How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe, Pt. 1

We’ve all wondered how to build a capsule wardrobe: that ideal state where your overtly materialistic tendencies are replaced by Zen-like peace of mind; you dress how you want every day, you own only what you wear, and you are one with the Force. Nobody lives this way, but it’s a nice goal. In this two-part article, I’ll elaborate a bit on the thought processes you can take to work towards it. In part 1, we’ll focus on who you are, and what you’d like to wear.


Appraise your current wardrobe and where you are in your menswear journey.

Are you a newbie who’s just getting into clothing? That is, you’ve just come across Styleforum and are realizing that everything you know is wrong? Or have you already amassed a large wardrobe of clothing, but still find it difficult to decide what to wear?

In either case, you have much to learn, and I’m not just talking about the “rules.” I mean about yourself—your style; the version of yourself you want to project through your clothing that is most sensible for your lifestyle and life’s circumstances. If you’re just starting out, resist the urge to buy any and every awesome piece of clothing you see on B&S/eBay/deep discount. You will do yourself a great favor by just making do with your current wardrobe while you figure things out. How do you “figure things out?” You observe and participate in discussions here, and find the “Coherent Combinations for Beginners” cached Internet Archive thread from Voxsartoria.

If you’ve got an already-large wardrobe, pay attention to what you come back to time and again. Pare your closet down to what you actually wear. I alway put my most recently worn shirt to the furthest right in my closet. I almost never get more than 8-10 shirts deep before I’ve washed them and start over again with those same shirts. All the shirts to the left of that are either: 1- Seasonal shirts (madras or linen or Oxford), or 2- Shirts I don’t wear. You can probably safely get rid of the non-seasonal shirts you don’t wear except for the ones you need for special occasions. Figure out a similar system for trousers, jackets, and even shoes.

how to build a capsule wardrobe building a capsule wardrobe styleforum capsule wardrobe

A capsule wardrobe will free up closet space, which just feels good. And unless you have unlimited funds—and assuming what you own is quasi-valuable—you can get actual money out of these obsolete possessions. Sell them on the buying and selling forum, and use that money to upgrade what you keep.

Make a list of what you would want to make your dream capsule wardrobe. 

Making a capsule wardrobe is like packing for vacation: you need versatility, where everything goes with almost everything else. But this is more aspirational—you are picturing what you really want in order to become the best-dressed version of who you want to be. In my case, I actually created a Pinterest board with photos of cool clothes (I found out later a bunch of those pics were of @NickPollica – the Creatie Director at Eidos – before I knew who he was; go figure). I wanted to have a “complete wardrobe,” and I had a bookmarks folder with links to actual products that matched those inspirational photos.

how to build a capsule wardrobe building a capsule wardrobe styleforum capsule wardrobe

This step is the most important, because you’ll find all kinds of awesome stuff on sale that you’ll love and which would totally make your life better if you owned it. But your goal isn’t to buy everything that’s awesome, it’s to make a lean, wearable, flexible wardrobe. Having this list will help you when you’re three sheets to the wind and that Mt Fuji kimono is on clearance at No Man Walks Alone. You can pull it up and remind yourself of what you actually need, not just what would make you the coolest dude this weekend at Acme on Broadway in Nashville.

Having this list also helps you to upgrade what you already have systematically, piece by piece. For instance you may have a workhorse Brooks Brothers suit, but now prefer Italian tailoring. Once you know what in your wardrobe needs to be upgraded, you can start looking for the best replacements.

how to build a capsule wardrobe building a capsule wardrobe styleforum capsule wardrobe

How to Wear Sneakers with a Sport Coat This Summer

suit with sneakers sneakers with sport coat sport coat with sneakers sneakers with suit styleforum

Picture this: you’re packing for your summer vacation. You’re trying to pick the ideal shoe – something you can wear sockless while carrying your towel bag down the rocks to the beach, but something that also works in the evening when you put on a jacket and trousers – or even a suit.

What you want is a white canvas sneaker.

Before you accuse me of telling you lies, let me assure you that wearing sneakers with a sport coat is a fine thing to do, and it’s pretty common in places that aren’t the USA. Arianna tells me that she can remember seeing Fiat managers wearing sneakers with their charcoal and navy suits, and of course sneakers are all over Pitti Uomo. You don’t have to go full-on captain of industry or Pitti peacock-hashtag-menswear to make the sneakers work, though – you just have to avoid the pitfalls of looking like a Disney star or a child playing dress-up.

Let’s talk about those pitfalls first. If you’re going to wear sneakers with a sport coat or a suit, and you’re after inspiration on how to do it, the first images you’ll find on the internet will probably be of either actor-slash-model types standing on the red carpet wearing really tight clothes and designer high-tops, or waifish Scandinavian dudes wearing black suits with white leather slip-ons inside their million-dollar Youtube-content-creator-slash-graphic-design-influencer offices.

Not that I’m jealous.

