street x sprezza

Going Ivy with White Socks

Posted on September 28, 2016 by Ethan

One of the many #menswear sins that people like to spout out is to never wear brown shoes with a black suit. It causes repulsion in some, conniptions in others, and a shunning glance to all. Even so, there is one sin that is far worse than even that: wearing white socks with dress shoes. In fact, I haven’t seen too much of it since the 1990s thanks to multiple #menswear bloggers and vloggers who aim to stamp out this inglorious affectation. However there’s something intriguing about pairing white socks with formal clothing that has been calling out to me. This practice started in the 1950s and 1960s, and while I take a lot of my cues from the 30s, it’s time we look somewhere else for inspiration.

Update 8/31/18: Okay so I reference this article a lot, but I do white socks for a lot more than just sartorial stuff. Go figure.

Inspiration: Curtis with Solids + Stripes

Posted on September 12, 2016 by Ethan

While the rest of the world may be cooling down for fall, my forecast says that it will be 90 degrees this weekend! In fact, it was 91F when I went to work at the time of this article. So, I decided to go with a something summery without standing out too much. Curtis Newkirk, from Beckett & Robb served as the inspiration for this outfit!

Q & A: Finding the Perfect Jacket Fit

Posted on September 8, 2016 by Ethan

It’s time to start doing a new feature here on Street x Sprezza and that’s Q & As! I know some of you have got some Q’s and I’ll try my best to supply the A’s. This first one comes to me from Jacob, a reader who is concerned about finding a jacket that fits from eBay! Since I buy a lot of my clothes online, I thought it best to tell him my process for buying these vintage pieces. Here’s a hint: it’s all in the shoulders and length.

The Armoury for Less: Jake Grantham

Posted on August 18, 2016 by Ethan

We’ve been looking at The Armoury for a long time now, with a majority of my outfits focusing on recreating ones by Dick Carroll. As a result, it has been ivy focused, with repp stripes and oxford shirts. For this article, I’m going to be recreating one of my favorite outfits of all time, worn by one of the first Armourers: Jake Grantham.

Dapper Day x LACMA: Jazz and Vintage/Modern Menswear

Posted on July 24, 2016 by Ethan

It’s not everyday that that you get an email inviting you to be a host of an event. Imagine my surprise when Justin Jorgensen, creator and mastermind behind Dapper Day at Disneyland, invited me to be one for their collaboration with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The event revolved around two things: “Jazz at LACMA” (their weekly summer concert) and their latest exhibit, “Reigning Men: Fashion in Menswear, 1715-2015”. It was Dapper Day x LACMA.

The Armoury for Less: Blue, Grey, and Brown

Posted on July 14, 2016 by Ethan

Nothing is more classic than the colors of blue, grey, and brown. They are staples that every man should have in his closet, whether they take form as a suit, sportcoat, pants, or even ties! This article recreates an outfit from the Armoury (and Brycelands Co) utilizing these classic colors. The fact that my outfit costs $300 while the other costs $3,000 is an added bonus.

Experimentation: Dressing Down

Posted on July 7, 2016 by Ethan

Usually I’m in some form of #menswear, whether it is a suit or a blazer. However, there are a few days when I’m actually dressed down. I’ve always been a fan of normcore and certain types of streetwear, and I’m always looking for an opportunity to show it off, even if it is a rare occassion. What do you think?

Experimentation: The J. Crew Onitsuka Tiger

Posted on June 27, 2016 by Ethan

I’ll admit that sneakers weren’t always my thing. At first, I looked down upon sneakers as a plebian shoe, only meant for people who couldn’t handle suits and dressy clothes. Then I matured and learned through GQ and MFA that sneakers are actually very versatile and can work with a lot of different outfits. My first real foray into the sneaker world was the Nike killshot. For my second sneaker purchase, I went back to J. Crew and got their Onitsuka Tiger in navy blue suede. At $50 bucks, it’s my new favourite sneaker.

The Sartorial Polo Shirt Revisited

Posted on June 24, 2016 by Ethan

A short article, featuring my own version of a classic summer look by Aussie Armoury shop manager and illustrator, Richard Caroll.

The Armoury For Less: Vintage and Vintage Inspired

Posted on June 17, 2016 by Ethan

I swear, the Armoury’s tumblr and instagram are just a plethora of inspiration. They’ve inspired me for my two recent outfits that I wore to Scott and Tim’s graduation! Don’t worry, I didn’t spend thousands of dollars like the Armoury Boys.