derek guy Profile picture
Menswear writer. Editor at @putthison. Bylines at The New York Times, The Financial Times, Politico, Esquire, and Mr. Porter

Feb 22, 2023, 7 tweets

for men, i think one of the challenges of shopping vintage is getting past the idea that you're going to replicate some hot trendy look (which is often created through designer brands and the influencers on their payroll). it helps to be ok with other aesthetics 🧵

Ivy, workwear, and Americana are the easiest looks to create through a thrift store. a couple of years ago, I interviewed Brian at Wooden Sleepers about things he thinks are better second-hand: chamois shirts, heritage knits, A2 deck jackets, '90s Levis 501s. this stuff is cheap

I remember he recommended old Brooks Brothers OCBDs. I said, "don't those things fit big?" He said, "yea, but when you look at old photos of BB shirts, that's how a lot of guys wore them. You put them on and think, 'oh yea, that's THE look."

I learned I had to see things from a different angle and not be so narrow-minded about how a shirt is supposed to fit. Brian suggested pairing them with military khakis or fatigues, so you don't evoke that baggy 90s-era business casual look. Think outside the box.

my impression is that some guys see this stuff and they think, "i don't want to look poor" or "i don't want to look boring." if you're going into a thrift store with the idea that you're going to walk out looking like a Cucinelli lookbook or find Rick Owens, ur gonna be bummed

anyway, i obvs think you should buy stuff from my buddy Brian. he offers great service and sizing advice. my go-to jacket is a Lee 101J, notoriously hard to size cause it's short. but brian found me the right one. i love the oxford shirting repair he did on the collar—hint of Ivy

you can read my two interviews with brian below. we covered 20 things you can look for at thrift shops—10 for spring/summer and 10 for fall/winter. if you don't want to hunt for this stuff, hit up Brian at IG woodensleepers. he's got the goods

putthison.com/tag/better-wit…

Share this Scrolly Tale with your friends.

A Scrolly Tale is a new way to read Twitter threads with a more visually immersive experience.
Discover more beautiful Scrolly Tales like this.

Keep scrolling