Another clothing advice thread.

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As those of you who met me at Matos's birthday thingie last night can probably guess, I really need some better clothes. My problem is that, as far as I can tell, there are almost no good/interesting clothes being made for men for less than like a billion dollars an item.

I once described my ideal clothing-image as "used to be in a really original and great band, now hosts a good show on PBS"--I like clothes with slightly unusual features but very clean design, interesting fabrics--things that project a look, basically.

Like Amateurist, I shop and shop and don't find anything acceptable--the last things I got and really liked were an Andrew Christian vest and a couple of Gael Edgerton shirts, all of which I got on the cheap. And that was a LONG time ago.

So where should I shop (esp. in New York)? And what should I buy? Save me from band-T-shirt-and-jeans purgatory, please.

― Douglas (Douglas), Wednesday, 19 February 2003 12:49 (twenty-two years ago)

agnes b! agnes b! agnes b!!

― toby (tsg20), Wednesday, 19 February 2003 12:59 (twenty-two years ago)

One thing I learned from the FAP is that if you want people to notice you, wear a bright orange shirt.

Hmm, Douglas, I seem to find interesting cheap (but not thrift-y cheap) stuff at Century 21 a lot.

― hstencil, Wednesday, 19 February 2003 14:05 (twenty-two years ago)

I do like Agnes B. stuff. Century 21 is... okay, but there's way too much lame stuff to sort through, and not quite enough FUTURISMO! if you know what I mean...

― Douglas (Douglas), Wednesday, 19 February 2003 16:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Hmm, the best stuff I find at Century 21 always has the "Made in Cambodia" label. Look for it!

Seriously though, I still haven't figured out too many great places to shop in NYC yet. Although I guess Barney's is having a big warehouse sale now?

― hstencil, Wednesday, 19 February 2003 16:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Ooooh:
A.P.C. - there's a store on Mercer street between Spring and Prince. Nice fabrics, clean lines, its big in Japan. Everything is between $60 and $200 though, but the $110 jeans are my absolute favorite. Though some seasons, they just have lots of crap.

Tokio 7 - high-fashion consignment store on 7th street between 2nd/1st. Small store, but new stuff every week. I got an Issey Miyake jacket for $60, Final Home bag for $30, etc. Friend for a Costume National suit for $175, Diane Von Furstenburg skirt for $20, and Marc Jacobs denim jacket for $40. Great deals - go often. There's another one called Tokyo Joe on 11th street between 1st/2nd next to the Cinema Classics. Oh, there's another store called Yu somewhere in the Lower East Side that has some cute Japanese stuff too.

― phil-two, Thursday, 20 February 2003 06:29 (twenty-two years ago)

man, ilx always makes me feel like such a schlub

― jess (dubplatestyle), Thursday, 20 February 2003 06:31 (twenty-two years ago)

i mean, i've been wearing the same skateboarding t-shirts and old sweatshirts and jeans for four or five years now

― jess (dubplatestyle), Thursday, 20 February 2003 06:38 (twenty-two years ago)

you sound like my sophomore-year roommate. We're still friends, and he did finally stop wearing the Lakers hat.

― hstencil, Thursday, 20 February 2003 14:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Phil-two, I like your style.

― Mary (Mary), Thursday, 20 February 2003 14:49 (twenty-two years ago)

I think you dress fine but gosh yes, the Barney's warehouse sale is good for what you described.

You can also check http://www.nysale.com from time to time.

p2: I love Final Home and Costume Nationale! But I haven't seen Final Home around since Liquid Sky closed. Actually, I heard (in all seriousness, scout's honor) that one of the 2 Liquid Sky guys stole all the other guy's money and went to Brazil. Wacky!

― felicity (felicity), Friday, 21 February 2003 03:13 (twenty-two years ago)

I B hatin' on that Final Home stuff. You want Miyake, you go straight to the Issay y'all.

― Mary (Mary), Friday, 21 February 2003 03:18 (twenty-two years ago)

That's cool for you, Miss Thing. I never like the Miyake stuff for myself. It's too high-concept. If I wanted to learn I'd go to skool!

― felicity (felicity), Friday, 21 February 2003 03:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Ha ha ha I think someone would look quite fetching in a bit of Pleats Please myself.

― Mary (Mary), Friday, 21 February 2003 03:22 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.canoe.ca/LifewiseMirrorsGalleryFallImages/paris_issey_m3.jpg

oh yes, very flattering

― felicity (felicity), Friday, 21 February 2003 03:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, I suppose if you were bloated you could blame the outfit.

― Nicole (Nicole), Friday, 21 February 2003 03:28 (twenty-two years ago)

i've decided to go back to tbe barrel

― jess (dubplatestyle), Friday, 21 February 2003 04:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Hey I wore that outfit to school today.

