It’s always fun to read men’s fashion articles from the Wall Street Journal, since I always find them so over the top.
Well, today I saw two headlines, with brief descriptions, that caught my attention:
4 Menswear Trends That Could Be Bigger than Tie-Dye
It’s time to move on from ubiquitous, hippie-ish swirls. Experts predict what new looks will prove as pervasive.
The Secret of the Sub-$1,000 Suit
Yes, you can find quality tailoring for less than four figures—if you know where to look. Here, our men’s fashion editor’s top 3 picks.
So, which one to read first?
The first story was tempting because I was curious what the latest trends were in menswear, particularly trends that could be bigger than tie-dye. (I must have missed the fact that tie-dye was a trend again.) I knew whatever those trends were, they would likely be outrageous )both in look and price).
But then the second article piqued my interest because I didn’t know that you couldn’t find a quality men’s suit under $1,000. I could buy four men’s suits for that price. Maybe a lot of guys really don’t know where to look.
I opted to go with the first story, but I never really made it to the four trends, because the first paragraph stopped me in my tracks:
Tie-dye has waxed and waned in Western popular culture since hippies made it a psychedelic staple of the 1960s, but it’s been surging in popularity since roughly 2019. From hoodies and bucket hats to t-shirts and swim trunks, tie-dye seeped into nearly every facet of the menswear market at nearly every price, from Louis Vuitton to Zara and everywhere in between. Even today, you can buy an Elder Statesman tie-dye sweater that will set you back as much as the monthly rent on a West Village apartment, or you can buy a fast fashion t-shirt for the cost of a large latté.
Now I have no idea what the rent is on a West Village apartment, but I’m guessing it’s more than the $40 or $50 I might spend on a sweater.
So I had to look up these Elder Statesman sweaters, and the photo above is what I got at the top of my Google results.
My first reaction was “wait, what?!?”
A sweater for $1,905?! I’m guessing whoever would buy such a sweater is the same guy who can’t find a suit for under $1,000.
At least it makes the $1,450 sweater seem like a bargain.
So I felt no need to read beyond that opening paragraph.
I got my outrageousness fix, and I was good to go.
Of course, feel free to click on the links to those two stories if you are curious as to what the latest trends are in men’s fashion or if you want to find out where you can get a men’s suit for under $1,000.
But I hope to get two more articles out of this embarrassment (literally) of riches…
P.S. By the way, I just found a Craft & Soul suit, sold exclusively on Amazon, for under $100. That’s right, there’s one less zero…
This is incredibly comical to me. I especially like the notes on some of the bottom of the selections. I’m picturing the conversation with my wife. “The sweater is only $1,905, and the shipping is free!” 🤣 Who knew that paying $1,590 for a sweater would be a “special offer?”
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yes, that free shiping almost won me over…
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I’m what is termed a “fashion fossil”. I never change and the trends come and go. Sometimes I fit in and other times I don’t.
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you sound just like me. a pair of jeans and a cheap t-shirt is all I need…
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Hi Jim!
“Snob appeal” and a lot of psychological crap at play for folks to pay that much for what looks like should cost $40!
But thanks for sharing this – it was crazy to see those prices – and I agree with suits being available at different price points –
Oh and not to always be suggesting shows to you – but you have to add another one to your list
Lauren Greenfield’s “Generation Wealth”
– I need to watch it again but I think it connects to this post!
Oh and I actually follow a blogger’s who has the handle “embarrassment of riches” so
Your ending thought reminded me of her
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I think youre right about the snob appeal factor.
I love getting all these recommendations – keep them coming!
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totally crazy, but i guess that as long as there are people willing to pay these amounts for clothes, someone will make them. I just can’t help but think how many cold, homeless people you could clothes for this amount of money.
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I agree; it seemslike a complete waste of money that could be put to much better use…
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I always thought tie-dye was what accidentally happens when you color Easter Eggs while wearing a suit. I suppose if I was a billionaire, I’d think nothing of spending nearly 2-grand on a sweatshirt. But since I’m not, I’ll pass.
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I think tye-die also refers to how some guys remember when to wear a tie – this phrase helps cover funerals…
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I’m hoping that will be the next time I wear a tie. At my funeral.
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I’m at the point where I only where a tie at weddings and funerals…
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Me too. It’s sad that they still have such events.
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covid put an end to them for a while…
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I guess that’s one good thing that can be said about covid.
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but now I’ve got two weddings to go to over the next couple of months…
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Damn. I suggest doing whatever you can to break those relationships up.
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you are good at strategery…
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😉
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👍
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I used to work with what I called the “fashionista 3”. They are wealthy The OC women who didn’t blink at spending over $500 on a BELT and $3,000 on a PURSE. I used to tease them with, “hmmmm… should I buy a used car for a low income family or get another purse?”
