The London Lounge

"I do not think any man aims at beauty or striking appearance, but he can certainly aim at style which is something more than being stylish. It means a harmonious and individual interpretation of current fashions, and even sometimes a demonstration of a wish not to abandon an old style too quickly, if at all. An older man can achieve style in this way. To attain style in dress, you must look perfectly happy and relaxed in your clothes which must appear part of you rather than a wardrobe you have just donned."

"ABC of Men's Fashion" pg 108 by Hardy Amies

When you think how SIMPLE it is to follow such sensible advice - but we like to complicate things, to rationalize, to work against our best instincts. We just won't let go...

alden wrote:"To attain style in dress, you must look perfectly happy and relaxed in your clothes which must appear part of you rather than a wardrobe you have just donned."

I love reading Hardy Amies. He is always right. However, looking closer at his words, what is he also saying? Well, to attain style you must be distanced from necessity, you must feel an assured relation to the world, you must feel at home. He is launching the old theme about nobility and amor fati: http://www.thelondonlounge.net/forum/vi ... =45&t=9594

The spirit of English style according to Hardy Amies:

http://www.thelondonlounge.net/forum/vi ... ies#p44137

Marcelo

...and going a little further back in time and closer to the heart of the matter:

alden wrote:"An older man can achieve style in this way."

"And then in those days was one ever old? It was the Revolution that brought old age to this world. Your grandfather, my little girl, was handsome, elegant, well-groomed, pleasant, perfumed, cheerful, benevolent, loving and without whims until the hour of his death" says Aurore Dupin, George Sand's grandmother (who had been happily married to a 32 years older husband), as quoted by the writer in "Story of my Life".
"People - she goes on - preferred to die at a ball or at the theatre, rather than wait for death in their beds, surrounded by four wax candles and some gloomy men dressed in black."

But so many today mistake looking young for staying young...