Ali of A Noble Savage
Let your smile be your umbrella, shielding you from those who would accuse you of wearing a tablecloth in your breast pocket.
(Seriously, outside of that absurd pocket parachute, this guy looks like a million.)
(via streetetiquette)
If you want to see a nightly lesson in how a suit should fit, watch The Late Show with David Letterman.
Now - I’m hardly an unbiased observer. Letterman is, in my book, The Greatest American. The fact, however, remains, that Letterman’s suits are consistently beautiful.
When Letterman held down the Late Night slot on NBC, he dressed pretty casually. He was often seen in a baseball jacket, or an oxford shirt. He often went no further than a blazer and rep tie. He was relaxed and his only style was a rejection of the previous late-night-host expectations.
When he moved to CBS, however, he reset his style. He understood that he was upholding a tradition exemplified by his hero, Johnny Carson, and that a gracious late night host wore a suit.
I don’t know who makes Letterman’s suits, but they are consistently impeccable. I’m not always crazy about the shiny, high-thread-count wools he chooses (particularly on camera), or the all pinstripes. They always, however, fit.
Of course, Letterman’s style isn’t perfect. He invariably wears a white shirt, which does his complexion (and his cameramen) no favors. He has an annoying habit of leaving his jacket open while standing - even on double-breasted coats - which makes him look slovenly and out-of-shape. (This couldn’t be further from the truth, by the way - he’s a strapping, athletic guy.) Worst of all, he insists on wearing loafers with his suits… and (ick) white socks. That’s charming with chinos in Take Ivy, but untenable on network TV.
Still… those suits. Perfect. Also: Letterman: greatest ever.
BREAKING: Rob informs me that Letterman’s suits are made in New York by Leonard Logsdail.
The Liberating World of No-Show Socks
We got an email the other day from a reader who wanted to know what kind of socks he should wear with shorts. The simple answer to this question is: no socks. Unless you’re in the British colonial military, a businessman in Bermuda, or a student at Princeton in the 60s, there’s really no excuse to wear socks with shorts. It also happens to be notably hip at the moment to wear even dress shoes sans-socks in casual summer situations.
So when you want bare ankles, what do you do to protect your shoes from your feet? Wear no-show socks, sometimes called loafer socks.
No-show socks wrap around your toes and heel, riding low enough that they’re invisible once you put on your shoes. This helps absorb the sweat from your feet and avoid uncomfortable abrasions without the heinous appearance of socks-and-shorts.
Where to get no-show socks?
Banana Republic sells them in black at $14.50 for two pair. I’ve worn loafer socks by Comfilon, whose socks are a blend of spandex and nylon - they’re thinner, like say double-thick pantyhose. You can buy the Gold Toe version 3 for $18 from Amazon. I haven’t used them, but the socks from Mocc Sock & Co. look nice (they’re pictured above), and are available at eight bucks a pair, three for twenty or five for thirty. I also like the look of the socks from SocksFox in the UK. The cheapest I’ve found is at Journeys, where they’re five for ten bucks. I’ve also heard you can buy them cheap from Payless, though I haven’t confirmed it - my guess is that they would likely be unisex, and perhaps less suitable for those of us with big feet.
It’s On Ebay!
Brooks Brothers Loafers by Alden
I don’t usually go for loafers, trads be damned, but these are pretty fresh. English Tan is the way to go.
| Q and ANSWER | Best Of |
| It's On Sale | eBay Roundup |
| Spring | Summer |
| Fall | Winter |
| Shirts | Jackets |
| Shoes | Coats |
| Accessories | Ties |
| Stefan Lawrence | Logo Design |
| Sleepover | Web Design |
