I dress "very unique." Every guy asks me for what I think about their clothes, but in a disingenuous, bragging manner, as if to make sure I know I didn't deserve to be a finalist because his jacket is Kiton/Brioni/Zegna/Armani/RLBL. I always politely say "Very nice. I like it." They follow-up with: "Do you know where I got it?" "Huh, I dunno." "It's a Kiton/Brioni/Zegna/Armani/RLBL." "Oh, cool. Good stuff." "What designer is yours?" "Oh, I had a tailor make it." "Oh . . . well, check out Kiton/Brioni/Zegna/Armani/RLBL. I got a gay friend who works at Bergdorf/Saks/Bloomingdales who says it's the absolute best." And the shoes. Oh god. People look at my shoes like I'm a homeless person with dirty cardboard strapped under my feet. No, they're not Gucci or Ferragamo. Yes, I know I can get them for what I paid for these. Shut up, shut up, shut up.

Suddenly everyone's a critic and a fashion editor. It's not my self-esteem or confidence at stake, but my sanity. I don't like talking to people anymore because they can only seem to talk about what I'm wearing. Let this be a lesson to others.

I have never been on TV, or a website, or a magazine but I can say I have had similar experiences with colleagues, family members and other acquaintances comment on clothing or asking my opinion on clothing or fashion. I always get guys at work ask my opinion on their clothing and I usually just say its "nice" and continue with whatever I was doing before. I guess you should take it as a compliment.

 

[edinatlanta]

Eye bee dee tea

 

[ter1413]

..........

 

[w.o.e.is.me.]

Originally Posted by Big A

Incidentally, this might be the most whiny, insipid thread in the history of Styleforum. Nut up. Wield your fame like a tyrant's axe: denigrate those who deign to approach your greatness clad in anything less than bespoke Italian grandeur; belittle the Thomas Pink wearing poseurs who seek just a bit of your glow. Punch someone in the gut (preferably at a deposition or M&A meeting) and call him a "motherfucker." The partners will like your style, I promise..

Best Reply I've read in a long time.

 

[Journeyman]

Originally Posted by TheWGP

That video of Dan was just painful to watch. Especially the watch part... seriously, they need to step it up or just make the prize all cash. Who would pay the taxes to keep the crap they give them? Seriously?

+1. Seriously, all the stuff that he was trying on looked awful. Rather ironic that he gets the "BDRM" label for dressing well in BB, Purple Label and so on, and then has to wear poorly-made, poorly-designed rubbish on TV as his prize!

Originally Posted by SpooPoker

That is the greatest song. Ever.

for knowing what Im talking about.

U2 - Acrobat?
How about "Illegitimi non carborundum?

Originally Posted by neyus

I have never been on TV, or a website, or a magazine but I can say I have had similar experiences with colleagues, family members and other acquaintances comment on clothing or asking my opinion on clothing or fashion. I always get guys at work ask my opinion on their clothing and I usually just say its "nice" and continue with whatever I was doing before. I guess you should take it as a compliment.

+1 on this, too.
As you say, it's best to not really comment as most people don't really want to hear about how a pair of benchmade English shoes with Goodyear-welted soles are better than their glued-sole pair of corrected-grain Florsheim or Kenneth Cole shoes, nor do they want to hear that they've wasted the $1000 that they just spent on a black, fused Boss suit when they could have bought a well-made, partially- or fully-canvassed Herringbone suit for about the same money!

When people ask these questions, they are typically soliciting compliments and providing frank feedback will most likely upset them and make workplace relations rather frosty.

 

[patrickBOOTH]

