Transcript
Speaker: Free audio post-production. the By Alphonic.com. It is. i like I like to shop. I'm not going to lie. Welcome to the Fashion Geek Podcast, the show that helps you learn more about men's fashion and get some tips to help you dress your best.
Speaker: This is Reg Ferguson, Fashion Geek number one, and I'm a men's fashion consultant here in New York City, born and raised. My mission is to help you learn more about men's fashion so you can become fashion
Speaker: It's really, truly hard to believe, but I'm so thankful that I made this milestone. And to be honest, I didn't want to make a big deal of it. But in the words of my older sister, Lenore, you shouldn't ignore milestones.
Speaker: So
Speaker: It's been quite a ride from not even wanting to have a podcast to having a co-hosted podcast to now having a solo hosted podcast, which is interview style.
Speaker: If you're listening for the first time, I hope this really gives you a glimpse of the experiences I've had over the past few years. And I hope it entices you to subscribe and to stay on for the ride.
Speaker: And for those who have been here either from the beginning or the middle or even today. I thank you so much. I just hope to get to a the 200th episode, and I hope to get this podcast to the next level with your help.
Speaker: Enjoy. Hey, if you ever found yourself staring at the closet, not knowing what to wear, if the idea of shopping for clothes makes you feel physically ill, wait till the end of the show, and I have something for you.
Speaker: But for now, let's get to the show. I am excited for our very first podcast. Yeah, me too. Absolutely. It's like ah something that we've been trying to birth for a long time. Yeah. Finally, we are in the final trimester.
Speaker: Yeah. Oh, well, you're a woman. That makes sense. Oh, you're the one who nudged me on this. I'm really i'm really happy about it. I'm flattered. And you need to get it out there so that you can start styling and profiling people who really, really need it. And I see a lot of guys out there who really, really need it. Yeah, I totally agree. Every day. I mean, yeah. I mean, never every day. Every day. Every day. Every day. Like, if I could, i would literally be the fashion police, cuff them, and throw them in a Louis Vuitton line van. My mom used to take me. I didn't always enjoy it as a young boy. There's no question about that. I would sit in the department stores in the chairs with the men. ok they were They were bummed out, and I was just like, I'm a little tired, and there's no snacks. Yep.
Speaker: But as I get older, that wisdom that was imparted to me by my mom and by my grandparents, starting around elementary school, that started really kicking Late elementary, entering junior high. got that You got the shopping itch. I never thought about an itch, but I definitely enjoyed it, and I still do to this day. I've been told that I shop like the French.
Speaker: That it's about building a wardrobe and finding a piece that complements what I have. ah There's another thing we need to talk about. Your makeup looks good.
Speaker: I think we need to move on.
Speaker: They did a great job. They really did a good job. so i was i will just say this as I try to skirt... this observation. i mean, he's wearing makeup not as an everyday thing to you everyday guys. Don't get scared. You're not required to wear wear makeup. He was on a shoot today and as you know, you you get a little made up so you don't shine on the lights.
Speaker: I think it's a wonderful segue to have you jump off on is the influence of fashion with jazz. Oh, forget about that. I was deciding whether I was going to, you know, throw something really fly on because, you know, when you're around jazz artists, you know how they they come. They're tight.
Speaker: You have to say something about your hat, too. Oh, this hat? Oh, yeah, downtown, Tribeca. Yeah, downtown Tribeca. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And it's corduroy. Oh, yeah, corduroy is corduroy. I was going to bring it up. I never thought I left because we all know I have a corduroy suit.
Speaker: Yeah, dude, it kind of went to the wayside in the ditch a little bit. Nah, nah, it never left for me. Yeah, it did. It's the 90s. Corduroy was out. No, no, in the 90s, I had a corduroy suit as a child. Now I'm a grown-ass man, still have a corduroy suit. Right. That's what I'm saying. Corduroy never left me. You are an anomaly, but for the most part, corduroy sort of went, it kind sort of laid down for a little bit of a rest after the 80s. No, never. Because you know everybody prepped. Never. I'm at the side with her. Ah, well. It kind of went away. And I think what happened to it was walking down the hall wearing your corduroys and you're making their choop, choop. If you had big guys. Noise. never made that noise. Ever. I freaking love corduroys. Couldn't stand a sound. The trend of wearing holes with jeans must stop.
