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This website uses Google Analytics; you can read Google Analytics’ compliance here: https://privacy.google.com/businesses/compliance/#?modal_active=none

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Contact information
You can reach us at [email protected].

Member Focus: Stanley van Buren

One of the more (in)famous Styleforum posters, Stanley van Buren is perhaps best-known for his over-the-top photography and dedication to the true art of the Styleforum WAYWT photo. Inspirations for his pictures have ranged from film noir to B-Movie action flicks, and in all cases, he and his wife have made a strong argument for both the usefulness of WAYWT and for the plumbing of its artistic depths. We asked him to talk a little bit about himself – which he did, grudgingly.


 

“Lookin like u jus smoked a blunt n ****** a **** up da **** while watchin Gone Wit Da Wind *** ****” –tcwalter07

Do you remember thumb comments? I remember thumb comments. The above quote was one that I received from the most well-known thumb commenter, tcwalter07, who may also be one of the best success stories of Styleforum’s streetwear & denim forum (though that came later). That quote was printed out and framed along with the photo it was referencing and the whole thing was given to me as a gift at Christmas in front of my family. There was some censoring of a couple letters here and there, and yet I’m pretty sure my parents were still able to work out what the words were. Hopefully it’s reproduced in all its glory here, since Jasper [Styleforum’s editor] specifically told me “No restrictions on content or anything,” words which I was intent on making him regret and so here we are.

If you don’t know what I’m talking about, a few years ago, Styleforum switched platforms and the new software had, for the first time, a ratings system for individual posts. One could give a post a “thumbs up” and then the post would show a count of the number of “thumbs” received. Similar to likes on any other social platform, but there was one wrinkle: before the “thumb” was submitted, there was a mandatory field that popped up asking for a comment to be added. There was a character limit, so the message had to be short, and it was possible to leave no comment at all but the option was always presented. For whatever reason, the members of the streetwear & denim forum were light years ahead in taking advantage of this feature. And, in particular, there was tcwalter07.

Around that time, I had a new girlfriend. She is now my wife. For a span of maybe 6 months to a year, we spent a considerable amount of effort to post photos almost entirely just to see what kind of comments we got in the thumbs section (and of course, in particular from tcwalter07). There was also Miran, but that’s another story. Yes, I was already into clothes. Yes, she was already into photography. But now we had found a way to combine the two interests and get some great entertainment out of the feedback from the forum. Shooting photos for styleforum was something we bonded over and had an absolute blast doing, and still do to this day.


It helped that I had already started to establish myself on the forums around that time. I had made the sensible decision, as any member of my generation would do when faced with a desire to gain some sense of style; I had subjected myself to trolls on the internet and let them ridicule me until by process of elimination I had arrived at a respectable wardrobe. I began the transition from a law student in baggy suits to some kind of respectable attorney, or at least, one whose clothes fit. So using that, and whatever else we could get our hands on, we told stories. Stories that involved plaid pants and vintage Fiats and explosions (I was specifically told to talk about the explosions). We took weekend trips out to Palm Springs or up the 395 and would always try to fit in a quick photo shoot if one of us had a good idea (which was and still usually is her).

At some point the “thumb comment” feature was turned off. There were several of us who were quite upset. Dozens, even. Then, everyone got used to being able to thumb a post in one click instead of two, so when, years later, the feature was brought back, most saw it as an inconvenient and unnecessary second click, and few took advantage of the option to leave a comment at that point. Few remembered how thumb comments had been used as an art form in the past. But my wife and me? We’re coming up on five years of marriage this December. We remember thumb comments.


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Packing for a 3 Day Weekend Over Memorial Day

what to pack for a 3 day weekend packing for a 3 day weekend styleforum packing for a 3 day vacation what to pack for a 3 day vacation

The absolute most important rule of packing for a 3 day weekend, and in fact packing for any trip, is: don’t overpack. If you’ll be gone for 3 days, you probably won’t be needing 15 shirts when you wear the same 3 shirts all the time anyway (yeah, we know your secrets). Whether it’s by car or plane, you’re headed off to have fun, not to drag around a full-size checked bag that barely squeezes in under the weight limit. That’s a recipe for a bad time and a lot of stress during both the packing and unpacking periods. The only exception to the “don’t overpack” rule is socks and underwear. I’d recommend bringing an extra one or two pairs of each, because you never know what can happen.

