If it’s Fall…

It must mean it’s time for “A Fistful of Style attempts to take WIWT pics in his apartment that don’t look like total dogshit!”

Today’s attempt?

6.5/10

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Thrifted:

Vest: Vtg. Levis Panatela $3

Shirt: Vtg. Van Heusen “Profiles” -$2.50

Jeans: Levis 505 $5

Shoes: Johnson & Murphy $14.80

Have your cake/Eat your cake.

My love for festooning myself with all manner of patterns and colors has been well documented.  However, I’ve also written a fair amount about the basics and how they fit in to a wardrobe (specifically how they fit into my wardrobe).  This is an example of finding a way to have my cake and eat it too.

Here I’ve matched a subdued cotton floral tie, mostly in navy, with white jeans, blue OCBD, brown suede derbies and a brown jacket…

But wait!

The jacket has all manner of colorful flecks that are only visible from up close.  They get brought out by the tie, which itself is made more “fun” from being matched in such a conservative* outfit.  You can have your more esoteric items that aren’t necessarily “elegant”, but are fun to wear. And sometimes, you can even have your ridiculous items and make them barely noticeable.

A fine example of having your cake but also getting to eat it.

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Thrifted:

Jacket - Southwick - $4 ($5?)

Shirt - Vtg. Van Heusen “Profiles” - $2.50

Tie - No Brand (Vtg?) - $3

Jeans - LLBean Signature (Clearance) - $20

Shoes - Bass - $7 

*Ed. Note: “Conservative” by my standards, your results may vary.

Somewhat Abashedly Prep. I have a long history of really hating “prep”.  From growing up in a small town in Rural Vermont where “prep” was synonymous with “stupid jocky douchebag” to being a thrift jockey in southern Maine and being told I’m not “authentic” enough because I don’t own 500 birds eye sweaters and have the wrong brand of boat shoe. As a (former) punk, I’ve always tried to blaze my own trail.  Consequently I eschewed prep (and many other potential stylistic options) because that lifestyle was not mine, and I didn’t want it to be (plus I was raised Catholic, so I’m ordered by God to set fire to Protestants… right?)  Prep wasn’t me, so it wasn’t for me maaaaan. However, thanks to the internet I get to see that I was 100% wrong. For better or worse, styles traditionally reserved for one social group aren’t as tightly bound to lifestyle anymore.  Stylistic movements like Black Ivy or Japanese Americana, can re-purpose prep staples to their own ends without the lifestyle trappings, why can’t I? So here’s to embracing the preppy side.  You can’t stay an angry punk forever. ————————————————————————————- Thrifted: Lerner Shop Wool Tennis Sweater (Made in the British Crown Colony of Hong Kong) - $4 Custom? (no tags) OCBD - $5 UNIQLO jeans - $11.20 Sebago Penny Loafers - $7 ($8?) Also, RIP my sunglasses which came into Salvation Army with me and then vanished at some point.  I’m glad I only buy knockoffs.
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Somewhat Abashedly Prep.

I have a long history of really hating “prep”.  From growing up in a small town in Rural Vermont where “prep” was synonymous with “stupid jocky douchebag” to being a thrift jockey in southern Maine and being told I’m not “authentic” enough because I don’t own 500 birds eye sweaters and have the wrong brand of boat shoe.

As a (former) punk, I’ve always tried to blaze my own trail.  Consequently I eschewed prep (and many other potential stylistic options) because that lifestyle was not mine, and I didn’t want it to be (plus I was raised Catholic, so I’m ordered by God to set fire to Protestants… right?)  Prep wasn’t me, so it wasn’t for me maaaaan.

However, thanks to the internet I get to see that I was 100% wrong.

For better or worse, styles traditionally reserved for one social group aren’t as tightly bound to lifestyle anymore.  Stylistic movements like Black Ivy or Japanese Americana, can re-purpose prep staples to their own ends without the lifestyle trappings, why can’t I?

So here’s to embracing the preppy side.  You can’t stay an angry punk forever.

