The rules and standards of the basic
tenets of dressing well are, for men at
least, pretty rigidly defined. However, living in Boston, Ole Ma Nature throws one a hell of a lot of
curve balls (and breaking balls, and knuckle balls, and off-speed pitches). A
fella's got to know how to adapt.
It's June, but it's rainy, dreary and downright chilly. Not one to opt for clothing grossly out of season, I instead reached for a light blue "chambray"( read: '
Brookslinen', a blend likely comprised of mostly polyester with just a touch of actual linen, and a chambray like weave. Who cares? It wears well, looks good, and cost cheap) jacket by Brooks Brothers ($7.49), with khaki pants (J.Crew "Essential Chinos", $5.49), and a nautically themed shirt and tie ( navy shirt by Polo, $.99, tie by Brooks Brothers, $.99). A Summer
palette at heart, though not to cheery for a grey sky.
I'll admit, I'm not really one for a dark shirt and light jacket combo, but I dig this navy button down. I think it sets off the light blue jacket nicely, as well as the burgundy tie. The gingham cotton square holds it all together, as the little details most often do. Could be that a navy button down is finding it's way into 'staple' status in my Summer kit. Yes, it's a dark shirt, but the overall nautical tilt of this color scheme makes it all o.k....I think...
Down below (or below decks...forgive me, but besides living in Boston and the proliferation of sea-faring themes in much of the classic American
men's wardrobe, I've also been reading Herman Melville lately), a dirty old pair of
Converse Chuck
Taylors, in natural canvas. Recently, a reader sent us a link to
this article in the Guardian about dressing one's age. While I agree with about 90% of it, that bit about a man of 34 being too old for Chuck
Taylors was too much. True, black high tops and
fluorescent colors are best left to the kids, but I see no problem with a stylish man of any age wearing natural canvas, white, navy or even red if he's zesty. Seriously. Besides, that blue jacket has a way of screaming "Bob Hope" if I'm not careful. Gotta keep it in check with a vital dose of youth.
Finally, the Scrimshaw tie bar was probably a bit much with the sea gull and anchor tie. Oh well, call it a
curve ball.
It's June, but it's rainy, dreary and downright chilly. Not one to opt for clothing grossly out of season, I instead reached for a light blue "chambray"( read: 'Brookslinen', a blend likely comprised of mostly polyester with just a touch of actual linen, and a chambray like weave. Who cares? It wears well, looks good, and cost cheap) jacket by Brooks Brothers ($7.49), with khaki pants (J.Crew "Essential Chinos", $5.49), and a nautically themed shirt and tie ( navy shirt by Polo, $.99, tie by Brooks Brothers, $.99). A Summer palette at heart, though not to cheery for a grey sky.
I'll admit, I'm not really one for a dark shirt and light jacket combo, but I dig this navy button down. I think it sets off the light blue jacket nicely, as well as the burgundy tie. The gingham cotton square holds it all together, as the little details most often do. Could be that a navy button down is finding it's way into 'staple' status in my Summer kit. Yes, it's a dark shirt, but the overall nautical tilt of this color scheme makes it all o.k....I think...
Down below (or below decks...forgive me, but besides living in Boston and the proliferation of sea-faring themes in much of the classic American men's wardrobe, I've also been reading Herman Melville lately), a dirty old pair of Converse Chuck Taylors, in natural canvas. Recently, a reader sent us a link to this article in the Guardian about dressing one's age. While I agree with about 90% of it, that bit about a man of 34 being too old for Chuck Taylors was too much. True, black high tops and fluorescent colors are best left to the kids, but I see no problem with a stylish man of any age wearing natural canvas, white, navy or even red if he's zesty. Seriously. Besides, that blue jacket has a way of screaming "Bob Hope" if I'm not careful. Gotta keep it in check with a vital dose of youth.
Finally, the Scrimshaw tie bar was probably a bit much with the sea gull and anchor tie. Oh well, call it a curve ball.
Hey Im very excited to have found you blog. I think you might enjoy some of my humble posts as well as we seem to part of a similar vein. would love to know what you think.
ReplyDeletewww.layeredgoods.com
-mattpecina
Afraid this one's homeless shelter chic...just my opinion: I could be wrong.
ReplyDeleteHey, why no credit for sending in the article? I'm not just any 'reader'. Just giving you a hard time...
ReplyDeletethat tie bar is awesome
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteWhat method do you use to get creases in your khakis? I can never seem to get it right myself, and some help would be appreciated!
Forgive me, but something about the fit on the jacket isn't right...is it just me?
ReplyDeleteNice togs!
ReplyDeleteWhile navy blue shirts bleed too much color from my fair-complected face, this one works for you.
I do have a couple of French--er, excuse me--Freedom blue shirts, and I have been known to wear one with white ducks and a navy blazer.
Agree that the shirt-darker-than-jacket look is difficult, and best avoided--but I think this shirt goes well with this jacket. The pocket square is a touch of genius.
The tie and tie bar are downright jaunty! "Sailing, sailing, over the bounding main..."
Love the comments about the chucks. I'm 49 and have the ones you mention; white, natural, navy, red and black(no hightops). They are indispensable.
ReplyDeleteTruly outlandish! And they call ADG the exuberant one...
ReplyDeleteWhat colors would you find acceptable for a woman of the same age?
ReplyDeleteLaguna,
ReplyDeleteWait till you see the next post....
Anon.,
For ladies, the above mentioned colors, plus yellow, pink, green and pastels.
Just my humble opinion.
Great footwear! I love my Chucks ... and I have them in red, blue, and brown currently.
ReplyDeleteThey add the perfect amount of casualness to just about any outfit.
to borrow a phrase from the gun nuts...they will get my hightop canvas chuch taylors when they pry them from my cold dead feet.
ReplyDeletethe same can be said of my bowties.
at 41, i get told i wear kids shoes and grandpas ties.
ah hell, just enough punk rock in my background to say hell with it, i wear what i like
The pockets are too high (all three), and you need to smile, you have a great smile, so use it.
ReplyDelete~M
TRVS,
ReplyDeleteI know, especially the breast pocket. Also, the notches in the lapels are cut a little high. Weird.
As for the other comment, Mrs. G. has often said the same thing, but I have a tendency to be self concious about my less than perfect teeth.
Perfect teeth are boring, they're usually fake. So smile!
ReplyDelete