Zeo's Spring 2024 Fit Battle Journal (Completed)
In this post https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1222213477314334741 one of the common motifs expressed was appreciation for people expressing their inspiration or thought process behind their fits or style. Given the time spent preparing for the fit battle I figured it was a good opportunity to actually articulate how I approached this situation/fits in general.
Note this is/was not an attempt to sway votes or intended to curry favor; feel free to give feedback if desired.
Final Album of Submissions: https://imgur.com/a/DSZ1KqT.
For further context on each fit, keep reading.
33 Replies
Background Info-
My personal style is kinda hard to describe if I'm being honest; sure I used 'fuck around ivy' before and have heard other very flattering comments but I think 'unserious ivy' is a better descriptor. The tropes are there - ocbds, pleated chinos, loafers, blazers and sportcoats, loafers and white socks, ties - but they're almost never rendered traditionally; see: https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1116800072093532191/1222217737179369613 https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1116800072093532191/1221803819910823936 https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1116800072093532191/1217145670834716803 https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1116800072093532191/1215292551272341504 https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1116800072093532191/1212409944863670342 https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1116800072093532191/1211351520398807090
That said I do sometimes play it straight (https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1116800072093532191/1218176396677873755) or lean into subversion (https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1116800072093532191/1215292551272341504) or experimentation (https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1116800072093532191/1213542055691681882); with that I thought the fit battle would be a fun way to push myself creatively.
Fit Battle
Vote in 1-
Had a separate fit planned and posted based on my assessment of last year but that was wrong and it is being workshopped. It may come up again...
Vote in 1b-
With the format of the vote in I figured it would be better to have a fit that was a) really good but not a barn burner and b) more experimental, knowing that there's a second vote available if this didn't work out. I knew I wanted to do some form of unconventional layering and that jungle jacket was both far enough away from a blazer to not be mistaken for my usual #waywt fare and yet close enough that I wouldn't be struggling about how to wear it.
The issue is tiger stripe are kinda played out - enter the safety orange coach's jacket. I originally thought this would be the 'shirt' and just let it ride but realized it could sub in as a waistcoat and then made the sort of leap to 'oh this is like the lining of an MA-1 bomber' which @circleframes pointed out.
I didn't want to do too much in the first round (or in general) so the rest of the outfit was rather straightforward - OCBD, pleated olive pants - and then wallabees instead of loafers to balance out the busy top half and to act as a sort of 'boot' without being :cdb: . Not a lot of accessories so as to not pull focus: sunglasses were functional, a knit tie was the connecting thread to ivy and my space pen 🚀
I like the overall effect - there's a heavy dose of milsurp (or if you're mr. zeometer, deer hunting) but a foundation of ivy and even a tiny amount of humor (I go out of my way to avoid pocket squares, see linked fits above) - and writing everything out this feels more like 'this is something I'd wear in service of experimenting' vs 'this is a costume'.
In the spirit of full disclosure I did also attempt this without a tie and am not nearly as satisfied; the black tie (and belt) picks up the black stripes in the jacket much like the orange plays up the browns
Cool fit zeo!.
I also like the comparison to the fit sans tie. The tie really takes it from “he’s just wearing multiple jackets” to “oh he’s really doing something cool with Ivy here”
Honestly the way you laid out wearing the orange coach’s jacket in such a way as to gesture to Ivy and an aesthetic as incongruous as deer hunting season is blowing my mind a bit, that is :galaxybrain: and yet so cohesive I never would’ve clocked it.
Thanks all for the kind words - one thing I realized with how round 1 shook out was that for however good the fit was, it wasn't effective at communicating the inspiration at first glance (it could easily read as 'funky midlayer' without any deeper meaning), and so by that measure I'm not surprised it didn't get voted in.
Vote in 2-
In response to the first fit not landing as expected, I figured I'd submit something which had a lot more immediate impact that I could execute (imo) really well.
I've done a variation on the schoolboy look before (https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1116800072093532191/1215292551272341504) and I was very pleased with it - it's interesting in itself but fun and cheeky in a way I enjoy. Because I and other people have pulled from this same inspiration in really nice ways (https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1116800072093532191/1225174342535483502, https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1116800072093532191/1224454880513757195, https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1116800072093532191/1218994732806443058, https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1116800072093532191/1215716120397488159 plus several from @sioku in the past) I wanted to do so again in a way that wasn't seen as derivative or blah - the age old question 'how do you make ivy interesting'?.