Speaker: Stop, I say. It's ridiculous. Where did it begin? I mean, how did this something like this begin? I don't know. It's not a good look. Holes should naturally occur. Someone plucking down money to have a brand put holes in their jeans ahead of time is we ridiculous. m Did you know Levi's is cutting the holes in their den with lasers?
Speaker: Because their shit does not wear out. Lasers. So, Reg, who is our fashion fool today? Guys who wear backpacks with their suits.
Speaker: Oh. Yeah. Oh. Yeah. Yeah. I don't understand why any man would do that. It pulls. it gathers. How about a shoulder bag? A brief. Well, wouldn't a shoulder bag also mess up the shoulder? No.
Speaker: Okay. rock a shoulder bag every day. All right. Do you see anything wrong with this shoulder here? Do you transfer from one shoulder to the other to to even out the wear on both sides? No, because i don't I don't take my life's possessions with me while I'm going to work. Oh, okay.
Speaker: I mean, I saw guys today on the train coming to the studio. It just looks ridiculous. And these backpacks, it's like they just have everything in them. Just everything. Well, we do live in New York City. Guys still rocking rompers.
Speaker: freaking hate this. I'm giggling because... Yes, you're all pink and joyful. Because... why And hot means, you know, you you wear less. To me, hot means I wear less. But you men with your suits and your your your jackets and your vests and your ties, and and then you got to put an undershirt under all of that? What? what i I don't... Okay. Okay, I don't understand that. Yeah, let me help you. Do you have to wear an undershirt? Yes. Okay.
Speaker: And you're a fool if you don't. All right, there's our fashion fool. Ever since I was a baby, I have worn an undershirt. It made sense to my parents, my grandparents, my aunt, all the people who looked after me and babysat me. Okay. They clearly knew what they were doing, and that's why I wear one to this day. Undershirt. Yes. I see it. It's right there. It's right. And you suffer. No, I don't suffer. No. I win.
Speaker: See, now some things have changed since then. Okay. My size. Well, yeah, you grew up a little bit. Yes, my style. But the philosophy behind wearing one has not changed. Human beings sweat. Okay. The purpose of the undershirt tiff is to prevent that sweat from getting on your shirt or your suit. It is indispensable. So why are there men who don't wear them?
Speaker: Okay. Because they're fools. Okay. ah he yeah Did he visit you in a dream? No, no, no. Did he slide into your DMs? Did he call you? Did he email you? I mean, come on. Santa has his ways. Okay. So he, ah you know, contacted me and I was really flattered. I think ah i think when you have Santa as a client, it's kind of a all or nothing deal.
Speaker: so Reg, what foolish things are happening in fashion today? Men who wear baseball caps instead of fedoras with their suits or sport jackets. What? Yeah.
Speaker: Everybody does that. Blech. I mean, literally everybody. Yuck. I mean, celebrities, stars. I don't care. The man, the president. Tiff. Yep.
Speaker: I don't rock hats or caps too much anymore. Second day I landed in New York City. I went to Canal Street. I was on Canal last week and I saw these ladies. They have these laminated these laminade things and they flash them for the bags. I haven't been down in a long time, so I don't know. my gosh. is it still Is it still like the center of— It's still a thing. Of you might get something that is that night might not what you want. When I think of Canal, that is not the way I view it because my Canal Street memories start in the 70s. Oh, yeah. No, mine started in 1991. Yeah. Now it's it's counterfeit bag central. Yeah. Wow. It it was then, too. i got my my family Rolex watches. Oh, my God. Yes. I remember the Folex watches.
Speaker: They look good and you can wash them and dry them and they would still be okay. Oh my God.
Speaker: hu But the chore coat is dope. I have a chore jacket. I'm sure people would be shocked. but What do you think of that? As a classic menswear guy, what what role does that fit in your wardrobe? For me, it means I'm completely slumming for me. and I don't mean that you know to be insulting. It's just I'm suited and booted as I'm sure you've seen Monday through Friday. Yes, sir. Saturday, Sunday, I'm you know i'm casual. but Part of my challenge in the beginning ah you know with the pandemic, first of all, the pandemic shut everything down.
Speaker: and I'm like, ah what's the point of a fashion podcast in in in this time? It's a pandemic. I mean, what? What? in Fashion. We've got more important things that are you know, who's going to want to listen to a fashion podcast? That's the first thing I said in mind. And then and what does fashion and pandemic have to do with one another? And then the whole everything that's happening with the murder of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and the many, many souls before them and after them. It's kind of like.
