Mismatch Theory
Photographed in Oxford, England
Noteworthy: mismatched red and blue socks, needlepoint Georgetown rowing belt hand-sewn by girlfriend, velvet Prince Albert slippers emblazoned with personal crest, cutaway collar oxford cloth shirt, impeccable fit.
I met Jack a little over a year ago when he approached me to collaborate on a unique personal photography project. We've traveled the back roads of New England together, crashed (questionable) couches in Wisconsin together, wandered The Netherlands together, and drank in the oldest of English pubs together...and he's never not been in mismatched red and blue socks. It's his thing. I like that. My thing is tort shell glasses—I've been in some variation of them for more than 15 years now. What's your thing?
left a comment on 10/18/2012 at 9:27 PM:
Blunt 1940’s bob, cowboy boots, pearls and a red Chevy pickup.
left a comment on 10/8/2012 at 9:07 PM:
@Danger—I have a tweed SC from Gieves & Hawkes in what looks to be the same cloth, and with very similar shoulder expression as well. That would be my guess.
left a comment on 10/7/2012 at 12:36 PM:
I have known Jack for 7 years and can testify that he is a man of good taste and character. Jack performed the duties of Best Man for my son, Eric, and maintained his sock tradition throughout the formal wedding! :-). His “Toast” rivaled the top stand-up comics. He’s a man of many talents!!
left a comment on 10/7/2012 at 12:22 AM:
@Mike—The bag keeps the look youthful, it adds an unexpected twist. It says, “I’m still at university.”
left a comment on 10/6/2012 at 8:58 AM:
I should explain I am no longer at school and am far less often surrounded by the girls I once wished I was. Now I have lots of kicking rad friends that wear what they want, how they want and look blooming marvelous doing it.
left a comment on 10/6/2012 at 8:56 AM:
Wild, curly red hair and my Barbour. You can spot me in any crowd and pick me out of even the grainiest pictures. I used to wish I would blend in with my friends at school but now I’m just me (cliché that it is) and feel more comfortable than I ever would with straight blonde hair, pearls and a cardigan.
left a comment on 10/6/2012 at 6:38 AM:
Love the red pants and blazer. My thing is wearing my mother’s solid gold bangle alongside my husband’s Rolex (that I gave him as a wedding present). Gives me a powerful feeling and makes me happy to have a piece of each of them with me all day!
left a comment on 10/5/2012 at 8:42 PM:
I live roughly 20 feet from the University of Wisconsin boathouse. This fellow has impeccable style!
left a comment on 10/5/2012 at 4:20 PM:
@Sam VanRyzin—We were in and around the University of Wisconsin…boathouse, etc.
left a comment on 10/5/2012 at 8:26 AM:
@FEC I would have to guess he thinks about purposely mismatching his socks together when he’s doing his laundry…
left a comment on 10/4/2012 at 11:38 PM:
Where were you in Wisconsin? I live here and there are only a handful of locations with any sort of “preppy- ness”. Also, I love the glasses in his breast pocket, I am rarely seen without my glasses or sunglasses dangling out of mine.
left a comment on 10/4/2012 at 5:37 PM:
@SomeDude—That would be your cure to educate a woman on the simple premise that you never touch a man’s tie ;)
@TT—He probably thinks about it as much as I think about wearing tort shell glasses…which is hardly at all. It’s a style choice I made once so that it would be one less thing to think about when getting dressed. It’s part of his/my uniform.
left a comment on 10/4/2012 at 4:00 PM:
I’m rather fond of accentuating the curve of my tie by using a tie bar to push it a little more. Additionally, wearing my tie a little off - too many pics of Agnelli, or from Pitti. my current squeeze, as well as too many generally fussy girls have the horrible habit of trying to fix it. I guess it gives me an excuse to flirt I guess.
left a comment on 10/4/2012 at 3:22 PM:
“@Desmond K—It doesn’t matter what Jack is wearing: blue sock on right foot, red sock on left foot. He doesn’t even think about it.”
This is where you lose me, FEC. He doesn’t think about it? Bollocks.
left a comment on 10/4/2012 at 9:17 AM:
Fray. I like things to be a bit worn and lived-in looking. When things are too perfect it makes me feel stuffy.
left a comment on 10/4/2012 at 2:13 AM:
A mountain of sweater vests…every season,every color, every day.
left a comment on 10/4/2012 at 12:38 AM:
Give me plenty argyle socks and I am a happy man! I can’t go without them. I guess that’s “my thing”.
On the gentleman’s outfit, I will say that for me, the pants are a glaring distraction from the awesome jacket. My eyes are drawn to the pants and I have to force myself to “see” the other items, which are all great! I suppose THIS is the reason they call it G.T.H. Love the mismatched socks!
left a comment on 10/3/2012 at 11:12 PM:
something that ive made
i love when im able to tell someone theyre not going to be able to buy what im wearing
left a comment on 10/3/2012 at 9:08 PM:
@Al—Yes, that is his J.Press oar tie bar.
@Desmond K—It doesn’t matter what Jack is wearing: blue sock on right foot, red sock on left foot. He doesn’t even think about it.
left a comment on 10/3/2012 at 9:04 PM:
@FEC is he wearing a J. Press oar tie bar? If so (or regardless) I tip my hat to him—from one style-minded rower to another. Very solid look.
left a comment on 10/3/2012 at 9:04 PM:
I must admit, it works. So does he typically keep a neutral color palate with his shirt/pants/blazer? Blue socks are universal, but I would think there are a few things that red would clash with. Btw, my “thing” is that I’m almost always either in a pair of desert boots or loafers.
ROI left a comment on 2/23/2013 at 12:40 AM:
Isn’t he precious!