#men's fashion tips

[myqualities]

Source: http://rtodd64.tumblr.com

[jetlagmag]

Source: http://hiddenromania.tumblr.com

[daguerreotyping]

Daguerreotype of a gentleman with an artfully tied blue silk cravat, c. 1840s

[paw-padss]

my humble christmas gift to you all! ^^

The snow softly blanketed the ground, and the wind blew strongly against the windows of your shared apartment. Usually you and your boyfriend were known for just staying inside together and being each other's company, playing games or watching movies while being cuddled up under each other. But it was Christmas Eve, and your closest friends had decided to invite both you and your boyfriend out for a little get-together at their house.

"Do we really have to go...?" He grumbled as he lazily slipped his arms through his jacket. While you definitely wouldn't describe yourself as the most sociable person in the world, the reason why you too had mostly stayed indoors wasn't because of you, but rather because your boyfriend was (in his own words) "not fit for social interaction."

"There's no point in whining; we'll only show our faces for an hour or two, and then we can come right back!" You said, giving your boyfriend an encouraging pat with your gloved hand.

"....Whatever." He said with a pout. After a few hours of protesting against this, it seems he had finally given up. You couldn't help but let a triumphant smirk sneak across your face as you watched the taller man dejectedly slip his hat over his head.

Placing your victory aside, you decide to take your scarf from the hook and delicately wrap it around your neck, tying it together with a stylish loop.

"Ready to go?"

"Just gimme a minute." He said as he reached for his matching scarf hanging on the other hook.

You hummed in acknowledgment as you watched him attempt to tie his scarf.

and then another attempt in which the scarf just seemed to get tangled within itself.

and then a third that left him flustered as he muttered frustratingly under his breath.

"Need some help?"

"Ya think?" He huffed sarcastically. You laughed lightheartedly as you watched his fingers continue to fumble around with the knot in his scarf before deciding to slip your gloves off and step forward.

"What's so funny?" he mumbled, his face flushing from embarrassment.

"The fact that you have the precision to full-combo the hardest tracks in your rhythm games but cant seem to wrap a scarf around your neck." You quipped as you gently arranged the ends of the scarf to hang off his shoulders.

He didn't seem to have a rebuttal to that other than another exaggerated sigh, so you kept going with the scarf, making sure to make one end slightly longer than the other. Then, in one swift motion you took the longer end and brought it around the shorter end to form a knot. Firmly adjusting it till you were satisfied with the look.

"Is it too tight?"

Your boyfriend seemed to look at you with awe, "How... did you do that?"

You shrugged your shoulders. "Practice, I suppose. Now are you ready to go?"

"Just one more thing."

He leaned down and placed his lips on the tip of your nose peeking out of your scarf and, with a touch light like a snowflake, gave it a little peck. It carried all the warm affection that he wasn't so great at putting into words, like an intimate Christmas gift.

"Merry Christmas."

You smiled and laughed heartily.

"Merry Christmas."

initially for gamer!danheng and gamer!kinch (which was a scrapped idea I've had since september) but it can be your favs <3 happy holidays!

[chopinski-official]

Chopin’s Wardrobe — What I Wore

Today I would like to share with you all the manner in which I dressed. It is interesting to see how fashions have changed over the course of 200 years. Some might say style has slipped… Anyway! Here are some details on my wardrobe:

My Suit

I liked to wear sober colours: black, mauve, blue… and especially grey. For instance, I once asked Julian Fontana to have made for me a pair of dark grey winter trousers, without a belt, which were smooth and stretchy.

Grey trousers, 1840.

At a concert in Glasgow, a pupil recalled that I had worn a pale grey suit. Which included a frock-coat of identical tint and texture.

(Left) Frock coat, 1840. (Right) Frock coat and trousers, 1852.

Under my suit, I would wear a modest waistcoat in a fabric such as a black velvet with a tiny inconspicuous pattern, something very quiet and elegant.

(Left) Provençal waistcoat with mauve silk seedlings, 1860. (Centre) Waistcoat with floral pattern, 1838. (Right) Striped waistcoat, 1850-70.

My preferred shirts were ones made of cambric or batiste fabric. They had small mother-of-pearl buttons, two breast-pockets, and could be bought for 14 francs.

For my cravat, I would wear muted colours during the day. Usually, I would tie it in a bow. However, when performing in a formal setting, I would wear a broad, white silk cravat.

Winter Clothes

To keep warm in the winter months, I wore a thick redingote or over-frock coat, as can be seen in this daguerreotype of myself from 1849.

(Left) Wool coat, 1840. (Centre) Winter costume. Paul Gavarni, 1846. (Right) Frock coat. Wool, trimmed with silk velvet. 1820-1830.

At one point, my sickness rendered me so sensitive to the cold that I wore three flannels under my trousers.

Underpants, mid-nineteenth century.

