Photo: Beijingchic
Highly personal, difference-seeking dress requires a touch of outrageousness. It's difference from the norm, and the cries of outrage that accompany it, that draw the attention of the public. For without attention there is no emulation, and without emulation there can be no trends.
Photo: REUTERS/Lucas Jackson
When fortune shines upon us, for every tasteless attempt at self-promotion by a David Beckham or a Johnny Depp we can find a Wes Anderson or Daniel Day-Lewis pushing the boundaries of dress. In each case they have substituted brighter colors (Anderson's ensemble includes a jacket) for the usual neutral suitings.
For most men, so much attention seeking is inappropriate. Tomorrow, provided the sun shines brightly enough for photography, we'll look at several suits that manage to be stylish without drawing a second look.
For most men, so much attention seeking is inappropriate. Tomorrow, provided the sun shines brightly enough for photography, we'll look at several suits that manage to be stylish without drawing a second look.
Posts
6 comments:
In Day-Lewis’ case the bespoke tailoring and fine cloth somewhat mitigates the loud pattern and color. And considering the quality of his work, I must extend the benefit of the doubt to him regarding his fundamental integrity
As a Canadian I must recommend that you research the individual style of Don Cherry, a Canadian hockey icon.
I have to ask you, Will, and the fellow readers of this post about something which has bothered my slightly OCD self since I can remember paying attention to such things... Day-Lewis's suit clearly has patters which do not meet or even relate at the seams. I have long since been under the impression (drawn from sources such as Thomas Mahon) that quality, true quality, in tailoring will include such attention to detail, that lines should meet or at least relate at the shoulders, with respect to darting, wherever pockets or flaps are sewn, etc., and while I admit that in some cases strong pinstripes which only meet perfectly everywhere can exude a sort of illusory, geometrically induced vertigo, I can't help but be totally distracted and turned off with such haphazard seams, especially when the patter is so strong. Indeed, not that that pattern must meet perfectly, but at the very least relate creatively with some respect to symmetry and balance.
Arctic, look at the white horizontal stripes and how they are matched up. That suit's done about as well as it can be.
[...] without emulation there can be no trends.
Unless the trend is not to emulate.
I would wear what Daniel Day-Lewis is wearing in the photo, and I'm certainly not a trendy guy.
The thing that Wes Anderson is wearing just confuses me. Is he being hip or is he not quite finished dressing yet? Or I guess that's the point?
Merry Christmas, Will. I thoroughly enjoy visiting your blog.
It's very interesting reading your blog and comparing it to street-style blogs to see what is considered "breaking the norm" in two different fashion circles. Something unusual here would be an almost unnoticed change in urbanwear groups, while something "out of the box" (or even in the box) there would be unacceptable here. Thanks for the perspective, Will.
Post a Comment