This is a recap-ish of the latest podcast episode. You can listen to the episode below before or after you read. That’s because I tend to expand on topics from the pod as well as straight-up write about things that we did not discuss. The choice is yours in how you want to proceed!

• Intro 5:40
• Bronson Purchases 19:31
• Brooks Came to Town 35:32
• The Return to Suspenders 48:32 
• Wrap up 1:05:26

Ethan Braces Himself Again

A big part of the latest podcast covers my return to suspenders!  Most people assume that I’ve always been a braces guy, not just because I like wearing suits and ties, but because I’m quite a dandy person. The truth is that I haven’t worn braces in a long time, outside of black tie. The last time I wore them with regular outfits was probably eight or so years ago, when I was transitioning from period vintage to more contemporary-classic menswear. My trousers at that time weren’t as wide as my true vintage (or as my current pants are), so suspenders felt a bit too fussy, feeling a bit too try-hard for the more streamlined approach to vintage-inspired looks. 

But as you know, the pandemic gave me a big reset and pushed me to get back to my roots in vintage styling. And while I didn’t return to period-accurate clothing, I strived to have everything be harmonious with that 30s/Apparel Arts aesthetic. In other words, suspenders started to make sense again. It helped that most of my custom trousers (and even some of my thrifted ones) already had buttons– perhaps I knew that I would make a return someday. To be clear, I never got rid of them. I still had my fun multistripe ones from Darcy (that look very 30s) and two from the 30s/40s (the argyle one is particularly good); I even thrifted a pair of Cigar motif ones during the pandemic. 

For the full story, you’ll have to listen to the pod and read the dedicated blog post on suspenders. Like with Riding Boots and the SuSuSuits, they just deserve their own platform. All you gotta know is that if you see me wearing a suit, there is a high chance that I’m wearing suspenders.

Things really come full circle! 

Our Bronson MFG Orders

Believe it or not, I’ve never actually bought anything from Bronson MFG before. I’m sure they need no introduction– they’re a cool brand that has recreated pieces of Americana/workwear/milsurp of various eras. Bronson has been a mainstay of many menswear enthusiasts and has become even more prominent during the menswear resurgence during the pandemic. Almost every “brand recommendation video” on TikTok has Bronson listed, usually for their military chinos, jeans, or workshirts. 

I’ve been aware of the brand for years, but never actually pulled the trigger. That’s mainly because I’ve been quite lucky to own true vintage versions of the things I wanted (WWII Chinos, M-43 pants). Spencer’s done it a few times, namely with those frog camo pants (unfortunately, no longer sold) that he loves to wear quite often (though not as often as his beloved jeans). I’ve been told that it’s a bit of a to-do to order from them due to the usually-long shipping times and the varying measurements; size guides are all listed, but do check them to make sure you buy the right one, lest you want to deal with international returns. Don’t get me wrong– there’s been a few things I’ve been interested in buying (like replacing my deteriorating M-43 pants or perhaps their workshirts), but I just never felt like I needed to buy anything. Until now.

During a podcast recording a while back (I’m not sure if it was caught on tape), I noticed that Bronson offered black breeches in cotton whipcord. At the time, I didn’t think I needed them because I was content with tucking my pants (or black jeans) into my then-new-to-me riding boots. Of course, once I found proper riding pants (like the khaki ones you’ve seen me wear), I couldn’t go back; the excess fabric from normal trousers was too restrictive and sweaty. I also really enjoyed dressing like Luke Skywalker for MJ’s 30th birthday, where I lamented wearing the boots with my black Levi’s. So back I went for the “Motor Troop Breeches”. And to save on shipping, as well as hopefully get around any errant tariffs (we ended up just missing them by a few weeks), MJ and Spencer also placed an order for tiger stripe pants and a pair of selvedge denim, respectively. 

It is quite funny that breeches were my first ever Bronson purchase, but it does make sense for the absurd person that I am. I’m even quite curious to know who else has been buying them (please comment if you know anyone who has)! 

Our order arrived in just around two weeks, which was between what I’ve heard from other people; it either comes incredibly quickly or after nearly a month. Based on the sizing chart, I took a 32, which was a bit of a surprise, as I am closer to a 34 in all of their other pants– remember to always check before buying! They fit right on the money, even after a cold wash and light dry. I was definitely concerned with shrinkage. In fact, I think they looked better, as the fabric had become a bit more “taut” and smoothed out. It was almost like how raw denim looks and feels after its first launder. This makes sense considering the breeches were basically black jeans. 

I’ve heard from other people’s Bronson stories that the products can feel a bit light when compared to true vintage counterparts. Personally, I thought mine were okay, as these would be tucked into boots and fit snugly around my leg, so being too heavy wouldn’t have been tenable here in LA (hence why my other riding pants are soft nylon-rayon instead of the typical rough wool). However, I will say that some of the button threads and some of the stitching have begun to come undone. This isn’t a huge deal, but just something to consider; Bronson certainly isn’t as high quality as the other repro-ish mainstays, but they are affordable and decent. 