Speaker: fashion and and what's happening in the world with police brutality and and and all of that. what what what what What room is there for fashion? entertain, but we also teach the world on men's fashion.
Speaker: And right now, the world of men's fashion, the world of fashion has been absolutely turned upside down. I've seen some creative stuff and it's very, very heartening.
Speaker: Because like I said, ah I consider myself still an apprentice. Like I wasn't a master tailor by any means. And i'm like, damn, man, like i don't know if i did a good job or not. but but Because I also knew my weaknesses and my strengths to a certain degree. I mean, I didn't have many strengths at that time but I kind of knew what I could handle. And these alterations were a little more intense than what I could handle, so that's why i was a little more nervous. um But anyway, he calls me the next day, he was like, yeah, dude, the alterations, they came out perfect. um I've never had a suit fit this well, so yeah, send your card to open, we'll start sending you a business. But I'm like, you know what, I might um i need a brand name, you know? Like, and i need I need something. And that so I was thinking, I was like, yo, what what what do I do? you know And at the time, like I always wanted to start a business with my brother, but that just wasn't able to happen. And so in Spanish, the word Torres, if you translate it, literally means towers. And so it's it's a feminine word. You say Las Torres if you're referring to more than one tower. But when you're talking about like family and you say Los Hermanos Torres, then it's L-O-S instead of L-A-S.
Speaker: um So I was like, Los Hermanos Torres. I don't know, that sounds kind of tacky. So so then so then I kept it. And then... um Now when I do custom, I always tell people, like I'm like, welcome to the family, and i went on their first order. I'm like, congratulations on your first custom order, you know welcome to the family, then we'll dep up or we'll have like a drink together, whatever. um and And they're like, oh wow. and So now they feel like they're a part of something. you know Now, part how that drifts into menswear is when you're thinking about things or if you're observing the world, what people are wearing and what that communicates or the influence that has in your environment around you is part of the story. Whether it's with race or really with anything, it it's part of the story. And I, as an artist, I have an eye towards design and aesthetics and just how the environment looks and how that creates a feel.
Speaker: You have very interesting drawings. of African-American men representing classic white brands, whether they're American or, in the case of the one I'm about to mention, Harris Tweed, European. What led you to do that?
Speaker: So but funny you you brought up that Harris Tweed one, which you can find at the Brahamas blog on the painting section. Do you know who that is in the Harris Tweed picture? No, I don't. thought it was just nice-looking guy.
Speaker: So ah that's Peter Tosh. Get out. Yeah. So I was using a reference of Peter Toss. There's a ah plenty of photographic evidence of him doing all sorts of things. I was kind of playing with ah what you see and people's impression of what you see. ah Something to look cool. Something in the menswear world. But then if you learn a little bit more about it, see if the if the meaning changes and if you look at it the same way. So part of the reason why I chose Peter Tosh is one, I mean, he looks good.
Speaker: He's cool looking guy. Harris Tweed is probably the most English stuffy. And I say this with some appreciation. It is a classic brand. But it also probably represents a colonial power more than many other brands would.
Speaker: Right. So it's not just English or kind of the ah the stuffy version of it. um I run an Instagram account ah called Berkeley Breathes. um I started it a little more than a year ago, really just to share the images that I find and like from a variety of old yearbooks. So we met on the gram. Mm-hmm.
Speaker: And, you know, I just want to let the I want to let you know, along with the listeners, you know, I hope that you reconnect with me because, you know, I follow you. You don't follow me. But, you know, I yeah, yeah I don't play the Instagram game that well, um but I do ah keep tabs on on the show and on you um and on a lot of people. If I don't follow you out there in the in the podcast audience universe, don't take it personally. I am a Sunflower Man, if you haven't heard of me before. i am and illustrator. I paint with watercolors, typically. And I feature a lot of fashion and watches. Those are kind of my main focus. don't know. That's just about it. I'm a fashion artist. We'll just leave it there and in all of its ah domains.
Speaker: So you keeping safe out there? yeah Yes, yes. I feel like the the ground shook a little bit in New York City when we just hopped on together. Did you feel that? Oh my God, okay. I think Eric Adams just got an alert. Like what? These two New York Cityers are meeting?
Speaker: ah All right, well, John, already you played yourself because I never heard anyone say New York City-ers. singlela and I've been here six years, so I think that that qualifies me as a true New Yorker. ah You're off by four years, bro.
