“Create your own style, let it be unique for yourself and yet identifiable for others.” - Anna Wintour
Over the past few years I've toned-down my "style game", it's now comfort over looks.
Yes, you can have both comfort and looks together, but that requires a fair bit of moolah these days. And right now, I'd rather spend that moolah elsewhere, in things that are more "important" at the moment.
I've minimalized my style game by quite a bit, I really don't think the extra bit of effort matters; not according to the lifestyle I'm living right now. Yet, I still don't look like a complete bum though; unless, when I'm at home haha.
The lifestyle I'm living right now doesn't require a well sorted and dapper look. However, about half a decade ago things used to be different; shirts, polos, blazers, suits, brogues and loafers, these were all quite mandatory. Work, meetings, site visits and all that, always surrounded by fit and classy folk, the dapper look was quite necessary back then, in order to fit in well with the pack.
The suited and booted look and lifestyle, that lifestyle and I go way back.
I still remember my father dressing me up in different kinds of suits when I was a child. Colors of navy, burgundy, black and brown, readymade or custom, my father took his time when creating my little wardrobe.
At least once a month he would take me to one of his business meetings. Whether it be at the office during the afternoon, or a late night meeting while having dinner at a fancy restaurant; way past my bedtime haha.
However, back then I never really recognized the significance of dressing well and a well dressed person.
The other day I was out with my friend, we went to one of the best suit tailors in the country, Dapper Bespoke.
If I'm not wrong, these guys were probably the first to introduce proper bespoke suits and tailoring into the country. And for a country like ours, that's no joke.
The bespoke suits here range from $400 to even $4000 USD. Providing such specialized service for such a small market, in a country where the average yearly salary is roughly $3000 USD, that's no easy task.
Yet, they do seem to be doing quite well.
Even my friend here has ordered a bespoke suit. And the overall cost for his 3 piece suit was around a $1000 USD. That's enough money for a 4 person family to live happily in the capital city of Dhaka, crazy right?
The distribution and imbalance of wealth, sigh!
Now, I may not be a part of the dapper lifestyle anymore, but one day I'd like to rejoin, maybe renew my membership?
That is why I decided to tag along with my friend that day, just to see how far the craftsmanship of suits have come. Also, getting the chance to witness an adept artisan working his magic on a nice bespoke suit, now that's a dream come true. I've seen countless YouTube videos, but never one in real life. I did get a little glance on that day, but it just wasn't enough.
I guess in order to get the full experience I'll need to order a suit of my own.
And who knows? Maybe next year or the year after I'll go for one of these bespoke suits. Whether my lifestyle or I need it or not, I might just get one, solely for the dapper experience itself.
