Wise life lessons here for those who are ready to hear them. I’ll admit I’ve left too many big fits idling in the wardrobe out of fear. Btw that beige jacket is lovely.
I purchased a pair of pants a few months back, thinking their shape wasn’t basic and they’d be a refreshing change for my closet. Time to show a little courage! However, I just can’t stop looking at myself in the mirror from every angle and the first thought that enters my mind is “What on earth will people think?” And what I think they’ll be thinking is something along the lines of “How could she possibly think she looks good in those?” I keep picturing myself being nominated for “What Not to Wear.”
For some reason, my first thoughts went to what other people would think rather than what I myself would think!
Getting older truly does help with the first question. I can't pinpoint when or why but at some point the largely invisible, and possibly made up, people in my head stopped mattering. It's not about shutting yourself off from strangers but imagining good people and good reactions to your expression. It's a rewarding way to live and I wish it upon others.
Yes, thank you. There is no "desert island". Also, I think most internet menswear aficionados are usually lost obsessing about their mcqueens, hockneys, newmans, etc.—they miss that good style is a _side product_... This is why BBSP is so satisfying 🙏
(As for big fits, well, just wait a couple of years and get hit with the "weight distributing differently on your body"... If you were in between sizes, not anymore!)
Closest I can imagine to getting dressed for oneself alone is the Dog Walking Fit. It’s really where I just slap on whatever feels right and will work for the job, since aesthetics are low on the list of priorities in how I engage with the people on my block. Whatever coat’s hanging by the door with whatever shoe I don’t need to tie, etc. Akin to the “shoveling the driveway” fit that good stylists seem to love. It’s a fun sub field of fitcraft to think of “least external cases” like this
I’ve been making more of an effort to get dressed for my WFH job to see if it facilitates any extra focus vs just a t-shirt and mesh shorts.
Results are inconclusive, but I think it’s about as close to dressing for oneself as one can get? People see whatever I’m wearing from the collarbone up on the occasional video call but that’s about it... I can’t tell if I like it or if it makes me sad
i could never actually dress up JUST for WFH, but i've had times where i spend all day inside and when i decide to finally get out for a random walk, i end up dressing up "properly" so i feel nice and in the mood for actually being "out there" (secretly hoping to run into someone or find some sort of small adventure in the streets), because a walk to the park is enough excuse for throwing on a fit that makes you feel good about yourself
sometimes i even end up going out just BECAUSE i put on a nice outfit that day but wasn't out enough so i don't wanna feel like i wasted it (also i think my definition of dressing nice is a lot more humble than the average bbsp reader since i feel like im among the youngest here but also very low-budget, so i tend to dress very casually, "fanciest" thing on my closet might be a j-crew parka 😭 nothing designer-y for now)
as for "automatic dressing" (quick trip to the store, picking up something from my building's lobby) i usually just put on crocs, soft black shorts -or even swim shorts- and some white or playful t-shirt, but even there it has to feel right, it can't be just any combination of short+t-shirt
and i think there's something cool about feeling comfortable walking around your own neighborhood with an extremely casual fit and seeing other neighbors with similar vibes in the bodega or walking their dogs, very communal feeling
i think this couple of cases show how even for casual walks there are different moods that call for different fits, and i wouldn't say that "aesthetics are low on the list of priorities in how I engage with the people on my block" because it just doesn't need to be anything fancy but it has to be coherent with how i feel in that moment (and yes, how i wish to be perceived by my lovely neighbors)
I agree, it’s just closest to that I can think of. Very into the spirit of the essay today, in the kind of André Leon Talley sense of “looking nice is a public good” (paraphrasing)
Wise life lessons here for those who are ready to hear them. I’ll admit I’ve left too many big fits idling in the wardrobe out of fear. Btw that beige jacket is lovely.
I purchased a pair of pants a few months back, thinking their shape wasn’t basic and they’d be a refreshing change for my closet. Time to show a little courage! However, I just can’t stop looking at myself in the mirror from every angle and the first thought that enters my mind is “What on earth will people think?” And what I think they’ll be thinking is something along the lines of “How could she possibly think she looks good in those?” I keep picturing myself being nominated for “What Not to Wear.”
For some reason, my first thoughts went to what other people would think rather than what I myself would think!
Silverback millennials. That's exquisite.
Getting older truly does help with the first question. I can't pinpoint when or why but at some point the largely invisible, and possibly made up, people in my head stopped mattering. It's not about shutting yourself off from strangers but imagining good people and good reactions to your expression. It's a rewarding way to live and I wish it upon others.
Yes, thank you. There is no "desert island". Also, I think most internet menswear aficionados are usually lost obsessing about their mcqueens, hockneys, newmans, etc.—they miss that good style is a _side product_... This is why BBSP is so satisfying 🙏
(As for big fits, well, just wait a couple of years and get hit with the "weight distributing differently on your body"... If you were in between sizes, not anymore!)
Closest I can imagine to getting dressed for oneself alone is the Dog Walking Fit. It’s really where I just slap on whatever feels right and will work for the job, since aesthetics are low on the list of priorities in how I engage with the people on my block. Whatever coat’s hanging by the door with whatever shoe I don’t need to tie, etc. Akin to the “shoveling the driveway” fit that good stylists seem to love. It’s a fun sub field of fitcraft to think of “least external cases” like this
Love this genre of outfit. We’ve written about it as the errand- running fit / “automatic dressing”.
But while it’s dressing with less / different self consciousness than usual, I’m not sure it’s “getting dressed for oneself” exactly, either…
I’ve been making more of an effort to get dressed for my WFH job to see if it facilitates any extra focus vs just a t-shirt and mesh shorts.
Results are inconclusive, but I think it’s about as close to dressing for oneself as one can get? People see whatever I’m wearing from the collarbone up on the occasional video call but that’s about it... I can’t tell if I like it or if it makes me sad
i could never actually dress up JUST for WFH, but i've had times where i spend all day inside and when i decide to finally get out for a random walk, i end up dressing up "properly" so i feel nice and in the mood for actually being "out there" (secretly hoping to run into someone or find some sort of small adventure in the streets), because a walk to the park is enough excuse for throwing on a fit that makes you feel good about yourself
sometimes i even end up going out just BECAUSE i put on a nice outfit that day but wasn't out enough so i don't wanna feel like i wasted it (also i think my definition of dressing nice is a lot more humble than the average bbsp reader since i feel like im among the youngest here but also very low-budget, so i tend to dress very casually, "fanciest" thing on my closet might be a j-crew parka 😭 nothing designer-y for now)
as for "automatic dressing" (quick trip to the store, picking up something from my building's lobby) i usually just put on crocs, soft black shorts -or even swim shorts- and some white or playful t-shirt, but even there it has to feel right, it can't be just any combination of short+t-shirt
and i think there's something cool about feeling comfortable walking around your own neighborhood with an extremely casual fit and seeing other neighbors with similar vibes in the bodega or walking their dogs, very communal feeling
i think this couple of cases show how even for casual walks there are different moods that call for different fits, and i wouldn't say that "aesthetics are low on the list of priorities in how I engage with the people on my block" because it just doesn't need to be anything fancy but it has to be coherent with how i feel in that moment (and yes, how i wish to be perceived by my lovely neighbors)
I agree, it’s just closest to that I can think of. Very into the spirit of the essay today, in the kind of André Leon Talley sense of “looking nice is a public good” (paraphrasing)
one of the best acronyms/graphics yet
My man