Speaker: I don't know. I don't know. we yeah I do. Yeah? No. ah Yeah, I'm a native. um Yeah, got to put a little bit more time in. Dang, all right, glad. and you can Yeah, yeah, and you you can't you can't start saying New York City-ers to people because then you are really, you're outing yourself. All right, what's the lingo then?
Speaker: You know, city people, city kids, New Yorkers, I mean, just New Yorkers. and know These two New Yorkers met. Boom, there you go. Right, but we're going to rephrase it and go, the New Yorker and the honorary New Yorker.
Speaker: Deputy New Yorker. So, but I'm not the biggest eBay person. i don't go to generally the the vintage shops. Because like I said, I mean, my my size, my weight hasn't fluctuated that greatly since undergraduate. Oh, that's good.
Speaker: That's good. It's a blessing. Yeah. And not all your stuff is still, you know. I mean, the stuff from that time that, you know, that has lasted. Yeah. But it's, you know, that's vintage. But I'd cut you if you said something was vintage in my house. i i This is something I wear. are you talking about?
Speaker: Yeah. Right. oh I'm not that old. Yeah. Yeah. That's it, too. I'm entering the second half and I'm I'm having a hard time. so You are just you are arriving at your best years every year.
Speaker: every like Every subsequent year that we live is the best year that we've been alive. John, I'm just going to have to carry that. you i may have to just clip that and yeah and just play that anytime I need a pick-me-up.
Speaker: I really believe that. I know you really believe that. So obsessed with youth. And I think a lot of people see aging as something that's a bad or something to resist or fight or want to run away from.
Speaker: beautiful. So I have a funny story to tell you. Yo, check this out. I received a call Thursday morning from a guy who responded,
Speaker: to a service app I use called Thumbtack. I often get leads from that, from potential clients. I thought he was one. I was excited. We exchanged messages and then he said he'd give me, a he he gave me his number.
Speaker: I called him, I went to voicemail, let him know that. He immediately called me back. This is what he called me for. He wanted to know if I was willing to get online for a drop.
Speaker: For real. I totally was thrown off. and I just had to listen. I didn't interrupt him because I was saying, to myself well what? A drop? What is The term had really even escaped me at that moment.
Speaker: But then he explained the details. Essentially, he wanted me to get on a line, purchase two items for him, and then ship him the items. But ah there was one major catch, ladies and gentlemen.
Speaker: He seemed totally thrown off when I said to him, well, you're going have to pay me up front for my time for the purchase of the items, including tax and including shipping.
Speaker: And in order to do this, you're going to write out an agreement, go to your lawyer, get it notarized. I get it count. You know, we get it countersigned.
Speaker: Send me a copy. You have a copy. And then I'll do the deed. This is what he said to me. I don't think it's going to work out and hung up on me.
Speaker: He's from Cleveland. The mistake at the lake. I am a native New Yorker. So what does that mean, ladies and gentlemen? You better come with some game because you're about to run some game. What I don't understand is why now the Met Gala is the theater of the absurd. Why are these outfits so out there? Sarah Jessica Parker had a train so crazy long. I believe I saw she had a team of people holding it in the back. I don't understand. I thought this was an event to highlight haute couture, but I think it's gone beyond that now, everybody. I think it's just about how weird can you be?
Speaker: How freaky can you get? But I'm seeing guys just look bananas. I don't think the outfits are fly. I think the outfits are weird. i think there's a big difference.
Speaker: And I'm not understanding why designers, stylists are turning to their clients and going, you want to go out there? I got something for you.
Speaker: it You wouldn't be caught dead at a step and repeat with some of the outfits you're rocking at this gala. I think people's understanding of hip hop um style is kind of frozen in in a certain moment. Right. um And we and it's it stays relevant because we see constantly references back to the 80s and 90s when it comes to hip hop style. Also, we're in a current moment where the younger generation is very interested in fashion from the nineteen ninety s and the two thousand But in the exhibition, we look at pieces, you know, from Sean John or even the ensemble that Dapper Dan wore to win his CFDA award. And both of these figures are from Harlem. And they have a very specific fashion reference that's all about vintage 1930s kind of menswear style that is particularly tied to Harlem.
Speaker: And of course, we have these formal wear um kind of veins all throughout New York and the rest of the country. But formal wear is a really important part of hip hop style. So in the exhibition, we have examples of nameplate belts from the 80s and 90s in brass, silver plated. um And then we can compare that to these beautiful renderings of um these diamond name chains from things that were worn by Cardi B or Drake. um And what we see is the same idea. We see nameplate. And it's all about kind of declaring your visibility. There was so much, many forces in mainstream society trying to make black and brown kids invisible in the 70s and 80s. Those still exist today. um But so they're taking these old school hip hop ideas and they just take it to the the highest level, covered in diamonds, dripping.
