Never give any important decision to a public radio host

November 2, 2009 8:29 PM

Put This On is a new video series and blog by MeFi's Jesse Thorn (youngamerican) and Adam Lisagor (Twitter's lonelysandwich) on men's style, with the style-unconscious but pragmatic beginner in mind. [via mefi projects]

In an interview for the Amateur Science podcast, Jesse describes his style methodology as not just about neckties: "fashion has to do with how well you fit into your social circle ... style for men is a lot richer and more sophisticated and it's something that's a skill that you can develop over the course of your life."

The blog has so far highlighed all sorts of sweaters, cool E-Bay finds and sharp dressers.

Episode 1 is on denim. Jesse visits Rising Sun and Co in Pasadena to pay respect to a $500 hand-crafted pair of jeans, Adam wears a jumpsuit from which to dispense tips on matching your shoes to your belt and everybody wears nice duds.

posted by l33tpolicywonk (103 comments total)

If you don't love everything Jesse does, then we can't be friends.
posted by The Deej at 8:34 PM on November 2, 2009 [2 favorites]

Well it's too bad we're not friends on facebook so you can't defriend me.
posted by PostIronyIsNotaMyth at 8:41 PM on November 2, 2009

If you don't love everything Jesse does, then we can't be friends.

You've simplified my life.

And now onto the post!
posted by grobstein at 8:46 PM on November 2, 2009

I should mention that yeah, I was the main sponsor of the show because I love to fund creative projects, I really wanted to learn the lessons in this show series, and I can write it off as advertising for MetaFilter. As always, the goal with advertising MetaFilter in other channels isn't to make a buck or pick up new users, it's to help fun informational and artistic exploits.

Adam and Jesse shot a funny little thing that rolls at the end, basically with no input from me so it was a nice surprise. Hopefully others like it too.
posted by mathowie at 8:49 PM on November 2, 2009 [3 favorites]

Yay! I heart Jesse, and this is project is basically made for me.
posted by brundlefly at 8:50 PM on November 2, 2009

Matt: I think your philosophy is right on the money (bada boom ching).

Seriously, I think this thing is great. Great advice, great execution and great hosts. I hope this thing takes off.
posted by battlebison at 8:54 PM on November 2, 2009

Do these jeans make my butt look big?
posted by HTuttle at 9:18 PM on November 2, 2009

Do these jeans make my butt look big?

God yes. Try those instead.
posted by Tomorrowful at 9:20 PM on November 2, 2009

Okay look, I love me some good looking clothes, and I love me some good looking jeans. But if you wear your jeans every day and you only wash them once every three or six months, well, stay the fuck away from me.
posted by Justinian at 9:30 PM on November 2, 2009

Hey in my zeal to tell you smelly bastards to stay away from me I forgot to mention that putthison is awesome. Bookmarked!
posted by Justinian at 9:35 PM on November 2, 2009

I no longer feel ashamed about owning only 4 pairs of jeans. Yes, that constitutes all of my bottoms. THANK YOU PUTTHISON!
posted by Taft at 9:44 PM on November 2, 2009

Yes! The web needs more men's fashion (besides the hipster stuff).

Great production, camera work, etc. The quick tips with the guy standing on the table break up the longer sections nicely. Keep it up!
posted by Grimp0teuthis at 9:54 PM on November 2, 2009

I'm not sure the host's shirt was quite hideous enough.

Better luck next time.
posted by Sys Rq at 10:17 PM on November 2, 2009 [1 favorite]

The web needs more men's fashion (besides the hipster stuff).

Wait, this is not hipster stuff?
posted by robcorr at 10:51 PM on November 2, 2009

Wait, this is not hipster stuff?

Of course not. It's stuff for people who are too old to be hipsters.
posted by Sys Rq at 10:59 PM on November 2, 2009

(It's a Moldy Fig aesthetic.)
posted by Sys Rq at 11:01 PM on November 2, 2009

I liked the table guy.
posted by Kraftmatic Adjustable Cheese at 11:05 PM on November 2, 2009

I watched the segment at Rising Sun Jeans, and saw not a single cogent argument for why the "old styles" are better. Their jeans may or may not look better (hard to tell without practical examples), but absent an actual claim about the objective quality of theirs versus Walmart I tend to assume that it's in the same realm as boutique bottled water.

