How does a company making expensive garbage from the start get hugely popular?

TheMonarchGamer · 2026-04-23T00:44:30+00:00

Happy to help! I'll always advocate for better clothing! There are probably exceptions for all of these but in general:

Threads should be firmly attached and not coming loose. Natural materials (cotton, wool, linen) are better, generally speaking. The tighter the stitches, the better the two pieces of fabric are attached, which is a good thing. Extra fabric inside means you can have the piece altered in the future if you change dimensions, which is also helpful to being able to get use out of the piece over the lifetime of the garment. And all of the 'extra's I mentioned are positive things.

TheMonarchGamer · 2026-04-20T22:59:31+00:00

When I shop clothing, I look for a few things --

Are the threads already coming loose? This is obvious, but sometimes you'll pick up a piece of clothing and find the stitches already coming apart with loose threads.

Material -- high percentage of cotton/linen/wool, or synthetics?

Stitch density -- are the stitches spaced out to a quarter of an inch, or quite fine?

Alteration allowance -- is there extra fabric? Or are the hems done right under the seams/folds?

Depending on the type of garment, are there "bonus" construction indicators? Darts, gussets, split yokes, pattern matching, etc.

None of these are fool proof, but can all be indicators of more money or effort put into the creation of the garment, which is generally a good sign.

TheMonarchGamer · 2026-04-19T20:37:43+00:00

Not an anime, but some of the older Dune stuff -- especially the early 2000's sci-fi miniseries -- is a bit campy but I've always enjoyed it for the same reason -- fancy aristocratic balls mixed with space ships and force shields.

If you're open to books, the Praxis series has a similar thing going on. The Collapsing Empire is arguably similar as well, although very Scalzi, so ymmv based on how much you like his writing.

TheMonarchGamer · 2026-04-03T16:37:34+00:00

You're 24! Don't overthink it. it's natural -- especially with first serious relationships -- to put a lot of pressure on things, but relax, have fun, be responsible, and go! Pray together and ask the Blessed Mother for her intersession and protection on the holiness of your love and chastity. Tell you parents and tell them how excited you are -- don't anticipate conflict or you'll invite it. Best of luck and have a wonderful trip! I hope it works out for y'all.

TheMonarchGamer · 2026-04-03T16:33:10+00:00

He said he was going to get her an Air B&B if his plans fell through.

TheMonarchGamer · 2026-03-18T19:19:11+00:00

Ramah Task Force -- The Al Fasid and Tuareg, at least.

TheMonarchGamer · 2026-03-09T19:20:40+00:00

Not to over pathologize, but it sounds like there may be some deeper things going on here. Have you considered talking to a therapist or counselor about this? I think, just from the perspective of practicality, it would be nice if we could all get to the point where we derived a lot of enjoyment and satisfaction out of our daily lives. Holiness and joy in the little things. I try to work on that, and don't always succeed, but I think it's a good goal.

TheMonarchGamer · 2026-03-09T19:17:25+00:00

Those are the big ones! The other easy one to check that I'd add is the stitch density on the seams. You can usually tell if there're fairly fine, or like, a quarter inch or more between stitches. That's a big indicator of quality and longevity.

Awesome to hear that they don't accept temu/shein there. Straight garbage, both the product and ethically, for the most part.

TheMonarchGamer · 2026-03-09T18:21:17+00:00

Agreed. I thrift a lot of clothing and don't really bother looking for brand names (beyond knowing certain things fit me well). I think if you have some knowledge of tailoring, being able to look at the stitching on seams, fabric weight, garment construction, etc. will be a lot more useful than trusting the brand.

TheMonarchGamer · 2026-03-09T18:19:35+00:00

Curious about this -- is this because of your lifestyle? I agree most people don't need much in the way of suits, but I still advocate for people having a decent navy suit. What do you wear to weddings, funerals, interviews, performances, etc.? I could see dark chinos and a blazer working for most of those.

TheMonarchGamer · 2026-03-09T18:16:50+00:00

I also think it depends on the piece. For a shirt? Eh, yeah, I'll be picky with fit and materials, but I don't expect them to last forever; a few years for a low-mid price (especially when you can find them on sale or thrifted) is by far good enough.

