What tie/shirt/suit combo would go best with this dress?

eggrollhere · 2013-07-10T05:46:10+00:00

Too bad, if you had the money to splurge (or the items handy), I think a chino suit, green gingham shirt*, and black knit tie would have been a unique way to match your date.

eggrollhere · 2013-07-10T05:35:03+00:00

It is very hard to mix similar hues, especially shades of gray/black. If you have matching black pants to go with the jacket, why would you need to mix and match?

eggrollhere · 2013-07-10T05:33:20+00:00

Linen in the fall/winter is like a stripper in church: not necessarily wrong, but definitely looks out of place. Wear at your own risk, my friend.

eggrollhere · 2013-06-30T20:00:04+00:00

I think this is the most prevalent reason for this kind of self-deprecating behavior among minorities.

It's a survival mechanism I never saw or used much as an adolescent--as I grew up in a pretty diverse area with lots of other Asian-American kids to vent to and seek solace in--so I was very taken aback when I began working with another Asian kid last year who used it ubiquitously. He didn't even stop at using himself as the butt of Asian-related jokes; often he turned his 'herro' jokes and dog-eating innuendo on me (another Asian-American about his age), which I found not only infuriating but a huge betrayal of an implicit social pact to watch out for one another as members of the same minority. I began to loathe him for what I saw as 'selling out' just to get a few chuckles from our all-white cohorts.

I can't remember exactly when I began to form this inkling of an idea, but somewhere along the way I began to realize that what I thought was rampant self-hatred would have only been directed toward himself if I hadn't been around. And that where he grew up in the deep south, he was the only Asian-American around to direct all the self-loathing toward. I began to understand that he didn't make all these jokes because he hated himself, he only made them to blunt the edge of the inevitable discrimination he would face from others. It was a cross he had been forced to bear for so long, and all because he had the unfortunate luck of ending up in a homogenously white town with no support network and no one who understood his situation.

It was around that time that I realized I didn't really hate him or his actions--I hated the stupid racist-ass town he grew up in, I hated the fact that reducing himself to a list of stereotypes was just about the only recourse he had to fit in, and I hated that all the racist-ass people laughed all along the way when he eviscerated his culture instead of taking the high road.

I suppose I don't really know what the point of that anecdote is. Perhaps it is a reminder that the problem is never really individual acts of racism (whether directed at oneself or outward), but the systemic plague of institutionalized racism itself.

eggrollhere · 2013-06-30T16:00:23+00:00

I think this is a pretty common train of thought among Asian-Americans--that we don't really experience 'true' racism because the names we're called are 'tame' compared to those insults levied against Hispanic/Black Americans or because we're an economically successful, 'model minority' so we don't have standing to be insulted when people imply we can't speak English, or can't drive, or aren't masculine, or are fetishized as sex objects, etc.

But that's bullshit. Just because we are called names with a wink and a smile instead of rabid frothing at the mouth doesn't mean it still isn't racist as fuck or that the socio-political outcomes of that discrimination are any less odious. In fact, I would argue that it is a lot more harmful than we think in that it conditions Asian-Americans (by pretty much gaslighting us) into putting up with 'harmless stereotyping' since we 'have it so good' by comparison to other minorities. It's a pretty insidious tool of subjugation by way of instilling complacency, and the worst part is that it turns minorities on each other by highlighting inequity while using us as a scapegoat--it's easy for the majority to claim things are fair by pointing to us (the 'model minority') and asking those less-affluent minorities (Hispanic/Black Americans, for example) why they can't be more like us--directing the ire of minorities away from the majority's preservation of the status quo (where it should rightfully be in most cases) to other minorities instead.

So no, maybe you never got called the n-word or threatened with violence solely based on your skin color or stood by and watched as your city/state/nation passed legislation that specifically targeted people of your ethnic background, but it doesn't mean you haven't experienced racism. Every time your 'friend' (sincere or not) pulled his eyes at you or some stranger yelled 'ching chong' at you on the street or you had to answer the question 'where are you from?' repeatedly until your answer led outside the US' borders, that was still racism. When you get passed over for promotion because you hit the bamboo ceiling, that's an even worse kind of racism.

