It’s been a while since I’ve had a New York trip. Last year I went to Italy, which took up all my money and my PTO. Don’t get me wrong, it was fun, but I definitely missed all my menswear (and non menswear) pals in the Big Apple. Since 2024 did not have a crazy international trip, it meant that my return was assured. October seemed like the best way to go for cooler weather (also I was just in Hawaii and didn’t want to do two trips back to back).
Like my 2021 trips, this was going to be a solo adventure. Nothing was really planned, though I did beg Nick and Stephon to let me know as soon as they had the October dates for Alfargo’s locked-in. It never lined up with my past visits and I wasn’t going to let it happen again. It’s such a great event that would help me see a lot of my friends, not to mention a great shopping experience (though I’ve been slowing down in that regard).
All that to say that my trip was based around a weekend market; it sounds silly but I knew it would be worth it. I also ended up taking a week off, just so I could explore and do things outside of Alfargos. But again, nothing was really on the itinerary. I knew I wanted to see a few shops (Wythe), go to a museum (MoMA) and perhaps a musical (Cabaret) but everything else was up in the air! But it didn’t stay that way for long.
As the trip got closer, a few things started to be scheduled— many of them menswear happenings. Permanent Style and Rubato were set to do a pop-up at J. Mueser, with a small party during the week. Buzz Tang and The Anthology was in town doing a trunk show. And there was also a big Male Fashion Advice Discord meet up, culminating at Alfargo’s weekend. Suddenly my loose vacation became a trip full of parties, drinks, and hangs, each with different facets of my parasocial fashion relationships.
I was honestly a bit anxious about it. Some of that sentiment has been echoed in my article about Social Resumes, but it really was just about the imposter syndrome I’ve felt as the scene changes. I was also intrigued to see just how much expectations stacked against reality, to truly see if anything was different or if it was all in my head. I’m just a little guy from the San Gabriel Valley who likes to wear suits for fun. Do I still have a place in all of this? The answer is yes.
As you read my silly memoir below, you’ll see that all of my fears were assuaged. And all of it is because of the amazing people that I encountered. Some of them were industry people. Some were old friends that I met in NYC previously or even talked to on the internet. But so many were completely new, all of whom made this West Coast Visitor feel welcome and included. And while menswear is the initial connective tissue, it’s also clear that a good chunk of us simply get along as friends. Hell, most of them hangout apart from these parties and soirees, proving my experience correct.
Much of the credit has to go to my pal Nick Andry, who really went out of his way to give me such an iconic trip. Each day, he asked me what I was up to and asked if I wanted to join his shenanigans, whether it was with a big group or a small hang. It’s such a simple effort that I really, really appreciated it (hanging out in LA isn’t impossible but it can be like pulling teeth). He didn’t just do it for me. He was the one who wrangled the Alfargo’s guys, MFAD members, and any menswear mutual you could think of. Nick was on top of it each and everyday and showed up for every person. He’s truly one of the best guys I know.
Overall, it just goes without saying that this latest edition of “Ethan In NYC” has to be the best one yet. It was also the most jam packed one of all time. I’m still surprised I was able to go as hard (and late) as I did. Maybe that’s Nick. Maybe that’s alcohol. Or maybe that’s just a sign that I need to move to NYC. Read on about my trip and tell me what you think I should do.
Also I recapped some fun stories about my trip on the latest episode of the podcast! It has a bit more color than what I was able to write below, so I encourage you to both listen and read (and look at all my photos)
Podcast Outline
- 4:59 – Topic Start
- 14:50 – Meetups Summary
- 18:03 – What Ethan Packed and Wore
- 27:22 – The Armoury Sample Sale
- 31:18 – Ethan on Broadway and Food
- 39:52 – Menswear Stores
- 48:09 – Permanent Style and Alfargo’s Marketplace
- 1:22:15 – Wrap-up
TUESDAY
Tuesday was my first official day in NYC. This was still very early on when I felt like I didn’t have much to do, which was an ironic thought considering how the rest of my week went. In other words, Tuesday shaped up to be the most chill day of my trip.
Despite needing to sleep in, I woke up early to have coffee and a light breakfast with John Motzi, a delightful member of the SaD Patreon who, like his fellow compatriots, loved to tease me about all my quirks and TMI stories. It was a bit chilly, which was refreshing considering LA’s bout with 90-100 F weather the past few weeks. I certainly took the opportunity to layer and wear my Barbour jacket. To my surprise, John had the same idea!