The point is, a lot of people try really hard to build their tailored outfits around the sneakers they’ve chosen. Along the way, they often pick up a few more trends – really tight trousers, gingham shirts, skinny ties – and this has the effect of making them look, well, childish. Like they’re playing dress-up. That’s not what you want! What you want is to wear sneakers with a jacket and trousers and look like a well-dressed adult.

So, instead of sizing down on everything you own, treat a pair of canvas plimsolls the same way you would a pair of loafers or espadrilles. Wear them sockless, with a lightweight trouser that’s hemmed at the ankle (or even just above, if you’re really feeling the warm weather look). If you’re wearing a suit, it’s probably safest to go with one that’s obviously made for the warmer weather – say, a cotton number in khaki or even green, or natural linen if that’s what you’re after, but an odd jacket and trousers will work just as easily.

There’s no need to buy something fancy, either. In fact, that sort of goes against the intent. White canvas plimsolls from brands such as Vans or Superga will look great, but if you’re really wanting to branch out you could try a leather slip on from Common Projects or Buttero. In all cases, stick to low-tops. Once you’ve picked your sneakers, the next and final step is to put them on your feet and never think about them again. After all, you’ve a life to enjoy.

suit with sneakers sneakers with sport coat sport coat with sneakers sneakers with suit styleforum

The 10 Best Watches Under $1,000

As the good denizens of Styleforum’s “Poor Man’s Watch Thread” know all too well, a great watch need not cost an arm and a leg. There’s a lot of unbelievable value out there for under $1,000, and it’s a price category that worn&wound has long championed and stood by. Below, we’ve put together a list of 10 top-notch, sub-$1,000 watches, many of which make regular appearances on the wrists of Styleforum members.


1. Seiko SNK80x

The gateway drug of watch collecting, the SNK80x series offers what one can easily (and correctly) argue is the best mechanical watch for under $100. It’s robust and handsome, and it’s available in a myriad of colors that make owning more than one a lot of fun. It may not be the last watch you buy, but it’s one you’ll wear for years on end.

For the full review, click here.


2. Orient Bambino

10 Best Watches Under 1000 styleforum worn & wound
The Bambino from Orient is, among collectors of more affordable timepieces, a beloved watch. For those unaware, Orient is a longstanding Japanese brand currently owned by Seiko. Its focus is primarily affordable watches, and it’s a something Orient does exceptionally well. The Bambino currently comes in numerous iterations, which include different dial designs and case sizes. For anyone seeking a simple, dressier piece, look no further.

For the full review, click here.


3. Archimede Outdoor Protect

10 Best Watches Under 1000 styleforum worn & wound
Featuring a solid German build, clean looks, and a totally palatable price tag, the Archimede Outdoor Protect is one heck of a watch. It’s not just a pretty little watch, either. The stainless steel case is surface hardened to 12,000 vickers, which makes it all the more resistant to scratches. If you lead a more active lifestyle, then this is a value-focused mechanical watch worthy of your consideration.

For the full review, click here.


4. Seiko SKX007

10 Best Watches Under 1000 styleforum worn & wound
Aside from the than the Rolex Submariner, the SKX007 is arguably the most famous dive watch out today. Rooted in Seiko’s rich diving history, the SKX007 boasts a classic aesthetic and pairs it with a solid, ISO-rated case. Whether you’re a serious diver or simply a desk diver, this watch deserves a spot in your collection.

For the full review, click here.


5. Seiko SRP77x “Turtle”

10 Best Watches Under 1000 styleforum worn & wound
Yup, another Seiko. The Seiko SRP series, also affectionately known as the “Turtle” due to its unique case, is already shaping up to be a modern icon. Based on the 6309—a dive watch from Seiko’s historical catalog—the SRP took the watch world by storm in early 2016 with its mix of good looks, heritage, and solid build quality. It’s a no-brainer for lovers of a good dive watch.

For the full review, click here.


6. MK II Hawkinge

10 Best Watches Under 1000 styleforum worn & wound
MK II is an American boutique brand focused on producing tool and military-inspired watches with designs honoring some of the greatest mil-spec timekeepers ever devised. The Hawkinge is the brand’s take on the Mark 11, a watch first produced by JLC and IWC for the British MoD during the Second World War. While those watches fetch a pretty penny today, the Hawkinge allows modern consumers to enjoy this classic design at a fraction of the price. Each piece is made in Japan and QC’ed by MK II founder, Bill Yao, in his Pennsylvania workshop.

For the full review, click here.


7. Junghans Max Bill

10 Best Watches Under 1000 styleforum worn & wound
Designed by the unmatched Max Bill, the eponymous line remains largely unchanged from the watches the brand first put out in the ‘60s. With the simple yet powerful design language of the Max Bill, Junghans – itself a storied firm known for producing high quality wares – has produced an ageless classic. Available in both mechanical (manual and automatic) and quartz, there’s something for everybody across the Max Bill line.

For the full review, click here.


