I can’t believe that I am thirty. The big 3-0! What a number. This really has been a fun ride.
As some of you know, I started this blog when I was 19, randomly making a free wordpress site during a Business Law class. Little did I know that over a decade later, this site would be the place for me not only to record my outfits, but my entire journey to understand expression and authenticity, at least in how it pertains to my life. I still can’t believe that I’ve kept at it for this long— I guess I’m just a big ‘ol yapper with too much time on my hands.
Writing about my birthday is a relatively recent feature on this blog, but I think that it’s important to do. Life is about Occasions and dressing for them is a part of the fun; a birthday is one of the best Occasions, not only because it’s a celebration but because we can always define the parameters how we like. This has been the case for my last three birthdays, where there has been a theme that is quite personal to me: Dress Like Ethan, Sexy Menswear, and Tumblr. They’ve all been a great excuse to wear some wild outfit that largely expresses the mood I’ve had over the past year. The last one is particularly pertinent as I feel like I’ve been quite introspective lately, no doubt because I was soon turning thirty.
But because this was a big number, I knew that one party in the middle of July wasn’t going to be enough. And so July ended up being a Birthday Month with four distinct celebrations, crammed into three weeks (the first week of July was Anime Expo). Not all of them were meticulously planned– most of it was about doing something fun with the loved ones who were available. In the adult world of schedules and priorities, I’ll take what I can get!
And so, instead of just covering the themed party (which was a big one), I decided to write about each of the events here! After all, each of them features a distinct theme and resultant outfit, which deserves discussion. As someone who enjoys getting dressed for an Occasion, I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate my birthday! So let’s dive in.
Also, if you prefer to listen instead of read, I also discussed my 30th Birthday Month on the podcast! Listen to it below.
Damons with The Family
My birthday celebrations started with a wholesome family steak dinner. It was a bit early, taking place on July 12th, but that’s because on the day proper, my mom was set to be out of town; she spends half her time in Norcal, so I’ll take any opportunity to spend time with her, even if its not on the day (I also feel like day-of celebrations are rare when you’re an adult).
Instead of a traditional steak house (you know, the fancy, “normal” kind), we went to Damon’s, a cute tiki-themed restaurant in Glendale. I’ve been there a few times with my friends and always found it endearing– the inside is peppered with bamboo, wood carvings, aquariums, and big Polynesian murals across each of the walls. I always enjoyed coming there to have a Mai Tai and a greasy patty melt (and potato skins if we’re feeling particularly hungry) on Occasion. Coming to this charming and kitchy setting and having a steak (instead of a burger) was the perfect way to start my 30s with my family; it also made this birthday quite different from the regular steak dinners I’ve had in previous years. Bali Hai indeed!
I debated on wearing a tuxedo for this occasion (why not celebrate a birthday in the most fancy thing I own), but I ended up simply leaning into the location with my cream DB suit from SuSu. I only took receipt of it about a month ago, but I’ve worn it quite a bit! Much like my white bucks (which I obviously had to wear), this suit is quite easy to slip into when the weather (and outfit POV) calls for it. It’s not black tie (I decided to save it for the actual date of my birth), but I think it was plenty special.
To further lean into the theme, I wore a tie from the 30s/40s that features an abstract, banana-esque pattern. I’ve owned this tie for over a decade, and despite a few holes, it’s still going strong! Admittedly, this one isn’t my favorite tropical motif tie due to its lighter palette– I prefer darker and more vibrant ties. Still, since dinner was to celebrate being thirty, I thought it was nice to wear something from my start in vintage/classic menswear. I also think it worked out well for the ensemble, being a bit of a lighter palette than I’m used to. It worked smashingly with my new spearpoint shirt, a RTW from Darcy (which I’ve never tried until now). This year really has been about nostalgia and returning to the past!
Disneyland
Because my friend Quinn was going to be gone for the big Gatsby party on the 26th, she asked if I’d like to go to Disneyland (she works at a Disney subsidiary and can swipe in people on occasion). I immediately said yes– I don’t go to Disneyland often (I don’t have a pass) let alone have ever celebrated my birthday there! We brought along a few more friends and had a cute little group.
Because we only had one day–the last time I went was with my ex, and we did a three-day pass so we could pace ourselves– we decided to do something crazy: get there at opening (they call it “rope drop”) and stay until closing. This meant that we would be there from around 7:30AM to midnight, all on a Sunday (this was the only day Quinn was able to get us in). This wasn’t just because I wanted to have the most Disney-filled day for my birthday, but because James’s girlfriend had never been to Disneyland before in her life. He curated a schedule that went on every iconic ride (from both Disneyland and California Adventure), so we needed as much time as possible. Spoiler Alert: we fuckin’ did it! I guess a July Sunday isn’t quite as packed as we expected it to be.
Considering that we were set to have one of the busiest Sundays of all time (and likely running on 5~ hours of sleep, as I sleep around midnight), you probably expected us to wear something simple. That’s certainly true for Quinn, Serhan, and Justin. James and Claire were certainly comfy but also dressed up, since they decided to be cute (ugh) and Disneybound as Lilo and Stitch. Claire had a red/white floral dress while James sent up our favorite little alien experiment with a navy aloha shirt (from Two Palms!) and brown linen trousers. Cosplay can be fun and good!