That said, it was still an interesting interview and I loved the discussion as a whole. Adding it to Google Reader.
posted by Riki tiki at 11:11 PM on November 2, 2009 [3 favorites]

I appreciate what this video is trying to do, as I support teaching men how to dress. But the first thing that men need to learn about is CUT and SIZE. These two things are the things that most men that dress badly don't understand. Those $500 jeans aren't going to look good on you if you get the wrong cut or size. They will look just as bad as any other poor-cut wrong-size jean, cheap or not. Same with shirts. Big billowy shirts are going to look bad on you too, no matter if you get them from APC or from the merch table at your next 10k.
So, Put This On folk, remember: to teach men how to dress like adults is to teach them fit, then fashion.
posted by greta simone at 11:31 PM on November 2, 2009 [15 favorites]

So wither my $12 Costco jeans? An interesting show, I'll definitely remember to watch future episodes.*

*
1. Please don't sit next to me if you haven't washed your jeans after six months of constant wear. Have homeless dudes discovered they can sell their jeans for a small fortune?
2. Bleach for your grout. 'Nuff said.
3. I hope they tackle a "wash and wear" episode for dudes like me who literally throw stuff in the washer, dry and then wear. I recognize the more effort you put in the more you get out, but I'm probably not going to hand wash my jeans. I mean, $12! They're going to get old car grease or lawn clippings on them anyway.
posted by maxwelton at 12:16 AM on November 3, 2009

That was really well done and enjoyable and makes me feel not so bad for going so long in my jeans. (The entire concept of underwear is to act as a funk-barrier from your clothes-clothes anyway, amirite? And to keep things in their place.)
posted by disillusioned at 12:19 AM on November 3, 2009

I was hoping at the end that Jesse would have said "I can't in good conscious recommend you buy any $500 jeans" but I guess he wanted to be deferential to his first interview guest.

That said, I'm so squarely the target demographic for this series that it makes me just a bit uncomfortable and excited / hopeful at the same time.
posted by Space Coyote at 12:29 AM on November 3, 2009

Why do young(ish) Americans want to dress so old? I notice every time I visit that the look is so conservative.
posted by Lleyam at 12:32 AM on November 3, 2009

don't try to wear a denim jacket with your jeans or you'll look like a jerk

Or throw on some fingerless gloves, and bam! Instant Streets of Rage II.
posted by kid ichorous at 1:15 AM on November 3, 2009 [4 favorites]

Smart casual dress blogs are like PhD dissertations to me. I'm still in night school trying to get my street casual GED. If there's ever a fashion blog that can teach me the absolute kindergartener basics of everyday mens wear without dressing me up like I'm having lunch at the Ritz-Carlton (maybe later), I'm there, man.
posted by crapmatic at 1:48 AM on November 3, 2009

don't try to wear a denim jacket with your jeans or you'll look like a jerk

The fabled Canadian Tuxedo.
posted by maxwelton at 1:57 AM on November 3, 2009 [7 favorites]

I'm sorry but I don't need the internet to tell me what to wear.
posted by GavinR at 2:41 AM on November 3, 2009

I'm sorry but I don't need the internet to tell me what to wear.

Umm... good for you?
posted by lifeless at 3:09 AM on November 3, 2009

Nothing between $30 Levi's (which the presenter makes fun of) and $150 APCs? I suppose if I rethink my wardrobe habits to include just one pair of pants (that I wear for six months without washing?!) that kind of expenditure might make sense. It would certainly be in line with my growing realization that to look better I may actually have to start spending more than 0.5% of my (meager) annual income on clothes.
posted by col_pogo at 3:20 AM on November 3, 2009

I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A JOKE AHHHHHHH
posted by The Devil Tesla at 3:38 AM on November 3, 2009 [3 favorites]

Just need to finally put it on record that whenever I read jesse's nick (youngamerican) I always, always, always, hear the Bowie chorus and go "allll right!" in my head.

Always. It's not going away. I think it's stuck. So if that's what you ever intended Jesse, well, thanks!
posted by cavalier at 3:58 AM on November 3, 2009

Jesse cannot escape the doom that is having named his media empire's crown jewel in college. (Actually really JJGo! is the crown jewel, but TSOYA works better for my purposes here.)
posted by edbles at 4:07 AM on November 3, 2009 [1 favorite]

So where does a fella go to physically try on some APCs, if said fella doesn't live near a town with a specialty denim store? Is there a national department store that carries them or something?
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 4:32 AM on November 3, 2009 [1 favorite]

Cool! Now I know why the coat that I have up for sale on eBay has so many hits!
posted by suki at 4:42 AM on November 3, 2009

This is wonderful...will be sending it to my guy friends right away! Visually appealing, fun, and entertaining.