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Thrifted:

Lerner Shop Wool Tennis Sweater (Made in the British Crown Colony of Hong Kong) - $4

Custom? (no tags) OCBD - $5

UNIQLO jeans - $11.20

Sebago Penny Loafers - $7 ($8?)

Also, RIP my sunglasses which came into Salvation Army with me and then vanished at some point.  I’m glad I only buy knockoffs.

I just blue myself… I know it’s Pitti and everyone is suddenly like “OMG!! Bright colors are the gratest EVAR!!  NOW WE LOVE BRIGHT CRAZY COLORS!!”  But this is just another day in the office for me (well… consignment shop, but stay with me). Last Pitti, if I remember correctly, “Blogger Blue” was all the rage.  Well… that’s what I call “blue”, I wear it very often, and it matches well with just about every color out there, neutrals like brown, black, olive, and tan and bold colors from orange to pink to kelly green. Plus it’s just about the only bright color that feels appropriate on a day like this.  I think we’re on about our 8th inch of snow.  Happy winter y’all. ——————————————————————————————— Thrifted: Shetland “Iles Knit” Blue Sweater - $11 LL Bean OCBD - $2.50 Polo Olive Sport Coat - $4 Pocket Square - $1.50
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I just blue myself…

I know it’s Pitti and everyone is suddenly like “OMG!! Bright colors are the gratest EVAR!!  NOW WE LOVE BRIGHT CRAZY COLORS!!”  But this is just another day in the office for me (well… consignment shop, but stay with me).

Last Pitti, if I remember correctly, “Blogger Blue” was all the rage.  Well… that’s what I call “blue”, I wear it very often, and it matches well with just about every color out there, neutrals like brown, black, olive, and tan and bold colors from orange to pink to kelly green.

Plus it’s just about the only bright color that feels appropriate on a day like this.  I think we’re on about our 8th inch of snow.  Happy winter y’all.

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Thrifted:

Shetland “Iles Knit” Blue Sweater - $11

LL Bean OCBD - $2.50

Polo Olive Sport Coat - $4

Pocket Square - $1.50

Corduroy and Cashmere.

Upwards of 60 again today.  Good day for a corduroy jacket.  I like the mix here of the corduroy wales with the cable knit cashmere.  This outfit also speaks to the value of vintage items.  The shoes and jacket are both thrifted vintage pieces, $8 and $3 respectively.  Slightly better than the $600 and $180 you’d spend on comparable pieces.

And since the jacket is unstructured with big patch pockets, it means it looks just as modern as this season’s items.  And since the shoes are shell cordovan it means they’ll last basically forever.

While you might have some trouble finding some more “modern” items, finding anything that’s coming back after a long time out of fashion, or that’s “timeless” (corduroy jackets, tweed, flannel pants, etc…) is fairly easy and infinitely cheaper to thrift than to buy retail.

Consider this an addendum to my style/fashion piece yesterday. This sweater is 100% authentic.  Made in Donegal Ireland from Irish wool by John Molloy for Brewster J Burns (whose name is has its own tag sewn above the makers tag).  Picked up in a thrift store for $5.  And to be honest?  I got it because I’ve been seeing them on the internet. These are “in” right now.  I never gave much thought to Aran sweaters before the F/W pics started coming out.  So what is this? Style or Fashion? My jeans are 501’s.  Bought last year.  My first foray into Raw Denim which I got when I got into the blogosphere and realized there were other options than my classic “whatever’s cheapest” model.  Style or Fashion? My boots are Wolverine’s.  My dad’s from when he was still banging nails.  They’re 20+ years old and have been through 10 years of hard work and 10 of sitting in the basement.  But workwear is out right now.  So these aren’t cool.  But I think they’re cool, so what are they?  Style or Fashion? You tell me.
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Consider this an addendum to my style/fashion piece yesterday.

This sweater is 100% authentic.  Made in Donegal Ireland from Irish wool by John Molloy for Brewster J Burns (whose name is has its own tag sewn above the makers tag).  Picked up in a thrift store for $5.  And to be honest?  I got it because I’ve been seeing them on the internet.