Keep things simple. Pack items you can wear more than once, and pack your favorite pieces – the ones that all go together. Beyond that, think about what you’ll be doing. Nice dinner with family? Barbecue with friends? Running your yearly 10k? If you’re going to be lying by a pool or a beach all weekend, you probably won’t need a suit. On the other hand, if you’re meeting your grandparents for dinner, maybe you do (you probably don’t).

Here’s the thing: a lot of sites are going to tell you that you need things like laundry bags and dopp kits and endless accessories to be prepared for a 3 day weekend. And, if you’re throwing a bag in the back of a car, you have the freedom to pack some extra stuff. If you’re taking a plane, however, it just takes up a lot of room, and all your fancy skin creams and sunscreens are going to have to go in an infernal ziplock bag anyway. Instead of packing a laundry bag, either grab a plastic grocery bag (which can be used to protect your bag from a wet swimsuit), or just use a worn t-shirt to keep your dirty laundry separate in your bag from your clean.

If there’s anything that can’t get wrinkled, fold it flat on the bottom of your bag, then roll things such as tees and undies and pack those on top. If you’re not wearing a jacket to travel, try to keep an extra layer near the top of your bag in case you get chilly. You probably won’t need more than one pair of shoes, but if you’re set on bringing an extra pair, wear the ones that take up more room on your travel day – an elementary tip, but still.

For warm weather vacations, try to bring things that feel good against bare skin in case you don’t want to wear a shirt – that way, you can get up in the morning and pull on a sweater, overshirt, or even jacket against the chill and enjoy the feeling of fine fabric without anything getting in the way. And finally, don’t forget things like sunglasses, sunscreen, and swim trunks.

Oh, and if you’re planning on lounging in the sun, bring some reading material. It’s always nice to take a break from your backlit computer screen.

 

Clothing:

1. Visvim Shawl Collar Cord Jacket at Norse Store

2. Inis Meáin Linen Sweater at Mr. Porter

3. Eidos Band Collar Shirt in Indigo at Unionmade

4. Lady White Co. Tee from County Ltd.

5. Orslow “Ivy Fit” Denim from Blue Button Shop

6. Orlebar Brown “Bulldog” Short

 

Accessories:

Styleforum x Carmina Shoes GIVEAWAY [CLOSED]

carmina shoes giveaway styleforum

Styleforum x Carmina GIVEAWAY

To celebrate Styleforum’s new home on the Internet, we’ve partnered with Carmina to give away two (yes, two) pairs of shoes on Instagram for you and a friend! Here’s what you gotta do:

  • First, from your Instagram account, follow @styleforum and @carminashoemaker, if you are not a follower already. You can search for “@styleforum” and “@carminashoemaker” in the Instagram application or visit http://instagram.com/styleforum or https://www.instagram.com/carminashoemaker in an internet browser to locate and follow the accounts.
  • Next, tag one (1) friend in the comments under this picture.

That’s it!

Do that, and you’ll be entered to win one pair of shoes for yourself, and one pair for the friend you tagged in the comments. You’ll be able to pick from any of Carmina’s standard offerings (MTO, shell cordovan, special orders, limited editions, and exotic leather are excluded), which means that your feet are going to be looking fine this spring.

The contest closes on April 28, 2017, at 11:59 PM EST. So make sure to enter before then for your chance to win a fantastic pair of shoes for you and a friend!


