Style and Direction

Outerwear, specifically big coats, is the topic for the latest pod! Big outerwear is one of the best reasons (and benefits) to wear menswear as it changes the vibe of an outfit, literally swallowing it up in cloth and providing some extra slouch or structure, depending on what style you go with. We discuss it all, especially the fact that we love Big Outerwear despite living in Southern California...

In the latest pod, we talk about an element of expression that isn't exactly a garment but still plays into our overall style: hair! With distinct facial hair and hairstyles being tied to certain eras, subcultures, and overall vibes, it is no surprise that it can be something we can leverage when having fun with our POV and expression. Let's talk hair! Ethan's Essay: https://alittlebitofrest.com/2...

Bradley Cooper's Maestro is our last movie-menswear movie bonus pod of the year! We discuss the film and how it stacks up to Tár in terms of portraying a conductor/composer. We also dive into the style of both IRL and Film Lenny Bernstein, who dressed with ease in what seems to be EVERY possible facet of menswear. It seems that Summer needs to sing in you not just to make music, but to get a fit o...

After dedicating episodes to Spencer and MJ's personal style this year, we decided to finish off 2023 with an interview with our very own Ethan. Even though every episode touches on his philosophy on getting dressed (for fun), this one puts [most] of his thoughts on one podcast. We specifically discuss his interest in connecting menswear to art/music, what elements of his life has lead to his curr...

We discuss Killers of the Flower Moon on the the pod! Martin Scorsese's epic film has some of the best vintage costuming we've seen in a recent release, particularly because it spans the late 1910s to the mid 1920s, which really lets you see how menswear has changed throughout time. You can listen to a short clip now, but you'll have to subscribe on Patreon for the rest. Blog Post: https://alittle...

Trends! Love them or hate them, they are a big part of a fashion hobby that communicates your intentions with wearing clothes. While that can seem nihilistic, trends can actually be a useful source of inspiration...provided that you already have a strong taste to guide your participation. In this episode, we discuss our philosophy on trends, how it helps to be Early or Late to them, and review som...

The SaDBoys discuss the Pocket Square! We get into how guys use it to harmonize the colors in their tailored outfits, how different aesthetics use it (like the TV fold for ivy or a unicorn-tapestry print in a puff fold for #menswear), how it isn't exactly a replacement for a tie, and ultimately how it can be a cool more to forgo wearing one at all! Isn't wild how a small piece of cloth can still f...

Calling Dick Tracy, Calling Dick Tracy! We cover Warren Beatty's take on the hard boiled detective. It's a silly film (that Gangster Squad seems to have ripped off), but its actually got really great costuming! Even though everything is exaggerated and colorful, every outfit is masterfully put together and evokes the spirit of the Golden Era. Ethan's Essay: https://alittlebitofrest.com/2023/10/22/...

The next episode is about how much we love the brown suit. Oftentimes, brown suits are unfairly maligned and cast over in favor of navy and grey suits. A brown suit's rustic nature and lack of ubiquity give them an inherent charm that can be leveraged by any menswear enthusiast. Brown suits aren't necessarily corporate nor are they overly bold, but they are versatile, being able to be worn in any...

This bonus episode takes a look at Kenneth Branagh's latest Poirot installment: A Haunting In Venice. To our surprise, this spooky turn is actually a quite enjoyable film that does some fantastic period costuming worn by its rather small cast. There's a lot to enjoy about this one! You can listen to the first 15 minutes now on all platforms or join our Patreon for the full episode as well as our l...

Since Barbenheimer is the phenomenon that got people dressing up for the movies, we've gotta talk about it! The SaDBoys discuss people's response to Barbenheimer, if they dressed to watch the double feature themselves, and the best menswear looks from the two films. Whether it's the Ken's faux-fur coat or Oppy's baggy suits, it's clear that the costumers of both films took special care to dress th...

We got the King of Movie Style on the pod @bamfstyle ! We chat with Nick (that's his name) about how he started his iconic menswear website, his process in analyzing the fashion in his favorite movies, and what his taste in menswear is! It's a great interview that will surely please all the filmbros out there, especially those with an eye for clothing. Show notes: https://alittlebitofrest.com/2023...