8. Dan Henry 1939 Chronograph

10 Best Watches Under 1000 styleforum worn & wound
This list wouldn’t be complete without a chronograph, and because good mechanical chronographs for under $1,000 are few and far between I’m going to include the beautiful 1939 Chronograph from Dan Henry. The brand was founded by – you guessed it – Dan Henry, a mega collector who wanted to bring some of his favorite rare, vintage watches to the masses. And so the 1939 Chronograph was born with the watch being powered by a quartz movement to keep the price down. Beautifully styled with a multitude of vintage cues and superbly finished, the 1939 Chronograph punches well above its price tag.

For the full review, click here.


9. Stowa Antea KS

10 Best Watches Under 1000 styleforum worn & wound
Pulling on a German design that dates back to the 1920s, the Antea KS (Kleine Sekunde, or “small seconds”) is a true bauhaus icon. Unsurprisingly, the watch looks just as good now as it did then with its unique cylindrical case, hard angles, and silvered dial. And internally, the watch is no slouch either, the Antea KS being powered by the venerable Peseux 7001 movement.

For the full review, click here.


10. Sinn 556i

10 Best Watches Under 1000 styleforum worn & wound
Okay, so I’m cheating a little bit with this last one, but the Sinn 556i can often be found for well under $1,000 on the secondary market, and it’s a worn&wound favorite. Sinn is a well-respected German brand known for producing tough-as-nails watches at unmatched prices given everything one gets with a Sinn watch. The 556i series is the company’s entry-level offering, but Sinn cuts no corners in overall build quality. The 556i is solid, perfectly sized at 38.5mm, and with the right set of straps it can serve as your single, all-purpose watch.

For the full review, click here.


Ilya Ryvin is the managing editor at Worn & Wound, a leading source of information on value-driven watches. He is also a frequent reader and fan of the “Poor Man’s Watch Thread.”

Visiting La Stoffa Clothing

Few clothing companies can lay claim to owning an aesthetic.  The best brands combine beauty with function in a way that is organic and intuitive, when each of their products are simple, alluring, and useful.

This is Stòffa, who I found out about purely by accident.

Months ago, while enjoying drams of Macallan and Highland Park, Ian, a fellow forumite and friend, told me about them in hushed tones of awe.  

“Have you seen their jackets?” he asked, to which I admitted I hadn’t.  “You’ll be hearing about them soon,” he proclaimed, and while my interest was piqued, I never followed up, and quickly forgot.

Later, my editor, Jasper, sends me an email:

Stòffa is doing a trunk show this week in San Francisco.  Write an article.

Since I had to leave for Los Angeles in a few days, I quickly emailed Agyesh of Stòffa.  He was completely booked, but would be doing a trunk show in LA that weekend, so we made an appointment for Sunday.  In the meantime, I did my research: what is Stòffa?

Turns out, Stòffa is everything you ever wanted in a jacket.  And trousers.  And much more.

Sunday rolls around, and I meet Agyesh in a new development in Culver City.  He is keen to meet before he shows me any of his wares, and I’m glad I did.  Over Blue Bottle Coffee, Agyesh reveals himself to be an everyman who loves clothes.  “I was a computer engineer,” he begins, “Developing interfaces for the end user, where their experience was paramount.  Then I worked at Isaia, had an unlimited budget, an amazing mentor and the very best resources at our disposal, and could go anywhere I wanted to creatively.  But the concept felt so detached from the customer – the end user.  And the waste,” his head kicks back and his hands wave. “There is so much waste, did you know that?  

“With Stòffa, it’s practically nothing. With retail, you made so much more than what we sell. It’s almost impossible to get out of that cycle with retailers; I wanted a new supply and delivery chain from the start with Stòffa.”

The way Agyesh is able to do this is simple: take your order, and your order is made.  There is no stock, nothing that may or may not be bought.  There are just four jackets, six options of material, and every piece is made to order.  And more important: made to measure. Also, fabrics are created in such away that they are used across categories, and the same raw yarn used multiple times.

“The guys that I know that are into suits, they are so conscious of fit and proportions,” Agyesh says, “Which is fine, but when they wear casual clothes, they are not nearly as particular. They settle with what is made for them.  That is ridiculous.”

As a man with a stature less like the Adonis-esque models often chosen for menswear, I personally have found that, with suiting, bespoke offers a fit that cannot be achieved with simple alterations to off-the-rack garments.  Agyesh takes that model and applies it to casual wear.  “If you’re short,” he explains, “We won’t simply shorten the sleeves.  We’ll shorten the length, raise the pockets.  Everything to make it look proportional.”

With a background in programming UI and working at one of the world’s most well-known clothing manufacturers, I’m convinced this man knows about how things should fit.  But what about style?

“I had in mind a relaxed and elegant style coupled with a little personality that suits the lifestyle and context of a man in the modern times. Someone who is always one the move and wants to maintain an air of elegance without forced formality through every aspect of his life.”  The result is neither fastidious nor slovenly. Simple and casual, yet elegant.

He then shows me to his samples at the trunk show, and I am awestruck.  Not by anything radical or unusual, but by the distinct approach to an otherwise staid concept.  The four jacket styles are nothing new – their flight jacket, field jacket, asymmetric jacket (similar to a double rider) and longer coat are hallmarks of casual menswear and a staple in most men’s closets.  However, it’s the way in which they are rendered that makes them fresh: large pockets, sweeping collars, and luxe fabrics. 