Rather than find some quirk in execution or mix ivy with something else I figured the twist would be to play it straight - navy blazer, blue OCBD, wool striped tie, chino shorts, crew socks, black penny loafers. The color choices are more traditional as well; red, while and blue were motifs in American style from the 70s to now, especially in the rarified halls of the Ivys.
The rugby shirt as a midlayer is less traditional in practice - it's more 'how would PRL interpret such a look' than 'what do people at Yale actually wear' - but it reinforces the ivy motif. (It helps that, from what I/the seller could figure out, it was a practice jersey in the 90s or so.) The combo of the rugby shirt and Penn state cap also read as sporty, which isn't usually the first though people have about this style.
I really enjoy this one. It's locally sourced, fully thrifted and came together easily; the hard part was the pics 😆
alt shots - I at one point tried to layer the rugby over the blazer but a) it kept falling over or blocking the lapel pin and b) the mass of blue on top of the blazer wasn't really working visually how I imagined. After a handful of pictures I figured "insouicance" had left the building and pivoted to layering it - while it was harder to wear because of how warm it got it's a better look in this case imo
Round of 32-
It was hard to narrow down to a single idea in both vote 1 and this round, mainly because I wanted a fit that was both interesting while also somewhat authentic to me. I also knew on some level I wanted to use the vintage denim blazer that I crowdsourced advice for in real time lol (seen in fits before: https://imgur.com/a/jRyYUSq)
That said it was hard to find the right combination, and there's plenty of shots in my camera roll of things that didn't quite work or were half-formed, like this triple denim tuxedo https://i.imgur.com/dSkm4Wv.jpeg https://i.imgur.com/3o6QsDw.jpeg
It was a good idea but I thought it lacked punch, the clashing leathers felt unintentional in a bad way, and (at the time) the difference in denim washes was worrisome.
I liked the wool plaid and figured focusing on it would be a suitable idea, which led to this - https://i.imgur.com/qKEdEir.jpeg - another decent idea but the variations in browns felt like I was hunting for brown things to wear (I was), so I went back to the drawing board. (I would since hack up those cords and eventually get rid of them but worry not, I found better pants ❤️ )
I talked to my partner one more about this and he basically said "quit overthinking and lighten up" in as many words. His Spotify shuffled to "How Soon is Now?" and inspiration hit - grungy ivy. Different compared to what I usually do but also basically adapting previous fits (and my style in 2020 lol).
Even with an idea set I still struggled - at first I wore Doc 1461s and experimented with various styles, some more grungy (https://i.imgur.com/j63RuOW.jpeg https://i.imgur.com/ajwjn7D.jpeg https://i.imgur.com/wA9nTnG.jpeg) and some more ivyish (https://i.imgur.com/KQ56lAg.jpeg https://i.imgur.com/ZiEPexa.jpeg) but, as a few kind souls saw, the lack of distinction between the jeans and derbys wasn't helpful - it doesn't help that these are levis 550s - switching to loafers yielded a better fit. (1/2)
Round of 32 cont-
There ate two (well three) that IMO really make this special; the first is the tee-turned douchebag tank. I wrote about it at length before - https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1213168880340439080/1213242537092063272 - but in addition to being cool in general it's a symbol of my relationship with my spouse and i'm glad i found a place for it in fit battle. notably i hacked off the sleeves before @GSH essentially called me a slut (positively) 👍
the second, and this was a happy coincidence, was a pair of doc marten adrian loafers inspired by @pc that I originally wanted to wear for vote 1 round 2. The delay in shipping meant I wore them for the first time taking these pictures but I do think the added height makes a difference plus lends a bit more authenticity (or as authentic I can be when mashing up two different styles).
The third is having someone else around to take pictures vs having to rely on a camera timer - much appreciated @LeisurelyLoafing becasue these are incredible.
I think this was a better way to do "ivy mixed with something else" than in round 1 - the denim blazer serving as a denim jacket, dark wash jeans, docs, "flannel", ratty tee - they all more strongly convey a particular type of dress even though it's also a sport coat, shirt, jeans, white socks and loafers. Initially I was worried about the branding of being a little lousey but lately my fits have been heading that direction in time for summer so I figured I'd embrace it. The only thing I'm unsure about is if that'll be a trend because I can't risk a public indecency charge. :xd:
This was a fun learning experience. Much better taking pics with someone else than trying to guesstimate camera settings and framing
Round of 16-
Originally I had a framework for all of my fits in order, but quickly pivoted to going off vibes which proved successful. I still had two 'planned' looks, a final look and one which I deemed "break open in case you're seeded against mew or Crows". 😆
For this week I had far less time to devote to planning and far more stress because of external factors, so when the brackets were revealed I hit a wall creatively; my usual tactics for putting together a fit weren't hitting (https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1231635565665976341/1231642554022367342) because I didn't have much inspiration. What ideas I did have were either lacking in vision or detail, and that led to me going back to the mew/Crows look, a preppy student caught in a rainstorm post-festival: https://imgur.com/a/Cse4adl. Goodish idea, and stradding the line of 'super different for me but also but not completely an ass pull out of nowhere'. It wasn't inspired or detailed enough and the pictures didn't align well with the concept but it was my best option at first.
