Style and Direction

Silvia (@bitchplisse) is the latest guest in the SaD Canon. She's has a unique taste in style in that she dresses for proportions instead of formality or a specific style genre. Most of her fits echo a lot of what we like in classic menswear! We chat about how she formed her style, how we can appreciate designers, and the inverse relationship between her creative style and her super science-y job....

In this new episode, the SaD boys try to define effort, discuss why menswear guys are obsessed with appearing effortless, and why everyone seems to be effort averse . Does looking at inspo count as putting effort? How about being mindful of color combinations or formality connotations? What does being "effortless" even mean?? Ethan's Essay: https://alittlebitofrest.com/2022/09/04/the-perception-of...

August Bonus episode is live! Spencer, MJ, and Ethan talk about a return to thrifting and the great stuff you can STILL find in your local goodwill (spoilers, it's trousers). We also discuss mall brands and the style of the surprisingly fun film Bullet Train. Support us on Patreon for the full episode and join the Discord: https://www.patreon.com/styleanddirection/ Follow us on Instagram! @Stylean...

This month's bonus episode is live! Spencer, MJ, and Ethan talk a bit about vintage merch tees before getting into Spencer's trip to Minneapolis! There's some funny anecdotes about dorms, journalist attire, and what exactly constitutes a "fancy restaurant". Support us on Patreon for the full episode and join the Discord: https://www.patreon.com/styleanddirection/ Follow us on Instagram! Style & Di...

In this new episode, the SaD boys introspect on "cool" and what makes things "cool" to us! We look into why we are drawn to certain garments and details, as well as how much other people's opinions affect what we like, as well as how much the mainstream plays into our enjoyment of things. In the end, it's about what we like. And we think what we like is cool! Ethan's Essay: https://alittlebitofres...

This next episode is about eyewear and how they play into outfits. Sunglasses always have an instant cool factor, bringing in attitude when you put them on to get shade from the sun, Eyeglasses on the other hand are worn before your clothes, so they give additional context to the wearer's "base" while providing personality, much like a hairstyle or facial hair! Ethan's Essay: https://alittlebitofr...

Spencer and Ethan spend this bonus episode discussing the wild ride of Baz Luhrmann's Elvis biopic, starring thirst trapping Austin Butler as the King and Tom Hanks as the skeevy and manipulative Colonel Parker . We talk about the fits, the ridiculous accents, and the totally bonkers scene transitions! Show Notes: https://alittlebitofrest.com/2022/06/28/the-menswear-in-elvis-2022/ Support us on Pa...

In this latest episode, Spencer, Ethan, and MJ discuss everything about the Fit Pic. Spoiler alert: the fit pic is fun, can be effortless, and serves as a great way to enhance your participation in this menswear hobby outside of just consumption. Ethan's Essay: https://alittlebitofrest.com/2022/06/19/fit-pics-are-fun/ Support us on Patreon and join the Discord: https://www.patreon.com/styleanddire...

We got Marco (@p0cketman) on the pod! He talks about moving from MFA to designer clothing, how his lifestyle plays into how he buys clothing, his love of Kapital, and where the hell his name came from! Ethan's Essay: https://alittlebitofrest.com/2022/06/05/my-friend-marco/ Support us on Patreon and join the Discord: https://www.patreon.com/styleanddirection/ Follow us on Instagram! Style & Directi...

Robert Altman's The Player is the subject of the latest bonus episode! It's a fun movie that feels like its trying to evoke that 40s/50s Hollywood exec feel through the Yuppie looks of the early 90s. It's not a period piece, but it feels like it! Full episode available on Patreon as well as the Discord: https://www.patreon.com/styleanddirection/ Follow us on Instagram! Style & Direction: https://w...

Spencer, MJ, and Ethan discuss the idea of standing out in classic menswear and how they grew to embrace it, since it happens naturally! We talk about our past mistakes, how we know when to be bold or lowkey, and perhaps most important of all, we celebrate the friends that showed us that it's fun to embrace standing out. Ethan's Essay: https://alittlebitofrest.com/2022/05/22/being-okay-with-standi...

Our breasts are doubled in this newest pod, which all about why we love the DB! Spencer and Ethan discuss it all, from the drama of its wide lapels and over lapping closure to how easy it is to throw on since it's the closest a sportcoat can get to evoking outerwear. Whether its with a tie or without or with a dress trouser or a casual pant, the DB is amazing. Ethan's Essay: https://alittlebitofre...

Ethan, Spencer, and MJ talk about the film Ford v Ferrari in the new bonus episode! Even though it's a car movie (and they aren't car guys), there is still a lot of menswear to enjoy, from the use of black cowboy hats and racer workwear to having the best sunglasses game in a movie. Ethan's Blog: https://alittlebitofrest.com/2022/04/24/the-menswear-in-ford-vs-ferrari/ Get the full episode on Patre...

