Basic?
Why are Japanese brands labelled as "boring," while Western minimalism is given a pass? My thoughts on algorithm-driven taste, lack of effort, and the disconnect between passion and content.
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I’m Not A Hater, But I Am A Hater: The Current State of Menswear Discourse & Fashion Bros
Fabric First, Silhouette Second: An Interview with William McNicol
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Basic Clothes
*This one’s too long for email due to photos, so I recommend reading it through the app.
Christ — I thought my original post was enough.
But seeing the number of comments left on The Style Turner’s video left me thinking, and ultimately in the mood to write about one of many problems we’re seeing in menswear, or fashion in general.
It’s been both shocking and surprising how the brands I love — Comoli, Auralee — have become such heated topics recently due to their minimal design, or expensive price tag. Which is ironic, considering how many of the same voices were drooling over virtually anything by The Row or Lemaire up until recently, happily shelling out serious money for regular cotton — or, at times, polyester — pieces, as long as the right co-sign was attached.
Now, no shade to Turner at all. I follow him and do like his work — he’s able to go in-depth across multiple fronts in fashion and offers thoughtful, insightful commentary compared to much of what’s circulating right now. That said, I do have a few thoughts on the “basic” label being tossed around, and the comments under his post.
So, let’s talk about the why behind my appreciation for the brands currently flooding your feeds.
i <3 comoli
I haven’t talked about this much, but there’s a reason I dress the way I do.
I was soft-spoken and quiet as a kid, often choosing to stay home to play Maplestory or RuneScape than joining extracurricular clubs. Being flashy, or drawing attention to myself in any setting, made me anxious — and in many ways still does.
When I first got into fashion, brands like Comme des Garçons, Raf Simons, and Yohji Yamamoto became my entry point via Tumblr. Brands that announce themselves — through silhouette, proportion, or deliberate absence of colour. Wearing them felt liberating, like stepping outside my comfort zone and into a version of myself I wanted to become.
That liberation didn’t last.
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