OK, so. Friend and photographer Jamie Ferguson has been locked up indoors for weeks, as we all have. And he’s gone a bit stir crazy.
We had started talking a while ago about shoots we could do remotely. Perhaps looking at a few outfits of his, shot in his studio at home. Last week forced confinement made that a reality.
The results are really fun. Outfits and shots that make the corners of my mouth curl into a smile, even as I’m trying to write eloquently about the appeal of chalkstripe flannel.
They’re also, perhaps, timely in being a touch of levity in very serious times.
We all need a bit of light relief at the moment.
Outfit 1: Polo shirt with chinos and cream denim jacket
Clothes:
- The Worker’s Club off-white denim jacket
- Rubato brown V-neck sweater
- Polo Ralph Lauren white polo shirt
- Stoffa trousers
- Uniqlo Socks
- Alden cordovan tassel loafers
- Mollusk cap
One of the reasons I’ve always liked talking to Jamie about clothes, is that his style is more exploratory than mine.
He grew up with skateboarding, loves sports- and workwear, but also tailoring. He draws from a wider range of influences – then and now – and so it’s interesting hearing what he’s into, and filtering it through my own tastes and preferences.
In the outfit above for example, I love the colour combination of cream, brown, taupe and white. It’s very tonal, not too dissimilar to what I like doing with a polo shirt – just more sporty and playful.
Outfit 2: Barbour jacket over brown chalkstripe suit
Clothes:
- Barbour Bedale waxed jacket
- Berg and Berg chocolate chalkstripe suit
- Lock and Co Rambler’s hat
- Barbanera light-wash denim shirt
- Alden snuff-suede Indy boots
While Jamie’s influences may be broader than mine, however, he commented while we were arranging this shoot that he thinks his style has settled down a lot recently.
“It’s been interesting putting all these looks together – shooting my own clothes on myself for a change,” he says. “It’s crystallised a few thoughts around how I like to dress, and what I enjoy about clothing.
“One is that I always like to dress up casual clothing, and dress down smarter clothing. That might be, for example, throwing on a bucket cap with a suit, to dress it down; or wearing dressier loafers with a T-shirt and chinos, to dress that up.
“I guess it’s a form of high/low dressing. But it also means more outfits cluster around a sweet spot in the middle – a narrower set of combinations that feel more like me.”
Outfit 3: Sawtooth denim shirt under high-twist suit
Clothes:
- Saman Amel suit
- Bryceland’s Sawtooth Westerner denim shirt
- Alden cordovan penny loafers
These mixed combinations can be quite subtle, and only really unexpected in their texture, or weight.
In the outfit above there is nothing that unusual save the heavy denim shirt under a relatively smart suit, and perhaps the lack of socks.
“This will sound boring, and something everyone talks about,” says Jamie, “but it really pays to have the basics covered – and that’s a place I’ve only really reached in the past year or so.
“A great grey suit, a solid set of oxford shirts, jeans that you like in the rise, the wash and the leg line. They’re foundations for everything else – and make mixing together styles like this a lot easier.”
Outfit 4: Cream dinner jacket with tartan trousers
Clothes:
- Caruso cotton-linen dinner jacket
- Suitsupply shirt
- Campbell’s of Beauly trousers in Ferguson tartan
- Drake’s cummerbund
- La Bowtique bow tie
- Stubbs and Wootton slippers
- Kirk Originals glasses
One particular area where our styles differ is black tie. Jamie tends to seek ways to make it personal and unique, while I like the idea of it being the most refined outfit of all.
But as with anyone that really finds clothing interesting, I always like to see what he wears.
For example, the combination above seems like everything I wouldn’t wear for evening attire. But actually, it’s only the colour/pattern of the trousers, and perhaps the lack of socks. Everything else, like the white/black combinations in the top half, is very classic.
I think this speaks to the value of understanding and trying classic combinations, before you play around. Everything is built on those same fundamental ideas.
