Vain Lane

Every day we learn something new.  For example, today I learned that eating three Ferrero Rocher chocolates for lunch will not actually satiate hunger and that I will end up ordering an overpriced salad from Element Fresh anyways.  Wisdom.

So what insights can we derive from our man on the street here?  In a new series that I’m going to call “Be a Man: Wear a Suit” (see Dapper Dan) we’ll examine suit-wearing best practices and success stories from the office to the street.  In this, our second installment, I’d like to point out a few golden take-aways that you, sir, yes, YOU, can use next time you need to impress someone at a fancy lawyer meeting (it’s a technical term).

First things first: Dark or navy blue and black can be difficult to pair.  Suity here pulls it off by wearing a tie that falls somewhere in the dark-royal-blue category; that is to say, there is enough distinction between the two colors that they don’t just look like a bruised mess.  Secondly, wearing contrasting patterns, if you’re not experienced, can result in embarrassing failures leading to self-esteem issues and a hefty bill from your therapist.  Here, the clean, even lines of the shirt compliment the clean, evenly spaced white polka-dots on the tie.  The whites crisply stand out and the blues play off each other without being overwhelming.    It is awesome to behold.  Our third and final lesson of the day is suiting accessories.  Note the tie clip.  Not only does it add a sparkling gleam to the ensemble, it’s also practical: it holds your tie in its right place and it holds your cheat sheet for that upcoming client presentation.

Remember boys and girls, with a suit on, even if you have no idea what you’re talking about, at least you look like you know what you’re talking about.

When I lived in Paris for a summer my friends and I used to play a little game called ‘spot the American.’  Telltale signs: North Face fleece.  Rainbow or Reef sandals.  College sweatshirts.  Loud voices.  Broad gesticulations.  Chanting, “U-S-A” repeatedly and for no apparent reason. (Just kidding about that last one, kind of.)

Of course my friends and I considered ourselves too continental to be lumped with the touring Yanks, and very carefully attempted to blend in with the populace whose lithe bodies, lightly tousled locks and androgynous-with-a-hint-of-the-feminine clothing choices gave them their distinctly parisienne look.  Margaux (let’s call her Margaux) here exemplifies the Parisian essence that my friends and I, with dubious success, strove for.

Tell me you can’t imagine her sitting at a café in the quartier Latin smoking a Gauloise over a carafe of Bordeaux reading Sartre or discussing the finer points of love-making for hours on end.  Or scooting through traffic on her Vespa with a baguette, block of brie and a poodle in tow.  I could go on and on with the Paristereotypes (see what I did there?).  But really, there’s not much more to say.  Elle est magnifique.

The Parisienne Look:
Top by Cos
Scarf by Antik Batik
Vintage black leather belt
Trousers by Hartford
Shoes by Heschung
Glasses by Oliver Peoples

One of the best shops in Paris: Zadig & Voltaire

What to say about Dapper Dan here? With such an obviously strong grasp on his own awesomeness and fashion sense, what else needs be said? Let me try to break it down for you:

Dapper Dan is a man who knows how to wear a mismatched three-piece suit with panache. Sticking to a palette of grays with colorful shirt-and-tie bursts at the neck, D.D. may appear to possess a devil-may-care attitude but underlying that is his fierce work ethic, which you can tell that he has because he’s got a Starbucks iced coffee, no cream – what is that, a venti? Also, he has a briefcase. Boom. Professionalism.

But – what? What’s that I spy, Dan? Could it be…? Yes! YES! You did it! You put the square in your pocket to create what we in the fashion world call a pocket square! You’ve taken the early-twentieth-Century-London-banker look and ushered it into 2010 without batting an eye, haven’t you, my saucy lad? And I know you knew exactly what you were doing when you partnered the brown-strapped tote with the brown shoes and brown briefcase. That’s what is known as tying an outfit together. That’s an industry term, people. Write it down.

Ni hao, sexy reader, it’s me, Crindy, guest contributor on VainLane.  Allow me to ruminate for a wee moment on this young man’s foppish (whatever, I’ve been reading Dickens) ‘fit and share some of my thinking with you, my Internet friends.

First of all, Tom’s outfit succeeds based on a fashion principle which has been oft-discussed on this site: effortlessness.  The sophistication lies in the fact that while the ensemble itself is well coordinated, nothing is too matchey and the look is all his own.  Of course once you find out that Tom is a designer it begins to dawn upon you that he’s been professionally trained to know what looks good with what, but the point is that it’s perfectly executed and it doesn’t look like he’s trying too hard (men of Shanghai: take note).

Secondably, the shoes.  I mean.  What?  Where do you even find vintage pirate boots?  Neverland?  Well they’re a damn good get and I can guarantee you that no one else has anything else like those in their shoe closets (exception: Johnny Depp) and that Tom is – to quote my favorite silver-haired sartorialist – making.them.work.

The last thing I want to point out to you, dear reader, having advantageously scooped the provenance of all the elements of Tom’s outfit, is that each piece has a story.  Shirt and shorts?  Self designed.  Shoes?  Hong Kong, Kowloon side, hole-in-the-wall.  Bag?  Thank you, grandma.  Shades?  Thank you, Tom Ford.  It’s these priceless histories that are the soul of the outfit because Tom’s fingerprint and personality are embedded in every part of the whole.  He’s a walking, talking conversation piece, but he doesn’t feel the need to scream at the top of his lungs, “Look at me! I’m bleeping awesome!!!”

Maybe you should, Tom.  Maybe you should.

Additionals:

Mix of Peter and Mary Poppins Inspired Leather Boots (for her)

Tom Ford’s Hawkings Aviator Shades

Similar perfect Bermuda Shorts from J.Crew

Not so similar, but also perfect, Plaid Shirt

Crindy’s main purpose in life

Real fashion should never be constrained by rules set by someone else. That wouldn’t be you.  But in truth, some are more inept than others at dressing themselves or maybe they have more important matters to think about other than what they are wearing. I, on the other hand, have no important matters to contemplate, so I proceed.

I much prefer coordinating rather than matching an outfit.  But if nothing else comes to mind, I guess you could match your cardigan to their boots slash shoes.

If I were to throw out some rules though, I would say the following:

Vintage shopping is unquestionably one of our favorite past times in modern day but it’s unfathomable in a country with new money. Everything must be new. But, unbeknownst to this lady, she is in fact wearing vintage. She looks effortless mixing a short girlish slinky dress with a more mature rust orange draped cardigan from her mother’s closet! Matching her cardigan to a T are her custom made leather boots. AND, most importantly to me, this young Classical composer has strapped over her shoulder a huge carry-on crocodile print leather bag. I truly believe all great leather carry-ons should dual-purpose as everyday purses as well.

Moral of the story… throw some vintage into the mix for some real personal personality. And carry-ons for everyday wear.

footnote: been reading Ayn Rand’s Fountainhead. Thanks ChanChan!

Need it:

Edgier draped cardigan

Custom made or Vintage inspired boots from Cydwoq

other Weekend/Carry-on Bags for everyday wear

Fountainhead by Ayn Rand

Sigh.