whnay.'s good taste thread

[Big A]

Today.

Standard SF "do anything other than look at the camera" pose

RL suit, Julian's shirt, vanda tie, carmina shoes, cucinelli raincoat.

 

[patrickBOOTH]

Looks nice, I don't like the length of the raincoat though. Not practical. A good example of bengal stripes though.

 

[msulinski]

I'll give it another try.

This one is a suit:



This one an odd jacket:

 

[patrickBOOTH]

I think the first one the color blue is too grey and should be more light blue. I am not a fan of that ensemble with that pocket square, as well.

 

[johnvw]



Well done!

 

[jkelly04]

Jacket - Zegna
Shirt - Brioni
Tie - Zegna Couture
PS - Santoni

 

[emsf]



Awesome tie! Where'd you get it from? It really pops.

Someone must have hacked Foo's account..

 

[in stitches]



Well done!

plus one. JP knows what he is doing.

 

[TheFoo]



Spoiler

Thanks for the feedback PB.  TBH, I posted the pic as a new blood sacrifice to support the efforts of diaz, SB and some others (to varying degrees of reception like stitches) to help sustain the thread if possible.  The thread started off with great stuff from Nay, Manton, Foo, GDL, gazman, others.  Then they decided pics are too much effort.  Rather than a full-blown sellout to the inevitability forecast by "Manton's Law," others chimed in--several in earnest I believe.  Well . . . since the good taste gods ceased, who else was there?  Not surprisingly, the efforts of some newcomers were more unsuccessful than successful, and described accordingly. (Yes, there was insincerity from some folks who don't like negative critique and from others who simply mock the idea of normative good taste, but that wasn't the only level of participation.)  Foo started a rating system that some received well and some did not (I liked it).  He quit, and then he had a meltdown which, regrettably is the most tasteless aspect of the thread in some time.  Then, a few (mentioned earlier) tried to post in earnest again, and (mostly) Manton maintained some streaming level of feedback. 

Now what?

I think everyone would agree that some pics are necessary or the thread dies.  But the gods won't post them.  That leaves the mortals.  I recall emptym's suggestion that the thread become collateral to the tailor's thread.  The mortals post pics (hopefully in good faith), and the gods critique.  Works for me.  So ill try. If, however, the idea wasn't to set a barometer of good taste for outsiders, but rather a private club for the old-timers to interact without disruption or distraction, then say so and we'll (or at least I'll) probably go away.

I expected comments on my shirt since its stripe is asymmetrical, and I hadn't seen that discussed.  PB commented (it is blue, not grey), and thanks.  Any others?  I also expected comments on the suit material.  For example, I suspect that Manton will conclude that the almost anemic glen plaid is prototypical of the eyetalyun lux stuff produced by Kiton and its RTW ilk.  After admiring the fabrics on display from foo, gazman, and GDL from earlier in the thread, I kind of agree.  Foo could comment on whether the white square works with the shirt similar to Manton's first pic or whether some aspect of the entire ensemble results in a failure (linen tie/linen square fail perhaps). 

The point is, even when I see a pic from others that I admire, a piece or two from my closet usually looks at least slightly different (like this shirt) and so I wonder "what would the traditionalists think?"  But I can't just walk up to Iammatt or Vox or Manton or Doc and say "waddaya think?"  So this thread is it. Admittedly, I'm being selfish.  I want to learn.  Maybe i'm taking this stuff too seriously.  But, I'm a young professional, with an even younger sense of men's dress. The question then is will the gods condescend?

One final point, just so I'm not misunderstood, I use the terms gods and mortals not to mock--just illustrate.

Thoughtful critique takes even more effort than shooting and uploading photos. I used to consider it worthwhile, as I believe it's infinitely more helpful than simply admiring an outfit. After all, an outfit is just a snapshot at the end of a long, intricately dynamic process. If you try to learn from an outfit, without working on understanding how it came to be, you are at best going to walk away with a neat costume idea. You have to develop and refine the process of dressing to improve your style. That involves thinking about clothes with far more care and consideration than you're probably used to, not so much buying the right tie on your next trip to the mall.

The problem is that very few people have the patience, confidence, and commitment to really learn this stuff. People here tend to take criticism of their clothing choices far too personally. They post outfits with the hidden assumption that they will, naturally, find nothing but applause and admiration. So, when someone with demonstrable taste explains that a proudly-posted outfit is actually no good, what is the result? Tantrums and sour grapes. Next thing you know, the person offering the critique is under attack. So, then, *******: Give me deets on that tie. It really pops! If you think that's obnoxious, you now know how I feel.

 

[dopey]



I'll give it another try.

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

This one is a suit: This one an odd jacket:

The first photo is a study in gloom and sadness, not saved by the square. I like the second. The Christmas colors in the tie/square combo would be better replaced with something less aggressively seasonal, but I still like it. I think there is a "show us your bathroom floor" thread in the Fine Living section of the site.

 

[NORE]

So Foo, what do you put on first, socks and shoes or shirt?

 

[TheFoo]



So Foo, what do you put on first, socks and shoes or shirt?

Shirt first. Then socks, then shoes. Unless I'm not wearing socks, which is, like, obviously, never. Duh.

 

[edmorel]



So Foo, what do you put on first, socks and shoes or shirt?

I put pants on first.

 

[TheFoo]



I put pants on first.

Again, this is based on an important assumption.

 

[Ivar]



I'll give it another try. This one is a suit:

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

I really like this (minus the square), and I think the grey shirt works. Just dimple the tie and tighten the knot next time.