Classic Timeless Style. Where Style-Doesn’t mean preferences

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3h (edited) • OOTD 👔

In a recent post by

, I was quite surprised by several comments. Firstly let me define some terms so there is less misunderstanding.

Fashion: is something that shows up daily that rarely lasts more than a few weeks up to a few years BUT VERY occasionally becomes enduring style (think Beau Brummel 1770 -1840 influencing 200 years of guys in frilly collars, wigs and hose to men evolving into the wearing of frock coat which is the precursor to the modern suit, Or think about college students in early 20th century Ivy League US universities adopting a cotton button down oxford to forgo the stiff removable collars on shirts for class). Real style takes decades even centuries to become fully adopted. AND they ARE RARE NUGGETS mined from tons of “fashion” manure.

Style: here I am speaking about Classic Timeless Menswear that has endured. NOT personal style preferences. Primarily I will refer to the United States since that is where my familiarity lies.

In the post by Daniel I saw many cases where guys conflated their preferences with styles. A perfect example is comparing flat toed shoes (fashion faux pas) with a shoe style that an individual didn’t like but clearly is a piece of Classic Timeless Style. (Some guys didn’t like tassels, or brogues, or loafers, or……etc). The two are quite different. There are hideous tassel loafers and there are gorgeous classic timeless loafers, irrespective of one’s personal preferences. Although I have been around this game now over 50 years I would gladly defer to the experts such as G Bruce Boyer and Allan Flusser and Ralph Lauren who has written volumes on this subject. Let me elaborate. For me personally, my least favorite shoe type “preferences” are Kiltie loafers, monk strap shoes, and Chelsea boots. But that by no means hinders my ability to recognize their classic elegance-it’s merely a personal preference. If some one wants to gift me an $825 Crockett and Jones burnished tan Kiltie loafer from Ben Silver, I assure you I would have the good sense to proudly wear such a tasteful pair of shoes, knowing and understanding it’s contribution to Classic timeless menswear. In fact with Christmas around the corner anyone here is welcome to choose any new pair of Crocket Jones shoes from Ben Silver in a 9.5 Charlie and I’ll wear them every day and post for a month😉.

It’s not the fact that people express their preferences that concerned me- but rather their lack of understanding about what makes an item a part of classic timeless style. In addition to the style authors I mentioned, I would invite guys to look at examples at Ben Silver or J Press to understand this art form. (Start with Ben Silvers shoes)

Let me express this a different way. Playing with many different musicians in a professional band for the past 21 years I have come to understand that virtually all decent musicians have a broad respect and admiration across various music preferences. They will love a great classic country song as much as a jazz fusion song as much as driving rock number, or a work by Mozart or Schubert. What they don’t like is a piece of crap two chord lousy song with auto tune nonsense. (Those are the flat toed shoes of music. Or the cheapo deapo mall store tassel loafers.)

So to keep with this metaphor: where a navy blazer pink oxford with a bow tie, double pleat front khaki, 42 year old shell Cordovan Alden Classic timeless dress tassel loafer may be the Sinatra, Dean Martin, Michael Bubl’e “standards” of the clothing world- that doesn’t mean that is what one prefers to wear or listen to. Nevertheless- to knock those classic standards of music - one sounds dramatically ignorant simply because it’s not their individual “preference”.

-When Antonio puts on a classic turtle neck under a blazer that evokes a musical statement reminiscent of bands like the Beatles to Jon Bon Jovi. (Stylish, slightly edgy and unique, but not full blown metal-if that makes sense)

In other words just because one’s preference (or personal “style”) differs from classic timeless style, when one knocks items that have a proven history (doesn’t mean you need to wear them)-it’s as misguided as someone dissing a George Jones, or Jaco Pastorious, or Walter Becker and Donald Fagan, or Brian Wilson or Andre Sergovias or Freddy Mercury etc etc. any accomplished knowledgeable musician in the room will most likely just quietly leave the room in dismay.

If you get this -you get this. If you don’t that’s the sound of being left alone in a room perhaps. 😳

https://www.bensilver.com/The-Sonning-Kiltie-Loafer-in-Burnished-Tan-Calfskin,38274.html?b=d*6367&s=d&p=30&c=74

https://www.skool.com/rmrs/humorous-whats-the-one-piece-of-classic-menswear-that-you-cannot-stand?p=76ac0c87

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