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yes, it seems like that money spent by the OC women could be put to better use…
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I know they all give to charity but they could clearly give more. One paid $47,000 for new carpet and I was upset she didn’t offer me the old carpet. It would never occur to her… but I’m certain her old carpet looked better than mine!! I’m still using the 2nd hand stove and washing machine given to me in 2002! Hate the stove. LOOOVE the washing machine!
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it’s good to know that they do give to charity…
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I used to tie-dye my own clothes in more trendy day! I’d do it again for $1900!
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your skills are back in demand!
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Who knew tie die was a thing again. So glad Dave would not wear that. And I would not pay R1000 for a jersey, let alone $1000.
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I’m with you, and Dave!
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If you have to buy overly expensive clothes to impress people, it is likely you are aware that they will not be impressed by the person in them. Great post, Jim!
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great way to phrase it Brad!
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my class will be making tie-dyes in may, and they will be under 2 dollars each with free shipping (me carrying them outside) and will now be known as the way younger statesmen and women in my school.
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I think you need to up your prices, but I like the name… 🙂
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We’re easy
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like Sunday morning…
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perfect for song lyrics )
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🙂
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I honestly don’t know anyone who would wear those sweaters. Then again, I honestly don’t know any elder statesmen either; and if I did, I wouldn’t want to see them wearing those.
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the sweaters don’t bother me as much as the price tag. I know a few people who could afford such a sweater, fortunately, at least to my knowledge, they have not bought any of these ittems…
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My fashion sense priority goes in this order: does it fit, how much does it cost (better not go past 2 figures), and do people laugh at me while I am wearing it (I do have a small sense of shame).
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I like that, can I borrow it? your fashion sense, that is, not your clothes…
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I also look for clothes that can disguise what I ate (and spilled) for lunch.
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this checklist keeps getting better…
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They make bibs that can help with that. 😝
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I wonder if the Elder Statesman makes bibs…
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I am sure that your daughter’s help you out wifh fashion sense.
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I think my sons have given up on me…
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Your wife too? 😉
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she’s just happy that I stopped wearing my “Boogie Till You Puke” t-shirt from college…
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Your poor wife! LOL!
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she’s the one with good taste and common sense…
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Couple of thoughts: 1) I haven’t seen a man wearing a tie-dye in at least a year. 2) It’s nice people have so much money to waste on clothes. I just wish the funds would trickle down to those who need it rather than pay the salaries and dividends of people already making millions a year. I seriously have a hard time talking myself into spending more that $10 on a t-shirt.
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a friend of mine is a big Grateful Dead fan, so I do see him wearing the occasional tie-dye shirt. I’m like you ; to me t-shirts should be three for $10, and jeans hould be less than $40…
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I can’t imagine spending $1000+ on any piece of clothing because it’s trending in fashion😳
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I think that is probably my lifetime budget for clothing…
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I’ve always thought that the fashion industry is based on the premise that a fool and his money are soon parted. Looks like I was right.
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I’d have to agree…
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So true!
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👍
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I wonder what kind of discount for buying in quantity.
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unless the discount involves them paying me money to wear such a shirt, no discount would be worth it…
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The only thing that I will ever wear that is in that kind of crazy price range is definitely NOT a sweatshirt. More like the ring on my finger!
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I wonder if Brad had a tough time deciding between a ring and one of these sweaters… 🙂
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“Funnny!” I don’t think those sweaters were available back then!
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I guess you dodged a bullet then…
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You mean he dodged a bullet. Would feel sorry for him trying to explain why he bought the sweatshirt instead of the ring!
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which one will keep you warm on a cold winter’s night? 🙂
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😶🤚! “No comment!” 😉
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YAY! 🙂
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Pfttt!
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is the P silent?
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😜
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The really sad part is I bet people who buy those tie dye sweaters probably only wear them a time or two. To show you how uneducated I am about fashion, I was visiting Palo Alto, CA and needed a basic light jacket and wandered into the first store I saw in the mall. It was Nieman Marcus.🤣
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yes, the cost per usage must be astronomical.
I hope there was a Gap at that mall as well 🙂
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Wow! Last I knew you could make your own tie dye apparel for very little money! A white T shirt and some T shirt paint and you can have the fun of creating one on the cheap!
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and then sell it for a few hundred dollars!
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Great idea. That would generate more income than my blog! 🙄
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setting up a lemonade stand in my front yard on a cold, rainy day would generate more income than my blog…
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🤣🤣you and me both!!
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👍
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I bet the Amazon suit is okay. The clothes I have bought there certainly are. When the sticker price is one less zero, common sense has prevailed. There are people who just can’t let go of the 60’s and have $$$.
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I can’t believe someone would pay that much for those sweaters, because they’re UGLY!
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I literally feel like most rich people wear ugly clothes it’s just they’re praised because they’re expensive and from designer brands…
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I think you’re right…
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