Does the man make the clothes?

[alden]

Well there you have it: Alden in a 30’s style leather jacket* and jeans. Who would have thought it possible?

And yet, have the clothes changed me? I would argue that they do not. What do you think? Does the man make the clothes or not?

Cheers

Michael Alden

*Wearing the new LL limited edition 1930s style leather jacket with action back, one button cuff, tartan lining, and half belt design. More here…http://www.thelondonlounge.net/forum/vi ... f=2&t=9905

[DD MacDonald]

Michael, well done. It looks like vintage Agnes B which is tres chic. DDM

[andreyb]

Alden in... jeans?! Is the world come to end?

Andrey

[Milo]

That is a great jacket! A very clean and sophisticated design.It would be interesting to see a photo of the interior, also to get an idea of pocket configuration.

As for your question, I think the answer can be found in paraphrasing one of your own postings: You are still essentially Alden, but the signals are a little different. I like the look. It is a look reminding me a bit of Jean Gabin. But it is primarily the look of a good friend and teacher of mine wearing clothes in which he is comfortable and at ease.

Milo

[oldog/oldtrix]

Since you showed me yours, I'll show you mine:

[AndyM]

One of the things I like about the Lounge is that it does not focus on one style of dressing but on having style. I think the cap makes the look! I remember commenting how smart soldiers looked in their woolly pullys even though they are not obviously smart clothes and the officer smiled and said "Smartness is about the man not the uniform." I think this ties in to other comments on the lounge, it is more to do with how you wear your clothes than the clothes themselves.

Michael, any chance of a video of you in jeans and leather jacket astride a motorcycle being asked "What are you rebelling against Mikey?" and you replying "What ya got?"

Sorry, sometimes my imagination runs away with me!

[alden]

One of the things I like about the Lounge is that it does not focus on one style of dressing but on having style

Its probably a generational thing. Most of the influential characters on the other forums are young men in their thirties who are caught up in that first flush of wild enthusiasm for custom clothing. They focus so much passion on the clothes that they forget to dress. I guess I can write that since I was in my thirties many centuries ago and remember the emotions well.

I think that with time and reflection clothes lose their mystic and men start to concentrate on how to wear them well. The reason is pretty obvious: as we get older we have to dress a bit better to be able to dazzle the ladies, hrrrm, I mean to present ourselves appropriately in civil society.



Cheers

Michael Alden

PS I am a life long motorcyclist, so I will film that sequence one day.

[AndyM]

A good point Michael, as I get older I get more relaxed and experimental with clothes, as a young man (if I can remember that far back!) I had very fixed ideas about how to dress well. I remember some advice from my father, on seeing me move very stiffly in my first suit he said 'Relax! Wear your clothes, don't let them wear you." It's similar to advice from a source I cannot remember right now about choosing your clothes with care then put them on and forget about them!

I hope there will be more posts on casual dressing with style as I feel it's an area where most men (me included!) need advice.

[culverwood]

It's similar to advice from a source I cannot remember right now about choosing your clothes with care then put them on and forget about them!

"A man should look as though he has chosen his clothes with intelligence, put them on with care and then forgotten all about them." Hardy Amies

[AndyM]

Thank you Culverwood! That is the quote I was struggling to remember. Good advice.

[Rowly]

I think Alden deals with it well in this thread......

http://www.thelondonlounge.net/forum/vi ... f=4&t=9884