Archive for the ‘wardrobe’ Category

This would be it, Seiko Automatic Scuba Divers SBDC001, 6R15 Caliber powered, with manual and self-winding mechanism, unilateral bezel movement and water resistance rated to 200m. It is versatile yet flexible enough to be use on top of my wetsuit arms, or inside my cotton cuff. Truly a watch for a man of all season.

Today is Friday, and the office felt less formal in many sense. People are more laid-back, some even came few minutes later than the usual schedule, and then there are colorful combinations of shirt, skirt jeans and trousers. Polo shirt being the most popular, spotting wide array of color variation and patterns, jeans are almost an obligation, and snickers were spotted along the way.

Obviously, some are trying to present or rather impose their self perceived image of cool, laid back, relaxed and unique which expressed through combination of polo-shirt, jeans, and snickers. What they don’t realized though, there is nothing unique by wearing colorful shirt, if anyone else wearing that too, on Friday. At the end you ended up with being majority.

The question, how do you go through the dress down Friday without being trapped into mediocrity all over again ?

The answer lies to your self believes, that dress down Friday is not a window of opportunity to get slack and loose your sharpness. Here is how

1. Avoid sneakers, this is the big no-no in the dress down Friday. If you I have to pinpoint a single style component that have sudden impact if throwing you into a pack mediocrity this is the one. Sneakers, should only be use when you jog, walk, gym, run or any other sports. It may be ok to be use on your weekend walk in the park session, but it’s never a good choice when you wore it to the office
2. Avoid black shoes too. The odd is you wear black four out of five working days in a week. So why do you so intent to wear black with your jeans. Sure it still work but fine. But please think about the feeling of your other shoes, the brown wingtip or the grey suede monk-strap for example. Dress down Friday is the perfect opportunity to express your fashion preferences, so do try different colors or material. My personal take, plain shirt (in blue, white), jeans, and dark brown semi brogue wing-tip
3. Forget flannel, what are you ? Cowboy ?
4. No chain please. Linen jacket and chain could not be sighted at the same place together, and so is the khaki, loafer, or any other respectable fashion elements. Leave your chain on your gates, door or dog
5. Try to jacket. Really the easiest trick to upgrade your appearances and facade is to done jacket. And by definition of jacket here is a blazer or suit upper, with two buttons, nice fit and avoid any synthetic. Forget your winter jacket, parachute, mountain or leather jacket.
6. Finally be your self. I mean if you are 30 or 40 something, do not pampered your self with teenage gigs. Looking young and energize is not about what you wear, but very much about how you carry yourself, and being unique and differentiated, doesn’t mean you have to resort to the utter and casual slackness

You see, it’s not so hard really. What you need to do is try your best to relax, put up a serious self confidence, and remember that how you look very much depends on how you feel. Surely the subject of self confidence is an entirely different matters. But this would mean that you have to start as soon possible, and by as soon possible, I mean like…now.

That is the most common answer my friends gave me when I’m asking their opinion about a brown, usually in wingtip oxford or derby.

When they thing about classic shoes, they always think about wearing it to office, conference or wedding, and anytime they think about something slightly rendering toward and sign of formality, they think about black.

My say, black is overrated and brown is underrated. And then you will ask,”Care to explain why ?” I surely do.

My friends, we are living in Jakarta, on the beginning of the 21st century. Jakarta for one, is not the place for extreme tradition of sartorial perfection, in here you can go to most clubs wearing jeans, polo shirt and sneakers, and go to the office dresses in oversized shirts or ridiculously tight trousers. And if those perfunctory slack is acceptable than surely wearing a sharp, high quality brown leather shoes is acceptable too?

Let’s think about office function. Most of the Jakartans goes to the office with long sleeve shirts, dark colored trousers, few will have ties hanging , even fewer will go with French cuffs (mostly bankers or hustlers). Now check your wardrobe, and ask your self how many of your trousers are in grey, charcoal, and blue ? If the amount of is comparable with the black, congratulate your self, because you just found yourself a ticket to use your brown shoes to the office.

My good readers, the brown leather shoes, in any material (calf or suede) are excellent combination for any grey or dark blue trousers. It provides a harmonious combination, and a niche that is standing out from commonality. And truth to tell this is a perfectly acceptable combination for your office and business needs, and it works well with suit too. The brown semi brogue cap toe or wingtip oxford are several of the ideals.