However, I am now obsessed with deep cleaning and regrouting the grout lines on the tile and faucet of Jesse's bathtub. Jesse, call me.
posted by jeanmari at 4:45 AM on November 3, 2009

I've got two pairs of Lucky Jeans. The 4% spandex and mid-rise waist makes them extra comfy, and Mrs. Fleebnork thinks my butt looks good in 'em. That's good enough for me.
posted by Fleebnork at 4:45 AM on November 3, 2009

A web series about dressing up like a grownup

I've been writing and rewriting this comment for a while now because I can't quite place what it is that annoys me so much about this attitude that is prevalent in media dealing with men's fashion. I see the word 'infantilization' thrown around quite a bit as well. Shit like this is pretty common. I wish I could narrow down what I dislike about it so much... Is it classist? Condescending?

In the interest of full disclosure, I wear very casual clothes in and out of work, don't have much style and have a burning desire for the world to turn back to 1920's high-society fashion so I can wear suits and hats day in and day out.
posted by slimepuppy at 5:05 AM on November 3, 2009 [4 favorites]

I should clarify; I like the Put This On site but the title just put me on the defensive from minute one. ("If you do not dress like this, you are a child.")
posted by slimepuppy at 5:09 AM on November 3, 2009

I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A JOKE AHHHHHHH

I'm so glad I wasn't the only one waiting for the punchline. I waited 5 minutes into episode 1, saw no such joke, and left. Jeans are nice, but uhhh spending upwards of hundreds of dollars on a single pair? That's a joke in itself, just not a really funny one. I'd say your money could be better spent on the victimized children of war or something.
posted by tybeet at 5:09 AM on November 3, 2009 [4 favorites]

(Squeal) Oh! Fashion! It's Fabulous!!!11!! (end squeal)*

Oh, yes, men. You too can become a slave to fashion! Step right up, there's no time to loose! Fashion, it's not just for women any more! now everyone can become a slave to the god of superficial appearances! Everyone who's anyone is doing it, so should you!

I recall when $100 jeans were considered outrageous, and some folks understood it was oxymoronic, while other folks ran out and bought them. Same shit, different century.

*I can say that, I'm queer.
I am amused that my opinion is my own, yet, it is true that my ancestors were Mennonites.
posted by Goofyy at 5:19 AM on November 3, 2009

If there's ever a fashion blog that can teach me the absolute kindergartener basics of everyday mens wear without dressing me up like I'm having lunch at the Ritz-Carlton (maybe later), I'm there, man.

How about a single-serving site with just the words:

WEAR WHATEVER THE HELL YOU WANT, BUT WEAR IT WITH CONVICTION.

(so maybe that was curmudgeonly of me to say. But, I'm of the old school that there are no rules in dressing beyond public/professional decency. Also, I am a lady, so I'm not the target audience anyway.)
posted by bluefly at 5:27 AM on November 3, 2009

This looks to be about seventeen different types of awesome. Well done, Jesse and Adam!
posted by magstheaxe at 5:31 AM on November 3, 2009

I think it's a lot easier to wear something with conviction when you're positive that the clothing you chose really does give you the look that you want.

There's something a little sad about a person strutting around in an outfit that he clearly loves, but that's cut or sized so poorly it makes him look like he got dressed in the dark and accidentally put on someone else's clothes.
posted by magstheaxe at 5:44 AM on November 3, 2009

I long for the future, where there is no fashion or people who care about it. Everyone is wearing jumpsuits colored according to their function. It is beautiful.
posted by 0xdeadc0de at 6:00 AM on November 3, 2009 [3 favorites]

I have few convictions about clothes. I am willing to put on most anything my wife asks me to, but I can't seem to CARE about clothes. I think the key to looking good in clothes is that you have to believe it matters- and it doesn't to me. But thanks for the post.

In preview- I care enough about it that I hope jumpsuits aren't required.
posted by MtDewd at 6:02 AM on November 3, 2009

col_pogo, re: decent jeans which will not break the bank, I might suggest Cheap Mondays or Uniqlo.
posted by avianism at 6:09 AM on November 3, 2009

red socks on the "million dollar" dude is a bit much

the site looks so far to be pretty conservative and nostalgic for a bygone era in its sartorial pickings, and as much as i like the classic / preppy / wes anderson look it's too particular a style choice to warrant the general claim of "dressing like a grown up". but since the audience of the site (like most) is self selecting, this address to authority will probably seem natural and implicit.
posted by doobiedoo at 6:13 AM on November 3, 2009

I recall when $100 jeans were considered outrageous

Er, like right now?

