Following the Times

It’s not new for fashion to reach back, reinvent and reinstitute trends from years past. Fashionable Academics recently posted a New York Times article about the recurrence of Victorian Gilded Age menswear with just that phenomenon (see This Just in from the 1890s). After reading the article I was inspired. A modern twist on the “dapper dandy” is right up my alley. And looking at this rediscovered fad as a test to the versatility of my wardrobe, I stepped into my to closet to attempt and recreate some gilded age wear for myself. I started with the basics. A starch white dress shirt and heather grey tweed 5-button vest.^1,2 Good so far, but now I needed to choose the perfect pants. After looking through several pairs of khaki and black pants, I decided to go monochromatic. Grey wool pants would add cohesion to my newly inspired look.³ For some diversity and interest, a striped blue and silver tie would do the trick.⁴ It could blend the grey in the pants with that in the vest while introducing a new color into the mix.

Here in the Midwest it’s beginning to get chilly so I needed a blazer to top off this impromptu three-piece suit. I defaulted to my favorite. A deep navy blue Goodwill find that fits me like a glove.⁵ It has a thin widely spaced pin stripe that picked up on the grey in its two counterpart pieces. Add in some shiney irradecent loafers and sleek line eyewear in brushed silver, and I think I came close to recreating the look.^6,7

I’m a big proponent of men stepping away from the matchy-match, off the rack, standard suit (especially when the occasion calls for professional, but not exactly formal). You can really get a lot of wear out of your wardrobe if you buy piece separates and mix and match to get the “suited” look you’re after. Women do this all the time, and it’s time us guys get in on the action. After recreating this vintage look I started to think, what’s next? We’ve seen the return of the 1950s/60s, via Mad Men fandom. And now we are looking to the 19^th century for dapper dress. Is there an era that you would like to see or would predict to be re-visited for its fashion? I’m hoping not to have to go in search of a “ruff” any time soon…

References:

1. White Textured Dress Shirt –Banana Republic

2. Heather Grey 5-button Vest—Forever 21

3. Wool Pants—Express (purchased @ Goodwill)

4. Tie—Banana Republic

5. Blazer—Goodwill

6. Shoes—Robert Wayne

7. Eyewear—Calvin Klein