I’m Only Sleeping
I’ll be back soon. With several updates. I’ve missed you guys very much.
Talk soon,
Dennis
Oct 5
8 Comments
Jun 22
Introducing Louis Purple, New York
I was introduced to New York’s latest made to measure suit shop through a very polite e-mail some months ago simply asking me to get together to discuss suits from founder Charles Brunold. Hailing from France with a very specific vision of affordable made to measure Charles and his Louis Purple line has been has been on my radar from conception to execution.
It’s been well worth the wait.
When you first step into Louis Purple you are greeted by the affable Charles or one of his compatriots, are offered a coffee and some conversation, and then it’s on to fabrics. The beauty of the initial meeting is just how low key and nonchalant it is. It almost feels as if you are just hanging out with the option of buying a suit. This kind of approach to sales is not only refreshing, but a true rarity in the trendy, high pressure locale of Soho.
Charles Brunold, Founder of Louis Purple
There is a fiercely modern feel to the shop with whispers of Radiohead or Charlotte Gainsbourg emanating from the large computer Charles sits behind whilst you go through the tremendous selection of fabric books that range from unbranded Italian super 120′s ($700 to start) to the higher end Holland & Sherry and Dormeuil collections ($1,100-$1,400). Halfway through your search, an attractive young woman may enter through the front doors, ask for your name, and offer you another coffee. A very nice perk to the entire experience indeed.
Charles is not a tailor, nor does he claim to be, so measurements are taken in the shop then sent through electronic tailor sheets to his master tailor who resides in France. After close review they are once again forwarded to a French owned and staffed factory in Romania for assembly. Three weeks later your suit arrives and should any alterations need to be done to the piece, Charles has a local New York tailor take care of them within a week or two.
There are other offerings such as fully customizable shirts made from fine cotton (from $129 – $169, Package of 5 shirts for $548) as well as handmade Italian ties ($99), and finely crafted shoes by Doucal’s ($349).
The clientele at Louis Purple so far range from young professionals to nightlife promoters looking for a stylish option of suiting without shelling out major coin. To me, this is an advanced entry to made to measure suiting as you are dealing with some pretty fantastic fabrics and construction.
To give Louis Purple a try, please visit:
Louis Purple
323 Lafayette
New York, NY
10012
(212) 219-8559
Jun 20
Summer 2011: Go Hawaiian
I admit straight off the bat that this post may not be for everyone. Some may scoff and scratch their heads at my notions for the Hawaiian shirt to be considered a summer essential. But rather than seeing it as silly or kitsch, I honestly feel it is a timeless piece to have around.
The Hawaiian shirt reminds me of a different time. A time when during those lazy summer barbeques Grandpa would be grilling up some tasty burgers looking right at home in a brightly printed floral shirt that was no doubt made IN Hawaii. There was never a sign of embarrassment or shame on his freshly shaven face because the summer was and always should be the most appropriate time to break out a piece like this.
I was lucky enough to find mine at a Goodwill here in New York for only $3. It was made at Royal Creations in Hawaii and I wore it for a recent barbeque on my rooftop and just like Grandpa, I was more than comfortable grilling and mingling in my Hawaiian based get up. It certainly makes more of a statement than a polo or a t-shirt and it looks more imaginative than a plain button up.
One of my guests gave possibly the best compliment I could have received when she stated: “You know, with the tattoos, that shirt, your hat, and shorts you look like someone straight out of the World War II era.”
Flattered is an understatement.
Some tips:
1) Stick with a classic looking piece. Preferably one with flowers all over it. Avoid things like flaming guitars. That’s just dumb.
2) Do your best to get one that is fitted but not tight. You don’t want to be swimming (no pun there) in it and you don’t want it to be so close to your body that you can’t wear it comfortably in the heat.
3) Pair it with shorts that compliment one of the more muted colors in the pattern. For example, I pair my own with a pair of blue shorts to compliment the blue in the shirt.
4) Look for a vintage one like my own. They just don’t make them like these anymore.
Out of all the “classics” to make a come back in menswear I really hope this one catches on. Not only because it screams summer, but Grandpa would have been damn proud.
Jun 10
What Alan Flusser Packed In 1983
One of the many perks of working with Mr. Flusser is that I come across very unique and interesting archive material. Case in point the photo below from the Japanese magazine Brutus originally published in 1983. What I love about it is how timeless the wardrobe is. You see nothing embarrassingly outdated, just good taste all around.
In essence this is what I’ve been attempting to pull off with my own wardrobe (albeit from a less costly point) and through the musings on this space. We all owe it to ourselves as grown men to have a timeless wardrobe that will outlive ourselves.
I have more posts coming soon including reviews, outfits, the most expensive shoes I ever purchased, and some brand new videos.
Stay tuned.
Courtesy Brutus Magazine, Japan
Elements
Coach Laptop Case, Alan Flusser Custom Aligator Belt, Aligator Passport Holder, Pilot Fountain Pen
May 23
When An E-Mail Isn’t Enough
As of late I have been taking on more meetings with aspiring designers, tailors, or fellow bloggers. We usually while away the time “talking shop” or how we can inspire and help one another. Many times, though, I have gone home after one of these get togethers only to shoot off a half drunk e-mail or text about how great it was. Although I believe my heart was firmly planted in the right place the experience of following up or sending a quick missive electronically left me feeling a bit empty. There was nothing to it. I simply ranted, signed, and sent.