I enjoyed this, but agree that the gulf between $30 'less crappy than they used to be' and $150 jeans is too broad. But whatever, as with the above my jeans are $13 from Costco. (Maybe this is the gulf between the cheapest Dell laptop user and the macbook pro crowd?) The care and feeding tips were interesting.

I was listening to a Moth story on fashion last weekend, and decided that some people are just hardwired to care, and some, like me, aren't.

Kudos to Jesse for creating more!
posted by These Premises Are Alarmed at 6:16 AM on November 3, 2009

Club Monacco was selling raw selvedge denim jeans a little while back for under $100. I'm not sure what the people on Super Future thought of them. Honestly though, raw denim jeans will last a good while, and look better the more you wear them.

Also, you don't need to soak all raw denim jeans in hot water, just ones that aren't sanforized. I can forgive them this misstep since the video is so awesome.
posted by chunking express at 6:21 AM on November 3, 2009

I'm sitting here seething that there even exists a pair of jeans that costs more than $100.00, yet I just realized I have a second Firefox tab opened to a discussion breaking down the costs one would incur if one were to build his own film-quality Stormtrooper armor. You could buy a lot of jeans just for the cost of the helmet alone.

Sometimes I hate being a geek.
posted by bondcliff at 6:37 AM on November 3, 2009 [6 favorites]

I'd say your money could be better spent on the victimized children of war or something.

Oh, it's not that. It was the part about the bathtub and wearing pants until they smell "so bad you can't handle it" that really messed with my head, as well as the lonelysandwitch guy in that awful pantsuit giving random fashion advice. I understand the appeal (hell, I subscribed!), but I still think these guys are fucking nuts.

You Look Nice Today, the podcast lonelysandwitch does with a few other dudes provokes a similar reaction.
posted by The Devil Tesla at 6:48 AM on November 3, 2009 [1 favorite]

I never wanted to spend $100 on jeans, but I'm cursed with a bubble butt. Most jeans are cut for the average guy who doesn't have much of a butt, so this means I have to go to a store and try on every damn pair of jeans they have until I find something that fits. If I find something that fits, I buy it, whether it's a $30 pair, or a $100 pair.

Even if I do find a pair of jeans that fit my butt, this means the waist is 2-3 inches too big for me, so I have to cinch them up with a belt. The problem is further complicated by changing fashions, which means I usually can't find the same cut/style of jeans again when I need a replacement pair.

Fashion sucks.

Probably more than any of you wanted to know about my butt.
posted by Fleebnork at 6:57 AM on November 3, 2009

Everyone is wearing jumpsuits colored according to their function. It is beautiful.

It was the 80's. We wore them. It wasn't beautiful.
posted by jeanmari at 7:19 AM on November 3, 2009 [2 favorites]

See also. Bad idea. Bad, bad idea.

Even though my husband would probably never pony up $500 for a pair of jeans, I found the video to be interesting because the history of blue jeans IS interesting.

In college, one of my roommates was a fashion designer. I grew up shopping at Fashion Bug. She took me in hand and showed me how decent fitting clothes were made. Pants and skirts with linings. Fashionable hem lengths. What good material with a aesthetically pleasing drape felt and looked like. How to use alterations to make something that was okay look GREAT! I miss her over the shoulder consulting, especially twenty years later now that my shape has changed and I've aged and the advice I got back then doesn't fly anymore. I need an update.

Her little workshop in design doesn't mean that I spend a TON more on clothing. But I think I really can recognize a good piece for a decent price now that will really hold up over time. I pay more per piece and I buy fewer clothes. I don't grab something because it is cheap and then bemoan my decision later and never wear it (which is the REAL expense of clothes shopping.)

So, education about options and what can look good and fabrics and cut and style CAN lead to more comfort with your wardrobe and better investment in the clothes that you do buy. Even if you get them from a second hand shop.
posted by jeanmari at 7:27 AM on November 3, 2009 [4 favorites]

One point of clarification, gang: that's Adam's bathtub. ;)
posted by YoungAmerican at 8:03 AM on November 3, 2009 [3 favorites]

If there's ever a fashion blog that can teach me the absolute kindergartener basics of everyday mens wear without dressing me up like I'm having lunch at the Ritz-Carlton (maybe later), I'm there, man.