Be sure to visit Carmina’s new store in New York City, opening this June. 

carmina shoes giveaway styleforum


The Fine Print

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.
A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.
Open INTERNATIONALLY.
Entries must be received by April 28 2017 at 11:59PM EST

Sponsor: Carmina Shoemaker, Berenguer d’Anoia, 60 2º 07300 Inca, Mallorca Spain (“Carmina Shoemaker” or “Sponsor”).
Administrator: Styleforum, Styleforumnet LLC 205 N Monroe St. Moscow, Id 83843 (“Administrator”)

1. Eligibility: Styleforum X Carmina Giveaway (the “Giveaway”) is open only to natural persons who are 18 years of age or older at time of entry. Void in Puerto Rico and where prohibited or restricted by law. Employees of Styleforum, Administrator, and their respective parent companies, affiliates, advertising and promotion agencies, and immediate family members (spouse, parents, children, siblings, and each of their respective spouses, regardless of where they reside) or household members (whether or not related) of each are not eligible. All United States federal, state and local laws and regulations apply.

2. How to Enter: The Giveaway starts at 9 EST, April 20 and ends April 28, 2017 at 11:59PM EST (the “Giveaway Entry Period”). To enter the Giveaway, during the Giveaway Entry Period use your web-enabled mobile device with a camera, and launch the Instagram application for free at http://instagram.com. An Instagram account is required to enter this Giveaway. All terms and conditions of Instagram.com apply. From your Instagram account, follow @styleforum and @carminashoemaker, if you are not a follower already. You can search for “@styleforum” and “@carminashoemaker” in the Instagram application or visit http://instagram.com/styleforum or https://www.instagram.com/carminashoemaker in an internet browser to locate and follow the accounts. Accurately tag one (1) friend in the comments.

By entering this Giveaway, entrants accept these Official Rules and agree to be bound by the decisions of Sponsor, which are final and binding. Entries will not be acknowledged or returned. Limit one (1) Entry per person during the Giveaway Entry Period. Multiple entrants are not permitted to share the same Instagram account. Any attempt by an entrant to obtain more than one (1) Entry by using multiple/different Instagram accounts/usernames, identities, registrations and logins, or any other methods, will void that entrant’s Entries and that entrant may be disqualified. In the event of a dispute as to the identity of an entrant, the authorized account holder of the Instagram account used to enter will be deemed to be the entrant. The “authorized account holder” is the natural person assigned an Instagram account by Instagram. Entries made by bots or other automated devices are ineligible.

You must have a data service plan with your wireless service provider or wireless internet service for your web-enabled mobile device and a device that supports the Instagram application to enter. By entering this Giveaway, you understand that data rates may apply. See your wireless provider for pricing plan details and mobile device capabilities.

3. Prize(s)
-Two (2) pairs of shoes or boots by Carmina Shoemaker, one for the enterer, one for the friend tagged in the comments.
MTO, shell cordovan, and exotic leather are excluded from the Giveaway, as well as special orders and limited editions. Carmina Shoemaker reserves the right to inform the winner of the Giveaway whether his/her item of choice is eligible or not.
Approximate Retail Value (ARV) of the prize is $800 USD. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible Entries.

4. General Rules: An Entry into the Giveaway may not contain any content that is lewd, obscene, sexually explicit, pornographic or contains nudity, disparaging, defamatory, derogatory toward any ethnic, racial, gender, religious, professional or age group, libelous, obscene, or that otherwise contains inappropriate content or objectionable material as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion. An Entry must not promote alcohol, illegal drugs, tobacco, firearms/weapons (or the use of any of the foregoing), promote any activities that may appear unsafe or dangerous or promote any particular political agenda or message. An entry must not defame, misrepresent or contain disparaging remarks about Sponsor, other people or companies. Any content submission must be your original work, created solely by you, and must not infringe the copyright, trademark, privacy, publicity, or other intellectual rights of any person or entity, including, without limitation, trademarks and copyrighted materials owned by others (including photographs, sculptures, paintings, and other works of art or images published on or in websites, television, movies or other media). If Giveaway entry requires submission of a photo, you must have permission of the photographer. If individuals are included in your photo, you must provide all signed releases and consents necessary (if requested by Sponsor) to permit the exhibition and use of the entry by Sponsor as set forth in these Official Rules. If any person appearing in your entry is under the age of majority in his/her state, the signature of a parent or legal guardian is required on the release (if requested by Sponsor).

