What’s Dappered Threads? It’s our forum. Launched in 2011, Threads has become a not too big, not too small, just-right-sized forum that doesn’t put up with snobbery. All thanks to the users and hardworking mods. Once a month, one of the mods from Threads provides us with a highlight package of the last few weeks.
Best of Friday Challenge – Think Pink
In the spirit of Valentines day, our readers focused this Friday Challenge on incorporating the color pink into an outfit. Threads user LesserBlackDog locked down the win with subtle pink undertones accenting a pair of dark brown cords and grey button sweater. Shomas, phillipdavis, and zcm followed closely behind in voting with great combinations of pink oxfords, ties, and pocketsquares.
Best Help Thread – Should I or Shouldnt I Buy It?
The “Should I or shouldn’t I buy it thread” is a great place to get over the hurdle (or not) of a new purchase that has you wavering. Dappered members weigh in on the pros and cons and will help you make tough buying decisions easier.
Best Hot Topic – Are Slim Lapels Over?
Are we starting to see a trend away from slimmer lapels? And if so, is that a bad thing? And for who? A few members on Threads make the case for the slim lapel in some situations for some fellows. (Photo: Suitsupply)
Best DIY Thread – Personal Experience with Shoe Grease and Sno Seal
Ever wonder what affects various leather products, polishes, and seals have on your leather? How about stitching, waterproofing, and finishing? Dappered members share their own personal experiences and tips on how different products have affected their leather. For more information on shoe care, check out this additional thread.
Best Thrift Find – Brooks Brothers Jacket
Threads user cotokos unearthed this Brooks Brothers Country Club casual jacket with Loro Piana Storm System Fabric.
Best Advice on matching watch straps with belts/shoes
Avoid mixing black and brown leathers, but otherwise, don’t put a great deal of thought into matching leathers and metals beyond trying to keep overall dressiness or casualness appropriate to the outfit. If you regularly wear both brown and black shoes, I think it’s probably a good style choice to have a watch with steel, rubber, or nylon, or to own a couple watches with brown or black leather straps.
-LessBlackDog
Best Off Topic Thread – Groomsmen Gifts
It is better to give then receive right? From cufflinks to leather bags, members help narrow down groomsmen gift ideas. What have you given or received as a groomsman gift that stood out? Share your stories with other Dappered members looking for advice, and help keep the tradition of fantastic groomsman gifts going.
Many thanks to moderator tdig for assembling this month’s Best of Threads. Want more? Head on over to Threads and take a spin around. Top Photo: Ethan K.
I, for one, am not disappointed to see slim lapels dying out. But then again, I don’t own any because I don’t think they look good on my build.
I can only hope skinny lapels go quickly, I am ready for sub-Liverano suits to start carrying 3.5″ lapels again. And waist (or even below-waist) button points! Come on, J Crew, admit this is perfect – https://31.media.tumblr.com/18110c7a6209658d95d49ff9a8238ea7/tumblr_n17oe2zbIP1r7yat0o1_500.jpg
I tend to go very average on the cut of my suit- average sized notch lapels (3″), double vented, two button, average button stance, flat front, slightly lower waisted pants, no ticket pocket and use shirts, accessories, etc. to make it more interesting.
That leather travel bag is sexy. Yes I have a fetish for distressed leather, but that is not the issue here. Has anyone bought on of these from EpicLinen? It looks like a perfect weekend travel bag. It is so cheap, I am not expecting Saddleback quality, but I would hate to get that and have it fall apart the moment I pulled it out of my trunk.
fatsos – Uniqlo, a favorite around here, to offer larger sizes for US: http://racked.com/archives/2014/02/26/uniqlo-to-offer-larger-sizes-in-the-us.php and http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/25/us-fastretailing-strategy-idUSBREA1O0CZ20140225
I’m an unapologetic extremist. Your sartorial road may be a well paved 3-lane highway to success but my road has sick jumps and obstacles.
…Fatsos?
In the interest of clarity, not calling anyone here fatso, just commenting that Uniqlo is having to increase their sizes for a more “generous” fit for the US market…i.e. the US is fatter. Just like the first article notes – Zara famously stopped expanding (ha) in the US because its slimmer clothes didn’t fit people here. Hopefully, they will still keep their slim fits and not produce a completely different, non-slim line for the US
I’m not sure it’s because we’re fatter. We are, of course, but I’m not sure that’s the underlying problem here. Rather, I think the underlying problem is that many Americans aim for comfort over style, and wear things much too big for them. Honestly, I used to be one of those people. These days, I find too-big clothes uncomfortable, but I understand where people are coming from, at least.
I say this as someone who is decidedly overweight. My body fat is in the upper 20s, I’ve got a (non-alcoholic) beer belly, and my thighs are bigger than my girlfriend’s waist (to be fair, my legs are just generally big, not necessarily fat). But I still struggle to find clothes that fit properly in most stores. Honestly, it’s almost impossible to find something that fits my neck, chest, and waist all at once unless I go custom, and this includes J. Crew S/M/L-sized slim fit and Nordstrom neck-and-sleeve slim fit.
I reiterate: It’s not just that people are fat, but that they don’t wear clothes that fit.
I’m a medium in nearly every company I choose to wear, and I swim in an Uniqlo small. And yeah, I’m American.
I’ve seen a few designers moving to wider lapels and personally, I’m in favor for it. I’ve broader shoulders and believe in the rule of proportions regarding shoulder width and lapels. Skinny lapels just don’t look good on me. I prefer 3 inchers but it’s rather hard to find still (reason I like Suitsupply). Also, companies like Bonobos, who are just getting into the suit game, think skinny is the way to go. The trend is a decade old; mix it up already!
Thank goodness. I am not a fan of slim lapels!
I’m a big guy. And one of the biggest (pun) problems I have is button-down shirts that are the proper fit don’t look good on me unless I’m standing. Why? Because the gut “stretches” the button-hole area. Yes, I need to lose weight. I’m doing it, slowly but surely.
I don’t mind slim lapels, which is I think what the J Crew Ludlow has. They’re not average width but they’re not, for example, as thin as the ones the new Sherlock Holmes (Benedict Cumberbatch) seems to favor, which are really skinny. I’m a smaller guy – 5’8″ and 160 lbs., and for us slimmer lapels can work. I’m perfectly fine with average lapels too but I hope the monster ’70s era lapel never comes back.
Best advice for matching watch band straps with belts/shoes?
Cross out the first sentence. Swapping out watchbands to match the color of your belt is way too obsessive.
I know that feeling. I’ve lost around 10 lbs but want to lose 20 more… unfortunately my boss just took me out to lunch and wouldn’t stop telling me about how good the enchiladas were, so I succumbed.
However the average American male is only 5′ 9″ but has a 39 inch waist which makes sizing difficult.
http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/10/this-is-the-average-mans-body/280194/
In general your waist size should be less than half of your height.
I assume you’re talking about weight in kg…