After a chat about family stories and shell cordovan, my Menswear Trip began with a trip to The Armoury UES. It was quiet that Tuesday morning, which gave me ample time to catch up with Dan and Kamau who were on duty. It was full of earnest updates and zingers, which certainly put me at ease; menswear is hardly a stuffy place. Both of them were dressed to the nines but couldn’t be more different: Dan was ivy-ed out with a checked jacket, flat front beige slacks, and desert boots while Kamau was in MTM houndstooth flares, a DB blazer, and a black ribbon tie. I appreciate that Mark allows them to have some freedom in their dress!
I took the opportunity to try on a few things, namely the Hundred Series jacketing (their high end makes) and a few Models (Ring Jacket). MTM seemed promising, not just because I’m a relatively easy 50 (no longer a 48 RIP) but because Dan and Kamau felt comfortable that I could get the trouser fit I wanted through their custom program (as their RTW trousers are mid-rise and slim). This was later affirmed during a later conversation with Alex at the Armoury Tribeca. All of it is still quite out of my price range, but it’s good to keep in mind. I could afford the Duane loafers in white buck, but I decided to pass for now…maybe.
After The Armoury, John and I went on a walk around the UES. We skipped the Rhinelander Mansion (since I’ve been there before), but we did walk into Sid Mashburn (random) and the currently in-progress Baudoin & Lange where we actually ran into Allan Baudoin!
We also went into Gentleman’s Resale, a second-hand store in the UES that had quite a healthy selection of tailoring. Garments from Polo (of all eras), Armani, Canali, and other assorted menswear brands were found on the racks. Prices were reasonable, ranging from steals to expected eBay amounts, but thankfully nothing was in my size. I was ready to save my money for The Armoury Sample Sale as well as the plethora of libations I was sure to consume in my remaining days. It was right about then that I realized I should eat something, which lead to a delicious lamb burger at 2:30PM with John.
I parted ways with John an hour later, as I made the trek down to MoMA to catch the last few hours of operation. I had been there before, but they had a few exhibits I was excited to see. Crafting Modernity was all about midcentury design in Latin America, which gave me furniture envy. There was also a Thomas Schütte retrospective which was fascinating, considering its one of the most complete exhibits of his career. But as you probably expected, the one I most enjoyed was Robert Frank in Dialogue. The extensive curation included not only his photographs but his experimentation in film and books, all of which contain his trademarked documentary-with-commentary feel. It’s just amazing to see so many photos of iconic artists as well as random pedestrians that Frank came across. I fully believe that seeing this exhibit at the start of my trip had a profound effect on what came later. In other words, I took a lot of photos.
Once MOMA closed, I was alone no longer. I caught up with Annie at Nordstrom before we had a long overdue dinner at Raku which felt a bit like a reference to how we got Japanese food in NYC back in my 2022 fit. The food was fantastic (nothing beats udon, karaage, and a Sapporo) but the wait took forever, which unfortunately made me miss out on seeing Nick (of J. Press & Alfargos fame) a day early as he was in the area. I would have seen him after dinner if it wasn’t for the fact that I was set to do what I’ve wanted to do ever since my first NYC trip: watch live jazz.
Yung Chomsky, Rory, and Dave (of Atelier Fugue) and I bought tickets a few weeks ago after seeing a dumb tiktok but I was excited to earnestly do it; I was even wearing a suit (the only time I did so during this trip)! Fred Hirsch was on the program and boy did he kill it on the keys. I was tapping (quietly) on our table while sipping on a refreshing Aperol Spritz. YC had to split after the show, so the threesome went to Art Bar which was quite a great way to end the night. It was nearly 2AM at this point and I was crashing, so I took my first ever taxicab back to where I was staying so I could rest and get ready for the next day (and edit photos so I could start each morning with a fresh SD card— I know I’m crazy).
WEDNESDAY
Wednesday was when my trip truly started to get crazy. After all, it was set to start with the Friends & Family preview for the Armoury Sample sale. Yes, I’m even surprised their every-three-years sale lined up with my trip; maybe the fates were on my side! I scrambled down to Soho to have a coffee with Annie as well as Simon Gold and his friend David, which was a wholesome time before the sample sale craziness. We were only a few blocks away, but when we got there we saw that there was already a small line; I guess The Armoury has quite a few friends!