An Entry must not contain the name, likeness, voice or other indicia of any person, including celebrities, without the consent of that person. An Entry must not contain any personally identifiable information such as license plate numbers, personal names, e-mail addresses or street addresses. An Entry may not identify any commercial content, including, without limitation, any trademarks, logos, or trade dress (such as distinctive packaging or building exteriors/interiors) owned by others, which must be used in compliance with these Official Rules. An Entry must not communicate messages or images inconsistent with the positive images and/or goodwill of Sponsor. An Entry must not violate any law. An Entry may not have been previously published or submitted for any other promotion, and may not have won previous awards.

By submitting your Entry, you agree that your Entry conforms to these Official Rules and that Sponsor, in its sole discretion, may disqualify your Entry for any reason at any time if it determines, in its sole discretion, that your Entry fails to conform to these Official Rules or otherwise contains unacceptable content. You agree that you will not use the Entry for anything other than personal use after Entry submission, including no use of the Entry for commercial or professional purposes, sweepstakes or contest entry, without the express consent of Sponsor in each instance.

By submitting an Entry, each entrant grants, and represents and warrants that the entrant has the rights and authority necessary to grant Sponsor and the Released Parties (as defined below) an irrevocable, non-exclusive, fully sublicensable license and right to exploit, edit, modify, adapt, copyright, publish, transfer, use and distribute the Entry and all elements of such Entry, including, without limitation, the likenesses of any locations and individuals embodied therein, in any and all media now known or hereafter devised, worldwide, in perpetuity without compensation, permission or notification to entrant or any third party. Although Sponsor is under no obligation to post or feature your Entry, you hereby grant permission for the Entry to be displayed or featured on Sponsor’s or Styleforum’s social media or digital sites, and by others promoting Sponsor’s or Styleforum’s sites, and in other promotions and/or advertisements at any time without your prior approval or consent, and without compensation to you or any third party. You agree that Released Parties are not responsible for any unauthorized use of Entries by third parties. Released Parties do not guarantee the posting or featuring of any Entry and reserve the right to remove any posted or featured Entry at any time and/or for any reason.

5. Administration: Released Parties are not responsible for lost, late, garbled, inaccurate, incomplete, misdirected or stolen Entries, uploads, photos, hashtags or @mentions, or transmissions, or problems of any kind whether mechanical, human or electronic, including to your device. Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to modify, cancel or suspend part or all of this Giveaway, including if virus, bugs, non-authorized human intervention or other causes corrupt or impair the administration, security, fairness or proper play of the Giveaway. In such event, Sponsor may select Potential Winners in a random drawing from all eligible Entries received up to the date of cancellation or suspension. If for any reason your Entry is confirmed to have been erroneously deleted, lost, or otherwise destroyed or corrupted, your sole remedy is another Entry in the Giveaway during the Giveaway Entry Period.

Sponsor may prohibit an entrant from participating in the Giveaway or winning a prize if, in its sole discretion, it determines that such entrant is attempting to undermine the legitimate operation of the Giveaway by cheating, hacking, deception, or other unfair playing practices (including the use of automated quick entry programs) or intending to annoy, abuse, or threaten any other entrants or Sponsor representatives.

CAUTION — ANY ATTEMPT BY AN ENTRANT TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE THE WEBSITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE GIVEAWAY MAY BE IN VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS. SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK ANY AND ALL AVAILABLE REMEDIES (INCLUDING ATTORNEY’S FEES) FROM ANY SUCH ENTRANT TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW, INCLUDING CRIMINAL PROSECUTION. SPONSOR’S FAILURE TO ENFORCE ANY TERM OF THESE OFFICIAL RULES SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE A WAIVER OF THAT PROVISION.