A movie about a rivalry between two con artists in the French Riviera while dressed in classic menswear? Yes, please! For this bonus episode, we watch Frank Oz's 1988 film "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels", which shows off Michael Caine's Lawrence Jamieson in his English trad glory, complete with DB blazers and regimental ties. Steve Martin's buffoonish Freddy Benson gets to rock menswear on the other sid...

If The French Dispatch's 60s tailoring was made for Ethan, then the 50s Americana of Asteroid City was for Spencer. In the new bonus pod, the boys discuss the charming vacation and western attire found in Wes Anderson's latest film! We go into all the characters, note how there isn't THAT much western wear, and touch upon the meta framing of the flick. If you want to hear the full episode, you'll...

In this next episode, the SaDBoys critically examine how they buy things, or at least as critically as they can. How many of our purchases were inspired by social media? How many purchases are made on impulse, whether on eBay or in person at the flea market? Are many of these things upgrades or replacements of things we already own or are they "newly found" interests? The episode provides insight...

What's the deal with white suits? Well they have a curious history. They are perceived to be incredibly fancy yet white clothing has its roots in practical workwear. The hope would be that a white suit would be just as easy to wear, being made of casual cloth and as slouchy as they come. We discuss white tailoring on the latest episode, discussing their roots, iconic people who have worn them, and...

Ethan is back from Italy and is ready to talk about the Dolce Vita! He goes through his packing process, how he ate geltao and drank nearly everyday, and goes into the menswear stores (as well as what he bought). It's a big one, so be sure to check out his blog for all the photos and nitty gritty details that we didn't have time for in this episode. But don't worry, we got through all the main stu...

Ethan was away so Spencer and MJ are here to play! We go over Spencer's short Texas trip as well as what he wore during it. We also talk about what's been going on recently (like Succession) and what are excited to wear this season. This is a very laid back episode that should only further your parasocial relationships with us. Subscribe on patreon for the full episode as well as access to our Dis...

We heard the blues a-callin'! The next episode is all about the menswear in Frasier. With all the brown suits, double breasted Armani numbers, and jokes about classical music and cashmere, Frasier is one of our favorite shows. In fact as we get older, we've even found our lives aligning getting closer aligned to the Crane boys. No, not in terms of income or big apartments but in how much time we s...

Style & Direction isn't immune to the writer's strike, so at the direction of our owners, we had to rely on ChatGPT to make our entire script for us. I guess the future is here and we must follow. There's also a few clips from previous episodes, which feature interviews with wacky guests and even snippets from The Style & Direction Cinematic Universe of Films. There's also a new catchphrase canoni...

@brettwhite joins us on the pod! He's a stylish pop culture reporter that has a penchant for classic menswear, specifically through the lens of TV and comics. We speak to Brett about his unlikely source of menswear inspo, the struggles of finding clothes that fit perfectly out of the box (because tailors can be far), and what it's like to have made a career out of talking about nerdy things! We al...

In this episode, we discuss basic and capsule wardrobes and how their pragmatic take to NOT be naked doesn't allow you to connect with your clothes in a meaningful way. Instead, we offer an alternative: the Foundational Wardrobe. It's more of a philosophy than a specific list and is meant to encourage introspection. The hope is that you'll be able to figure out what are essentials for YOUR specifi...

In this bonus episode, Spencer tells us about his brief NYC trip! He was there for a conference but that didn't stop him from squeezing in menswear shopping and a few fit pics for us. Maybe a full SaD NYC trip will be on the horizon... Support us on Patreon for the full episode and join the Discord: https://www.patreon.com/styleanddirection/ Photos on Ethan's blog: https://alittlebitofrest.com/202...

In this latest episode, Ethan takes Spencer and MJ through the book "Reflections on Musical Expression" by Peter Kivy which posits that expression is a valid method in evaluating and critiquing music through concepts of Contour and Convention. We extrapolate on that to say that making outfit is all about using the plethora of expressive details and either upholding or subverting them to create an...

Our coverage of the terrible menswear in Live By Night (2016) is here! This is the movie that put Affleck in baggy suits for no reason, makes 1926 look like 1946, and contains a flash back that lasts for about 30 minutes. If people want to ask why Golden Era Menswear never took the zeitgeist like Mad Men, just watch this mediocre gangster flick. Show Notes: https://alittlebitofrest.com/2023/03/19/...