Style is an evolving thing. It frequently requires some creative stealing. The older I get and the more I learn about this stuff, the more I steal from other stylish men. Nothing wrong with that, so long as one does ones best to use a combination of taught, learned and stolen elements as something of a sartorial arsenal, with due deference all around, of course. Today's due deference goes to long time Affordable Wardrobe reader Dave, on the subject of the lately much-vaunted Converse Chuck Taylor All Star:
You may have noticed that I've been wearing my own pair of low cut Chuck Taylors in natural canvas quite often lately. They round out the essential Summer shoe wardrobe, along with boat shoes and white bucks. What with being the prime care taker of two wee children all day long, I find the comfort of sneakers to be quite welcome. Chuck Taylors pull this off and let me remain true to my style. Then I get this email from Dave applauding my choice of footwear, but with an added bonus. Dave has hit upon the brilliant, yet oh-so-simple, idea of swapping the cloth shoelaces for leather rawhide:
I read that email after breakfast, and by lunch time I had switched my laces. Just like that, those old Chucks are almost, you know, a shoe. For a while, I felt a bit guilty about nabbing this idea from an appreciative email. But really, if I had seen this on the street, I'd have stolen it just the same without the benefit of being able to give any credit where it's due. Good one, Dave, real good.
Said shoes in said state are the perfect finish to smart-casual humidity chic, like some creased but wrinkled khakis and a shirt in mini Black Watch plaid, two buttons open at the neck, possibly too much chest hair.
Ribbon belts are cool because they sort of give a guy the color and pattern of a necktie when a tie would be too much. Note the admittedly affected touch of the belt cinched at the side. I may be able too keep things relatively simple when need be, but I've never been good at leaving well enough alone.
Dave, if you're reading this, I hope you don't mind. But seriously, what a great idea. I love it. Any of you others steal this, remember to buy Dave an imaginary beer, or something.
You may have noticed that I've been wearing my own pair of low cut Chuck Taylors in natural canvas quite often lately. They round out the essential Summer shoe wardrobe, along with boat shoes and white bucks. What with being the prime care taker of two wee children all day long, I find the comfort of sneakers to be quite welcome. Chuck Taylors pull this off and let me remain true to my style. Then I get this email from Dave applauding my choice of footwear, but with an added bonus. Dave has hit upon the brilliant, yet oh-so-simple, idea of swapping the cloth shoelaces for leather rawhide:
I read that email after breakfast, and by lunch time I had switched my laces. Just like that, those old Chucks are almost, you know, a shoe. For a while, I felt a bit guilty about nabbing this idea from an appreciative email. But really, if I had seen this on the street, I'd have stolen it just the same without the benefit of being able to give any credit where it's due. Good one, Dave, real good.
Said shoes in said state are the perfect finish to smart-casual humidity chic, like some creased but wrinkled khakis and a shirt in mini Black Watch plaid, two buttons open at the neck, possibly too much chest hair.
Ribbon belts are cool because they sort of give a guy the color and pattern of a necktie when a tie would be too much. Note the admittedly affected touch of the belt cinched at the side. I may be able too keep things relatively simple when need be, but I've never been good at leaving well enough alone.