Put This On

Q and Answer: Old Navy

Devine writes: I wish I had a higher-fashion question here, but this morning, a utility quandary presented itself. I found an old $50 Old Navy gift card this morning while cleaning off my dresser, and while I’m not into their clothes, $50 is $50.  I’m thinking of using it for undershirts/boxers, but I figured I’d ask — are there any surprises there worth spending (already spent) money on?

Your instinct, to go undershirts-and-boxers, is not off-base.  We have one more idea to add to the mix, though: linen.

It’s not quite linen season in your local Old Navy - that’ll come in March and April or so - but summer shirts are the perfect thing to buy from the Gap’s shittier cousin.  The past couple of years, Old Navy’s cuts for summer shirts have been decent, and linen should have a little looseness anyway.  When you’re only paying $29.50 or $39.50, you won’t feel too bad when you spill some of that strawberry daiquiri on the front and have to go nuclear on that thing in the wash.  Get yourself a white long-sleeved linen shirt, with as little adornment as possible, and wear that mf’er every week all summer long.  If you’re lucky, you’ll get invited to an awesome tropical party at Diddy’s house.

If you have a Q for us to Answer, email us at contact@putthison.com.

Q and Answer: Hippie Wedding

Michael writes: I am getting married in August, and my partner and I are having trouble finding non-formal attire for me to wear. The wedding is on a small island off the coast of Vancouver known for it’s hippy-dippy ways (not that we’re too hippy-dippy ourselves). Do you have any sartorial recommendations for something that will look good without being formal? Right now we just know that we’ll both be wearing Cydwoq shoes.

Sometimes someone writes to us and I’m frankly not sure if they’re making fun of me… or at the very least trying to provoke me.

Speaking of which: a good way to provoke me is to trick me into googling “Cydwoq shoes.” It’s sort of like asking Tommy Lasorda his opinion of Kingman’s performance.

So rather than rising to the bait, I will pretend the last sentence of this email DOES NOT EXIST.  Because I am not a hornet’s nest to be prodded with a stick for your amusement.  Blocking from my memory the appearance of those horrible shoes has come surprisingly easily, though I expect only years of therapy will correct my post-traumatic stress.

As for what you can wear to an informal wedding in August, how about a linen suit?  Looks like Vancouver is usually in the mid-70s that time of year, and linen will be plenty cool enough, and give you the rumpled, natural appearance that hippies love so very much.  The coat will also protect you in case of a cool spell.  There’s no need for a tie, just a nice white shirt and a nice linen suit.

So, now that your clothes are sorted out, start worrying about your officiant.

Style Gods

A cream linen suit from the estate of the Duke of Windsor.  Not much of a king, but a great, great dresser.  Clothing from his estate goes on auction December 8th at Kerry Taylor Auctions in London.

via A Suitable Wardrobe