6. Release: Sponsor, Administrator, Instagram and each of their respective promotion and advertising agencies, and any other organizations affiliated with the sponsorship, fulfillment, administration, prize support and all respective officers, directors, employees, representatives and agents, as well as each of their respective successors, representatives and assigns (collectively, “Released Parties”) shall have no liability, are hereby completely released, and shall be held harmless by entrants for any damage, loss, rights, claims or liability to person or property, due in whole or part, directly or indirectly, by reason of participation in this Giveaway or the award, acceptance, use, or misuse of any prize (or portion thereof) , including without limitation personal injury, death, and/or property damage, as well as claims based on publicity rights, defamation, and/or invasion of privacy. Entrants will indemnify, defend and hold harmless Released Parties from any claims, liability, damage, loss, injury or death to persons or property caused or claimed to be caused, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, in connection with participation in the Giveaway (or any activity related thereto); acceptance, possession, use or misuse of any prize; use of entrant’s name or city/state to announce the winners of the Giveaway; or use of winner’s name, city/state, voice, likeness, biographical information, entry, statements attributed to winner (if true) or city of residence, for publication, advertising and promotional purposes.
7. Disputes: Except where prohibited, you agree that: (1) any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Giveaway or any prize awarded shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action; (2) any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering this Giveaway, but in no event attorneys’ fees; and (3) under no circumstances will you be permitted to obtain awards for, and you hereby waive all rights to claim, indirect, punitive, incidental and consequential damages and any other damages, other than for actual out-of-pocket expenses, and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of the entrant and Sponsor in connection with the Giveaway, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Idaho without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules (whether of the State of Idaho or any other jurisdiction), which would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Idaho.
8. Copy of Rules and Winners’ List: These Official Rules and the Winners’ List will be posted on the original Giveaway announcement post on instagram.com/styleforum.
9. This Giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram. By entering, you understand that you are providing your information to Sponsor and not to Instagram.

ALERT: The Best SPRING SALES

OK, it’s not quite our famed Black Friday sales guide, but you’ve still got time to take advantage of some of the year’s best spring sales. You know that Styleforum loves deals, so we’ve put together a shortlist for you, and you’d be wise to take a good look. Whether you’re looking for a new pair of shoes, a sport coat, some sneakers, or even a watch strap or two to round out your selection, now’s a good time to gear up for the warmer weather. Vacation season is on its way, after all, and there are deals to be had.

Hurry, because they won’t last long! 


Allen Edmonds
Anniversary Sale! Our best sale of the season.

Billykirk
Sample sale ends 5/7

Bloomingdale’s
25$ off every 100$ spent, plus 40-50% off select styles

Brooks Bros.
Ends today! 40% off men’s suits and sport coats

Blue & Cream
Extra 10% off Warehouse items with code WH10X

Caliroots
15% off spring styles / no code needed

DaLuca Straps
Perlon strap sale

Frances May
25% off everything (yes, even Common Projects) – Code: SURPRISE

Huckberry
Spring clearance – get an additional 15% off

HBX
Mid-season sale up to 60% off

Gentry NYC
End of Season liquidation sale – take 50% off, then another 40% off. Use code LIQUIDATION at checkout.

JCrew
25% off your purchase, plus extra 40% off sales clothing with code HOPTOIT 

Other-Shop
20% off Spring offer continues.
Enter the code SPRING2017 at the checkout to redeem your discount.

Levi’s
Extra 40% off sale styles – Code: 40EXTRA

The Loit
25% off with code: LOITFF25

Luisa Via Roma
EXTRA 25% OFF SALE ITEMS WITH CODE X25

Slam Jam Socialism
20% off with code MID20 at checkout

Uniqlo
Spring sale – no code needed (ends 4/20)

Yoox
Family and Friends sale – up to 90% off for registered users

 

 

 

This Month’s Most Popular Posts on the Styleforum Instagram

Styleforum’s wide-ranging community isn’t active only on Styleforum.net. You might know that we’re also active on Instagram, and that we often feature Styleforum members who use the hashtag #styleforum.

