Categories
On the vibes and aesthetics currently influencing my style
In this week’s newsletter I’d like to briefly talk about what’s been influencing my personal style as of recently. When I get dressed I like to pull inspiration from different “categories” in my head. My brain has always been wired like that for some reason; I like to mentally label and organize things for easier referencing. With that being said let’s quickly dive into three of those categories.
Black Ivy has been a heavy influence on my style choices as of lately. I was first introduced to this look after reading Black Ivy: A Revolt in Style by Jason Jules a few months back. What appealed most to me was the way many Black artists and activists subverted expectations of how traditional Ivy was supposed to be worn and what it represented. It feels very rebellious while still honoring sartorial sensibilities. I’ve tried to loosely adopt the vibe of Black Ivy by pairing non-traditional headwear with a sport coat and tassel loafers, as demonstrated in the photo gallery below. It’s quickly become one of my favorite go-to looks, and an easy way for me to feel effortlessly fly while avoiding doing my hair in the morning.
Mil-Surp, or military surplus, has always had an obvious imprint on my personal style long before I even realized it. I’ve always naturally gravitated towards the masculinity and uniformity of military-issue clothing. My naval peacoat, army BDU trousers, and M65 field jacket are the only mil-surp pieces that I own at moment, but I love wearing them because they lend a ruggedness to my style that balances out my more youthful, clean-cut appearance. Additionally, with the colder weather settling into LA, those pieces seem to make more sense in my wardrobe since they’re designed to be durable and protect you from the elements. Here’s one of my favorite recent outfits using my decade-old peacoat and thrifted army BDU trousers:
Lastly, I’ve been pulling a lot of influence from what many people are fondly referring to as ‘90s Airport Style. This category is more of a broad-spectrum and mixing of different genres in the ‘90s so I have a bit of trouble articulating exactly what it is. If I had to describe it - ‘90s Airport Style looks and feels like roomy, cozy outfits highlighted by stylish outerwear and an overall casual elegance that makes your walk to the terminal feel like a runway of sorts. My current wardrobe already leans heavy with outerwear, so it’s not much of a reach for me to take those pieces and wear them in a way that feels comfortable enough for a plane ride. Here’s a photo of what I wore to the airport during my recent trip up to San Francisco:
What do you guys think about these aesthetics? Is there a better way that I can blend them together or elevate each of them separately? Thank you as always for reading and engaging with my newsletters. I know I said I’d keep to posting one every other Sunday morning but that’s proven to be somewhat difficult for me given my night shift work schedule. Going forward I’ve decided to post less frequently and simply write whenever I have the time and energy. I’ve noticed my best writing comes to me when I don’t put pressure on myself to stick to a schedule.
Take care,
Brandon