While I didn’t Disneybound as a specific character, I certainly had a themed outfit, specifically a Star Wars one.
I love dressing like I’m a random citizen in the Star Wars universe, either by doing it as a Jedi or some sort of Rebel/Resistance guy. Even though my closet is mainly dedicated to tailoring, it’s surprisingly easy to do it with what I already own: my 1940s sportshirts and cropped jackets are a great ringer for the 70s swashbuckling-meets-used-future aesthetic that permeates throughout the Galaxy. Dressing up this way makes visiting the Disney park more fun, especially when you get to walk around and mingle with cast members (who are all dressed quite cool) in Galaxy’s Edge, also known as “Star Wars Land” or “Batuu” (in the Star Wars universe). I always gotta dress for the Occasion, and so I wore what I think is one of the coolest outfits I’ve ever worn.
I went with a grey sportshirt, as I felt that white or black would be too “bold”, even if they are worn by Han Solo and Luke in the films. Grey simply worked better to exude a more “regular” Rebel/Resistance guy or even a generic Star Wars adventurer. For a bit of color, I wore my blue scarf (cut from an old indigo blanket and worn for last year’s Sherlock cosplay). Both the grey shirt and the use of a scarf were a reference to Poe Dameron in TROS, but the indigo specifically was a shoutout to the scarves the cast members/Batuuans wear in the park.
For pants, I wore my high waisted, straight-slim western pants (they’re more comfy than jeans) and for shoes, you guys know that I had to wear my black riding boots, which really helped sell this as a Star Wars adventurer outfit (and were surprisingly comfortable for most of the day); sneakers would not have had the same effect.
I also brought my brown double rider, which was worn sparingly as it was quite a warm day, which helped play up the pilot factor. For a final Star Wars touch, I had a little stuffed Porg that was magnetized to my shoulder (it worked better when I was sans jacket due to how thick the leather was), as well as a Batuuan drink container that was slung on my shoulder (along with my Rick Owens tote).
Despite this being one of the longest days I’ve ever had, I was grinning from ear to ear the whole time. Not only was I able to ride all of my favorites (at least the ones that were open), but this was the first time in over five years that I’ve gone to Disneyland with a group of friends; I’ve previously only really gone with family or with my ex. This was also the first time I’ve eaten at a sit-down place in Disney, namely the Carthay Circle! It was delightful to have a semi-fancy lunch with some friends, all while having a Porg on my shoulder and wearing Gelatoni’s cat ears.
Hard to believe I’m going to be thirty!
Escape Room and 4100
I originally was set to have my big birthday celebration on the 19th, so that everyone could celebrate my 30th with me at midnight. However, in true Summer Baby fashion, so many of my friends were out of town that week, so I moved it to the following week. This meant that I didn’t have much planned on the day of my actual birth. I would say no biggie, but this was a big one!
So I decided to send out some casual invites for casual drinks at one of the most truly cursed places in Silverlake: 4100 Bar. The place isn’t actually that bad– the bar is a bit divey but it has a giant outdoor patio that has ample seating, provided that you get there before peak time at 10:30. I only call it “cursed” because its a stereotypical spot for people in East LA to find themselves at, hence why there’s a few local memes about the place. 4100 full of as many Dickies, self-cropped shirts/jackets, ironic tees, camo hats, and Oakleys as you can think of; however, most people are nice and I’ve even been complimented/recognized there before! It’s just a silly little place that makes for good people watching (and open cig smokin’) with your pals. Plus, I think that wearing black tie at 4100 just seems so absurd…and yet perfectly encapsulates my personality.
Since I was going to be there until midnight, when I actually turn 30, I wanted this outfit to be quite special. And so, in place of a regular tuxedo (which I’ve worn to the Symphony/Opera a few times already), I went with the quintessential summer evening wear garment: a cream dinner jacket with separates. Granted, this was just the DB jacket from my cream summer suit, but it works all the same. I kept my regular pleated tux shirt and bow tie, but instead of regular tux pants, I decided to play up the sexiness (and fit into 4100 a bit more) by wearing my beloved black flared dungarees and heeled side zip boots. This was quite an outfit to wear while turning thirty! I extended the optional black tie theme to my friends (this was just casual drinks till midnight), which a few of them did oblige (in their own way), much to my delight.
4100 wasn’t the only thing I did that day— I wasn’t going to celebrate my 30th with only drinks and cigs! A bit earlier, I did a 1960s Hong Kong-themed escape room with some of my friends. After watching In The Mood For Love and rewatching Temple of Doom (I am aware that that’s Shanghai) a few days ago, I felt that my summer black tie was a great fit, so I decided to wear it there too! My compatriots also wore their evening fit for this activity, namely Spencer in his skinny tie and 60s suit, and so we all fit the setting quite well. I’m sure that we also didn’t want to change too quickly for the evening drinks.
