Today, I am playing hooky of sorts: the alternator in my car crapped out over the weekend and it is in the shop getting repaired today, leaving me abandond at home, too far from work to manage the trip.
So, what better time to catch up on my poor, neglected journal…
I have recently both fallen out of love with the DAV, and back into it again. They are jacking with their price levels, their mark down process and their Sunday sale structure. I do get their attempt to maximize profits, but – seriously – when a Stafford dress shirt is marked down twice and still twelve bucks…? Come on…
So it went that I fell out of love with my divine portal to sartorial splendor.
But wait! The one store location up north back-pedaled, having dropped the regular Sunday line-up of a block and a half down to only a dozen people in just four weeks. The second Sunday sale tag is back up to fifty percent off the lowest price. Close to being better. (The tag is still only marked down in twenty-five percent intervals, unlike the original fifty percent.) And I did notice that with less customers on Sunday, and more items being left until their final week on the floor, there was value to be found in attending Sunday’s sale.
So it goes that I still frequent my once beloved DAV, now treated suspiciously like the dubious lover. To adjust accordingly, I have branched out, finding a decent number of other thrift stores, mostly smaller, mostly charity projects, and mostly with decent prices on flawless items.
I had also been wisely advise that, with a wardrobe to the degree of mine, I was in a place to slow the acquisition of clothing and look for specific, quality pieces that add to the value of what already hangs in my closet, on the landing, in boxes in the corner and sits away in storaqe. (You get the picture…) To that end, I have increased the amount I am willing to spend on any one item, but I have likewise increased my scrutiny of the piece, my pickiness in what I want and my awareness of repeating what I may already have.
So it came that I began frequenting the Hillcrest Charity Thrift, discovering a lovely Alan Flusser jacket with a fifty percent off tag, totally four bucks. I have only had one of these prior, and it was short in the sleeves, and I am never as willing to make that alteration as I think I will be when I find such a jacket… The first jacket went to a good home, and much better fit. And I am quite happy for it. And even happier yet for finding a comparable one for myself…
It doesn’t show in the image, but some of the great detailing in Alan Flusser jackets include a contrasting piping that edges the lining; in this case, a green grosgrain ribbon. The linings in both jackets were a high contrast color; the other jacket has a delicious pink lining, mine a deeper burgundy. the linings are back-stitched around the edging in thread that matches the piping. In all, some nice details in an age of throw-away products.
I do seem to be developing a taste for argyle as well, especially if I can land odd color schemes. Of course, I do keep the restraint of requiring a V-neck collar. (What is a point of all those neckties if they are never seen…?) I am not so picky about an all over pattern, which would be nice, but I treat it more like a waistcoat with it’s plain back, as I will most likely wear a jacket over top of the sweater.
Of course, the color palettes of argyles set off my color OCD and begin the puzzle game of finding the perfect tie with the exact colors; a game I really rather enjoy. I think my favorite solution is a tie that has all the colors of the sweater, but not only just the colors of the sweater.
So it comes to be, with the addition of many other thrift stores and the semi-return of the DAV to its original sales-find splendor, three years of thrifting offers a world of magnitude and madness for the closet. To such ends, my temporary living arrangements (which are close to an end) offer only just the tiniest of closet spaces. Enough not even for just my dress shirts, or almost not just enough for… however that works. A hanging bar mounted to the wall on the landing holds suit jackets and trousers.
I should mention that when I moved here, I sent much of everything I own to storage, including a decent amount of my clothes. On the matter of dress shirts, I was of the mind that half of them went to storage, leaving approximately forty shirts here with me. Yes, I know. It gets worse. Well, let’s say it gets… more so.
Last month, I found a deal at Bed, Bath & Beyond for flocked slimline hangers. They do use noticeably less space and the shirts don’t budge one bit. I bought two packs of fifty. In doing laundry yesterday. I used up the last few that had been lying around after I had changed them all out. *whew* And, yes, the other previous ‘half’ is still in storage.
Yes, it may be a sickness. LOL
This is where I offer the reminder that I can recall only ever once paying more than five bucks for a shirt, and only a few at five. I don’t often think twice about four dollars, and a vast majority of these shirts were likely only twenty-five cents.
Feel free to come visit. I suggest the weekend, with a late departure on Sunday or Monday…
And to the last point of this long-winded entry: buttons.
I have developed the habit of buying quarter tag shirts of any size and condition for the buttons, if they offer the correct amount and a sweet style and color of button. I do this to harvest buttons on the cheap to swap out utility buttons on the shirts I wear.
I know.
No, really, I know…
Honestly, isn’t this just an artist turning his skills to his own image? I have been enjoying this ongoing development of my personal style over the years. Now, I look forward to the opportunity to hone in on the details, to sharpen this micro-focus and make this style truly mine.
So far with the buttons, I have developed a trend for either contrast buttons with thread that matches the shirt, or the reverse. Solid shirts tend towards the former, while patterned shirts tend towards the later… The shirt pictures above is a good example: brown buttons for the brown shirt; silver-blue thread to match the plaid pattern.
I will even offer that in three shirts, I have developed a pattern of sewing that leaves a neat tidy square on the underneath of the shirt placket, instead of randomized dots here and there. this bit of hidden detail makes me happy. And I mean happy… And on the occasion that the thread and buttons match colors in the shirt exactly… my nipples get hard.
No, really.
*smooch*
gryphon's hole 