What are you applying to your menswear from/after reading "The Suit"?

[LabelKing]

Originally Posted by Soph

Arthur, I thought you passed in 1860, but you still haunt me in the afterlife, oh, and SF. Logan loves the hairstyle. -Kant and his sublime cufflinks
I, Schopenhauer, will haunt forever.

 

[Tomasso]

Originally Posted by whoopee

But lower rise trousers are more attractive without.

I agree that low rise pleated trousers are an abomination(if they aren't physically required) but they seem to be very popular in Italy, at this time.

 

[whoopee]

Originally Posted by Tomasso

I agree that low rise pleated trousers are an abomination(if they aren't physically required) but they seem to be very popular in Italy, at this time.

Evidence that Italians are not infallible style gods and, if they come across as well dressed, that confidence on the dresser's part and preconceptions on the viewers' go a long way.

 

[Jovan]

I'll kindly disagree with you, as I've worn both and pleats do nothing to help my body type. I was originally okay with them before I saw that going without is more flattering.

 

[LabelKing]

Originally Posted by Tomasso

I agree that low rise pleated trousers are an abomination(if they aren't physically required) but they seem to be very popular in Italy, at this time.
Comme des Garcons, Yohji Yamamoto and various other designers active in the '80s did a lot of those combined with bolero length suit jackets, which although not really suited for everyone, can be quite appealing for certain people.

 

[Jovan]

It seems like everything men can't pull off, women can -- like those.

 

[Film Noir Buff]

Originally Posted by LabelKing

Comme des Garcons
Such a great name for a clothes line. One of those phrases that can only work in french.

 

[GBR]

Absolutely nothing. An American book will not teach me how to be comfortable in what I wear and how I appear.

 

[gorgekko]

Originally Posted by whoopee

Evidence that Italians are not infallible style gods and, if they come across as well dressed, that confidence on the dresser's part and preconceptions on the viewers' go a long way.

You know, I've never considered them style gods. I've always believed that they've made important contributions to style -- and the Italian male in some cities in Italy are generally better dressed than their North American counterparts -- but they've gone down some incredibly stupid roads as well.

To me, the most important Italian contribution to lifestyle/style is the fact that they still know how to live with a joie de vivre -- smoking, drinking, eating, woman chasing -- that we on this side of the ocean have given up in favour of being boring.

At any rate, Manton's book confirmed a lot of what I believed (even if I do occasionally throw in a dig about black suits

) but it's most important contribution to my sartorial education was to refocus my attention on simplicity. I occasionally drift towards extravagence (nothing too showy, but undandy-like) so it was a welcome reminder to be careful.