― That Girl (thatgirl), Friday, 21 February 2003 04:46 (twenty-two years ago)

what, a barrel?

― jess (dubplatestyle), Friday, 21 February 2003 04:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh puh-leeeeeeeeze! The Hershey Kiss look is SO last season.

― phil-two (phil-two), Friday, 21 February 2003 06:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh, I was wondering what had happenned to that Final Home store on Lafayette. Do they have Final Home stuff at that Issey Miyake store in Tribeca? I was just in Tokyo and there was still a Final Home boutique in the Parco department store, so I guess they're still making it. I've always wanted one of those clear raincoats that look like decontamniation-suits - the one you're supposed to fill with Final Home teddy-bears or whatever you want.

Douglas, have you gone shopping yet? Also, that DDC Lab store on Orchard is pretty cool if you want to look like a trust-fund-endowed Lower East Side guy in a band. And someone told me that they stock PAM [perks and mini] and Superfriends at Alife - if you want to look like a cute Japanese hipster, and who doesn't? But go try on some jeans at A.P.C.! They usually fit really really well. Your booty will thank me.

― phil-two (phil-two), Friday, 21 February 2003 07:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Phil, haven't yet gone shopping--I'm in school & can barely eke out shopping hours on the weekends. (Email me privately if you think there's a particular time/place that'd be appropriate.) I don't want to look like a L.E.S. trust-fund guy in a band--I want to look like a guy who was in a really great L.E.S. band w/o benefit of trust fund eight years ago, do you see what I mean? And I am probably not quite skinny enough to fit into cute Japanese hipster clothes.

― Douglas (Douglas), Friday, 21 February 2003 07:09 (twenty-two years ago)

I think you dress fine but gosh yes, the Barney's warehouse sale is good for what you described

But the thing about the Barney's warehouse sale is that you have to wait in line for THREE HOURS to get to the register.

― phil-two (phil-two), Saturday, 22 February 2003 06:40 (twenty-two years ago)

haha I am going today, but it's right in my neighborhood so I'll go early.

― felicity (felicity), Saturday, 22 February 2003 14:47 (twenty-two years ago)

one month passes...

Felicity was right about Paragon Sports on 16th and B'way : polo shirts, Izod, Fred Perry, Ralph Lauren, etc. Pick up a couple in your favorite colors and you are set for the summer. Next, Treasure Chest on 1st and 13th. Lots of great vintage varsity style for guys. I was crying cause the white Izod tennis sweater was too big for me. I saw Matos in one of these tennis sweaters earlier in the year so I think they are what the music critics are wearing this season. They also have lots of Izod windbreakers. Then, 99X on 10th near 4th Avenue for your basic Anglobrand whoredom. They have skinnyish ties for when you feel like dressing up a bit. Flying A on Spring St. also has lots of sports-inflected clothes. Make tennis style your mantra for the summer. Think basic whites. Headgear is optional as are wristbands.

― Mary (Mary), Monday, 21 April 2003 02:25 (twenty-two years ago)

I was crying cause the white Izod tennis sweater was too big for me.

preppie don't cry! There will be another.

― felicity (felicity), Monday, 21 April 2003 02:34 (twenty-two years ago)

I have not been but my sources say that Dave's on 6th Avenue b/w 16th and 17th is the cheap place to get "worker-chic" clothes for dudes: Levi's Type 1 jeans for $35, Carhartt, etc.

My current quest: a "dirtbag" type mesh-back baseball hat in my size. I saw some cool ones with graffiti art on them but they were comedy huge on me.

― felicity (felicity), Monday, 21 April 2003 02:42 (twenty-two years ago)

I hear Dave's is indeed a good source of 'hardware'. I searched for a sun visor all today to no avail. Paragon had great ones -- Kangol, white terry cloth, white and grey camo inside, but too big, boys sizes.

― Mary (Mary), Monday, 21 April 2003 02:50 (twenty-two years ago)

I love how everyone lapses into gossip columnist-speak in clothes threads. All we need now are flouncing and french exclamations.

― Dan I. (Dan I.), Monday, 21 April 2003 06:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Comme vous voulez!

― felicity (felicity), Monday, 21 April 2003 06:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Voila! A smart hat for you...

― SplendidMullet (iamamonkey), Monday, 21 April 2003 08:24 (twenty-two years ago)

elizabethean collars are perfect sun visors substitutes

http://www.mystudios.com/treasure/hilliard/dandy.jpg

don't cry for me, brittania/ the truth is...

― €rik, Monday, 21 April 2003 08:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Only in New York, kids.

― rosemary (rosemary), Monday, 21 April 2003 14:36 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't wear hats.