Ring Jacket (both Japanese market and Armoury makes) sportcoats and jackets lined the racks, with hearty helpings in every size. Boxes of Ascot Chang polos, Drake’s shirts, and merino sleeveless cardigans filled the tables and floors. The rack of outerwear, which included a handful of Cohérence trenches and casentino car coats, was emptied quickly; it was also next to hangars full of Armoury road jackets made up in both warm and cold weather cloth. Last but not least, there was a wall of footwear made up of Armoury makes (mainly Duane loafers and Windham oxfords), a bit of Carmina and Wakouwa deck shoes, and a small helping of funky Jacques Solovière sandals and oxfords in suede. While the crowd was relatively small, it was important to simply grab everything that interested you and make a pile so that no one took it from you. The competition from guys in selvedge jeans, alden loafers, OCBDs, and Stóffa was quite high.
I ended up walking out with two sportcoats (one linen, one flannel) and a Cohérence Marc. The latter was in a small, which I wore during my NYC trip until I eventually traded for a large at Alfargo’s (more on that later). As you probably expected, the small was just a bit narrow in the shoulders and chest (at least to comfortably fit over a sportcoat) but there wasn’t a medium available. I guess I would’ve saved time if I bought the large from the get-go.
There were a few friends at the sample sale, but I had no time to catch up with them. It was time to see Cabaret. As I said before, I was initially planning on going on the Monday of my arrival, but plane delays made that impossible. I had semi-loose evening plans the rest of my trip, so this 2PM matineé was the only time that would work. I left Soho at 1PM which was more than ample…if not for significant train delays. We ended up getting into the theater right at 2PM but thankfully, they were still seating people.
This was my first time seeing Cabaret and I certainly enjoyed it. I won’t lie; this decision was mainly done after seeing Eddie Redmayne’s viral performance at the Tony’s, but I also wanted to finally have a NYC trip where I did something touristy (I already crossed jazz off my list). The show was amazing, with immaculate costumes that expressed both the period setting and the characters themselves. While Cliff and Ernst look sharp in 30s tailoring, I was particularly taken by the Emcee, who wears a ribbed tank (with a deco/DNA weave like knit shirts of the era) with leather gurkha-esque pants (with a corset cummerbund) and dress boots. Adam Lambert was the Emcee this time who had more make up and brought a more malicious and “affably evil” approach compared to Redmayne’s more childlike portrayal (though that opinion is based on the Tony clip and listening on Spotify). Is that a hot take?
Once the show was over, Annie and I hightailed it back down for the Permanent Style x Rubato x J. Mueser party in the village. There wasn’t even time for a slice of pizza— I walked right in around 6:30PM and started drinking beer, which made the night quite fun. And as you might have expected, the party was the crossover event of the century (though I guess those of you who are used to Pitti will find this banal).
You could spot Jake Mueser and Jonas catching up with their old friend Chase (who is now at J.M McLaughlin). Carl and Oliver displayed prowess in switching between chatting and selling their excellent wares all through the party. Dick Caroll and Chris Pizarro mingled with Brandon Mitchell, each in their own take on 60s attire. The Alfargo’s Guys showed up along with members of J. Press and Todd Snyder, adding to the plethora of menswear expressions. Jake Woolf made a quick appearance. André of Bryceland’s London was a delightful surprise. The guys behind the Cad & The Dandy were also in attendance (and were incredibly friendly). So many of our favorite Menswear Personalities were present, packed into two small rooms connected by the world’s narrowest spiral staircase.
I’m not going to lie, I felt very intimidated. The room held some major figures in the menswear industry and culture. Even at its core, there were just so many people who I find incredibly inspirational and stylish. And while I’ve been around for a long time, it’s hard not to feel a bit like an imposter: I live in LA away from this world, take active steps to not do anything salesy or monetizable, and I also just make a silly little insular blog. These are the guys who shape menswear culture and are an active participant. The apprehension was real. But thankfully it dissipated quickly.
