The Quest for Great Men's Fashion in Los Angeles - Part One
There comes a time in every man's life when they should question their outward appearance and maintain a look that coincides with their lifestyle and or profession. Some would comment or say this is totally a New York or California notion and I would concur because these two urban locales are the center for fashion and expression in the United States. New York being the center for fashion and California the center for individual expression but I digress. As men in this modern society, we are judged by our actions, beliefs, incomes, the cars we drive, the homes we own, the food we eat and yes, the clothes we wear. For some, thinking about fashion comes naturally and for others, it can be painful and annoying to consider. Many just do not care but regardless of your stance on the issue, what you wear, how you speak, and how you groom, is a physical reflection of your own personal brand. The question is: what brand are you creating?
The above is a question that every modern man should ask himself. I have come to ask myself this question in the past couple years and develop my own style and my own brand. To do this I have had to dive head first into my wardrobe and analyze what I prize most and then think about how I see myself as that individual.
I consider myself a photographer first and foremost followed closely as a professional in marketing and public relations. I have always fancied slim cut suits from designers like Ted Baker and Banana Republic along with an assortment of colorful ties and other accessories when I must be professional. These have been my go to's for the higher end of my wardrobe, but on the day to day, my go to apparel has been a proper or variant on the classic Henley with jeans or slacks paired with a classic motorcycle boot or slim cut sneaker, my favorite sneakers being Onisutka's by Asics. Here and there I would come across one or two brands that create a quality product and fit my persona but those times are few and far between. Hence the reason I am always on the look out for great new fashion. I have come to find that I gravitate toward slimming, simple, classic attire with subtle modern accents that have a touch of flavor or signature styling, nothing gaudy or over the top. Above all things I hate label branding. I feel great fashion should be recognized for its design, the cut of the fabric, the materials used and the overall style. It should never be recognized because a name is slapped on it.
As my search for great personal fashion continues, I recently I connected with a long time friend of my fiancée, Ryan Hartman. He is a cool cat from Ventura, Calif, a born and bred surfer and skateboarder, he reminds me of what it is to call ones self a Southern Californian. His men’s fashion line, Field Scout, derives its name from the Native American trackers, hunters, protectors and leaders of the past and the icon associated with the brand is a single feather, which in Native American tradition, represents a badge of honor awarded for a great deed. To further the uniqueness of each seasonal line, a latitude and longitude is assigned to denote a region in the world that served for its inspiration.
From a conceptual standpoint Field Scout seeks to develop a unique men’s collection that allows each man the opportunity to develop their own independent and signature style. It is perfectly aimed at the casual professional that desires high quality fashion yet manitains roots in exploration and utility. Though the use of varying blended fabrics, Field Scout excels in creating a line of men’s clothes that can be layered or worn alone. From a design perspective the clothes are fitted, hang well (especially on my own 6’5” frame) and maintain a level of detail that is unnoticeable at first glance but respected upon inspection. The line is simple yet elegant, fits comfortably and looks fantastic.
For myself, I move toward clothes that conform to the color spectrum of dark greys, slate blues, and blacks yet meander toward medium warm tones dependent upon the season. These colors complement my skin tone and look best on me. When it comes to design, I want attire that not only looks great but is functional, something that will allow me to blend into a scene and not garner unwanted attention. This is the photographer side of me dictating my fashion sense. Finding that perfect balance is hard, however Field Scout achieves all of these things seamlessly.
I can say with confidence that I have found a line of clothing I very much respect and enjoy.
Last weekend I had the pleasure of attending a Field Scout Sample Sale in Downtown Los Angeles. Due to the rain it was akin to a personal shopping spree. Meeting with and talking with Ryan and Ally was a pleasure and I left with more clothes than I probably should have but I have no regrets. To see the entire line in person and not just samples I had used at a previous fashion shoot was a delight. Nestled in the warehouse for a couple of hours shooting the shit, trying on clothes and drinking Pabst Blue Ribbon, the coolest point in the day was when Ryan fashioned a handmade belt for my fiancee. It was sweet. I was able to snap some photos of the day and you can find them below. Ryan, Ally and myself are wearing pieces found in the current Field Scout line for Fall/Winter 2012.