This month, we reached into the vault to collect the 16 most-liked outfit photos from the Styleforum Instagram page. All of these great looks were found under the #styleforum tag. If that sounds like something you’re interested in, make sure you’re tagging us in your own outfit posts.


Here are the 20 most popular looks from the last month:

best of styleforum instagram best menswear instagram men's fashion instagram best of styleforum instagram best menswear instagram men's fashion instagram

Which of the 20 is your favorite? Let us know in the comments section, and go drop these finely-dressed men a follow. While you’re at it, make sure you’re letting us know about your best looks.


styleforum instagram

Member Focus: Mossrockss

Styleforum member @mossrockss is probably best-known for always looking good in a blazer in jeans. He exists in the very nonchalant space between East Coast Ivy and Neapolitan tailoring, and is as popular on Styleforum for being A Very Nice Guy as he is for his well-considered outfits. Here, he talks about the three pillars of his personal style, and what took him to where he is now.


The Three Pillars of My Style

The first pillar is advice I read in 2007 or 8 in Glenn O’Brien’s Style Guy column in GQ. A reader had asked whether he should wear his trench coat in his car—will it cause undue wear and tear? What does Glenn O’Brien do? Glenn memorably replied that he generally let his car’s highly engineered climate control do its job, but as to whether the reader should be concerned about wear and tear, he replied, “Don’t worry about your coat, it was made for the trenches.”

Wear your clothes. This is foundational to me because I can’t afford to buy and own things I don’t actually wear. I recently posted a picture of myself holding a baby sea turtle on the beach in Mexico, about to release it into the bay, wearing a white Eidos polo. Someone told me, “that shirt is much too nice to be wearing on the beach!”

Forget that. Clothes are meant to be worn. Wear them.

The second pillar is a feeling I had shortly after starting to wear tailored clothes, around 2012 or 2013. I thought something along the lines of “I just want a blazer I can wear dressed down, with jeans and stuff.” I wanted to dress well, in tailored jackets because they make me look better, but without coming across as fussy. The reason I felt like my jackets looked out of place – too “dressed up,” too “put on,” that they were “trying too hard” – was shoulder padding. I had bought a Brooks Brothers navy blazer in the “Regent” cut and tried to dress it down, but I always felt self-conscious wearing it casually. It was those shoulder pads! I saw pic after pic of the knocked-down, natural, pad-free (but not necessarily wadding-free!) Neapolitan style from @whnay, @voxsartoria, @maomao, and others, and I knew that’s what I wanted.

This is why every sportcoat in my wardrobe is now Eidos—soft-shouldered, slightly casual, Neapolitan in heritage, at a price point I can swallow – in textured, unique, fantastic fabrics. And of course it is paramount that the fit on me is perfect like lamb and tuna fish (what, you prefer “spaghetti and meatball?”). I was lucky to get on the Eidos train before it became more about Indian pajamas or whatever, but the key here is the fit and fabric, not the brand (and thankfully, Antonio – @NickPollica – still throws us tailoring fans a bone).

The third pillar is the very simple economics 101 principle of opportunity cost, which was somehow baked into my DNA from birth: When I was a kid and my family would go out to eat somewhere nice, I’d ask my parents if I could choose something on the menu, but get McDonald’s dollar menu food instead, and then they could give me the cost difference in cash (to save up and buy Metal Gear Solid or Tomb Raider II or whatever).

When I first got into clothing, I was a college student on the cusp of graduating and getting married within 4 months. Then I was a poor married guy with no full-time job for about a year. Then I got a modest-paying job while she pursued her dream of running a photography business where all the profits were reinvested in the business. Today I’m in the same modest-paying job, but with a house and its attendant costs. In other words, I’ve never been in a position to drop loads of money on clothing.

My style journey has been the opposite of so many a Styleforum newbie, who discovers he loves clothing, then goes on a ridiculous buying spree dropping thousands before realizing two-thirds to three-quarters of what he’s bought doesn’t fit him, doesn’t suit him, doesn’t work in his life’s circumstances, looks ridiculous on him, and was ultimately a waste of his money. Yes, I have made dumb buys, but thankfully every ill-considered purchase I’ve made has been a second-hand eBay (or B&S) purchase.