Agyesh gives me a flight jacket to try on first.  “This is the most elegant,” he says, and I immediately see why.  The clean and familiar lines evoke just enough nostalgia while avoiding gimmicky costume.  Instinctively I reach to put my hands in side pockets, and they’re there.  Agyesh notices. “We wanted to make something practical, not simply an exercise in art,” he says.

Agyesh himself is sporting the asymmetrical jacket in taupe, which looks unassumingly chic with his breezy rumpled linen trousers and beat-up Superga sneakers.  “I’ve had this for over two years,” he says with a smile.  “All of our clothes are tested for a year or more.  It’s something I’ve taken from my years as a developer – nothing was released until it had months of testing.  I wanted to make sure everything not just lasted but looked better with time.”

Finally I tried on the asymmetrical coat, a three-quarter length piece with generous lapels that inconspicuously buttons off-center.  “There is absolutely no structure in this, no lining,” Agyesh explains, “so we had to shape it with seams.”  Indeed, for a coat so light, I’m impressed by its classic cut down through the waist and graceful a-line sweep outward.  This is the  jacket I’m getting.  Or…Agyesh’s.  Or maybe the flight jacket.  

I’m still undecided.

If you’re interested in seeing Stòffa’s wares for yourself, you’ll have to make it to one of their trunk shows – remember, everything is made to order, and you can’t buy the clothes online. Stòffa  has trunk shows every 5-6 weeks in LA, San Francisco, New York, and Stockholm, which hopefully will give you enough time make a decision.

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Inspiration and The Pleasure of Unexpected Menswear Combinations

Sometimes, despite having lived with the contents of our wardrobes for years (or months, for some of our more enthusiastic members), we happen to stumble upon a combination of garments we’ve never worn together before. Sometimes, if the stars have truly aligned, that combination may even be a great combination. I’m not just talking about this constant, social-media-fueled drive to separate ourselves from other, lesser wearers of clothing by sporting nonsensical mixes of stuff. Rather, I’m talking about considered combinations that you just haven’t considered before.

Some of these may come to you as real “Duh” moments – such as realizing that the green grenadine tie you rarely wear actually goes quite well with your brown suit, or what the plain white oxford you forgot you owned goes with just about everything you wear. Other combinations may come from randomly putting a jacket over a shirt and deciding you like the way you look. Still other types of inspiration may smack you in the face while you’re getting into bed, and you’ll think something like, as I recently did, “How come I never wear those beautiful loafers on my shoe shelf?” and pretty soon you’re running over possible combinations in your head.

My fear, as both a reader and writer interested in men’s clothing, is that we very easily get conditioned into safe clothing combinations. This can happen in many ways. On Styleforum, for example, we see it happen when a well-regarded poster shares an outfit in a WAYWT thread, and soon after other posters are attempting something similar until we reach a point when we all think we desperately need the same pair of linen socks for summer.

In the same way, certain combinations are so over-shared by other menswear outlets – every man “needs” a pair of snuff-suede double-monks to wear with worn jeans and a tailored jacket – that pretty soon every item in our wardrobes become part of a set that can’t be broken up. We start to think things such as “I wear these trousers with this jacket and this tie and this shirt, and these jeans with these boots and this jacket and sweater.” Of course, this isn’t always a bad thing. Over time, we all develop favorite combinations that we return to over and over again. However, it can still be a relief to break out of a habit and stumble upon some inspiration.

Many of the people I think of as stylish, both on the forum and in real life, not only dress very well, but dress in a way that makes me think “huh.” Sometimes this comes from unexpected color combinations, sometimes from unexpected or well-done silhouettes I’ve never tried, and sometimes for well-considered details. Especially since this is the time of year when we’re all going through our closets, wondering what we can get rid of, I’d encourage you to take another look at what’s actually hanging inside. If you’re feeling really plucky, you might even lay out some garments on the kitchen table. If you’re lucky, you might even stumble upon a new favorite. 

How to Use the Styleforum Classified System

Using the Classified System in Styleforum’s New Buy & Sell Interface


  1. Seller Dashboard

    1. Overview
    2. Terms & Conditions

  2. How to Post a Classified in Styleforum’s New Buy & Sell Interface

    1. Accessing Archived Listings
    2. Creating a New Listing
      1. Categories
      2. Create & Edit
      3. Paypal
      4. Add Images
        1. Uploading Images
        2. Uploading a Cover Image
      5. Discussions / Updating your Listing

  1. How to Use (and Buy from) Styleforum’s New Buy & Sell Interface

    1. Searching Buy & Sell
    2. Asking questions
    3. Individual Sellers
    4. Watching a Listing
    5. Buying a Listing

Note that the new term for a Buy & Sell post is “Resource.”

Seller Dashboard

  1. Navigate to your Seller Dashboard from the Buy & Sell dropdown menu as show below:
    new Styleforum Classified System xenforo

    Inside your seller dashboard, you will be able to see your listings, your terms & conditions, and – in the future – see statistics on your sales.

