The writings of Réginald-Jérôme de Mans

[Cantabrigian]

I’m ashamed to admit that I never really appreciated him when he was with us. But I think SF could benefit from having its collective attention drawn to the gems that RJ Man is turning out on the reg over at ASW.

He’s bar none the best style writer out there (at least in English - maybe one of the Dutch or German blogs has someone consistently killin’ it). That’s not an slight to anyone else. RJ’s just an exceptionally talented writer.

So open up another browser window to look up the cultural references – pop and otherwise - and enjoy.


An oldie but a great-ie
Trust Me I Know What I’m Doing

 

[unbelragazzo]

Completely agree. RJMan is a treasure.

 

[Holdfast]

Yep, consistently entertaining, with just the right amount of elegiac archness.

 

[Cantabrigian]

For the article linked above--

Thanks to a look at a recent American GQ while waiting for a haircut, I have discovered a previously undiagnosed affliction I can only refer to as Sprezzatourette’s, the near-constant utterance and misuse of the word “sprezzatura." Patient Zero was the writer of an article about Scott Schuman, otherwise known as The Sartorialist, Condé Nast’s pet photographer of people wearing colorful or shiny things. No Microsoft Word thesaurus can synonymize the concept of using a term from Baldessare Castiglione’s Book of the Courtier as an excuse to dress like a clown, so the contagion is well and truly upon us, both in word and in deed: self-styled journalists and dandies bandy about the word “sprezzatura” and deliberately dress garishly – yet somehow interchangeably -- under the guise of aspiring to sprezzatura. Fantasy life imitates fantasy art as Internet Gentlemen* ape selective photoreporting from the street.

 

[Eustace Tilley]

He’s bar none the best style writer out there...RJ’s just an exceptionally talented writer.

 

[dieworkwear]

I'm disappointed that we no longer have thumbs up comments on StyleForum. Some great RJ gems existed in those boxes.

 

[PhiloVance]

Always look forward to his writing for ASW - a wonderful voice on style.

 

[JLibourel]

Didn't realize until this moment that he and our RJMan were one and the same. Shows you how slow I've gotten in my dotage!

 

[Cantabrigian]

Perhaps you've heard of his tailor - Henri de la Piscine

 

[bourbonbasted]

I think of him as the leader of the French Resistance during World War Foo.

 

[comrade]



I think of him as the leader of the French Resistance during World War Foo.

It is not well known, as he is modest to a fault, but I understand that he was tortured by the notorious Douche Bag Unit of the Gestapo.

 

[LabelKing]



It is not well know, as he is modest to a fault, but I understand that he was tortured by the notorious Douche Bag Unit of the Gestapo.

Malinda?

 

[DocHolliday]

Malindae?

 

[Cantabrigian]

There seem to be fewer desireable items unique to a place. Leaving aside the bespoke, which is always best ordered and fitted in the presence of the cutter or maker, nowadays almost everything is available on Google for comparison shopping, flipped on ebay by some enterprising parallel importer or made especially for discount sale through Gilt. If it isn’t online, once the magazines discover it, some boutique in New York will pick it up and pretty soon a brand expansion will bring the fragrance, the bath robe and the limited edition tote bag with purchase to these fine stores.

Something For The Journey

 

[Luc-Emmanuel]



He’s bar none the best style writer out there (at least in English - maybe one of the Dutch or German blogs has someone consistently killin’ it). That’s not an slight to anyone else. RJ’s just an exceptionally talented writer.

The posts are entertaining, well documented, and witty, but as a non native english speaker, I would not consider articles where I know every words to be "exceptionally well written".
!luc