The Garment District: Fashion Staples Pt. 2
Tuesday - May 15, 2007By: Arnold T. Pants
Sometimes old white dudes really know what's popping. In this case, it's Wilson Prostaff Classic tennis shoes. While most sneaker bloggers on the world wide web would probably never admit to liking something as mundane as a Wilson tennis shoe, I will say this... they are fucking awesome. They cost roughly $36 and have better details than the shitty white on white forces your friends are wearing. Terry cloth lining? Check! Availability in both leather or mesh versions? Check! The only downfall of the shoe is that it is a bit narrow and as such not great for fat kids actually playing tennis. And, it really only comes in white/grey or white/navy/red... perfect for WASPs I guess, less perfect for those of us who enjoy a wider range of color in our lives. Prostaff Racquets are also ill, and they helped Pete Sampras win 14 grand slam tournaments.
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Another item old white dudes love is the polo shirt. Thanks to Kanye West, polo shirts have seen a recent surge in hip-hop fashion, and perhaps have also suffered a drop as well. Trends aside, polos are style classics. They are useful, they make you look "adult," and when the collar is flipped, protect you from nasty sunburn.
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For my money, the best polo shirt comes from Brooks Brothers. They may not have the greatest color selection, but they have the best cut. While Ralph Lauren's shirts are too narrow, the brothers Brooks combine a good shoulder width and a perfectly proportioned tail, making them the model for all other shirts in the genre. Lacoste makes terrible polos because a) they are too thin and b) they don't have drop tails. Chav's love Hacket polos, but if you really want to get fancy look at Polistas. These Argentines supply actual world class polo players and world class players (like Princes William and Harry). If you can afford the shirts and want to give a big middle finger to the most pretentious person you know, the replica team joints are available and cost a staggering $200. English Polo player Roddy Williams maintains that Polistas make the "best fitting polo shirt I have ever had." If they sent me a few, I would probably say the same, but until then I will stick with my original comment and belief in Brooks Brothers.
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