5 Favorites from Dappered Reader All-Star Furious Styles (Marc Jones)
Sure it’s just stuff. But stuff can make life easier, more enjoyable, etc… Every so often we ask one of our favorite people to rattle off their five favorite things. This week you’ll find favorites from some of Dappered’s most active readers.
“Furious Styles” here on Dappered, but Marc Jones in the acting world. A son of Washington D.C. with a soft spot for Chicago, Marc makes his living as a professional actor. He’s performed in national commercials, independent films, as well as print modeling. If his comments on Dappered seem particularly well written, he does that too. His writing has been featured by both Redskins.com (he’s a diehard Redskins fan) as well as The Washington Post.
Forget stage fright, Marc has none of that of course, but his level of guts goes to a stylistic point where few of us tread. His gorgeous and fantastic wife doesn’t mind that he can find great outfits for her, just as easily as for himself. Shopping for the Mrs.? That is something.
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#1. Calvin Klein slim fit blazer – $249.99
“Let’s start right here, gents. I know that Joe recently wrote that any clothing choice made of velvet was doomed to quickly expire, but I would submit that this slim fit, velvet-esque blazer is an indispensible part of my wardrobe. The blend has a wonderfully subtle sheen, perfect for that evening of live jazz and cocktails. It’s versatile enough to wear with jeans, slacks, and your favorite bowtie.” (Blazer purchased at Lord & Taylor. Shown w/ a Calvin Klein slim fit dress shirt.)
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#2. Kane & Unke Trim Fit Military Jacket – $109
“This jacket is one of two reasons I am excited for Fall (the other being the NFL season). Honestly, I wasn’t even in the market for a lightweight, fitted military jacket. But back in July, Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale was featured on Dappered, and in the comments section, “Mike” linked to this jacket and I couldn’t resist adding it to my stable. Dress it up with an oxford button down and tie, dress it down with a t-shirt. Just wear it. (Shown here with a St. Mary’s College of Maryland tee. Go Seahawks!)
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#3. Kangol grey plaid 504 cap – $38 – 74
“I’ve always loved Kangol caps. They were a staple of old school rappers and that old guy sitting in the corner of your barbershop. I saw The Roots’ Black Thought sport one on an album cover and I knew I had to get an authentic Philly 504. This one I nabbed on Broad Street and it always seems appropriate. If you’ve got the head for it, accept no substitutes. Just don’t wear it backwards unless you’re Samuel Jackson.” (Shown with a Target Merona athletic fit polo, K&G Cellangino jacket.)
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#4. 80GB PS3 – $219.99 & up
“As much as I love my Velodyne subwoofer, 50” plasma HDTV, and Mirage unidirectional surrounds, the one favorite in my home is my big old PlayStation 3. I use it to play music from my hard drive, watch Netflix and Amazon, peruse my Blu-ray collection, and host game nights of Rock Band and Tekken. It’s one of only a few items I’ve paid MSRP for, but it’s more than paid for itself over the years.”
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#5. Express 3-piece Producer Suit – $298
“I’ve learned since becoming a Dapper Gent that Express’ suits are fair to middling when it comes to quality and value. But I have to credit Express for enticing me to seriously consider owning a three piece suit. I figured they were for guys my Dad’s age. Years ago I accidentally got someone else’s Express mailing and I saw how a three piece can be sharp for my generation too. I found their off the rack fit to be great for me, and when the right sale came around, I could grab one for a steal . And honestly, when I put it on, nobody asks whether it’s a Hickey Freeman or not. They just say ‘Three piece? Lookin’ good!’ And isn’t that what really matters?
For Previous editions of “5 Favorites” see the archive here. Very Top “5” Photo Credit: Gunnar Bangsmoen
“And honestly, when I put it on, nobody asks whether it’s a
Hickey Freeman or not. They just say ‘Three piece? Lookin’ good!’ And
isn’t that what really matters?”
^ One of the most important principles a stylish man can live by. More expensive brands may have better material and/or construction (though not necessarily), but anyone who works in a business or business casual environment knows that 95% of the population doesn’t know the difference.
I got that K&U jacket too due to the same link in the comments section. I didn’t need it but couldn’t resist either. I think it feels and looks much nicer than in person than what shows in those pics.
You stick to DC and I’ll stick to Northern VA. Don’t want 2 of us at the same place wearing the exact same jacket. 😛
Big fan of flat caps. I may be painting with too broad a sociological brush here, but I think it was dappered African Americans who reestablished the flat cap as an essential piece of fall attire. Hear me out: I’m Irish American and and flat caps were a big part of my ancestors’ attire. But growing up in the 80s and 90s, you wouldn’t be caught dead wearing one of those if you were A. under 60 or B. born anywhere else but the Emerald Isle. But that was nonsense. It’s a classic accessory that works so well in the cooler months. It’s extremely versatile and goes with just about any casual outfit. The embrace of these caps by many young African American fellas in the 15+ years or so has brought it back into the mainstream, allowing someone like myself to pull it off without being looked upon as a young man imitating an old man.
Never thought I’d see a PS3 being recommended on Dappered. Nice.
The Producer three-piece is something that I recently added to my wardrobe from Express’ end-of-season sale a couple months ago. Great off-the-rack fit for me (though I’ll still get the jacket pinned up to see if I can make it look a little sleeker), and while the material isn’t the best, I still got all kinds of compliments on it the day I wore it in to the office. Mine was a steal at just under $200 for all three pieces. I just wish they had still had the Glen Plaid in stock…
You must be psyched about that performance by RGIII on Sunday.
