Black Ivy: What If He Just Liked the Coat?

    In addition to decluttering clothes , I got rid of many style books. One book I couldn’t get rid of was Black Ivy. It’s not really a style book. At least not in the traditional sense. It’s mostly a historical and cultural book with a lot of photographs. The photographs are fantastic. However I did not […]

Dress Codes Again

For someone who spends a lot of time questioning clothing advice, I’ve realized there are certain dress codes I don’t really object to. If an invitation says cocktail attire, I’ll probably wear cocktail attire. I don’t feel particularly oppressed by funeral attire either. Yet other dress codes immediately trigger an eye roll. Which made me […]

Can LinkedIn Help You Dress Business Casual?

I know it’s popular to dump on LinkedIn. I’m also a fan of the many “LinkedIn Lunatics” videos on YouTube. But I was never a frequent user myself and only really made my profile active when I was job hunting. Still, I understand why someone might think: “I should get clothing advice from LinkedIn because […]

The Finance Vest Problem

I don’t know if the finance vest is even a thing anymore. I can’t remember the last time I saw someone wearing one. But while writing about dressing business casual , I remembered reading a post from a man who worked in one of those offices where everyone wore the same full-zip vest. He hated it. Or at least […]

How To Dress Business Casual

  I think I’m somewhat qualified to talk about workplace clothing because I’ve spent decades moving between very different work environments. I’ve worked entry-level roles and management positions. Places where jeans were completely normal. Other places where that would have quietly damaged how competent you were perceived to be. I’ve been fully in-person, fully remote, […]

Why Kibbe Sometimes Looks Bad?

Sometimes I would read people critique the outfits of style system creators. I often understood what they meant. But when I started writing about clothing, I wanted to avoid critiquing someone’s physical traits or perceived attractiveness. I also don’t think these people necessarily “look bad.” The issue seems more structural than personal. Most style advice operates from […]

Do You Really Have Kibbe Image ID “Resistance”?

One thing I always found interesting about systems like Kibbe is how disagreement gets interpreted. If someone dislikes their Image ID or seasonal palette, the reason is often psychological. “You’re resisting your true self”. “You’re attached to social expectations”. “You haven’t accepted your true essence yet.” Part of this framing is appealing because there is some truth behind […]

You Can’t Preload Sentimentality

After writing my last essay, I started thinking about whether there is still a place for emotional attachment in clothing. I think there is. Some clothing does carry emotional weight. But the strongest attachments usually aren’t manufactured. They emerge over time. I still have clothing from relatives who passed away. My Mom’s old dresses.. Jewelry my Grandmother gave […]

I Don’t Need a Narrative to Buy a Sweater

Once clothing stops functioning primarily as identity projection , you tend to shop less. Or at least more practically. Which is probably why I became increasingly irritated by the narratives attached to clothing online. Brands couldn’t just tell me what the garment was. I had to know what inspired it. I understand marketing exists, but some of […]

Why “Authenticity” Becomes an Obsession

There’s a lot of emphasis on authenticity in clothing. Natural fibers. Certain brands. The “right” version of something. I like authenticity too. Some things do feel better . But I don’t think that’s the whole reason people chase it. Sometimes it seems more like a correction. That cosplay feeling gets mentioned when wearing certain outfits. Your style brain might […]