In the newest bonus episode Spencer, Ethan, and MJ discuss what they’ve been watching which includes American Crime Story: Impeachment, The Firm, and Winning Time! This might lead to some...unconventional fit inspo. Subscribe to our Patreon for the full episode and the Discord: https://www.patreon.com/styleanddirection/ Follow us on Instagram! Style & Direction: https://www.instagram.com/styleandd...

In the newest episode, Spencer and Ethan tackle the topic of Outfit Repeating. Is repetition comforting or boring? Is creating a new combination new exciting or exhausting? What exactly counts as a repeat? We discuss it all while exploring our own outfit creation process, detailing when its fun to try new things vs. stick with what we know. Ethan's Essay: https://alittlebitofrest.com/2022/03/20/on...

Yung Chomsky returns to discuss @jawnfeld , an account where he curates ten fits from every episode of Seinfeld! We talk about his process, his favorite outfits, and how a show about nothing really encapsulates the current mood of menswear. Show Notes: https://alittlebitofrest.com/2022/03/06/whats-the-deal-with-jawnfeld/ Support us on Patreon and join the Discord: https://www.patreon.com/styleandd...

Murder was only the beginning! Spencer, Ethan, and MJ cover the latest Branaugh interpretation of Poirot’s adventures, diving deep into the 1930s vacation wear and wondering which outfits are guilty (of being bad). Subscribe to our Patreon for the full episode: https://www.patreon.com/styleanddirection/ Follow us on Instagram! Style & Direction: https://www.instagram.com/styleanddirection/ Ethan:...

This episode is about “Cinematic Dressing”, a term we coined for how we create outfits centered around a narrative theme or framework. You might even say dress for our own "world" or the "scenes" that we're called for. Fashion is supposed to be a fun celebration of what we like! In a world where context is thrown out the window, why can’t we dress ivy one day and then workwear the next if it's wha...

@JohnGreenacre returns! He hops on the pod to tell us all about his near-month abroad in Paris. His story is full of great food, hating what he packed, and some crazy vintage finds. Maybe #TheSaDCast needs to go to Paris! Show notes: https://alittlebitofrest.com/2022/02/06/a-yankee-in-paris-with-john-robinson/ Support us on Patreon and join the Discord: https://www.patreon.com/styleanddirection/ F...

Spencer and Ethan try to tackle the idea of "taste" in classic menswear. To us, taste is an extension of POV or just personal preferences. We tend to think of clothing as a creative endeavor which, along with the demise of dress codes, means that the only real guide is your subjective taste. It's good to hone in and know what you like, but at the end of the day, its still about what you like! Etha...

The first bonus of 2021 is here and Spencer, MJ, and Ethan discuss The King's Man! It's a wild romp that features historical figures and a modern interpretation of 1910s tailoring; the clothes aren't actually that bad! And the film, save for some tonality issues, was actually outrageously fun. Especially the ending. Subscribe to our Patreon for the full episode: https://www.patreon.com/styleanddir...

We're starting 2022 off with an episode on proportions and silhouette- two big topics that factor heavily with the nuance and details in tailoring! We certainly have our preferences but at the end of the day, it's all about finding the right proportions not just for your body, but for your intended aesthetic. Ethan's Essay: https://alittlebitofrest.com/2022/01/09/how-i-think-about-proportions-silh...

For our December Bonus, we review two period movies for you: Ridley Scott’s The House of Gucci and Spielberg’s take on West Side Story! There’s even a bit on a third movie, straight out of the multiverse. (Make sure you’ve seen Spider-Man: No Way Home before you listen to this episode!) Ethan's Essay: https://alittlebitofrest.com/2021/12/21/its-a-me-paolo/ Subscribe to our Patreon for the full epi...

Spencer and Ethan are joined by Producer MJ, Aldous, and Jason to discuss their ethnic identity and how they think it intersects with menswear. It's a bit of a big topic, with points on what it was like to be into menswear while partaking in Asian communities as well as why there seems to be more native Asians in the space when compared to 2nd Gen ones. We don't prescribe to have any solutions or...

Spencer, Ethan, and Producer MJ dive into Wes Anderson’s latest film: The French Dispatch. We discuss the anthology approach to the plot, how stereotypically “Wes” it is, and how the midcentury minimalist menswear styling is a bit of a mood! Subscribe to our Patreon for the full episode: https://www.patreon.com/styleanddirection/ Follow us on Instagram! Style & Direction: https://www.instagram.com...