Given these three pillars, and since I love tailored clothing but am not a suit guy (don’t need to wear one that often), my wardrobe looks like this:

  • three fall/winter sportcoats (one in dark emerald green, one in brown donegal tweed, one in navy small-herringbone faux-donegal)
  • two spring/summer sportcoats with a third coming soon (one in navy, one in dark chocolate brown with matching suit pants, one in tan)
  • one navy suit in a year-round standard suit fabric that I’ll upgrade at some point.

My shirts and pants collection is a hodgepodge of brands, mostly inexpensive, because opportunity cost (a nice, say, G. Inglese shirt is $300; I’ve gotten some of my Eidos jackets for just over double that. Explain that to me). And shoe-wise, I rotate between four pairs of shoes (snuff suede penny loafers, snuff suede chukkas, tan suede jodhpurs and brown calf double-monks; I’m looking to add some light brown suede tassel loafers to the mix) when I’m not wearing my beat-to-death Sperry canoe mocs.

So, when people tell me “You do the sportcoat and jeans look so well, how do you do it?!,” hopefully this will give you some clues. I’ve spent nearly a decade ruthlessly pursuing my style, figuring out what I feel comfortable in, what makes sense for my life’s circumstances and that I like the way I look in, then trimming away everything that doesn’t get me there. Here’s where I am now:

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Spring Style: Printed Blazer with White Jeans

blazer with white jeans and blazer styleforum printed blazer

I’ve long been a fan of printed blazers, and Post-Imperial, started by Styleforum member @Tirailleur1, brings a beautiful and unique perspective to tailored clothing. The garments are adire-dyed in Nigeria, the founder’s home country, before they’re constructed in New York. It offers a nice counterpoint to the European take on the flaneur, and is cosmopolitan and bohemian in a way that few brands manage to be. If you don’t believe me, believe Yasuto Kamoshita, who is often photographed wearing the ties.

Since it’s getting warmer out, a linen shirt is in order, and a popover is perfect for wearing tieless. Drake’s keeps releasing hit after hit, and their spring lookbook is fantastic – this wide-striped shirt will look equally nice under the jacket or alone, with the sleeves rolled up. It also comes in a spread collar variation, so you’re welcome to choose whichever style better suits your life.

Now, let’s take a moment to discuss white pants. White pants can be, in the right cut and setting, incredibly elegant and well-styled. The problem that I see most often is the propensity to wear them far, far too tight, which is really not something you want to do when wearing white pants, no matter the material. Jeans with a wider thigh – such as these bog-standard 501’s – will be more comfortable in the heat, and look better as well. If you’re really wanting to embrace the artiste vibe, hem the jeans to your ankle and leave them frayed and raw, just as the jacket sleeves are.

To finish it off, add a pair of woven loafers and a printed square. I like these from Barbanera, which are a little sleeker than your usual woven shoe without being too casual. The square is from Kiriko Made, and offers a nice complement to the tonal linen belt.

Finally, you may remember milliner Ana Lamata from our “Best of Pitti” series, and her gorgeous, sculptural, handmade straw hats are perfect for spring and summer. Keep in mind that she is also offers a fully bespoke service, should you decide that you want to work with her directly. The amount of work that goes into each hand-made piece is astonishing, and the results are beautiful.


The Best Classifieds On Styleforum, Week of 4/10/2017

Every week, enterprising Styleforum member @razl takes time out of his busy schedule to search for what he can call the best classifieds on Styleforum. This week, he was kind enough to include a double-set of incredible listings. Be sure to subscribe to the Best of B&S thread to stay up-to-date on all his finds.