FIT FIT FIT FIT FIT. I've noticed a lot of guys (including my spouse) simply can't tell if something fits them. Shop with someone who is stylish, whether a man or a woman, and ask them. My husband's problem-areas with regards to fit:

Shirts and sweaters that are too big - the shoulder seam should be on your shoulder, not halfway to your elbow. Unless you're wearing a button-up shirt under a suit jacket or have a bigger belly than chest, I guarantee you want a slimmer fit shirt through the waist. Sometimes these are called "slim-fit" or "european-fit" shirts.

Kakhi pants/jeans that are too large in the waist and too short in the inseam. Contrary to popular opinion, men's casual pants sizes have little to do with your actual waist size and inseam. Jeans especially should mostly stay up without a belt and the hem should hit below the back of your shoe. When it doubt, buy them long and take them to a tailor. It won't cost more than $15.

A blazer ties any look together. Especially with jeans and a dark-colored t-shirt.

Personally, I think a polo shirt is an absolute no-no unless you're on a boat or at a company picnic, but that may just be a personal peeve.
posted by muddgirl at 8:08 AM on November 3, 2009 [5 favorites]

Lleyam: "Why do young(ish) Americans want to dress so old? I notice every time I visit that the look is so conservative."

Do you visit New York, primarily? It's really a New York thing. Unless you work in The Internet in which case you dress like you're still in college. And not in the student government, either.
posted by kathrineg at 8:13 AM on November 3, 2009 [1 favorite]

Nicely shot/edited -- I can see following future episodes.

But $500 jeans? Not a chance in hell. $40 is about my cap.
posted by Pantengliopoli at 8:21 AM on November 3, 2009

(Reading back over what I wrote, I should note that my spouse wears polo shirts sometimes in the summer, and I don't, like, throw red paint on him or anything, but I DO throw them out the minute a poorly-constructed collar starts to curl up)
posted by muddgirl at 8:23 AM on November 3, 2009

I'm pretty sure Lileo in Toronto had a pair of Gilded Age jeans that were something like 800 bucks. For serious. That shop is kind of ridiculous though.
posted by chunking express at 8:24 AM on November 3, 2009

Fleebnork: "Even if I do find a pair of jeans that fit my butt, this means the waist is 2-3 inches too big for me, so I have to cinch them up with a belt. The problem is further complicated by changing fashions, which means I usually can't find the same cut/style of jeans again when I need a replacement pair. "

I have the same issue because I go from a size 8 on top to a size 14 on bottom--what you do is buy something that fits your ass/hips/thighs and only has a couple of inches of extra fabric at the waist. Then you get the waist TAILORED. This is very important. Then you don't have to do the whole belt-as-drawstring thing. Tailoring should be pretty cheap, $15 or so.

And this goes out to ANYONE who hates shopping:

Buy 2 of everything that is good quality and fits you well. I have two perfect gray sweaters, 2 perfect pairs of jeans, 2 perfect bras...just bite the bullet and buy 2.
posted by kathrineg at 8:30 AM on November 3, 2009

A web series about dressing up like a grownup

I want to dress more like an adult. I'm not poor, and I'm not miserly when it comes to clothes. But US$500 for one pair of jeans? I can't remotely afford to dress like that sort of adult.
posted by Western Infidels at 8:31 AM on November 3, 2009 [1 favorite]

Well, APC's are $150 bucks and well worth the money.
posted by chunking express at 8:32 AM on November 3, 2009

JJGo! and YLNT are two of my favorite podcasts. I like the idea of Put This On, but I felt that it was short on actual information. I know that has to be balanced against other considerations.. but still. The guy never said why old stuff is better, he just said it is.

After reading a forum post about raw denim, I felt like really knew the appeal of Raw Denim. After watching Put This On, my general feeling was.. "expensive jeans.. wha?" I still didn't get it.
posted by reishus at 8:37 AM on November 3, 2009

This is slightly relevant to my interests.

Thanks for the post.
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 8:47 AM on November 3, 2009 [1 favorite]

Then you get the waist TAILORED. This is very important..

No, it really isn't. Not for me anyway. I can't think of a single instance in my life where having my jeans tailored was Very Important.
posted by Fleebnork at 8:51 AM on November 3, 2009

Why complain up thread about how you can't buy jeans if you're going to ignore a suggestion about how to sort your problem out?
posted by chunking express at 8:54 AM on November 3, 2009 [3 favorites]

People! It is not a jumpsuit. It's a speed suit. For doing super SCIENCE!
posted by Babblesort at 9:05 AM on November 3, 2009 [1 favorite]

Fleebnork: "No, it really isn't. Not for me anyway. I can't think of a single instance in my life where having my jeans tailored was Very Important."