Outfit 5: Field jacket with cream sweater
Clothes:
- J.Crew field jacket in cotton and linen
- Barbanera light-wash denim shirt
- Drake’s lambswool rollneck
- Saman Amel trousers
- Alden suede chukka boots
“This feels very me,” says Jamie. “Smart trousers but denim shirt; simple boots but a knowing sweater around the shoulders. None of it taking itself too seriously.
“I used to be very envious of people like Gauthier [Borsarello], Tony [Sylvester] or Ethan [Newton], who all combined different types of clothing yet looked very much themselves. That was always my ideal.
“I feel like I’m there now. It’s not a final point: clothing keeps changing, you keep finding new things; I think too many young guys think there is some end goal, where everything will be perfect.
“But you do settle down. It happens when you have a bit more money, too, and you’ve been able to try enough different things. Eventually you find you’re circling around the same kinds of clothes, the same ways of putting them together.”
Outfit 6: Tweed jacket with chinos and sneakers
Clothes:
- Thom Sweeney bespoke Harris Tweed jacket
- Drake’s off-White rollneck
- Orslow trousers
- Doek Sneakers
Speaking to that last point about circling around the same clothes, it’s instructive how the same pieces have been used in different ways in these shots: cordovan loafers with a suit or chinos; denim shirts with everything.
“I hope people enjoy these shots,” says Jamie. “I always try to find a little bit of fun when I’m shooting – it stops everything becoming too earnest, which is always a danger with menswear.”
“It’s just dressing up after all.”
Amen to that.
I don’t comment often, but I’d like to say that although the styles set out in these photographs are not my personal style, I love the authenticity that comes through in them. Style is best when you look comfortable and yourself. Would love more articles along the lines of “How I dress” a la Mr. Porter of old.
Thanks PS Team for the continuous quality content!
Oh good, I’m so pleased to hear that Taylor. (And Jamie will be too!)
Trews are often worn as an alternative to a kilt in Highland dress and I think Jamie’s look pretty natty, though purists might raise an eyebrow.
Great style & mix. Could you ask Jamie what model of Omega he is wearing (it definitely seems to be an Omega).
It is, it’s a vintage piece. I’ll ask him now.
It’s an Omega WWW
Thanks Simon
I rarely comment, this is however a wonderful human, fun and personal editorial. Simon & Jamie, thanks for brightening my day! If I where to boil my impression down, it would be – stick to the classics, blend the rules.
Best,
Martin
What I like about this piece is that it clearly demonstrates something that’s often missing, which is that the clothes you wear (and by definition therefore the look you create) are an extension of your personality. Normally it seems the outfits featured try and create and therefore imply a personality.
Most obvious, to me at least even though I don’t know him, is Jamie’s sense of fun; he’s not trying to create an image of himself to project to others, he’s simply extending who he is into his dress.
He doesn’t need brooding architecture or rural landscapes or moody poses to create an image, he’s just being himself.
More of this please.
Thanks, pleased you think so.
There is the ‘How to dress like’ section – listed at the top right of this post (on desktop) which has more on people’s characters and how their clothing has evolved or reflects their personality. Though none of them are anywhere near as fun!
Hi, thanks for this! This post shows how much better this is as a format than, for example, instagram. The imagery may be similar but the write-up and context make it much more comprehensive.
Also, wanted to point out how great I think look 6 is. Something on the casual side for me, but I think should be taken on board by those who don’t wear tailoring on a day to day basis
Cheers Nick. Pleased to see there’s a good reason for us soldiering on with the unfashionable website format!
Hi Simon, can you let us know how tall Jamie is? I like some of his ideas, but wondering if I am able to incorporate them into my own style. I am 6’3″, so perhaps not is my fear.
Sure, I’ll check now. He’s certainly not 6’3”, but then few of us are.
Are you afraid that some of the styles wouldn’t work, or that the specific clothing mentioned could be too short? I understand the latter, but less the former.
