New Blog. Same Goodness

I've moved to a new URL with all the same trimmings. For more of what you love, hit me on the new jump off: www.wondergood.com

So, what do you have on? Part 1

As stated before I’ve had a lot of requests for what I wear both to work and out and about. So here’s a first taste of what that looks like. I attended a private party at a bar. There was going to be a lot of cool people there (at least that's what they though) and I wanted to look fly.



I like this outfit. It’s comfortable and easy to move around in plus it looks “classically updated” enough to stand out without being obnoxious. Here’s how I break it down:

Shirt: Brand new standard v-neck t-shirt. I save the white ones for special occasions because so often people will rock a white t that’s been through the wash a few times and it looks like it. I keep a few white t’s lying around with the tag still on so I know it’s going to fit well and look pristine. It’s a great way to look fresh without spending a lot of money. I do the same things with black t’s.

Jacket: It has been tailored to fit. You can see in the shoulders it’s right where it needs to be and when buttoned it gives a great silhouette. I love the pattern and the fabric. It’s lightweight but still has a lot of body to it. The creases and wrinkles that are created during regular movement catch the light just right. I love that southern classic look and the way it’s cut gives it a more updated look. Wearing a blazer is easy because it can come off to dress down a situation or physically cool off.

Jeans: Currently my favorite pair in rotation. Very comfortable, just the right fit and a dark enough wash to look respectable without standing out.

Shoes: My favorite part of this outfit. They are brown, which match my belt (not seen) and made out of buffalo. Yeah, I said Buffalo. PETA can kiss my ass, these things are bad ass.

Some things to consider: The t-shirt under the jacket gives it a much more laidback look and shouldn’t be worn if the environment is conservative or business formal. I’m not afraid to rock a little chest hair so make sure you have the personality to pull that off. Choosing a jacket like this makes a statement that you’re not afraid to go outside of the norm (navy, black, pinstripe). As long as nothing you have on is too out there others will respect your style and might even think of you as a little daring.

Outfit specs: Jacket – Billy Reid / T-Shirt – American Apparel / Jeans – Ernst Sewn / Shoes – Billy Reid

Real life goodness

Every so often I’ll see style on someone that not only do I not expect but I’m flat out impressed with.

Let’s take my man Brad here as an example of such an event. He’s not usually on my list of stylish guys until now of course. He doesn’t have bad style it’s just very simple. Plane t-shirt and pants is pretty standard day for him. Except for last week when I saw this outfit. For apparently no other reason than to look good at work (much appreciated) Brad prepped it up. Frankly I don’t see much wrong with the look. Like the look or not, for what he’s trying to accomplish it is spot on. Here’s why this outfit is so successful:


*in no way was he styled of posed for this photo

One of the most important things to notice, Brad is a skinny dude so almost everything he puts on, assuming it fits, is going to look good. And this outfit fits very well. That’s why people like Timberlake and those damn Jonas Brothers always look stylish. Genetically skinny bastards!

Use of good colors that all working together
Dimple in the tie is a nice touch
Bottom button of the vest is undone, which ALWAYS needs to be the case
Shoes match the belt, thank god
Jeans are the right wash and length for this outfit
Sleeves slightly rolled up (not seen)

If I have to criticize, and you know I have to I would say this: Typically, when wearing a vest, you shouldn’t see anything below but the belt and the pants. Here you see the end of the tie and if the tie wasn’t as long as it is I would guess you’d see a bit of the shirt peaking through. It’s a negligible offense but if we’re discussing what the rules are, that’s one that’s being broken. Still, I like seeing a little bit of color poking out.

Overall this is how it’s done, people. Again, you don’t have to like this look but the style is there. He doesn’t use any random fabrics, patterns or colors. Matches everything and keeps it simple. I also guarantee this is not an expensive outfit. Proof that you can make everything work as long as it fits well and you put a little thought into it. Well done, Bradford.

The world of custom clothes, Pt. 2

So now that you’re armed with the knowledge necessary to make an educated decision it’s time to tell you more on WHY you should go custom. It comes down to one statement that I believe to be true across the board. Well fitting clothes are the cornerstone to looking like an adult. How you act is entirely up to you but at least your jackass ways will look good.

My shoulders are broad with a chest to match. Years of swimming have caused that to happen and it’s not going away. That’s an issue for me buying ready-wear shirts because if they fit in the shoulders and chest it will be crazy boxy towards my waist making me look a good 10 – 15lbs heavier then I am. I can’t have that. As a big guy already, adding the illusion that I’m heavier isn’t cool. As Patrick Bateman said, “You can always be skinnier”.

The process of getting something made uniquely to you is pretty great. The sales person who is always very knowledgeable about all things fashion and fit will come to your office or home. You’ll get measured and do all your selecting and in 6-8 short weeks there is a nice surprise for you in the mail. You feel like a true baller when in fact it’s not setting you back financially.

The place I’ve been getting my clothes from is in NYC called Astor and Black. They are fantastic and have yet to let me down. They don’t have anyone that does fittings in Dallas yet, so what I’ve found is when I’m there (NYC) I stop by and select a dozen or so fabrics that I would eventually want. When I’m ready I have my girl make 5.