Every single person I talked to was lovely and welcoming. Menswear itself wasn’t barely a topic in our conversations: we talked about D&D, improv comedy, and everything in between. But while the Figures were fun to talk to, I felt most at home with the non-industry enthusiasts. The ones came with each other and were simply there because they enjoy clothing and also like being a fly on the wall in this world.
Of course the night did not end there. I had to eat something. The party initially tried to go to the Corner Bistro but their “cash only” sign turned most of us away (aka the Alfargo’s/non-Mueser/PS/Rubato guys). So, we went to Art Bar which was actually where I had my post-jazz beer with Dave and Rory the night before. It was there where I was finally able to put something in my stomach (sliders and fries). But this still wasn’t the end.
Nick pulled Auden, Ivan, Chris, and me to go to the Mulberry, where we ended up drinking even more and dancing the night away. And in a random stroke of fate, we actually ran into Larry and James from Throwing Fits on the way there; Nick invited them over and they came for a brief drink, making the night even more of a crossover event. I eventually left at 3AM.
What a fuckin’ night.
THURSDAY
Thursday was my Brooklyn day. As a result, I dressed for the “casual” occasion: M-43 pants, my Kapital bandana, and the first wear of my vintage RL sweater vest that looks very 1930s. It was the most rugged I’d be the entire trip.
Running on only a couple hours of sleep, I went down into Brooklyn to meet up with Mic Nguyen. You may know him as NicePantsBro who has been posting a lot of great comedy videos about being a menswear enthusiast. We followed each other a bit earlier this year and when he found out that I was going to be in NYC he invited me onto his pod, the Asian Not Asian Podcast. Menswear was definitely the main topic of the pod, but we did spend a lot of time speaking about what it meant to be into menswear as an Asian American. Clothing and how it expresses our authentic identity is something that is so fascinating to me— I’m glad that Mic also felt the same way! After all, he’s a SoCal Asian wearing Drake’s and Aldens. He gets it.
Once the pod was over, I decided to go to 10ft Single By Stella Dallas. There are a lot of vintage stores in Brooklyn (and certainly Manhattan), but this one is my favorite by far. It’s got a mix of everything, from 40s-90s clothing, which means that there are a lot of options for everyone. In the front, you can find OCBDs, trousers from the 60s-70s (its where I got my madras trews last time), and relatively affordable ties. The back is where you’ll see leather jackets, tweed jackets from all eras, jaunty scarves, overcoats, jeans, sweaters, and if you’re feeling spendy, some truly fantastic vintage hanging from the ceiling (including an L.L Bean sport vest in a huge size). There were a few cool things but I ultimately decided not to grab anything. I was still reeling from my Armoury sample sale purchase (as well as all the drinks I’ve already consumed).
Lunch was late again (around 2-3PM) and was taken at a Polish restaurant in Greenpoint. This was my first time having borscht and pierogies and I instantly became a fan. It was quite heavy for lunch (I also had a cutlet because my eyes were bigger than my stomach) but it gave me the energy to keep going. After all, my breakfast was coffee and a singular donut from the local bodega.
My only other plans that day was to meet up for dinner near Washington Square Park with some menswear guys (Victor specifically). Because we had a little bit of time, we decided to pass through a few more stores on the way there. First was Wythe, which I was really excited to see in person. The brand has evolved from just offering OCBDs to making flecked cord pants, big ass coats, type-2’s, and most notably, jackets and vests made of repro Brown’s Beach cloth. I took the opportunity to try on everything that intrigued me. It’s a little out of budget for now (and I do already own true vintage and repros of a few of their offerings), but it was good to reference for the future. That Brown’s Beach vest was very, very tempting.
Our other stop was 18 East, a designer gorp/skate brand that I’ve also been a fan of. Some of you may find this surprising, but I genuinely like their designs and overall theme. I always felt that if I wasn’t into classic menswear, I’d be into something like 18 East. It’s probably the slouchy fits and heavy use of pockets. Nothing was too intriguing but it was nice to finally be able to tangibly experience the brand. If MJ was here, I’m sure he’d spend a pretty penny.
Window shopping was then complete which meant that it was time for dinner. I knew that I was meeting Victor, but I was surprised to see who else showed up: Simon Gold (briefly), Nick, Ivan, and to my surprise John (who was fresh from a work trip) and his brother Tommy (who I hadn’t seen since he visited LA a few years ago). It was a very wholesome dinner (I had French Toast btw) where we teased Ivan about squirting his fries with ketchup instead of putting it on the side like a sane person. Kids these days.