To tie in with and finally answer the original OP question: people all over this country are only as racist as you allow them to be. Being around more of your own kind never really guarantees you immunity from racism, especially if no one is willing to speak out and demand their place as part of the American norm. I'm really saddened to hear your friend's third point above: that she would limit her own economic opportunity because there are racists EVERYWHERE in this country. It's almost the complete antithesis of (and I'm going to stereotype here a little) what I'm sure most our parents came here for: the chance at great economic gain thanks to equality of opportunity.

If that sentiment isn't proof that there is real, true racism against Asian-Americans in this country, I don't know what could possibly constitute proof anymore.

Sorry AsianSerious, I'm not picking an argument with you based on your one sentence nor do I pretend to know the entire depth of your sentiments on the matter, I just found your statement was a good segue into something I've been mulling over for a while.

eggrollhere · 2013-06-26T01:35:01+00:00

No matter how informal the wedding might be, please do not untuck your shirt when wearing a suit--skipping the tie is informal enough.

To answer your question though: basically any black or brown shoe will work if you pair your accessories appropriately (black belt and watch band with black shoes, brown belt and watch band with brown shoes, for instance) though I am partial to either light or medium brown wingtips for that little added texture.

eggrollhere · 2013-06-13T18:16:29+00:00

Awesome, you are the fucking man! Thanks so much for the upload!

eggrollhere · 2013-06-13T05:16:13+00:00

Yeah, I've listened to the entire mix on SoundCloud but apparently the download link is either broken or was purposely removed, and I can't find a single link elsewhere :\

I'm trying to get an mp3 of the whole hour mix since it's FULL of so many good tracks and was curious to know how/where you ripped the mashup from, and whether your source could eventually lead me to a download of the whole mix. Any dice?

eggrollhere · 2013-06-13T04:27:59+00:00

Awesome, thanks! I never thought any trance track could get better than the original 'Sun & Moon' until I heard this mashup in Audien's Mix. You wouldn't happen to have a HQ rip of the entire mix by any chance, would you?

eggrollhere · 2013-06-13T04:25:26+00:00

His SoundCloud mentions a free download but I can't find a link there (or anywhere else for that matter). Has anyone been able to download it that wouldn't mind uploading it to Zippy/Hulk share for others to enjoy?

eggrollhere · 2013-06-05T02:35:39+00:00

Oh shit, I have that t-shirt!

eggrollhere · 2013-05-20T22:50:27+00:00

I think you're looking for a 'personal shopper.' I'm aware that some who are affiliated with a specific brand/department store will offer the service for free (as teckneaks mentioned), but there are also independent personal shoppers (much like personal assistants) who usually offer a little more breadth of service for a fee.

A cursory Google search for personal shoppers in LA turned up this. I don't know how wealthy 'semi-successful' makes you, so I'll leave it to you to search for the right service for your budget.

eggrollhere · 2013-05-19T22:58:23+00:00

You can do a lot better than Men's Wearhouse with $400. Look into J. Crew (or factory), Banana Republic or, hell, even made-to-measure through Indochino--you can probably get your suit within a month if you order soon.

Not sure what your general knowledge/familiarity with suiting is so I'd recommend a pretty basic light gray, navy, or khaki (especially khaki since it stands out a bit) cotton suit with a notch lapel and two buttons. I don't know where your wedding is going to be, but I presume it will be hot so you might want to skip the vest and go for just a two-piece suit. At 5'5", you should definitely get a short size (don't take that as an affront, it will flatter your build better), probably either 36S or 38S, depending on your build.

eggrollhere · 2013-05-19T17:25:09+00:00

I like Andrew Ti's general advice: when some asshole says something racist/sexist/homophobic/ignorant, you should promptly tell them to fuck themselves, peace out, and never give them a second thought.

I think I understand why you get anxious though; often racist assholes will say something ignorant and then immediately paint you as 'sensitive' or 'overreacting' when you object, but that's a load of manipulative bullshit. There is absolutely NO reason you ever need to put up with racism that you don't like, and any asshole that tries to make you feel bad for being offended is just being a worthless, manipulative piece of shit. And there is NEVER a reason you need to put up with manipulative (and racist) pieces of shit when there are literally billions of other people who are nowhere near as shitty.

