I awoke this morning thinking of a friend who seems to be at one of those crossroads in his life where the next incarnation of himself is unsure. I thought of what advice I could possibly give him.
Perhaps because of my own current re-evaluation of style and fashion - he is a plain dresser - I came up with this:
I want you to go into any one of the many secondhand clothing stores you can find around here. I want you to find the first piece that you absolutely love, but that immediately makes you think "I could never wear that".
I want you to buy that piece.
Then, I want you to go out for the next three nights, to nightclubs, bars, lounges you've thought you could never go into, wearing that piece.
I want you to do this and remind yourself every time you waiver: "I am not whom I appear to be. I am."
Later this afternoon, I find myself in the men's section of Sisley, confronted by this jacket.
"Oh man," I think, "that is sa-weet! But I could never wear tha..."
So now i have this jacket. Essentially it is very similar to the Paul Smith I bought in Shinjuku: semi-casual pin-stripe jacket. This one is a tad less casual - the pockets are inside as opposed to cargo pocket style like the Paul Smith - being more fitted, more tapered.
Oh, and it is white. Pristine, shining, loud: white.
"I am not whom I appear to be. I am."
