That's it Chet! Worn with round collared shirts with puffy sleeves, tight jeans with bell bottoms and platform heeled boots, all of which I will own up to. A true low point in male fashion after which I was only ever going to look better.
Last edited by Chet (2017-05-02 12:15:07)
We all did. When I was 15, I wore Ivy stuff though. Really. Two years later grunge, and after that gothic... loads of ridiculous stuff...
Gents, here is my written advice to my 16 year old nephew a while back, I think he's taken some of it on board.
Here is my advice, gained over 45 years of buying clothes for myself, I have made many mistakes, wasted loads of money, but always drifted back to the simple clean cut American or Italian style that drives menswear to this day.
Take or leave it, or just take bits of it.
• Don’t let women choose clothes for you, they rarely get it right -if ever.
• When you buy stuff think how it’s going to match with what you’ve already got, be careful buying random brightly coloured items just because they take your fancy.
• Fit is everything, cheaper stuff that fits is better than really expensive clobber that doesn’t, however remember ‘buy cheap you may buy twice’.
• Stick to certain colours for your staple items, Navy Blue, Khaki, Light Blue all work together, later you can weave in some olive green and white.
• Never wear more than one patterned item.
• Leave black alone except for shoes, it’s too stark so leave it to rockers, goths and old Greek ladies.
• Avoid stuff with pictures or writing on it except classic college wear like Champion or Russell, no one will remember that Superdry existed in 20 years time.
• Don’t do free advertising by wearing stuff with logos on it unless it’s classic discrete badging like Lacoste, Fred Perry, Ralph Lauren. Those little RL ponies are alright but never those. cheesy shirts with the giant polo player on the chest -mostly Arabs and Russian sleazeballs that wear them.
• Don’t wear sportswear unless you’re playing sport, apart from noble items that have stood the test of time like Fred Perry tennis shirts or Converse sneakers.
• Don’t wear pointy shoes ….. ever.
• Hoodies should naturally be approached with extreme caution and only worn sparingly in the most casual of situations e.g. skating, hanging out in youth shelters or graffiti tagging.
• Baseball caps with flat peaks make you look like a complete scumbag and are an invitation to be stopped by the police.
• Don’t spend too much money and effort chasing fashion, true style never goes out of fashion.
• Don’t wear stuff just because your mates are wearing it (unless they have good taste of course), fashion is the ordinary look, don’t wear the ordinary look ……… ever.
• Avoid extremes, too skinny/too baggy etc, low cut jeans are okay ….. for girls.
• Project your own style, look different to the herd but never stand out, fly under the radar, don’t look like you are trying too hard.
Here are my recommendations; to get you started I may be able help you out with some of this stuff or show you where to lay your hands on it for reasonable cash.
Basic Ivy Starter Wardrobe
Shirts
1 x Button Down French Blue
1 x Button Down Lightweight Dark Denim
1 x Button Down University Stripe Blue/White
1 x Polo Navy Blue
2 x White Crew Neck T’s
Sweaters
1 x Sweatshirt Light Grey Crew Neck
1 x Sweater Navy Blue Crew Neck Lambswool or Shetland
Trousers
1 x Jeans Indigo Blue
1 x Chinos Khaki
Belts
1 x Leather Brown 1 ¼”
1 x Cotton Surcingle
Socks
6 x assorted Grey and Navy Blue
Footwear
1 x Sneakers Plain White (Converse?)
1 x Desert Boots Khaki
Ties
1 x Knitted Navy Blue or Black
Outerwear
1 x Combat Jacket (zip out liner)
1 x Harrington Jacket Navy Blue
Headgear
1 x Watch Cap Navy Blue
1 x Baseball Cap Navy Blue or Khaki
Sunglasses
1 x Tortoiseshell or Aviator Style
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Future Targets
1 x Penny Loafers Burgundy
1 x Button Down Plaid Check Shirt
1 x Button Down White Shirt
1 x Polo Shirt White
1 x Polo Shirt Olive Green
1 x Sports Jacket Medium Weight Grey Herringbone – 3/2 roll natural shoulder
One Day
1 x Suit Dark Grey Plain - 3/2 roll natural shoulder
1 x Raincoat Single Breasted Fly Front
1 x Black Lace up shoes – plain front or brogue
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
Any comments?
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