You will shop less and spend less money. That is important.

I would rather be beaten with many sticks than shop for jeans.
posted by kathrineg at 9:06 AM on November 3, 2009

Unsolicited advice is annoying but believe me, your ass will never find its perfect home unless you make it a perfect home with love and tailoring.
posted by kathrineg at 9:08 AM on November 3, 2009 [1 favorite]

The anti-fashion sentiment in here is kind of weird. I guess it's a (totally understandable) reaction against elitism, or against the symbols of upper-class status.

With, for example, power tools, it makes sense to invest in something which does the job right and will last. Same for a good pair of pants. But putting the same kind of thought and effort into buying pants as one would in selecting a chainsaw seems to have a serious ick-factor. Like if you spend more than $50 or tailor a pair of pants so they fit better, you're somehow trading in your authenticity.

It's okay. It's not like that. It's just nice to have pants you enjoy wearing.

That said, count me in with the "why do the kids these days wanna look so old?" crowd. If I can picture the models singing Rule Britannia! unironically, something seems wrong.
posted by avianism at 9:15 AM on November 3, 2009

I like the blog, and I thought the video was okay, although that denim guy was so inarticulate that I can't believe they didn't scrap the whole thing. I mean, if your job is trying to sell people jeans that cost as much as most people's first cars did, you better be able to explain why they're so great.
posted by padraigin at 9:27 AM on November 3, 2009

Do you visit New York, primarily? It's really a New York thing.


Side effect of the democractization of fashion from the 60s onward. You used to have (in America, at least) What The WASPs Wore and Everything Else. Then the social social order got topsy turvy and you had what can best be described as a fashion Apocalypse. Fashion became removed from social standing or ethnic identififers! a thousand Sub-cultures bloomed! Working-Class became cool (for men)! Everyone must look relaxed ALL THE TIME! And the Hair was tortured! So very tortured!

So I think the roots of the current Youth Obsession with old-fashioned are A) The sincere desire to have a kind of "uniform" that is acceptable to wear everywhere and still be treated seriously as an adult. B) Not wanting to look like our parents, cause if you grew up in the bulk of America then your parents dressed like ....you. I love my mom but I keep wanting to save her from her sweaters, so yes, there is a class and aesthete-snobbery going on (My BF, who is older than me by a bit, cannot imagine why I would want to wear uncomfortable shoes when I didn't have to, cause he was forced to wear them *all the time*) and those snob/class elements are there cause humans put a snob class elements on EVERYTHING, but I think a lot of is just a sincere aesthetic response to the older looks. The 50s are pretty much the furthest you can go back and still walk around looking normal.

That and a more general retro-fetishism (now 20 years strong!) among the Youth Of America and the fact there where always dandies and fashion geeks, but the internet gets them together and makes them more visible.
posted by The Whelk at 9:43 AM on November 3, 2009 [2 favorites]

(and seriously, I've said this before, but the Pale Grey Suit is the Ultimate Disguise.)
posted by The Whelk at 9:44 AM on November 3, 2009

Why do young(ish) Americans want to dress so old? I notice every time I visit that the look is so conservative.

This is probably not the reason that "young(ish) Americans" in general have in mind, but it resonates for me: if you're going to spend good money on good clothes, the kind of clothes that are going to last for years, you ought to spend it on clothes that aren't au courant, but are instead the sort of classic staples that never go out of fashion (because they never really got to be in fashion in the first place).

This means you won't be buying the latest hot duds, but it also means that the shirt and jacket and pants you bought five years ago won't look "so 2004." If that's "old," I'm fine with it.
posted by letourneau at 9:49 AM on November 3, 2009

One point of clarification, gang: that's Adam's bathtub. ;)

Okay, then. Adam. CALL ME! If your bathtub will be appearing in future episodes of Put It On, it needs some grout help, stat! Otherwise, the water deposits will begin to negotiate for a line in the credits.

Who is doing the editing on the videos, btw? It is extremely well done. I'm imagining that you are using a single camera and editing different angles together? If so, bravo.
posted by jeanmari at 10:23 AM on November 3, 2009

Jeanmari, Adam is a professional VFX geek; as such, I imagine he is either cutting the episodes or having a pal from the industry do it.
posted by fairytale of los angeles at 11:11 AM on November 3, 2009

But US$500 for one pair of jeans? I can't remotely afford to dress like that sort of adult.

