How (and why) to Ramble on your goat sideways
I have ordered some long sleeve button downs for this winter, however, and if the fit isn't satisfactory, I am absolutely taking them to the Vietnamese seamstresses here in town. They do awesome work at very reasonable prices.
I'm going to take a stab at this myself some day soon. I'm sick of getting poofy shirts that fit my monkey arms.
WTF?
Here is the latest offer I received over craigslist for my roll bar:
Here is the latest offer I received over craigslist for my roll bar:
Hello fellow Miata owner! I have 2 Mazdaspeed Miata 2004-2005 Turbos. 1 track 1 street!
My friend has this exact same bar on his car, kinda heavy but okay. will you consider $300 us postal service money order and $200 in Us Mail Forever Stamps to ship in 1 or 2 boxes Parcel post (insured) tracking number? Any extra stamps you keep since they are "FOREVER STAMPS" MY ZIP IS 92708
My friend has this exact same bar on his car, kinda heavy but okay. will you consider $300 us postal service money order and $200 in Us Mail Forever Stamps to ship in 1 or 2 boxes Parcel post (insured) tracking number? Any extra stamps you keep since they are "FOREVER STAMPS" MY ZIP IS 92708
Easy, take a female friend with good taste shopping with you. They love it because it's essentially like playing with a life size Ken doll for them. Alternatively, read through a few issue of GQ, tone it down a bit depending upon where you live, and then try to find approximately the same thing that doesn't cost $2000.00. I will say that I wish I had realized earlier that even if I don't particularly care what I wear, other people do form first impressions based upon wardrobe and in that case, perception is reality.
Boost Pope
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Chicago. (The less-murder part.)
Posts: 33,046
Total Cats: 6,607
I would like to be able to dress fashionably. Except that I literally have no idea how. You might as well say to me "Make a Croquembouche." Yes, I live in an area in which I'm sure that all of the ingredients are readily available, and I can certainly type "How to make a Croquembouche" into Google, but it's not the same. I know where my talents lie, and creating exotic French pastries is outside of my envelope.
What I really want is something like Ikea for clothing. I want to be presented with five different pictures of men who are of about the same size, body shape and complexion as me, and say "I like this one and this one," and then the computer spits out a bill of materials with SKU numbers that I take to the register, and they give me all the things in the picture along with simplified "how to wear this" instructions for any of the non-obvious ****, and a sheet of paper that I can take with me to the barber the next time I go that tells him exactly what to do to my head to make it look exactly like the guy in the picture, without me needing to have a clue what's going on.
Sweedish meatballs with lingonberry sauce would be an added bonus.
But in short, I really want to bypass all of the intermediate steps (researching fashion, visiting many different stores, selecting items one at a time) and just go directly from "I agree that this picture looks nice" straight to "Now I own all of these things".
Can somebody please invent this? I'll even provide seed money.
Break any bones?
I definitely fit into that pool, and...
What I really want is something like Ikea for clothing. I want to be presented with five different pictures of men who are of about the same size, body shape and complexion as me, and say "I like this one and this one," and then the computer spits out a bill of materials with SKU numbers that I take to the register, and they give me all the things in the picture along with simplified "how to wear this" instructions for any of the non-obvious ****, and a sheet of paper that I can take with me to the barber the next time I go that tells him exactly what to do to my head to make it look exactly like the guy in the picture, without me needing to have a clue what's going on.
Sweedish meatballs with lingonberry sauce would be an added bonus.
But in short, I really want to bypass all of the intermediate steps (researching fashion, visiting many different stores, selecting items one at a time) and just go directly from "I agree that this picture looks nice" straight to "Now I own all of these things".
What I really want is something like Ikea for clothing. I want to be presented with five different pictures of men who are of about the same size, body shape and complexion as me, and say "I like this one and this one," and then the computer spits out a bill of materials with SKU numbers that I take to the register, and they give me all the things in the picture along with simplified "how to wear this" instructions for any of the non-obvious ****, and a sheet of paper that I can take with me to the barber the next time I go that tells him exactly what to do to my head to make it look exactly like the guy in the picture, without me needing to have a clue what's going on.
Sweedish meatballs with lingonberry sauce would be an added bonus.
But in short, I really want to bypass all of the intermediate steps (researching fashion, visiting many different stores, selecting items one at a time) and just go directly from "I agree that this picture looks nice" straight to "Now I own all of these things".
Of course, I wear a camouflage uniform 90%+ of the time so I'm no expert.
I'm a terrible person
iTrader: (19)
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Arizona
Posts: 7,174
Total Cats: 180
No broken bones thankfully. My knee lost quite a bit of skin, and now is scabbing over which really sucks since if I move it the scab starts to tear because it's contracted so much. My shouldler I don't even know. My shirt protected the skin, but it was more of a direct hit so I won't know the damage until tomorrow probably. My hands are just trashed though, should be fun writing the few hundred lines of code for my java class.
I've only fallen a few times since I started riding here, it's embarrassing as hell lol. Whatever.
