What is style? To me, it's not just good taste. A man whose regular garb consists of two button suits in conservative cloth, black oxfords, white shirts and solid neckties lacks individuality, and without individuality there can be no style.
Personal style is a consistent gestalt of individual choices, with the emphasis on individual. Where is the individual in a crowd wearing striped suits, Hermes ties and Gucci loafers?
That said, style can be consistent with business dress. The dress in the photo from Alan Flusser Custom is made up of conservative elements. It's the small touches that add individuality, like the double breasted jacket with a stripe alternating single and double beads. A uniform, but an individualized one.
That's style.
Friday, October 19, 2007
What's Style?
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5 comments:
Well said. I agree with eveything you, except.....
The dress in the photo from Alan Flusser Custom is composed, not comrised, of conservative elements. However, the ensamble in the photo comprises several conservative elements.
The parts compose the whole. The whole comprises the parts. Good usage goes well with fine attire. ;-)
Good catch. Fixed now.
One of my favorite movies is Wall Street for Michael Douglas's wardrobe created by Flusser. I have had some shirts made there and have purchased some ties, socks and pocket squares. The people are all very nice there. I look at Flusser's books weekly as well.
Well said, Will! Developing that eye is essential to learning to dress with distinction. Thank you for your continuing support of the arts (of dressing well.)
Very well said Will. I appreciate your distinction between good taste and individual style. I would point out that the guy wearing the tasteful navy suit and black oxfords, and the people wearing striped suits, Hermes ties, and Gucci loafers, certainly demonstrate good taste in comparison to the mob, and therefore we probably shouldn't be too hard on them. But, good taste is not synonymous with individual style. And that's the key.
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