This is a recap-ish of the latest podcast episode. You can listen to the episode below before or after you read. That’s because I tend to expand on topics from the pod as well as straight-up write about things that we did not discuss. The choice is yours in how you want to proceed!

Greetings! 

While we discuss quite a bit in the recent blog post (namely what Spencer wore for Disneyland), the biggest topic discussed in the recent episode was an appreciation for External Occasions, or an activity that requires some sort of dress code or themed attire. It also has to be non-self-prompted. This could be something big like a summer wedding, a work event, or a Halloween party— or it could be something small, like if your partner had a specific idea for a date night or maybe your grandma’s birthday.  In other words, it’s when your dress choices involve outside guidelines or input. 

Obviously, most people’s lives are guided by External Occasions, leaving them few opportunities to truly dress for themselves with wild abandon. My life, however, is the complete opposite— I am blessed to have the agency to wear whatever I want. I work from home and am not usually client-facing. My weekly activities, like trivia nights or consuming libations at cafes and bars, never have any sort of dress code. And so, it’s not uncommon to find me wearing westernwear to watch a 10 PM movie or at a cafe in a white suit with a taro boba and laptop in hand; there’s also plenty of days where I wear a stereotypically “dressy” outfit (aka an outfit with a tie) just to sit at home. I’m also constantly compelled to make outfits across the menagerie of genres afforded by vintage/classic menswear. If I waited for the “appropriate” moment to prompt me, I would never wear it. After all, nothing in an Angelino non-actor/creative’s life truly calls for a white suit or a beret with riding boots and cape. You gotta do it for yourself!

Of course, having this much agency has made me appreciate the few times that I have an External Occasion. While it’s not exactly a special opportunity to dress up (because I do that every day), it does provide me with a bit of a rubric to guide my outfit creation. There is some freedom in having a prompt, as it curates out the non-applicable possibilities. Granted, I do never have decision fatigue (an outfit that I don’t wear on a particular day simply gets moved to the next one, which is why I have a backlog), but it is nice to give myself one less layer of consideration. There’s also the fact that an External Occasion also reveals just how we approach desired expressions and reconcile them with our Style and Taste— or at least gives us an opportunity to abide by the stereotypical expressions of certain dress codes. For example, if something calls for  “business casual”, I tend to leverage Ivy-Trad cues because such outfits (with a tie) are indeed read as more “casual” than Apparel Arts. The opposite is also true; External Occasions allow me to play up formality and minimalism (think a dark suit with a plain tie), as I don’t tend to do that on the daily (I’m referring more to business attire and not when I opt for being chic for a date night). 

I wrote about External Occasions a few years ago, but I thought I’d refresh the concept with some recent examples, which honestly may be even more fun than the stuff I did before.

Also, this should just hammer the point that enjoying menswear isn’t just about buying clothes but about wearing them to do whatever you find yourself doing, whether that’s an External Occasion or something self-motivated! 

Let’s begin with a place with a notoriously strict dress code, Hollywood’s Magic Castle. 

Perched atop a small hill just a short walk away from Hollywood & Vine (it’s still better to valet park) is the chateauesque mansion famous for hosting dozens of magicians performing tricks and illusions across its three levels. During the day, the building lies dormant, but once the sun sets, windows and signs aglow attract D-list celebs and Normals who happen to know someone (such as a charmingly narmy aspiring magician cousin or coworker). When it’s time for a performance (which apparently happens nearly every day), a line of cars fills up the already narrow Franklin Ave, each awaiting their turn at the valet to unload their nattily dressed passengers. 

A big part of the Magic Castle’s intrigue is the fact that it is a private club. Entry is only permitted for members (aka magicians) or guests of a member. And so, it is a common LA phenomenon for people to ask around for an invite or plus-one in order to be able to get into the mansion. Despite having a decently sized friend group, I’ve never actually had an invite, nor have I been deeply acquainted with an illusionist. Yes, being into menswear (most magicians have at least a little inclination toward the sartorial) has indeed put me in proximity to a few, but it never felt right to plead for an invite. I prefer things to be organic, to feel a bit special. There was one magician who was a client at The Bloke (RIP) for a while who gave me his card, but at the time, I worked retail and could not easily afford the entry + valet + drinks at the castle (with my pals also working retail, I also didn’t have anyone to come with me). I just assumed I’d never make it in. Until, of course, my pal Cristian, a menswear guy and writer with a penchant for hard liquor, ended up meeting one at a bar. The magician extended an invite to Cristian, and soon I found myself, Cristian, and our mutual friend Arthur on our way to the Castle.

