I was wondering about a proper way to start talking about items that can serve as a building block for a wardrobe as I came across an interview with Tom Ford in which the interviewer asks him whether there are certain items in a man’s Wardrobe that are eternal, here’s his answer:
A Blazer, A Pair of Jeans, A Pair of Shoes, A Watch, A Tuxedo, A Suit and a Tie
So let’s go through the list and I will say a few words about the each item.
A Blazer : Depending on the source, it is either a uniform for school children and sports players, or a light weight jacket that looks like a suit jacket but is not part of one. Very Instructive. . . . In my opinion, a blazer is a solid colored jacket that is either double-breasted with traditional DB-buttoning options or single-breasted with one to three buttons which are often contrasting to the fabric, usually made of bronze, but can have buttons made of mother of pearl, silver or even solid gold. I will discuss jackets further in their own article but do feel free to change this item to a sports-coat or even a leather jacket if you prefer.
A Pair of Jeans : It is , well, a pair of jeans an it’s very hard to go wrong with a pair of dark-wash or black jeans. Selvedge Denim is always a reliable option that will last you many years. Origin USA makes jeans in America, if you live in the Land of the free.Other notable brands include: RRL, Momotaro and ONI denim.
A Pair of Shoes : While it is very difficult to choose only one pair of shoes, the best choice for this list is a pair of black wholecut oxfords, because you can wear it with the suit and at the same time, it can be worn with the tuxedo if you spit shine it.
A Watch : There will be many posts about watches in the future, but in this case I suggest a vintage Longines or a vintage Omega Constellation as they are both very solid options. But do keep in mind, this list does lean more formal.
A Tuxedo : Tom is cheating here a little bit, since tuxedos include a Shirt, waist-covering,A Bow-tie, evening socks , the tuxedo itself and evening shoes. You can also replace the tuxedo jacket with an dinner jacket. Combined with the fact most people will almost never wear one, I will write an article about evening-wear in the future.
A Suit : Almost every item in the classic wardrobe is either based or related to the suit. And the suit itself is the civil version of the military uniform. As the foundation of every wardrobe I suggest a three-piece, single-breasted suit in either charcoal grey or navy blue to begin with. There will be an introductory article on the subject of suits very soon.
The Tie : The options here are almost limitless, for starters I might suggest a striped tie (see above) or a navy grenadine for some texture. Ties in general are great options to offer variety if you only have one or two suits.
As I started to write this article Tom Ford announced that his husband of 35 years Richard Buckley has passed away. I would like to offer my deepest condolences to Mr.Ford and their son Jack should they ever see this, which is highly unlikely.
The quarrel of the sparrows in the eaves
the fall moon and the star-laden sky
and the loud song of the ever-singing leaves
had hid away earth’ old and weary cry
and the you came with those red mournful lips
and with you came the whole of the world’s tears
and all the sorrows of her labouring ships
and all the burden of her myriad years
and now the sparrows wearing in the eaves
the curd-pale moon , the white stars in the sky
and the loud chaunting of the unquiet leaves
are shaken with the earth’ old and weary cry
Best of Regards
Farid Mahnad