Style and Direction

This episode is a fun one! MJ talks travel attire (again) while Spencer gets into how he dresses his character in Red Dead Redemption 2. Then things take a western turn with Ethan's latest obsessions: western bow ties and a proper, *big* cowboy hat, both of which he has worn quite a bit lately. The SaDBoys then finish off the episode by diving into the menswear of the delightful (and seasonally ap...

New pod is here, but MJ isn't (he's on a trip)! Spencer and Ethan talk about potential purchases (Ben Davis pants and vintage tiger stripe fatigues, respectively) before diving into athletic wear and Hobbit attire. Ethan then recounts how he brought his pal Josh to a Drake's pop-up to give him an easy, stress-free way to learn about menswear and get some inspo. Then, at the end, Ethan talks about...

This is a clip of the latest Bonus pod! For the full episode, please subscribe on Patreon. This bonus pod is about the late Bob Mackie's excellent period costuming for "Pennies from Heaven" (1981)! It's a musical unlike anything we've seen before, with the characters lip-syncing (rather than actually singing) pop songs from the 30s with spectacular choreography, all serving as an escapist contrast...

This new pod is a fun one that has no philosophical discussion! Instead, Spencer talks about the best wedding he's been to. MJ talks about packing for a work trip to Washington and how he *only* brought Nike Killshots and Tabi boots (epic). Finally, Ethan talks about wearing vintage menswear to go camping and two late-summer Occasions to wear aloha shirts. Of course, this led to a big discussion a...

In the new pod, Spencer and Ethan give a shout-out to the most important person in their menswear journey: their tailor! Rueben and Noe have been helping us out for years, whether it's a simple hem or tear repair or a complete transformation, like narrowing a jacket's shoulders or reshaping the trouser fit by *lowering* the backrise. The SaDBoys also talk about their appreciation of Straw Boaters,...

This bonus pod has got our dynamite prepped for when we meet the jaguar shark that ate our pal Esteban. That's right, we're covering "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou"! The SaDBoys discuss how much they love Team Zissou's whimsical uniform and how dynamic it is, thanks to the sheer number of branded, on-color-palette garments the team is afforded! This film is a great case study in showing how a...

New pod is out! The SaDBoys talk about recent outfits, from Spencer's rugged ivy look for Disneyland to a backyard wedding that asked guests to wear florals and vibrant colors in lieu of dark cocktail attire. This prompted a discussion centered around appreciating External Occasions, the rare times where an event specifically calls for a dress code or themed outfits. That could be a wedding— or at...

MJ talks about wearing shorts, Spencer's dipping into poly-cotton with new chinos, and Ethan talks about how he celebrated his 31st birthday, all by approximating a mess jacket and breaking out his dumpy Christian academy uniform for a high school-themed party. We then spend the rest of the episode discussing the phenomenon of Online Intellectualism and how it's invaded all sorts of content (inclu...

What are we doing? Making chocolate, o' course! In this bonus pod, the SaDBoys dive into the whimsical sartorial style of Wonka (2023), praising the titular character's elegant frock coat, ratty hat, and delightful scarves. We also get into the bespoke confections worn by Wonka's rivals, which are delightfully vintage-inspired and color-coordinated. There really is something about how, whenever a...

In this episode, the SaDBoys talk about recreating a 10-year old cosplay (which, beleive it or not is an adult baby mafia hitman in a suit and fedora), Spencer's new deck shoes, and how much menswear content (and social media in general) just sucks...and why its all because content creators view their audience as Stakeholders, without whom "they would cease to exist". Yes, it's super corporate and...

After eight years, Ethan has finally returned to Japan and made a big, long podcast about it! In this episode, he talks about how much street style has changed in eight years, the state of vintage and contemporary menswear stores, and making 10+ dynamic, casual outfits despite only bringing a carry-on (crazy, I know). Oh, and he talks about what he bought, which, as expected, was much more than hi...

We got our heads all the way up HEAT (1995), Michael Mann's crime drama that features Lt. Vincent Hanna's (Al Pacino's) crusade against master thief Neil McCauley (Robert De Niro). Both characters are professional and highly competent, not just in their actions but in their attire. Both of them and their respective crews are suited up, with no room for slouch or laziness...except for Waingro, that...

Spencer, Ethan, and MJ talk about mini golf attire, how they would wear a cape, and how the Pith Helmet is an underrated spring hat. They also launch into a big discussion on the concept of stylists, how it feels odd to outsource their creative taste, and how much they like to have a personal hand in how the decorate their lives, be it through art, books, furniture, and yes, clothes! Ethan’s Blog:...

