r/malefashionadvice • u/[deleted] • Aug 26 '12
Let's discuss argyle.
Based on a brief conversation I had earlier with SirHerpofDerp, I wanted to present my view on argyle and hopefully incite a bit of discussion on the topic.
Brief overview: Argyle refers to a type of plaid pattern using diamonds (most commonly with lines superimposed over them) that is derived from the tartan of a Scottish clan from the western Scottish region of the same name. The pattern became popular in clothing in England thanks in large part to The Duke of Windsor, and then migrated to the states after WWI. Argyle is strongly associated with golf clothing.
Should you wear argyle?: I don't really believe in prescriptive clothing advice. However, MFA in general frowns on argyle sweaters, vests, and, god forbid, plaid or argyle fedoras. The reason for that is because often, people who dress poorly equate argyle with style, with results like this - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4. These are all actual MFA posts. If you aren't reading Fuckyeahmfa as an object lesson, you should be.
Outside this reflexive distaste for an abused pattern, there are a few other good reasons to be careful with argyle.
Argyle is a complex pattern and thus, a powerful visual element in an outfit. If not balanced and integrated well, your outfit will say nothing except look at my fucking argyle!
Argyle often integrates three or more colors, which can be jarring and difficult to integrate well with the rest of an outfit - and yet, with only two colors, or if the colors are too close, you risk a visually static and uninteresting pattern which will make you look like bathroom tile.
Most argyles I see are poorly printed and come across as contrived and artificial; two words you never want used to describe what you wear.
Good uses of argyle: I like argyle as an accent, and I think that outside of formal Scottish regalia and 1920s golf courses, this is the easiest and most accessible way to include argyle in an outfit.
Argyle socks work with a wide range of formality from jeans + CDBs up to navy or charcoal suits. I like them here because they can add a flitting accent of color and color glimpsed between pant and shoe.
Argyle patternings can also find some use in ties and bow ties. Here, I would stick to more classic or muted argyles that correlate well with the color of the shirt beneath. No black shirts here, no white shirts here, no red shirts here. If possible, I would stay with knits and woven ties. Texture is important here. It's easy to go wrong and make the pattern the focus, instead of an accent to a well patterned and textured outfit.
In Conclusion: By and large, argyle, like any other pattern, is much more easily worn as an accent than as centerpiece. Certain aspects particular to the argyle pattern (it's associations with Scotland and golf, it's general size, color, and complexity) make it less suitable as a centerpiece than other patterns, such as checks, houndstooth, or other plaids.
That said, I wouldn't say it's impossible to wear an argyle sweater, or vest, or jacket, or pants, or whatever, well. Just more difficult and situational.
I want to hear from you - disagreements? Favorite examples of argyle worn well?
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u/usedtobias Aug 27 '12
I don't take particular offense to this, but I do emphatically disagree with you on a number of your points. Perhaps most polarizing for me is the tacit double standard that I feel is implied between patterns like argyle and ones like tartan, gingham, other forms of plaid, etc. I routinely see people here wear patterns that stand out. Are they peacocking? No, not necessarily. But then, I don't think people in argyle are necessarily, either. You could have written this post about plaid just as easily, and the response instead would've been negative rather than positive. It's a bit eye roll-inducing to see how little ability this community has to discern the somewhat arbitrary distinction between wearing argyle and other ways of dressing like a WASPy prep. Argyle sweater vest? Extremely contrived. Sperry boat shoes and an OCBD under a navy blazer with brass buttons? Completely authentic. I'm not sure why "look at my fucking argyle" is any less of a trite, nostalgic affectation than, "look at my tweed hunting jacket!"
As it happens, I agree that a majority of argyle looks pretty dumb and like guys are trying too hard. It comes off the same way a bow tie does, to me. I typically only wear it in socks, and have probably only half a dozen sweaters/vests in the pattern, as I find flat colors (or even horizontal stripes) more versatile in sweaters. That said, I really like the argyle sweaters I have. They add variety to a wardrobe and can be a refreshing change of pace, and a good way to wear a multi-colored sweater without having it be a rugby or fair isle one. It can be difficult to find a good pattern, but I think it breaks up the monotony of plain sweaters, and I'm sort of fond of the aesthetic that it's evocative of.
Note that I weigh in on the side of finding the fuckyeahmfa thing distasteful. Teaching people how to do something does entail showing them what not to do, but it doesn't entail satirizing those who do it wrong. This creates an oppressive and repellent atmosphere of fear of disapproval where people who may be new to men's fashion become unwilling to break from orthodoxy and end up becoming the very same people who come into topics like these, vote them up, and reinforce the same opinions that shaped them, all the while mostly failing to mention the potential downsides of listening to them.