The majority of my childhood was spent fending off the shenanigans of my two older brothers. I was teased by them and was frequently reminded of my baby-like status, as they were four and five years older than me. I was often employed as a source of amusement in my position as the household target for mockery—and their playful arrows never missed the bull’s eye.
My struggle for being recognized as a person was furthered as both parties when we all got older and overcame the age gap. At this point in time, I was around the awkward age of fifteen, they allowed me to tag along in their retail experiences. It was here that I discovered the fashion-forwardness of both of my siblings as well as the spark of interest that I retained for men’s fashion.
I found myself enjoying just existing between the racks of endless plaid, striped, and solidly patterned button-downs and the classically colored non-pleated chinos. I felt incredibly comfortable in this environment—the simplicity of the items around me was my own source of amusement. The smaller men’s section in the otherwise heavily woman-centered department store was rejuvenating.
I assisted my brothers in their decisions of work and leisure attire. I grew into some kind of men’s fashion voice of reason for my brothers, a role that I thoroughly enjoyed assuming.
Here are a few tips I picked up on my trips to men’s clothing section:
- The little details matter: look for hints of pattern in places such as shirt collars and the interior of pants pockets.
- Watches are essential—leather bands are appropriately casual.
- There are risks in the little things—skinny ties and even the presence of a pocket square are important decisions.
The men’s department never fails to disappoint, all should take a look around.
-Karis Stephen
Images courtesy of Bonobos and Brooks Brothers.