Many places that do custom clothes, like Astor and Black have minims which can be frustrating. I don’t generally NEED 5 new shirts at a time but sometimes that’s how you gotta roll.

A new place that has been highly recommended that I’m going to try in the coming months is located in Dallas called J. Hilburn. They don’t have a minimum to buy which is very nice. I’ll let you all know how they turn out but I’m sure it’ll be great.

I pose this question to you all. How much do you spend on a nice dress shirt? $80? $100? If you’re like me you might spend another $20-30 on tailoring. So with tax on both you could be looking at close to $150 a shirt. Why not save the pain in the ass that is buying something you can’t ware immediately, getting it tailored that might not get be right the first round and just go custom?

My shirts cost less than $150. Sure I have to wait a little longer but the result is a perfect fit. So save time, money, and a headache while feeling cooler than the other guy because until now, you thought getting your clothes made for you was out of the question. Go forth and be better than the next guy.

The world of custom clothes, Pt. 1

I’ve touched on this before and today we’ll get a little more in-depth into the idea of custom clothes. You don’t have to be a millionaire or even semi-rich to rock custom clothes. I’m neither and have all my dress shirts made for me. The popularity of custom clothing is growing. That’s good news for us as the number of companies doing this has increased giving the average person a choice at an affordable price.

Let’s talk a little about terminology before we get any further. You need to know what you’re getting and a lot companies are taking advantage of people that don’t know what they or aren’t paying for. There are more than 3 but we’ll focus on 3 levels of “custom” clothes.

Bespoke – This is the top of the line of all custom clothing options. The word comes from when a client would chose or bespeak for fabric the clothes were to be made out of. No other customers would have clothes made from the cloth until you were done with it. There are no standards they follow. It’s unique to how your body is made.

True bespoke clothing, which should always be questioned in America, is any garment made specifically for you by hand, with many fittings until the final garment is complete. The term is thrown around in the American fashion world these days and rarely have I seen it turn out to be true bespoke. Places like Duncan Quinn are great examples of places that do it right and you’re getting what you pay for.

Made-to-measure – This is more than likely what you’ll get when you get anything custom made. It’s essentially a garment that’s created from a standard pattern/size and then tweaked to fit you the best. It’s a great way and less expensive way to get clothes that fit you properly. They don’t create the garment until you order it and in most cases the fit is fantastic. Most of what I get is made-to-measure.

Ready-to-wear – It is what it sounds like. Anything that you buy at a store off the rack that has already been created to fit someone other than you is ready-to-wear. Most stores will then offer tailoring to make it fit right. This is hardly custom clothing and can end up costing you more.

If you walk into a store and they offer you a custom shirt, hand you a number of shirts to try on and say they’ll mess with it to fit your perfectly you aren’t getting anything custom.

A good place that offers this should take 30 minutes to an hour measuring you. Some shops will take over 30 measurements, some you wouldn’t ever think about. Like over the watch so when you button your sleeves it will go over the watch rather than getting stuck. You know what I’m talking about.

You should also have full custom options like what fabric you want, the type of buttons, collars, cuffs, single, double or no vent in the back, etc. Those things are what make the experience truly unique and great to do.

Part 2 of this post is coming up.

Keep those things polished

Keeping a shine on your shoes is very important. Having the right shoe is the most important but a great shine is a very close second.

When I was a host at a very swank steakhouse in college the GM always told us to take a look at the shoes of the customers that came in. He talked about how the gentlemen that rolled in looking fly but had crap shoes might not be worth what they seemed, thus deserving a lesser table with maybe a lesser waiter. However when a guy rolled in with money shoes, shined up and ready to walk down the runway, regardless of what he had on above he would get special treatment. We would seat and treat guests based on how their shoes looked and in all honesty, 8 out of 10 times we were right to do so.

Knowing the importance of great footwear and spending the kind of money to own the best brings you to another level. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Good shoes don’t cost $100 bucks so sack up!

Keeping your shoes shined gives the illusion that you care; you spent some time or money to take care of yourself. Shoes are usually considered a small part of a wardrobe so if that small something gets a lot of attention you must believe in other small things which spreads like a fungus to everything else you do in life. At least that’s the perception a shoe shine gives off so keep those things lit up.

Here's a tip, wear your dusty Oxfords to the airport next time you travel. Spend $5 bucks and get a great shine. Nothing quite like getting a shine in a chair while you’re wearing the shoes. Every couple of weeks you can drop off 2-3 pairs of shoes at your local cobbler (that’s a shoe fixit guy for you heathens) and they’ll take good care of them for you.

One of my fav fashion blogs, Ask Andy has a great post about this. Check it out for more details on how to care for your shoe.

People notice your shoes first and you want to make a good first impression, right? Polish up big guy. Dingy, beat up clogs aint winning you any new friends.

We’re back, bitches!

I’ve recently been inspired to get back into the game and teach you monkeys something. We’re rolling into the winter months and people need help. I’ve also had a number of requests to show what I’m wearing and give those real life examples. So you people have that to look forward to. It’s good to be back and I hope ya’ll feel the same. Now without further delay…