Gentlemen of Style and Distinction: "Pingson"
In matters of taste and style, examples from which to learn are a sine qua non. For all the abundance of guides, rules and worthy blog posts - both good and bad - suggestions are not enough. As they say, a picture speaks a thousand words. For all our pretensions (mine in particular) to an independent mind and original perspective, we are products of our environment to at least some degree. Acquiring the right environment, then, is important.
From time to time, I will suggest references - people, blogs, even one-off pictures, of the way a definitive modern gentleman should look. I'm not especially interested in the vacuous world of "celebrity", so although a well-known or public "figure" might appear from time to time, I'm just as likely to choose someone who has a meaningful existence beyond the internet, and is little known on it. As I am now. This gentleman, as much by good timing as anything, as there are many from whom I would happily choose, is the first.
I know this man only as "Pingson", from the very mixed bag that is Styleforum. There are several frequent posters whose style I admire, but one of the reasons I chose this man as the first example, is that he meets the description "definitive" so well. According to his own words, he is a university lecturer from Sweden. I've no idea how varied and permissible the Swedish academic environment is from a sartorial perspective, but from examples I've seen of other universities, I would guess "very". It is therefore a matter of choice and distinction that he dresses so well.
If there is any downside, I suppose it would be that Professor Pingson is not a great risk-taker. But then again, for most people, diving into the more esoteric areas of menswear is usually a mistake. What the Professor does is take classic menswear by its very letter, and confine his experimentation to a clear and conservative definition of good taste. That's not to say his appearance is boring - the colourful ties and pocket handkerchiefs are carefully chosen but no less interesting for it. His selection of rich textures and weaves in jackets and suits, is varied and appealing.
So, Professor "Pingson", I congratulate you on being the first ever TEGTOM "Gentleman of Taste and Distinction". And to you, dear reader, a simple suggestion: if you're not sure what to wear for "business casual" or simply every day good taste, ask yourself: "What would Pingson do?". His own writing and some inspiring pictures (from which these above are taken), can be found here.
- "M"