And as I said at the top, the Magic Castle has a dress code, one of the few places in LA to have one, which only adds to the mansion’s charm. This all makes sense as it is a private club with semi-formal dining. There’s also the fact that performance magic tends to call to mind fancy dress for both the performers and the audience. After all, the stereotypical look for a magician is white tie tailcoat, which remains, even in a world where the mode has largely gone the way of the dodo. While I tend to abhor most dress codes, I’m sorta into its use at the Magic Castle, where it’s certainly about elevating the experience and adding an air of gravitas, despite the absurd and impressive trickery that takes place behind its closed, “no photography allowed” doors. A place where people are given the opportunity to be dudded out and immerse themselves in Whimsy is something to celebrate!  With that in mind, I am fully excited to finally visit the Castle, decked out in evening wear, on a weeknight no less (ain’t no way we were gonna visit on a Friday or Saturday). I guess what they said about me in the Weejawnz Discord is true: I certainly wear black tie 800% more than the average person— or average menswear guy.

My menswear mind already came up with a fun yet elegant look to make this visit special, as well as serve as a chance to do something. I am referring to finally pairing my black tie rig with yellow OG-107s, a combo that feels  “subversive” with its preppy-meets-Americana, RL Purple Label attitude. It’s inspired by one of Chase Winefry’s Pitti looks (and likely some Rhinelander mannequin I neglected to document) and a yellow-pants fit I myself wore to the Hollywood Bowl some years ago; the latter was a bit of a shout-out to black tie, but wasn’t fully in that camp, as I wore a regular dress shirt, a blazer, and black tassels. This was my opportunity to finally do it properly! But when it came to do the day off, I suddenly had a twinge of concern. 

The Magic Castle’s very strict dress code, which has indeed turned people away or forced them to wear ill-fitting garments sourced from the lost and found, had the following requirement for male visitors: “A complete suit: composed of a necktie, dress shoes, dress pants paired with a coordinating suit jacket, and a collared shirt with a tie.” The site provided leeway for neckwear, citing that ascots, bolos, bowties, standing collars, and rollnecks were acceptable alternatives. But the use of “complete and coordinating” gave me pause. Would I be turned away for my separates-evening look? 

You might laugh, but this is quite an interesting case study in terms of formality/ dressiness and the “spirit” of dress codes. If I think deeply, I can begin to see the Magic Castle’s point. If this is an evening affair, then a blazer with jeans or chinos doesn’t cut it; those looks are more suited to brunch or lunch, which they do offer from time to time (and that attire is okay). And while a dinner jacket with pants (or rather, a tux jacket with military fatigues serving as de facto evening trousers) is still dressy, it’s not a stretch to think that “they would rather people take this seriously than turn this into a fashion show”. In other words, much like a wedding, you could certainly wear something bold that “fits” the dress code, but you should save that for other events and honor the current situation. Again, this is the challenge (positive and negative) of External Occasions.  Before you ask, yes, I did call ahead and got a vague but supportive answer from the Castle’s reservations hotline: as long as it’s dressy and uses a necktie with dress shoes, I should be fine…right?

And guess what? I was totally fine! Arthur and Cristian both chuckled at my caution, but they understood my menswear-addled brain. Truth be told, I did bring along my tux pants in my dusty Honda Civic, but they were completely unnecessary. The staff waived us in immediately after we checked in; one even commented on how well we adhered to the dress code! That being said, I was literally the only one wearing separates in the Castle. Suits were everywhere, whether understated (grey, blue, black) or whimsical (green, striped, paisley). I even stood out among my peers, who were both in shades of navy:  Arthur had a slouchy Todd Snyder DB (capped with black alligator Belgians) and Cristian brought out his Atelier Fugue MTM cotton suit, complete with a pinned spearpoint collar and repp tie. 