  2. Terms and Conditions
    When you create a classified listing, you will be prompted to set Terms & Conditions for your sale. You can do this on an individual listing, or you can set Terms & Conditions that will apply to every listing you create from within your dashboard.

How to Post a Classified in Styleforum’s New Buy & Sell Interface

1. Accessing your archived posts

Classified posts from the old Styleforum platform were not imported into the new system. This is due not only to the limitations of the older system, but also because we wanted to build a more robust Buy & Sell system for our members.

To access your old classifieds listings, please visit the archive here:

http://www.styleforum.net/forums/#archives.20807

2. Creating a New Classified Listing

  1. First, navigate to the Buy & Sell subforum (1.)from the Nav Bar. Then, click “Add Classified” (2.):

    new Styleforum Classified System xenforo

  2. Next, from the dropdown menu that appears in the popup, select the category of garment or accessory you would like to add:

    new Styleforum Classified System xenforo

    Please note that within the same dropdown menu, categories are separated into “Classic Menswear” (at the top) and “Streetwear and Denim” (towards the bottom). Be sure to select the most accurate category.

  3. Once you’ve selected a category for your listing, you will be able to create and edit your listing:

    new Styleforum Classified System xenforo

    Note that you are currently required to fill out all fields

3. Paypal

You now have the option to buy and sell directly through your Paypal account. Note: Styleforum does not store your account information aside from the address – all transactions are done through Paypal.

Linking your Paypal allows buyers to purchase from you directly, without having to deal with back-and-forth messages.

4. Uploading Images

There are 4 ways to upload an image: hotlink, direct upload, and drag-and-drop. Here’s how you do each:

  • To drag-and-drop an image, simply drag your image into the reply box.
  • To post an image from your library, click here:
    New styleforum interface help FAQ Xenforo
  • To link to an image via URL, click here:
    New styleforum interface help FAQ Xenforo
  • To upload an image to Styleforum directly, click here. (RECOMMENDED)
    New styleforum interface help FAQ Xenforo

You can attach more than one image at once!

Which way should I do it?

If you want your picture to remain hosted on Styleforum  (you do), option 4 is your best bet. This ensures that the picture remains on the Styleforum server, even if it has been deleted from its outside host. This is the equivalent of the “Attach Image” feature from the old platform.

2. Adding a Cover Image

To add a cover image to your listing, check the “Upload Resource Icon” box at the bottom of the classified creation page:

new Styleforum Classified System xenforo

3. When you are finished, click the “Save” box at the bottom of the editor to post your listing.

5. Discussions / Updating Your Listing

Once you have saved your listing, you will see the option to view both “Overview” and “Discussion” tabs within the listing:

new Styleforum Classified System xenforo

In the discussion tab, you can post updates on your item, offer further information, or chat with interested buyers.


How to Use (and Buy from) Styleforum’s New Buy & Sell Interface

  1. Searching Buy & Sell
    1. When browsing the Buy & Sell subforum, you have the option to see the full list of current classifieds or to search for exactly what you want.
      1. To see all classifieds, click the “Buy & Sell” tab on the nav bar.
      2. To search for a specific item, hover your mouse over the “Buy & Sell” tab on the nav bar, and then select “Search Classifieds.” You will then be able to search by category within either the Classic Menswear or Streetwear and Denim selling subfora.

        new Styleforum Classified System xenforo

  2. Individual Sellers
    1. To see all the items offered by an individual seller, click the author name. This can be accessed either from inside an individual listing, or from the main Buy & Sell page.

      new Styleforum Classified System xenforo

    2. You can view seller feedback by clicking “View Trading Profile” within the Author tab.

      new Styleforum Classified System xenforo

  3. Asking a Question
    Once you have selected an item, you may wish to ask the seller a question. To do so, click the “Discuss this Resource” button on the right-hand side of the page.


  4. Watching a Listing
    You can now add listings to your “Watch List.” To do so, navigate to the item you wish to watch, and then click “Watch This Resource.”

    new Styleforum Classified System xenforo

    To see all of your watched listings, select “Watched Resources” from the Buy & Sell dropdown menu.

    new Styleforum Classified System xenforo

  5. Buying a Listing
    1. Buy Now
      The simplest way to buy an item is through Paypal, by clicking the “Buy Now” button at the top right of the listing:

      new Styleforum Classified System xenforo

      This will prompt you to accept the user’s Terms & Conditions. Once you have accepted, you will be redirected to Paypal to complete the transaction.

    2. Start or Contribute to a Public Discussion
      If you wish to start a discussion with the seller, whether to discuss the item or the price, you can do so buy clicking the blue “Discuss this Resource” box on the right hand side of the listing.

      new Styleforum Classified System xenforo

      Note that all Discussions are public. Also note that You can either browse individual discussions directly from an individual listing, or you can also browse the discussions for B&S separately by going here: https://www.styleforum.net/forums/#buying-and-selling.6654

    3. Start a Private Conversation
      From within the listing, click the Author name from within the “Author Details” box on the right hand side of the listing. Then, select “Start a Conversation.” This will allow you to send an offer or a question privately.

