Brian’s Brain My American Classic Timeless Inspiration:

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:who what where when HOW WHY POST3

WHY=WHY NOT

You may have heard the old urban legion story about the philosophy professor’s final exam who had a one word test : At the top of the exam was the word, Why? The story tells how one student got an A for simply writing Why not.

WHY

My foray into this community was driven by a burning desire to find a way out of the quagmire that is the present fashion goo. Let me back up a little. After leaving the Trust Department in 2012 that I had created at the bank 10 years earlier, the freedom to dress much more casually after my departure was at first a bit of a relief. However, as everything-everywhere devolved into a clothing universe that was too casual, too unstructured, too tight, too short, too disproportioned (suit and sport coats) too low on one’s hips (jean-cut dress trousers instead of normal waist high trousers), I and I presume several guys of my vintage began to wonder what should we be wearing these days. Moreover, younger guys that had no point of reference because there are so few professional clothiers left in business were exposed to the algorithmetic disingenuous sycophant Borg known as the internet -which is perpetually feeding poor advice to any guy who continuously keeps clicking. Enter

@Antonio Centeno

. The appeal to me of Antonio was that he seemed to be a down to earth guy who has such an approachable personality and he was giving guys an alternative view that was well reasoned out and supported by data.

Let me explain that a different way by showing three guys many of you will be aware of: Antonio Centeno of Real Men Real Style, Aaron Marino of Alpha Male and Sven Raphael Schneider of Gentlemen’s Gazzette The three friends represent a broad variety along the spectrum of style.

1.) S Raphael, I would characterizes as more nostalgic and structured. His immense knowledge of clothing firms and various tailoring houses worldwide is quite impressive. He is very matter of fact about what one should wear based upon long established conventions.

2.) On the other end is Aaron. I’ve gotten to know Aaron a bit in the 10k club and am thoroughly impressed with his no nonsense approach to building businesses and ability to innovate and change quickly. This translates to his style sense. In my eyes Aaron doesn’t delineate style with fashion. He differs greatly from S. Raphael in that for Aaron he remains extremely current and goes after lists of things not to wear because it’s “so 2024” for example.

3.) In the middle is our Antonio. He grabs things from each end of that spectrum but does so in such a non threatening way by the use of his data based style system. So…why does this matter? I am certain that Antonio and I would possibly differ on several items of clothing. But the one place he and I would agree completely is the importance of UNDERSTANDING why certain conventions of style have endured, and then LEARNING where to APPLY the skills by using his Fit, Function, and Fabric approach. THIS is the basis of STYLE. I know I ramble on about how we are in no-man’s land again and have been for the past 15 years. But just a few short years ago - appropriate clothing choices were understood conventions for most of the past 125 years. During the bulk of that time 99% of the events guys were attending, they were wearing smart looking tailored clothing. Now (basically for almost 15 years) guys are showing up in hoodies, athletic jerseys and ball caps to weddings funerals and the like. This ain’t the first time we have gone through this non convention mentality. It is like the 1970’s all over again. I lived through the emancipation from that once before in the early 1980’s, and I believe perhaps deep down that is the reason we are all in this community. For me, when I joined two years ago basically I felt I had a license to again wear what I knew were better choices than what I was seeing around me. From 14 to 25 years old I had been at the front end of helping other men recognize real style. The last gig, Harold’s was the premier store in terms of popularity and volume of sales around the South Central US area (OK and Texas). While there were some outstanding competitive stores like Connoly’s and Orbachs, Marvin Brown’s. Cullwell and Sons (still in existence) among others, Harold’s sheer volume of sales and popularity was something to behold.

Over the subsequent 40 years I have clung onto the training from Harold’s by having my MTM garments basically built as closely as possible to what I used to sell.

Naturally I realize we are each on a different journey. Nevertheless we are each in this community together. Perhaps we are all here because of a sensibility that things could be better-if not for those around us at least for oneself. For me I was feeling like a rudderless, anchor-less, broken masted ship tossed in the waves of a fashion nightmare. Two years ago when I joined this group I said enough is enough. By God I knew how this stuff worked-it was time to apply this knowledge. And that brings me to the

HOW

How do we each get out of this quagmire that is the 2020’s version of the 1970’s. Well perhaps firstly let’s pull up our pants. ( both figuratively and allegoricallly) I remember buying a couple of pairs of slacks around 1975 that felt so strange to me. After wearing hip hugger bell bottom jeans everyday - you know with the three fly buttons and patch pockets 😎, my first time wearing slacks at my actual waist level felt weird as hell. I have to laugh when I hear guys talk about “high waisted“ trousers. Um no-what we see in suits today are Jeans-cut-hip-hugger trousers. I like jeans- I even like jeans with a sport coat occasionally. But when a sport coat buttons three inches too high already and is too short in the skirt, plus has a “low rise” trouser submarined way below the operable button, it only exacerbates the disproportion of the outfit. It’s not about the present fashion-It’s about UNDERSTANDING the fact that we are in a quagmire of FASHION goofiness and today’s fit is “out of STYLE” because it flys in the face of Timeless style. THAT is the true first step.

The second step is to confidently apply all the knowledge we are gaining here and confidently wearing proven items. If you can’t afford MTM new, then thrift clothing that predates the current trends to get the fit down.

It looks as though there are over 13,000 active members here on RMRS. These last three posts have been directed more toward American (US citizen residents no disrespect to non US residents-in fact it is out of respect that my ignorance of other cultures keeps me only pointing these posts toward my own country). Assuming that US members might be at least 5,000-7,000 (guessing at these numbers ) imagine what might happen if 5,000 guys walked into mens stores across America and simply asked for a more classic cut of suit or sports coat and trouser? Even if that never happens-I would not be the least bit surprised to see remarkable changes in our various communities just by way of the influences you gentlemen are inadvertently making by stepping up your personal game and dressing better in public. And-even if none of that happens, I know my personal life is better from my stepping up in my game and I would wager yours is too.

WHY NOT

-accept a challenge to be a part of a return to Real Men expressing Real Style? It’s been done before about 45 years ago. Learn all you can about classic timeless menswear and apply that knowledge -I think the country is ripe for the revival of something that has such a proven track record.

Irrespective if anyone listening to all these ramblings. I want to express my gratitude. Thanks to you Antonio and you gentlemen. My life is better for having been a part of this community

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