Having established the unshakable basis of dapper style--the undershirt--I thought it might serve our community well to explore other foundational elements. Over the coming days we shall pursue discussion of socks, boxers and briefs at our leisure and with much greater latitude than the natural law of the undershirt allows in its category.
First, however, because the foundation layer represents the only layer for which I routinely pay full retail for new merchandise, I must offer a final word on the tee. Love or hate Macklemore's Thrift Shop joint all you want, but wherever you stand, let no one object to his most trenchant observation: overpaying for luxury brand underwear is unspeakably lame. To wit, "Fifty dollars for a t-shirt? That's just some ignorant bitch sheeeiiiiit!"
Hear me when I tell you, The Dapper Tightwad confesses a love of the luxury brand where that luxury correlates strongly to excellence in materials, design and construction, but in this author's humble opinion, the t-shirts proffered by the likes of Gucci, Hermes, Ralph Lauren, Burberry and most recently Kanye (sigh) and their peers offer nothing on much humbler makers except a bigger hole in your wallet. Indeed, I submit to you, dear Dapster, that willingly overpaying for something like a white undershirt is an act of pornographic venality so base and disgusting that if you are tempted to do it, you should stop everything, take a deep breath and punch yourself right in the fucking face.
Good. With step one out of the way, take yourself to JCPenney and pick up a 3-pack of Stafford Performance t-shirts (about $22, but you can find them on sale often). Stafford Performance t-shirts are equal to--and in almost every case superior to--any more expensive t-shirt I have heretofore seen. They come in a great range of sizes, including the elusive Medium-Tall (try getting that kind of sweet fit in a Neiman Marcus). They are tagless, feature lay-flat knit collars, and are made from soft, heavyweight cotton that stands up to a great many washings, bleachings and dryings.
Now, take the money you saved and put it here. There may be hope for your soul.
Frugally yours,
TDT
Good morning, TDT,
ReplyDeleteWho doesn't love a performance foundational t-shirt? Fucking neanderthals. I will only add that for me, as a lady with an athletic build, and a desire for a slim fitting, long, soft, white, tagless t-shirt used as both a foundation garment AND as a stand-alone piece, my allegiance is with the Ralph Lauren men's three-pack undershirt. They are simply the best for me. Just as your Staffords are the cat's meow for you. Love for one's foundation garment means more wellness AND more style because one is smiling with contentment. It is practially a public service that you addressed this. Thank you.
Thank you for the reflections and the compliments, Juliebangs. But on the essential question at hand--overpaying for brand--I cannot help but feel the message did not get through. Clearly you're not punching yourself hard enough.
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