I think the styles for the most part should work, I just wasn’t sure about how the last one with the rolled up trousers would work on a tall person. Particularly in my case, where much of my extra height is in the legs not the torso.
Gotcha.
However, if anything if you have long legs, rolled up trousers are a good thing as they break up the visual impression of the length. As long as you don’t roll them too high (and the trousers are long enough for that) it should be fine. Same goes for turn-ups on trousers.
That does make sense; think I’ll give it a go! Many thanks for your responses Simon.
No problem Tony, do write if you ever have any other concerns
Simon
Interesting/odd
Most women are concerned about lengthening the impression of how long their legs are, whereas the advice here, is how to mitigate it on a man (admittedly a very tall one)….
Ha! Yes, good point. I never thought of it like that.
It always seems natural with men that they’re trying to lengthen/shorter or widen/narrow towards some ideal shape. I guess there must be a leg limit with very tall women as well?
He is 5’9″
5/5 Jamie!
This is exactly what Menswear should be about. Personal expression of style rather than quoting rules and codes of dressing. If it can put a smile on someones face during these troubling times, I applaud it!
Especially in these times this is a lovely post to read – I had such a smile on my face going through this, so thank you. It is a reminder, as others are commenting, that we dress to express ourselves and that we should not be quite so obsessed about rules.
It feels as though the line for this post should be something like ‘Permanently Stylish’ as that is certainly the vibe I am getting. PS feels like it is moving in the direction of dressing well with style rather than so much of a tailoring focus. I like that.
Best wishes N
BTW – I want that coffee mug!
Nice to hear, cheers Nigel.
Absolutely loved to see how much fun Jamie appears to be having in taking the photos. While also not quite my style (as many people mentioned too hahahaha) I really like how confortable he is with what he wears. Cheers and hope everyone is safe and sound
This collection of outfits is fantastic. Wish I could dress like this all the time!
Great photos!
like many on this article, not a usual commenter, but these are truly fantastic!
The one thing that wasn’t discussed above was proportion and Jamie does an incredible job with it. To specifically highlight one outfit, the black tie looks in particular are phenomenal. The button position with the cummerbund, the narrower shawl lapel with the floppy bow, high waisted trousers with big cuffs, no break, low shoes, and the fit elongate his legs wonderfully.
This is not take take away anything from the other looks, the play of high or low positions, baggy or fitted or shrunken, the position of the collars or when rolling the sleeves or pant legs, its’s all done with an expert eye of shape, drape, and proportion. Bravo Jamie!!
Not my style, but great shoot regardless. I like that Caruso dinner jacket. What’s your opinion of was the quality of Caruso workmanship? I don’t see much written about this brand.
Caruso is a decent RTW suit brand – they make for many other brands as well as having their own.
There isn’t much handwork in the normal range, but still, they’re usually good value.
No man should have hair that beautiful.
Hi Simon – do you have any recommendations for where to find a denim shirt that fits between the weight/longevity of the Bryceland saw tooth shirt, but without the western style details (i.e. more like the PS everyday denim style in a v heavy sanforsied denim).
Hi
Was that a typo when you said ‘between the weight’? Do you mean something the same weight?
I don’t know any to be honest, but I’ll have a think.
Sorry – i worded that poorly. I mean something that sits between the Brycelands shirt and the Everyday denim. So a heavy darker denim that requires wearing in and should last forever, but styled like the everyday denim (i.e. without western details and preferably button down).
NB: Inspite of my comparison above I do hope/expect my everyday denim shirt to both get better with wear and last forever!
Ah, I see Sam. I have seen heavier, simpler denim shirts like that yes, though I can’t think of any of the top of my head.
Others might be able to, perhaps.
You should definitely look into RMcCoy’s or Orslow.