I’ve definitely enjoyed wearing my black riding pants ever since I received them. Even though they’re a bit wrinklier than the rayon-cotton khakis ones I have, the Bronson ones feel a bit more chic and sharp, chiefly due to their dark color. And even though they’re black, I like wearing them with a tailored jacket— and a tie! It’s against the “rules” (I wouldn’t do black jeans with a tie unless I was aiming to be a bit classic hipster/edgy), but I think it looks really good. 

Now I just wish they had brown versions of them. I’d wear those so much more– and I could be ANH Throne Room Luke! 

Golfing on Shore Leave for Scott’s Bachelor Party (#2)

Note: This story wasn’t told in the pod, but I thought it would be fun to include here! A little bonus for those who decide to read rather than listen. 😉

Last pod, MJ and I shared how we went to San Diego to celebrate our dear friend Scott’s last few weeks of bachelordom. It was an incredibly wholesome time that felt nostalgic, likely because this was the group of friends that I had before all of this online-menswear business. I had missed those good ‘ol days. I thought that it would be the last hang before the wedding (we will definitely be talking about that on a future pod for a variety of reasons) but the guys and I ended up booking another evening with Scott to have a bit more fun– and perhaps do something a bit cheesier and more “stereotypically masculine”…or at least a bit more Bachelor Party-esque. 

By that, I mean we went to Top Golf in matching outfits. And boy, was it glorious! 

I had never done Top Golf before (or any golf besides miniature), and as you might have expected, I was the worst one there. I know from the most athletic menswear guy, I’d like to put some of the blame on my gouty toe, which I was suffering from during that week (I’m fine now, but boy, that was rough). The others actually did quite well, acing a few of the virtual minigames that were “projected” onto the field; I’m still not sure how they do that, perhaps there’s something in the balls. We did that for two hours, quickly went through a buffet, and then ended our evening at my late-night boba haunt, where we played a variation of the Newlywed Game to see who knew Scott and his relationship the best. I dare say that the evening may have been better than our relatively low-key San Diego trip. I guess a little cheese never hurts! 

There’s something fun about going Full Send. It’s just so freeing to give yourself over to the silliness, especially when you’re doing it with your buddies. After all, these guys are the reason behind why I was comfortable Standing Out from an early age, which led to, well, all of this suit and tie-wearing stuff you know me for. Not only did Scott enjoy that we all dressed up for him and on theme, but I think a few passersby liked it as well! 

As you can see, we went for a sailor vibe; Scott was the captain and we are his crew, ready to help him embark on this journey of Love with his future wife (that he’s been dating for over a decade!).  I told Scott to wear his navy 4ply jacket (SuSu MTM for his wedding suit) and wear white underneath; it was actually perfect that he only had white shorts, as it really made the look. This was all topped off with a silly captain’s hat, which we all signed and decorated at the boba shop. 

The rest of us simply wore as much blue as possible to help sell the vibe. Of course, MJ and I were the most extra, wearing vintage chambray workshirts (mine was true vintage USN) and denim flares to full effect; I even wore my white deck shoes! And to match Scott, I got us silly little sailor caps that were absolutely too small for our heads. It didn’t matter– we wore them with pride for the entire evening. We all agreed that this was better than simply wearing a cheesy matching tee that we likely will never wear again. 

This was quite an External Occasion to dress for, but one that was incredibly fun nonetheless! Up soon will be some reflections on the wedding itself…or rather, the unfortunate rental tuxes that MJ and the rest of the gang had to wear. Thankfully, Scott and I were in our MTM gear. Sorry dude! 

I love it when a menswear friend becomes a friend-friend. To be clear, this is usually the case as people aren’t one-dimensional (though I have had a few times where every conversation with someone is just about clothes or recent cops), but it’s nice when friendships become deep and are rooted not just in shared interests, but approaches to the world.

That’s me and Brooks. I first met him years ago when he reached out via IG and asked if he could grab an ice cream with me. Everyone knows how much I love ice cream, but back then, it was particularly important because that was the time when I wasn’t drinking– I didn’t even drink coffee. Brooks was from Seattle and was starting to move through the Suit Supply ladder, back when they were still a bit more dandy and 2010s #menswear instead of the uber-mellow Brunello Cucinelli/Saman Amel/Stoffa/80s Armani amalgamation that they are today. I had just completed my first year at Ascot Chang and was starting to really get into the wider Menswear World in a tangible way. Two young nerds who were finally “making it” in menswear? We hit it off instantly.

