What, wear and why?
What I've been wearing, and where I've been wearing it.
The life of a freelancer is often an unpredictable one. Primarily, I’m a writer. But from time to time, I do find myself undertaking slightly different jobs, all of which still fall under the umbrella of what I do, of course. I’ve not been to Mars in search of alternative fuels (yet).
I’ve recently been looking after my friend’s shop, Auteur Store, in Chorlton, Manchester, for a few shifts. It’s a dream of a shop; it specialises in stocking brands from the UK, US, and Japan. Selvedge denim, waxed canvas, corduroy—you’ll find it here. Classic Americana mixed with timeless staples.
I was quite happy with the look I wore for this particular shift. It’s a mix of Ivy, sportswear, and military.
From Japan, I’m wearing a Felco cap, a Kamakura long-sleeve popover shirt, and Uniqlo fatigues.
As a light top layer, I’m wearing a vintage IZOD Lacoste Harrington in off-white.
It’s the perfect jacket for summer, or at least the last days of it. It’s unlined, which means it’s not really any thicker than a shirt. I often don’t feel right going out without a top layer, so this does the job.
What’s IZOD Lacoste?
From 1952 to 1993, Lacoste granted a licence to Izod for the use of its name on a sportswear line called Izod Lacoste. The brand gained widespread popularity when notable figures like Dwight D. Eisenhower, Bing Crosby, and John F. Kennedy started wearing the shirts, which had been gifted to them by Draddy.
Admittedly, this is the only Lacoste piece I own; however, I really appreciate the brand. French Ivy certainly fits the bill with this piece.
I found a gorgeous emerald green windbreaker a few years back in an outlet store, which I didn’t buy—I think about that a lot.
Another look I wore on shift was the one pictured above. As a writer and blogger, my Instagram often serves as a personal archive of outfits I think have worked particularly well, and this was one of them.
I chose this look because I felt it matched the aesthetic of the store.
It pairs Japanese selvedge denim by HebTro Co, a Trickett England button-down, Sebago Rangers, and, of course, the top layer—a Tropical Jungle Jacket by All Blues Co. I think it’s a nice mix of Americana, Ivy, and Japanese menswear, much like what Auteur Store has to offer.
One Wednesday afternoon, I went for a coffee in the city, and perhaps a slice of pie too.
I don’t like the idea that ties should only be reserved for formal occasions. This look came together by accident—by simply pairing random pieces from my wardrobe, I ended up with this outfit.
There are lots of different elements of Ivy style here that I admire.
The jacket is by Uniqlo—it’s their short Blouson jacket, which seems to have done really well for them. I’ve noticed they’ve even reissued it with a few slight tweaks.
Aside from its Japanese boxy cut, there’s something very British about it. It’s obviously inspired by a Barbour, but the cord collar evokes the feel of an English country gentleman.
I did, in fact, stop by Uniqlo that day. A lot of the latest 'LifeWear' range had just launched in-store, and a couple of pieces in particular caught my eye.
These herringbone pleated trousers were one. However, without trying them on, I’m not entirely sure about the fit or the overall cut. At first glance, though, I thought they were definitely a step in the right direction for high street menswear—especially considering that Manchester’s other offerings on Market Street aren’t ones I’d usually take a look at!
The second item was this lovely wool overshirt/chore jacket. What can I say? It’s nice and simple, and works well both dressed up or down. I just wish it had patch pockets on the bottom, but it’s still a nice offering.
Back to the outfit, though—I know there’s much discussion about how you should wear your tie with a button-down collar, and whether you should wear one at all.
To be honest, I don’t really care about the rules. I just wear it however I feel like on the day.
I’ve seen pictures of jazz musicians mid-rehearsal and well-dressed people on Instagram wearing a tie with a button-down shirt undone at the top and with the collar open. Many will disagree, but I think it really captures the whole Sprezzatura feel of menswear.
The weekend finally saw me visit a vintage store I’d heard so much about but, for whatever reason, had never visited. Honestly, I can’t quite believe I hadn’t been until now; I’m almost ashamed of myself.
The store is Suzy Loves Milo. Neatly tucked away in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, it’s a hidden gem brimming with vintage Japanese, American, and Korean clothing and lifestyle items.
What a store. If you’ve read Ametora, this shop feels like everything the last few chapters talk about.
But what did I wear? A vintage Ralph Lauren shirt from the 80s-90s, HebTro Co selvedge denim, Sebago Rangers, and an Aimé Leon Dore cap.
Well, that’s some of the stuff I’ve been wearing and what I’ve been up to while wearing it.
What have been some of your favourite pieces to wear at the moment? Let me know.
Thanks for reading,
Tom
ICYMI
Remember to check out the latest episode of the Easy On The Ivy Podcast
Started wearing a tie to work once a week off the strength of your instagram 🫡