I've only fallen a few times since I started riding here, it's embarrassing as hell lol. Whatever.
Boost Pope
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Chicago. (The less-murder part.)
Posts: 33,046
Total Cats: 6,607
My big fear at this point is that the next one is going to put me down in front of a bus, and that's going to be the end, Or worse, I'll survive but with permanent injuries (eg: paralysis, loss of a limb, brain damage, etc.)
I wish I could say that I'm careful to make sure that this doesn't happen, but I'll be honest- I find it difficult to not take excessive risks when riding on the street in heavy traffic, lane-splitting between taxis, trucks and busses, etc. I'm nearer to 40 than 30 at this point, but I still ride like I did when I was 14.
I'm a terrible person
iTrader: (19)
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Arizona
Posts: 7,174
Total Cats: 180
I always go as fast as possible everywhere. That's what got me this time. I'm on a road bike and have fairly skinny tires, and the front one dipped into a crack I couldn't really see and before I even knew what was happening I was on the ground. I probably would have been fine, but I use foot straps so I wasn't able to roll and was forced into a direct hit and just slid on one side.
I guess like you said I'm just happy there wasn't a car or bus next to me to fall under. That would be and mess.
I guess like you said I'm just happy there wasn't a car or bus next to me to fall under. That would be and mess.
Easy, take a female friend with good taste shopping with you. They love it because it's essentially like playing with a life size Ken doll for them. Alternatively, read through a few issue of GQ, tone it down a bit depending upon where you live, and then try to find approximately the same thing that doesn't cost $2000.00. I will say that I wish I had realized earlier that even if I don't particularly care what I wear, other people do form first impressions based upon wardrobe and in that case, perception is reality.
Elite Member
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 2,799
Total Cats: 179
Apparently, I need to get my wife to sign on and create a thread for you gentlemen. You should see how sophisticated and stylish I look today. As the poster above mentioned, she shops - I retain veto rights - and it's like playing dress up for her.
Thursday, I will be wearing a tuxedo with black and white leather wingtips.
For button-down long-sleeved dress shirts at reasonable prices, Express for Men is a staple in my wardrobe. As a bonus, many come in bolder colors so you are not stuck always wearing white and shades of blue.
Macy's carries a few brands (like INC) that come in "fitted" or "athletic" fits. All of those dispense with the pirate-shirt puffery. Macy's has a rewards-based credit card. The more you use it, the more they send you coupons. Combine the coupons with the sales and you can really stretch your dollar.
Their Alfani brand of dress shoes is a good starter. Slightly upscale from there, you have Steve Madden and Kenneth Cole.
For "frasual" shoes (in between casual and formal), you can get away with Target. Something more bold like a grey suede mid-top boot with jeans in a dark wash:
por ejemplo
For jeans, you really do get a better fit if you spend a bit more money. I'm fairly frugal on most of my clothes shopping, but I will spend money on jeans. I only own 3-4 pairs, given my sub-tropical climate. For me, Lucky brand fits well. The darker the wash, the more formal.
Said another way, lighter washes are for daytime and running errands or grabbing a casual lunch. Darker washes are for going out to a decent dinner or a lounge. Slacks are for a nice dinner.
Pants should be fitted but not "skinny." Boot leg cuts should be used sparingly and subtly and reserved for casual jeans. No bell bottoms. If in doubt, go with a straight leg or mild taper.
I'll try to come up with more concrete examples and links later. For now, I will leave you with one of my favorite daily accessories:
Speedstays Carbon Fiber Collar Stays
Thursday, I will be wearing a tuxedo with black and white leather wingtips.
For button-down long-sleeved dress shirts at reasonable prices, Express for Men is a staple in my wardrobe. As a bonus, many come in bolder colors so you are not stuck always wearing white and shades of blue.
Macy's carries a few brands (like INC) that come in "fitted" or "athletic" fits. All of those dispense with the pirate-shirt puffery. Macy's has a rewards-based credit card. The more you use it, the more they send you coupons. Combine the coupons with the sales and you can really stretch your dollar.
Their Alfani brand of dress shoes is a good starter. Slightly upscale from there, you have Steve Madden and Kenneth Cole.
For "frasual" shoes (in between casual and formal), you can get away with Target. Something more bold like a grey suede mid-top boot with jeans in a dark wash:
por ejemplo
For jeans, you really do get a better fit if you spend a bit more money. I'm fairly frugal on most of my clothes shopping, but I will spend money on jeans. I only own 3-4 pairs, given my sub-tropical climate. For me, Lucky brand fits well. The darker the wash, the more formal.
Said another way, lighter washes are for daytime and running errands or grabbing a casual lunch. Darker washes are for going out to a decent dinner or a lounge. Slacks are for a nice dinner.
Pants should be fitted but not "skinny." Boot leg cuts should be used sparingly and subtly and reserved for casual jeans. No bell bottoms. If in doubt, go with a straight leg or mild taper.
I'll try to come up with more concrete examples and links later. For now, I will leave you with one of my favorite daily accessories:
Speedstays Carbon Fiber Collar Stays
Boost Pope
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Chicago. (The less-murder part.)
