Still unseasonably warm, 58 today (December 5th, in Maine). Still warm enough for a denim jacket and scarf with no embellishments.
A few things of note.
1. I’d consider this a maximalist outfit. It’s got 3 plaids, a couple stripes, it’s got a denim jacket/tie (contrasting formality). But it’s not too wacky or overtly attention grabbing, because maximalism isn’t one thing.
2. Try different ways of tying your scarf, it can add a lot of panache to a more staid look.
2a. A scarf can be a great compliment, or a great contrast to any outfit, sometimes it can be both (complimentary color, contrasting pattern or vice versa). It’s so easy to take off and stow. Offers a lot of versatility.
3. I really like socks with a base color that’s the standard “one shade off from your pants”, but then with a strong pattern. Let’s them compliment and contrast at the same time.
4. A denim jacket is basically an unstructured cotton jacket in a navy color. Sound familiar? Try it as an alternative for a sport coat instead of as a layering piece. You’ll like the result.
EDIT: Sorry for the double post. My internets don’t work so good. 3rd times the charm and all that.
WIW 10/15
Been a while since I posted.
Feeling blah about the blah-g (WORDPLAY!)
If you can believe it, the Navy blazer is a Vintage Haggar. 100% wool (hopsack? I think), braided leather buttons, trim fit, high armholes. Apparently sometime before the 70’s they were actually a fucking awesome tailoring firm. LBJ agrees.
44 F this morning?
Wool on Wool on Oxford.
My pants should probably be wool too, I’ll probably regret that in 2 minutes when I leave for work.
Things I’m excited about this fall?
Shearling lined jackets.
Added bonus? Nobody else is talking about ‘em, so I’ll be the only one rockin’ ‘em.
#AFistfulofIndividuality
Rainy days mean it’s my kelly green raincoat. An easy way to add a lot of color that easily comes on and off, and doesn’t need to match exactly since it’s such a functional “statement” piece. The matte, but bright color and flat texture make it great for layering. It also pairs especially with something like worn denim with a lot of texture/coloration.
I think a company making olde-tyme rubberized raincoats with a bunch of vibrant colors/crazy linings would make some serious bank.
The rest? Well, it’s bow tie Thursday (people were way into that last week) so I’m wearing my polka dot with a slightly-larger-than-micro-gingham (rolls right off the tongue, doesn’t it?) shirt. Complementing the blue tie on blue shirt with blue jacket is a red/white pocket square and red/navy/white socks. Dark tan chinos and blucher mocs, both wet weather staples for me, finish the look.
In the waning days of summer I find myself in a transitory phase. It’s still too hot (just shy of 80 today for the second day in a row) to wear your autumnal tweeds and corduroys and whatnot. But it’s too late in the season for me to be dressing like Maine meets Miami (which I think was a pretty successful look for much of the dog days).
So I’ve been mostly tweaking “standard” looks. Either putting a flourish like French Cuffs on an old standard (vest, trousers, navy tie). Or just wearing a bunch of expensive shit together instead of my usual M.O. of mixing high class stuff with old vintage-y thrift bin steeze.
I’ve also been working in small autumn pieces. Yesterday it was chocolate bucks, today it’s my longwings. Both are reasonably appropriate for all times, but seem particularly suited to Fall. I also thought the nod to florals with the pocket square (just an old piece of japanese silk) and silk knot “bouquet” was a good way to echo the warm weather without wearing a garden on my chest.
Oh! and I started ironing my pants (like a big boy), so they look much better
In any event, today’s classic I’m spinning is Chinos and a Navy Blazer. No tie, just coordinating my reds, grays and blues in different ways. Silk Knots, bracelets and watches can effectively be worked into color coordination in imaginative ways, it need not be only tie, shirt, pocket square.
Ed. Note: Shout out to my friend Jon W. if he’s reading this. I totally stole the 3 silk knot bouquet from him.
This is what I mean by no inspiration.
It’s 88 degrees w/ 70% humidity (and rising).
I don’t have A/C.
The ocean is still too cold to go into.
Even maximalists have to deal with sweat.
WIWT: White Hanes V-neck t-shirt, J-Crew Chinos (rolled hipster bike messenger style), Quoddy boat shoes, black aviators
If I was a famous style blogger this shit would absolutely blow up the internet.
FWIW, this is the longest a shirt can be before I tuck it in. But yard sales and ice cream stands at farms are no time for formality.
#fuckshorts
Mid Atlantic is 92 degrees and 85% humidity.
I’m all over that hipster bike messenger look. Fuck shorts.
Packing: Phase 1
Cape Elizabeth ME. Watching my cousin. Might just go jump on the trampoline…
EDIT: I’m reposting this because it occurs to me that I usually wear pretty non-conservative attire (#understatementoftheyear) and talk about how I thrifted it all.
