What to Expect from Dad’s Style - A Short History and The Way Forward
How We Got Here and The Plan as It Stands Now
“The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men
Gang aft agley”
To a Mouse, on Turning Her Up in Her Nest With the Plough, November, 1785
Robert Burns
“Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.”
Mike Tyson
The thought for Dad’s Style has been percolating for a while. Like all good ideas (I hope this is a good idea), I thought about it more than acted. Now I am rectifying that - at least, that is the aim. Previously, I had an idea for a site called Things My Father Taught Me - where I and others would share good tips from our parents (let’s not let the Dad/Father gender only - it is the idea) plus the stuff we never seem to get taught these days (or did not listen to) - how to build X, plan for Y, cook Z etc. But I never did anything there so, I might try to incorporate some of that into this.
Back to Dad’s Style, the idea really start to come together about 2 and a half years ago, just before my first son was born. First, I bought a good watch to pass onto him (more in a future article). Next, I noticed the way I was thinking about my purchases - especially around clothing. This was both in terms of budget (can I spend on clothes when I have a child to take care of) but also form and function (would this work for life as a Dad?). A good example of this was Uniqlo U T-shirts - cheap, quality (heavy cotton), good fit and hard wearing. I stocked up in a few colours (again, more in a future article).
This made me think - what are other Dads wearing. Especially Dads into “style”. There are a few great articles out there (which I link up in another future article) but I really wanted to hear directly from those who style I admired. How did their style change? What kit were they buying now they were Dads - clothes or otherwise? What advice did they have? And what questions were still unanswered for them.
A brief side note here on my interest in style / menswear / fashion. This is a long time passion of mine, truly a hobby (and occasional obsession) and where I spent a lot of my loose change. I half jokingly say I got into clothes as I am not a good looking guy and needed to make up for it (you can judge for yourself but my hope is I am ageing like wine).
Even as a kid my poor mother had to put up with me not being happy at the options available and complaining about a poorly placed pocket on a Gap shirt or taking a whole day to buy one thing. I, rightly, have a reputation for being picky and hard to buy presents for. As a teenager I had a poster on James Dean, big overcoat and loafers on, which I look at for inspiration.
Through the years, before the #menswear movement, I have all the menswear and men’s clothing book available - with a particular fondness for Bernhard Roeztel’s Gentleman. My menswear library has grown and grown - and I will still buy any decent menswear book. There are a lot of bad ones out there as well as some great ones (another future article?). I am awaiting the new men’s book by Scott Schuman of The Sartorialist. Speaking of The Sartorialist, I remember combing his and the few others that existing in 2008 (Permanent Style, The Trad, A Continous Lean, Christian Kimber’s Style Sage, A Suitable Wardrobe, Off the Cuff DC) for good images. Before we were swamped in the noise of images.
Some of best friends here in Australia I met through a shared interest in menswear. A great way to make new friends when you move to a new country (from Scotland at the age of 24 to be with a girl - now my wife and mother of our two boys).
During the #menswear, I got involved in my own little way setting up the site www.linenforsummertweedforwinter.tumblr.com - to collect and share images I loved. It got a decent wee following, Nick Wooster named it a one of his top Tumblrs to look at and I got to coin the nickname The Master for one of the best dressed men around - Noburo Kakuta. And mostly it serves as a great archive. Immodestly I will still it is still a great source of inspiration - just the other day I was looking for something from early 2015 / late 2014 and was lost a few pleasant minutes going though some very cool images.
Anyway, back to Dad’s Style (and hopefully staying here). I started to think more about a site and what it would include before the born of my second son - one year ago now. Again practicalities of style and budget (especially with my wonderful wife extending out her maternity leave) plus another good watch to pass down (I know…budget plus good watch? - I’ll cover spending and sourcing later) help germinate the idea.
And slowly between work, a part time Masters degree and two boys under two, I start to think what the site would include. In April 2020, I started another Instagram @dads_style_blog - to be dedicated to Dad’s Style (rather than my personal life @pinksocks) - and started to look at publishing. Then with the global coronavirus pandemic, things got in the way and it did not seem like the right thing to spend my energy on. Just recently I have come back to it. The idea is still there, the topics interest me and I think it could add some value. So here we go.
Below are the main topics I want to cover with Dad’s Style. I see the whole “genre” as a launchpad for interesting topics - be it clothes, kit, advice or inspiration - and ranging from light (sneakers, cooking tips) to heavier (mental health, parenting advice). And it is not limited to Dads only (Mums, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, pets welcome).
My intention is for the site to cover:
Stylish Dad’s - either a) in interviews on the topics mentioned after such as how style changes after having kids, advice etc as well as b) inspiration posts - Dads with style it would be highly unlikely to be able to interview (due to fame, death and so on).
Below are so images of ideas for a) and b).a)
Simon Crompton of Permanent Style
Andrew Chen of 3Sixteen and Self Edge
Patrick Johnson of P Johnson Tailors
b)
Alain Delon
Prince Charles
Bryan Ferry
Dad’s Style - a celebration of the genre and history of Dad’s Style - what it means, why it works and what it seem to be popular.
Kit / Brands - this could be clothing or anything else (from knitwear to knives and everything in between. What works well for Dads and why? Where possible, I will share my own version of this kit to show how it look and functions in real life.
Dad Life - covering a wide range of topics from anything related to parenting to broader things like cooking, DIY, finance etc (note I am no expert on any of these, see note on Contributors below).
Dad’s Style Council - I am hoping to build a bit of a community where people share questions and concerns that are then addressed by those with experience, expertise and passion in that in area. My aim is for main of those interviewed as a Stylish Dad might once in a while share insights.
Things My Father Taught Me - as discussed above. Wisdom from elders (father, grandfather, uncle, mother, grandmother, whatever) and things we wish we had learnt.
A Note on Contributors - Contributors are very welcome. I am by no means an expert and it is always good to have a fresh perspective for new ideas or a different take.
Drawing of me carrying my eldest boy by Ren Kimber @Surreal_and_Milk on Instagram
Finally, a few little caveats (because I am self important enough to think I need caveats…)
While I will try to do this newsletter fairly regularly (a few times a week), it is a distant second to my family as priority (followed by sleep, work etc).
Most images will be from Google. I will try to use my own (plus hopefully some close friends) where I can but, especially for interviewees, due to travel limitations I will work with what I can. If you see an image you want linked / credited / removed, please let me know.
I am using Substack subscription model - so if you like what you see, please subscribe. For paid subscriptions, for now, I have set the monthly rate to the minimum Substack allows. I have no plans to become a millionaire from this (at least not in the first year!) but your subscriptions will help the site grow and look at investing in other content such as podcasts and merchandise if it seems appropriate. Thank you.
I am no expert here - far from it (which is part of my reason for doing this) so I am very keen for contributors and community so we can all learn.
So with that, let’s go. Please share any thoughts or suggestions you have. And let me know what you want to see - plus how it is going so far (ie was this post was too long, complex and in depth - I do plan to have mostly short and sweet ones).
Thanks for coming on this journey and if you made it this far, well done.
Run in Peace ✌🏻
Yours Aye,
AJ
Dad’s Style
September 2020
Nice post and nice vision.
Why run in peace?