One of the suggestions given was to shred up or paint on stuff, similar to @kmn in round of 32 or @artvandelayimporting in round of 8 (?) in the last fit battle and I started making preparations to do just that.
I slept on it and the next morning found and completed (with effort) a half length led ashtanga primary series routine (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zidmxlIy2B4); it was a pain to do but seemed to get me out of the funk from the previous days. Later that day I had a few glasses of merlot and thought 'what if I were that person' and hurried ran to a thrift store to get accessories and tried stuff on, whch led to this: https://imgur.com/a/dvgZMgf (cont)
Round of 16 cont-
Whle I had an idea, I was concerned because 1) I thought it was too big a swing compared to my usual fare and 2) I didn't know how 'big' I could or should make it, for lack of a better term.
I went back to my various sources of inspiration and realized that I responded to looks like this (https://imgur.com/a/W766sZs), plus this look from bishop https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1154667506619924501/1163015360493138100. This was around the time of 'aspirational dressing' topic of the day, and I realized that that's exactly what I was attempting here, except I was trying to be Jubba lol.
Similarly, the individual components are fairly traditional (https://imgur.com/a/Ghmyx0t) - a white button down, high rise pleated pants and white Vans are practically a uniform for me, it's just I've never paired them like this. The overwrap (aside from being womenswear lol gender is a construct) I wore backwards, inside out and turned 90 degrees - my leg is through one opening and my arm is through the other which made for a good drape and interaction of textures. The outer layer was the same poncho as in that 'initial' fit, except rotated 90 degrees and partly flipped, so it was more of a cloak or cape; in doing this I was reminded of the journey to this fit (https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1142196512034668594/1213543571215355995). There's four different layers of varying opacity present which gave depth yet the various shades of white worked well together.
I had the Berbers in my mind still which informed some of the accessory choices (waterbottle sling, the mineral necklace) and photography, s/o @discord solipsist z and @kyn); I find this person unrecognizable yet know that it's me (because of the Vans)
It's a softer look than what I've done before but I like it quite a bit because of the effort and because it's representative of me: less in aesthetic, more in how I find inspiration and engage with clothes.
This post is sick but you're crazy doing it mid fit battle ngl
I'm definitely inspired to do a similar write up once I get knocked out/the fit battle ends, but I'm not blowing up my half baked ideas mid fit battle
that's a fair point but i'd like to counter i'm a masochist :xd: plus i think those two looks in particular are ones where the choice to not do it (and not retool it, unlike some other ideas not pictured) was part of the process
Round of 8-
I unfortunately have to rely on less linear narrative for this entry, as unlike with other entries the inspiration wasn't based on a specific object or mood but rather me soecifically.
Uo to this point tue entries i submitted for fit battle felt like me in the sense that they were clothes I wore and wore quite often, but there was a lack of levity unlike in fits like https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1116800072093532191/1212094867451281469 https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1142196512034668594/1213543571215355995 https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1116800072093532191/1224402559649710090 or in approaching a basic fit like https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1116800072093532191/1218176396677873755
I bought the pajamas because a) I wanted pajamas and b) they were cool and then c) because maybe they would be a cool backup in case I couldn't destroy my clothes to my liking (mentioned above). I grew up liking newspaper serials (Archie and Calvin & Hobbes when in school, and later Box Office Loison by Alex Robinson or Blankets by Craig Thompson. Similarly, I like the latent humor in midcentury Americana - kitsch decor, advertising with a wink and nudge, the use of vivid colors like pinks or teals as neutrals - it's good spirited and unserious yet has additional thought for those willing to put the effort in, which describes a lot of my style. After how much effort the Ro16 fit took, I felt I needed something less serious, especially if I was going to be eliminated after this round.
