OFFICIAL Simon Crompton thread (PermanentStyle.com)

[aristoi bcn]

Maybe it can be a good idea to merge this thread with the one of Rubato.

 

[JibranK]

I think I mentioned it here before. He used to work corporate job 9-5 in which he had to wear tailoring. The blog was a side job, and it was clear (at least to him) that he was reviewing "traditional, tailored" clothes with direct contrast to "fashion clothes". The blog got successful and he suddenly does not need to wear tailored clothing anymore. Now he is free to wear whatever! Which industry does he belong now? Yes... the "fashion" industry which he seemed to dread. The irony and the tension, I think, have undoubtedly colored the blog's direction (and authenticity?) ever since he went full time.

FWIW I am still a loyal reader.

The blog was good at the beginning when he was obviously buying clothes himself (thus talking RTW and altering it, going to a good but affordable tailor in the City, etc). The jump-the-shark moment was when he got his first free suit, which was presumably the A&S (just weeks earlier he had posted on his blog about how he'd like to try the Row but would need 3x the salary to do so, so he's happy with off-Row tailors).

Though that was the turning-point, the blog was still useful for some years until that really took hold.

 

[FlyingHorker]

Are men's fashion and style blogs dead in terms of usefulness?

 

[DorianGreen]

Are men's fashion and style blogs dead in terms of usefulness?

I always found the Pemanent Style blog very useful and informative, I learned much reading its articles.

Like today's one over mohair.

https://www.permanentstyle.com/2024/10/the-guide-to-mohair.html?mc_cid=d70080e041&mc_eid=277eb01ada

 

[single_origin]

Are men's fashion and style blogs dead in terms of usefulness?

They're useful for inspiration and to become aware (of styles, brands, categories etc). But the influencer model doesn't lend itself for actual review/critique of brands or products.

 

[LorenzoOeste]

I don't know what the influencer model is but if it you are applying it to Simon, my experience is that he can be trusted and is useful for actual review/critique of brands or products.

Typical, very minor, example among thousands (this one from the comments to the recent Rubato piece, A Tonal Exercise in 14 Looks, that has a few people up in arms because they consider it an "advertorial") -- Commenter: I would be interested in your thoughts on the colour and versatility of Rubato’s new Officer Chino in dark green... Simon: It’s hard to say with the green Lawrence, I haven’t seen it in person yet. Ideally I think I’d want a darker olive colour, but I would like to see the shade in person.

You might think he's bought and paid for. I find, over thousands of comments, that he tells it like he sees it. I don't agree with everything he says or like everything he likes
(one example of quite a few: I don't like his recent Bryceland's tweed jacket, based on the photos). But I will trust him to be honest until I see evidence to the contrary.

Three more things. He has helped a lot of people, including me, without charge. He collaborates with others in making useful items, carefully and thoughtfully, and he sells them at reasonable prices, in my opinion. He has a link at the bottom of on his website - "Is this an advert? Regulation and us" - that gets you to disclosure about how he gets paid in cash and in kind and how that influences him or doesn't. That disclosure rings true to my experience of his work.

 

[garigo]

Nice advertorial on PS today. Try commenting asking whether or not they paid for this, or whether or not he has a vested interest in their brand. He won't publish the comment.

So are you going to acknowledge it when said comments actually get published, or are you going to keep complaining as before?

It is of course okay to criticize someone's content, but when your point consists of lies and biased interpretations then the whole argument loses substance. Do better.

 

[JibranK]

Interesting how all the hardcore fans joined SF within the past few years.

(Not hating, just observing. Maybe it's because you guys joined at a time after the heavy hitters on here like Manton had left and some of the previous heavy hitters like foo devolved into wearing the SLP uniform.)

 

[GabrielJF]

So are you going to acknowledge it when said comments actually get published, or are you going to keep complaining as before?

It is of course okay to criticize someone's content, but when your point consists of lies and biased interpretations then the whole argument loses substance. Do better.

Settle down mate. I commented asking if Rubato had paid for the content or if he himself had a vested interest in the brand and he didn't publish my comment. None of the comments that were published stating that it seemed a bit like an advert asked those questions. He is very selective with what he allows in the comment section.

"Do better."

 

[garigo]

Settle down mate. I commented asking if Rubato had paid for the content or if he himself had a vested interest in the brand and he didn't publish my comment. None of the comments that were published stating that it seemed a bit like an advert asked those questions. He is very selective with what he allows in the comment section.

"Do better."

I cannot speak to your specific comment of course, but others have mentioned “advertorial” and “sponsored content”.

So the claim that Simon doesn’t let people ask whether Rubato paid for the article is simply not true.

 

[Scott_ColmoreTailors]

Ive commented recently on the Rubato article. I agreed with Isaac that it felt like an adventorial and suggested that he could have picked one item from Rubato and showed how it went with his current wardrobe. As this felt more in line with how we buy clothing. He could have then done this for multiple items and created multiple looks.

The comment hasn't been approved on the site yet, but others posted after have. I then re-posted the comment....again it isn't approved.

Does appear he only lets positive comments on his site. It's understandable to a degree, but god it makes him not trustworthy.

 

[LorenzoOeste]

Flatly untrue that he only lets positive comments on his site. In fact he printed a discussion regarding just your point in the comments on this particular Rubato piece. So who is untrustworthy, Simon or you? If someone comes along after with essentially the same critical comment, and he doesn’t print that, that doesn’t make him “untrustworthy”. It makes him a reasonable guy who doesn’t want the entertainment value and usefulness of his website compromised by redundant, uninteresting negativity.

 

[Scott_ColmoreTailors]

You are welcome to your opinion. As I am of mine. And we can disagree you know

 

[lockstock]

I feel like an acknowledgment or a label on the obvious promo articles would deflect a lot of the flak he seems to be getting here. It is inherently impossible, or at the very least very challenging, to remain unbiased if you are getting stuff for free from brands, particularly if you like hanging out with their owners.

Still, what are the alternatives for that type of content?

 

[single_origin]

I feel like an acknowledgment or a label on the obvious promo articles would deflect a lot of the flak he seems to be getting here. It is inherently impossible, or at the very least very challenging, to remain unbiased if you are getting stuff for free from brands, particularly if you like hanging out with their owners.

Agree, you even see small-time Youtubers saying upfront "X brand sent me the product for free, but they've had no say in the content". That's all it takes, and Simon won't even do that.

I once saw a comment where somebody questioned him on why he doesn't have an upfront statement like this (and no, the "regulation" page isn't sufficient). Simon's reply was basically: "We're too big so there isn't any bias".