I’ve been thinking a lot about realistic, attainable menswear lately. Like, what does real life style look like. I think for most guys it doesn’t include $4000 custom suits, bespoke shoes, and Audemars Piguet watches. Those things are fun to write about, fun to read about, and perfect for putting on a bucket list (maybe even buying one thing off the list someday). However, I think most men will never come close to one of these purchases in their life, and that’s perfectly ok. That doesn’t mean these guys don’t want to dress well or live with style, but I think it leads to a lot of men falling into a life of convenience. Real life gets in the way. Almost no one is going to wear a suit to their kid’s weekend soccer game or an early morning coffee run. So, what’s realistic?
I think the secret is to buy quality items (from casual to formal) when you find them for the right price. Sometimes this is full price, sometimes this is on sale. It’s all about your perceived value. Basically, are you getting what you want, or more, for what you pay? I think this is more daunting than expensive clothes to be honest. It’s easy to walk into Neiman Marcus and walk out with a full stylish (if not original) wardrobe. It just takes money. It’s actually a lot harder to curate pieces over time that work together in a variety of outfits from different vendors, all while remaining price conscious. I know that I have to fight against wanting everything right now, reminding myself that if I’m patient I’ll build a much better collection in the long run.
This doesn’t just mean shopping during sales either. You may get a great price on something, but if you don’t actually ever wear it, it’s just a waste of money. On the flip side, if you love a piece of clothing, but insist on waiting until a sale to buy it, only to find it’s sold out, you missed out. Again, it’s all about perceived value. You might be paying full price, but knowing you got the exact piece you wanted is part of its intrinsic value. It’s all about allocating resources to get the most of what you want as possible.
Unfortunately for most men, I think putting too much time into this seems impractical and unrealistic, and they bail on the whole process settling for cargo shorts, flip flops, and a “witty” graphic t-shirt. That’s where I come in. I see my job as an intermediary between the style you have and the style you want. I’ll do the extra leg work, while you can reap the benefits of my spare time.
In the meantime, here are some killer articles and pieces I found this week!
Simon’s interview with Gene Krell is wonderful and fascinating. Check out Gene’s Instagram too.
Spier & Mackay is having a huge sale (to make room for fall inventory I assume).
Another new must read site has been created. You need to be reading The Contender. I loved this breakdown of David’s apartment style.
Brooks Brothers is offering extra discounts on all online clearance items. The real gems here are the Golden Fleece suits for under $800!
Megan Amram is a genius. That is all.
Pierce Brosnan…still crushing it.