This little menswear trio definitely had a blast, all by eating and drinking far too much. Of course, this only ensured our enjoyment at the various shows in the castle, from the Mentalist-esque card pulls and teleporting fruit under metal cups to a man who can seemingly pull a dove out of anything. Chris Angel wasn’t present, but my mind was indeed freaked repeatedly throughout the night. 

Now, the Magic Castle is a pretty unique External Occasion. Again, without an invite, you’re likely never to undertake their dress code challenge (a suit is just fine; you don’t need to be dumb like me). But let’s talk about an Occasion that most of you will go through this year, if you haven’t done one already. I’m, of course, talking about a summer wedding! 

Obviously, YMMV when it comes to wedding dress codes. Sometimes they literally call for attendees to wear a black necktie and not, well, tuxedos. Other times it’s even more vague; “upscale casual” is a type of restaurant, not a mode of dress! [I kid, but honestly, that promo is what Ivy-Trad was made for.] It helps when the happy couple is specific, providing both written and visual examples of what they’re going for. In fact, that’s just what my college pals Andrew and Emily did! “Semi-formal” was the instruction, complete with suggestions to be “elevated but fun”: lightweight suits and buttondowns in “warm, tropical, and vibrant colors”. Funnily enough, two photos of myself actually made it into their inspo album, both being brown suits with aloha shirts. 

I was quite excited for this one, mainly because I appreciate a case study to challenge my arrogant and insufferable need for self-expression while honoring the spirit of what External Occasions are all about. Yes, I’ve gone to a handful of weddings (like Scott’s, which I was in, and Jon’s), but I want more! Plus, I felt like those were a bit tame compared to the invitation for fun and cheer that Andrew and Emily had provided. After all, Andrew himself was wearing a fun suit!

You probably surmised as much, but yes, Andrew’s wedding suit was SuSu. He had seen firsthand how great Scott’s navy DB looked and decided he wanted something custom for himself. Granted, Andrew isn’t a big suit guy, but he does have a good, consistent sense of personal style. I think it’s great that these dudes decided to make the leap and have some fun with an MTM suit— especially if it means they’ll wear it again. 

And so, just like with Scott, I accompanied Andrew to Suit Supply to get kitted out. Unfortunately, my pal Jack has moved away, but he recommended his pal Jonathan to help us get sorted— and get the silhouette we were after. This would be Andrew’s first time wearing something high-waisted and straight cut, and to my surprise, he was all for it; he didn’t even ask to taper it too much from the knee down. [In fact, after receiving the suit, Andrew asked to go to Uniqlo to finally upgrade his slim, mid-rise selvage jeans that he bought in college. I was so happy!] For the jacket, Andrew declined the DB in favor of a low-gorge, two-button closure with the fun juxtaposition of casual patch pockets against structured shoulders. All of it was sure to look smashing on a crunchy, dark bottle-green mohair. When Andrew asked what he should wear underneath, I suggested a denim (or chambray) shirt and a brown tie to keep with the casual spring theme. He immediately bought a denim workshirt— and borrowed a vintage tie, namely a taupe, diamond-print geometric. Andrew looked damn incredible up on that altar!

I’ve spoken before about how leveraging certain colors in a garment or ensemble can bring a particular attitude, and there is definitely something special about a green suit (and by extension, a green jacket). The hue has a rustic, easy-going quality, whether it’s a muted olive, a light pistachio, or a deep hunter or forest shade. Obviously, Brown suits have a similar attitude, but I find them more stoic in comparison; green has life, a vibrancy, bringing with it a decidedly spring or fall attitude (it’s your choice in which one you want to emphasize). Call me crazy, but green tailoring feels like combining the emotional properties of brown and navy in one, particularly when you use a darker shade. Green has gravitas, yet it also has a sense of whimsy, mainly because it isn’t one of the other main suit colors. It also just invites you to leverage more interesting color combinations, especially when they’re inherently more vibrant.

