I don't know the exact nature of this thread but if it's advice on dressing, I say this: dress for the day. It doesn't matter if it's the same outfit you've worn for a week-and-a-half, or you're trussed up in the latest trends: get out of your pj's and dress for the day. Make your bed, brush your teeth, dress yourself, have breakfast if you need it--That's the day started. It's little rituals like that build a sense of agency, self-worth and respect.
As for me, I mostly wear military surplus. Old military surplus, at that. I'm on the small and slight side of builds and there's not much available commercially that fits my body type without going into the weird cuts of children's clothing (and I have too much pride/shame for that). Old military surplus is stocked with clothes that perfectly fit me (when there were more people built like me due to poor nutrition) and are robust enough for my needs. It also doesn't hurt that I like heavy, textured, coarse fabrics. Yeah, they might stink of must from time to time, but a wash will make it nearly-new! I'm more for function over form and clothes is just another facet of that for me.
My family says that I have a "look" I've not strayed from, and my every-day wear is this:
- Cardigan or Jacket (with lots of pockets, if possible) in a shade of "olive green." Green has always been my favorite color and I like earthier tones. There's not a day since childhood where I've not worn a jacket or some kind of extra outerwear.
- Shirt is typically a Henley undershirt in warmer weather or paired with a wool sweater in colder months. I've fallen out of favor with crew neck tee's, as I think they're a bit restrictive at the chest, and full button up's I just find stuffy. I don't wear anything with labels, prints, or imagery. Just simple, solid, warm colors. I also avoid wearing solid white unless "flecked" with another color. I tend to mess clothes easily so the break-up pattern helps hide stains I may not notice.
- Pants are typically jeans: blue, grey, or brown, and always with a belt. No black pants. Though, I'm entering that point in my life where jeans stop looking decent on men. I continue to wear them now but I'm looking for alternatives (maybe canvas as they tend to last longer).
- Footwear: boots. High-cut leather boots, fully laced, no zippers. Always in a chocolate brown color, and never buffed. I keep every scuff like a badge. I've rocked with Dr. Martens for a long time now, but I may have to finally turn over to something else. The quality hasn't been very good ever since they stopped all manufacturing in England, so I'm on the look-out for something better but in similar veins.
No other accompanying details: no watch, no rings/earrings, no necklaces, nor any sort of trinkets. I've always worked with my hands and around machinery, and safety precautions just naturally turned into preference. Summer or fall/winter come round, I'll throw on my hat and scarf, but other than that, function over form.