Posts: 33,046
Total Cats: 6,607
They have such a thing, or at least close. Here's a site with a few options: Men Hate Buying Clothes But These Sites Make Clothes Shopping Look Good | DailyTekk
Seriously? The whole reason I'm here is because I lack a fluent style vocabulary.
How the hell do I know how the person who created this site defines the word "Classic." Does that mean 1950s Madison Ave, or 1850s Baker St?
What's the difference between "Relaxed" and "Casual." To me, those are synonyms.
What does "Creative" mean? Hell, I'm creative, but only with a soldering iron and a keyboard. Will I be able to tell the difference between "Creative" and "Preppy"? And, for that matter, does "Preppy" still mean the same thing that it did 20 years ago when I was in high-school and we used it as a derogatory term to insult kids who came to school wearing a crested sweater and hush-puppies?
2 Props,3 Dildos,& 1 Cat
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Fake Virginia
Posts: 19,338
Total Cats: 573
Joe, that site sucks. So much registration and login for lameness.
Here's part of your issue with those words on that page: You don't know what your style is. Hawaiian shirt tucked into dad jeans with combat boots is not captured well in those words. I'd say you're somewhere between Casual - Relaxed - Functional, but none of the ways they intend you to be.
Lets see if I can sum up those words for a guy who is creative with a soldering iron...
Creative:
Discordant. large mix of patterns and colors. stuff you wouldn't see a republican wear. short "in style" lifetime. requires goofy haircuts.
Preppy:
Ivy league dude. Lots of sweaters and boat shoes. Dressing up to play tennis. Blue blazers with khakis like doctors wear.
Casual:
Button downs untucked. Tennis shoes that are brown or black or some combination of earth tones, but not running shoes. Slim-but-not-tight jeans. Interesting socks.
Relaxed:
Same as Casual but everything is a half size bigger and shoes eschew lacing. Maybe you could swap in a well-fitting colorful tshirt (no prints). Shoes can have contrasting sole rubber, but are still non-gym tennis shoes.
Classic:
Style that is not trend-based. Medium width ties, lapels, etc. (not too wide, not too skinny). Not quite as slim as modern fits but still well-fitting. Conservative clothes your grandpa, father, and sons could all wear to their 39th birthday party in any era. Think slightly more boring than Mad Men.
Functional:
Who the hell knows on this one. I suspect it means low effort basic style. Tucked in shirts, chinos, hush puppies, plain and neutral socks. Probably is the casual version of Classic for most people.
Here's part of your issue with those words on that page: You don't know what your style is. Hawaiian shirt tucked into dad jeans with combat boots is not captured well in those words. I'd say you're somewhere between Casual - Relaxed - Functional, but none of the ways they intend you to be.
Lets see if I can sum up those words for a guy who is creative with a soldering iron...
Creative:
Discordant. large mix of patterns and colors. stuff you wouldn't see a republican wear. short "in style" lifetime. requires goofy haircuts.
Preppy:
Ivy league dude. Lots of sweaters and boat shoes. Dressing up to play tennis. Blue blazers with khakis like doctors wear.
Casual:
Button downs untucked. Tennis shoes that are brown or black or some combination of earth tones, but not running shoes. Slim-but-not-tight jeans. Interesting socks.
Relaxed:
Same as Casual but everything is a half size bigger and shoes eschew lacing. Maybe you could swap in a well-fitting colorful tshirt (no prints). Shoes can have contrasting sole rubber, but are still non-gym tennis shoes.
Classic:
Style that is not trend-based. Medium width ties, lapels, etc. (not too wide, not too skinny). Not quite as slim as modern fits but still well-fitting. Conservative clothes your grandpa, father, and sons could all wear to their 39th birthday party in any era. Think slightly more boring than Mad Men.
Functional:
Who the hell knows on this one. I suspect it means low effort basic style. Tucked in shirts, chinos, hush puppies, plain and neutral socks. Probably is the casual version of Classic for most people.
Elite Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Birmingham Alabama
Posts: 7,930
Total Cats: 45
Words and labels in fashion to me are stupid. It's all about personal style, in what you think looks good on you. I always ignore the labels like "classic" and "relaxed" because they really don't mind ****. I go with what looks best to my eyes. I've worn plenty of stuff that was supposed to be "the style" that was either bought for me as a gift, or I bought myself to try to be "in style". But I never felt comfortable in that stuff. I always find myself back at what I feel comfortable in. My uniform is pretty generic. A good quality, well fitted black v neck t-shirt, dark wash boot cut jeans, or something with the a wider leg to disguise my gigantic, unproportional feet, and nice pair of boots. That is what typically what I feel comfortable in. Though lately I've been replacing the jeans with more darker color pants.
And those are just basic terms. Try a place like Brooks Brothers and it's even more confusing. I google different fitments and still get lost. I have not bought anything from BB before, but from browsing many sites, it's so confusing trying to find a deal online, yet I don't want to spend $300 on one pair of pants in a local store.