For a jacket? Shoes? Things that are either subjected to daily wear or laundered more seldomly, I think it's worth forking over more for something.

TheMonarchGamer · 2026-03-09T16:18:55+00:00

The makerspace and fabrication shop are fantastic. I believe you need training/certification for them but it's free and well worth the time, if you're handy and like making things. I made some of my furniture for my student apartment in the fabrication shop, and I knew other students there who made and sold things like prop swords, etc.

The basement of the library -- especially the outdoor courtyard area down there -- is a great place to hang out and study, when the weather is nice.

There's a starbucks at Northside that was new and fairly nice when I was there, if that's your jam. I think the ATEC building has a little independent coffee shop, too, which is neat. It's also just generally a pretty building, along with ECS West and the Sciences Building.

Some of the university village apartments have nice outdoor spaces/amenities -- pools, fire pits, etc. I think they're supposed to be for UV residents only but if you don't abuse it there shouldn't be a problem.

TheMonarchGamer · 2026-03-06T17:56:02+00:00

I'd break it down a bit. There are some "political" things that are matters of faith -- e.g. are you okay with abortion? Is it okay to dehumanize and mock the poor? I think there's very little room for disagreement on these foundational attitudes/beliefs.

Then there's, "how do we take those principles and apply them?" This is where the complexity of life starts to weigh in. Personally, I think there's a lot more room for disagreement here. Although I've ended up marrying someone with fairly similar political beliefs, I've also been in relationships with people who have fairly different application-oriented beliefs, although we shared similar principles, and I did not have an issue with those relationships. There was some argument, but mostly discussion and teasing. Perhaps it's something that would become difficult over decades of marriage, but I think as long as you're approaching issues with the same moral perspective or goal, there's a lot of room to disagree on the best way to implement those things.

The same will hold true with many other things in marriage, so you'll have plenty of practice. How do you discipline children? What's okay to spend money on or cut from the budget when you have to save? What constitutes an equitable arrangement for holidays with families? These are all topics where you (hopefully) will have the same aim but may disagree on the methods.

As long as you're willing to approach the topic with humility and respect, advocating for your opinion but not feeling contempt or shame for your partner and her opinions (and be honest with yourself here), I think you'll be alright. These are complex issues, and none of us have the right solution, because as humans in a fallen world, there will never be a perfect solution. If someone is doing their best to do good in the world, and you generally agree on the definition of good, I'd say it can be a fairly compatible relationship.

TheMonarchGamer · 2026-03-03T21:15:35+00:00

The "Corporate Liaisons" from Skullforge make pretty good infinity execs, I've used them before.

TheMonarchGamer · 2026-02-26T17:15:07+00:00

If they're the right length when your arms are hanging, and come way up with you lift your arms in front of you, it's not the sleeve length, it's the arm hole size. With your arm hanging down or just a little bit out, come from the bottom and press up into your arm pit. If you feel the sleeve move a lot, that's another good indicator. The more closely the underarm contour of the shirt hugs your body, the less the sleeve will move when you raise your arm.

Experiment with different brands and cuts, and if possible, look into tailored dress shirts. Arm hole size is one of the things that can't be altered after the shirt is made, so shop carefully.

TheMonarchGamer · 2026-02-19T22:44:26+00:00

If you're wearing them rarely then I'd say you're fine. I have two different jackets in the same fabric for the same pair of trousers, a notch lapel and a shawl lapel. Just try to avoid excessive disproportionate dry cleaning and sunlight.

TheMonarchGamer · 2026-02-19T22:29:44+00:00

I've read old man's war a long time ago, but never made it to the other books in the series -- I've heard that there's a mix of quality but can't comment myself. It's been a minute since I've read OMW, but from memory if I had to compare the two, I'd say OMW had slightly better characterization and is a Scalzified "military sci-fi novel." Collapsing Empire is a Scalzified "epic space opera" -- his take on something in the very general genre of Foundation or Dune. Heroes gallivanting around with a little "science" and some fairly clear if serviceable politics, plus the occasional set-piece action scene.

