Building the DW Community

Thruth

Thruth

Big Winter Daddy
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Russell Street said:
....the selfie-posting game is beneath one at a certain age.
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EDIT: based on the organic ebb and flow of this thread, I have renamed it and it will now serve as a thread to discuss how we can build the DW community.

I'd like to thank BLSoda BLSoda for his comments which hit upon barriers that may be limiting DW's membership growth and look forward to more discussion and recommendations of how to to influence the culture of this forum that might result in increased membership as well as enhancing discussion of topics that reflect the name of this forum.


We do not have a great number of fit posters. Occasionally someone will but it has not been a key element of this forum despite it being called Dressed Well.

Chorn was a prolific fit poster and Betelgeuse Betelgeuse is the most regular poster currently. Others have from time to time posted sporadically. Often, it seems members post pics of themselves or their things to illustrate a point rather than just posting fits to show others what they are wearing.

So why do you choose to/not to participate in one of the key pastimes of iGents on other fora?
 
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Well, I'm trying to improve everytime, I have learned a lot from the forums. So I take all the feedback given.
 
I get the living lookbook, that just by ogling the smorgasboard of volunteer photos, one can become accustomed and notice trends and whatnot. Hell, a large reason I give a damn about clothes at all is from looking at catalogs. Even in the present, I'll see stuff that I like, and aim to emulate it in some way.

I'll give a pass to a certain amount of egoism. Some days one looks killer and wants to show it off. This often falls under the exemplar use.
Obviously the old "how's this look" is a humble and instructional use.
The utterly habitual and ritualistic and downright narcissistic fits are the ones that drive me nuts. Several pics, some details, a full body shot with face. Every damn day. This is just insane.

I don't much bother because:
1. I'm a privacy hound. I don't want photos of me in cyberspace.
2. I really don't dress in that noteworthy a manner on a daily basis. Yes, the fit is hopefully better than average, the colors coordinated, fun stuff in the accessories and what not but it's nothing needing public scrutiny.
3. It's a hassle. Even the bathroom selfie is never a first shot affair and it all eats time.
4. The camera is not flattering. I like how I think I loook better than what the camera shows.
5. I'm not a perfectionist. I like how I dress and having anonymous strangers critique minor aspects is of no consequence. I'm not going to really do anything about it.
 
So, three viewpoints and all valid. Betelgeuse Betelgeuse wants feedback to improve his fits. doghouse doghouse sees no value in it. Russell Street Russell Street sees little value in it plus the time it takes to do it seems ridiculous. Not to mention the privacy issue.

There is a hierarchy of posting that ranges from "how does this look because I am really interested in getting feedback" to "I think/know I look good and I want someone to acknowledge that".

I think that most would agree that it can be a source of feedback, although one has to not take everything at face value as SF does have a narrow range of what seems to be deemed a good fit in terms of silhouette, patterns, colours are peculiarities such as the 2 inch cuff. So be it.

It is the posting for the sake of the e-fist bump that I just don't get either. I completely agree that it seems lame. I also agree that the time and effort to selfie oneself appropriately to properly display one's glory seems to be not worth it.

I find a level of inanity in the "it is a rainy day in ___________, I am wearing my suit by ______, tie by ________, shoes by______. If it is rainy, show your fucking raincoat, no? But I digress.

Unless well thought out, well lit and photographed with a proper camera, it often comes off - as Russell Street Russell Street states, as less than ideal and not representative of how it looks in the world. Jimmy Frost Mellor rightly has stated that he prefers to see clothing on people in real life as they go through their day as it is a better representation.

As for learning from the fora, at least for me, that comes from specific threads rather than what I see in WAYWT or the like. There pics have value. I can surf WAYWT for examples to post in the Agreeable and Disagreeable threads. I rarely look at it otherwise for inspiration.

I think the point about perfection is bang on. There is always a millimetre to shave off here and there (laughing).

If you have well fitted, coherent outfits you are already ahead of most people you will encounter on a daily basis. These are those who will judge your appearance and most often silently. I don't need a virtual panel to render judgement early in the day so I might run and change my square.

Strangely though, I don't mind posting a fabric or footwear. However, those that I have posted were in support of building this forum's content. If I think back to years on SF, I posted 2 pairs of footwear maybe and some fucking Passaggio thirsts.