Cheers Gab.
i am sorry for making the first negative comment, but i just disbelieve this “search for style” that people in the industry advocate for. dressing is a simple task. even simpler if you know what you are doing. and is so simple that you can do it beautifully in many ways.
as i read the piece, i felt that there were too many “justifications” for his outfits. Most of them look like solutions looking for a problem. there is a constant need to throw in one or two completely alien elements to “make it interesting”. i cannot see the “subtle”, “cover the basics”, “settle down”, “just dressing up”, “the sweet spot in the middle” in the photos.
of course, you can always add some personal gimmicks for fun or because you understand that they highlight an attitude or coordinate with other pieces in your outfit, but do not let those resources abuse you.
also, when will this pleated trousers trend end?
ps: outfit 1 is good. the perfect balance for his “personal style”.
Not at all Ezequiel, all welcome.
I think Jamie’s style is just one that likes experimenting with these contrasting pieces – it’s less my style, but not everyone’s is the same.
‘Covering the basics’ refers to buying classic pieces (eg that grey suit) in order to then mix them with less expected pieces.
‘Settling down’ is relative – clothes can get a lot crazier than this.
And the ‘sweet spot’ is not something more normal in the middle, but rather something that mixes the formal and casual more consistently, rather than swinging just one way or the other.
Cheers
i see.
for what is worth i still do believe and understand that regardless of the style disagreement you can always pick up something interesting,
for example, i could see the rubato v-neck or the barbour jacket and think that i could incorporate them into my wardrobe in a different way.
Absolutely. I think that’s such a healthy attitude to clothing in general. I can find similar inspiration in womenswear too – not just colour and texture, but sometimes even proportion.
Thanks for this very refreshing piece Simon. Very authentic/natural yet stylish photographs. I wouldn’t mind you featuring more of these kind of articles.
And he seems to be quite keen on Alden shoes. I love their cordovan penny loafer and had it back in the day myself. If only they would make the heel-cup to heel transition with a less prominent ridge. That way it could be a so much more elegant shoe.
This was a great piece, Simon (and Jamie)! It made me smile and gave me something to think about. Can’t ask for more than that! Stay safe and well!
Thankyou for the article, was a great read and terrific photos. I know it’s a slight breakaway from the more conservative look that’s usually discussed but Jamie’s style is also quite inspirational in the sense that he seems so comfortable in the outfits and conveys a real sense of enjoyment. Esp like #6
Quel flaneur and what fun !
The comments about personal styles ‘settling down’ is so correct and when they are fully settled you reach sartorial nirvana and it feels great.
This is fairly off topic, but since we’re going in for diversion – Albert Camus has been in the news quite a bit lately, both because The Plague is more relevant today, but also because it was the 60th anniversary of his death this past January. France 3 (I think) made a pretty good documentary, Les Vies d’Albert Camus, which you can find on YouTube.
Seeing so many pictures and video clips of him, it’s absolutely striking that the man seems never to have once been poorly dressed. He is nearly always wearing a jacket and tie, and even when he’s not, it’s very elegantly casual. Somehow, it never looks contrived or intentional. He just looks like he’s supposed to be wearing whatever it is he’s wearing. Something we can all learn from. Truly an underrated style icon, and someone we can look to for more than one reason during these times.
I’ve been struggling lately with the thought of how clothing expresses one’s personality. What is “personal” in this outfit, compared to the other, other then preference? But not all preferences are expressions of our personalities. Well, these shoots and explanations cleared it up for me. So thank you both for that.
Is there a Simon “style”?
Your “How to Dress Like” section is full of interest, but it is only such because it is full of “real” folk dressing ”how they normally” dress.
You’ve made your business from commenting/observing/opining/analysing, all of which is laudable.
But how do you dress when you are just being you?
Good question.
I think it’s something I cover a lot, but rarely summarise.
So for example, when I talk about wearing black, or about Ivy style, those articles always talk about how I normally dress, and how this article is about one aspect of that.
In fact, almost every article in the ‘Style’ section of this site is about my style and views on it. And the Lookbook is a visual guide.
Some posts in that Style section have also summarised it at times – like the ‘How I dress now‘ post.
