Parisian men gone wild?

By the look on my face you'd think I'm reading Parisian Men Gone Wild.* But no - this is a slightly classier, weightier book, which can also double as a doorstop or lethal weapon. It's called The Parisian Gentleman, by Hugo Jacomet. The men here aren't doffing their duds but rather donning studs and cravats, pocket squares and socks, and cologne and suits - all of the very finest accoutrements of style respectability. (There's a glossary at the end of this post just in case.)

Jacomet wrote the book to address the short shrift he felt is given to French men's style compared to their female counterparts, by highlighting the makers and connoisseurs of Parisian gentlemen's fashion through the years. A friend loaned it to me.

It took Herculean effort to keep this heavy book upright while pressing the remote control and maintaining an expression of calm sophistication. 

This book was a quiet respite of beautiful existence. 

I couldn't help thinking that while a wealthy man can buy any of the exquisite items in this book, there's no guarantee he won't still come out an emperor with no clothes. As you know, the politesse, respect, and kindness that define a gentleman, or any civilized being for that matter, can't be bought at any price. 

It's summer and I'm too lazy to actually stand up for outfit photos. You'll have to imagine these outfits in a frontal full-vertical position. 

Speaking of wealth and style, I'm wearing a men's tuxedo shirt, discarded I suspect by a billionaire type gauging by the heavy fine cotton, monogram, labels, and removable buttons. I don't think it had been worn even once - it was still so chemically white I had to squint. Of course this garment required immediate farking.

I reduced the sides by about 8 inches and overlapped the collar and back of the shirt, as you see in the bottom right photo. I put a slit up the back as well and kept the edges raw. For the sleeves, I slip my hand through the opening above the cuff; no adjustment necessary.

The silhouette and back view are my favourite; the front is just your basic startling-white tuxedo shirt with long sleeves. I love the contrasting black thread. I chose it not because I was too lazy to change the colour on my machine - although that can happen - but because each stark stitch made the shirt visibly more and more my own. 

I've taken this shirt out for a test drive once on my morning walk, worn with my sneakers and tux pants, and with my hair down and aqua brows, as seen in the first photo, but when I wear wear this shirt next time, styling it to the max, oooh, I am going to enjoy it so much. Although I'm not sure I'm done farking just yet.

I'm linking up to Patti at Not Dead Yet Style for Visible Monday and Catherine at Not Dressed as Lamb for #iwillwearwhatilike. 

Also, I was interviewed a short while ago by REglam here. The article is called "Evolution of the Fashion Industry with Melanie." Do I even know what I'm talking about? Hwahaha. I appreciated the questions.

This has been a slightly cool summer, which I don't mind in the least. We've had a couple of hot days where I've had to resort to hiding in the shadows of light poles at each intersection like a bungling Inspector Clouseau to avoid the sun, as I may have mentioned before. I just wish downtown was a little quieter in the summer - but it is what it is.

Thanks for dropping by! Have a great week, all. 

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*Girls Gone Wild was a wildly popular candid-camera-style video series which featured young drunken women baring their boobs on beaches while partying hard during spring break. The maker of these revolting movies became a multimillionaire, although he is now living in Mexico to evade US authorities.

Glossary just in case

doffing duds: taking off clothes; donning duds: putting clothes on

accoutrements: clothing and accessories

short shrift: not enough credit

politesse: politeness, etiquette

farking: upcycling, refashioning, and/or screwing up existing clothing or other things

Inspector Clouseau: fictional comic detective, most famously played by Peter Sellers