Accessories

Because I had small feet, I often found shoes uncomfortable. I mourned the day, Moos, my shoemaker died. No one made my shoes like him.

1840s men’s shoes.

On my head, I would always have my hair curled, and, when outdoors, I would wear a top hat. I bought my hats from Dupont’s because he made them lightweight. They were originally made of beaver felt but, by my later life, they were made of silk plush.

(Left) Top hat made of beaver felt, 1830s. (Right) Top hat made of silk plush, 1850.

My outfit was only complete with white gloves. Without them one would not be in good taste. Kid gloves were common, but I also liked wearing Swedish (suede) gloves. Always in white.

Evening gloves. 1848.

A pocket handkerchief was also a necessity.

Finally, I had a miniature pocket watch. According to one concert-goer, it was “In shape no bigger than an agate stone, on the forefinger of an alderman.”

Where did I shop?

I bought my top hats from Dupont’s at No 8, rue de Montblanc (the previous name for rue de la Chaussée-d’Antin). I lived on this street myself, both at No 5 (1833-36) and No 38 (1836-38).

(Left) 9, rue de la Chaussée-d’Antin, the fabric shop across the street from the milliners, 1840s. (Right) Rue de la Chaussée-d’Antin, 1858-1878.

My shirts came from No 37 in the Palais Royal galleries, on the theatre side.

(Left) View of the Galerie d'Orléans in the Palais-Royal, 1838. (Right) Jardin du Palais Royal, 1840s.

The white suede gloves could be acquired from À la Corbeille de Fleurs, Houbigant’s shop at No 19, rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré.

(Left) The corner of rue du Faubourg-Saint-Honoré, 1820-1840. (Right) Faubourg Saint-Honoré, 1814-1885.

There were also many shops along the Grands Boulevards. This is where I got my trousers made by my tailor, Dautremont.

(Left) Boulevard de la Madeleine, 1799. (Right) Boulevard des Capucines, 1830.

Boulevard des Italiens, 1840s (left), 1835 (right).

So…

As you can see, in spite my reputation for being picky and perhaps… prissy, with regard to fashion and furniture, I was far from what was called a dandy. My dress was never over-the-top and nor did I put on the airs that were so pertinent to dandyism. My desire, if anything, was to be refined and respectable. Although, perhaps my efforts to do so were occasionally cause for frenzy or distraction.

[myqualities]

Source: http://iwishtocontinue.tumblr.com

[jetlagmag]

Source: http://european-euphoria.tumblr.com

[sensible-tips]

Transition Tuesday-Get the Proper Fit

Some helpful infographics to help you ensure a proper fit while looking sharp.

[oxfords---notbrogues]

I was curious as to your opinion on a peaked lapel versus a notched lapel for a single breasted suit jacket. I have always favored the notched lapel as I find it to be more classic. Within my wardrobe, I have relegated peaked lapels to the domain of double-breasted jackets. What are your thoughts?

The peak lapel is a positively rakish way to stand out in modern menswear. It creates a more formal, vintage look. Done right, it slims and adds height to a silhouette.

For dressing formally in today’s menswear scene, I personally prefer the look of peak lapels only with double breasted jackets. That’s just my preference on the overall visual balance of the suit. The notch lapel is a more timeless style, too. I have confidence that when I invest in a notch lapel suit, I don’t run the risk of it going out of style in a few seasons.

That being said, there are men doing the peak lapel, single breasted jacket right. There’s something a bit throwback about it, like David Suchet as Hercule Poirot. Its association with Art Deco, martinis, and swing music is an exciting twist on contemporary menswear. Look to Tom Ford, Brooks Brothers, and Ralph Lauren for style inspiration on pulling off the look.

Nicholas Hoult in Tom Ford (2019)

Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot, portrayed here by David Suchet, famously adhered to the peak lapel suit long after it had gone out of style post-World War II.

[jeanlouiecastillo]

Batwing designs by Jean Louie Castillo

[myqualities]

Source: http://rtodd64.tumblr.com

[jetlagmag]

Source: http://nature-hiking.tumblr.com

[sketchonista]

Sulvam SS24 shot at Paris Fashionweek

[craftmausoleum]

Northwest Fabric's Sewing Basket, vol. 3, no. 11. France Publication, Sept. 1977.

For a close up of "The Sewing Bee," I've put it beneath the read-more line.

My favorite one is from Mrs. P. M. Fechter (Omaha, NE):

"[...] has a back saving tip. She uses magnets as fabric weights on the top of a chest freezer. No pins are needed which saves time and the freezer is a slightly higher surface which can save your back."

Trying to explain to people outside of the Midwest/Plains that it is sensible to have NOT ONLY a kitchen freezer, but a chest freezer + garage fridge is an alien task. Where else do you put this year's venison? It turns out this isn't a ubiquitous dilemma.