Style and Direction

Producer MJ gets the limelight in the newest pod! We talk to him about how he was inspired to get into menswear through hanging out, how his expression remains personal (not just a carbon copy of Ethan and Spencer), and where he sees himself going next. He is newer to this after all! Ethan's Essay: https://alittlebitofrest.com/2023/03/11/my-brother-mj/ Support us on Patreon and join the Discord: h...

Chinatown is one of our favorite movies and we're excited to go over the film's costuming on the latest bonus pod! We go over it all, from Jake's awesome belt backs and spearpoint collars to Noah Cross's corduroy suit. Compared to some of the other movies we've covered, this one definitely takes the cake as one of the most accurate ones. Show notes: https://alittlebitofrest.com/2023/02/26/we-cant-...

The newest podcast episode is about defining what exactly is an “Occasion” and the “right” reasons to get fitted on the regular. This is because people tend to avoid “wasting” outfits, whatever that means. TL;DR, we see everyday life as an Occasion. Every activity we do is an opportunity to dress up. This could mean wearing a nice fit to get dinner with a friend or even treating yourself to a solo...

This new episode is Spencer's attempt to codify what he calls "reporter style". The look comes from personal observation of the journalists he has interacted with professionally, famed journalists of the last century and of course, the image of the reporter that was created by Hollywood in films like “All the President’s Men” or “The Parallax View”. He also goes into how he co-opts elements of thi...

The first bonus of 2023 is all about The Sting (1973). We watch the beloved grift movie and cover its 70s-does-30s attire that actually looks pretty great. Its full of grey fedoras, sharp suits, and elegant tuxedos. That's all stuff we like! Show notes: https://alittlebitofrest.com/2023/01/29/i-finally-watched-the-sting-1973/ Subscribe on Patreon for the full episode and join the Discord: https://...

In this episode, we discuss the Tangibility of our various menswear experiences on the pod and how it helped us in our journeys and how it assists in "evangelism". A "tangible experience" could mean anything, from trying something new at the store to just handling your clothes and carefully making outfits. Getting tangible is what connects you to your clothes and helps you figure out what you like...

The first pod of 2023 is here and it's all about menswear "evangelism" or how to get others into this little hobby. The discussion talks about what type of advice people respond to, anecdotes about how we introduced our friends to specific pieces, and what seems to work in getting them to approach clothing in a personal rather way instead of being pragmatic. We honestly don't try too hard to get o...

The 1920s are back! In this bonus episode, the SaD Boys cover the attire in Damien Chazelle's Babylon. The outfits are meh and the film is...interesting, but its worth a watch if you just love the movies. We also talk about Avatar 2, which sounds random but if you see Babylon...you'll know why it makes sense. Ftxozä Kerìsmìsä Lefpom! Show Notes: https://alittlebitofrest.com/2022/12/25/babylon-and-...

What does "Menswear as Hobby" mean to us? Fun! This hobby is not just about gathering inspo or collecting specific garments, it's ALL of it, culminating in putting together daily outfits wearing them out. We also discuss how menswear compares to our other activities and how fun will always be the higher priority when compared to practically covering our bodies. Yes, clothes are necessary. But we c...

Three fashion movies all released in close proximity? What a treat for Ethan and Spencer! This bonus pod covers some of the great film fits we've seen including the slouchy tied sweaters on Tar, the immaculate black tie in Amsterdam, and the contrasting American and British looks in See How They Run. They're all worth a watch, so try to see them before you listen to this pod. Ethan's Essay: https:...

Spencer and Ethan reflect and apply the framework provided in W. David Marx's new book: Status & Culture. It's not a proper book review, but the SaDBoys do get into it, sharing whether they agree on their own status, what they perceive benefits of high status to be, and how the internet and monoculture are setting back culture. Don't worry, we (along with Marx) have our own solutions! We recommend...

Our friend Doug is the next guest on the podcast! Not only is he an actor famous for his Amazon and Liberty Mutual spots, but he's one of the most stylish guys we know. Doug's knowledge from collecting(and selling) vintage Americana was obviously quite formative for our style, and so we had to have him on. We discuss his predilection for minimalism, how being a vintage seller had an effect on his...

We’re posting the Bonus early so you can hear all about Ethan’s NYC trip! He tells us about the cool shops he went to, the Patreon dinner, and what he ended up bringing home. We also get to discuss the mid century style of Don’t Worry Darling (and its bizarre plot). Ethan’s Essay: https://alittlebitofrest.com/2022/10/09/nyc-2022-a-trip-just-to-hang-out/ Get the full episode on Patreon and join the...

As we get deeper into the "no context" world, it's only fair that we discuss irony and subversion! We talk about the difference between the two, how irony can be a weak defense for a 'bad" fit, and how when time goes on, things will become less subversive— and that's okay! Fashion should be about what we enjoy wearing! Ethan's Essay: https://alittlebitofrest.com/2022/10/03/on-irony-subversion/ Sup...

This bonus episode just might be the wildest one yet, with topics like Spencer's new fascination with necklaces, Ethan on farts, compound interest, and a primer on Status and Culture which we will dive into more in a future episode. Support us on Patreon and join the Discord: https://www.patreon.com/styleanddirection/ Follow us on Instagram! @StyleandDirection @EthanMWong @SpencerDSO Watch us stre...

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...