So is the lack of posted fits here a good thing? In a lot of ways I think yes, as the level of discussion on things no matter how snarky is better here I think. Sort of the reason I like FNB (I rarely venture into Ivy where they post way more fits)
 
Thruth said:
So is the lack of posted fits here a good thing? In a lot of ways I think yes, as the level of discussion on things no matter how snarky is better here I think. Sort of the reason I like FNB (I rarely venture into Ivy where they post way more fits)
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This leaves us as a forum in a bit of a conundrum. If the people on this forum aren't posting their own pics, then does the forum still have validity? I mean, would you come here if this place was "DressedWell - for the discussion of pics and information from StyleForum"?
 
Rambo said:
If the people on this forum aren't posting their own pics, then does the forum still have validity?
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Umm, yes. It has a lot more validity actually. We can actually talk about style (we don't but we could). Styleforum could change it's name to FitForum and be a hell of a lot more accurate because the minutiae of fit has nothing to do with style, and can generally be the antithesis of it. Absolute perfect fit is sterile and unstylish as anything. Look at every iGent hero from Agnelli to James Bond, and they have clothes that fit them reasonably well with a lot of verve. Chicks are lining up to bang them, not Foo or Manton. I actually can't think of anyone less stylish than those two now that I think of it.

Look at the Wardrobe on FNB right now. There are no fit pics at all. There are some good threads by formby, FNB and fxh that all have actual discussion on the substance of style.
 
Rambo said:
This leaves us as a forum in a bit of a conundrum. If the people on this forum aren't posting their own pics, then does the forum still have validity? I mean, would you come here if this place was "DressedWell - for the discussion of pics and information from StyleForum"?
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doghouse said:
Umm, yes. It has a lot more validity actually. We can actually talk about style (we don't but we could). Styleforum could change it's name to FitForum and be a hell of a lot more accurate because the minutiae of fit has nothing to do with style, and can generally be the antithesis of it. Absolute perfect fit is sterile and unstylish as anything. Look at every iGent hero from Agnelli to James Bond, and they have clothes that fit them reasonably well with a lot of verve. Chicks are lining up to bang them, not Foo or Manton. I actually can't think of anyone less stylish than those two now that I think of it.

Look at the Wardrobe on FNB right now. There are no fit pics at all. There are some good threads by formby, FNB and fxh that all have actual discussion on the substance of style.
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doghouse doghouse beat me to the punch.

Within the context of DressedWell, who is dressed well? Me? You? If we are it is because we have learned things, including gleaning ideas from pictures. So to discuss dressing well we only require pictures to support a particular point of view or example. It need not be pictures of ourselves. The example of FNB is spot on because there is actual discussion and substance.

For example, it is fall, which lends itself to tweed, let's talk about brown herringbone tweed, tattersall shirt and appropriate tie. Do I have to kit up? Nope because voila, i can find it:

LL


same way if we want to discuss incoherence:
500x1000px-LL-7a9cb1ff_P1090466.webp


if we are not as a group discussing such substance, that is a matter we should work on
 
It's a shame that second outfit gives me epilepsy, because that is too rad of a jacket to be messing up like that.

Thruth said:
if we are not as a group discussing such substance, that is a matter we should work on
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Yes.
 
if we are not as a group discussing such substance, that is a matter we should work on
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right. This was what I was trying to shorthand in my first post. We are, up to this point, not doing this as a group. Or really anything, for that matter, other than ragging on Gianni. That's what I reaching at with the validity. I should have wrote more but dinner was being served. Apologies.
 
doghouse said:
It's a shame that second outfit gives me epilepsy, because that is too rad of a jacket to be messing up like that.



Yes.
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It was perfect that DC desecrated that houndstooth jacket, I knew it would get a response from you!
 
Rambo said:
right. This was what I was trying to shorthand in my first post. We are, up to this point, not doing this as a group. Or really anything, for that matter, other than ragging on Gianni. That's what I reaching at with the validity. I should have wrote more but dinner was being served. Apologies.
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Well then we have to try to achieve some of that Group Focus. There have been threads to do this but they peter out.
 