If you are one of those posh who prefer to be draped in suit rather than batik for wedding invitation, try to opt for grey suit in any variation or navy blue, and then done your brown shoes, brown belt and if you have it a brown leather strapped watch. You’ll be surprise on how the color combination works, again any sign toward formality like monk-strap combinations, oxford and derby, will  provide a sound host.

What about batik ? Well in my humble opinion wearing a black trouser, black shoes with batik are dull. Next time try to opt of creamy colored batik instead of shining, silky like , dominant in black batik. And then try to use your grey-ish trousers instead of black, and then done any of your brown dress shoes (anything but moc style driving shoes), and then check yourself in the mirror. You’ll be amaze on how the color and pattern combination explode yet complementing each other, provide an elegant and exquisite look, and sublime level of confidence.

My bottom line remains, the black is overrated while the brown is underrated, as long as you have a brown leather belt, and neutral or brown wrist strapped, you have all the more reasons to wear brown.

Surely not, Zara is a full fledged fashion label producing hundreds of new line and model creating trends every seasons in and out. Muji ? Hardly, we usually go to Muji for all sort of needs, stationary, domestic needs, and other necessities. But one rarely go to Muji for fashion items, and deservedly so, because in terms of originality, Muji clothes are offering not much. So what the hell am I doing here, comparing Muji with Zara ?

Yesterday, just mere yesterday, I happened to visit one of the Muji store in Plaza Indonesia, Jakarta. It was casual visit, not a purposeful shopping. But what we’ve witnessed yesterday and what were eventually purchased were saying otherwise.

Look at the two short sleeve shirts that my friends finally acquired, one in pale navy blue, the other is light whitish grey, with linen like texture, both reasonably priced at IDR200k something (USD25), way cheaper than Zara, or G2000, except when both were in sale seasons, in which finding your size is an ultimate challenge.

The other tempting stock, is two button light brown sport jacket in cotton, cut slim and tight, with working cuff button, a detail usual found in bespoke or high street brand. Needless to say is the jacket will also work as a perfect combination for your linen like shirt, short or long sleeve alike, and this only comes with a price tag of IDR700k, way cheaper than any comparable items I found in Zara, or G2000.

If that is not enough, refer to a brown or navy blue lining less linen jacket, priced at IDR800k, roughly quarter of my bespoke navy blue linen jacket that takes 2 months to commission.

All I’m saying is, regardless what the store looks like and other products that are being sold in the same store, Muji clothes and dresses are worth to look, the materials are nice, and the detail and workmanship looks ok (haven’t got a chance to have one my self). And much importantly, is affordable and not a cent overpriced.

If you think Zara is awesome, try Muji !!!

A good friend of mine is about to get married next week, and being honored as well as excited as one of the groomsman, I contacted my two tailors, one to commission a black two button suits the other is to order a pair of white dress shirts.

As you are well aware, I’m not a first time customers for both tailors, and knowing their past performance I allowed myself plenty of time margin to mitigate any contingency. Alas, even with level of experience that I have, sometimes few weeks of time margin is still not enough. These are what happened with my two projects.

The Black Suit
After went through a successful first fitting, the final results comes with a lot of disappointment, first the trousers is too loose on the leg, the shoulder too wide and bulky, and the arms an inch too long. Not happy at all with this I asked for iteration, addressing the above comments. A week later the result finished, and I’m still not happy. My tailor loosens one surface of the shoulder pads, shorten the arms and tighten the trousers. Unfortunately this is not enough, the shoulder is still to bulky, and the trousers pocket standout rather weirdly.

The Dress Shirts
The shirts were commissioned through a phone call, with rather simple instructions. Two order of shirts, in white, using the same material as my current shirts-which still in their possession, with French cuff and no breast pocket. The results ? Wrong material and comes with the breast pocket. This is not acceptable, and I have to refuse the shirt as it nowhere near my request (except the white part and French cuffs part). With only one week left, there is no way I can have the shirt ready on time, and hence I have surrender my desire to wear the new dress shirts to the wedding.

Obviously, the mistake comes from the tailors, whom for whatever reasons, producing the wrong results. But I should be able to mitigate this. For example for the suit, I should have sample jacket and sample trousers  shown to the tailor at the first meeting, ensure that he gets what I mean. And as for the shirts, I have 3 weeks to check on the first results, but I procrastinate, hence when the error is identified, I’ve loose any opportunity to fix it on time.

Regret always come to late, and if I have any advice to you, “Do not take any chance”.