Things we abhor, Art of the Wardrobe edition

[christian]

Don't want to clutter up the Thursday thread with present and past things I don't like in menswear, but have to get this off my chest:

I loathe cropped trench coats for men, ESPECIALLY cropped, double-breasted, belted coats with storm flaps and lambchops. The point of a trench coat is to keep you dry in a rainstorm. Ending it mid-thigh defeats this purpose. It also makes you look like you borrowed your petite wife's coat.



Not ok.

[RickM]

I haven't seen one strolling up Boylston St. yet, but I'll take a proactive stance and say that if/when tubetops for men catch on....I'm agin' 'em!

[nahtnoj]

He is wearing pleated pants.

[omnigrid]

goatees (aka prison pussy)
boot cut jeans
baggy jeans
flat brim caps
the urban lumber jack look (you know what I mean)
that knit cap worn low in the back w/ bangs hanging in the front (just stop already)
taking fine grooming & classic clothing & style internet-ism so far it isnt sexy anymore, just stuffy (you look like mr rogers with a beer belly)

[christian]

the urban lumber jack look (you know what I mean)

I have no idea.

[RickM]

I have no idea.

Ugh....I'm having Seattle Flashbacks just looking at that pic. I always felt that guys like that...the "Great American Man-Boys", as Hemingway called them, could stand a long weekend with good old Roger Dodger to learn how to; Dress. Comport. Meet Real Women. But without all the sociopathic, lonely, angry stuff that Roger brought along for the ride.

[caleb]

On a bit more macro scale, I mourn the loss of a standard, uneventful, men's professional wardrobe. Twenty years ago, men in my field either wore a dark suit or a jacket and tie to work, five days a week. A business wardrobe could consist of five suits, maybe ten shirts, and a rack of ties. A pair of jeans or two for the weekend. Simple, manly, to the point.

What I abhor is how men's clothing has come to play by the rules of women's clothing. Today, I'm supposed to wear some variety of semi-formal clothing to work (none of which looks as good as a suit), and it's so distinctive that it's supposed to be in a monthly rotation. I can wear jeans to work on Friday, but they had better be $250 Levi's made on a special loom, not the Levi's that normal people wear. There's clothing for every occasion, the men's version of party dresses and dinner dresses. And as a result the amount of crap in my closet has multiplied exponentially to the point where my closet is just as full as my wife's. I feel like we've totally been had.

[Zandr Martin]

On a bit more macro scale, I mourn the loss of a standard, uneventful, men's professional wardrobe. Twenty years ago, men in my field either wore a dark suit or a jacket and tie to work, five days a week. A business wardrobe could consist of five suits, maybe ten shirts, and a rack of ties. A pair of jeans or two for the weekend. Simple, manly, to the point.

What I abhor is how men's clothing has come to play by the rules of women's clothing. Today, I'm supposed to wear some variety of semi-formal clothing to work (none of which looks as good as a suit), and it's so distinctive that it's supposed to be in a monthly rotation. I can wear jeans to work on Friday, but they had better be $250 Levi's made on a special loom, not the Levi's that normal people wear. There's clothing for every occasion, the men's version of party dresses and dinner dresses. And as a result the amount of crap in my closet has multiplied exponentially to the point where my closet is just as full as my wife's. I feel like we've totally been had.

You're lucky bro. At my job it's a good wardrobe day when no one is wearing pink Crocs.

[christian]

On a bit more macro scale, I mourn the loss of a standard, uneventful, men's professional wardrobe. Twenty years ago, men in my field either wore a dark suit or a jacket and tie to work, five days a week. A business wardrobe could consist of five suits, maybe ten shirts, and a rack of ties. A pair of jeans or two for the weekend. Simple, manly, to the point.

You can work in midtown Manhattan, in a financial firm, like I do. Today I'm wearing a gray flannel suit, black longwings, white shirt and a block-stripe tie. Yesterday, it was a blue suit. Tuesday was a blue mini-herringbone, and Monday was a mid-gray worsted. Tomorrow, I am going crazy with brown wool odd pants, a navy hopsack blazer, and tassle loafers. :)

[caleb]

You can work in midtown Manhattan, in a financial firm, like I do. Today I'm wearing a gray flannel suit, black longwings, white shirt and a block-stripe tie. Yesterday, it was a blue suit. Tuesday was a blue mini-herringbone, and Monday was a mid-gray worsted. Tomorrow, I am going crazy with brown wool odd pants, a navy hopsack blazer, and tassle loafers. :)

I could get along with that wardrobe.

[chasea]

I have no idea.

Wearing a version of that right now. Denim, flannel, and workboots are classic American styling. What are you going to hate next, navy suits?

[Christian Fox]

I abhor grown men who dress like gym teachers every minute they aren't at work.

note: sorry Christian, but I have a mid-length trench (no straps or buckles). You'd hate it, but my wife loves it (on me! and no I didn't borrow it from her!)

[nahtnoj]

Wearing a version of that right now. Denim, flannel, and workboots are classic American styling. What are you going to hate next, navy suits?

Tell me about your beard and glasses. This is where we go off the rails.

[christian]

Denim, flannel, and workboots are classic American styling

For people who work. As in labor. Adobe InDesign and a cup of Stumptown does not require Carhartt double-fronts.

I'd hate on navy suits, but self-loathing doesn't become me. As it turns out, I didn't caszh it down today - navy worsted BB suit, white button-collar shirt from Kamakura, Kamakura repp tie, Grant-last Alden longwings. (Consider this as close to a office-men's room selfie as you're going to get. This ain't style forum.)

[Matthew Strongin]

Tell me about your beard and glasses. This is where we go off the rails.

In the photo above it goes off the rails as you work your way to the right. From over patched jeans to the guy with a sassy stance, jeans purposefully, but nonchalantly, tucked into the boots and a nearly matching hat and shirt. It's a little too put together, IMO.

But yes...work boots, jeans, plaid/flannel shirt is pretty standard attire for me and has been for longer than I can remember.

[rowdyhillrambler]

3/4 anything.. make up your mind, one way or the other. Commit

[RickM]

Wearing a version of that right now. Denim, flannel, and workboots are classic American styling. What are you going to hate next, navy suits?

You can wear it...the objects themselves are not to blame...just please don't wear it like the fellow on the far left or right in that pic. Please. I'm asking you. It's the sartorial version of what your Mom told you; It's not what you say, but how you say it.

People forgot how to do this right;

[caleb]

the urban lumber jack look (you know what I mean)

For a second I thought you meant Green Bay Packers sweatshirts, Carhartts, and Natty Ice had become cool.

Christian's illustration cleared up the misunderstanding.

[maunahaole]

It isnt so much the lumberjack look as it is the way it is cultivated. Those dudes are looking like they are inviting an asskicking.

[davids]

Lens-less glasses.
Ironic facial hair.
Underwear as outerwear.
Tatoos, tatoos, tatoos, tatoos, tatoos.