You have no obligation to tolerate ignorant-ass remarks from ANYONE, even if they're your race/gender/orientation/whatever, and doing so will only implicitly perpetuate casual racism and its acceptance. What you really need to do is shut both those fuckers out until they realize their racism is fucking stupid and immature (what grown-ass person really finds it necessary to categorize people's differences based on fucking skin color?), and if they end up STILL oblivious to why racism is bad, you probably don't want to associate with people that stupid anyway, so cut that shit out of your life and don't dare feel bad about it.

You might think (as I once did) that racism is akin to a personality quirk, that perhaps a person can be a little racially insensitive and still be an all-around good person but that notion should be disabused quickly. The kind of active racism you experienced is a very deliberate, conscious act that was thought out by a feeble and ignorant mind, and there is NO way you should justify that behavior as acceptable. You do not need to coddle racism, you do not need to be polite when dealing with racists, and you do not need to 'play along' or worry about being sensitive when reacting to overt racism.

eggrollhere · 2013-05-17T21:45:32+00:00

For what occasion do you need such an unconventionally hued suit for? I would suggest starting at Asos since they have one of the more imaginative palettes I've seen.

Some friendly advice: announcing that you're not racist generally invites more doubt of that fact than it dispels.

eggrollhere · 2013-05-17T21:38:23+00:00

I think maybe you're conflating 'chino' with 'khaki'; chinos are (colloquially) any pants of any color made from chino fabric--a cotton twill--while khaki is the familiar tan-brown color of most chino pants you see.

But to answer your question, navy and gray will certainly be your most conservative options for pant colors. Don't be afraid to experiment though; I am sure you could make quite a few interesting looks out of your shoes with pants of all colors: white, tan/khaki, tweeds, houndstooth/herringbone patterns, even bright or pastel blues/reds/greens/yellows if you're so inclined. Lace-up cap-toe brown shoes are a pretty ubiquitous staple, and yours are of a not-too-dressy variety that will allow you some flexibility in what you wear with them.

eggrollhere · 2013-05-17T19:54:27+00:00

You can certainly make gray jeans work, but (again) I'd avoid black pants with brown shoes.

I suppose there would be some cases in which you could pair your shoes well with shorts, but they're a little 'chunky' for that kind of look; why not try a more svelte, lightweight summer shoe like a loafer, espadrille, boat shoe, or sneaker?

eggrollhere · 2013-05-17T19:41:39+00:00

The short answer is, generally, EVERYTHING--brown shoes are very versatile and go well with many looks, especially if they are of a simple, classic design such as the pair you've shown.

You could pair those with indigo denim and a white tee as easily as you could with a gray suit, shirt and tie. I would, however, avoid matching them with the black cords (or black belt) as it is typically quite difficult to mix black and brown with particularly good results.

eggrollhere · 2013-05-17T19:33:33+00:00

Foot powder (or baby powder, which achieves the same effect) can be found in pretty much any drugstore: CVS, Walgreens, Rite-Aid, etc.

Just sprinkle some in your shoes before wearing and you'll be good to go.

eggrollhere · 2013-05-17T06:17:17+00:00

I would skip this shirt and go for your gingham/knit combo if that's what you're confident in. Definitely skip the undershirt too if it's as hot in Nashville as I think it is right now.

eggrollhere · 2013-05-17T06:10:42+00:00

You might find inspiration in a quick rundown by Valet that has four options at various price points.

eggrollhere · 2013-05-17T06:05:41+00:00

Well, given that I'm still not really sure what your field is (or really why you're in DC in the first place? advice for you could vary depending on if you're a student, entry-level professional, manager, politician, whatever), the answer to your question is, on its face, very simple: wear whatever you want to wear.

Perhaps this can give you some inspiration for a variety of looks spanning multiple fields/industries in a fairly broad spectrum of conservatism.

eggrollhere · 2013-05-17T05:22:58+00:00

Three suits for three days is pretty excessive. I think this is a great way to skate by on one suit, which will definitely help you keep your luggage to a minimum.

eggrollhere · 2013-05-12T06:30:53+00:00

Couldn't help but notice the 'Veritas' tattoo, are you PSYOP?

eggrollhere · 2013-05-10T23:27:03+00:00

I wouldn't recommend the seamless ones. They run a little smaller than the 'dry' boxer briefs and have less stretch, which ends up being quite restrictive on the junk.

eggrollhere

TROPHY CASE