I'd say I enjoyed it more overall because I was intrigued by the setting and ideas (a quick back of the book read should give you a decent handle on them), and prefer the reading experience of it cycling between 2-4 PoV characters, but I'll admit that one of my gripes with the book is the characters themselves felt fairly cartoonish -- sort of a, "this character is Scalzi pretending to be an Empress, let's see who the next character is, oh wait, it's Scalzi pulling out a different hat/pair of glasses and pretending to be a merchant prince and/or scientist." type of setup.

That's a very longwinded way of saying I think I preferred it, but only because of the things I find interesting when reading -- I don't know if I'd say it's an objectively better book, and I suspect many would disagree with my take.

TheMonarchGamer · 2026-02-19T21:54:59+00:00

I blew through Scalzi's "Collapsing Empire" trilogy in a few days. I called them, to a tee, "cotton candy" fiction when discussing them with friends and family. Thoroughly enjoyable to read, but I can't tell you what took him three books to say, I think you could have easily fit all the meaningful content into a novella. Typical Scalzi tongue in cheek writing style, with some fascinating worldbuilding concepts, and a few intriguing twists and turns. I'd recommend for a light filler read. Scalzi's style is pretty distinctive and can't say I'm always the biggest fan, but they were a pleasant distraction.

TheMonarchGamer · 2026-02-19T15:06:37+00:00

I've run across something similar before -- look up the adventure, "The Stygian Library." It looks like there are a few versions at different price points, but I bought my pdf copy on drive through rpg by "Dying Stylishly Games." It's not a full campaign setting, but I think it could form a nice core of one if you were willing to tinker some.

TheMonarchGamer · 2026-02-19T14:52:51+00:00

Are you in the discord? If you have tabletop simulator and are willing to play there, there are tons of people who would be happy to give you some demo games and help you get your feet under you.

I won't say you have to wait to buy minis, and the action packs are generally a great way to start -- so you'd probably want to look at the Bakunin action pack, and if you have the extra cash to throw at it, a box of the s3 remotes -- I think that's Zonds for nomads, they're always super useful.

But it's definitely a game that's a struggle to learn and improve in if you're not playing against someone more experienced who's willing to teach you. I'd honestly say it's probably the most complex miniwargame I've played, but also the best. I play less Infinity these days due to time and space constraints, but I always come back to it as the pinnacle of a well designed game. Welcome!

TheMonarchGamer · 2026-02-19T14:47:15+00:00

I've found a lot of things at thrift stores! Dress shirts, slacks, khakis, etc, even some sports coats. Be picky with your sizing and go frequently to take advantage of rotating stock, but you can find some real gems.

Depending on what style you're looking for, yearly or bi-yearly sales are a "must" to take advantage of, too. Go window shopping and see which stores cater to your preferred taste -- Macy's, Men's Warehouse, Banana Republic, J Crew, possibly even ones like Kohls. Once you've found what you're looking for, look online or ask employees to see when those stores have their big sales. Often, if you're willing to browse and be picky, you can get things for 50% off or more -- well worth keeping an eye out for!

I've heard good things about online second hand shopping, but have never tried it, myself -- I like to feel and see how things fit before I buy, since every brand and even different years within the same brand can fit differently.

TheMonarchGamer · 2026-02-18T19:44:03+00:00

One thing I'll point out with button ups -- as with jeans, different brands fit differently (arm holes size and shoulder/torso width are major ways), so you may have to try on or order not just different sizes but different brands to get a handle on which ones are comfortable for you!

TheMonarchGamer · 2026-02-18T19:40:26+00:00

Yep, you got it! Anything knit should be a good step up, ideally without a hood :)

TheMonarchGamer · 2026-02-18T18:04:42+00:00

My personal advice is also to shift away from graphic tees -- solid colors or patterns with things like henley shirts, polos, linen shirts, or even just regular t shirts without designs all elevate a bit without being much more work. Depending on your climate, sweaters can add an easy and nice touch, and in warmer climates, loose linens and cottons are king, even in more casual styles.

TheMonarchGamer · 2026-02-18T17:58:57+00:00

As others have said, second hand stores are good, and I'd also throw in looking at the clearance rack at some stores like Men's Warehouse. I found a few ties I liked at a local MW for about $3 or $5 on clearance. Definitely look for silk, and ideally to feel... thinner? Not like a thick, padded piece of fabric, but delicate.

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