Mad Men Party Looks: Gentlemen First

The season premiere of Mad Men is right around the corner, much to the excitement of fans and fashionistas. If you're hosting a premiere party or attending one, it's only natural to dress for the party. You don't have to emulate a single character to a T, but you can look like a 1960s fashion plate with a little cash and a little imagination.

For a fun change of pace, let's start with the men. You know you're excited!

Looking like these guys doesn't seem so hard—just throw on a suit and you're done, right? Not so fast. Remember that this premiere is coming in late July, and DC isn't exactly known for its dry heat. So think beyond the suit and try to conjure up something that one of these fine gentleman would wear to a party.

A few looks to ponder, after the jump.

Thrift Tip: For the Menfolk

Reader Neil sent us a question that I have heard echoed from the Y chromosomes in my life lately. Read below for my advice in our first reader-submitted question!

Hi,

I ran across your blog while reading about one of Jim Brady's new news sites. Basically, I'm a 29 year old guy who finally decided to make an effort to stary dressing nice. However. I'm a bargain hunter. I love the thrill of the chase, love doubling up coupons and more.

With clothes though, I have struggled.

Despite excessive Googling and asking questions on Styleforum, no one seems to want to share good thrift stores in DC. My guess is because they are protecting their coveted spots.

Any suggestions? Im open to NoVa or DC. I have a car, and am willing to drive a bit. I'm also open to all other suggestions for filling my wardrobe with quality essentials on the cheap.
Thanks!
-Neil

Hi Neil,


Guys have a tough time finding good places to shop secondhand, mostly because the selection is severely limited in the higher-end shops. I would recommend checking out Mustard Seed in Bethesda and Posh on 18th street between Adams Morgan and Dupont Circle. Both stores have a nice selection for men, although at Posh you're getting bigger brands and slightly higher prices.

As for thrift stores, I'm a huge Value Village fan. There are just racks and racks of clothing. Goodwill is pretty good for men, too. Both of these chains have locations around the area--Goodwill I think does discount day on Tuesday, and Value Village is on Monday in most of them around here. A good rule of thumb with thrift (as it can get a little out of hand) is to ask yourself, "Would I pay full price for this item if I could?" If you're buying it because it's $3, then put it back. But if you're buying the piece because you like it and think it will be a great addition to your wardrobe, then go for it.

Good luck!

♥

Field Trip: Treasury

1843 14th St. NW
Second Floor
Washington, DC 20009
202-506-6908
www.shoptreasury.com

Next up on my "Spring on U Street" tour is Treasury, a second-floor shop that I happened upon by foot, instead of by Google. But don't be shy--just walk right past the first-floor barbershop and up the stairs to a true vintage paradise.

The first thing that caught my attention in this shop was the atmosphere. This place is vintage to a T and embraces the movement from floor to ceiling. The natural light from the large windows brings out the beauty of every piece, and we all know that everything--from clothing to makeup to flowers--looks better in natural light. Everyone loves a little vitamin D.

Treasury is not a consignment shop; most of its inventory comes from private collections and estate sales. But every now and then, they'll spring for a beautiful, interesting piece. If you have something that might be of interest, definitely contact them before traipsing over there with a garment bag to see if it fits Treasury's bill. Since it's not consignment, you can trust that everything is hand-selected by vintage experts that really care about curating quality pieces.

The shop is small, so you might imagine that the men's section is even smaller. But there is a sweet selection for the gents, and there is a wide variety of accessories for men and women. The shop also has curios--unique items--so don't be surprised if you see old political buttons or other odds and ends.

My favorite part of my visit was learning about all the old-fashioned touches in the store. All the tags and labels are hand-typed on an ancient typewriter behind the register (there's another one for sale that we've pictured here). All the tags and shopping bags are hand-stamped with the Treasury logo. The jewelry and accessory displays have typed signs as well. If you look closely, some of the tags have little tips or comments typed on them by the staff. If you find one, you're lucky--it's like a fashion fortune cookie.

Another plus at Treasury? They've got a part-time seamstress that will alter a piece that you love right there in the store. If you need a better fit or have a different vision for a piece (think hemming up a skirt a few inches), Kristen Swenson can take care of those delicate vintage pieces that need some extra care. We bought a piece from Treasury that we immediately damaged (go us). We'll be posting a quick fix shortly, but we'll probably be contacting Treasury and Kristen for some lasting advice and guidance.

Treasury is a joy--you simply must go and relish in the beauty of vintage.

More photos after the jump.

Deep Thoughts about Menswear, and a Field Trip

Second Time Around
176 Newbury Street
Boston, MA 02116
617-247-3504‎
secondtimearound.net

Second Time Around is apparently part of a chain, but I have not run across its DC counterpart yet. Honestly, I'm pretty sure it's right under my nose in Georgetown and I have walked by it 16 times in the past month. That's how bad I am with directions.

According to Google it has three locations on Newbury street alone, which I am almost certain is highly unlikely. But we went to one of them! And we did not buy anything. Despite generous color tag sales, everything I wanted was a non-discount color. So, still too pricey for me.

If you know where the stairs are in this place, let me know. MC and I wandered around inside for a while, wondering where this crazy-looking European couple found all the Burberry coats that were on sale for about $130. It was only after we left the store that we realized that there's a second floor. By that point we were tired of (window) shopping and decided to split.

Bottom line: as with all thrift and resale stores, know when the best sale days are. Research required!

More importantly, I have some beef to share.

In the middle of my Q and A last week, Josh Yospyn got me thinkin' hard. He mentioned that DC could use a list of vintage and resale shops that cater to men. I haven't really found any of those yet, so the list would be all about stores that have a decent men's section.

Then, on our trip to Boston for Easter weekend, I came across this:

In one corner toward the back of the store, one could find the menswear. But it was labeled the "Boyfriend Boutique." At first, I smiled at the alliteration and the label. But then, I got offended on behalf of every guy in America.

All of the sections in this store had small signs like the ones above, 90 percent of them referring to the piles upon piles of women's clothing that the store housed. But there was only one sign for men's clothing, and it silently made the assumption that the guys in the store were only there because of their girlfriends.

Am I way off base here? Does anyone out there think it's cute or flattering? I'd love for some guys to chime in on this. Bonus points if you have suggestions for alternate names for the men's section.

More photos from the trip, after the jump.