Matzo Ball Billiards

With 2023 nearing its end, I’ve been looking back at my personal style journey with an ounce of pride and bucket full of shame.

This was a big year for me! I tripled my suit collection. I bought more vintage designer pieces. I updated my hair style to a middle part. I swore off skinny jeans, and I actually learned about what makes a quality fabric…quality.

But there were also some style missteps. I wore cheap tan dress shoes with navy trousers. I wore a loud tie to a wedding. I used cheap clip-on suspenders, God damn it!

While hardly marking the year in which I ascended to fashion god status, I did make strides. I have a number of outlets to thank for everything I’ve learned. Namely, TikTok (special shoutout to my fashion mutuals) and the menswear guy on twitter (lol).

Looking to the future, I wanted to list a few of my “fashion New Year’s resolutions” to demonstrate intentionality. While I’m sure I’ll try all sorts of dandy style experiments this year, there’s a few I have in mind – right now, in fact. So, without further ado, here they are.

Resolution #1: Wear Better Shoes

The first course of action is to upgrade my shoe game.

While my shoe rotation isn’t awful or anything, I’ve seldom given it the right attention in comparison to how I’ve allowed my taste to process in other areas of fashion.

I’ll always enjoy my classic go-to options, like my chuck all stars and doc martens, but there’s so much room for improvement. I want to get sporty chunky sneakers that I absolutely love and want to pair with anything. I want actual full grain leather shoes for once. I want to get more into boots of all kinds, because God knows I could use an extra inch or two somedays.

I don’t plan on necessarily replacing all my shoes, but I do want to explore some better options going forward.

Resolution #2: Become a Faux Cowboy

While it’s a bit far off, this spring season, I’d like to give proper Western wear a bit more of a try. I love my Wrangler Cowboy Cut jeans and my Wrangler Wranchers, both of which are practically begging to be paired with some cowboy boots.

In addition to a pair of those, I want to play with more denim snap shirts and embrace some “rugged frontier aesthetics.” I know I don’t really give off this impression, but I’m actually a fairly outdoorsy person, so trying out some fun western looks has been on my bucket list for a while.

Relax. I’m not gonna get the hat. Or will I…?

Resolution #4: Scottish Swag, Innit

Spinning off that last one, one resolution that I’ve already been tapping into a bit lately is to embrace my interest in classic British country style.

Tweed and Shetland wool are both some of my favorite fabrics for a reason, but there’s really something interesting to me about this corner of fashion. To really dig into this a bit more, I’ve got to get myself a classic Barbour waxed jacket and some duck boots or something similar. I already own a nice Fair Isle knit. But I’m down for a few more.

I’m already in my mid 20s so why not embrace being a proper pensioner who goes duck hunting on the weekends?

Resolution #4 Fashion Murder, Inc.

The primary reason I got into fashion, in all honesty, stems from my love of suits. I’ve got a bunch. And I plan on getting more.

But, embarrassing as it is to admit this – my initial love for suits and such is likely born out of my hyper fixation on mafia media. You know, the mob. The outfit (if you’re from Chicago). Gangsters!

While I have a great love for exploring the history of organized crime, my love for great mafia movies undoubtedly came first. And with it? A silly obsession with the fashion. I don’t care if it’s cringe, man. I. Love. Gangster fits. From the 1920s through the 2000s, this aesthetic means a lot of things. But the Godfather, Goodfellas, The Sopranos, and many other pieces of Mafia media have made such a massive impact on my style taste.

In 2024, I want to play with this more than ever. That means more Italian tailoring. Spearpoint collars so sharp you can cut off a fish head with the tip (don’t ask me to elaborate, just go with it). Heck, maybe even a pinky ring if I want to make my poor mother feel a sense of deep, sorrowful shame. Call me Sully “The Schmoop” Shapiro (inside joke for my ma)! I’m beginning my criminal enterprise with crimes against good taste.

The Final Word

Well, that about covers it. There’s probably some more that I’ll think about later – and hey, maybe it’ll make it into a potential two-parter. But as always, thanks for reading. I hope the new year blesses all of us with never-before seen levels of swag.