You Don’t Have to Stick to Just One Style
You Don’t Have to Stick to Just One Style
A continuation of the How to Dress Well series
Hello again, friend.
I’m happy to say this weekend, I’m in a much better place, both mentally and emotionally. Unfortunately, life continues to throw its hurdles, and I’m trying my best to overcome those. Such strange times we still live in, am I right?
This weekend, I want to share a few things that I’ve had my eye on and talk about an internal debate I’m having on whether or not I should wear more workwear or formal attire.
Since the weather here in California has completely changed from sunny to rainy, I’d suggest cozying up and grabbing a hot cup of tea or coffee as you read this week’s newsletter. Cheers. ☕️
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Wearing Different Type of Styles
STYLE ADVICE
One style debate I’ve been contemplating back and forth is deciding what type of style I should wear, whether that be more workwear or formal clothing. Let’s dig a little deeper into this conversation that’s been going on in my head.
Workwear
I realize that I’ve always some semblance of workwear incorporated into my look, especially during my youth. I heavily wore baggy, oversized jeans, t-shirts, jackets, and cheap shoes from Big 5 Sporting Goods during those times. It wasn’t until recently that I’ve begun learning more about brand staples in workwear, particularly Carhartt and Pendleton. I’m also lumping in other more outdoors-focused brands like L.L. Bean, Patagonia, and Arc’teryx.
It’s weird trying to figure out if I should add clothing from these brands to my wardrobe. I’m struggling because most of my other pieces don’t particularly match the bulkiness and sturdiness of traditional workwear items like flannel shirts, weather-resistant jackets, and chunky boots.
I think my main struggle is that I’ve been consistent with my purchases in the past, sticking with a casual Americana-inspired look, made up of Alden’s, selvedge denim, button-down shirts, and a cardigan.
I’m now experimenting with trying to think through different looks, which fall more on the casual side of things and embrace the difference. I’ve started this by purchasing a pair of vintage Levi’s (more on that below) and wearing them with a t-shirt, sweatshirt, and beanie. I plan on continuing this experiment and buying more items to see if this renewed interest holds up. I do like the change of comfort and durability workwear brings. Perhaps this style for me is here to stay.
Formal Attire
When I’m referring to formal, I’m more so talking along the lines of dressier sweaters, blazers, button-down oxfords, chinos, and even suiting. Most of these things are ones that I’ve shared with you in this newsletter over the past few months. While I enjoy wearing these items, I’ve struggled to figure out when to wear them, especially as there aren’t any events or opportunities for us to go outside the home besides the typical grocery store trip or walk around the neighborhood.
It’s a strange thing to think about. It’s also a factor of everyone’s work environment and company culture, whereas most companies I’ve worked for in the past few years have been more relaxed and less formal. Considering that, working from home only provides the opportunity to show what you’re wearing from the waist up. It’s been a bummer to not share with my colleagues my full fit and make it slightly less motivating to wear matching bottoms.
I have been making slight adjustments, though, swapping out a t-shirt for a chambray button-up or throwing on a nice sweater. The colder weather has been providing some more opportunities to layer, which has been a nice change. I honestly feel happier, knowing that I’m wearing something with slightly more structure and elegance. The next step is figuring out if I can pull off a blazer without making others feel intimated or put off by my clothing choice. It’s a balance that I’m struggling with, but perhaps I will figure it out someday soon.
Bonus
Watch: Kevin Love’s New York Home
I love Architectural Digest, and I enjoyed getting a peek inside the home of Kevin Love, an NBA All-Star and Champion who plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers. He’s known to be one of the best-dressed players in the league, and it was great to see how his sense of style translated into the interior design of his home.
He’s an avid Ralph Lauren fan, like myself, and my favorite details from his home are the custom carbon-fiber Ralph Lauren chairs, Ralph Lauren coffee mug, and a variety of other small details brought in from places where he’s lived previously—specifically, the doors to his closet imported from the Cleveland. And lastly, keep an eye on the contents inside his closet; there are some gems in there.
Read: Tenet, Explained
I spent 2 1/2 hours last weekend watching one of the most complicated movies ever created. I haven’t had the chance to re-watch, which my friend Sam Soffes recommended, in order to understand what the heck happened. One of the things that stood out the most was the style of the Protagonist—portrayed by John David Washington, son of Denzel Washington.
I noticed he primarily wore a suit with a polo knit sweater in a variety of colors. I think this is how the film tried to portray the different timelines, but again, I need to go back for another watch. Be sure to keep an eye out for the tailored suits at the halfway point. I always love a double-breasted blazer.
Follow: Tired Laundry
Towards the end of 2020, I started doing something I’ve never done before: buying vintage clothing off Instagram. While this is a new phenomenon that’s risen in popularity day by day, it still felt like a strange yet exciting way to buy a pair of Levi’s from the 1980s. My main hesitancy was around the payment method and the legitimacy of the seller’s account, as there is almost no way to know for sure if you’re not going to get scammed.
My experience with Tired Laundry helped alleviate those anxieties around the safety of purchasing clothes through Instagram. After a few back and forth direct messages, I sent over a PayPal payment and received the jeans within a few days. I highly recommend checking out their new site, which now allows you to make purchases without going through the same buying method I did. It’s still worth following their account as they announce sales and markdowns periodically, and you can get some great deals.
Look: Officine Generale Fall 2021
Over the past several days, Paris Fashion Week occurred, and Officine Generale’s Fall 2021 collection was by far my most favorite. For the female readers of this newsletter, this lookbook is for you. I love how the brand decided to feature women as models for some of the men’s clothing, as it shows the ways menswear can be worn by anyone while looking elegant and beautiful regardless of gender. There are also a few items specifically for women with hints of details that derive from menswear.
Here are the links to some of my favorite looks:
Look 5 (Brown Suede Overshirt)
Look 9 (Navy Melton Wool Jacket)
Look 18 (Navy Shirt and Grey Pants)
Look 20 (Grey Flannel Suit)
Look 27 (Olive Green Suit, Overcoat, and Dark Grey Scarf)
Look 58 (Brown Glen Plaid Overcoat and Brown Suede Jacket)
Thank you for reading
As always, it’s great to have you here. One thing I enjoy most is answering your questions. Let me know if you need anything via the comment section below or by emailing me directly. I’m happy to help as best I can.
Stay safe and take care.