― Ally (mlescaut), Monday, 21 April 2003 14:41 (twenty-two years ago)

I aspire to fashion columnist- not gossip columnist- speak. Ergo, Lynn Yaeger not Michael Musto. Hmph!

― Mary (Mary), Monday, 21 April 2003 15:34 (twenty-two years ago)

any ideas for fashionable stores in chicago? i am a victim.

― todd swiss (eliti), Monday, 21 April 2003 18:03 (twenty-two years ago)

What are you looking for?

― felicity (felicity), Monday, 21 April 2003 18:23 (twenty-two years ago)

umm, mens shirts and stuff. casual prolly. i dunno, any ideas are welcome

― todd swiss (eliti), Monday, 21 April 2003 18:37 (twenty-two years ago)

i have totally given up. in all areas of life, but its most readily apparent on the outside.

― jess (dubplatestyle), Monday, 21 April 2003 18:39 (twenty-two years ago)

aww jess, your quick intervention at the girly sports thread augurs otherwise:)

― Mary (Mary), Monday, 21 April 2003 19:13 (twenty-two years ago)

i mean on myself! i'm not blind mary! ;)

― jess (dubplatestyle), Monday, 21 April 2003 19:15 (twenty-two years ago)

i want to open a boutique. maybe in chicago

― phil-two (phil-two), Tuesday, 22 April 2003 07:33 (twenty-two years ago)

our salesperson has 60 pairs of shoes. i don't know she has managed to collect so many without one single pair being beautiful.

― nathalie (nathalie), Tuesday, 22 April 2003 08:01 (twenty-two years ago)

I did not go red shoe shopping over the w/e. This == teh suxx0r!!

― Sarah (starry), Tuesday, 22 April 2003 08:48 (twenty-two years ago)

todd, have you seen this thread?

Clothes advice.

― felicity (felicity), Tuesday, 22 April 2003 14:52 (twenty-two years ago)

boys' tennis style

http://movies.hsx.com/common/assets/movies/RDOWN_bb.gif

― Mary (Mary), Thursday, 24 April 2003 01:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Mary, I don't think that look would be very good for me and my "famine victim arms"...

But I want this entire outfit from APC... though i'm sure i would look like an asshole in it.

http://www.apc.fr/images/HOME_ETE2003_n6.jpg

― phil-two (phil-two), Thursday, 24 April 2003 08:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Are you in Tokyo yet Phil? There's an APC outlet in Naka-Meguro.

― Mary (Mary), Thursday, 24 April 2003 15:38 (twenty-two years ago)

nah. YO:

bernhard wilhelm floppy sweatshirt
tomoko seko sequin t-shirt
analog lighting tracksuit-jeans
nike silverfish

sawted guv!

― Chip Morningstar (bob), Thursday, 24 April 2003 19:12 (twenty-two years ago)

you should open a boutique, phil.

― RJG (RJG), Thursday, 24 April 2003 19:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Mary, I'm still in China - but I won't be in Tokyo for like a YEAR! Though i was in Tokyo in september and checked out the APC boutiques - really nicely designed stores. I didn't buy anything in Tokyo except for this super-cute wooly Issey Miyake hat that was maroon and really tall and came to a point with a big maroon tassel on top, with like a dozen maroon tassels attached on the sides. oh it was so cute, but it never made it home in the post. i think some postal worker in chicago has got it now. fucker.

― phil-two (phil-two), Friday, 25 April 2003 03:45 (twenty-two years ago)

you should open a boutique, phil.

i told kirsten she could be manager! but i have a feeling she'll steal everything out the backdoor and post it to glasgow.

― phil-two (phil-two), Friday, 25 April 2003 03:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh, I hope you make it home before that. In the meantime, may I suggest golf style?

http://www.onlinegolf.co.uk/ishop/images/4/STPI010L.jpg

― Mary (Mary), Friday, 25 April 2003 03:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Oops I meant this one:

http://www.rawgolf.co.uk/images/fashion/pringle.jpg

― Mary (Mary), Friday, 25 April 2003 03:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Phil is so right! Any shirts with ringer sleeves look terrible on us guys what have stick-like arms. I just cut 'em right off.

― Dan I. (Dan I.), Friday, 25 April 2003 04:00 (twenty-two years ago)

um, the sleeve-rings, not my arms.

― Dan I. (Dan I.), Friday, 25 April 2003 04:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Why not just get the shirt more baggy? I think it looks fine.

― Mary (Mary), Friday, 25 April 2003 04:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Wait, do things only count as "ringer" if they're a diff. color from the rest of the shirt? 'Cause by that word I meant "short sleeve cuffs", of course.