      1. new Styleforum Classified System xenforo
      2. new Styleforum Classified System xenforo

Having technical problems? Please email us at [email protected]. Note that this is not the address to use for submitting opinions or requests.

The 5 Best Organic Cotton Underwear Brands for Men

In conjunction with Fashion Revolution week, we would like to share our picks for the best organic cotton underwear, and explain briefly why it is important to choose such underwear.

While many of Styleforum users pay close attention to the quality of the items they buy and even to the type of material employed – oftentimes preferring natural materials to synthetics – not all cotton is made the same, when examined in ethical and environmental contexts.

Today, only 15% of the global production of cotton is organically grown without the use of pesticides and chemicals.

People working in industrial cotton fields are exposed to carcinogenic agents that correlate with increased likelihood of developing brain tumors – most of which result in death. Additionally, there have been an increased number of suicides caused by financial ruin brought about by the debts the farmers have to multinational corporations on account of the the pesticides they provide. As farmers use pesticides, they continually need to increase the use of these chemicals in order to see the same effects as the first time they are used on account of increased tolerance.

This does not only happen in India and other developing countries, but in the United States as well. Some of the leaders in the organic cotton market within the United States were impacted personally by the use of industrial chemicals found in large-scale agricultural production.

LaRhea Pepper has worked in a cotton farm for all her life, and she dedicated her life to switching to 100% organic production after losing her husband to cancer: “My husband grew up on a chemically intensive farm in south Texas and his father died of Leukemia at the age of 57.

Terry was diagnosed with a brain tumor–a glioblastoma multiforme–when he was forty-eight and I had to say goodbye to him just 2 years later. We were partners in transforming our farm from a low-input ‘almost organic’ to certified organic in 1991–we worked hard to build the organic cotton market for us and others as well. Promoting organic, as THE way to farm and be responsible stewards of our land was an important priority in our lives. It is no longer important to me–it is imperative! Agriculture MUST change and LIFE must be the focus,” she told viewers in an interview for the movie The True Cost.


Organic cotton is not only a more ethical way to grow the most utilized textile fabric in the world–it is a higher quality product for the final customer: with organic cotton, people are less likely to develop allergies and prevent irritations that may occur from wearing cotton treated with chemicals, especially in areas where the fabric is in direct contact with the skin.

Now that you’re a slightly more familiar with some of the important reasons to support organic cotton producers and brands that source their cotton from these farms, let us explore a few options in case you’re considering upgrading your underwear drawer with organic cotton options. Here is a selection of the 5 best brands that manufacture organic cotton underwear for men:

PACT Underwear ($9)

pact underwear organic cotton men underwear briefs best organic cotton underwear

All PACT apparel is sweatshop free, and ethically produced. You can order online (they usually have specials and discounts on quantities) or you can buy them at Target.


I LOVE BAD ($24)

I love bad hemp underwear mens best organic cotton underwear

I Love Bad’s underwear is made with a blend of organic cotton, hemp, and lycra – all pesticide and chemical free, and organic. The elastic band-free design alleviates stomach congestion and other discomforts. Their products are made in Southern California using low-impact dyes.


BGREEN ($24)

 best organic cotton underwear

Bgreen offers ultra-soft, stretchy underwear made of organic cotton. All their items are organic, fair trade, and made in the USA.


NATURAL CLOTHING COMPANY ($24.99)

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This is a small business run by a husband and wife from the state of Washington. They make underwear employing organic cotton and they commit to a fair trade, ethical business model.


COTTONIQUE ($27)

cottonique organic cotton underwear best organic cotton underwear

Cottonique specializes in underwear for individuals that have particularly sensitive skin and/or allergies; they pay lots of attention to the materials to make sure that even people with latex and spandex allergies can wear their underwear. They also offer elastic-free options that include a drawstring, made of 100% organic cotton.


If you have already switched to organic cotton, feel free to share your experience and your opinion on the matter. We would love to hear from you and discover more brands that produce ethically made, sustainable clothing.

The New Styleforum Interface Help: Basic FAQs (Part One)

New Styleforum Interface: Frequently Asked Questions

Thanks for reading! While we’re sure this won’t cover every question you may have about Xenforo, the new platform used to host Styleforum, it should help you with some basic questions. Here’s what we’ll cover in this article:

  1. General questions
    1. 1.1 Basic Changes
    2. 1.2 Nomenclature changes
    3. 1.3 Forum locations
  2. Managing Notifications
    1. 2.1 Alert Preferences
    2. 2.2 Email Preferences
  3. Replying to a post
    1. 3.1 Quoting a post
    2. 3.2 Uploading images
  4. Account Privacy
    1. 4.1 Managing your privacy
    2. 4.2 Appearing “Offline”

1. General Questions

1.1 Basic Changes

Why did you change the site? The old one was perfect!

First and foremost, Huddler, the former platform, was being phased out by the developer. In other words, remaining on the same platform was not an option. We did a lot of research into other potential platforms, and ultimately Xenforo was the most appealing and gave us the most power, flexibility, and potential.

