By Jonathan Sigmon
Where can someone go to learn how to develop a sense of style? Not simply the fundamentals of putting tailored clothing together, like I hope they’ll find in Alan’s books, but to actually develop their own personal style and comfort in how they dress in all areas of life. That’s a form of a question I’m frequently asked by clients, whose only opportunity to think through these things tends to be during our appointments in the shop.
There is so much content in the form of social media, websites, YouTube videos, and print that it can be challenging to know where to look and who to trust, as the vast majority is quite poor! The chance of of stumbling onto something good online is low, as the algorithm is not known for its taste. Alan’s writings are of course our foundational resource for learning the important basics, and for online advice and dialogue we often direct folks towards friends in the industry like Kirby Allison, Simon Crompton, and Derek Guy. Yet one area that remains under-represented is visual guidance on how tailored clothing can be worn more casually in highly personal and stylish ways. This is an area I’ve made some effort to occasionally highlight through our own social and newsletters, but it’s difficult to find outside of a clothing brand’s own representation.
L’Etiquette magazine has been filling that role admirably for a few years now, and in 2021 began offering their French lifestyle magazine in an English edition. Their quarterly issues include what I consider to be the best casual clothing styling of any current publication. In addition to editorials, they occasionally feature real folks in their own clothing, which provides a glimpse into the myriad of interesting approaches to personal taste. Critically, the folks at the magazine remain generally attuned to the right proportions of tailoring that are flattering on the individuals they feature. This is one of the most important aspects of wearing tailored clothes well, and it’s an area the majority of publications fall flat, as they tend to be guided by trends in fashion rather than a focus on showing clothes that will still look good years down the road.
It’s worth emphasizing that L’Etiquette leans significantly towards the casual end of the spectrum, and with frequent emphasis on high/low dressing that mixes vintage, sportswear, and inexpensive basics with luxurious tailored clothing. At times their imagery can feel like modern interpretations from the pages of our oft-recommended vintage book Cheap Chic. It isn’t the place to learn how to put elegant business casual looks together, and you won’t find strict how-to guides on the building blocks of learning how to dress. Yet as a reference to be inspired and challenged by fun and approachable ways of wearing your tailored clothing, I consider them the very best. It deserves more than a passing side note, but the interviews and profiles are also compelling, ranging from Fran Lebowitz to Gay Talese to Doug Bihlmaier of Ralph Lauren.
The bulk of L’Etiquette magazine is print only and the best way to know about new issues is to sign up for their newsletter here. Below are a few of my favorite tailored looks and guides from back issues over the last couple of years.