This outfit is 2 things.
1. It’s about as conservative as you can get. French Blue OCBD, Khaki Chinos, Brown Bucks, Woven Brown Belt and Brown Leather watch.
2. It’s all thrifted.
So remember if you’re looking at my blog thinking “Well I guess I’d thrift, if I wanted to look like a kindergarten class got into my closet.” that there are more things in thrift stores than are dreamt of in my philosophy of dressing Horatio (or whatever your name is.)
Going against my own vow to play along with my own series by going with one strong color and all the rest neutrals (but in strong patterns!).
After I took the pics for the first post (wearing only red chinos because I’m alone in my apartment) I realized that my purple shirt had a stain on the placket (how it got there I’m genuinely unsure) and my light blue was developing ring around the collar. Both promptly went in the laundry (I only care because you care internet), but left me without my 2 best options.
I went with navy gingham because it was neutral, but similar to my two more colorful options. A muted pink madras tie (because it’s still summer) And a light henley for layering because it was 65 (gonna hit 80!) this morning, but that sea breeze made it a bit too chilly for just the shirt, but too warm for a jacket.
No sunglasses (which is a decision I always always always regret) because no sun. (Thunderstorms predicted tonight, should be fun).
Summer Colors Part 2: Rethinking Neutrals
Most of the advice that you’d get on the blogo-(note to self: come up with funny ending for word) is geared toward neutrals. I’ve read at least 3 separate articles about how blue shirts are the only shirts you need. This is good advice. Neutrals are valuable wardrobe staples because they are easily mixed and matched and (usually) “go with everything”. In this second installment of my Summer Colors series, I’m looking at different items that are surprisingly easy to mix and match, but still colorful.
Stay in the cool side of the color wheel - this means blues, greens and purples. These colors aren’t that difficult to match, and provide great contrast with bright, warm colors.
Look at the picture above. Except for maybe purple gingham over purple cords, all of those items can be mixed and matched. And they can all match equally well with an eye-popping orange jersey, or a gray cotton sweater.
I’ve actually worn that green cords/green gingham/green chucks combo and it’s really not that outlandish. The more “sagey” color of the cords stays in the slate/stone chino realm (or corduroy realm in this case) while the green of the sneakers is different enough to provide contrast (and brightness). The gingham shirt offers enough difference in color and pattern to not seem overwhelmingly monochromatic, which brings us to the second point…
Strong patterns serve to break up bold colors - It might seem like you should be getting bold colors on their own, not adding another eye catching element (like gingham). However, as you can see above in the shirts photo, with really bright colors, a strong pattern like gingham (or a bold stripe) is probably a better option since the addition of white throughout the color tones it down without turning it into a “muted” color (which is the opposite of what we’re looking for in this case)
If you’re interested in adding bright colors to your wardrobe I would say start with shoes and belts, then move onto bright gingham shirts or some deep hued (as in pure color, with no gray/black/white) chinos or corduroys (which works in colder climates too, I periodically wear cords through the summer on cooler days/nights).
Sidenote: I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Nantucket Reds (in fact I’m wearing a pair of bright red chinos as I type this). I’m not wild about them. They’re a “safer” choice for bright color in that they have a long history. But they also have a long tradition that I don’t have a stake in (I’ve never summered on Nantucket, in fact I’ve only been there once). My feeling? Wear them if you want, they’re a nice colorful item. I’ma stick with my raspberry red chinos though.
sorry the post is late, I’ve been in the hot tub.
Big Saturday. Hit up the Portland Clothing Swap and killed it. (Post forthcoming).
After that I was packing beads (which are surprisingly heavy) for a show with Ashley (she’s a jewelry designer). And driving all day. So I wanted to keep it comfortable and casual.
The pic might not show it quite so well, but the shirt is a mint green university stripe. I like to have standard items in non-standard colors. This outfit with powder blue uni-stripe and neutral canvas chucks would be fine. But not maximal enough for me. I like the pop of color and the high contrast between the dark tan chinos and the pale green shirt/bright red chucks.
Socks with tan/red/blue stripes were just the sartorial icing on the cake, OF STYLE!
Then we drove down to Foxboro for a stay in a hotel (with a hot-tub) and then 12 hours tomorrow of selling beads to middle aged ladies. Should be a good time.
How could it not be with an overnight bag this cool?
Also, I know I keep saying it. But I’m trying new stuff with the blog. Now that my readership is growing I want to make it more than a catalog of my outfits. I’m really interested in how people find the stuff I’m doing. Any suggestions, stylistic or literary are welcomed. And hell, if you really hate something at least I’ll know people care enough to get mad.