Express clothing quality is very poor. Especially for 300$ for a suit. For that price range on eBay u can sometimes snag a Brioni or Canali suit. And you can definitely get an Oxxford or Samuelsohn for that price. And at the end of the day, all those are far superior to an Express suit in the terms of fully canvased, natural drape instead of the mountain rolled shoulders depict in that express model, normal lapel width and the quality of wool will far exceed.
Haha! I’ll have to message you on the days I rock it. It’s a great jacket, and I totally agree about how much nicer it is in person. I had mine ordered from the West Coast since none of the Nordstroms near me had it. Worth it!
Salutations, sir.
Gracias. I know I’m not alone in loving mine.
I was in Chicago at gametime, and I found a Skins bar. We lost our minds! And yes, we even cheered his name during the Subway commercials.
I agree about the quality. But Express was my gateway drug to wearing slimmer, better fitting OTR suits. I gotta give credit where it’s due.
Good pick on the PS3… well, you know, on the gaming console. I heart my Xbox360. Playing a good videogame is just as immersive and cathartic as reading a good book or watching a well-crafted TV series.
I might even be inclined to say it’s closer 97 in some place lol
Shout outs to dudes that can pick out clothes for women. We’re a rare breed indeed.
Interesting point, Johdus. I have an uncle (whatup, Uncle Al!) who’s rocked them for as long as I can remember. My take is that they gained street cred during the 1980s, when old school rappers started wearing the Kangol brand (Kool Moe Dee and LL Cool J immediately come to mind). Oddly, they’ve lost some of their African American youth appeal as the late 90s and 2000s came, but the hipsters still keep them fresh. When I see someone with one on, I try to give ’em the nod.
LOL It’s cathartic until the Madden CPU suddenly can score 21 points in the 4th quarter on you. I love it, and my only wish is that Sony & Microsoft could allow cross-console gaming…
You are correct sir. Putting on a $150 suit from the mall that fits reasonably well when most of your co-workers wear slacks and a button-down with no jacket or tie will get you compliments all the time. And if your’re surrounded by suits, most men (at least in government circles) pair them with ugly ties and clunky shoes, so again, it’s easy to come in above the bar if you try.
yah everytime i dress in a suit i ask myself ‘do i look swag/#menswear 2day?’
if the answer is no, then try, try again!
For the longest time, I thought I looked like a fool in all hats because my head is a bit larger than average and any XL hat I tried on felt too small. I finally started looking harder and found some hats that fit. I have a black and grey print Kangol that I took the plunge on and now that the weather is cooling off, I’m about to bust it out on the weekends.
Always glad to see another well dressed dude from DC who is a passionate Redskins fan. Not enough of us frankly. I’m interested in throwing in some redskins flair while still looking fresh for Sundays, do you have any suggestions? I’m thinking those dope socks RG3 wore on draft night.
No offense to the readers involved, but not in love with this segment. That said, this has been the best of the bunch.
On a side note, in terms of solid “value” suits, I’ve found the Kenneth Cole Reaction Slim fit suits to be stellar. I swing into the local Nordstrom rack every 3-4 months and pick one up for ~$150 – $200. Aside from being a well-shaped suit for cheap, they did a great job with the fabrics, with worsted wool on the solids and raised fabrics for stripes, that adds visual texture and character.
Finally! Glad to see someone on Dappered who appreciates modern, stylish twists in suiting! Absolutely love Calvin Klein’s trim fit suits and jackets, and i get more more compliments from their blue blazer than my J. Crew Ludlow blazer. It may not be constructed as well (glued vs half canvas) but it’s definitely better cut and seems to mold to my body. Love the Kangol cap, too…may have to get one of those. Thanks for your great choices, Marc.
Gotta love the game console nod. Great picks, Furious Styles. I go between PS3 and 360, myself. Both worth owning, in my opinion.
I’m really diggin your selection of coats. The velvet coat really transpires who you are as a person. As a philosophy major and someone who is very involved in writing and theatre, the velvet coat really catches the eye and I’m sure it adheres perfectly to your demeanor. I am going to keep my eye open for something similar but in the student’s budget range. #props
Seriously, so much of it is all about context and your personal style. Velvet doesn’t work well in the boardroom, of course, but for someone with an artistic flair in a bar with live jazz, paired with jeans — that’s damn stylish.
Yeah, I’ve got more XBOX-owning friends than PS3, so I’ve toyed with having both. Now that prices are low for it, maybe I’ll pick one up.
Thanks loco– Let me know what Kangol cap you get. Get a neutral Fall color like a camel or grey and you can rock it from next week until Spring…
Man, that’s a tough one–anything non-Redskins related just won’t do on game day. When I go to FedEx, I’ve got a massive afro wig and my never-washed Darrell Green jersey on. By the end of day I’m a sweaty mess, so there’s not much use in looking Dappered. Consider Sundays your day to throw out all the fashion rules!
Much appreciated, John & BB. I like to adhere to the Dappered rules but keep some street cool points. It ain’t what you wear, it’s how you wear it.
LFC, I have to admit I haven’t tried the KC Reaction slim fits. Before I got Dappered, I liked their Classic-fit suits. Silly me. The price sounds intriguing, so I’ll keep an eye out next time I’m at The Rack….
Sorry, “Left Coast Guy”. Ha!