Speaker: And we see that with the fashion, right? Track suits were in fashion. They were in they were Adidas or Fila in the 1980s. Now they're made by Gucci um and Louis Vuitton. And so we see these same ideas that these luxury companies have taken from hip hop and they're being worn by the hip hop artists. Why is fashion important?
Speaker: It's not. Uh... I have this discussion a lot. it's I grew up hating fashion. I always perceived it as a way for people to manipulate other people's first impression of who they are. I never liked that. That's how I viewed fashion when I was in high school. Who would have thought that, you know, decades later, I'd actually be in the industry. And i have a completely different approach. I like what I do because I can see people's confidence tangibly change.
Speaker: And that's why I think that tailoring is so important. um And I separate tailoring with fashion because tailoring is just fundamental to fashion. And I find that a lot of these fashion brands are making t-shirts and sweatpants and oversized things and stuff that doesn't fit and boyfriend cut jeans and all the stuff that it plays on in proportions and it plays on silhouette.
Speaker: A lot of it I kind of enjoy because it it makes me think. But at the same time, I find that ah people spending thousands of dollars on an oversized t-shirts kind of hurts what fashion used to be. Because you look at the greats like Alexander McQueen and even earlier people like Javarci and Balenciaga who were impeccable tailors of their day.
Speaker: And that's how they built their fashion house. They're now making milk off Ikea bags. it I always argue that fashion does not save lives. It can muster up confidence within yourself.
Speaker: I see it. I'm wearing a t-shirt and jeans my posture changes then completely differently from tomorrow if I decide to wear a suit and tie or if I'm wearing a tuxedo. My demeanor changes constantly. There's an entire world of people out there and fashion is in my opinion, really only is progressive for the individual person, not necessarily for society.
Speaker: So I find that fashion is important on an individual level for that reason. But I think that it stirs up a lot of things socially. Why should a person get into vintage? I think a lot of people...
Speaker: um have different reasons for getting into vintage. I think right now we get a lot of talk about like authenticity or like patina, right? Like people want character. If I hear that word again, going to kill somebody.
Speaker: Live life and you'll have patina, ladies yeah and gentlemen. So it seems like you've done something very special for me. Now I'm looking at a map here and the map seems to have my clamp Seems like you know my surname.
Speaker: Well, as a Ferguson, where you definitely belong in the highlands of Scotland. That is correct. um And you belong in a kilt. You should be wearing a kiri.
Speaker: I'm not joking now. Well, hey, I don't know. I love this suit. This is a pretty cool suit. Well, one of these days, Reggie, we're going to get you in a kilt. If you get me in a kilt, that probably means St. Patrick's Day is coming and I'm delirious. That's all I'm saying. Well, but.
Speaker: But you look sharp. I mean, you look really. Thank you. i appreciate it. Yeah. They say a man in a kilt's a man and a half. Oh, my God. you have Okay. shee I thought this was a drinks conversation, not a fashion conversation.
Speaker: Well, first of all, before I forget, I want to really thank Ambassador Wines for being so accommodating, having us here in this beautiful room, which I could not find.
Speaker: i was like, what's going on? He's hey, this is the owner. Hey, hey just go downstairs and you make a turn. I was like, all right. kept going back and forth. I was like, okay, where's the, what is it? The wall? And then it turns. Where's the secret?
Speaker: If you didn't come save me. I was like, yeah, i'm just standing here and they'll have to find me. I was like, maybe I'll try for my phone. yeah Oh, there's no signal. Yeah. Okay. This is where podcast hosts go to die. Why should we, why should we care about watches? Yeah. Why should we wear watches? um No one actually needs a watch.
Speaker: What do you mean? No one needs a watch. Okay. Well, let me qualify. So there's a... People say, I need a watch so I can tell the time. Right. Right. ok Do you?
Speaker: Well, okay. I start my day and I wake up. My alarm clock gets me up and it tells me the watch. It tells me the time. It tells you the time. I have my iPad as my backup in case I oversleep the alarm clock.
Speaker: It's set five minutes later. It tells me the time. Right. Right. I get out of bed. My coffee maker tells me the time. My microwave tells me the time, and so it does my oven. And they don't really agree. Yeah, mine either. It's minute apart. Siri would tell me the time if I asked it.