Jessie Thorn has an important message for you.
posted by The Devil Tesla at 12:00 PM on November 3, 2009 [4 favorites]

Why complain up thread about how you can't buy jeans if you're going to ignore a suggestion about how to sort your problem out?

Because said solution would cost me even more money. I'd rather use that money to do other things because I already own a perfectly serviceable belt. I'll make sure my belt matches my shoes, as my concession to fashion.
posted by Fleebnork at 12:24 PM on November 3, 2009

Taking in a pair of jeans at the waist will probably cost less than $20. Heck, my tailor will do it, same day, for $10. If well-fitting clothes aren't worth an extra $10 to you then may I suggest you're in the wrong thread?
posted by muddgirl at 12:27 PM on November 3, 2009

We're not allowed to disagree about fashion in this thread?
posted by Fleebnork at 12:33 PM on November 3, 2009

Wet Hot American Summer reference - check.



Well, that's my checklist done. Looks like I'll be reading this site daily.
posted by Wataki at 12:33 PM on November 3, 2009

Fleebnork, you should give it a shot. Take one pair of jeans that you generally like, have them fitted by a tailor, and see if the extra less-than-$20 is worth the difference in fit.

I'm kind of on the side of those saying it's well worth the nominal cost, but on the other hand, it can be a pain to find a good tailor, take your things there, be measured, go pick your things up later, etc. (however, if your weight doesn't tend to fluctuate, your measurements can be kept on file and the process streamlines itself really well in the future). For some people this slight hassle is absolutely worth having well-fitting clothing. If you find jeans-shopping to be a pain in your bubbly ass, you might actually be one of those people without even knowing it.
posted by padraigin at 12:37 PM on November 3, 2009

I'll make sure my belt matches my shoes, as my concession to fashion.

What's with all the snark? It's not like these dudes are forcing you to watch their video. I mean, no one here cares if you wear baggy jeans or not. You were the one who brought them up.
posted by chunking express at 12:52 PM on November 3, 2009

That wasn't snark. I do, in fact, make sure my belt and shoes are the same color/tone, like my dad taught me.

I was having a casual conversation about whether one considers tailoring to be worthwhile with some of the other Mefites. If that's too far off-topic I'll bow out.

I'm still a relative newbie around here, so I apologize if I derailed the thread.
posted by Fleebnork at 1:12 PM on November 3, 2009

Fleebnork - here is where some of us are getting confused. In your first comment:

I never wanted to spend $100 on jeans, but I'm cursed with a bubble butt.... If I find something that fits, I buy it, whether it's a $30 pair, or a $100 pair.

We then described how to get a great fit for a bubble butt, with nearly any $30 pair of jeans, turning them into a $40 pair of jeans!

Your response:

No, it really isn't. Not for me anyway. I can't think of a single instance in my life where having my jeans tailored was Very Important.

If having jeans that fit (ie, fashion) wasn't important to you, then you wouldn't be spending $100 on a pair of jeans that fit. You'd be buying sweat pants.
posted by muddgirl at 1:22 PM on November 3, 2009 [2 favorites]

I apologize if I derailed the thread.

It's not that, it's that you snapped back when someone was giving you good advice. Not a bright idea on Metafilter or anywhere really, even when you have no intention of using that advice for whatever reason.
posted by The Devil Tesla at 1:29 PM on November 3, 2009

You're right, that doesn't make much sense.

I was looking at it from the standpoint of already owning the $100 jeans and having to spend yet more money to tailor them.

My apologies for taking you all in circles.
posted by Fleebnork at 1:34 PM on November 3, 2009 [1 favorite]

It's cool, I didn't think you were being particularly snarky or anything, just wanted to share a (hopefully) money saving tip.
posted by kathrineg at 1:41 PM on November 3, 2009

Well, APC's are $150 bucks and well worth the money.

Not to me. Do they last three times as long as a $50 pair? Do they look three times better? How about six times a $25 pair? No?

I'll grant you that as kathrineg alludes to, a custom fit is something worth paying for (though how much is certainly debatable). But for me, there's other stuff I'd rather have than hundreds of dollars hanging off my body. And certainly not for something off the rack.
posted by RikiTikiTavi at 1:55 PM on November 3, 2009

Not to me. ....Do they look three times better?

