Wealth Inequality and the Haves vs. the Have-Nots
The Business of Fashion recently published an article about the struggle in the luxury business in light of unparalleled economic disparity. And it’s hilarious.
The Best Take-Downs of America’s Gun Problem I’ve Ever Seen
As my readers would know, a post like this is not my usual fare. It may put some off or inspire others to ‘set me straight’ in the comments section or even unsubscribe. But in the wake of the mass shooting of 50 members of the LGBT community in Orlando, and the shooting before that, and the one before that, and the one before that, and the one before that, and the one before that… I kinda don’t care.
Anyone who knows me knows how I personally feel about guns (they’re not my thing, you might say). With respect to the issue on a national level, I am in love with these hilarious and poignant articulations put forth brilliantly by Samantha Bee and Jim Jefferies. I have nothing better to add. They’re the best eviscerations of America’s gun problem I’ve ever seen.
Stretch: The High-Fructose Corn Syrup of Menswear
I had heard great things about the jeans from DSTLD, a popular disruptor of the overpriced denim racket, and I was very excited about a pair of slim (not skinny) raw denim jeans I had purchased online for $65. When they arrived, I tried them on right away. The fit was great and they looked pretty damn good. The feel of the denim, however, felt strange. When I started to take them off, I noticed a hint of stretch in the waistband. The wind went completely out of my sails when I saw that the sewn-in garment tag said “98% Cotton / 2% Spandex.”
A Niece Graduates (and an Uncle Reflects)
When my niece Bridget was making her decision about colleges four years ago, I was beyond thrilled that two Boston schools were in her sights: Boston College, my alma mater, and Boston University. And she loved the idea of Boston, which thrilled me even more. (At that time in my life, I decided on Boston College sight unseen after an early acceptance, without ever having visited Boston.) My alma mater gave her a deferred acceptance, which was absolutely their loss, and she wisely decided on Boston University.
Beards Make Us Look Older
When we were underage in high school, we always got our prematurely hirsute classmates to buy beer because their five o’clock shadows made them look older. Stubble made an 18 year old less likely to get asked for I.D. (or at least made a fake I.D. more believable). Having said that, teens nowadays are getting away with underage drinking much more easily without beards, due to the believability and realistic look of Arizona Fake Id. Despite this, for adults, I think the same beard principle applies.
The Unfortunate Fear of Being “Too Dressy”
A friend invited me to be his plus-one for a concert of Brahms at Carnegie Hall this past weekend, with a supper in a fancy restaurant immediately following. Though I certainly appreciate classical music and often listen to it while working, the classical music scene is not my world at all. I basically feel like Tom Ripley in these situations. The music, however, is always gorgeous, and my friend is smart, funny and fantastic company.
The combination of classical music and Carnegie Hall says suit and tie to me (and my friend, thankfully). As I looked around the audience before the performance started and at intermission, it was obvious that the combination of fine musical art and an iconic Manhattan venue inspires something quite different in other people’s sartorial inclinations. Of all the men in attendance that evening, I’d say about 40% were in a suit or jacket, with even less wearing a tie. For a classical music performance. At Carnegie Hall.
A Nod to the T-Shirt
I was recently asked by a men’s magazine for my thoughts on what makes a perfect t-shirt. I immediately thought of Marlon Brando. What Brando did for the Schott Perfecto motorcycle jacket in The Wild One (1953) he had also done for the t-shirt in A Streetcar Named Desire (1951).
Episode 32: The (De)Valuation of Work
Over the past twelve years as a freelancer, I’ve watched client budgets shrink more and more, whittling down to fees that come with higher expectations for less and less money. At the end of the day, it adds up to more work for barely livable wages. In this episode of the podcast, I “open a vein” about my personal experience with how good work is valued or, perhaps more accurately, devalued today.
A Well-Tailored Suit, the Great Equalizer
A t-shirt is great, but not every man fills one like Marlon Brando or Chris Evans. Jeans are perhaps the most democratic garment in all of menswear, worn by everyone from the 1% to real people, but not every man looks great in them, no matter how expensive they are. But in a well-tailored suit, every man looks his best.
My Last Days with Dad
March 1, 1990 was the last day I would ever spend with my father. It was a Thursday, and I had flown home to Cleveland the night before from Boston where I was in the second semester of my freshman year of college.