Speaker: Right. Right. Get on the subway. Subway tells you the time. Yes. Right. Get to your office. The elevator tells you the time. Well... watches watches have a significance that goes beyond wearing the time. Why do you think a luxury clientele is so distinctly different than, like you said, someone going down the block here at H&M who wants to get a shirt?
Speaker: I mean, historically, at this price point, you have to assume and know if they can afford our product, they have a lot of money. ah That being said, most of these people don't have time because, you know, they're uber successful, they have two to three assistants, or they're just completely busy at all at all times. I'm really curious about, and really want to learn from the two of you, right, because you are younger, is, is this soccer jersey thing really now an element of Street Stop?
Speaker: I mean, I think for starters, Yes. In part, all three of us wearing jerseys, right, is an example and a manifestation of that sort of appreciation for the cross-section of soccer and fashion, right? And now you are seeing people out at the bar, people walking through Soho, wearing their jersey with a nice pair of jeans and some cool shoes, right? And it is now an outfit as opposed to I'm throwing on this jersey to go play the sport that it is intended for. Companies like Acne Studios um have released their own soccer jerseys as of late, right? So now you have brands releasing their own jerseys.
Speaker: um And so I think that that sort of signifies that first question, what the connection is. But those are some examples of um sort of higher-end fashion brands dipping their toes into the world of soccer. We want to go to Hawaii and go to the big island and make the men fly because we got a scouting report that the men in Hawaii, not so far. They need a little help.
Speaker: A lot of help. When to wear certain patterns and when not to wear a certain patterns. When to take the damn flip flops off. Come on, guys. It's an island. Come on.
Speaker: Really? That may be the only exception. Let's talk about this now. I hate flip-flops. I love them. I wear them all the time. Shower shoes? Really? but Because that's what they are. I don't wear mine in the shower. This is my city. I've been here all my life.
Speaker: I cannot imagine any man or woman subjecting their feet to the grime of the sidewalks that I love so much. I do. It makes you no sense. Don't get me started on those platform flip flops. OK, I agree with you there. I saw i saw a woman bust her ass in front of my building a few summers ago, and I stifled a laugh.
Speaker: I was like, oh. Good good for you not you're not laughing. No, I'm a gentleman, but golly, ladies. Not wearing jewelry in proportion to your body. If you are a big, hulking guy, don't wear a teeny tiny bracelet that's cutting into your skin. Ha, ha, ha.
Speaker: And vice versa, if you're a slight build fella, don't wear big old fat face watch that that's bigger in diameter than the size of your wrist. Guys, this is still a thing. Stop doing this.
Speaker: Stop rocking that Panerai if you have an itty bitty wrist. Like, for example, going keep it real. I'm pretty big dude. have fine wrist. There's no question. That's where why I wear vintage watches because back then in the era,
Speaker: men weren't compensating. ha
Speaker: They knew who they were. Yeah, you know, in the menswear field, a lot of guys have customized tailored shirts, ah trousers, suit jackets, and things like that.
Speaker: you know, it sucks to gain a little too much weight or lose a lot of weight to where, oh, I need to either take it back to get it tailored again, Or I have to buy all new clothes. And it's expensive. And it adds up real fast.
Speaker: But the thing is. You're not going to get huge. Or super slim overnight. And as long as you figure out what your goals are.
Speaker: And you eat accordingly. You should be able to get to a point. To where okay this is. I like where i I'm at. I'm going to stay here and maintain. So then that way i don't.
Speaker: bust out of my my seams because I'm so jacked or I'm so skinny that I'm swimming in my you know shirt and trousers. Fashion America, much less corporate America, understands the disposable income power of gay America and really responds to that, yet seemingly ignores the amazing disposable income that African-Americans have and that strength.
Speaker: I feel like we're taken for granted. The first line is the strongest. i I might flip this around because I think I'm remembering what you're talking about. And I think I remember slightly differently. so i'm going to I'm going to say it from the way I remember it. Sure, please, please. and if i messed it up. I messed up Clothes are fashion.
Speaker: Fashion is art. Hmm. That sounds right. That sounds exactly right. i have I have multiple relationships with fashion and style and clothing, whatever.
Speaker: art Art on the grand scale... and I'm probably hitting those T's too hard and I apologize. Art on a grand scale is the creativity of the human mind. A mechanic is an artist or they can be an artist. Not everybody who paints is an artist. I would go so far as to say very few people who paint are artists.
