HOF: What Are You Wearing Right Now - Part IV (starting May 2014)

[DiplomaticTies]

I find it rather interesting that the same people who complain about pages “wasted debating tone of critique” in discussing clothes and fit, the central purpose of this thread, are clogging up the thread with 10 pages of talk about food and nationality.

I give up ...

Alan Bee

Fair point. Doesn't change anything in my question and comments to you, but fair point.

 

[ericgereghty]

This is a thread with 4048 pages (at least on my phone). Let’s accept that some tangents are going to happen, and roll with it. Less complaining the better, in my opinion. Lord knows there’s enough of it in the world nowadays.

 

[sugarbutch]

I would love for Bee to be the new Vox/Foo/Manton, but the evidence just doesn't support it. For one thing, his opinions about shoes, gray pants (and a few other things which currently escape me) are idiosyncratic. Wonderful for him if that is what he likes, but not to be taken as canon, no matter how forcefully stated.

 

[Patrick R]

I feel like Bee fits in as a more socially capable Foo or a less malignant Manton.

 

[Caustic Man]

This doesn't even approach the tangents that have been hashed out here in the past. Literally days long discussions about subjects other than clothes. Stop overreacting, sir Bee.

 

[Jamesgatz]

Were not Foo's views (the OneShoo, the absolute superiority of a cream silk pocket square etc.) rather idiosyncratic, though? They sounded just like subjective preferences posited as sartorial Truths, and it always seemed to me that Foo's influence was as much a matter of his rhetorical and dialectical skills as his sense of style. And without rehashing all that's been said about Manton's politics, did not his threads (those endless iterations of the conservative business dress code, for instance) and sartorial dictates display that same rigid and exclusionary mentality as his political vision (i.e., American standards are disintegrating, foreign elements are invading American society / corporate life / dress etc.)? By my lights, the forum is better without them. Less entertaining perhaps - like a school after the chief bully has been ousted - but more welcoming.

As for Alan, while he's one of my favorite posters at the moment, he should acknowledge that not all of us share his aspiration for sartorial perfection. For many of us menswear is just a hobby among others and we have no real need for a "method to the madness" or constant improvement. Enlighten us with your fits, Alan, not by trying to emulate Foo and Manton.

 

[Patrick R]

Were not Foo's views (the OneShoo, the absolute superiority of a cream silk pocket square etc.) rather idiosyncratic, though? They sounded just like subjective preferences posited as sartorial Truths, and it always seemed to me that Foo's influence was as much a matter of his rhetorical and dialectical skills as his sense of style. And without rehashing all that's been said about Manton's politics, did not his threads (those endless iterations of the conservative business dress code, for instance) and sartorial dictates display that same rigid and exclusionary mentality as his political vision (i.e., American standards are disintegrating, foreign elements are invading American society / corporate life / dress etc.)? By my lights, the forum is better without them. Less entertaining perhaps - like a school after the chief bully has been ousted - but more welcoming.

This is the longer form version of my post above. Agreed 100%.

 

[1st Step]

I can't even fathom...

We had a nice cool spell of low 60's for about a month. Apparently it's summer again

Today, was Beautiful!

 

[sugarbutch]

Yes, the inclusion of Foo in that list was probably off. But his idiosyncrasies produced great content. Bee, I think there's room for a thread about a quest for the OneSock™. You up for it?

 

[Patrick R]

his idiosyncrasies produced great content.

Greatest content creator in forum history.

 

[Riva]

Were not Foo's views (the OneShoo, the absolute superiority of a cream silk pocket square etc.) rather idiosyncratic, though? They sounded just like subjective preferences posited as sartorial Truths, and it always seemed to me that Foo's influence was as much a matter of his rhetorical and dialectical skills as his sense of style. And without rehashing all that's been said about Manton's politics, did not his threads (those endless iterations of the conservative business dress code, for instance) and sartorial dictates display that same rigid and exclusionary mentality as his political vision (i.e., American standards are disintegrating, foreign elements are invading American society / corporate life / dress etc.)? By my lights, the forum is better without them. Less entertaining perhaps - like a school after the chief bully has been ousted - but more welcoming.

As for Alan, while he's one of my favorite posters at the moment, he should acknowledge that not all of us share his aspiration for sartorial perfection. For many of us menswear is just a hobby among others and we have no real need for a "method to the madness" or constant improvement. Enlighten us with your fits, Alan, not by trying to emulate Foo and Manton.

What? I'm here for the entertainment as only I know how to dress well where I'm at.

I vote for a 2nd Foo. Without Foo I wouldn't be in SF. Great traffic for the site.

 

[themanfromLisbon]

I find it rather interesting that the same people who complain about pages “wasted debating tone of critique” in discussing clothes and fit, the central purpose of this thread, are clogging up the thread with 10 pages of talk about food and nationality.

I give up ...

Alan Bee

Absolutely right!

Vic

 

[Michael81]

This Foo fellow was before my time, but I think I would struggle to take seriously the views of someone who unironically posts photos like this:

 

[Caustic Man]

Foo had the same problem that a lot of short people on SF have. They have more of a desire to go along with the SF trends than what is right for their stature. I remember seeing a picture of him wearing a bespoke mid-calf overcoat that would have looked great on someone 5-10 or above. But it made him look like an absolute midget. I mean, he dresses well in the sense that he has a lot of nice clothes with all the SF approved details, like two inch cuffs, patch pockets, and whatever else. But really, you have to work with the details that are best for you. Not what you see in WAYRN.

Say what you want about Michael Anton as a person; his book is a really great primer for guys of various shapes and sizes because he takes into account those differences. That's part of why Flusser's books are great as well.

 

[sugarbutch]

I got my copy of "Clothes and the Man" back in the '80s. I tend not to be as prescriptive as some folks here, but if you're interested in wearing suits and ties, it's a great place to start.