While I initially was going to just wear the pajamas under a jacket of some sort and call it a day, I noticed a few things in the top https://imgur.com/a/cArK27F - a wide collar, a chest pocket, only four buttons total - that called to mind a typical 3 button suit jacket or sport coat, and led with that for Ro8
There were some clear differences between that day and the final outcome:
- the most time intensive was reironing the top; the fabric was both pliable enough to have its collar ironed out and rigid enough (with some starch spray) to hold a more traditional "lapel" shape.
- originally i wore a red printed tie as a more "traditional" element, then switched it for a red knit tie that would echo the 50s and 60s vibes of the comic print, then switched again to a paisley print yellow tie (one of my first posts https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1135916565183856660/1200922152254308372). Both the tie and the print are a yellow base with flecks of red and turquoise, a nice bit of cohesion.
- was going to wear the color 8 loafers, again, to give the effect of a suit, but after some quality thoughts from someone else (apparently all of Washington DC is colluding here haha) was all set to buy a pair of dingy PF Flyers like in The Sandlot. Of course, the one afternoon I go to Goodwill they had nothing :xd: but they had a pair of vintage suede LL Bean loafers (https://i.imgur.com/4Qgq5wX.jpeg) which for $3 I figured I'd take my chance (they worked out so much I didn't take pictures with the other pair lol)
- was originally going to wear the Canada hat here (https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1135916565183856660/1228109900777783337) in lieu of an actual baseball hat (the Mariners would've been funny but on the nose) but I borrowed @kstocks's hat, and imo the green works better to not pull focus from the suit
- other baseball accessories, the umbrella as a bat, the Baby Ruth bar, the NYT sport section, that are more effective winks than in Vote in 1.
I really like this - it's fun, it's funny, and I enjoyed wearing it, even if I felt like throwing up while taking these pictures. This feels the most like me in spirit, and I'm glad I could show it.
Discord
Discord - A New Way to Chat with Friends & Communities
Discord is the easiest way to communicate over voice, video, and text. Chat, hang out, and stay close with your friends and communities.
Also for sake of transparency I didn't intend for or plan for any echoes to this look from Charlie (https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1154667506619924501/1170652879397343342), though it's really freaking cool and the circumstance are oddly similar.
I've a time honored tradition of wearing things that aren't blazers as blazers (https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1142196512034668594/1213182484221665300 https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1116800072093532191/1212409944863670342 https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1116800072093532191/1228742021355798599) and figured a logical extension was "thing that wasn't a suit as a suit"; it's a bonus that it also satisfies my urge to do silly things to clothes (see Ro16) 😂
Discord
Discord - A New Way to Chat with Friends & Communities
Discord is the easiest way to communicate over voice, video, and text. Chat, hang out, and stay close with your friends and communities.
Discord
Discord - A New Way to Chat with Friends & Communities
Discord is the easiest way to communicate over voice, video, and text. Chat, hang out, and stay close with your friends and communities.
Round of 4
This look took probably the longest time to come together; while I had the concept for a hiking look very early into fit battle (as those will attest), I had two separate issues to work through, one of scale and one of authenticity.
The initial idea came quickly in that I enjoy hiking and camping (less so post pandemic), though my hiking attire is usually more functional - dri fit shirt or synthetic button down, Patagonia baggies, Tevas or hiking shoes, a rain jacket for rain and cool weather. Shortly after Ro32 started I had thoughts of a more stylized version of this (a better button down, wool midlayer, red anorak, Wallabees as a riff on a hiking sneaker) and while the fit was okay it didn't feel grand enough for fit battle (https://imgur.com/a/ClI9wc1). Ultimately my Ro32 look used the same wool shirt in a completely different way, and that in turn took me in a different direction entirely for Ro32, 16 and 8, as noted above.
I still had the idea though, and I still wanted to do something with it, partly as a form of personal expression and partly because I think it's underrepresented in MFA despite taking cues from many aspects of house style or bejng in the zeitgeist, as in this ALD x NB ad (https://i.imgur.com/pHOzQiG.jpeg) - shout out to @Ben (GSH), @Elvander @TheComebackKid and others (I have limited characters 😦 ) who riff on this.
There's plenty of inspiration, be it true to life (https://imgur.com/a/KrqTDc7 or this album from GSH https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1117803378521673768/1142173919416176690) or a more stylized version (https://imgur.com/a/iaTUuhY, plus @The Teenage Gentleman lol's article on vintage outdoor fits). I was torn between doing something "realistic" that was a step down from previous entries or something more styled that could be derivative (one of rej's unused ideas was fairly similar to this) and needed to work through this to make a fit. (1/3)
Discord
Discord - A New Way to Chat with Friends & Communities
Discord is the easiest way to communicate over voice, video, and text. Chat, hang out, and stay close with your friends and communities.