Suits

@SFA
NWOT Kiton Napoli 100% Linen Indigo Blue Summer Layered Plaid Jacket 50


@A Guy from Shanghai
NWT Classic Cantarelli Solid Dark Gray Wool Suits 52 & 54 (EU). Free shipping within US


@A Guy from Shanghai
NWT Caruso Loro Piana Charcoal Gray LtWeight Flannel Wool Suit 56 7 R (EU). Free shipping within US


@johngreen

NWT Eidos Napoli 3 Piece Suits 48/38 R


@Peli
NEW Belvest for Burberry Blazer and Suit (42R/52R Beige Silk and 44R/54R Blue Wool)


@sartorialnapoli
Perfect Spring/Summer Suit! NWT Boglioli Solid Navy Wool Suit, Hampton Line, 3-roll-2, Handmade US40 38/EU50. Free Shipping within US.


Jackets/Blazers

@JOVAN TOWNSEND
AUTHENTIC $2100 BRIONI COLLECTION CASHMERE BLEND BLAZER SPORT SUIT COAT JACKET L


@mobobs
Sartoria Partenopea 40R Blazers – NWT








@jameshartmann
FS: NEW Ralph Lauren Purple Label ‘Savile Row’ 2 Button Hand Made Black Peak Lapel Blazer 38R


@Manofstyle85
New 46L Ben Silver purple cotton velvet unlined peak lapel sport coat


@glyoung
Luigi Borrelli Cotton Jacket – Like New – Size 50


@aristoi bcn
Gaiola Napoli cream linen houndstooth jacket


@furo
Ultra Rare NWT RLBL Ralph Lauren Black Label Navy Linen Jacket 38S!


Outerwear

@rosenfeldj2
NWT! TOM FORD Trench Coat Tan Beige Double Breasted Outerwear Size 48 Silk Blend


@rosenfeldj2
NWT! TOM FORD Trench Coat Gray Double Breasted Outerwear Size 48 Silk Blend


@Burzan
NWT Eidos “Pincio” Bomber Jacket 38/48 (runs large and fits 40/50)


Shirts

@stifler
NWT Finamore Blue Checked Cotton Dress Shirt Sizes 15, 15.5, and 16


@cinnapox
BNWT Price Drop Borrelli, Charvet, Tom Ford, Cucinelli Shirts sz XS, S, 38/15




Trousers

@rossicar
Howard Yount – Size 34 – Flannel


@sjmin209
NWT PANTS FROM Hertling, Southwick, Haberdash, Polo, J Crew sz 31 32 33 34



@Manofstyle85
$895 sz 32 Trillion by Belvest cashmere/cotton brown soft corduroy flat front pants


@Manofstyle85
$1185 sz 32 Trillion by Belvest silk light blue men flat fronts pants


Shoes

@Satsuke
Television Shoe Wardrobe Sale!



@Faster
C&J “Warlow” in Whiskey Shell NIB


@Warrengardner
John Lobb Bournes 9.5 E UK on 8000 Last


@kontra
FS: Vass Cognac scotch grain Norweger Size EU41


@blenden
EDWARD GREEN CHESTNUT PICCADILLY LOAFER UK9/9.5E (USED/EXCELLENT CONDITION) ON THE 184 LAST


@pkincy
Edward Green Sandringham Spectator in 8.5/9E UK sizing


@Gentlemenclover
VASS MTO ADELAIDE LAST F – 8/ UK – ANTIQUE COGNAC CALF


@ADub
Gaziano & Girling St. James II 6.5D


@Watchman1
FINAL DROP: The Watchman’s TOTALLY INSANE Shoe Drop Thread: GG, EG, CJ



@edmorel
Buday shell cordovan shoes and one pair of russian hatch grain sizes US 8.5/9/9.5




@chipshot
Lindrick by Crockett & Jones Brown Shell Double Leather Sole 8.5E UK BNIB


Ties

@muchisgiven
Drake’s Ties


@johngreen
NWOT Cesare Attolini Napoli 7-Fold Tie


@Dragontail275
Conrad Wu Ties


Miscellaneous

@edmorel
Zegna fabrics for spring/summer (some winter too) including Yak, wool, linen, cashmere