The new pod is all about Whimsy, a storied and chronically-online term that we think best describes our approach to menswear. To us, Whimsy is about Free Will, our agency to make things fun and amusing just for ourselves, a sentiment that we wished people would lean into more. We talk about how Whimsy permeates through our love of details and particular garments as well as to our juxtaposition-hea...

Our love of 50s menswear in movies continues in our next bonus pod, which delves into the outfits in Robert Redford's "Quiz Show" (1994)! This historical drama is set in 1958 and covers how lawyer Richard Goodwin investigated the rigged game show Twenty-One and how the scandal affected contestants Herb Stempel and Charles Van Doren, and by extension, the media culture of America at the time. Becau...

In this pod, Spencer, MJ, and Ethan talk about a lot! There's a recap of fun cosplay events that Ethan went to, like Universal Fan Fest, Star Wars Day, and a Funeral themed birthday. We also talk a little bit about capes! But the big topic was reminiscing over an Occasion Spencer and Ethan did EIGHT years ago: a trip to the Getty. Like all of their hangs, they were both dressed up— and so we decid...

Spencer, MJ, and Ethan talk about how they would dress for Bob Baker Day by getting inspo from puppets AND their puppeteers! Ethan also recaps his very Anglo Thursday, as he went to parties for Drake's and Permanent Style. The SaDBoys finish the episode by discussing Apparel Arts yet again, this time focusing on some particularly cheeky headlines and delightfully witty copy. Menswear media really...

The subject of this bonus pod is a certified Golden Era Classic: An American in Paris! Can you believe that NONE of us have seen it until now? We talk about the wonderful music, the impressive choreography (ballet is v cool), and of course, the fantastic (and ultimately quite subtle) 50s menswear featured in the film. With Spring firmly here, it's certainly one to watch for casual inspo....and it...

New pod is out! We talk solid ties at a spring wedding, Derby looks for betting on a horse race, and the fantasy forward stylings of the Renaissance Pleasure Faire and making your vintage menswear work for LARPing with swords and Nerf blasters. The biggest discussion is our review of Esquire's Big Black Book Style Manual from F/W 2009 and S/S 2011. With its classic styling and expressive writing,...

In this pod, the SaDBoys get into quite a bit! Spencer talks about his latest batch of inspo photos that basically look like how he dresses already, as well as goes over the stuff in his eBay watchlist. Ethan talks about how the youth are wearing slim suit jackets...but pairing them with thrifted trousers in order to get them high and wide; there's also some Black Tie talk. MJ talks about finding...

This is a clip of the latest Bonus pod! For the full episode, please subscribe on Patreon. This bonus pod is our salute to the menswear Tintin! The comics and CGI movie are a menswear enthusiast's dream. Each panel is vibrant and expressive, being a great case study for mid-century European menswear that is ripe for inclusion in an inspo album. Think tattersall vests, fedoras, boaters, bow ties, a...

In this episode, the SaDBoys talk about the Fruit of the Loom DB, Ethan's love for his new bib shirt, and Spencer's fascination with vintage sportswear. You know: warm-up jackets and short shorts. Also, we get into a deep discussion about the Aperture of Acceptibility and how people’s acceptance of our bold fits isn’t static, but *dynamic*. This isn’t done just through piecemeal edits of our outfi...

In this episode, the SaDBoys talk about getting shoes resoled, the J. Press runway show (it’s not *that* bad guys), and their festive red and pink fits for Valentine's Day! Ethan’s Blog: https://alittlebitofrest.com/2026/03/03/resoles-a-new-grey-suit-loving-and-larp-ing-around-in-riding-boots/ Support us on Patreon and join the Discord: https://www.patreon.com/styleanddirection/ Follow us on Insta...

This is a clip of the latest Bonus pod! For the full episode, please subscribe on Patreon. In this bonus pod, we talk about the workwear/Americana goodness found in Clint Bentley's Train Dreams (2025). Malgosia Turzanska's costuming is really well done, being a combination of true vintage, repro, and modern garments to evoke the rugged attire of loggers in the 1910s. With all of the picturesque im...

In this episode, MJ shares how he plans to stay stylish and practical as an EMT, and Spencer takes us through the Americana-tourist outfits he wears when taking mini-vacations to local places around OC & LA! Oh, we also talk about where we keep our phone pocket (trouser butt-pocket is crazy), dive into the two appeals of creative expression (nuance vs. broad strokes), and why we should probably co...