In general, though, my aim is always to appear well dressed, without standing out too much. To aim for elegance while still being subtle and not appearing to strive for anything in particular. It’s also how I think a lot of readers want to dress – certainly, that’s what they often tell me.
I will often experiment, with big coats or bright materials, but this central idea of understated elegance (which is by no means limited to tailoring) is what I normally come back to.
Let me know if you think it’s worth a full post some time.
Thanks for the reply.
I suppose what I was trying to get at is when you write/post on PS, you are “at work”. What does your “not at work” look change to, if at all?
It’s pretty all encompassing – the site is how I dress. This has become particularly so in recent years, as I’ve consciously broadened the PS coverage to look at both casual and smart things I wear. Especially as my casual can be someone else’s work attire.
See the post ‘Weekend capsule wardrobe‘ for some specific examples.
All the posts in that area are kept under the Casual Clothing category
I have to say I think Jamie is one of my biggest style inspirations. I live in a chronically casual-dressing place so it is really nice to have someone to be inspiredby without going all street-style. I really love every single outfit.
Hi Simon, the B&B suit seems really nice. Have you ever tried their tailoring line and if yes what sur your take on it? as to the gentleman above asking for suggestions of denim shirts brands, I would refer him to Orslow or RealMcCoy’s. A bit expensive but very well made.
I haven’t, no. It was one thing I was hoping to try in the pop-up shop, before it unfortunately had to be postponed.
I have tried the trousers, and they are good. I wouldn’t say the make or materials are quite at the level of some of the other makers we profile, but that’s reflected in the price. Both are still good.
These are my favourite yet, because they don’t feel ‘styled’. Jamie has a great sens of his own style and I love the dress up/down aesthetic. Thank you for style AND levity. More of this please.
On there plus side I acknowledge he takes risks and that deserves recognition in any case; also successfully more often than not IMO, but that’s yet another thing.
On the minus, trousers are always too short. That is a matter of taste I know, and though not my cup of tea, can generally work if sockless. But neither Jamie nor anyone else for that matter can get away with the double sprained ankle look in whiteish socks of the first pictures. Not that I would expect him to give a damn about such opinion, and that would be fine. He looks as if he has enough authenticity in him to stand his ground.
I also appreciate that he seems to play mainly with RTW, maybe some MTM items to highly personal, overall good effect. I like his use of budget, it looks affordable though not common. Just one or two more expensive items thrown together with Main Street to dignify the ensemble. That is an approach I progressively miss as this site journeys into luxury.
Hi Simon I’m about to pull the trigger on a Rubato vneck. I’m just over 5ft 11inch and usual a 38/39 chest. Would you recommend a size S or M?
Thanks
Probably M, but it depends on other things too, like your waist and leg length etc. So always worth checking their measurements against something you already have.
Also, I presume you realise they’re just for high-waisted trousers?
Having read your interview with Rubato last year, I considered them when I was recently looking for knitwear short enough to work with high-waisted trousers, but the length according to their sizing chart was 5 cm too long, which fits with the statements in the interview “We find most knitwear too long for anyone that wears their trousers higher – not necessarily with braces, up on the natural waist, but just with a mid-rise, like you do.” and “…I’m wearing it now with vintage 1966 Levi’s, which have a higher rise that most modern denim, but nothing like the high trousers worn with braces.”
I guess it will depend on height as well, but I think since that interview I’ve come around more to the view that they are best just with high-rise trousers.
Maybe the extra 5cm is because they do anticipate a little rolling over the ribbing – which actually does work very well with their cut
Yep, have quite a few high wasted trousers and a couple of R Manny pants. Just loved the deep V and the look of the handle. If I wore with a tie what colour/cloth would you recommend? I’ve bought the fawn in M as I’m fairly standard in waist and arms. Thanks for your help.
Personally I don’t think they look great with a tie. It looks a little too old-fashioned then.
But if you like the look, perhaps a grey wool?
Good morning..Jamie is having fun …being well dressed..bravo!!! Peace