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I don't despise anyone for their clothes (ok, maybe some people 😛 ) but I think people who claim not to judge on appearance to any degree are kidding themselves.
I also think it's fair to feel negatively towards fast fashion and cheap disposable clothing made in sweatshops with poor environmental standards etc. People used to either make clothes themselves or save up for items like good boots or a warm jacket, then wear them out/repair/resole them and pass them on.
I think buying fewer high quality items and looking after/mending them has got to be a good thing. We've got too used to the idea that clothing should be cheap, but our resistance to a significant initial purchase price means that actually we are just building up lots of hidden costs down the line.
+1
An stw clothes thread. What fun.
Its beyond doubt that the British are some of the worst dressed people on earth. Go to France or italy and compare
40 yr old band teeshirts on a 50 year old man? Ridiculous. You are not a teenager
Consider Clarkson to be a style icon and copy his sports jacket and Jean's combo. Have you ever looked in a mirror?
Cougar and his ilk we have to accept as computer nerds so long as they are free of food stains but more to be pitied than admired
Jean's? Levi 501 red label acceptable if you are under 30. Anything else just say no
I bet half of you have mullets
Trainers? Only if you are running. Get some proper shoes but do remember brogues are for the country
Dress like a punk? Punk died 40 years ago. Grow up.
There is a special place in hell kept for those who wear biker leathers but do not have a bike
This thread would be so, so, much better with pics!
Jean’s? Levi 501 red label acceptable if you are under 30. Anything else just say no
*yawn*
Note the difference between 'note' and judge. For many people clothes don't register as important at all, I guess you could judge them on that but not by their clothes.
Ok tj, I'll bite.
It is without doubt that the British are some of the best dressed people in the world.
As Bill pointed out, in Britain there is a history of using clothes to subvert the rigid class structures. The first post war youth cult was the teddy boys, whose moniker and style was a take on Edwardian attire, specifically lampooning the way in which the Posh students at Eaton dressed.
Britain is the magpie of the fashion world, taking clothing from around the world and exploiting them for their symbolic and semiotic potential. We have more freedom to express who we are through what we wear than any another country I can think of. The UK has appropriated and reinvented styles from elswehere and created an enormous number of fashion movements that have global impact.
Go to Italy and all the youth look like they are dressed by their Mum. You will see a fair few hip kids dressed in UK mod and skinhead style but it's a Carnaby St version of a movement, preserved in aspic. They too look like they've been dressed like their Mum.
Went to Madrid a couple of years back and stayed in Malasana, the trendy quarter. Everyone wore either a pair of Vans or Converse with tight jeans and a T shirt, a facsimile of cool without a skate board in sight. Suffocationgly conformist and conservative. They also looked like they could had been dressed like their mums. When we got back, standing on the platform on Stratford Station it really struck me how differently from each other my fellow passengers were dressed, not necessarily in terms of trendiness but certainly in terms of individuality.
It’s easy for me. My wife works in H&M and gets a 25% discount, so I wear whatever I can get away with from there.
Sweet another clothing thread. Have we had some sad bastard saying “no jeans if you’re over 40” and “Shorts and t-shirts are for children” yet? If we have then that person can piss off! Jeans are a simple staple of any wardrobe. The alternative is trousers. My grandad wears trousers and he is dead.
For what it’s worth I agree with Tazzy. Wear what you want, you’re not hurting anyone and if what you wear makes you happy just go for it.
Not many folk give a shit what you wear. Those that do are the ones with the issue. Anybody that follows rules for dressing (or cycling attire) is somebody I feel deep pity for. Their lives must be sadly devoid of anything of worth.
Edit - who the hell gets a cold neck? Hands, nose, yeah makes sense. Neck, really? Even then the thought process is “ooh, my neck is cold. Where’s my tie?” Some of you lot are really ****ing weird 😂
The Clarkson thing is annoying too. He looks like he does because he’s a complete **** of a man. He’d look the same no matter what he was wearing. Can’t hide ****ishness
Have we had some sad bastard saying “no jeans if you’re over 40”
The usual suspect...
Anybody that follows rules for dressing (or cycling attire) is somebody I feel deep pity for. Their lives must be sadly devoid of anything of worth.
I couldn't agree more. Agree with most of what Inkster said apart from that I find many of our cousins on the mainland stylish and innovative too.
Quality jeans a plain T Shirt and you cant go far wrong IMO.
^Folks on here can't even manage that after 40 years of practice.
It is
without doubtpossible that a fewtheBritish menare some of themight be amongst the best dressed people in the world.
FTFY
i say, wear the bloody hell you like. life is too short and precious to fanny about worrying what others think. if wearing an amazing vera wang outfit with a tiara and doc martens does it for you and makes YOU happy, sod it, step with confidence and have a great day. If wearing a pretty standard societal uniform for age rocks you boat, that is equally awesome.
Precisely what I was trying to say only more eloquently.
i really have the urge to dress in the old skinhead gear. Ben Sherman/or Fred Perry, levis, dm’s and braces. Probably feel a millions dollars, look a right t**t. Always wanted a union jack jacket like the Jam. 56 by the way
Brexit Chic?
