Men's Second Style

Sometimes I really miss the idea of the Sixties and Seventies.  I say the idea because because I’m not actually old enough to have memories of those decades–not adult ones anyway, the kind that could contribute to actual nostalgia.  No, what I’m talking about here is the misty-eyed kind of idealized, arguably faux nostalgia for bygone eras, or rather for romanticized notions of bygone eras.  Styles and fashion are a classic trigger for this kind of heartfelt pining.  I’m reminded of my sister who, when she was about fifteen, was mooning over Fifties fashions in a book and wished aloud that poodle skirts would make a comeback.  My mother snorted and said, “Poodle skirts!  I hope I never see another one.  They weren’t comfortable, they only looked good on you if you had just the right figure, and it was a chore to keep them looking nice.  Phooey on poodle skirts.”  My sister was immediately deflated.  Real memories vs. faux nostalgia…see the difference?

But what’s wrong with indulging our nostalgic, romantic sides?  Surely SL is the perfect environment for the exploration of places and times not otherwise available to us.  I think it’s clearly in that spirit that Temple Oe presents these “Oscar” plaid suits.  They’re simply constructed–just two pieces, shirt and pants–but very dapper and smart-looking.  I feel very “Mod Squad.”  Or maybe “Mod Squad: London Division.”

With just the regular shirt and pants layers, Temple nicely fakes the shirt tucking into very low-rise pants that hug the hips tightly.  The shirt’s subtle pinstriping contrasts with the bold plaid of the pants and vest, and the necktie has a beautiful sheen.  The set includes two suits, one Camel and the other Purple.  The browns of the Camel suit are clear and strong, but the hues of the Purple suit are more subdued, tending toward greys, with purple appearing only as a subtle accent stripe–the right choice, imho.

I do have just a couple of minor quibbles.  The simple two-piece construction is cleverly exploited for a great look, but it’s also less flexible than a three- or four-piece ensemble would be.  This isn’t fatal by any means, but I think it’s worth mentioning and pointing out that you probably won’t be mixing and matching these items with anything else.  Also, the line of the shirt collar is a bit uneven, with some slightly imprecise seam joins from front to back.  I don’t consider this a big problem, but again I think it’s worth mentioning.

Permissions are Modify / Copy / No Transfer.  Priced at L$400 and available at BAZAAR (Pearl 157, 232, 22).

Now all I need is my own personal Peggy Lipton.  Any takers? 

My apologies to the reader who suggested this shop to me.  I seem to have lost all my original notes and had just the landmark to remind me to check it out.  If this is you (and you know who you are), leave a comment and take credit!