Fashion Five: Riveting launch party, Black Derbies, Soul Train
Every Sunday, I'll share five ideas and content usually focused on fashion and menswear, sometimes not.
Hi all!
When I came up with this newsletter idea in July, I knew I wanted to host a launch party. However, I've been procrastinating on it for the past few weeks. After some reflection, I realized my procrastination came from fear. I was scared of putting myself out there, I was scared of being judged, I was scared of failing.
Five years ago, I was deciding whether or not I wanted to take a semester off school to focus on writing. I did an exercise called “Fear Setting” which involved reflecting on the the risks and the cost of inaction for taking a semester off to write. The risks were small and preventable, the potential upside was massive. I decided to take the lead, a decision that changed my life.
I did the same exercise for this launch party. It was clear that the risks were almost non-existent, the upside was massive.
The fear subsided, turning into excitement instead.
It’s clear what I need to do.
Next Saturday, October 5th, I’m hosting a launch party in NYC for my newsletter. Dress code is you have to wear some piece of denim. There’ll be jazzy vibes, drinks, and good vibes all around.
I hope to see you there!
Video I’m rewatching
The Ultimate Guide to Layering for the Fall by Johnny Thai. Fall is the best season for fashion because of the layering options. This video provides a helpful guide on how to effectively layer for the fall season.
Store I’m interested in
Komune. Komune, a new shop in SoHo, specializes in East Asian fashion designers. Some of my fashion-forward friends believe the cutting edge of fashion is currently emerging from East Asia.
Another video I’m watching
Soul Train Line: September - Earth, Wind, Fire. For those who haven’t heard of Soul Train it’s a music and dance show focused on hip-hop, RnB, and Soul music running from 1971 to 2006. This is a fun video to watch both from a dance and fashion perspective.
Blog I’m reading
Taming the Mammoth: Why You Should Stop Caring About What Other People Think by Tim Urban. I read this piece years ago and revisited again early this week. I wrote the main takeaway in my room: Nothing you’re socially scared of is actually scary. It’s a lesson worth reminding yourself of.
Shoes I’m looking at
Black Derbies. As the seasons changed, I spent last Sunday transitioning my wardrobe from summer to fall. It was fun to rediscover pieces I hadn't worn since the start of the year. My style continues to evolve, and I'm eager to experiment with new looks. Topping my list are black derbies. A few brands I’m looking at are Doc Martens, Sanders, and Paraboot.
Fit from this week
My friend recently described my style as having a "city boy aesthetic," which is pretty accurate.
One of my go-to uniforms consists of chunky shoes, wide or straight-fit pants, and a tank top layered on a button-up. I often tuck in my shirts to create a balanced, rule-of-thirds look.
With a simple outfit, the details matter. Since it's the first day of fall, I'm wearing a pair of wide-fit, pleated wool trousers that I found secondhand. I've paired them with my favorite 3Sixteen Square Toe side-zip shoes and an APC button-up that I thrifted.
That’s all for this week!
Thanks again for subscribing! As I’m just starting this out I’d love to hear some quick feedback on what you enjoyed and what you would like to see more of.
Have a wonderful Sunday!
See you again next week,
<3 James