Round of 4 (cont)
I spoke to a few people during this time - GSH, Leisurely, my therapist - and one thing from GSH stuck out:
It is perfectly fine to be inspired, influenced, and take elements from others' art [...] It is even fine to *copy* phrases and motifs. As long as you are doing your interpretation, and adding originality to that, and making it your own, *it is your art; nobody else made it*
Part of why I struggled so much was that I viewed this particular aesthetic as "not mine" in a more tangible way than before, which I realized was due to (CW) race.
The inspo albums and comments from hikers convey that this was a white-dominant domain (see https://appalachiantrail.org/official-blog/the-a-t-and-race/) and while it's perhaps improved in recent times there's still a dearth of reference material of POCs from the past. I'm not suggesting this fit was purely one for social commentary, but that my thinking shifted to "what did Black thru-hikers in the 80s bring?" I pivoted to a more heightened yet realistic kit similar to these (https://thetrek.co/appalachian-trail/backpacking-gear-changes-through-decades/).
The actual look:
- base layer is a chambray button down shirt; the silk shirt from earlier attempt was a too fragile and the texture of the chambray was a nice touch
- my wool midlayer is an old Eddie Bauer fair isle sweater (almost certain it's 80s); it adds some visual interest and actual warmth
- outer shell is an old LL Bean anorak (i think 90s). the vivid red nylon contrasted with the other neutral natural fabrics
- hat is a Feels Good wide brim; added extra visual interest
- neckerchief is a bandana, and I used a ring as the 'tie'
- hiking pants are PRL Andrews 😆 the actual fit was top heavy and the pleats and width offset it
- socks are a (unused) Goodwill find
- boots are old Danners that someone was giving away on FB Marketplace ❤️ after a few miles I was grateful for these over Wallees.
I now had a fit, but still more to do. (2/3)EarthTone
The Trek
How Backpacking Gear Has Changed Through the Decades - The Trek
As this year's hikers fuss over their pack list, we take a look back in time to see how they used to be, how things have changed and what's stayed the same.
Round of 4 (cont)
Could I have submitted the pics in my apartment? Sure, but if I'm going through the hassle of dressing like this, I figured I should be engaging in the outdoors :xd: Style to me is contextual, and through fit battle I've embraced that that includes styling and physical setting (with no disrespect to any other participant).
To that end I found an old backpack off Marketplace and packed it with most of our (mine + mr zeo) camping gear ( https://i.imgur.com/Z7Tf182.jpeg https://i.imgur.com/YawxBw8.jpeg). Everything pictured in my submission as well as my tripod was carried on/in that pack, which made it all the more painful when the plastic connectors of the straps broke under the weight :xd: I made it to a CVS, grabbed an roll of duct tape, and spent 20 minutes taping the straps to the metal frame hoping for the best (they held up 👍).
There were three departures from a traditional hiker of the 80s:
- the electric lantern was functional; it was raining and dark and as I illegally set up camp I didn't want to bring any flammables
- the rainbow flag we always bring when camping
- "Notes of a Native Son"; most people would bring the Bible or On the Road but I figured if I had the means to hike back then, then I'd also have the means to source out Black writers (nowadays I just use Overdrive)
Taking the pictures was a struggle as well - it was raining, I was alone and was relying on my fluky Bluetooth timer - I appreciated the comments on the photos themselves ❤️
I am thrilled by how this turned out. It took effort but it's a fully realized look, it's heritage but not in the typical way ("Americana", westernwear, etc), it's mostly vintage, it's true to me and I think does the inspiration justice.
Zeo this is absolutely sick. Thoughtfully Introspective and phenomenally written
Love to see the journey, it is very inspiring, and I can't wait to see what's next from you
Round of 2
So full disclosure, I had a concept that I initially shared with a few people but that, due to what I will consider an act of God, did not occur at this time. It did not directly impact the fit itself but it is something that I'd like to explore in the future, so do not be surprised if you see [redacted] at a later time. 🙂
But as mentioned, the actual fit existed independent of the concept derived and came together while I was figuring out the logistics of the Ro4 look. I wanted to do a more "formal" look as an sort of final gesture to the competition but to me I am a less serious person so "formalwear" is either funereal or sprezzatura, and sprezz tends to fit my ethos more.
