The Levi’s 501 CT: High Rise Selvedge Denim

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Everyone knows that I’m a big proponent of high rise trousers.  They make you look slimmer and make your legs look longer; you can’t lose while wearing them!  However, you can’t wear trousers everyday.  Even I don’t do that.  There are days when I wear jeans, but I seldom wear them with tailored clothing (button ups, jackets, etc) due to the fact that most jeans out there have a super low rise.  I had tried on some vintage denim that had a high-rise but it was way out of price range. However Levis came through with the 501 CT line, which have become my go to jean.

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I Bought a Jos. A. Bank Suit

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People like to call out Jos A. Bank and Menswear House for making some of the worst suits out there.  They like to cite quality concerns, fit issues, and an overall outdated or boxy look look that is made worse by the “overpriced yet crazy discount”model that the company operates with.  Just look at some of their markdowns.  However, I absolutely pounced at the chance to buy one.  I did cheat though; it was on eBay!

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Going Ivy with White Socks

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One of the many #menswear sins that people like to spout out is to never wear brown shoes with a black suit.  It causes repulsion in some, conniptions in others, and a shunning glance to all.  Even so, there is one sin that is far worse than even that: wearing white socks with dress shoes.  In fact, I haven’t seen too much of it since the 1990s thanks to multiple #menswear bloggers and vloggers who aim to stamp out this inglorious affectation.   However there’s something intriguing about pairing white socks with formal clothing that has been calling out to me.  This practice started in the 1950s and 1960s, and while I take a lot of my cues from the 30s, it’s time we look somewhere else for inspiration.

Update 8/31/18:  Okay so I reference this article a lot, but I do white socks for a lot more than just sartorial stuff. Go figure.

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A Few Days in the Bay Area

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I’ve been meaning to go to SF (and the Bay Area) and shop around for a long time.  The last time I went was two years ago when Tim and I stumbled upon Haight Street and its awesome vintage stores.  I planned to go for my 21st birthday in July, but circumstances arose that only allowed us to go during this past September Weekend!  Spencer, Jeremiah and I (the Spring 2016 Dapper Day crew) were only able to spend two nights/one day in the Area but it was definitely  a lot of fun, especially since we were able to dress up and walk around!

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Q & A: Finding the Perfect Jacket Fit

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It’s time to start doing a new feature here on Street x Sprezza and that’s Q & As!  I know some of you have got some Q’s and I’ll try my best to supply the A’s.  This first one comes to me from Jacob, a reader who is concerned about finding a jacket that fits from eBay!  Since I buy a lot of my clothes online, I thought it best to tell him my process for buying these vintage pieces.  Here’s a hint: it’s all in the shoulders and length.

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Purchased on eBay: The 1960’s Ivy Suit

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A lot of people don’t like buying clothes from eBay.  Sellers don’t often provide accurate measurements, they don’t accept returns, and sometimes the items are just not what you expected.  However, I don’t believe that this should bar you from trying to buy on eBay. You might be able to find something awesome, like I did with my “new” 1960’s ivy suit.

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