Since that meeting, Brooks has come out to LA a few times; the recent times involved ramen and boba, par for the course for guys like us. If you’re a long-time reader of the blog, you may remember him from the Dapper Day x LACMA Soiree back in 2020, where he was already a big proponent of neutrals and a jaunty bandana. I just loved that he was always about self-expression, whether it was his clothes, his glasses, or his amazing tattoos and piercings. It’s also no surprise that he had a plethora of hobbies, ranging from running D&D campaigns and LARPing to reading poetry and collecting rare vinyl. In some ways, he was the type of person I’d always wanted to be friends with; after all, I finally started doing some of these things myself! 

So even though we’ve only met a handful of times (it has to be fewer than five), Brooks and I have become really great friends, being able to talk about everything. In fact, I feel like menswear barely comes up, outside of when he lets me know how work is going. It’s almost always that retail knows no rest, and Suit Supply is yet again going for tonal pairings with black shoes. It makes sense that we talk about other things, like debating whether Rogue One was good (I still don’t like it, and Andor makes me like the damn movie less). 

I was ecstatic to hear that he was planning on coming to LA! No real plans other than to hang out– the best way to spend a quick lil weekend. 

Brooks’s visit felt like having an extended sleepover, which, well, makes sense as he stayed in my room for the duration of his vacation. We spent each of the two nights we had laying on our respective beds (he had an air mattress), catching each other up on all the life that had happened since his last visit two years ago. There was a lot that was new, but also a lot that was the same, just with a bit more age, more patina. I feel like this will be the case with many friend catch-ups as I enter my 30s. We’ve certainly settled into our routines! 

What was interesting about this friend visit was just how little menswear we did together– apart from getting dressed and taking fit pics, of course. This is in sharp contrast to previous editions, where it always becomes a mad drive to check out every little thing that LA has to offer, be it boutiques or curated vintage stores (he had no interest in seeing Beams after my blog post). No, this time, we were chilling. After all, Brooks is perfectly able to create great tailoring at Suit Supply; he doesn’t need much in the way of suiting. 

That being said, Brooks did tell me that he checked out American Rag (where he found two vintage foulard scarves) and Mister Freedom (where he decided against a pair of fatigue shorts). Two great places that I do recommend to people visiting LA, even if I don’t visit them too often. 

So you know what we did instead? We just hung out! And in true Brooks fashion, this involved a bit of role-playing. 

That afternoon, once he came back from his small menswear excursion, we went back to my apartment and met up with my other pals Joseph and James to play a one-shot D&D campaign that Brooks himself wrote. Entitled Tockworth’s Clockworks, the adventure follows our three-person party (a human wizard, an orc, and an elf cleric) who are sent to liberate (or at least seal up) Little Lockford, a mining town that has been overrun by a crazed inventor and her automatons.  We obviously have time for a full 5e take (or any future sessions), so Brooks truncated his work into something more plot-driven so that we could have a full and fun time. He even incorporated a few story elements that did not make it into the final cut– what a treat for us!

It was amazing to see Brooks in action as a DM. You could see his eyes light up each time we did a spot check or suggested something unconventional. Brooks really encouraged us to explore the setting and have fun, chiefly because combat was heavily edited to be less mechanical. There is something funny about seeing a guy in a tasteful knit polo do silly voices and spread his arms to mimic monsters and machinery, all with his cool ink on display– especially the sprezzatura jacket sleeve one. Seattle is quite lucky to have a guy like Brooks running those dungeons!

Nearly five hours later, Joseph, James, and I had destroyed the droid control ship activated the failsafe to shut down Tixie Tockworth’s automatons, and ultimately vanquished the diminutive but megalomanical cyborg inventor. Now it was time for dinner– and a bit more menswear to finish the evening! 

I decided to take Brooks to Lowboy, which is one of my favorite bars. Not only does it have great food and cocktails, but it also has outdoor seating that is almost always open for a decently sized group. The latter was important because I put the call out, so that Brooks could meet a bit more of the LA crowd that you, dear reader, are likely already familiar with. Jack and his wife Moa came by, which led to a fun little Suit Supply exchange between them over their preferred MTM practices; after all, Jack and Brooks have each pushed SuSu’s systems to get the wide fits that they like to wear. Nguyen and Haocheng were also there, providing lively conversation as well as more “dressed-down” vibes to counteract the tailoring that was already present. All in all, the evening was lowkey and wholesome (I didn’t even drink because I had just finished recovering from a gout attack). As I explained to Brooks, who doesn’t drink, that this is what “going out” usually means for me: going to one or two bars with a handful of friends and simply talking for five hours. 

The next morning, Brooks and I headed to the Rose Bowl Flea Market. It was his first time attending and was a bit of the “main reason” he had this particular date for his trip. Brooks smartly had a shopping list and a short one at that: a ring and sunglasses. Again, he already has plenty of clothes, but he was still excited to see all that the RBFM had to offer; Brooks also isn’t much of an eBay guy, as he prefers to check things out tangibly. A man after my own heart!