There's a lot of inspiration for sprezzatura looks on social media and in menswear writing since it tends to intersect with the question of "how to make #menswear interesting?" My first exposure was AbFab in the 90s (admittedly that was centered on womenswear and satirical) but was reintroduced to it in the mid 2010s with @The Teenage Gentleman lol and his various articles, such as this https://alittlebitofrest.com/2017/06/27/dressing-like-kamoshita-san-at-pitti-uomo-92/. The two bounds set by these types of people (not Ethan specifically but the people in question) are interesting to me, both those who dress like this because they find it frivolous and those who take it super seriously as a way to get or keep status, all the while pretending that this seemingly careless attitude wasn't the result of lots of time, effort and money spent as I often bounce between them.
It's a style I've delved in before, but not one I favored because I usually don't find the effort worthwhile-
https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1116800072093532191/1209547602979332198 https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1116800072093532191/1225139291810828369 https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1116800072093532191/1239601831311704184
...but this entry was an exception (1/
Ethan M. Wong
a little bit of rest
Dressing like Kamoshita-San at Pitti Uomo 92
Pitti Uomo (for Spring/Summer) has come and gone and like always, a plethora of street style pictures have flooded the internet. In the past, we’ve looked at classic menswear ensembles from …
Round of 2 (cont)
What makes sprezzatura (I will refer to it as sprezz from here on) a fun aesthetic is that there are no real "rules". If using Pitti Uomo as a litmus test, as I did, there's no barriers based on age, race, gender, or size and barely any concessions to things like weather
What makes it annoying is there are no real rules but there is an overarching sense of "this is done well, this isn't done well". There are a few visual queues for the style - pattern mixing, formality clashes, interesting color choices, superfluous accessories worn in interesting ways, and lots of chain smoking. In my travels I found a lot of decent pieces but a lot of them would've fit well into fits I already posted in #waywt and, while I did want there to be some degree of my personal aesthetic represented, I wanted there to be a distinction made. Enter: paint.
A diversion - I watched Project Runway during my formative years and enjoyed the challenges wherein the designers had to make their own textile via touchscreen PCs. The process of picking a pattern, scale, color and also negotiate the logistic properties of their material and fabric pattern making was fascinating to me, and this was a trial run in that sort of thinking.
In making the pants, I initially used white fabric markers to draw the pinstripes, with the intention of dying it later to be a coppery red color (this was later changed to pink upon seeing the trenchcoat). These were originally vintage wash and wear pants made from mostly polyester, and while the fabric markers registered on the pants initially, upon washing them the white color nearly blended into the pants themselves. I switched to Jacquard fabric paint and created thicker stripes so the stripes would read, and heat set them before dyeing them. The trenchcoat was a similar process, though I did not dye the trenchcoat afterwards https://imgur.com/a/qxHt6zi https://imgur.com/a/Jj1GgQ9
4 days later I had new clothes 🎨 (2/
Round of 2 (cont)
The fit from top to bottom
- Navy Yuengling anniversary cap
- Painted olive London Fog renchcoat
- Brown herringbone Harris Tweed jacket off Ebay
- Green/white J. Press striped sport shirt
- Black printed vintage tie from Goodwill
- Navy vintage suspenders from Goodwill
- Pink/red painted pleated chinos from Goodwill
- off white Uniqlo 50s socks
- ""Color 8"" Cole Haan loafers
I emphasize all the pieces for two reasons, one because all the colors balanced out without being overwhelming in one direction or another. I am thankful for the people who got a second look at these, in particular the choice in blazer as I was going cross-eyed. https://imgur.com/a/UgRkY8u while many options were considered I think the herringbone texture was an added dimension lacking in the other potential picks. The other is because literally everything pictured is secondhand aside from the socks; there's been a lot of discourse on MFA and elsewhere about not being able to afford certain things and I think the counter to that is to be thoughtful about purchases and creative about how you approach fashion. I couldve sourced out a similar pant or coat at retail but in this case I felt I would've lost something in the process. The extravagance is still there but by being creative and thoughtful over spendthrift, and that's a formative part of how I engage with clothes.
The photos were taken by @discord solipsist z at a local art gallery; they had recently changed exhibits so we co-opted a meeting space to turn into an art studio. The portrait was inspired by one of my favorite works, Eacaping Criticism by Pete Borrell del Caso, and the trompe l'oeil effect visually reinforced the idea of things not being what they seem, be it painted fabric or sprezz as an aesthetic.