Speaker: Very few people who do anything are artists, but an artist can be literally artist. Anyway, the way I wear clothes is an expression of me as an artist, but my fashion style is not very artistic. What is the deal with you putting your hands in your jacket pockets?
Speaker: Oh, man. Oh. You know, i and this was a time where I was already pretty skeptical of, like, the YouTuber, you know, menswear guys, you know, the self-improvement who are like oh, stand straight. Testosterone. Don't put your hands in your pockets. Don't be a beta male. And seeing, like, all these guys who are, you know, they weren't super feminine by any by any means, um but they were still doing something that was perceived to be not as manly. mean, against it, Pedro? Really?
Speaker: Well, i have I am currently wearing a quartz watch. Oh, shut the front door. you know I'm currently wearing one, and it's one of the best watches in my collection. and i'm And I've you know come across some recent Grand Seikos that are quartz that are really changing my mind. you know that was my That was sort of the the point of that article, is that it can be made extremely well, and it can be made with artistry and craft and so on and so forth. It's not just a watch? well Here, here, here. It was a conscious choice?
Speaker: are are you able to Are you able to take it off? your wrist right now? Is that possible? I could. All right. Oh, sheesh. You know, I'm just trying to do it trying to do a podcast trying to do a podcast here. you're like, take off your stuff. I'm like, hey, Jack.
Speaker: this is this so What is this? you try uvis No, no, no. It's a service for the listener. What's the top fashion tip you would give the everyday man so he can look his best? Buy garments that fit your body and buy the colors that actually match your tones.
Speaker: Don't look at a brand and don't look at a value of the of the ticket. Literally shop all stores from Walmart to Saks, Neiman's, Barney's to Custom. Keep your eyes open, stay fluid in fashion, and buy things that really fit you regardless of the price.
Speaker: It's the fall. It's averaging 50 degrees. Very nice. Crisp. Please, please leave the snow parka at home. Stop. Oh, my God, yes. Come on. Plenty of time to wear that in a month The jacket. Keep it in the closet. Stop. It's not time yet. This is ridiculous.
Speaker: i agree. I have a peacoat. I have more than one. i have three peacoats. But the one that adorns my suit... That's what I'm rocking right now, guys. Very nice. Stop with the down. There'll be plenty of time. Trust me. I'm down with the down, but not right now. Right. when We have four seasons, people. We have four. dips below 50 degrees, ladies and gentlemen, pull out your down.
Speaker: Not a moment before. That's a PSA. Well, we were talking about the Jack Spade messenger bag. you're like, well, if you keep it for four or five years. And I was like, what? No, the bare minimum for everything is 10 years. okay I mean, not everything. Like a shirt's not gonna last you 10 years, meaning a dress shirt.
Speaker: But the more shirts you have, then you mitigate the damage. So that's why you need to have at least 20 dress shirts. Don't freak out. i'm just I'm just keeping it real. If you have a rotation, you're going to mitigate damage.
Speaker: Nike comes out with a shoe that is banned by the NBA. What? Yep. That was how Air Jordan got introduced to the world. oh These shoes are banned by the NBA. What, they have special powers or something? Yeah.
Speaker: Well, it's funny you say that. Unfair advantage for those who who didn't wear them? Well, or every every... Those who did wear them? Every boy knows. I'm not saying every girl doesn't, but every boy knows. When you get a new pair of sneakers, and I know Serge is my witness, immediately you think you can run faster, you can jump higher. Oh, yes, yes, yes. Hopefully you're the envy of your class, your block.
Speaker: My style is, it's a blend of things. I think it's pretty new American casual, but then I splice it with a lot of color. Not tonight. mean, Yeah, yeah. Well, no, no, no, no. When I saw you. We're all wearing charcoal. When I saw you. Excuse me. I got brown on. When I saw it when i saw you. It's fall. It's fall, y'all. It's fall. I never see you wearing sneakers.
Speaker: Because usually no one ever sees me adorned with kicks. Nope. However, ah confess, I have 13 pair. Yep. I don't know how it happened. But I'm not a sneakerhead.
Speaker: I'm really not. Because you don't have enough sneakers. I think it was like 20. Well, sir, do you have any sneakers in your possession? Just one pair. They're exclusively for school.
Speaker: What? I only have one pair of sneakers. One pair of sneakers. See? He's... Exclusively for the gym. And that's it. How old are you? i am 17. This is a damn shame.