And so, this color was perfect for Andrew’s wedding suit. It’s dressy and considered, but more lively than the basics.

This may sound crazy, but I also wore a green suit that day. You know the one: that slouchy DB in the very green cotton twill. For the reasons above, it’s one of my favorite suits to wear, especially when the attitude is about being fun (jaunty) without resorting to separates and when I have the hankering to undertake some fun color combos.

You’re right in thinking that the move would be quite the faux pas (I once wore a navy suit with a white shirt and a silver tie and soon realized that I was dressed exactly like the groomsmen), but it was totally fine! In fact, my green suit actually came up when Andrew and I were discussing fabrics, and he later said, “You should just wear that to the wedding!” After getting the go-ahead from Emily, I was set and certainly chuffed to be sorta-matching with one of my oldest friends. Of course, I did make deviations, not just to separate myself from the groom but to hammer in the fun vibe: a yellow spearpoint workshirt and a blue batik print tie (one of my favorites). Less rustic, more floral— and immediately more saturated.

I’m not going to lie. I felt quite apprehensive during the drive over. Yes, the bride and groom did say my green suit was fine, but would I be the only one? Would it be too obvious that I was essentially matching the Big Man, even if I wasn’t a groomsman (there was no wedding party up there, just the couple and officiant)?

Upon walking into the venue, my fears were immediately dispelled. A lot of people were wearing various shades of green! I was actually surprised. I expected to see more blue, red, and maybe yellow, mainly as shirts or ties. But to see so much green, emphasized as well? How lovely and lovely! Jay, the founder of the annual Friendsgiving I’m always honored to attend, officiated the wedding in a suave pistachio green pinstripe odd jacket with cream linens. Spencer had a green abstract geometric swing tie, which certainly popped against his tonal ensemble (seersucker sack jacket and his Ben Davis khakis). A few members of the Couple’s family wore green dresses and shirts; I particularly enjoyed Emily’s brother’s dark green shirt-and-khaki suit look.  And yes, there were a lot of solid green gowns as well as greenery among the floral dresses in attendance (I particularly loved my pal Cara’s palm tree motif dress). I had made a good choice!

The non-green-focused outfits were certainly great too! Scott used his navy DB to envelop a yellow shadow stripe shirt; I’m a huge fan of this combo. MJ had a similar attitude, donning a vintage yellow tie with my old brown suit; their partner Eden looked stunning in a deep navy gown. Our friend Taylor opted for taupe separates, a great move to keep things on theme rather than a plain Jane suit. Andrew’s brother had a classic seersucker suit. Deb had a lovely peach gown from Reformation. Isabella rocked a big straw hat against a blue floral dress. 

Honestly, this might just be the best-dressed wedding I’ve ever been to. Everyone’s attire not only fit the desired formality level (semi-formal), but it also captured the attitude Andrew and Emily were going for. External Occasions needn’t be strict; they’re meant to help you get in the spirit of things! I think everyone understood, which led to fun looks that people were clearly excited to wear. Cohesion with variation is good! 

In a sense, the whole wedding had an egalitarian, intimate feel, emphasized by forgoing bridesmaids/groomsmen and using only four large tables to host all the guests. This was simply a backyard garden party, during which two of our closest and oldest friends happened to get married. The ceremony was right at the beginning, leaving the rest of the evening for drinks, eating, and a whole lot of catching up. Looking around, I was overcome with feelings of pride and a bit of gravitas. Most of these people are folks I’ve known for over a decade at this point! It was so nice to see everyone enjoying themselves while being so dressed up. Obviously I’m used to my compatriots being stylish on their own accord (to do casual things, no less), but there’s something different to see a common theme, done in service of someone else. It all felt mature— especially since most of our conversations, outside of “2026 in film thus far”, are about work, furniture purchases (or saving for the next home), travel plans, and, in true late 20s/early 30s fashion, the next wedding we’ll all find ourselves attending. 

Of course, all of that went out the window when I drove back to LA at 11 PM (early wedding curfew) to meet up with the other gang, to, well, drink and eat some more (and watch dumb YouTube videos), until 3 AM. Old habits die hard, it seems. 