These are “in” right now.  I never gave much thought to Aran sweaters before the F/W pics started coming out.  So what is this? Style or Fashion?

My jeans are 501’s.  Bought last year.  My first foray into Raw Denim which I got when I got into the blogosphere and realized there were other options than my classic “whatever’s cheapest” model.  Style or Fashion?

My boots are Wolverine’s.  My dad’s from when he was still banging nails.  They’re 20+ years old and have been through 10 years of hard work and 10 of sitting in the basement.  But workwear is out right now.  So these aren’t cool.  But I think they’re cool, so what are they?  Style or Fashion?

You tell me.

Thrifting today means a simple outfit.  OCBD, Lee Jeans, sandy Bucks and a brown belt.  Some bracelets so it doesn’t get boring. Oh, and my fashion shovel.
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Thrifting today means a simple outfit.  OCBD, Lee Jeans, sandy Bucks and a brown belt.  Some bracelets so it doesn’t get boring.

Oh, and my fashion shovel.

Well my weekend is over.  Back to work. Now except for the red shoes, this outfit is pretty conservative (by my standards). Except for the red shoes, and the tie. I think it’s important to remember that as important as anchor pieces and loud pieces are for balance, if you have a totally staid outfit except for (in this case) red shoes, it ceases to be about what you’re wearing and becomes “LOOK AT MY RED SHOES!!!!!” BUT! If you have a heavily patterned tie (that conveniently echoes all the colors in the outfit) and a vest (instead of a blazer/sport coat), you can put enough of a twist on it so that it’s still an outfit, and not just a pair of shoes… and some other stuff. Or at least that’s what I think.
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Well my weekend is over.  Back to work.

Now except for the red shoes, this outfit is pretty conservative (by my standards).

Except for the red shoes, and the tie.

I think it’s important to remember that as important as anchor pieces and loud pieces are for balance, if you have a totally staid outfit except for (in this case) red shoes, it ceases to be about what you’re wearing and becomes “LOOK AT MY RED SHOES!!!!!”

BUT! If you have a heavily patterned tie (that conveniently echoes all the colors in the outfit) and a vest (instead of a blazer/sport coat), you can put enough of a twist on it so that it’s still an outfit, and not just a pair of shoes… and some other stuff.

Or at least that’s what I think.

So one advantage of working a regular mans schedule (9-5? what am I? an office drone? I work 10-6 thank you very much).  Is I get to dress to go out.  I’m finally embracing my collection of black shoes.  These sing monks (tm) are actually Wolverines (Weapon X style!) which is an advantage of thrifting.  You turn up stuff that you never even knew existed. Either way.  I’ma get my weekend on.
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So one advantage of working a regular mans schedule (9-5? what am I? an office drone? I work 10-6 thank you very much).  Is I get to dress to go out.  I’m finally embracing my collection of black shoes.  These sing monks (tm) are actually Wolverines (Weapon X style!) which is an advantage of thrifting.  You turn up stuff that you never even knew existed.

Either way.  I’ma get my weekend on.

So for those of you that don’t know, I worked from Friday Jul 29th-Thursday Aug 4th.  Then had one day off, then worked Saturday (6th)-today (9th).  I wouldn’t call this causal Friday.  Ashley suggested tussled Tuesday. Either way, my weekend starts tomorrow.
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So for those of you that don’t know, I worked from Friday Jul 29th-Thursday Aug 4th.  Then had one day off, then worked Saturday (6th)-today (9th).  I wouldn’t call this causal Friday.  Ashley suggested tussled Tuesday.

Either way, my weekend starts tomorrow.

Hipster business casual.
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Hipster business casual.

Oh I’m sorry, I didn’t see you there.  I was too busy skinning a leopard to make some shoes.
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Oh I’m sorry, I didn’t see you there.  I was too busy skinning a leopard to make some shoes.

Collar Roll. Thrifted custom shirt (now I just pretend it’s custom for me).
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Collar Roll.

Thrifted custom shirt (now I just pretend it’s custom for me).

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.)
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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.)