Jezebel 
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New York, 9:06 PM
Fri Dec 11
71 posts in the last 24 hours
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11/18/09
11/18/09
11/18/09
Same thing was with BryanBoy a few years ago: when talking about his style, his sense of fashion and his love for luxury labels, there was the remark of how the Phillipines are third world and there is needy people and half naked kids on the streets over there.
And it could be read as 'what do this non american people do to pay that expensive clothes' and 'why is he/she disconnected from that country's reality?'
Like if they weren't mere individuals, and like if there is a hungry kid on the street that's totally the status for all of their citizens.
They over there could see pictures of Anna Wintour on the streets of Manhattan wearing a 5k dress, and this is a rich country but that does not mean that the average american have a black amex in their pocket.
Individuals, that's what we are, and people does not dress themselves after reading what their country's GDP is.
11/18/09
11/18/09
Even in the US, if you pull up to a Congolese party, everyone is dressed to the nines. It is part of the cultute. when my uncle who lived in Paris came to visit, the young guys in the neighborhood used to line up on the corner to see what he was wearing, when he left in the morning with my father. The man got kudos for never repeating an outfit.
In most instances, people usually borrow and exchange clothing. Yes, we are surrounded by war, chaos and utter poverty, but life goes on. Hell we've been in turmoil since the 1800s.
11/18/09
And these gents have style. As a dandy (well, more of a fop), I approve.
11/19/09
11/19/09
11/21/09
#tips
11/21/09
11/24/09
#tips
11/18/09
Fuck it. When the world around you is shit, what do you have left? Dandy it up.
11/18/09
On a more serious note, I agree with your critique of how the story gets told here. I think the way the book itself approaches the story seems truer to how the men want to be perceived -- as taste-makers rather than as receptacles for our pity. There are plenty of people in plenty of circumstances who spend money best used elsewhere on how they look. Why is this case so heartbreaking? I mean, if we're going to use this story as a springboard for calling out The Real Problem, it's certainly not that these guys are dressing in a way that reflects how they see themselves regardless of how we might see them because of their circumstances. The real problem is that there's a disconnect in the first place.
11/18/09
11/18/09
Questions, questions. What I do know is that the photos are stunning.
11/18/09
11/18/09
The revival of La Sape was partly in response to these ridiculous restrictions.
11/18/09
11/18/09
11/18/09
11/18/09
It's like someone finally made Andre 3000 King of the World.
11/19/09
#tips
11/18/09
11/18/09
Obviously I'm probably simplifying a very complex issue, but it would be interesting to think about in more depth.
11/18/09
I had to point out that it's somewhat troublesome to me that some of the analysis of this subculture has the air of "why are these people spending so much on clothes when they live in such a poor country?" as though each of these men has an individual responsibility to spend that money on their impoverished neighbors rather than themselves. while sure, that would be nice, i don't see why these people have to be saints. why does any person anywhere spend money on ostentatious sartorial displays of wealth? because they can! should they spend that money on their less fortunate neighbors? maybe, but just because these men live in a country where the impoverished is so much more prevalent, doesn't mean they automatically have a higher moral imperative than any other luxury shopper. if these men find the money, however in the world they manage it, it is theirs to spend as they please, whether or not i approve of its use.
11/18/09
Regardless of people think of the luxury goods/fashion industries, people (no matter where they live) can/should spend money how they want. Social responsibility/justice is a great thing, but expecting higher "morals" of a people because of their surroundings is just off.
11/18/09