
Lilac seersucker from Billy Reid
Maybe, upon further consideration, I am a fag in fag's clothing.







Either way, I love social occasions that many people bemoan: fancy weddings, ceremonies of any sort, formal cocktail parties that are not ironic. Is there pomp and circumstance? I'M SO INTO IT.
Garden party outfits are a particular fantasy ensemble of mine, likely because summer in San Francisco consists of fog/WARM SUN COLD AIR/fog fog/WARM/fog/FREEZING. Tailored shorts and wingtips? Never. Get your layer on or go home. But I don't give a shit. I will wear this Italian man's outfit, captured on the Satorialist, if only in my heart:

Speaking of, my new favorite thing is the knit bow tie. When done well, it's just the right balance of whimsical and meaningful. I deeply covet this one, from Band of Outsiders:

Here I commence projecting my hopes and dreams onto you. Are you going to a slightly casual beach wedding? On a boat? You're so lucky! Here's my question: why are you not wearing this outfit from Band of Outsiders?

Or, I don't know, what about this outfit from Billy Reid? It's summer! Get some wingtips and a glass of your champagne and you're golden!

It's the details that get me. Material changes, shoes can make an outfit pop, but ultimately it's the no belt or the yellow stripes that make all the difference. It's summertime! You're on a rusted out boat. Wish I was there.
Michael von Braithwaite and I recently attended a wedding in real summer outside of my hometown of Pittsburgh, PA. I realized, sitting next to her, that the last ingredient in summer formality success is your date's style. Luckily, she's both beautiful and stylish. As evidence, these details:
Pretty!
Relatedly, summer formal wear is meant to be serious fun. For full-fledged whimsy, check out this gorgeous photo from the series by Sophia Wallace on her blog, This Beautiful Fight.

These are outfits for croquet on an estate with a bunch of glamorous, wealthy artists. My kind of party!
When it comes down to it, the (semi/summer) formal is not about the buttons or the cuff links. It's about a social agreement regarding classiness. It's about people getting together to really honor something--a birthday, a graduation, a wedding, whatever--and doing it in their straight up dress up clothes. And--in summer--it's about the warmth and wildness that that comes with the weather. It's the shrugging off the wool of winter for the knit ties and the white pants.
It's about really getting together and doing it, whatever it is, and looking like a million bucks in the meantime because life is short and you're living it.
This post was GENIUS! Where can I find a rusty old boat to host a summer party??
ReplyDeleteI want to BE the sensibility in this post. This is great, Page.
ReplyDeleteI dig the knit bow tie.
ReplyDeletezhengjx20160715
ReplyDeletelouis vuitton outlet online
ralph lauren home
michael kors handbags
adidas superstar
coach factory outlet
coach outlet
longchamp le pliage
gucci outlet
oakley sunglasses wholesale
ray ban sunglasses
michael kors handbags
jordan 3 retro
louis vuitton outlet online
true religion jeans
nike trainers sale
burberry outlet online
cheap jordans
michael kors outlet online
christian louboutin sale clearance
louis vuitton outlet stores
coach outlet store online clearances
replica watches
supra for sale
cheap air jordans
coach outlet
coach outlet
michael kors outlet online
nike running shoes for men
michael kors outlet clearance
michael kors outlet
oakley sunglasses
nike free 5.0
burberry handbags
cheap jordans
louis vuitton handbags
hollister clothing store
louboutin shoes
polo ralph lauren
michael kors outlet clearance