― Dan I. (Dan I.), Friday, 25 April 2003 04:02 (twenty-two years ago)

but really slim people look silly in baggy clothes. except snoop dogg

― phil-two (phil-two), Friday, 25 April 2003 04:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Mary, I will love you forever if you go down to Mercer street and buy this from APC [only $134]

http://www.apc.fr/images/E03/uk/1C011916040F_fiche.jpg

im considering a sex change just so i can wear it. oh, and i do sort of like the golf thing. my mom got me a gift certificate to brooks brothers last year not-so-subtly telling me i need to start looking for a business career - and i got a sweater just like the one the hopping-guy's got on.

― phil-two (phil-two), Friday, 25 April 2003 04:13 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't understand that garment! It may be more of a Felicity thing. But I will go try on some APC jeans if that will make you happy.

― Mary (Mary), Friday, 25 April 2003 04:17 (twenty-two years ago)

but its absolutely adorable!

― phil-two (phil-two), Friday, 25 April 2003 04:28 (twenty-two years ago)

It looks like a Target commercial(?)

― Mary (Mary), Friday, 25 April 2003 04:32 (twenty-two years ago)

and whats the coolest of the bargain-marts? Target!

― phil-two (phil-two), Friday, 25 April 2003 04:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Mary, if you like golf style, may I recommend Dexy's Midnight Runners Don't Stand Me Down (The Director's Cut)?

http://oldlady1.tripod.com/dexys/dsmd.html

Poor Kevin. He was ahead of his time.

― felicity (felicity), Friday, 25 April 2003 14:44 (twenty-two years ago)

(Quiet thread hijack -- Felicity, can you e-mail me? Just wanted to check with you about something!)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 25 April 2003 15:10 (twenty-two years ago)

three months pass...

Hey NY folkz... any other NY thrift/vintage types place you'd recommend for me and the gf to visit?

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Thursday, 21 August 2003 12:54 (twenty-two years ago)

you probably have better thrift stores in Detroit that haven't been all picked clean by trust-fund hipsters with nothing better to do all day

― phil-two (phil-two), Thursday, 21 August 2003 17:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Ouch.

― Ally (mlescaut), Thursday, 21 August 2003 17:34 (twenty-two years ago)

A friend of mine who's kind of in the vintage clothing business (ha, 'kind of') said that many vintage retailers have pickers going all over the country looking for stuff in more out-of-the-way places. Also, a retailer doing business in NYC would likely have a lot more merchandise coming in the door as well, just owing to the size of the city. But yeah overall I agree with Phil.

― Sean (Sean), Thursday, 21 August 2003 17:44 (twenty-two years ago)

If I had a trust fund I would just go full out preppy. Like pink polos and white seaters. And I would have a boat.

― bnw (bnw), Thursday, 21 August 2003 18:21 (twenty-two years ago)

If you find a trust fund will you take me with you?

― Ally (mlescaut), Thursday, 21 August 2003 18:24 (twenty-two years ago)

If I had a trust fund I would wear solid gold underwear.

― NA (Nick A.), Thursday, 21 August 2003 18:25 (twenty-two years ago)

You can come on my boat, Ally. You might have to change your name to Mercedes or something horrible. I would be 'Trip Lauden the Third'. I would hate my parents for not buying me a full size yacht. You could have an affiar with our cabin boy.

― bnw (bnw), Thursday, 21 August 2003 18:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Who is the cabin boy? Is he hot? Can I also get solid gold underwear? I would buy that million dollar bra from Victoria's Secret and just wear that around the house.

― Ally (mlescaut), Thursday, 21 August 2003 18:41 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm the cabin boy, of course. Would you like some more caviar ma'am?

― phil-two (phil-two), Thursday, 21 August 2003 18:43 (twenty-two years ago)

How many of those bras do you think they have in stock?

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Thursday, 21 August 2003 18:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Try not to get bbq sauce on that million-dollar bra.

― NA (Nick A.), Thursday, 21 August 2003 18:44 (twenty-two years ago)

im waiting for them to go on sale

― phil-two (phil-two), Thursday, 21 August 2003 18:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Of course I want more caviar. Can you fetch the champagne too, luv? Ooh yes, the strawberries. In the champange. That's nice.

(big xpost--I'm posh now, we're no longer in the BBQ sauce business. It's all A1 from here on out)

― Mercedes Martinez-DeSilvio (Esq) (mlescaut), Thursday, 21 August 2003 18:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Doesn't the A1 make your eyes water?

― NA (Nick A.), Thursday, 21 August 2003 18:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Hmmm. Good point.

OK there's no more BBQ sauce. We're all about the...I dunno. SUN DRIED TOMATO AND PESTO RELISH!!!

― Merecedes Martinez-DeSilvio (Esq) (mlescaut), Thursday, 21 August 2003 18:59 (twenty-two years ago)

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