Christian Davis is a 24-year-old Los Angeles based writer who up until now has focused mainly on writing about video games. Really. He recently began wanting to dress better, and he’ll be cataloging his process for us here on Dappered. He might be new, but he’s learning quick.
I owe a huge chunk of gratitude to Tumblr. From the very beginnings of my journey into the world of menswear, Tumblr was an endless well of inspiration. And better yet, it still is. The amount of creativity that people have with their clothes and sense of style is astonishing. And Tumblr makes it easy to see all of it.
These people aren’t even necessarily models or big names in the fashion industry. They just have a passion for clothing much like you and me, and they’re incredibly accessible. Send them a message and there’s a strong chance they’ll reply with some advice and words of wisdom. They’re all about improving menswear as a whole, and they’re more than willing to recommend a favorite brand or check out your own latest outfit post. It’s phenomenal to get that sort of feedback.
But there are a LOT of tumblrs dedicated to men’s style, so here’s a list of where to start. Not all are featured in the coveted “menswear” tag, but some certainly are. Feel free to leave your additions in the comments section.
Oliver James, A Collected Gentleman, and Super Danger
#1. I Am Oliver James
I hope you like blue because this site is full of navy and various other shades–it’s beautiful. I located this blog recently and have often gone back to it just to see what’s going to be up next. His style and outfits are exceptionally clean and well put together. And yes, very blue. It’s often said that a navy blazer is a staple in ones wardrobe. Well, what about a wardrobe entirely made of navy? You’ll get this.
#2. A Collected Gentleman
This guy is right up the alley of what Dappered is all about. In his blog description it states that his aim is “to show you that having a creative and collected style is possible without breaking the bank.” He is made for us. A majority of his outfits (including shoes) don’t exceed $150 thanks to his skill at shopping through consignment stores and thrift shops. It’s a prime example of great shopping and style on a budget.
#3. Super Danger
This is the first person that really started me on my path and I can’t imagine having a better beginning. Alex Maier, Creative Director of Haberdashmen, is someone who has taken several of my questions and gave me solid advice in order to develop my own sense of style. He’s humble, has an impeccable sense of style, and the published answers to some of the questions he gets are down right hilarious. He also just recently put together one of the most incredible menswear gatherings…ever.
Coffee and the Newspaper covers two of life’s great pleasures: Clothes & Food
#4. Coffee and the Newspaper
This is one of the most creative Tumblrs that I follow. Half menswear, half food photography, these folks show a great fusion of style and taste that’s really quite fascinating. Style inspiration and hunger; not a bad combination at all. Could you imagine if food became an accessory to our clothing? Guys in tweed suits constantly walking around with caramel frappuccinos and churros just because it looked well together. If Paris Hilton can have a dog as an accessory, why can’t we carry around gyros? (Okay, terrible idea.)
#5. Venture and Virtue
Retro perfection. Unyime Akpanudosen has submerged himself in a whole new vintage time period. Everything from his own personal style, to the content of his blog, and even the fantastic retro project titled The Dapper Rebels which you’d swear was directly from the 1960’s. He’s no slouch in style either. I mean…he was featured on GQ’s Style Hunt earlier this year among the thousands of others. If you didn’t take him seriously, you should start. It’s not just clothing, it’s a complete lifestyle.
Venture and Virtue, Thread and Salt, Menswear Dog
#6. Thread and Salt
This blog has had a personal connection with me and has from the start. Much like Coffee and the Newspaper, this blog focuses on food photography and fashion. Except blog owner Dillon Burke is actually the one taking the pictures (he works for a restaurant group in NYC) and does his own styling (previously worked at Ernest Alexander). He’s young, very talented and has created a great marriage of the two passions of his life. Like most people on this list, if you ask this guy a question, he’ll give you an answer and will lead you in the right direction. That’s hugely appreciated. He was recently featured on TSB Men, and the icing on the cake is that he’s 5’7 which is the same height as myself; so there’s that.
#7. Menswear Dog
Most have heard of this blog by now, but it still needs to be mentioned. Essentially, it’s images of a dog (Shiba Inu to be exact) dressed in menswear. Why would someone do that? I don’t know and I really don’t care because this is so damn awesome. The blog has gained so much popularity over the short time that it’s been around that there’s even collaborations happening with reputable brands such as Allen Edmonds and The Tie Bar. I mean,.this dog licks it’s own rear and dresses better than I do. You’re damn right I’m jealous.
Stay Classic Blog, Broke and Bespoke, and This Fits
#8. Stay Classic
I don’t know how long I’ve been following this LA based blog, but I’ve always been enticed by this guys style primarily due to the amount of comfort that’s portrayed in all of his pictures. Never does he look uncomfortable in anything that he wears and all of his pictures have this rugged Americana feel to them. It’s humble, sincere, and damn; he can make casual look good.
#9. Broke and Bespoke
This blog in particular caught my eye because it has this “normal guy” feel to the blog. It shows his everyday experiences as a menswear enthusiast. It’s fun and it hits close to home for me. One thing that I’ve noticed that’s just as good as his outfits is his vernacular. Across the top of his Tumblr it reads: “A site meant to inspire penurious sartorialists everywhere.” I mean, hell yeah man.
#10. This Fits
The content on this guy’s blog is spectacular. The deals he finds, his opinions on the products (a lot of which are first hand experiences), and just his general attitude towards menswear and fashion made me a recurring visitor. The blog centralizes around sales and his personal experiences with products along with his opinions of new products that peak his interest. Also, there’s the “Ebay searches for High Quality Menswear” link on his blog which puts you in an already customized store of great brands and products ranging from suits all the way down to shoes. Side Note, anyone who uses “Super Mega Excellent” as a rating on their site has my undying respect; AND, on top of all that…..he’s also 5’7. Shor–…..comfortably sized guys are coming up in the world!
I love finding these blogs and seeing what really inspires these people. But this is just a short list of ten people on one social network. What Tumblrs or blogs inspire you? Leave it all below.