Speaker: I rarely discuss this with anyone. had an opportunity to work for MTV, which at the time was the only thing I wanted to do. Right? Nice. Because outside of fashion, I love music.
Speaker: So... And they were like, yeah, ah we like you. We'll bring you on. and It's an unpaid internship. Yep. There I just remember nodding. I was like, oh, I'll get back to you.
Speaker: Yeah. and As I took the train to my grandparents, I said to myself, there is no way that my grandparents are going to understand this. Hey, I want to work for MTV. It's a great opportunity and I'm not going to get paid. They would have looked at me like I had six eyes instead of four.
Speaker: I was known to move my body. Anyway, when I threw my arms up in the air and waited and like they just didn't care, swaps would fly off my wrist. Yeah. Once I got it back. Other times I didn't. don us That's bad. Yeah. Many people were blessed with swatches.
Speaker: You were just gifting them out. Less than right. Yeah, man. That buckle, man. That tongue. Everybody would say, let's get on the floor and dance next that dude. He throws watches. Oh, man. Really annoying. I got that unfortunate thing of feet swelling in the air. Oh, I've heard about that. I've heard about that. Well, don't take my shoes off. I don't take my shoes off on the plane. Oh, I do.
Speaker: And I bring hair. you're one of those? I bring a pair of cashmere socks to put on to keep my feet warm and comfy when I'm traveling. Mm.
Speaker: Cashmere. I know it's cashmere. That's why I'm going, eh, versus is going, no. I think what is happening is people continue to have an insensitivity towards people who do not look like them. and to be shocking, to be graphic, all of a sudden comes at our expense.
Speaker: In Asia, there used to be a toothpaste called Darkie. No. Absolutely. And there was a Sambo on that tube. You could look it up. So this has been going on for a long time. And unfortunately, it's still persists.
Speaker: The why, the why is because we are not taken seriously as a market. particularly with the significant disposable income that we have.
Speaker: I certainly think it is important, though, to know what people are saying about you and where you should put your money. Sustainability, taking care of the environment, you know, making sure that what they put out, they take back and reuse and put it out again. It's like the older I get, and I'm becoming that cranky person who is, take care of this environment.
Speaker: Or it ain't going to be there for you in the future or your kids or your grandkids. True that. And, you know, when you're young, you're like, yeah, yeah, yeah. It's like everything you hear. But it's like the older I get, the more stuff I read, the more I believe it's a serious issue.
Speaker: Now, people, i don't even think, understand the use of taps and how it mitigates against wear and tear, particularly in the heel. Ladies and gentlemen, get taps on your heels.
Speaker: And when that tap becomes thin, replace it because it's so much better to replace a heel tap than a whole heel. People are not really trying to maintain their leather items for longevity. They'll wear a shoe out.
Speaker: They won't polish it. They don't understand that leather is a skin. it needs to be moisturized. It reminds me of a yeah professor of Eastern philosophy that I used to have as an undergraduate. He came in in the same clothes, literally exactly the same clothes, every class.
Speaker: There's a black t-shirt and a pair of dark blue jeans. And I just imagined his closet being sort of like ah like a cartoon character, is always wearing the same thing every day. And he said, yeah, I just do that because it's something I don't have to think about. i got to think about so much stuff in my day. It's just one less thing. The Loafer.
Speaker: Yeah. first, let me talk about the name. why don't you do that? The Loafer. Yes. I've always loved that name. Why is that? Because it says what it is.
Speaker: What does it say? Your feet just loaf around in them. Okay, that's hilarious. It's true. i mean, they're the easiest shoe. You slip them on, you slip them off. Yes. No strings attached. Literally. Just loafers.
Speaker: I mean, I thought loafers are kind of like sneakers. Everybody's got a pair. Like, everybody has to have a pair of loafers, and everybody's got to buy have a pair of sneakers. So, what'd you think?
Speaker: 100 episodes just go like that.
Speaker: I couldn't even remember some of these people. And then, of course, from listening,
Speaker: My big thanks to my intern, Liba, for going back to the annals, to all the episodes, and helping me make sense of this.
Speaker: And I hope it made sense for you. Again, it's been so enjoyable. And I only, only, only hope to make it better with your help. Thank you so much.
Speaker: Always be fly. Well, that's a wrap. To my team of interns, past and present, who have helped make the Fashion Geek Podcast what it is today, I thank Always be fly.
Speaker: free audio postproduction by alphonic dot com
