The Natty Man

Steve McQueen

I feel like every few months there's an article about Steve McQueen's impact on today's fashion.  This is not news, but this recent Wall Street Journal article sums it up pretty well.  The quote that resonated most with me ...

Mr. McQueen wore clothes that didn't scream to be seen.

 

Gentleman: A Timeless Guide to Fashion

By Bernhard Roetzel.  Here's an interview with Roetzel from the New York Times.  Available at Amazon.

Getting Shot By The Sartorialist

Brilliant graphic from the Pipeline about getting shot by Scott Schuman, aka The Sartorialist.

The Natty President

President Obama strikes a perfect balance when it comes to his nattines.  Presidential.  Of the people.  Attainable.  Fashionable.  Confident.  Appropriate.

From the White House Flickr set [how cool is it that the White House has a Flickr set!]

New York Times: Looks Do Matter

Like it or not, the way we look [including how we dress] matters.  Read it here.  Susan Boyle seems to get it ... look at this before and after.

  

From My Other Blog

Excerpt from my other blog, Flagged For Follow Up, about some reading I did on a recent vacation ...

I caught up on a lot of magazine reading.  Mostly GQ and Esquire.  Nothing mind-blowing to speak of, but I did find quite a few things I want to buy for the summer.  Among them ...

Mackintosh rain coat from JCrew ($800)

Gray Vans ($48)
 
An assortment of checked ties, like these in GQ

Levi's 501 White Jeans ($59.50)

Desert boots, kind of (but not exactly) like these from JCrew ($135)

Sartorial Facelift

Recession or not, I've always thought it wise to think twice about tossing out old suits or dress pants.  Every so often - usually sparked by a big event like moving, an important formal affair or even starting a new job - I'll take a load of clothes to the tailor to have them re-cut to reflect a more contemporary look.

Forbes.com has a short piece about the growing popularity of this practice:

"The impulse to save a little money, plus ever changing fashions, seems to be pushing people to poke around their closets instead of inside a high-end specialty store. "Even if you can't afford to purchase a new suit, you don't want to walk into the office or a job interview looking like you belong in 1999," sniffs Tyler Thoreson, executive editor of Men.Style.com."

In Chicago I recommend Boguslaw.  He's expensive and at times hard to get in touch with [appointment only].  But he does great work.

Rough Around the Edges

I don't like messy.  But I find charm in slightly flawed.

In a recent post I quoted Richard James, famous Savile Row tailor, speaking about Guy Ritchie:

"... the real secret to his sartorial success is that he is still a little rough around the edges. This is what makes him a true gentleman geezer, a look only a Londoner can pull off."

While I don't necessarily agree only a Londoner can pull this off, I do love the notion of an otherwise natty man incorporating a few rough edges as part of his look.

I think every man should have a few subtle signature elements - those small things that almost seem like a mistake, but in fact are part of their personal style.  For example, I have a colleague who only buttons one side of a button-down collar.  I'm sure it drives some people nuts; whereas I find it a nice touch.

Mine?  Despite possessing the ability to tie a traditionally perfect tie knot [you know the one, with the neat dimple, cozied right up to the neck, with the back tucked neatly in as to not flap around], I never do.  If my tie dimples, so be it.  And more often than not, the back of my tie is .5 inch longer than the front [and I never tuck the back into the loop, preferring to let it have it's own time in the spotlight if it so chooses]. 

To repeat:  I don't like messy.  But I find charm and character in things slightly flawed.  This is true not just for clothing, but also for people.

What's your rough edge? 

Endorsement: Fitted Perfect Shirt [Gap]

It's not fancy.  Despite what the Gap calls it, it's not perfectly cut [but it is refreshingly slim].  It's not right for all occasions.  But at $39.50, it's a great day-to-day white button down - at the right price.  Crisp white button downs are a natty wardrobe staple.  Picture below.  Link here.

GQ's (UK) Best Dressed Men of 2009

When I see the headline "The 50 best-dressed men in Britain: the official list" from GQ-UK in my RSS reader - I'm certain it will help me produce a great post.

Alas, the list left me without much inspiration.  HOWEVER, there is a quote from Richard James, famous Savile Row tailor, about Guy Ritchie that struck me:

"He dresses incredibly well and is very elegant. Yet the real secret to his sartorial success is that he is still a little rough around the edges. This is what makes him a true gentleman geezer, a look only a Londoner can pull off."

"The real secret to his sartorial success is that he is still a little rough around the edges."  Rough edges is the subject of a post I've been meaning to write for far too long.  This quote inspired me, so watch this space ...

In the meantime, I must say Prince Charles [#5 on the list] is looking very natty these days.