This was the most time and thought put into a single fit, and it represents so much of me, how I approach style and view fashion, and what I've gained as a result. (3/
Round of 2
Post-credits scene, you can skip this if you want
I did make a few campaign promises/threats to show hog and indeed I did - The first portrait was a copy of Charlotte's Web with Wilbur on the back cover. :xd:
Beyond the obvious joke, I identified with Wilbur both growing up and again in this particular setting, being someone relatively new engaging in a against people whom I consider exceedingly well-dressed and creative. I might not have lived (metaphorically) in the fit battle process without the help of people who were kind enough to lend their time or eyes or ears or talents or, in one and only one case, a clothing item - thank you @discord solipsist z, @kyn @LeisurelyLoafing @Ben (GSH) @kstocks @stmn @elbarto🐒 @xXx_r3j_xXx @Crows and @bishopcorrigan , plus @The Teenage Gentleman lol and charlie, from whom I found inspiration or confirmation bias, and anyone who offered a kind word here or elsewhere (even/especially @Pesty Al Gaib in this context); it means a lot truly.
You’ve used every round as an opportunity to push yourself further and further and I think that is worth more than anything
There’s nothing more exciting in fitbattle than seeing someone grow exponentially like that
If you choose to wade back into the fray next fit battle season I’ll be excited to watch
Final (?) thoughts-
Pre-MFA/early-MFA I would describe my style as good but half-assed. Through participating in and writing about Fit Battle, I think I've become a better dresser, having gained:
- More appreciation for the clothes I already owned. I didn't buy much specifically for fit battle; most items were ones I repurposed. Given the different styles featured (prep, "grunge", high concept, trad, heritage, sprezz) it proved the utility of my clothes and how to experiment with clothes in more affordable ways.
- A better handle on what inspires me. Using #inspiration, #waywt and other sources helped solidify the concepts I would execute and how (serious vs ironic). I didn't self-limit this, which allowed more freedom in this process.
- A willingness to embrace intentional dressing, taking each entry as a way to answer the question "Who is this person and what are they doing?". I filter it through the lens of 'how would I represent that?' and pushed to do so, which led to things like
- minor details being added (lapel pin in vote in, mineral necklace in R16, Baby Ruth in R8, lots in R4/R2)
- certain item choices (denim blazer vs denim jacket in R32, PRL Andrews vs hiking pants in R4)
- the styling/staging of every picture after vote in
- the transforming of clothes for a specific use (particularly R16 and R2)
- asking for second opinions when needed and acting on them (or not)
To me, that thinking scales: 'What do I want to convey and how can I do so?', whether that's 'I want to dress for work' or 'I want to dress like a Pitti Uomo attendee'. @bishopcorrigan and others have said clothing is a form of communication, and this method of thinking is like writing an essay: starting with a thesis, then using supporting details, edits (if needed), and your own syntax (personal style) to convey it effectively. It took time and effort to realize this, but it was worth it, not just because of winning, but for how I grew throughout.
Thank you so much for taking the time to do these write-ups/reflections after each round! Really fascinating to find out the how and the why in each of your fits!
Thank you for reading! It was interesting to write out these thoughts, as a lot of these are usually either automatic decisions or things resolved via eye test. Not everyone thinks exactly how I do, but there's merit in acknowledging your own individual thinking.
eta:
Bonus Fit
Post-Final
I knew (and was strongly encouraged by multiple people) to celebrate the finish of fit battle, however it ended up, and for me part of that was another fit to mark the occasion.
This one was relatively easy to come together, as it started out as an alternate idea for a submission (would've likely attempted it against@arturovandelayimportando or even as the final entry and then lost) - make as big an MFA meme as possible. It's not my first jokey fit (https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1116800072093532191/1224402559649710090) but I did still have a desire to be obvious in my intention, and that governed my choices:
- J.Crew garment dyed $26 "meme" suit - I kind dislike the fit of the suit :xd: but for $26 and my given intent it was a necessary component.
- J. Crew flap pocket OCBD; mostly a functional choice as every other white shirt I owned had too big a collar for the jacket :hawyee:
- vintage de la Renta tie; I did want a red-white-blue theme as a joking display of patriotism 🇺🇸 plus I wanted to wear my new tie 👔
- similarly, I wore a lapel pin of the US Ski Team seen here (https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1135916565183856660/1228109900777783337)
- Clarks Wallabees; I don't own CDBs anymore but Tyrolean shoes and Wallees have their own place in MFA lore
I had different accessories if I won or lost. Winning (as we saw) = MHL and Burger King crown. Losing = Washiongton Nationals cap, giant map of France.