Another thing I'd like to add, I have no problem putting up an photo of myself if it conveys whatever point I'm trying to get across. It's rare but not unheard of I'll put myself up. But never in a million years would it be a WAYWT or fit pic, because they are anathema to style. Use a mannequin to display your clothes if that's what you want to do, propagating really awful pictures on the internet is ultimately degrading the quality of information out there. If there are genuine questions about fit, I have no issue with that, and it's a good resource for people to do, but it's for a sever novice, and people arguing minutiae are completely missing the point.
 
Thruth said:
Well then we have to try to achieve some of that Group Focus. There have been threads to do this but they peter out.
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I think, joking aside, this is one area that moderation does need some rethinking, threads must wander off topic to grow organically. Having a mod run in and chastise to keep on topic really kills it.
 
doghouse said:
I think, joking aside, this is one area that moderation does need some rethinking, threads must wander off topic to grow organically. Having a mod run in and chastise to keep on topic really kills it.
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To continue our zeitgeist of being off-topic...
IMHO this is correct but the meandering must be corralled for organization. Don't axe or squelch stuff, but properly break it off into an appropriately themed thread. Note that the original post here is an example of this.
The good and proper style discussion interspersed in our snarkier threads is essentially lost. It is ephemeral and did not grow to it's full potential. God knows what fun stuff I never found because it was off-topic banter in a thread that I did not initially find of interest.
 
doghouse said:
I think, joking aside, this is one area that moderation does need some rethinking, threads must wander off topic to grow organically. Having a mod run in and chastise to keep on topic really kills it.
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Do I do that in the clothing area? I certainly don't mean to unless it's getting too Sartodi-esque.
 
To continue briefly on Thruth's excellent synopsis, the masturbatory nature of the fit pic is indeed worst when it is seemingly obligatory, some rote ego-stroking circle jerk, and particularly when it does not actually show anything that hasn't been seen before. Hence my ire on macarthur and the endless cycling of a finite, albeit large, number of items. If all your suits and shirts are essentially the same cut, what is the point of seeing gray with blue one day and navy with white the next?
My tip for anyone posting is to include some pointer at what is different, what we should be looking at. A new pocket square fold, a different collar spread, unsure if the shirt pattern works... Caption with something beyond "I wore this today."
 
So... basically there is no point to post fits if not asking for an specific advice, do I understand correctly?

:thinking:

:challengefailed:
 
I like to see people with a standard setup, camera on stand, 20 seconds each day, post everyday, whateve r you have on, if you change snap it. Then it becomes a proper diary of interest. Not just a best of.

I happen to think old crusty is one of the best. Same pose, same angle, same spot, his normal clothes. That just how he rolls. Probably the most authentic, honest poster.
 
Nobody here is an OCD oversharing lunatic. Nobody here gets peeved if a response is constructive criticism rather than affirmation.
Jimmy Frost Mellor said:
Then it becomes a proper diary of interest. Not just a best of.
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Interesting. For the thorough study, this is great. For the more casual student, a Reader's Digest version is preferred.
 
What exactly is gleaned from seeing the 7,000th spread of Crusty's purple shirt, tie, and cuff links? I must be missing something.
 
I get use only from a narrow spectrum of people that dress in a way that I like at a budget level akin to my own. The European bespoke aces and the clueless hand-me-down first-suit pics require much more effort to pick up anything useful. And to be honest, it's way easier to spot what is off than what is perfect. Anyway, the two people that I like (and really, it's hard to detach persona from this) are that Patrick0790 and Orgetrix, neither of whose name I can even get right. Both are thrifters with an American trad vibe that have a modicum of alterations done. I relate to that, it's in my spectrum. Both have enough unpredictability that it doesn't seem like Groundhog Day.
 
LKP said:
a9187990_image.jpeg


Hai2u
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This bullshit about getting photos in the actual tailor shop is totally beyond me. Were I a tailor, I'd toss out anyone doing such.
Idiots playing James Bond really need to prove they are getting bespoke.
 
Russell Street said:
This bullshit about getting photos in the actual tailor shop is totally beyond me. Were I a tailor, I'd toss out anyone doing such.
Idiots playing James Bond really need to prove they are getting bespoke.
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Teh internet knows that the WASPy Congressman Matt Foo does not suffer from dry skin.
 
