Pleats and high waist pants are finally coming back into the minds of everyday people, being present at Pitti Uomo and other sartorial gatherings. Fashion isn’t always new, with discerning gentlemen always looking toward the golden age of menswear (1930-1960) for inspiration to their latest suits. B&Tailor has started offering a certain style of trouser that instantly screams 1940-1955: the drop loop pant.
September has finally arrived and so has the first wave of fall products. Banana Republic has started stocking their flannel pants and J. Crew is advertising their latest trenchcoat model. However, being a Southern California Native, I am still feeling the effects of the 90F+ heat. That’s why I finally decided to bite the bullet and buy two things I should’ve had since June: the white espadrille and the rayon Hawaiian Shirt.
The Armoury has always been a deep source of inspiration for my outfits, due to their “international classic” aesthetic and their stylish staff. We’ve already replicated outfits from Dick Carroll’s ivy-trad style and Jake Grantham‘s 1980’s redeux, but now it’s time to look to Mark Cho, one of the founders of the Armoury.
If you can’t already tell, I really document my casual outfits. At one end, I typically dress down a suit or blazer with a polo shirt. For the other side of the spectrum, I go full 1990’s inspired, with a faded sweater and some jeans and sneakers. For this article, I decided to delve more into into an outfit that is more “casually tailored”, a term frequented by style bloggers like Dan Trepanier. My version looks toward the cool summer/vacation styles of the 1930s-1950s, where tucked in shortsleeves were all the rage. It’s perfect for summer, since you’re probably looking to leave your long-sleeve shirts at home.
Now that we can agree that pleats are cool, it’s time to try them out. I noted in my previous article that it is difficult to obtain pleated pants with the necessary details (high rise, slim-straight). So when I was presented with an opportunity to try and tailor down some 1980’s baggy, double pleated pants, I took it. If it worked out, I may have found a way to get pleated pants at an affordable price! If not, I’ll be out a few bucks, but I know it can’t be done. Let’s find out!
Just look at those pleats, courtesy of Permanent Style. If you show this to any mainstream fashion guy, he’d recoil immediately. Flat-front pants have been the way to go for the past few years. Favoring the clean look, the mainstream #menswear community has renounced all ties to the dreadful 1990s business look. But classic enthusiasts in the community have always favored pleats and have still had them in their trousers without looking terrible! Here, we look at the brief history of pleats and how they have evolved through menswear. Hopefully you’ll agree that pleats are, and always have been, cool.
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.
We used Part 1 to look at dapper day in the actual parks, but there was also some style at the Dapper Day expo! This was the place to go if you wanted to buy vintage items, get some cool accessories, or even swing dance. For those of you who don’t want to buy a ticket to Disneyland or California Adventure, head to next year’s expo! It’s totally free!
Just like the last few times, I went around and shot some cool looks that I saw at Dapper Day! I know that this is a menswear blog, but I included some gals as well. Just remember that this is only a small sample of the crowds that showed up at Disneyland.
It is also important to understand that many of these people don’t dress up everyday. Some of these people don’t know the rules of classical tailoring or true vintage style, but thats okay! Dapper Day isn’t Pitti Uomo or a New York Fashion week. It’s about expressing your style and having fun! Here’s the first half of the street style I shot.
a little bit of rest 