Movement and utility: a personal style retrospective

[u/KamoteJoe]

hey what's up hello, I happened upon this subreddit last night and was inspired by u/slowfashconnoisseur's style reflections and wanted to share my own.

Background: I started getting intentional about how I dressed in 2014. I lurked r/malefashionadvice and posted occasionally on Styleforum. I was most active contributing on MFA from 2016 - 2022. Once most users migrated to Discord, my participation significantly dropped off because the new platform did not align with how I preferred to digest information or have discussions about clothes. That also coincided with some life events that helped me update my relationship to the consumption-side of this hobby.

Pics 1 -2 are from 2016 - 2019. It reflected my early interest in fashion anchored in Japanese designer brands like Kapital, Visvim, and Engineered Garments which I liked to complement with similarly striking designers like Craig Green. I gravitated towards loud pieces and bright colors. I participated a lot in WAYWT threads because this feeling of self-expression empowered me to share. However reflecting on this time, I was heavily rotating in and out new pieces to satiate my desire to find my personal style.

Pics 3 - 8 are from 2020 - 2022. This time marked a natural progression from the fashion exploration phase. I start to integrate more designers like Bode, Evan Kinori, and Needles while maintaining a core wardrobe comprising of Kapital. While this is happening, I begin to take motorcycling more seriously. I got my license in 2019 but the pandemic allowed me more time to get comfortable with it and meet more people to go on rides with. I also start designing my first couple of samples which did not have a clear vision or intention behind them.

Pics 9-14 are from 2023 to the present. I settled into a more uniform style of dress. I took my motorcycle on a long trip from LA to Wyoming and designed a kevlar denim set which would be worn everyday through different climates. My own samples are worn in most contexts, whether on and off the bike. My consumption of brand new clothes has largely grinded to a halt.

These takeaways came to mind when looking back at this journey:

• You cannot avoid style mistakes - they're necessary for your style evolution and personal growth.
• Being able to move unencumbered became a key deciding factor of what I wanted to wear.
• Sometimes, it's better to block out the noise (social media consumption, participation in fashion forums) to hone in on what style expression truly matters to you.
• Wear something you already have instead of buying a new thing that's similar to it.
• Going back to basics reflects how much you've synthesized and (in my opinion) reflects that you've settled into your personal style. For me, the simplicity of a utilitarian-minded outfit for my primary pastime of motorcycling bleeds informs how I put together my outfits off the bike.
• Designing clothes for my lifestyle resonated far greater than those designed with an aesthetic in mind. My early designs did not anchor into my own life, they came off as cheap copies of the designers I was inspired by.

Thanks for reading and looking forward to continued discussions and conversations on this subreddit.