While we understand that change is always hard, after the initial hiccups that always accompany a move, we feel very confident that the new platform will be better for everyone – including you, dear reader – in both the short and long run.

If you are experiencing issues with site features, please email us at [email protected]. Note that this is not the address to use for submitting opinions on the change.


Also note that Styleforum has added a mouse-hover feature. When you’re looking at the nav-bar of Styleforum, you can hover your mouse over a topic to see a full list of subtopics. You can either click on a topic, click on a subtopic, or click on a blank space on the page to close the menu.

New styleforum interface help FAQ Xenforo

I don’t recognize anything! What does it all mean?

Good question! While the interface looks pretty close to what you remember, some things have changed. First of all, there are some differences in nomenclature.

Nomenclature Changes:

What it Was Called

What It’s Called Now

What it Means

1. Subscriptions

“Watched threads”

Threads you’ve decided you like and want to follow along with.

2. Notifications

“Alerts”

The notifications receive from various activities, such as activities in watched threads, and new conversations. These can be managed from within.

3. Private Messages

“Conversations”

Your private conversations with other users.

B&S Posts

“Resources”

Classified listings in Styleforum’s “Buy & Sell” subforum

Threads

“Discussions”

The content on which Styleforum runs!

Where is all this stuff?

You’ll notice that the “Front Page” of Styleforum no longer directs to your “Subscriptions” page. To find that list, click on the blue box labeled “watched threads” at the top of the forum.

  • To see your notifications, hover your mouse over (or click) the lightning bolt icon in the upper right corner.
  • To see your conversations hover your mouse over (or click) the envelope icon in the right corner.

In the image below, you can see where to find items 1-3 of the table (we’ll cover B&S in a later article!):

New styleforum interface help FAQ Xenforo


2. How do I manage my alerts?

2.1 Alert Preferences

If you would like to change when you receive alerts, open the “Alerts” menu and select “Alert Preferences”:

New styleforum interface help FAQ Xenforo

You will then be able to select when you would like to receive alerts.

2.2 Email Alerts

To edit your email alerts, navigate to your “Contact Details”:

New styleforum interface help FAQ Xenforo

There, you will be able to see your email preferences, which you can select and deselect as desired:

New styleforum interface help FAQ Xenforo

Note that “site mailings” include emails such as Styleforum’s weekly newsletters and other forum updates.


3. Replying to a post

3.1 How do I quote a post?

You can quote a post by clicking the “Reply” button at the bottom right corner of the post you wish to quote. This will quote the text and place it in Xenforo’s text editor.

New styleforum interface help FAQ Xenforo

To quote multiple posts in one reply, simply scroll up to the next post you would like to quote, and hit “Reply” once more.

How big an image can I import?

Currently, the size limit for all images uploaded to Styleforum is 10MB

3.2 How to I upload an image? I want to show off my sweet outfit.

There are 4 ways to upload an image: hotlink, direct upload, and drag-and-drop. Here’s how you do each:

  • To drag-and-drop an image, simply drag your image into the reply box.
  • To post an image from your library, click here:
    New styleforum interface help FAQ Xenforo
  • To link to an image via URL, click here:
    New styleforum interface help FAQ Xenforo
  • To upload an image to Styleforum directly, click here:
    New styleforum interface help FAQ Xenforo

Once you’ve added your image to your post, click the box that says “Full Image”Keep in mind that you can attach more than one image at once!

Which way should I do it?

If you want your picture to remain hosted on Styleforum, option 4 (Attach file or images) is your best bet. This ensures that the picture remains on the Styleforum server, even if it has been deleted from its outside host. This is the equivalent of the “Attach Image” feature from the old platform.


4. Account Privacy

4.1 Managing Account Privacy

To manage your account privacy settings, navigate to “Privacy” here:

From within this menu, you can adjust your Privacy settings as desired.

4.2 Appearing Offline

To appear offline, deselect the “Appear Online” check-box from within your Privacy settings. Please note that you will always appear online to yourself, as well as to Styleforum administrators.


We will discuss posting in the Buy & Sell forums in a later article. For now, if you have specific questions, you can post them below, but we encourage you to also ask them in the “New SF User Interface Thread,” where they may have already been answered. We will continue to update this article as necessary.

Shopping Menswear Consciously

 

shopping menswear consciously fashion revolution week styleforum

When you dine at a hip restaurant, they love telling you about the plate and what went into it – the provenance of the meat, the endangered heirloom vegetables, and the hand-harvested produce fresh from the restaurants garden. But it doesn’t stop there. We often can’t help but learn about the goods we buy, especially when buying high quality products. Oftentimes, companies are putting faces to the makers, showering us with images of their workers, the designers, and their facilities. In response, we buy into it–we care that we receive quality food, or that we are having skilled workers make quality, sturdy products.