Yes. Yes they do.
posted by dersins at 3:26 PM on November 3, 2009 [2 favorites]

I don't wear jeans. Problem solved!
posted by speicus at 5:20 PM on November 3, 2009

I don't wear clothes! This site is obviously not for me.
posted by The Devil Tesla at 5:43 PM on November 3, 2009

Yes. Yes they do.

For serious. APCS look much nicer than your typical pair of jeans from Old Navy. The denim is noticeably better for starters. If you don't notice or don't care, that's good for you. It's really no reason to get on peoples case because they like nicer jeans.

Just because YOU don't like something, or need something, doesn't mean it's not worthwhile to anyone.
posted by chunking express at 6:02 PM on November 3, 2009

Nothing between $30 Levi's (which the presenter makes fun of) and $150 APCs? I suppose if I rethink my wardrobe habits to include just one pair of pants (that I wear for six months without washing?!) that kind of expenditure might make sense. It would certainly be in line with my growing realization that to look better I may actually have to start spending more than 0.5% of my (meager) annual income on clothes.

Uniqlo's jeans go for $30-40 and are extremely good for the money. Better fit and construction than any other jeans I have owned (though I've never had really fancy ones).

And yeah I have just two pairs of jeans, only really wear one of them, rarely wash, and have used them as my sole pants for months and months.

(OTOH I suddenly find I have to dress business-casual or business-formal every day, which rules out jeans and most of the ensembles I've grown used to. I feel like I was just starting to crack smart-casual and now I'm starting from scratch on a dress code I don't understand. Shit.)
posted by grobstein at 8:45 PM on November 3, 2009 [1 favorite]

Meant to add: they don't smell! You can go ahead and sniff at the next meetup.
posted by grobstein at 8:45 PM on November 3, 2009

kathrineg: yes, maybe that's it. i have mainly visited new york / new england. it has always puzzled me. it isn't as though these are classic pieces, just....frumpy. maybe i should venture beyond nyc next time ;)
posted by Lleyam at 12:51 AM on November 4, 2009

although, having concurred that it might be a new york thing, there's also the whole (non-nyc) american business casual thing, which really is too odd for words.

if you have poor clothing taste, don't parade it in the office for all to see. put on a good suit (works for everyone (if you work in an office)) and throw away those terrible slip-on shoes with the tassels on them.
posted by Lleyam at 12:56 AM on November 4, 2009

But US$500 for one pair of jeans? I can't remotely afford to dress like that sort of adult.

Jessie Thorn has an important message for you.

"This incident has been reported, and we will work quickly to correct any issues. We're very sorry for the inconvenience."

Sounds like a threat to me.

I just realized I have a second Firefox tab opened to a discussion breaking down the costs one would incur if one were to build his own film-quality Stormtrooper armor

Am I the only one here who's just a little bit annoyed that you didn't include a link to that discussion?
posted by effbot at 3:55 AM on November 4, 2009

I used to buy 30 dollar jeans. However, I have really muscular legs and and abuse my jeans like crazy (walk everywhere, climb trees...) and I found that they would rip and fall apart usually after about 3 months of use.

I finally caved and bought a pair of 200$ raw denim jeans, and they've lasted me two years, and look incredible. I bought a second pair at 250, and they're equally amazing.

If c is the quality of the look, and d is how long they last, then d is like 10, c is at least 3, so c*d*40 = 900 which means by fancy jeans are totally worth it.

Also: if you're a huge geek, go out and buy some raw denim right now. They're the only garments I know which gain experience and levels as you where and wash them.
posted by Alex404 at 9:03 AM on November 4, 2009 [2 favorites]

If c is the quality of the look, and d is how long they last, then d is like 10, c is at least 3, so c*d*40 = 900 which means by fancy jeans are totally worth it.

Tradtional clothing that's made well will save you money in the long run.


And the guy in the jeans video (the reporter) looks exactly like Andrés Iniesta.
posted by Zambrano at 12:05 PM on November 4, 2009

Nice, this might actually motivate me to stop dressing like a big kid.
posted by Carius at 7:49 PM on November 6, 2009

I missed this post but just found the show over on MeFi Projects. I'm definitely subscribing to this one and looking forward to more fashion tips for the clueless geeky guy. Since my fiancee started dressing me I'm doing better, but I really appreciate stuff like this so I can take back the reins and become a responsible dresser on my own. I'm on a tight budget too, so the more future episodes can focus on penny-pinching and still looking good, the better.
posted by The Winsome Parker Lewis at 10:24 AM on November 9, 2009