Hello my friends, Short post this morning, but I wanted to touch on something that I think is pretty important in the world of menswear (or any other consumption-based hobby for that matter). After reading this post discussing the polo coat from Eric Twardzik’s great new Substack newsletter, I found myself, yet again, thirsting for an authentic Polo Ralph Lauren polo coat.
I think this really crystalizes a feeling I've been mulling for a while. Really solid and convicting stuff.
Recently got my basically-destroyed Oak Street penny loafers and trail mocs recrafted after dragging my feet (and buying a very swaggy pair of Solovair tassel loafers in the interim). It was super rewarding to give new life to a couple pairs of shoes that I had beat to death.
Anyway, I was patting myself on the back for walking the walk on this, but all the while I have been shopping for a new pair of raw denim for literally no reason at all. I just have this built in pavlovian response where every 18 months or so I get the itch to get a new pair. Some of this is weight fluctuation from lifting cycles and denim just being kind of impossible to shop for online (so lots of near-misses on fit). I used to be better about wearing my denim into the ground but now I'm just constantly hankering for some esoteric Japanese weave.
Yes exactly. I go through this every year with coats when it gets cold. There's always some way or another that you can convince yourself that it's a good idea ("It's only $800 second-hand, that's not that bad!"), but it rarely is. Just gotta find a way to override that initial impulse
Fantastic piece - so true! I can't tell you how many times I buy a sweater, trousers or a tie and realize I already have something that serves the exact same purpose. Now I literally imagine the piece I'll wear much less / not at all if I add the new one, and only if the price for the upgrade is still worth it will I "pull the trigger" so to speak.
Yes exactly! I’ve been trying to keep to a “1 in 1 out” rule now that I have pretty much everything I need in my wardrobe. I’ve been finding that helpful as well, as I generally don’t want to get rid of a nice item that I already like
This is something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately, I’ve been forced to as a poor college student lol. Luckily whenever I come home I find my mom’s thrifting acumen has amazed me yet again, so I don’t get too bored.
It always feels worse in the autumn for me - some sort of Pavlovian conditioning surrounding Black Friday sales or something, but the urge for new, expensive pieces is always the strongest around this time.
Thankfully, the occasional eBay-sourced NWT piece from Polo Ralph Lauren at a crazy discount is satisfying enough. Just gotta hold out until the post-Christmas deluge...
📠 I 100% agree. But I often need the same reality check you describe. One thing I will say is I hate the way new clothes look. When I’m wearing clothes with freshly popped tags I feel like a bozo for some reason. The authenticity factor you mention is real. I do be shopping tho.
I think this really crystalizes a feeling I've been mulling for a while. Really solid and convicting stuff.
Recently got my basically-destroyed Oak Street penny loafers and trail mocs recrafted after dragging my feet (and buying a very swaggy pair of Solovair tassel loafers in the interim). It was super rewarding to give new life to a couple pairs of shoes that I had beat to death.
Anyway, I was patting myself on the back for walking the walk on this, but all the while I have been shopping for a new pair of raw denim for literally no reason at all. I just have this built in pavlovian response where every 18 months or so I get the itch to get a new pair. Some of this is weight fluctuation from lifting cycles and denim just being kind of impossible to shop for online (so lots of near-misses on fit). I used to be better about wearing my denim into the ground but now I'm just constantly hankering for some esoteric Japanese weave.
Yes exactly. I go through this every year with coats when it gets cold. There's always some way or another that you can convince yourself that it's a good idea ("It's only $800 second-hand, that's not that bad!"), but it rarely is. Just gotta find a way to override that initial impulse
Fantastic piece - so true! I can't tell you how many times I buy a sweater, trousers or a tie and realize I already have something that serves the exact same purpose. Now I literally imagine the piece I'll wear much less / not at all if I add the new one, and only if the price for the upgrade is still worth it will I "pull the trigger" so to speak.
Yes exactly! I’ve been trying to keep to a “1 in 1 out” rule now that I have pretty much everything I need in my wardrobe. I’ve been finding that helpful as well, as I generally don’t want to get rid of a nice item that I already like
This is something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately, I’ve been forced to as a poor college student lol. Luckily whenever I come home I find my mom’s thrifting acumen has amazed me yet again, so I don’t get too bored.
It always feels worse in the autumn for me - some sort of Pavlovian conditioning surrounding Black Friday sales or something, but the urge for new, expensive pieces is always the strongest around this time.
Thankfully, the occasional eBay-sourced NWT piece from Polo Ralph Lauren at a crazy discount is satisfying enough. Just gotta hold out until the post-Christmas deluge...
Yeah, might be good to salvage your commitment not to buy any new clothes this year lol
📠 I 100% agree. But I often need the same reality check you describe. One thing I will say is I hate the way new clothes look. When I’m wearing clothes with freshly popped tags I feel like a bozo for some reason. The authenticity factor you mention is real. I do be shopping tho.
haha yeah I know what you mean. Almost feels like a first day of school fit from like 5th grade - like its juvenile or something to own new clothes
LMAO yeah true