I think this was a good fit - It got some laughs, allowed me to show my appreciation to MFA in another way, and allowed me to shift back to "normal" dressing easily. 👍
https://imgur.com/a/1NC8x4p
Final thoughts 2/3
Item Breakdown
(Vote in 1 to Round of 32) -
Album of the 7 fits plus the 'coronation' pic because I am extra: https://imgur.com/a/DSZ1KqT
I did not repeat any 'major' items, however the following things were reused:
- belt: old reversible leather belt (brown/black)
- socks: white hanes/off-white uniqlo crew
- sunglasses: old pair from MD thrift store
- watch: timex weekender (black strap, white face)
Most items were purchased secondhand (eBay, Goodwill, and flea markets most often). Things bought intentionally for fit battle are denoted with asterisks (***) while things bought shortly before/during that were worn are denoted with carats (^^^).
Vote in 1 -
- outer jacket: vintage jungle jacket (tiger stripe), brand Parallax Corp
- inner jacket: vintage coach's jacket (orange), brand unknown
- shirt: j.press flap pocket ocbd (white)
- tie: j.press penant label knit tie (black)
- pants: PRL hammonds chinos (olive)
- shoes: clarks wallabee hair on suede shoes (maple) (^^^)
Vote in 2 -
- cap: vintage Penn State cap (navy)
- blazer: zara (navy); this may be an orphaned suit jacket lmao
- rugby shirt: vintage practice jersey, brand is maxmore
- shirt: PRL custom fit ocbd (blue), this is analogous to the "iconic oxford shirt" sold currently by RL
- tie: vintage kuppenheimer wool repp stripe (red/white/black)
- lapel pin: vintage, from jimmy carter's presidential run
- shorts: an old pair of joseph abboud chino shorts (stone), borrowed from mr. zeo
- shoes: vintage ll bean beefroll loafers (black)
Round of 32
- cap: tuaca liqour cap (black)
- jacket: denim duluth trading co sport coat (blue); this is an actual blazer and not convertible to/from a chore coat
- shirt: vintage pendleton wool shirt (purple/green/gold plaid)
- hanging tank top: goodfellow 'pocket' tank, pocket was removed (gray)
- muscle shirt: t-shirt from philadelpha magic gardens (white)
- jeans: levis 550s (medium wash)
- shoes: doc martens adrians kiltie loafers (black) (^^^)
TBC
Final Thoughts 3/3
Item Breakdown (Round of 16-finish)
Round of 16
- necklace: unknown mineral; found it at a thrift shop ()
- outermost layer: hiking poncho from target (white)
- midlayer: madewell women's fringed shawl (white) ()
- shirt: gap linen button down (white)
- trousers: vintage suit pants, brand evan picone (white) (^^^)
- shoes: vans authentics (whtie)
- crossbody: waterbottle holder from CVS (off-white) ()
Round of 8
- cap: j.press baseball cap (green) from @kstocks
- "suit": vintage babe ruth pajamas, brand charles goodnight (yellow print) ()
- shirt: j.crew flap pocket ocbd (white)
- tie: vintage PRL paisley print (yellow)
- shoes: vintage ll bean suede loafers (mint green) ()
- umbrella: shedrain, from amazon (black)
- bag in alt. shot: j.crew tote (^^^)
Round of 4
- hat: life is good sun hat borrowed from mr. zeo (brown)
- jacket: vintage ll bean anorak (red) (^^^)
- sweater: vintage eddie bauer fair isle (green multicolor)
- shirt: goodfellow chambray shirt (blue)
- bandana: old bandana (red), secured with ring
- pants: PRL andrews (beige)
- socks: from goodwill, unknown tube sock
- shoes: vintage danner hiking boots (brown/green) ()
- backpack: vintage jansport external frame ()
- camping gear info upon request)
Round of 2:
- cap: yuengling anniversary cap (black)
- coat: vintage london fog trench (olive, painted white pinstripes) ()
- jacket: harris tweed herringbone sport coat (brown) (^^^)
- shirt: j.press sports shirt (white/green stripe)
- tie: from goodwill, brand 'potomac collection' (black print) (^^^)
- suspenders: from goodwill, unknown brand (navy) ()
- pants: vintage suit pants, brand kaps (beige, painted and dyed to red/pink stripes) ()
- shoes: vintage cole haan (brown)
Bonus:
- suit: j. crew garment dyed blazer/pant (navy) (^^^)
- shirt: j. crew flap pocket ocbd (whtie)
- tie: vintage oscar de la renta (red print) (^^^)
- shoes: clarks wallabees (maple)
- crown: burger king (***)