OFFICIAL Simon Crompton thread (PermanentStyle.com)

[corpseposeur]

I guess there's always a solid argument for Crocs, Oakleys, cargo shorts, a graphic t shirt and a ball cap; you can look like everyone else.

 

[TimothyF]

That's too simple. Even a classic wardrobe is changing, much more slowly than fast fashion, but the change is there. And nobody is an island living by himself, so how you are perceived by others matter, for nearly everybody, and certainly for somebody interested in menswear.

Nobody wears breeches, top hats, wigs or puff-collars today. Looks can become outdated, old-fashioned and then costumey. Too give more modern examples: Suspenders, high-waist trousers with a rise of considerably more than 30cm, bow ties (with the exception of black-tie dress code), increasingly pocket-squares, hats, perhaps ties in 10-20 years down the road.

JohnMRobie has already covered a key point I'd make with pictures. But if I'm too simple then you are way over-thinking and overly self-conscious about others' perception, especially those who know less about "menswear", and show it.

Wear what works best for you, and get the big questions right (e.g. whether to go tailored or casual, environment-dependent). Sweating the finer details in order to fit in with the young and hip is a losing proposition, my friend

 

[JohnMRobie]

JohnMRobie has already covered a key point I'd make with pictures. But if I'm too simple then you are way over-thinking and overly self-conscious about others' perception, especially those who know less about "menswear", and show it.

Wear what works best for you, and get the big questions right (e.g. whether to go tailored or casual, environment-dependent). Sweating the finer details in order to fit in with the young and hip is a losing proposition, my friend

I’ve written about this before on here in a thread somewhere about when I was promoted to principal in my mid-20s. I was the youngest one in the room by a fairly significant gap and leaned heavily into the idea of the young-founder, don’t care, “I’m here because of meritocracy” look. Lots of hoodies, t shirts, Saint Laurent etc.

I kept my tailoring and could still wear that when meetings specifically called for it but on a daily basis I wore whatever I felt like. I still have all that stuff but I don’t wear it to work. Now I’ll wear it when I’m at a basketball game with clients or something or doing something fun.

The big takeaway was that nobody actually cares what you wear as long as you aren’t dressed significantly worse than your office dress code or norms. I choose to wear tailoring pretty much daily these days because I feel better in it, think it flatters me and I enjoy it. Nobody would bat an eye if I started showing up in quarter zips and vests. The extent of the comments I get on my tailoring are limited to basically “you always look great.” Don’t overthink it and just dress for your day and in a way that you’re comfortable and enjoy it.

 

[Markus123456789]

Why do these discussions always revolve around work clothes? Why not talk about dressing nicely to go out? There are a ton of other places you can go where a jacket and tie isn’t going to look out of place.

Yes, why not

There are indeed many places imo where a casual, unstructured jacket (like a Boglioli K-Jacket) doesn't look out of place for someone my age (mid 40s), especially nice restaurants, theaters (at least here in Vienna where things have remained a bit more formal), opera, classical concerts.

It gets more complicated with ties because they have become so much rarer and can look stiff and finicky. Maybe, really nice Michelin starred restaurants for the birthday of my wife, certain festivities (like invitations to christenings, graduations and of course weddings). A knitted tie helps somewhat, I think. But in a "normal" nice restaurant, where everybody is wearing nice knits and only a few casual jackets, I would not wear a tie keeping to my principle if more formally dressed than only one step more formal, not two.

And of course there are the really formal occasions, like balls, where black or even white tie is obligatory, but again, I'm afraid that's pretty much limited to Vienna and a few other cities.

 

[Markus123456789]

What people think high waist trousers and suspenders means
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What high waist trousers and suspenders actually means
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Those are good examples, yes. I helps that I would consider the high-rise at least in the last two photos a mid-rise and that the legline is quite slim.

 

[Markus123456789]

When it comes to style, some people get it and some don't. Mark Cho gets it. To say Mark Cho is not stylish means you don't get it.

When it comes to style, some people get it and some don't. Mark Cho gets it. To say Mark Cho is not stylish means you don't get it.

Mark Cho is well dressed, yes. But he looks young, perhaps is young, and for me his style is too formal. Further, he nearly always wears a jacket and formal trousers, and often a tie, and if you have well tailored jackets and a good eyer for colour combinations, like Mark Cho, what he does is quite easy. Much more difficult to straddle the fine line between casual chic and only casual.

 

[comrade]

He looks like he's in his early 70s. Crazy!

yes, 100%

An example of the influence of genetics and pursuing a career of writing and travel, instead
of working in a quarry.

 

[comrade]

Torsten and GDL are my favorite.
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Greg Llouche is one of those people who look good in clothes. And even better in own well-cut,
elegant clothes. He'd probably look great in Men'sWearhouse.

 

[SailingIvy]

Mark Cho is well dressed, yes. But he looks young, perhaps is young, and for me his style is too formal. Further, he nearly always wears a jacket and formal trousers, and often a tie, and if you have well tailored jackets and a good eyer for colour combinations, like Mark Cho, what he does is quite easy. Much more difficult to straddle the fine line between casual chic and only casual.

Young guys can look great in tailoring with a tie!

 

[epsilon22]

Mark Cho is well dressed, yes. But he looks young, perhaps is young, and for me his style is too formal. Further, he nearly always wears a jacket and formal trousers, and often a tie, and if you have well tailored jackets and a good eyer for colour combinations, like Mark Cho, what he does is quite easy. Much more difficult to straddle the fine line between casual chic and only casual.

He's got them Asian genes lol. If I'm to guess, probably early to mid 40s?

I like his tastes for color combination, especially when it comes to blues, greys and paler browns, but I don't think I can pull off some of his wilder outfits.

 

[Markus123456789]

View attachment 2318639

Young guys can look great in tailoring with a tie!

Yes, no doubt. But Marc Cho wears this style all the time, so is somewhat of a one-trick-pony in this regard.

 

[JohnMRobie]

Those are good examples, yes. I helps that I would consider the high-rise at least in the last two photos a mid-rise and that the legline is quite slim.

A 33cm rise isn’t exactly mid-rise though is it?

 

[corpseposeur]

Myself in high-rise trousers with pleats worn with suspenders. I love this suit and I love how I look in it. I feel supremely confident in it.