As much as I enjoy the seldom-seen External Occasions and how they afford me a way to dress without it being all about myself (shock!), I can’t deny that the days of pure agency aren’t just a teensy bit better. Of course, such days are much more common in this modern world, where context doesn’t matter, and nothing really happens unless you make it so. Again, if I were like most non-industry menswear guys who get dressed mainly for work or the occasional date night, I probably would never wear 80% of my closet. It’s just completely superfluous! But that’s the point— it’s fun to wear something for no reason at all. 

And a few weeks ago, that’s exactly what I did. I had most of an entire Saturday to myself; no date, no party, and no podcast recording in the morning (that’s the only consistent day the three of us have free). I could have worn all the typical Ethan things; would it be a brown suit, a checked jacket, or perhaps some workwear or milsurp? Nah. I decided to relish in Whimsy and do a weekend jaunt in a white suit. I initially intended to go full Hello, Dolly! and wear a boater, but instead, I opted for a “white suit variation” I seldom do:  Ralph Lauren.  Enveloped by my SB jacket, I had a sumptuous purple polka-dot number from the 30s against my 90s black/grey stripe point collar; white socks and bucks finished the fit. As you can see, it was a bit too elegant for a dapper boater. I guess that’s a future fit (white suit + boater) added to the backlog!

Unfortunately, most of that Saturday was spent in traffic. I blasted AC while belting along with Ramin Karimloo, hoping I wouldn’t sweat through my white suit (which was already see-through enough to make my striped shirt visible). It was my fault that I decided to drive down to Orange County, but hey, I had nothing else to do! Plus, I hadn’t been to the Circle in a while, and I couldn’t think of a better day—or outfit— for it. And so, I perused the antique malls, copped a few records (Bill Evans with symphony orchestra, classical music on the Moog, and Bernstein conducting Appalachian Spring and Billy the Kid), and took a moment to catch up with my pals over at Joyride vintage. Once five o’clock came around and the shops closed, I did what I do best: hunker down in a coffee shop and fuckin’ read. It was nice. A bit too subdued for the fit I had on, but that’s okay. Dressing is about making yourself feel good; matching setting and activity is good, but it’s largely secondary (within reason, of course).

Funnily enough, I was “saved” by the group chat.  My friends back in LA were starting to be free and suggested an evening out.

I soon found myself in Los Feliz, sitting in a dimly lit booth in a new bar, surrounded by familiar faces I had seen just a few days prior: Ivan and Marcelina, in western wear; Arthur in Ivy; Claire in grunge; and James in his trademark houndstooth. Potent potables were consumed, cigarettes were had, and conversations about dating, life, and movies were had. Suddenly, my white suit and brocade tie made sense for the setting, just being about twelve or so hours too late. How does the saying go? Something, something, “always dress like you have something better to do later.” I wasn’t dressed for a 4PM coffee; I was just dressed for a night out— and you guys know I only wear one outfit a day. Even if it wasn’t planned, you might even say that I Secret-ed it, as on some level, I didn’t want my dandy outfit to go to “waste”. But that’s not true at all, or rather, I don’t agree with that sentiment.

It wasn’t a waste the second I put it on. The ensemble was exactly what I wanted to look like in the car, in the record store, at the empty (and far too warm) cafe, and at the diner the gang went to after our cocktails. I could say the same thing for the tee shirt and shorts I wore to watch Star Wars or the Frasier-esque combo I wore to stay in my room and write this blog post. As always, getting dressed is about looking the way you want to do things in your life, as cogent or disparate as things could be. Also, I believe there’s something about committing to a look even if your day isn’t planned yet. It’s nice when things work out to make it feel congruous, but it’s fine when it doesn’t! In the end, getting dressed is just a small thing to do to make yourself happy. If you won’t, no one will! 

Of course, I’d love more External Occasions to relinquish some agency, but I guess I’m still waiting for more friends to get married…or for me to get more invites to private clubs with strict dress codes. Until then, I’ll keep making themed parties and wearing outfits for no reason.

C’est la vie!

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Always a pleasure,

Ethan 

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