So is there any reason why we can’t know about our clothing as well? Sometimes we know about who made our clothes or the materials that went into them, but that oftentimes isn’t a factor for why we buy it. Much of the time, we choose clothes because they suit us, because they are a bargain, or because we need it for a certain circumstance. Sometimes we make a choice because of who makes it–but we oftentimes choose it because it’s a specific brand that makes it, not a person.


shopping menswear consciously fashion revolution week styleforum

Ask your favorite brands: “Who Made My Clothes?”

The Fashion Revolution week was born in the UK to commemorate the disaster of Rana Plaza, in which 3639 workers lost their life when the building they were working in collapsed. These people were working in extremely unsafe conditions to produce garments for brands like Primark, Walmart, JC Penney, and Benetton.

The founders of the movement want to raise awareness among consumers and invite them to ask “Who Made My Clothes?” to the brands that they support. You probably came across a few pictures of friends on social media who wore their clothes inside out to expose the label and tagged the brand to ask who made their clothes.

The aim of the Fashion Revolution is to address and raise awareness of consumers shopping at big box stores and “fast fashion” brands. For us clothing enthusiasts, these stores do not make up the bulk of our wardrobe, and rarely make it into our dressers. But sometimes we buy our disposables (underwear, t-shirts, lounge pants) from these stores or places like them. We want to feel like we made a good purchase and to know what we are buying.


With regards to consumption, two questions come to mind: First, how much of the information that we receive about a product is accurate? Second, should we really care about who is making our stuff?

To answer the first question: part of the problem is most of what we consume is the marketing that brands churn out, urging us to buy their products. And brands pick up on that fact, thereby developing more and more marketing campaigns around their producers. They sell to us that they have family providers or old factories. But it doesn’t mean that this information is not misleading; we see products made in Italy that are just “finished” in Italy. We see pictures of excellent working conditions when they are terrible. We hear that the product is “full grain” but in reality the marketing team picked up on the word and doesn’t know what that means. As consumers, we have to be more particular, more critically-minded, and more informed in order to pick apart these marketing campaigns and really determine just how accurate the PR is.

Whatever happened to “union made goods”? There are still plenty of these products, but we don’t seem to care as much anymore. That is in itself a shame. We should realize that economically it makes sense to compensate people accordingly for their time, so that they in turn can contribute to the economy.

This returns us to the second question; the answer to which is yes, we should care. We oftentimes look at small producers and decide that we want to buy from that small producer because we like the quality of their goods; we know that what we are going to get the person stands by their work. Similarly, when we choose to buy from larger brands, we have the power and the right to ask who makes the clothes. By asking this question, we show that we are invested in their product and perhaps these brands will invest more in their labor.

It is important that we become more conscientious consumers. Obviously we should buy goods if we like them, but perhaps we should change our criteria. Instead of buying something because it is the cheapest option, we should budget and buy what is the best option for within our budget. By doing so, we are likely to get better quality goods. Instead of buying something because it’s on sale, we should save and buy things that are more likely to be worn. Instead of buying from a giant chain store and disposing of our apparel when it wears out, we should buy more clothing (or anything at all) of high quality and treat it well. Instead of buying new shoddy crap that falls out of fashion quickly, we can (and many Styleforum members do) find stylish gently used garments that have a long lifespan both in durability and in aesthetic.

By doing this, we not only contribute to slowing down the pace of our apparel consumption, but we also avoid wastefulness. In return, we fill our lives with clothes that we are going to enjoy for a long time, and that will see a lot of use, providing us with satisfaction.

shopping menswear consciously fashion revolution week styleforum

Bowties from Vanda Fine Clothing: each one is handmade in their workshop in Singapore.

Harkening back to days gone by, in which we had tailors make us this or that–we never really had to think about who made our clothes. And for some of us today, we don’t have to do that either, especially those of us buying suiting or classic menswear from smaller makers or tailors. We know that the work is happening on site, we can and oftentimes meet the cutters or the tailors. Even having a garment altered, we see who is working on our clothing. And just think, how much happier you are when you get that garment made just for you, when you see how well it fits. We should still be in awe, seeing a swatch of cloth and seeing the finished product. It’s like magic: that joy in the hearts of both the maker and the recipient should be enough to remind us that from where we choose to buy our clothes matters.

Toronto Styleforum Meetup, Hosted by Spier & MacKay

Styleforum Toronto meetup styleforum toronto meet up toronto styleforum meetup

This Thursday, April 27th, Spier & MacKay will be hosting a Greater Toronto Styleforum meetup. This is a great opportunity for you to meet and banter with other Styleforum members and share your passion for clothes, shoes and accessories. This is a casual, drop-in event, so please take the time to come say hello!

In addition, you will be able to donate any menswear items you no longer need, so bring something that needs a new home! Here are the details:


DATE AND TIME

Thu, April 27, 2017

6:00 PM – 8:00 PM EDT

Add to Calendar

LOCATION

SPIER & MACKAY

20 Toronto Street, #105

Toronto, ON M5C 2B8

Canada


Our thanks to Hamza Khan (@casadisartoria), Ken Jim (@suitforcourt), and Spier & MacKay for organizing and hosting the event.

To register and see the address and full details, please go to the dedicated event website here.