«The Sartorialist Man»: fashion, style and styling for men
27.5.2022
Translation: Megan Cornish
Scott Schuman started his photo blog «The Sartorialist» over 15 years ago. I knew him as a street photographer back then. I bought his book «The Sartorialist Man» because of the photos, but it opened up access to fashion and style far beyond my original horizons.
I came across Scott Schuman aka «The Sartorialist»’s photos years before I started getting into fashion. For me, he was primarily a photographer who took really interesting street and portrait photos. It was only much later that I realised that what mattered most to him was the sense of style of the people he featured. Namely when he announced his book «The Sartorialist Man» in 2020 (it was published in 2021). The name of the blog made that clear from the start – well it would have if I had ever looked up where it came from: the word «sartorial», which means «relating to clothes/clothing».
Anyway, the book now has a home on my shelves, but it’s actually almost never there because I usually have it lying around somewhere in the apartment and consult it regularly. Sometimes to be inspired by interesting looks, sometimes to look up a piece of information. Because the book offers both a lot of photos of interesting and interestingly dressed people and specialist knowledge of various items of clothing and accessories.
Get inspired and informed
The book is divided into three main parts. The first looks at various items of clothing: jackets, shirts, t-shirts, hoodies, trousers and shorts, focusing on different cuts and styling. There are also sub-chapters on underwear, knits and outerwear, i.e. coats, parkas and leather jackets.
The second part is about accessories, specifically ties, bow ties, scarves – and the pocket square.
The third part is dedicated to a topic that the fashion industry hasn’t been particularly well known for in recent decades: sustainability and clothing care. Schuman introduces the topic very cleverly: «I’m not rich enough not to buy the best.» It may sound a bit paradoxical when you read it for the first time, but, on closer inspection, it’s not at all. It simply means: I can’t – and don’t want to – constantly buy new clothes that seem more affordable at first glance. Because it will be much more expensive in the long run than buying a few expensive, high-quality pieces.
In order for this to work, both the quality and the handling of the pieces has to be right – they have to be cared for properly. Schuman writes about how to iron shirts, clean and store shoes carefully and carry out the most important minor repairs to your clothes yourself. He also advocates regular visits to select second-hand shops and gives tips on the gentlest way to pack your clothes when travelling.
Look at the details
Between these very specific clothing themes, the author repeatedly shines a spotlight on small inspirations. He makes the case for tailors who can customise your off-the-shelf pieces. He looks at brightly coloured and monochrome looks, makes a plea for imperfect style and looks at the idea of uniforms from two very different perspectives.
Schuman moves in or around the fringes of the fashion industry, fashion shows and brands large and small. First and foremost, however, he became known for showcasing normal people with no connection to the industry, so real style. That’s also what fascinates me about his photos: that in addition to exalted fashionistas, I also get to see a lot of everyday looks, or at least styling ideas.
I started my first article on men and fashion a few weeks ago with my age. This time, I’m leaving age out of it. Because Scott Schuman has written a bit about this, which I’d like to quote to finish:
«In today’s youth-obsessed, youth-driven culture, it can be rare to find examples of how to grow old and still be stylish. I wanted to celebrate contemporary men who epitomize that sense of chic. After all, we’re not getting any younger: at whatever stage of life we are in. we all could use a little help with how to age in a way that is graceful and positive.» Scott Schuman
Oliver Fischer
Teamleader Editorial
Oliver.Fischer@digitecgalaxus.chGlobetrotter, hiker, wok world champion (not in the ice channel), word acrobat and photo enthusiast.
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