You would think that our night would’ve ended there, but it didn’t. The group decided to go to a Japanese cocktail bar, but the tables were full and there wasn’t any standing room. It was then the group dwindled down to a threesome: Nick, Ivan, and yours truly. We ended up finding a local bar where we chatted and had a nice lowkey time. I was quickly drunk. The festivities would’ve ended here if not for the fact that the true weekend was just beginning: members of the Male Fashion Advice Discord were starting to arrive in the city.
So instead of going home, I decided to stay out. And low and behold, our pals came: Alberto, Edgar, and Digs. I was particularly excited to see Digs because of his fantastic take on Milsurp-meets-Menswear style; plus I had met him once before at the Rose Bowl Flea and had a great time. We closed out that establishment and then walked down to KGB bar where we were advised to “only drink out of bottles”. Fine by me (and my wallet)! In between our chats, I was recognized by some NYU kids (I’m assuming), who asked to take a photo with me. My MFA compatriots were laughing the whole time; Nick took the opportunity to plug the upcoming Alfargo’s Market. It was then that I finally decided to go home and sleep. It was 3AM again after all.
FRIDAY
I slept in on Friday. I could’ve kept sleeping all day if I didn’t jampack my schedule (a theme that would continue until the end of the trip). I knew that I was going to be meeting a few people and that drinks were sure to follow, so I made my first “Going Out Fit” with the use of my black senior pants, my beloved bandana, a well worn brown sportshirt, belgians, and my grey jacket. It felt like a “cool” outfit!
My first stop was at Midtown, where I stopped by The Anthology. I absolutely did not know that they were in town, let alone the fact that it was Buzz who was with them. I literally haven’t seen him since 2016 when I went on my family vacation to London. I’m grateful that he had a respite between appointments, since we used that time to have a proper catch up. We talked about my new job and his partner’s obsession with manga.
I would say sartorial friends don’t just talk about menswear, but our conversation did drift into it, mainly because I was curious to hear how his brand has evolved as well as how the NY market has been receiving it. The short of it is that it will always be a challenge, considering how many NY buyers are also customers of the other storied menswear stories; it’s up to the brand to maintain interest. This led into their new developments in RTW and MTO/MTM allowing them to express more of a POV than simply be a maker of corporate suits and shirts.
Nothing says this more than their Goodman Jacket, which is their response to the explosion in casual tailoring and mixture of sportswear/workwear. It’s essentially a “chore blazer”, featuring lapels, a 3 button closure, and ventless back. However, it has a few quirky details like its oversized sleeves, lack of a breast pocket (creating symmetry), and its double patch pockets (which have a slated, hacking-esque opening). The result is something incredibly unique yet familiar, a mixture of contemporary design with vintage sensibility. It felt like something you could wear to grab a coffee and to wear around the house. I loved being able to try it on.
Unfortunately, I was so engrossed in our conversation (and trying on garments) that I wasn’t able to take proper portraits of Buzz and his team. Before I knew it, the Anthology was right back to work with a new client. I quickly said my goodbyes and rushed down to the West Village to continue my day.
Michael and Zach from my Discord met me at the local Waverly Dinner for a semi-late lunch before strolling over to J. Mueser on Christopher Street. Simon actually spotted us taking fit pics (right near Leffot’s window) and walked over to say hi; he actually asked if Lucas could film me doing one of their walk-and-talks, which I happily obliged. You can watch my silliness here; I feel like my personality made for a different video compared to the one they typically do. I also made sure to try on the PS collabs with Private White VC; all too heavy for LA but very cool garments in their own right.
It was lovely getting to catch up with both of them outside of the context of a giant menswear party. If you consider the gravitas and authority behind permanent style, its easy to assume that Simon would come off as reserved. But that certainly wasn’t the case during the party or even at the pop-up. He was very jovial and engaging, cracking jokes and zingers with us in the alley during our silly fit pic session. I know its a bit over-thinking, but these interactions really do help me feel much more at ease in menswear circles, especially ones that are closer on the industry end of the realm.
