ASK CHORN ANYTHING (about clothing)

Chorn

Chorn

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Ask me anything you want about clothing. The answers will be my opinions. Some will be well thought out and well supported. Others will be surly and inappropriate. I will tell you what to buy. I will tell you what looks ugly. I will tell you what I am wearing and why I am wearing it. I will tell you to fuck off (provided you ask the right question).
 
May one wear an ascot, or day cravat, with a flannel shirt? If so, what type would be recommended?
 
Day cravat, wool. You'll want to go with a warm color. You'll bring all the lumberjack ladies to your yard.

Says the man who started his own forum.

What Kajak says. Neglect to wash them after for a cool scar story
 
Aside from light blue and white, what other color you would recommend for my olive SC?
 
Actually struggling with a similar dilemma. Picked up a gray microstripe that resolves to gray to address a shortage of shirts that work with warmer colored jackets.

Brown butchers stripe in oxford would work.
 
Chorn said:
Brown butchers stripe in oxford would work.
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Yeah, I'd have to see that one. I'm making my frowny face just thinking bout it.

Sometimes, with bold or odd colors, you just have to be plain and forget about it. With olive especially, the avenues for shirt match are limited. You can go nuts with squares though.
 
(Old picture from a while back showing a brown striped oxford)

DSC_2022.webp
 
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I'm liking the new closeup shots but what happened to the regular ole full body ones?
 
Chorn said:
Actually struggling with a similar dilemma. Picked up a gray microstripe that resolves to gray to address a shortage of shirts that work with warmer colored jackets.

Brown butchers stripe in oxford would work.
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Somethin like this?

61177_1_.jpg



Don't know if this could work... I'm guessing yes, but tie color might be the issue.

66793_1_.jpg
 
The first, yes. The second is a multicolored stripe--not a good thing. And as the brown(s) is so dark, yeah, tie might be troublesome.
 
1. Am I nuts to think that yellow and pink are fine with olive?
2. Please elaborate on the lack of button hole on the lapel. I know that many older coats are like this, and I think Anderson Little likes the symmetry. In fact, I have specified this detail omission on my custom suit, but that was largely because I did not like the looks of the hand-sewn button hole.
 
Russell Street said:
1. Am I nuts to think that yellow and pink are fine with olive?
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Yellow - its possible, and it really would depend on the shade (nothing TOO bright), but I wouldn't bet the mortgage on it being a show stopper. Pink - no. no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, and no.
 
Russell Street said:
1. Am I nuts to think that yellow and pink are fine with olive?
2. Please elaborate on the lack of button hole on the lapel. I know that many older coats are like this, and I think Anderson Little likes the symmetry. In fact, I have specified this detail omission on my custom suit, but that was largely because I did not like the looks of the hand-sewn button hole.
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1. If it is a really light pink, almost white, it could work. Yellow, too, provided one has the right skin tone. Both seem like they wouldn't be easy though.
2. They once asked if I wanted a button hole. On a whim, I said no, and I sort of kept going with it. I'm not sure there's any reason why I keep it up other than that there is no reason not to.
 
Chester said:
Is it wrong for me to burn all of my shirts and replace with:
10 x White twill
10 x Blue OCBD
10 x Blue Bengal Stripe

?
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yes, if you're just disposing of them.

now if they are destroyed in a volley of artillery or flames or other noble abuse or cause, then by all means proceed.

and if you have a toddler, skip the white and stick with blue or maybe pink.
 
I heard that shorter men of slight build should avoid large patterns that make them look 'gift-wrapped.'
Cool kids are telling me that I should get a windowpane suit. Is this good advise for a dinky man?
 
Are these e-people or have they seen you in person? Regardless, a full picture in store is the way to go. Or just keep the receipt. I've never paid much attention to a man's height when looking at his clothes.
 
I suspect that laying grid squares over a dinky man will highlight his small proportions. E-people are spurning me on, and I have no idea how common OTR windowpanes would be in my size. On a similar note, I seem to remember Alec Baldwin's Juan Trippe character in The Aviator wearing a blue suit with a bright red window pane pattern. Is that something that is even remarkably sensible, or best reserved for wealthy titans of industry?
 
That's a look that depends heavily on context. In a vacuum, I'd say absolutely not. But provided you've the right appearance and personality, and it's what you want to go for (nerdy middle aged professional), it's a look that could work.
 
When is it an appropriate time to wear a bow tie?

And not during white or black tie occasions.
 
Fwiffo said:
When is it an appropriate time to wear a bow tie?

And not during white or black tie occasions.
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Do you already have a reputation as an eccentric dresser? Any time.

Do you have a giant cock? Any time.

Are you over fifty? Any time.

Do people consider you a hipster? Never.

Are you under 35? Never.
 
I disagree with all of those. Especially the giant cock one. Nothing says pencil dick more than a bowtie.
 
Right, but if you have a giant schvantz then you shouldn't be wearing one either. You should be sporting the Jonah Falcon look:

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I used to only see it in the lobbies of buildings with law firm occupants. It's usually the older gent who looks natural in it. Recently I have been seeing it on younger (<28) men in the financial district. At first I thought they were on break from working at the local Zara or some hipster with thick plastic spectacles and a cardigan stuck working in the mail room but it appears more frequently now. I don't think I can pull it off. I'm not Phat Guido. I reckon the 2" tie is getting tired because I see knit and bow ties.
 
I want to take a hardline here, but so much about that sweater depends on context. In general, I'm not a fan, but in the right place, at the right time, and on the right person, it could work. This would be particularly true is the sweater possesses high production value.

Clothing like that is always tough to judge. It isn't just about the internal coherence of the execution; it requires external coherence as well.

The choice of pants, on the other hand, is pretty miserable.
 
Did you just quote Diplo as a clothing reference to Chorn? I think the internet might implode shortly.
 
Ivar said:
I have a soft spot for that old English, Wallace & Gromit look.
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Bingo, anglophilic and somewhat anachronistic.
Chorn said:
In general, I'm not a fan, but in the right place, at the right time, and on the right person, it could work...The choice of pants, on the other hand, is pretty miserable.
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I stand on the line between fusty old grandpa and ironic hipster douche, so (spoiler alert) it's up my alley. I'm not a fan of fine wale corduroy, or the beige base color, but I'm thinking loden moleskin. I'm kind of stumped otherwise, although one could always go for a haphazard incongruous pairing.

And if someone would wake El Argentino for the new year, he might have a clue on this sort of thing.
 
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