Whys and Wherefores: Season 1, Issue 7
"these clothes they free though, straight from the back of the Supreme store"
2020 is, finally, almost over. And the end of the year means it’s time for year-in-review content. I'll probably make lists of my favorite TV and Movies over the next few weeks, but I wanted to start with some fashion stuff first. I thought about doing a catalog of my favorite fits — which I still might do — but wanted to start with some of my favorite clothes I’ve snagged throughout this weird and crazy year.
In looking through what I got, a trend emerged. 2020 forced us out of our comfort zones in so many different aspects. The way I seemingly processed it was to reach for cozier and roomer clothes, comfy shoes, bold graphics, and wild patterns I wouldn’t feel comfortable wearing at the office. I didn’t go too abstract with new silhouettes or anything of the like. Instead, I reached for new approaches to well-worn classics.
One of the most underrated things about clothing is that it really can tell a story if you pay close enough attention. I certainly think you’ll see that here.
Shoes
I like to think of shoes as the anchor of any good outfit, so we’ll start at the bottom and work our way up.
Adidas x Mandalorian ZX 2K Boost Mudhorn Sneakers
These were released not long after my GQ piece dropped, and so it felt appropriate to get something to honor that milestone. If you’re familiar with Mandalorian, you’ll be able to recognize the influences: green for little baby Grogu, brown for the deserts of Arvala-7, black and silver for Mando and his armor, and even includes the Mudhorn logo. It’s subtle but still a little showy.
Blundstone 500 Anniversary Edition
After I broke-in my Blundstones, I think there was a one to two-week period in which I had them on almost every single day. Everything you love about a Chelsea boot (the comfort and ease of putting on) is bolstered by an outdoor-ready, sturdy sole that’s capable of handling everything you throw at it. I can’t believe I went this long without having a pair. This particular set is a special colorway for the 150-year-anniversary of the original Blundstone 500.
Pants
After years of slimmed-down pants, the pendulum finally started to swing back the other way to broader cuts. As we spent an increasing amount of time inside, I reached for pants that were just comfortable to be in, and wider pants fit the bill rather nicely.
Uniqlo U Wide-Cut Pleated Pants
Uniqlo’s U line of clothing is sneaky good. Designed by French god Christophe Lemaire, the line is a (cheap!) way to get access to clothes that are a little more on-trend than what you’d find in the basic Uniqlo line up. Having a wider-cut set of dress pants seemed like a no-brainer to wear not only around the house but to have when things eventually return to normal.
Todd Snyder Pleated Houndstooth Dress Pants
Wool dress pants are always going to be handy in DC, but there was something about the pattern, pleat, and cut of these pants from Todd Snyder that felt a little punk to me. Sure enough, pairing them with my Dr. Martens and a leather jacket confirmed that reality.
18 East Gorecki Cargo Pant
I just got my first pair of Goreckis on Wednesday, but I feel like they’re easily my favorite pant of the year. Based on the M-65 cargo pant, Goreckis are cut from a handloom textile with an elastic, drawstring waist and feature drawstring hems. They’re so comfortable, practical, and well-made. The colorway on this particular pair is perfect, so I’m glad I waited to get these instead of another hue. Seriously, look at this fit and tell me how good they are!
Shirts
I’m going to lump these all together because the driving force here really revolved around having breezy, summer-ready camp collar shirts with just wild patterns. The green one from 18 East and the orange one from MONÉ felt like taking a vacation whenever I wore them, while the Supreme one just looked cool. The orange knit polo from Todd Snyder was a fun mod throwback that I’ll get a lot of mileage out of wearing to the office. I wish I’d gotten a chance to wear these at a rooftop bar this year :(
Knits
Again, as things continued to go off the rails in 2020, I reacted by reaching for not only comfy clothes but inherently bold statement pieces.
Saint Laurent Hawaiian Print Glitter Cardigan
I got this on Grailed for a steal compared to the full retail, and I love it. It’s absurdly extra (just like me). It has glitter in it! It’s tough to wear Hawaiian shirts in the winter, so why not get a cardigan instead. Did I mention the glitter?
Aime Leon Dore Player 99 Sweater
This sweater was technically released in November of 2019, but I’ve been on a hunt to find a version since I missed the initial drop. Luckily, last week, ALD dropped another batch, and I got one after a year of searching. While it’s inspired by Player 99 (MJ couldn’t in name in EA Sports Basketball games, so the company came up with 99 to skirt the NBPA), real ones know it’s the GOAT himself.
Jackets
I’ve yet to find a good jacket I didn’t like. That remained true this year.
Supreme x Barbour Jacket
This Barbour jacket is the first piece of Supreme I own. It’s also my second Barbour jacket (I have a longer style, the Beaufort) that’s also a collaboration. This was one of those jackets I got for the hype of it. Having wild and crazy jackets is always a fun swerve, so why not get Joe Exotic with it?
Todd Snyder Suede Jacket
I’ve wanted a suede jacket for years. So when this Italian-made one from Todd Snyder (who quietly has some of the best outerwear around) when on sale, I had to splurge on it. The suede’s richness and suppleness are hard to convey in person, but it is just a gorgeous piece. I wore it a few times before quarantine started, and I’ve been waiting for it to get cold enough to wear it again. This will be an heirloom piece that I can’t wait to pass down in the future.
Last night was Disney’s 2020 Investor Day. The company tricked the public into watching a business presentation by promising a bunch of announcements, and, well, Disney certainly delivered. For Complex, I broke down the Star Wars and Marvel announcements and tried to provide as much context around each project as I possibly could.
It really feels that these shows are what Disney+ has been building to over the last year, something Julia Alexander over at The Verge wrote about rather smartly. Check that out if you’re interested.
Oh, and here’s a playlist for you.
I’ve already overstayed my welcome, so I’ll see you next week. Thanks as always for reading.
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