Try wearing a blue vest in Australia
I don't get this reference, sorry. Can you elaborate?
^Folks on here can’t even manage that after 40 years of practice.
Still waiting on your pics.
Definitely pics from everyone, except tj, he's clearly just having a laugh.
Wearing a union jack jacket will cause people to think of you as a farage supporter - a rabid brexiteer.
I'm currently in shorts and sandals so no pics from me right now 😛
Corduroy FTW?
Wearing a union jack jacket will cause people to think of you as a farage supporter – a rabid brexiteer.
Thats why i haven't got one. Would have a few years back, but Farage has ruined that plan.
Corduroy FTW?
Could be coming back into fashion. I believe Corduroy pillows are making headlines.
I have a corduroy shirt and I don't give a f***..
Wear what u want, when u want, I will use a word possibly not many of you will know "meff" when a kid in your area didn't have trainers of the appropriate type
Cruel kids.. We were all there once
djc1245, so you're also ruling out these...
https://images.app.goo.gl/JhWqZzaRsgi6LdLB6
Based primarily on this thread, had a little think about what I was going to wear when I got back from my ride.
That and the comment up thread about having a partner that always looks wonderful, and wanting to look smart for them. No pressure, she would of been quite happy if I’d spent the rest of the day in ride kit!
Anyway. A few key things for me (53)
Must haves...
Good boots. 2 pairs. Red Wings & Danners
Good jeans. I’ve got 3 pairs. Hiut Denim & Albam. 1 smart pair that I’m running in. 1 part worn. 1 just the comfortable side of tatty. There aren’t many occasions they font cover between them. There are trousers for when they don’t.
Shirts. Lots. Finisterre, Howies + few others.
I live just outside Bude so see plenty of board shorts, tees & hoody. It’s not always done well.
I’d like to think I look ok most of the time, but it’s easy to just get a little lazy, especially through the summer we’ve all had.
For me, there no question that I feel better when I’ve made a bit of an effort. Maybe that’s vanity, but I do hope not.
As with most things, I’m happy to spend a little more to get something i really like, but each to their own.
I was looking at a few middle age people today whilst in town. People who have given up look way worse as they don’t just swap jeans for trousers they swap fitted clothes for pieces Of cloth that swamp their body. The best thing you can do is keep in shape, easier said than done. If all else fails go and buy what the mannequin wears. Somebody trained dressed that.
I'm past 50, have a few more pairs of trainers than I really need (N+1 and all that) but even I draw the line at Converse. The death knell was when I saw Eddie Jordan wearing them on C4 a couple of years back.
I have a corduroy shirt from the aforementioned universal works.
An attractive 25 year old at a party told me unprompted that I look good in it. That's good enough for me. 😁
https://www.endclothing.com/gb/universal-works-super-fine-cord-garage-shirt-21558-grn.html
Most likely mistook you for their geography lecturer
Oof!
My look was once described as " post apocalyptic geography teacher"
I was wearing black laceup shoes ( well polished of course) Black dress trousers, a purple polo shirt and a lilac v neck jumper.
Thats another issue - look round any group of men and they all wear the same shades of beige and gray.
Wear some colours. Lilac, turquise and saffron are my faves
Polo shirt and v-neck; I'm sure each was...fetching but - not together.
Opens wardrobe to look at shirts - work ones are plain/bengal stripe/subtle check; smart casual are gingham check/bold stripes/paisley/herringbone/floral patterned/plains in strong colours - deep pink, fuchsia, cardinal red, bright yellow, dark green.
Three dress shirts.
Different cuff links for every double cuff shirt.
About 30 silk ties; four bow ties.
Pocket squares - yep, a few of those.
I have something of a shoe obsession but let's not go there...
Most likely mistook you for their geography lecturer
Good work on the colours and silk squares Frank but i am perturbed by the loudness of the pattens and I am sure paisley is no longer allowed
Thank god the proper adults have turned up.
This is another of those threads where I don’t know who is taking the piss and who is serious 🧐
tj - paisley is beyond fashion; it's a staple of class - visit your bespoke tailor and ask to look at linings.
Loudness of patterns; tsk, tsk - you should focus on how the various patterns are incorporated into an overall look.
Moving on from that - you are Nigel Day and I claim my £10.
Thank god the proper adults have turned up.
Preens, presumptiously...
visit your bespoke tailor and ask to look at linings.
Pure, distilled, essence of STW.
This is another of those threads where I don’t know who is taking the piss and who is serious
It's good fun though.
Pure, distilled, essence of STW.
Only if both parties have an Audi (ideally A6 offroad) with in-car espresso maker, wood burner and De'Longhi bean to cup machine.
Must also have the right make of axe, properly honed.
God, it's tiring being so...on trend.
This is another of those threads where I don’t know who is taking the piss and who is serious
Let me assure you, no one is taking the piss; this is all...serious.
+4s
*applause*
The joy for me is, the serious ones are the funniest.
Spats.
A quality walking stick is essential