And no, this doesn’t mean I wore the black tie look the entire day! I did, however, wear the jeans and boots (fewer things to change) to have a ‘lil brunch and coffee date at one of my favorite Pasadena haunts before the festivities started. I wasn’t about to wear a stiff collar just to drink a latte and grab some boba!
I kept that laid-back vibe for the actual day (July 20th if you’re keeping track), wearing an aloha shirt and my beloved gaucho pants. That Sunday was an extremely chill day where I spent the morning doing the same thing I did on Saturday: reading and writing. A loose shirt and big pants were perfect for a chill official start of my new decade of life. Of course, I did do something with my friends (can’t tear me away) that evening– a few of my friends went to Serhan’s for a swim and board games day. Super easy and wholesome, just how I like it!
The Great Gatsby Party
It wouldn’t be an Ethan birthday post without a big themed party at my mom’s apartment (the only place big enough to have my friends and me)! And what better way to celebrate my 30th by having the theme be The Great Gatsby.
This, of course, is a shout-out to the last big milestone birthday I had, my 18th; my 21st was normal, and my 25th was done during the pandemic. You may have also noticed that I’ve been feeling rather reflective and nostalgic lately, perhaps even more than normal, with a big emphasis on tracking my past and making sure I’ve been consistent with the person I’ve been before– and honor that guy accordingly. And so a Gatsby Party just made sense, so I could send up the thing that started me on this whole vintage/menswear journey to begin with. Also, it’s the 2020s!
It was really fun to see how my friends interpreted the 20s theme. To help people out, I set up inspo album as a guide; I actually think that it was quite general, featuring a mix of black tie, separates, western wear, tennis attire, and more, all to help send up this specific era and set it apart from the 30s/40s (a lot of people put 20s into a general vintage malaise). And as you’ll see in the photos, everyone did the theme justice! The gals especially were phenomenal, with all the sequins you could ever hope to get. For the guys, it was a mix of vintage-esque styling with quite a few bow ties. I’m just so happy that people participated!
For my own attire, I debated on doing black tie again and considered wearing a proper tuxedo rig with my boater to boot. However, I felt that this outfit left a little more to be desired. It was decidedly 20s and a great look, but not as “Gatsby” as I wanted it. I could do more…and perhaps reference my past!
In the end, I decided to send up the outfit that I wore on my 18th birthday Gatsby party all those years ago. After all, if nostalgia was the theme of this party, why not Full Send it by dressing like myself? The best part was that I still largely own and wear a few of the same items: a straw boater, a white/cream suit, a blue point collar (a spearpoint from Darcy), a collar bar, and a yellow-ish striped tie (this is from the 30s but that’s okay). It’s not the exact same pieces that I wore back in 2013, but the fact that I was able to still dress “like myself” made me quite happy– it’s proof that underneath it all is the same teenager (gentleman?) who just wanted to have fun with his clothes.
I’m not gonna lie– I teared up a little bit during my party. I had been 30 for a week at that point, but it felt like it just happened; perhaps I was too used to celebrating my party late (due to friends’ summer schedules), and so I didn’t consider myself “officially older” until the party had come. But what hit me wasn’t the fact that I was entering a new stage of life or that I was contemplating my mortality. No, it was the fact that everything was good. Looking around at all my friends and snapping them as they chatted and had fun really made me feel proud of where I am. I was just so happy that everything worked out!
It’s hard to say whether or not my life is radically different or largely the same– and which one I prefer to focus on. Obviously, there’s the simple fact that I am older and am a working adult. In those 10 years, not only have I started a blog and a podcast with a humble audience, but I’ve graduated from both undergrad and grad school, worked in menswear for a bit, and then moved into a totally different career. I’ve continued my hobbies of composing, photography, and writing, but have also gotten better at them as I’ve made moves to understand my approach to expression and the effect of inspiration. Overall, I like to think that I am indeed the same person, with age only bringing me increased accuracy and understanding of my Taste and ultimately who I am. But gauging growth and consistency isn’t what a birthday is about. No, it’s about the people who join you for that journey.
I don’t think that each Birthday Season is about celebrating me, but rather, to celebrate all of the important people in my life. They are the ones who give me the confidence to dress, showing that it really is fine to Stand Out with your absurdity. I find each of them incredible and truly inspiring. After all, they are the ones who galvanize the Occasions that pepper my life: trivia nights, board games, Anime Expos, Ren Faires, Disneyland, movie releases, and the countless coffee, boba, and drinks that I do with them on the regular. The exact roster has certainly changed over the years– people grow apart or move away– but this makes me appreciate the ones who are here. Some of them have been here for over a decade, predating when I started writing this blog; others are new, but have quickly been canonized.
If you need any proof of what I really enjoy, just look at my camera roll. Yes, there are fit pics there, but it’s mostly filled with photos of friends, just hanging out and having a good time. That’s what truly gives me joy.
In the end, turning 30 isn’t a milestone for what I’ve done with my life, but rather, the fact that I’ve spent another year hanging out with people I love. That makes me so proud and happy. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.
– end of blog(?) post –
Disneyland
Escape Room & 4100
The Great Gatsby Party
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Always a pleasure,
Ethan M. Wong (follow me on IG)
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a little bit of rest 
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