Originally Posted by mafoofan

Ever since I was a finalist and appeared on the Today show, I can't escape discussing my clothes with acquaintances and friends now eye me up and down every time I see them. Even worse, they always look disappointed and skeptical. I wore a blue OCBD under a navy cashmere v-neck jumper and grey trousers with longwings to a holiday party; an acquaintance approached me with a confused look on his face, then stated: "You aren't very well dressed today." Friends keep track of what I wear and say things like "Isn't that the same jacket you wore last week?" and "Oh, I heard wingtips were out of style" and "That's so 80's!" Of course, they also ask for advice, which I try not to give. But then push comes to shove, and I make a recommendation. At least a dozen male friends have asked me what kind of shirts I like to wear casually. When I tell them I like Brooks Brothers OCBDs (and explain what those are), they grimace and point out in a pitying tone that they've already upgraded to Pink or Tyrwhitt. I'm sick of explaining what my "hankie" is for and why it doesn't match my tie. Everyone has asked me at least once where to buy a "cool pinstriped blazer" to wear with jeans. A good friend introduced me to his girlfriend for the first time and pointed out proudly that I was one of the "best-dressed men in America." She laughed and blurted out "But you dress like a dad!" Somewhat sheepishly coming to my defense, he explains that I dress "very unique." Every guy asks me for what I think about their clothes, but in a disingenuous, bragging manner, as if to make sure I know I didn't deserve to be a finalist because his jacket is Kiton/Brioni/Zegna/Armani/RLBL. I always politely say "Very nice. I like it." They follow-up with: "Do you know where I got it?" "Huh, I dunno." "It's a Kiton/Brioni/Zegna/Armani/RLBL." "Oh, cool. Good stuff." "What designer is yours?" "Oh, I had a tailor make it." "Oh . . . well, check out Kiton/Brioni/Zegna/Armani/RLBL. I got a gay friend who works at Bergdorf/Saks/Bloomingdales who says it's the absolute best." And the shoes. Oh god. People look at my shoes like I'm a homeless person with dirty cardboard strapped under my feet. No, they're not Gucci or Ferragamo. Yes, I know I can get them for what I paid for these. Shut up, shut up, shut up.

Suddenly everyone's a critic and a fashion editor. It's not my self-esteem or confidence at stake, but my sanity. I don't like talking to people anymore because they can only seem to talk about what I'm wearing. Let this be a lesson to others.

I can relate to every word of this. I love it when people don't understand the tailor made garments, shoemakers, shirtmakers. Everybody thinks there is a "designer" behind it and they don't understand why you aren't wearing it and didn't even know that there is a such a market for something better that doesn't have a retail label on it.

 

[voxsartoria]

FWIW, I entered this contest two years running and do not have mafoofan's problems.


- B

 

[Mark from Plano]

Originally Posted by voxsartoria

FWIW, I entered this contest two years running and do not have mafoofan's problems.


- B

The title of your books should be:

Pith Helmets, Dog Excrement and other Sartorial Virtues.

 

[Big A]

Originally Posted by mafoofan

Thanks for the responses. Just to be clear, this was supposed to be somewhat tongue-in-cheek.

Suuurre it was.

Originally Posted by mafoofan

No, I don't, and never have. That was a slip of the keyboard--I guess I'm just too used to seeing the word used on the forums.

Suuurre it was.

Originally Posted by mafoofan

I want an MP. I'll never get one, but I want one. Of course, the problem is that there are very few 35mm film scanners available these days and they're not that great. The best models went out of production a few years ago and/or cost a fortune.

Epson makes a scanner that will handle 35mm negs with no problem, and can give you files up to something like 150 megs. See my avatar for an example (of a scanned pic, not a 150 meg pic). It costs something like $300.

I realize that's sort of contrary to the "everything new sucks" viewpoint that leads one to dress like an old man and call sweaters "jumpers," but it's true.

 

[edmorel]

Originally Posted by voxsartoria

FWIW, I entered this contest two years running and do not have mafoofan's problems.


- B

BTW, there is an Allen Edmonds Tent Sale (seconds) going on that I thought would interest you. There is a frozen custard place close to one of the tents, so it sounds like a great shopping day.

http://www.styleforum.net/showthread.php?t=185300

 

[voxsartoria]

Originally Posted by Mark from Plano

The title of your books should be:

Pith Helmets, Dog Excrement and other Sartorial Virtues.

Too academic-sounding.

How about: Dooky: My Story ?


- B

 

[voxsartoria]

Originally Posted by edmorel

BTW, there is an Allen Edmonds Tent Sale (seconds) going on that I thought would interest you. There is a frozen custard place close to one of the tents, so it sounds like a great shopping day.

http://www.styleforum.net/showthread.php?t=185300

Why thank you, young man.

I was vexed over Sator's birthday present. Now, I'm not.


- B

 

[voxsartoria]

Originally Posted by Big A

See my avatar for an example (of a scanned pic, not a 150 meg pic). It costs something like $300.

Would you be so kind as to post the 150 meg version of this photograph in this thread?

Thank you.


- B