The Flea was just okay, the same as it has been the past few times I’ve attended. There are still a lot of great purveyors selling great Americana, though the amount of merch, tees, and Y2K vendors still make up a fair bit of real estate in the “white section”.  I honestly had more fun looking at art and tchotchkes (as well as books and records), though my apartment is already filled to the brim; I don’t feel like rearranging my walls. I felt a bit bad because I assumed that my apathy toward clothing would rub off on Brooks, but he told me he was already feeling that way; we can only see (and own) so many chambray shirts and fatigues. He didn’t walk away empty-handed– he ended up finding a quirky little scarab-esque ring for $20! I also bought something that day, but not at the flea; I got The Fantastic Voyage of Lady Rozenbilt at Book Alley, my favorite place in Los Angeles that I just had to show Brooks after our long post-Flea lunch and coffee.

Before embarking on another role-playing adventure (with Brooks as a participant this time), we ended up stopping by 4100 Bar for their Renaissance Faire-themed day– quite on theme for us! The Silverlake mainstay was decked out in fantasy decor, with activities like foam axe throwing, facepainting, and a quaint petting zoo, echoing some of the RenFaire attitude from earlier this year. I’m always on the side of cosplay and merriment at all times of the year! 

While it wasn’t as crowded as a Friday or Saturday night (I’m sure the 900+ RSVPs on Paritful dissuaded many from actually showing up), it was decently crowded with many attendees dressed on theme. Poofy shirts, corsets, and campus Frye Boots masquerading as riding boots were all seen playing pool, ordering their espresso martinis, or enjoying a nice afternoon cig. However, there were quite a few who turned it up to 11: I saw a few people in knit (and real) chainmail, a group of matching hennins, and even a few people dressed like Shrek (complete with face paint). James and his girlfriend Clare are both big RenFaire heads, so they dressed up to the nines in their adventurer gear. I had a feeling that I was going to be able to make it for a bit, so I made sure to have my Flea Fit work well here too: the spearpoint polo works as a pseudo-poet popover in a pinch, and the black riding pants and boots speak for themselves! Not super Ren Faire-y but close enough! 

Brooks and I eventually made it over to Youmna’s, where she was set to DM a one-shot from Call of Cthulhu. This time, Brooks and I were to be joined by Serhan and Jay, the latter of whom showed up in a pseudo-clergyman rig, pairing a tab clerical collar with the black Armani DB I gave him a few weeks ago (I just didn’t wear it); Jay had clearly reserved the reverend character from the stack. Brooks also took the opportunity to dress up for the Lovecraftian setting, trading his chambray shirt and bandana for a cream jacket and foulard tie. He naturally picked the chiseled and sharply tailored hydrologist while Serhan was an archeologist, and me, a hot-headed young PI (I imagined a bit of a Selina Kyle vibe from Matt Reeves’s The Batman). 

However, we didn’t actually know our characters’ occupations (well, outside of Jay’s pre-spoiler) until a bit into the game because we were all amnesiac, starting the game by awakening in a sanitarium on the edge of Lake Geneva! Over the course of nearly seven hours, we eventually find out that we were all investigating odd occurrences and energies around the lake, which eventually affected us as well, leading us to be placed in the Sanitarium. Once we’re freed by a helpful orderly, we regain our memories and scramble to stop the local Deep One cult from freeing a shoggoth from the center of the lake. I won’t get too far into the details, but one flaming 1890s bus crash into an enchanted human-steamship hybrid later, we stop the evil ritual from being completed…for now. Unfortunately, our characters were lost in the process, but it’s safe to say that this will not be the last time I play Call of Cthulhu or any role-playing game for that matter. I’m hooked! 

Brooks and I eventually got home shortly before 1 AM (he had to leave at 5 AM), but we couldn’t help but talk about the future. It seems that we’ve both been on a similar path, a continuing journey of self-discovery where we really just want to do what we like with the people we love. In some ways, that’s about moving away from the things we thought we really liked, like menswear, or perhaps about making time for the things that may have been neglected, like writing RPGs or making more time for video games. I initially thought that the menswear note would be a surprise or even a dampener on the whole thing, but Brooks, being a true friend, had already noticed this was happening. He even noted it when we were all hanging out doing the role-playing games. We don’t need to be in the menswear shit– we can just wear it and do the other things in our lives. 

That’s why Brooks isn’t a menswear friend— he’s a friend-friend. And I’m so happy that he was able to spend a weekend with me. 

– end of blog post – 

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The Podcast is produced by MJ.

Always a pleasure,

Ethan M. Wong (follow me on IG)

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