The tide of communication turned full force after a friend took me out for a night at The Yale Club here in New York City. We had an absolutely smashing evening and he was even gracious enough to pick up the tab. A day or so later I shot off a rather quick e-mail thanking him and after I hit send an incredible sense of lousy washed over me. The Yale Club is one of the most upscale, classy, and downright elegant places one can be taken to. An e-mail just wasn’t enough. I knew I had to remedy the situation quite quickly the only way I knew how. By writing a simple note on quality stationary.
Yes, stationary.
The first place I went to was Cursive in Grand Central Station. They are a lovely little boutique serving up some very interesting notebooks, cards, even desk ornaments. What makes Cursive well worth their prices are the uniqueness and quality of the product. I ended up purchasing a beautiful little box set of cards called OFF THE CUFF which was more than appropriate as each cards front is inspired from a specific type of menswear suiting fabric (my favorite one being the houndstooth).
Off The Cuff Cards: Box Of 8 for $22.50
But what of those times when you want to send a quick missive to someone just because? Do you really have to drop over 20 bucks each time you run out of stationary?
Enter Phil’s Stationary in Midtown Manhattan on 47th street. This place is about as old school and no frills as you can get. Boxes of odd paper everywhere, pens as far as the eye can see, and lots of interesting notebooks you won’t find anywhere else (there are even some really fantastic briefcases lying about for only 40 beans). As soon as I asked about plain heavy stock note cards the shop keeper knew exactly what I was looking for. He showed me very simple blank note cards with a lightly embossed back and matching envelopes. When I asked him the price he said “50 cards for $15. 100 for $30.”
Sold.
Another stationary destination I HIGHLY recommend is Terrapin Stationers. I particularly love the engraved twitter cards, should you feel the need to promote your feed.
Now that I had the paper I needed a good writing instrument. I have some very nice ballpoint pens but they just don’t look very nice on this kind of stock (think as dull and lifeless as a conversation between two disaffected hipsters who only order Pabst and salad). I ended up going with the pen my boss uses as he’s pretty well versed in the subject of writing. Surprisingly his weapon of choice is a Cross rollerball pen which you can find at any Staples or stationary store for about $30 and the refills are a mere $9 for a two pack. The pen itself is well balanced and writes extremely well.
Cross Rollerball Pen $30 @ Staples
I penned a few notes with this and while completely satisfied with it’s abilities to script, aesthetically I just didn’t like the way it looked. Mostly because my penmanship is that of an ex budding graffiti artist meets a shaky handed alcoholic going through detox. So as my mania for the perfectly written note grew so did my obsession with getting it right.
Enter the typewriter.
At this point you are probably all thinking I am out of my effing mind and, by all means, you are justified in your opinion. Yes, I could type all of these notes out on my trusty MacBook Pro but there is just no heart in that at all. When you actually type something out you can feel the indentations of the letters pressed into the stock and see the intensity of which it was written. For those of you who follow my twitter feed, now you understand just why I was so heartbroken about my typewriter being irreparable. For those of you who don’t follow me on twitter…are you fucking serious? You’re missing out on some drunken hilarity. I digress. I found a new, functional typewriter on eBay for $16 and a hot tip from one of my Twitter friends brought my attention to this place which had my head spinning.
So after a meeting, dinner, catch up drink, or what have you it’s NICE to tell the person how you feel other than writing on their Facebook wall. If you are wearing a beautiful suit, impeccably polished shoes, silk pocket square, and good cologne a handwritten or typed follow up goes hand in hand with what you are attempting to exude. That being CLASS. And really, how many people write notes or letters (cue PJ Harvey’s “The Letter”) these days?
Some rules of the game:
1. The content of what is written and the speed at which it is sent is equally important. I.E.: you should NOT send the note 5 days after the meeting and you should actually write something witty or heartfelt. As per some advice given from Mr. Flusser, the correspondence should be sent within a day or two.
2. DO NOT WRITE THESE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. THESE ARE NOT POSTS AND YOU CANNOT DELETE THEM.
3. If handwritten, make sure it is legible. If typed, make sure not to make mistakes which force you to use white out (not a good look).
4. Please…do not spray cologne on it if writing to a lovely female you just had lunch with (#stalker, #creepy, #waaaaytoomuch).
5. Avoid terms like LOL, ADORBZ, and ROTFL for Christ’s sake.
6. Always make the note about THEM and not YOU.
7. The best time to write is the morning after when your head is clear and still have a fresh idea of what to pen, preferably with morning coffee.
8. Don’t spill coffee on the note.
9. If you can, find an interesting stamp to slap on the envelope.
10. Refer to THE ELEMENTS OF STYLE if necessary.
The point of this exercise for myself and anyone else who chooses to go through with it is to let the people who inspire us, care for us, or genuinely enjoy our company and opinion know that the feeling is mutual.
