New York Update #1
Alright, I know I've been gone for a while, but I've been really busy. I definitely have a lot to say. I recently moved to NYC, and I am fully embracing the fashion scene here. The fashion scene in NYC is very cliquey and upscale but extremely pervasive around genres and styles. It's funny how you see the same people at every event though.
Anyway, apart from the overall culture shock of moving here, I have been able to enjoy and experience some really cool things within the fashion community here. I definitely have observed some aspects, and I want to share. Of course, this is something that is untrained and needs to be refined, but just some first ideas I have thought of on varying brands.
Before I really get into this, I will note how I may be negative in a lot of views here, but I think having an opinion is extremely important. In the fashion world, I think having an opinion is everything. An opinion, a statement, a point of view is what brands are hinged on. It is the driving force behind fashion's creativity. Anyway, you may agree or disagree, and you are more than welcome to.
Okay, first, I want to talk about Aime Leon Dore, or ALD as they are called. ALD, if you don’t know, is a Queens-born luxury streetwear crossover brand. Founded and maintained by Teddy Santis, drawing on his experiences growing up in Queens and Greece. ALD has done really well for itself with a near-meteoric rise to pop culture and it is almost a household name. Alright, now here is where I get critical. ALD has almost a cult following made up almost entirely of people who don’t own any ALD stuff. That is no fault of their fans as ALD tends to price their items at pretty ridiculous prices for very standard items.
The fans of ALD seem to love it for its minimalist designs and basic silhouettes. Now, ALD has very high-quality items for sure which is great because we all know the higher quality of the item, the better it is for the environment and more sustainable.
But ALD just rubs me the wrong way for some reason, in my eyes they are some sort of designer fast fashion where they find a more niche trend and regurgitate it to the masses who then see it as niche since ALD is a recycling of trends that ultimately lack creativity and experimentation. They just capitalize on a market that prefers to feel cool and then wear what they want. I feel like they are always a step behind the real fashion scene but since they are seen as a fairly entry-level fashion niche brand when they do it, it comes off as new for a lot of people.
OH, BUT DID I MENTION THEIR FLAGSHIP STORE HAS A PORSCHE IN IT! like chill we get it, and so does Buck Mason, but you don’t see them talking about it 24/7. Honestly, you buy ALD for the aesthetic, like an I’m better than you aesthetic, but of course, I say all this and I would buy everything in their store if I could.
That rant might not make a lot of sense, but I guess in my head it does.
Anyway, enough about them.
Let's transition into another subject. The current landscape of menswear. From what I have observed on social media and in person is the massive infatuation with pants. I understand pants are the lifeline of most outfits, but I have never been one who drops $500 for Japanese Denim. I don't know, I feel like most people I see are making their outfit statements through the bottoms which is understandable, I guess I just feel like being from a classical menswear background outfitting in my eyes has circulated from the top down. I guess maybe when you do fit checks you start from the bottom up to see how everything compliments each
other, damn maybe I am just now realizing pants is the end-all-be-all, or however you say that.
Anyway, the menswear scene here is so vibrant but enclosed. Like yesterday I went to a party for a tailoring company that has amassed around 50k on Instagram which is an incredible accomplishment, and the party was in an apartment.
What I am trying to say is that the scene is public on the social media aspect but in the face-to-face scene, it is quiet and niche. This might not be my best post but who cares it is my first.
Okay, let me postulate one more thing before I go. You know what no. I'm okay. I'll just end it here, but I do want to say, moving here has been everything I could have dreamed. I love it so much and it has totally changed my perception of fashion. Thank you, NYC!
Anyway, I want to get more consistent with this, and I will try. Bye for now!
Have some fits