Russell Street said:
This bullshit about getting photos in the actual tailor shop is totally beyond me. Were I a tailor, I'd toss out anyone doing such.
Idiots playing James Bond really need to prove they are getting bespoke.
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I find it odd. One of the biggest upsides of going to a tailor is killing the phone and having some quiet time to just b.s. with the guys, check out cloth, try on jackets and generally enjoy a pace of life that has largely disappeared. I'll be damned if I'm gonna fuck around with selfies then. I don't even take pics to look at later for my own personal edification.
 
doghouse said:
I find it odd. One of the biggest upsides of going to a tailor is killing the phone and having some quiet time to just b.s. with the guys, check out cloth, try on jackets and generally enjoy a pace of life that has largely disappeared. I'll be damned if I'm gonna fuck around with selfies then. I don't even take pics to look at later for my own personal edification.
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Luckily there is no phone coverage whatsoever in my tailor's flat / workshop.
He talks too fast anyway, no chance to touch your phone
 
I honestly came over to DressedWell for a chance at a breather from SF when needed - to see if non-SFers posted fits on the forum and to read other peoples take on style/clothes and possible get away from SF groupthink. I'm always a forum lurker. My lurking has substantially decreased once I realized DressedWell is like the SF/AAAC troll forum. Also, I myself am guilty of coming over here and talking shit about people from SF. After posting a few not so nice things, I realized it was in complete poor taste of me and I thought if I can't say it to that person on SF, I shouldn't go to another forum to vent my negative feelings of someone.

Rambo, I personally don't think your intention with starting this forum was to be a troll forum. I also think the forum activity would decrease by 50%+ if you removed any reference to SF or other forums and making fun of them. So on the topic of validity, it seems like there is a lack of content and substance on this forum when it comes to talk of men's clothing independent from other foras.
 
BLSoda said:
After posting a few not so nice things, I realized it was in complete poor taste of me and I thought if I can't say it to that person on SF, I shouldn't go to another forum to vent my negative feelings of someone.
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I don't agree with much of the rest of what you wrote, but this is certainly correct.
 
BLSoda said:
I honestly came over to DressedWell for a chance at a breather from SF when needed - to see if non-SFers posted fits on the forum and to read other peoples take on style/clothes and possible get away from SF groupthink. I'm always a forum lurker. My lurking has substantially decreased once I realized DressedWell is like the SF/AAAC troll forum. Also, I myself am guilty of coming over here and talking shit about people from SF. After posting a few not so nice things, I realized it was in complete poor taste of me and I thought if I can't say it to that person on SF, I shouldn't go to another forum to vent my negative feelings of someone.

Rambo, I personally don't think your intention with starting this forum was to be a troll forum. I also think the forum activity would decrease by 50%+ if you removed any reference to SF or other forums and making fun of them. So on the topic of validity, it seems like there is a lack of content and substance on this forum when it comes to talk of men's clothing independent from other foras.
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While there is some truth in what you say, DW is not a troll forum. Is there poking fun at SF/AAAC? Yes. Does there need to be more content and substance with respect to discussing dressing well? Yes. Can it be done without referencing other fora? Maybe, but the content, namely pictures to support any discussion of substance on dressing well have to come from elsewhere on the net. Thus, examples to support one's viewpoint may indeed include fits posted on SF, AAAC and elsewhere.

Avoiding all "talking shit" about people on SF or other fora would negate discussions of shills and wayward AV's. I know this is skewing my argument to suit my needs but the overarching point is that generally, the shit talking is focussed on people who contribute little to any substantial discussions on dressing well. Should I spend my time crafting and supporting threads that support the increased discussion of those things that have been pointed out? Most probably yes.

But I'll be damned if I can't have a bit of fun.
 
Thruth said:
While there is some truth in what you say, DW is not a troll forum. Is there poking fun at SF/AAAC? Yes. Does there need to be more content and substance with respect to discussing dressing well? Yes. Can it be done without referencing other fora? Maybe, but the content, namely pictures to support any discussion of substance on dressing well have to come from elsewhere on the net. Thus, examples to support one's viewpoint may indeed include fits posted on SF, AAAC and elsewhere.

Avoiding all "talking shit" about people on SF or other fora would negate discussions of shills and wayward AV's. I know this is skewing my argument to suit my needs but the overarching point is that generally, the shit talking is focussed on people who contribute little to any substantial discussions on dressing well. Should I spend my time crafting and supporting threads that support the increased discussion of those things that have been pointed out? Most probably yes.

But I'll be damned if I can't have a bit of fun.
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