matters sartorial

[rm]

Ages ago, I paid for several shirts from Duchess Clothier, but held off on making actual decisions about them because I had no time. That dragged on and on and on as things kept popping up in my schedule that had me running around with my head cut off, and because of Very Specific Ideas in my head and the thing where they had to keep emailing me fabric swatches etc.

Finally, I made decisions. And then couldn't find the envelope I put the swatches in. Thankfully, however, Seyta is far more organized than me and was able to remember which fabrics I meant by my description and sent me images to confirm.

I realize colors are so not consistently true online, but the fabrics for my next three dress shirts are below.


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Yes, pink. I decided my masculinity could handle it. I look really fucking good in pink is the tragic fucking truth of the matter. Purple! Because wow, I need something even more internally awkward than that brick shirt, eh? Blue, because I had to. I tried to resist, and I failed (seriously, Seyta regularly tries to talk me out of owning More Blue Shirts and she's entirely right). At least it has a texture pattern!

As ever, all french cuffs. Toying with a bit wider spread on the collars (this is what all this time in the UK is doing to me). Am dithering as usual about buttons (as unobstrusive as possible on the pink and the purple; possibly white on the blue -- yeah, I suck, I know) and pockets (slightly different ones on each probably, like my last set of shirts). But damn pleased to have new shinies. Totally won't be done in time for Bristol. Totally will be with me at Dragon*Con.

Comments

[fabricdragon.livejournal.com]

grin
kicked but and took names. yes ... i sweated that one, now i am dripping blood out of my forehead over the remaining two finals and projects..... sigh

if you do go (and i strongly suggest you do)
Anderson & Sheppard ( http://www.anderson-sheppard.co.uk/ ) they actually mailed me photos and sample stuff!

maurice sedwell (www.savilerowtailor.com i think)
and
Henry Poole ( http://www.henrypoole.com/index.cns )

all went way out of their way to help. and if you get into any of those shops, say hello for me!
sigh
one of these days, seriously... i WILL get to London and go there.

anyway... pink is not automatically girly in a shirt. i know several men who have pink dress shirts. you do have to have the right coloring, of course.
and as was said by a fashion expert: "Pink is the Navy Blue of India" in India the "trust me" respectable businessman solid dependable color is.. pink.
mind you most of the Hindu/Indians i know have coloring that works well with pink ...and that peculiar yellow that i always like on other people, but cannot wear ....

[rm.livejournal.com]

I don't normally think pink is an exclusively girl color, but when female and trying to pass as male there are a lot of cues one tries to avoid, pink being on the list.

And thank you for the links. That's quite helpful.

[fabricdragon.livejournal.com]

i have generally found a fedora to be an excellent accessory..... male or female.

well.. yes pink is a "girl cue" in general... but i guess since my usual banker wears it so much, as do several other men i know, i just dont "see" it. but then it IS different when you are trying to manage .... umm. persona? as opposed to being naturally/evidently male.

the guy with five o'clock shadow and a masculine face can obviously get away with more....

just not used to thinking about it i suppose.....
still, there are so many great ties that go with pink shirts.

pick up a copy, if you can, of the book "The London Cut" it has complete reviews and style discussions of various shops on/near savile row. including teh shop (briggs?) that made all the avengers trick umbrellas... the company that makes Bond's shirts.. and the hat shop that invented Indiana Jones' hat.

also custom shoemakers...
siiiiiiiigh
pack me in your luggage next time you go over????

[rm.livejournal.com]

Custom shoes are so on my list of things to do. But it's easier for me to justify dropping $600 - $1500 on a suit than on a pair of shoes.

[bugeyedmonster.livejournal.com]

Custom shoe makers????

I've often said that it's good I have very odd feet (short and wide) otherwise I'd be the next Imelda Marcos. It's hard to find wide widths when you're below a size 7 (US) shoe.

Dang... now I'm wondering if there are any custom shoe makers in D/FW.... I've seen some on Etsy, but I want heels, dagnabbit!

[fabricdragon.livejournal.com]

there probably are. but i woudl advise this.
get the book out of the library. get the webpage for the shoe people (if you cant get the book i can get you the url later after class)
ten ask them if they travel..... many of the savile row folks do quarterly trips to the usa and i tHINK D/FW was on at least one of the suit makers agendas.. so maybe they do a trip that way.

if not, i bet they know someone.....

[bugeyedmonster.livejournal.com]

Pink seems to look good on lots of folks. I've seen very pale folks able to wear it, to very dark complexions looking fantastic in it. The only time pink seems to look weird is when you put it on someone with red hair. (Natural red head, I mean.)

[fabricdragon.livejournal.com]

natural red heads should wear a red variant that works with their coloring... maroon is often the best choice. i have met a red head that looked stunning in hot pink, BUT her coloring was.... different.
pink too often plays up the pink in the skin and makes them look flushed.