Of course, each of them were also wearing great outfits for a Friday: Casual Simon was in full bloom with a field jacket, beige cardigan, and grey flannels while Lucas looked slouchy in a taupe DB suit and horsebits. Getting to photograph them in the beautiful lighting in the J. Muesuer atelier felt like a big moment for me. It truly is something to capture someone you’ve only interacted with online. Canonization if you will!
I was also able to chat with Oliver and Carls of Rubato, who were also in J. Mueser (on a different floor) doing a trunk show of their wares. I’ve been a fan of their brand for a while, particularly their knitwear, as it is cut short with wide ribbing a la the vintage sweaters I adore. These details just make sense for high rise trousers, so I’m glad someone is fighting the good fight! I would’ve copped the navy one myself, but I don’t really need a lambswool sweater in Los Angeles; I already have quite a few sweater vests that work just fine (though I nearly did buy it). After snapping a portrait of the two of them, we were off to the next big phase of my evening. \
It was time for the internet meet-up of the century, the big Male Fashion Advice Discord (and a few Weejawnz members) hang. Actually, they were already hanging out, being herded by Nick who seems to be the only person with more bandwidth than me. I met up with them at the Armoury Sample Sale in Soho, where a dozen of internet-pilled fashion guys (of all kinds) more than certainly freaked out the staff. I had heard that the Sale got more items, which is why I went back there that Friday afternoon. Sleeveless cardigans were mighty tempting but I ultimately decided to pass.
We then made a massive parade of clothing from Soho where we stopped for boba and checked out a few stores (I passed by a Pickle Bookstore? I must go back) before ending up in Chinatown. We even picked up a few new people on the way there. To no one’s surprise, we could not get a restaurant that could seat all of us, so we were on our own. A few of us moved over to Scarr’s pizza where I had a slice of pep and a bottle of coke (yes I drink soda now). Funnily enough, it seemed like everyone else had the same idea, so we crowded around a very narrow bench, scarfing down pizza and catching up with all the Reddit members new and old. I’m honestly a bit of a lurker now, which gave me feelings of imposter syndrome, but everyone was incredibly welcoming even if I hadn’t interacted with them directly. It was one of the best feelings I had in a while.
This kept going as we made our way to 169 Bar, where we were actually fortunate enough to have a whole section to ourselves. At some point, more people just kept coming in, either from Weejawnz, MFA, EHF (maybe?), and some of the regular NYC menswear crowd. Even John’s brother Tommy made it out (John was busy at home sewing)! We spent the evening drinking, catching up, and playing pool. There was something so enticing about the energy of the evening. Lights were dramatic and the attitudes were wholesome. I couldn’t help but take photos of everyone— they were just so photogenic. Robert Frank was clearly on my mind, but I also couldn’t help but reference the photojournalism that Danny Lyons did with The Bikeriders. I guess I just love being able to document my subculture as silly as it is. I think you can admit that some of the shots I’ve included below were some of the best I’ve ever done.
Once we had our fill of pool, we went over to do some karaoke at the same place I was at two years ago. I was told not to do any musical theater (much to my chagrin) but I had a fun time; my main solo was Joji’s Slow Dancing In The Dark. Maybe next time I’ll have to find some theater kids to do my music.
SATURDAY
I slept in again; I can only do so much! This was set to be a big day— the first day of the Alfargo’s Marketplace! But like the other days of my trip, it was far from the only thing on my docket. I did have one thing on my check list that I had to do: visit Strand Bookstore. You guys know that I’ve really gotten into reading the past few years and Strand is big enough that it has such an extensive collection, especially in its music section (which is where I always try to go). I ended up walking out with three books on music and one on post-modern art.
Michael was also there (he actually got there before me) and we had a lot of fun looking at old books on fashion and watches. It was about lunch time now (and Alfargo’s opened at 11), so we made sure to eat something and have a cup of coffee. To my surprise there was a big cafe across from Alabaster Bookshop (another vintage bookstore around the corner) which had a delicious latte and breakfast sandwiches. Honestly, the chill vibes and large, open seating was the most that reminded me of home. Once we had our fill, we went down to Alfargo’s.
