Into the Halls of Sartor

[Dannyalcatraz]

Confession time, y’all. I like clothes, shoes, hats, jewelry, etc. By that, I mean the stuff people actually wear, from casual to getting all dressed up.*

My personal style ranges from t-shirts & jeans to preppy to men’s formal to some pretty foppish & dandified outfits- including some custom made stuff. I like finding new sellers or brands, and sharing or discussing them with others. Especially if they’re looking for something themselves.

For example, one of my friends was transitioning from blue collar work into IT, and all he had was jeans & tees. His wife wanted him to look more professional, and asked me to take him shopping. At this point, he’s got a solid white-collar wardrobe.

So, what do you like? What do you hate? What are you looking for that is difficult to find? Let’s gab!

Kicking off: here’s me before going to Easter services:

And here’s me getting a photo of our grrrls in the bluebonnets during the pandemic.

(Posting photos, while helpful, are not required.)



* high fashion is nice to look at, but ultimately, it’s a transient thing by definition.

 

[GreyLord]

You're looking great in that first picture.

 

[jdrakeh]

My dad rocks a Matlock (Andy Griffith) vibe. Example outfit: Boot cut wheat jeans, deerskin blazer, a white button collar shirt, ostrich skin boots, and a silver and turquoise bolo tie (fashioned as a representation of thunderbird). I mention Matlock because my dad is an attorney in rural Kansas. And yes, he wears this outfit to court.

 

[Cergorach]

You look dashing!

Honestly... I HATE shopping for clothes and shoes. When I finally find something that conforms to my 'high standards' (and size), it's going to take a LONG time. And when I finally find something I like, they often don't have enough of it in stock and often can't get more... I have been known to buy twenty of the same black t-shirt at a wholesaler...

I'm a lazy dresser, I have a work outfit/uniform (work in IT): black dress shirt over black t-shirt, black dress pants, black braces, black shoes. Of these I want multiples for daily use. Black wool long-coat for the colder seasons.

As I get older I seem to get more relaxed in what I buy, either I'm mellowing out or am getting even lazier. A decade or two ago, if it wasn't black, I wasn't wearing it, mostly because I didn't want the hassle of figuring out if color X fit with color Y... These days I'm buying things in other colors with some color, mostly due them not being available in black or practical reasons, priority is these days: are they are comfy to wear, are they practical, and are they durable?

Previously during non-work time during summer, I would dress in black t-shirt, and black shorts, black cap, with black sports shoes. But the last couple of summers I've been moving to a light Khaki (sand yellowish) t-shirts and cap, trying out different t-shirt brands to see what fits well, what's most comfortable, and what stays nicest after washing (before moving buying in bulk again). That's mostly due to the consistently warmer summers around here, black absorbs heat, so I would get even warmer.

What I'm even more annoyed about is that stuff I like, isn't around anymore when the ones I have wear out. To a certain degree, I plan for that, getting more then I need. But when they're gone, things aren't available. Either just not being made anymore or being made, but of (far) inferior quality... Seen that with shoes, seen that with specific zip-up hoodies... Very frustrating!

Funny thing is that I've bought some very good stuff (comfy/durable/warm) from a store chain that's essentially aimed at farmers (I ain't a farmer). One score was so good (some very comfy and warm zip-up hoodies) that I ordered another one, which is rare when it isn't black. Prices ain't too bad and during certain sales I get two for the price of one, and this is how I scored some very nice and warm winter jackets a month ago... A light bluish grey and a dark bluish grey, it has a bit of color, but not too much...

When I have something I like, my first response when it needs to be replaced is buy the same thing again. Part of that is knowing the comfort and quality, the other part is that it keeps cloth/shoe shopping down!