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The Official Dieworkwear Appreciation Thread

scurvyfreedman

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Ralph Lauren fandom aside, I'm interested in your take on this @dieworkwear from a historical perspective: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jan/17/joe-biden-ralph-lauren-inauguration-suit

I thought, typically, that presidents try and wear MiUSA stuff for official business functions. I seem to recall that Martin Greenfield or BB was often cited as the tailor to presidents and that AE Park Aves were the 'presidential' shoe. Obviously that seems to have been tossed aside with Trump and his penchant for Brioni suits (I'm willing to bet he owned a good number of them already before assuming office). I also seem to remember Tom Ford talking about how he would have loved to dress Obama or Buttigieg, but that he thought it would be inappropriate for a politican to wear a $5K suit

Are we likely talking RLPL (St Andrews) here? Does RL make any suits in the USA? With the downfall of BB and MiUSA tailoring, do you think these sort of traditions are going to go by the wayside?

Bonus Q - how does the presidential wardrobe work, do they get free suits that they charge to tax payers?

On your Bonus Q. 3 U.S.C. § 102 provides an "expense allowance of $50,000 to assist in defraying expenses relating to or resulting from the discharge of his official duties." I suspect that like suits not falling under the IRS Code for tax deductions - unlike uniforms - the same would apply to the expense allowance. But, white tie might apply for state dinners if it's not something already owned, because that would be part of discharge of official duties and it's not something worn in the normal course of events. A bullet proof suit would seem to fall under the expense account.
 

TheShetlandSweater

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Well, on a related note, here is an ebay listing with a prl jacket that might have belonged to Joe. And the below pic also looks kind of polo-esque.
1611021501172.png
 

StaticProgression

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Well, on a related note, here is an ebay listing with a prl jacket that might have belonged to Joe. And the below pic also looks kind of polo-esque.
View attachment 1538328

That's intriguing, but notice the lack of right-side ticket pocket on the ebay listing. Also, the buttons appear to be different. However, no doubt he has a million sportcoats/could have multiple made in same fabric.
 

StaticProgression

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1611070971240.png


At what point does accurate repro go too far for normal wear? Here's my suggestion - ultimate utilitarian central back pocket. These are the types of pants I think look cool in my head, but if actually worn I would just not be able to justify (or feel like explaining to people at work.) How does one wear these? In what profession does this make sense to wear and not be a poser? Mercenary, but very old-school in kit and weaponry? Or maybe for reenactments?

 
Last edited:

dieworkwear

Mahatma Jawndi
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View attachment 1538559

At what point does accurate repro go too far for normal wear? Here's my suggestion - ultimate utilitarian central back pocket. These are the types of pants I think look cool in my head, but if actually worn I would just not be able to justify (or feel like explaining to people at work.) How does one wear these? In what profession does this make sense to wear and not be a poser? Mercenary, but very old-school in kit and weaponry? Or maybe for reenactments?


My buddy wears those. I think I first saw them on him ... about 15 years ago? It was a very long time ago. I remember the first time I saw them, I thought they were ridiculous, but looked weirdly good on him. He's a super stylish guy who's very handsome -- has a sort of "all American" man look about him -- and dresses in all Polo. I still gave him heck for it because he had a big ass pocket on his butt. But since then, I've seen so many ridiculous fashion things, those have become very normal. Nigel Cabourn has his own version.

Will say, they remind me of Karl Pilkington's Pilko Pump Pants


 

StaticProgression

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My buddy wears those. I think I first saw them on him ... about 15 years ago? It was a very long time ago. I remember the first time I saw them, I thought they were ridiculous, but looked weirdly good on him. He's a super stylish guy who's very handsome -- has a sort of "all American" man look about him -- and dresses in all Polo. I still gave him heck for it because he had a big ass pocket on his butt. But since then, I've seen so many ridiculous fashion things, those have become very normal. Nigel Cabourn has his own version.

Will say, they remind me of Karl Pilkington's Pilko Pump Pants




"That's a quality zip, it's not getting stuck" ? that's an incredible video.

Yeah, the "dresses in all polo" aspect would help. I am sure in person, they'd have to look awesome. I mean, for people who love workwear or milsurp-esque vintage, this would be a clear enthusiast mark and would probably, as you said, look somehow awesome in the greater context of the outfit. One doesn't just throw them on and walk out the door with Ultraboost on.

I love the fact that they would still produce and sell these, I may not be able to pull them off, and may make fun of them, but it's things like this that make Ralph Lauren special - to be so incredibly huge and yet still commission stuff like this, or some of the more crazy RRL pieces. They know they may not sell well - but that's entirely besides the point. It's awesome.
 

Waldo Jeffers

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View attachment 1538559

At what point does accurate repro go too far for normal wear? Here's my suggestion - ultimate utilitarian central back pocket. These are the types of pants I think look cool in my head, but if actually worn I would just not be able to justify (or feel like explaining to people at work.) How does one wear these? In what profession does this make sense to wear and not be a poser? Mercenary, but very old-school in kit and weaponry? Or maybe for reenactments?


thats for when the 16 pockets on your fly fishing vest aren’t sufficient and you have an assistant who doesn’t flinch at digging hooks out of your ass when you slip and fall in the water
 

TheShetlandSweater

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That's intriguing, but notice the lack of right-side ticket pocket on the ebay listing. Also, the buttons appear to be different. However, no doubt he has a million sportcoats/could have multiple made in same fabric.

Oh. I wasn't suggesting they were the same jacket, just that he seems to like PRL, or at least that aesthetic.
 

sushijerk

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Those butt flap pants remind of old timey WB cartoons where the gold miner gets blown up with dynamite and he has the old timey PJs with the ass hanging out.
 

StaticProgression

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Union suit. Started off as women's underwear and later adopted by men. Was also the progenitor to t-shirts

View attachment 1538699

Would love to see the dealer's substitute "should he not have them." Not that it would matter, since I would contact Lewis for a pair (or, for one? The pants are built in technically. Not sure how to refer to it)
 

StaticProgression

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Got a chance to wear the patchwork bal out in the wild. Such a great coat, it goes with denim, khakis, pretty much everything less casual than a worsted suit.
View attachment 1538872

Man, that's so killer UC. I am digging the fit overall, the chunkiness of the boots/sweater really adds to it. I feel like patchwork anything can be really hard to pull off, but something about the swatches they chose for it actually makes it all run together really nicely, it looks like a cohesive coat. It's so easy for patchwork to go too "vineyard vines" or super-prep, I think this nails all the best of what makes patchwork awesome. Length is perfect too.
 

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