This is where I’m going to leave you. Alfargo’s was such a unique experience that it deserves its own blog post! It basically defined the next few days which is why I’m giving it its own space and platform All that you need to know was that after the Saturday show, a massive group of fashion people walked a few blocks to have dinner. Once dinner was done, we walked all the way down to KGB bar (again), found it was full of people, went to Fool’s Gold on Houston before ultimately finding Romeo’s (which was cute but very expensive). I drank yet again until around 3AM ish and stayed up to edit the massive amount of photos from a very full day.
I heard the next day that the stragglers eventually left Romeo’s and went back to KGB bar. Good lord!
SUNDAY
After Alfargo’s on Sunday, I had one more event to go to: the premiere of Velvet, a short film by Mad King George and directed by my friend (and Patreon) Connor. It’s been amazing to see how far Jason and his brand have come. He’s learned even further into his POV, blending what he loves about 70s Nutter-era tailoring and styling with an even more dandy and punky flair. It’s no surprise that he celebrated the release of his film with a Creative Black Tie party. What a way to end my New York Trip!
It was here that I got to see Dave and Yung Chomsky yet again, duded out in Atelier Fugue. John made sure to come out and wore one of the wildest fits of all time: a canvas mess jacket he made himself, an ice blue tux shirt and get this, a bartending apron he made which he wore over tights. He went for waitress core and certainly succeeded; I’m sure plenty of passerbys enjoyed the view as he walked past. To my delight I also got to see my old friends Michael and Anne who you may remember from old blog posts; they used to live here in LA a few years ago before making the big move to NYC (something to consider?). Jen, a friend of mine from OC who also moved, made sure to come out and hang as well. It was certainly a great reunion.
Of course there was Jason and his wife Tamara, both dressed impeccably in MKG. Tamara had a plush red velvet DB suit which featured MKG’s trademarked wide shawl collar, complete with tonal silk piping. She was the star of the show. Jason was a bit more restrained, opting for a cream dinner jacket worn over his wide leg Palawan pants; it certainly gave me inspo to do black tie with my guachos. He also wore a black cowboy hat which capped the mood quite nicely. I also can’t forget Connor, the director of the film who was also in MKG though he went without a bowtie or even a full shirt— for Connor, a tank, “Punk Rock” cap, and leopard loafers was enough. And I loved it!
I think everyone can agree that the short was great! It just seems so different from what we typically see from menswear. As someone who enjoyed making little movies in high school and college, it warms my heart to see people bring that energy to this space, where so much of the “content” around it leans so heavily on photos (and no, I’m not going to count fitcheck or GRWM videos).
We kept the vibes going with a few more cocktails and a mini dance party before I decided to get one final drink with Nick and the rest of my MFA compatriots. Jen and I went back down to Romeo’s where we were after the last Alfargos and met up with the last few stragglers. I’m not used to being out on a Sunday night (and it was certainly much more quiet this time), but I guess that’s the New York way.
We sipped cocktails (and eventually a beer) while Nick watched a ballgame intently at a sportsbar next door. When we heard him scream and call his dad (I’m not sure if that was a bit) we knew the outcome: the Dodgers had made it into the World Series.
What a way to end a banger of a trip. This really was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had in my life and it’s all due to the kindness and energy of every single person I encountered that week. I said it at the top, but you guys know that I’ve been feeling a bit disillusioned with menswear lately, but this trip did a lot to bolster it. Yes, some of these people are in the industry, but many of them aren’t. If anything, the camaraderie felt from members of my Discord, the Alfargo’s guys, and the dudes in the MFAD is proof that what connects us is a love of self expression.
There is no need to bolster a social resume. There is only the time we get to spend with friends. I’m just happy I was there to document it.
Now enjoy a shit ton of photos I took during my week. I stayed up so late each day (and woke up early) in order to edit these photos because I knew that I didn’t want to have a full memory card when I came back home. So you better like them!
P.S: I still don’t think that I’m a NYC person, but this trip certainly did wonders to make me consider moving there. We’ll have to see!
– end of blog post-
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Always a pleasure,
Ethan M. Wong (follow me on IG)
Big thank you to our top tier Patrons (the SaDCast Fanatics), Philip, Shane, Henrik, Alexander, and Mason.
a little bit of rest 
It was so nice meeting you briefly in NYC—I was the very tall guy in the blue chore coat at Alfargo’s Marketplace from Oklahoma. Love seeing your take on the trip!
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