Dress Code: The Early Spring Plaid

-Don't try to lecture me about quality suits. I know. Don't try to lecture me about proper footwear. I know. Grabbed this suit for $110 at H&M (don't lecture me about fast-food fashion, I know.) and thought it would be a fun piece to work into my spring wardrobe (after I find some workable black shoes.) Also, don't lecture me about vest-over-suit being a 'thing' that really shouldn't be tried. I know. Just working in a little early-spring PNW element. Grey is the ultimate complimentary color, really any solid shirt would work with this suit. I used the purple gingham, but probably wouldn't really take a patterned shirt/suit combo out in the street.
-As always, thanks to Grace for taking all my photos. more

Dress Code: My Take Ivy Take

-You've probably seen a few posts lately about bloggers' favorite looks from the iconic Take Ivy book (if you don't know what I'm talking about, check out this post on Start With Typewriters for a quick refresher.) Even though everyone is doing it, I decided to compile my favorite images from the book (though, I excluded many great images by only including style-related photos.) I usually differ a bit from most bloggers in my opinions on specific looks.
-As a child of semi-rural poverty, I've got a natural hatred of old money. But as a sartorialist, an appreciation for the importance of ivy style on American fashion is unavoidable. The thing that strikes me as brilliant, and that I think is probably absent on these campuses today, is the effortlessness. They didn't have to try to be stylish, or try to embody an ivy look, it was just part of their attitude.
-I also really dig that they, as I've often preached to the anti-umbrella Pacific Northwest, employ umbrellas as a means to wear what they want despite rain. They don't have to conceal their style beneath ugly raincoats. We need a return to this field of thought. Furthermore, I need to get some dope loafers. -Click the image for a huge version. That's all. more

School Supplies: DGK Tees

-I've been riding a DGK deck for about a year now and I love it. The pop has lasted throughout pretty regular sessions. Like most of us, I haven't rocked skate brand graphic tees since high school¹, but I'm endorsing this series of prints. You can't last long in the 'business' of blogging if you let haters get to you, so I'm all about embracing the Dirty Ghetto Kids' mantra.
-If you've got enough ego to put your personal style out there for the anonymous masses to criticize, you're probably not going to let the haters affect your pride anyway (which leads to the question, why do they persist?) But until everybody has reached internet enlightenment, I take comfort in the fact that I get a lot more positive feedback than negative, and let Fabolous speak for me: "I adress the haters and under-estimators, and ride up on em like they escalators."
-Here's to hoping #Ulysses reads this post.
1- I actually own and occasionally wear a DGK shirt, but it's a shirt referencing Mike Tyson's Punch Out, and I'm a sucker for Nintendo nostalgia. Sue me.  more

Dress Code: The Early Spring Militant Pacifist

-I cut the collar off this safari shirt because it was awkwardly large. I've done that with two other shirts too. I like the end result. Try this tactic out if you've got an awkward collar. I probably wouldn't ever wear my dog tags like this, but they're aiding the military theme established by the safari/bow tie. more

School Supplies: Sorel vs. L.L. Bean

-It looks like Sorel is trying to come up with an answer to the highly anticipated L.L. Bean Signature duck canvas bean boots. I dig Sorel, their Caribou boots are the real deal when it comes to rugged-ass cold-weather boots (check out Grace rocking her pair here.) But at the exact same price point and with very similar materials, this one looks like an attempt to keep up rather than to innovate. more

Design Major: Band of Outsiders NY F/W 2010

-I'm not going to do much commenting on NYFW, mostly because I haven't really seen anything I've liked, and because there are a lot of bloggers there who will be returning with more thorough first-hand accounts.

-But I'm a bit mystified by a lot of my colleagues' dislike of the Band of Outsiders collection. People are saying it's the same old Band style. I disagree. It was consistent with past Band aesthetics, yeah, that's a good thing. But the outerwear here is stellar, and unlike anything we've seen from BoO in the past. That yellow vest is great. It's playing off the workwear vest trend of the past year, but the color gives it a west coast flavor and kills the pretension associated with workwear/Americana niche sartorialists. Those sweats are great too. The tailoring was on point as per usual, and the shoes (as always) were great. Those deep green trousers are killer. The parkas, working a bit of tech into the collection, were a fresh addition to the BoO line.
-I'm not going to spend too much time arguing, but Band continually makes great clothes that can be dressed up or down. Everyday staples, impeccably made and re-imagined.

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Dress Code: The Earlier Spring

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Dress Code: Too Soon for Seersucker?

-I put these two looks together because they're based on the same madras + loose tie idea. For me, the short-sleeve button up is a dangerous item. It's easy to end up looking like Michael Bolton in Office Space.  If you're going to do it, go with something with enough flair that you won't be mistaken for an IT nerd (if you are an IT nerd, you'll just look better than the other nerds.) This is actually the only short-sleeve BD I own. I like that it has a button-down collar and I really love the button on the chest pocket.
-In the second look I just replaced the shawl-neck with a grey crewneck and my very under-used seersucker blazer. And if it wasn't clear enough, I'm definitely on the rolled jean sockless spring bandwagon. more