Re-discovering Preppy

The men's clothing retail market's obsession with mining old catalogs for new style has now resulted in a resurgence of preppy style--while a little late to the party, traditional bastions of American style have gotten into the act of trying to put a young and current spin on their long-standing staples and re-emphasizing old classics that had started to fall by the wayside.  At Brooks Brothers, traditional oxfords can be found a bit more easily these days, and repp weave striped ties seem more abundant and in their traditional widths.

As is evident in this window display, college life is where preppy style begins.  When done right, something about this aesthetic seems youthful but not juvenile, and confident but not cocky.  Its an involved look--many colors, patterns, and layers are involved--but shouldn't be an uptight one.  It looks best when disheveled and rumpled.  Too pressed, tucked in, and crisp and it crosses into obnoxious, rather than charming, pretension.

This Brooks Brothers window display shows how preppy style can grow up and be a little more mature without losing all of its appeal.  This look might be too serious for a college man, but being pressed and tucked in seem appropriate for living in the real world.  Earthy colors and substantial textures keep these ensembles from being too slick, while also quite functional in the fall.

This wardrobe is appropriate for young professionals in a business casual setting, and also works on the weekend.  And one more nice thing about sticking with classic American style--almost everything works with everything else, so little thought has to go into coordinating trousers, shirts, sweaters, and jackets.  A big part of the style is the effect of outfits looking thrown together rather than meticulously thought out.

Is Italy Too Italian?

Interesting article on the Italian tailored clothing and textile industry, featuring a true living legend of style.

A Little Break

Pinpoint Style's not done, just on hiatus for a little.  I'll be getting married in less than 3 weeks, and away for my honeymoon after that.  I also, unfortunately, have to work for a living, and it seldom involves writing about style.  Planning a wedding and remaining employed haven't left me with as much time as I'd like to devote here, but I'm not hanging up the lap top.

I'll try to get back to regular posting, hopefully, in about a month.  But feel free to discuss the various topic's that I've raised in the comments.  I should have time to moderate.

Take care,

N.M.C.

Silk Knits

Silk knit ties have made a comeback in menswear recently, but still aren't really thought of as serious business attire. While a square-end silk knit tie won't ever be as dressy or proper as a classically shaped woven or printed silk tie, silk knits definitely have a place in the upscale business casual wardrobe.

 

 

Hip to be Square

Pulling off a pocket square as a young professional without it seeming like a affectation is difficult.  I think a big part of making it work is making sure that your square doesn't compete for attention with your tie or shirt, (or jacket) and making sure your fold is neat and discrete.  Lastly--wear it comfortably.  If you seem nervous about wearing a pocket square, your colleagues will sense your apprehension and look wearily at your square.  Act like your square is just as much a part of your outfit as your shirt and all anyone will think about your square is that its just one element of a well put together look.

King Ralph

I have tremendous respect for Ralph Lauren as a designer and innovator of the menswear industry.  To this day he continues to drive trends in tailored clothing, despite generally sticking with the same aesthetic--traditional American blue blooded country clubs and professionals--since he got his start making ties and selling them shop to shop.  Ralph Lauren is a great example of how consistency can be stylish and how trends can coexist with staples.  Ralph Lauren is also a model for maintaining high standards of quality, despite becoming an enormously successful and available brand.  Tailored and dress clothing from Mr. Lauren's Polo, Black Label, and Purple Label collections are all sourced from fine Italian makers.  Mr. Lauren's shoes are made by some of the finest British makers.  Ralph Lauren's prices reflect the quality of its construction, but are often lower than the prices the same makers charge for products labeled with their own name.  And Ralph Lauren has sales a few times a year.

Davide and Goliath

I believe every young professional should get on familiar terms with at least one good, small, local haberdasher.  A relationship with a nice men's shop means a place to go for just about everything--not just clothes.  It's a retreat once in a while when life gets hectic--a good haberdasher should never give the hard sell.  And since the proprietor should certainly be older than you, and have fitted the movers and shakers of the community, it's a place to get guidance on what's appropriate behavior in a particular situation and how to carry oneself as a man.  Picking up some great duds is just part of the deal.

Unfortunately small men's shops have fallen by the wayside in favor of large department stores and self-branded boutiques.  I don't think it's impossible to find this kind of relationship at a department store or boutique, especially an older established department store or a good Brooks Brothers, but it's certainly less likely.  For all of these reasons, I love to find independent men's stores and speak to the owners or managers.  The least I can do is give everyone a head's up when I discover one worth visiting.