MoneyWellSpent's Southern Trad Thread

[Caustic Man]

I know of no such written rules but then again I tend to think that even the written rules are often dubious. Not having rules creates vibrance and individuality. This, of course, often gets tempered by taste. Some have it, some don’t.

 

[MoneyWellSpent]

No disagreement there.

 

[orange fury]

I imagine my signature clothing-wise is “obnoxious”

 

[Roycru]

A merger of Anti-Pitti and Anti-Christmas, instead of peacocks and three wise men, conservative business dress and three dummies (at Neiman Marcus).

 

[am55]

How would you define my signature, from a distant (anonymous) viewpoint? I don't have any particular awareness of an intentional signature per se, so I'm curious about what I repeat in my ensembles that may stand out to an independent observer. Are they almost predictable repetitions?

From an international perspective, "small to mid-size city suburban American white collar professional". Like the residents in Groundhog Day. Proportions and material lean towards comfort, colours are solidly in the mid-range with less contrast than you'd expect from city folks or Brits and more country inspiration. I guess that's trad?

The two items I remember repeated often, off the top of my head, are grey herringbone jackets with a relatively low buttoning point (or long lapels, however you want to look at it) and split toe mid-brown derbies.

I do think there is a signature in the sense that the fits, like Roycru's, Cleav's or Claghorn's, are easily recognisable on this site. Would they stand out similarly in the street amongst your peers is an interesting question.

 

[MoneyWellSpent]

From an international perspective, "small to mid-size city suburban American white collar professional". Like the residents in Groundhog Day. Proportions and material lean towards comfort, colours are solidly in the mid-range with less contrast than you'd expect from city folks or Brits and more country inspiration. I guess that's trad?

The two items I remember repeated often, off the top of my head, are grey herringbone jackets with a relatively low buttoning point (or long lapels, however you want to look at it) and split toe mid-brown derbies.

I do think there is a signature in the sense that the fits, like Roycru's, Cleav's or Claghorn's, are easily recognisable on this site. Would they stand out similarly in the street amongst your peers is an interesting question.

I won't deny any of your categorizations, except to say that I don't consider myself to be in the laborious cycle "to be escaped" that is Groundhog Day.

 

[am55]

I won't deny any of your categorizations, except to say that I don't consider myself to be in the laborious cycle "to be escaped" that is Groundhog Day.

But the residents are the happy ones, it is the elitist city man who needs to learn to appreciate life in the movie. Hence the example.

 

[MoneyWellSpent]

But the residents are the happy ones, it is the elitist city man who needs to learn to appreciate life in the movie. Hence the example.

Ah, then I appreciate the analogy. I don't know that I've ever actually seen that movie in full. If I have it was so many years ago that I don't recall anything beyond the general premise.

 

[orange fury]

Since we decided Levi’s could be preppy thanks to Uncle Ralph, early Christmas with my family:

From last night. We were supposed to go to a wine tasting, but Mrs. OF got off work too late, so I sat at home and drank martinis:

 

[MoneyWellSpent]

^^I have that exact cardigan.^^

 

[am55]

Ah, then I appreciate the analogy. I don't know that I've ever actually seen that movie in full. If I have it was so many years ago that I don't recall anything beyond the general premise.

I think the greater parallel w.r.t. this thread is the way in which "trad" ideas (or generally, classicism) has been summarily rejected by many (most?) in favour of a bastardised version of modernism ("less is more", etc.) or post-modernism ("nothing matters, so why make an effort"). The argument is made that the goodness of these mainstream ideas was dismissed summarily without consideration; and that this consideration allows for them to be appreciated objectively even by the sceptic. Why else would so many people whose background is not "trad" (e.g. a good chunk of Japan) be drawn to "trad"?

 

[orange fury]

^^I have that exact cardigan.^^

Im a huge fan of the “Brooks Tartan”

 

[MoneyWellSpent]

Im a huge fan of the “Brooks Tartan”

You are wearing it well there.

I'll confess, I've only used mine for being comfortable around the house.

 

[Caustic Man]

I think the greater parallel w.r.t. this thread is the way in which "trad" ideas (or generally, classicism) has been summarily rejected by many (most?) in favour of a bastardised version of modernism ("less is more", etc.) or post-modernism ("nothing matters, so why make an effort"). The argument is made that the goodness of these mainstream ideas was dismissed summarily without consideration; and that this consideration allows for them to be appreciated objectively even by the sceptic. Why else would so many people whose background is not "trad" (e.g. a good chunk of Japan) be drawn to "trad"?

This post is a little unclear. I'm not sure who is thinking or doing what, here. I think, at least in regard to the Japanese, that W. David Marx would argue that the Japanese are drawn to Trad for a similar reason that Punk has such a long life in the U.S. and Europe. It just so happens that Trad is appropriate for doing worldwide business as well, so it easily transposes itself from one generation to the next, despite the rebellious roots of its popularity in Japan.

 

[MoneyWellSpent]

I wasn't fully following that post either, which is why I hadn't replied. Clarification would be great.