There are two too many white suits in America.
October 30, 2007 by theotherthomasotter
Tom Wolfe, the profoundly brilliant journalist and competent novelist, can wear a white suit. He has done so for forty years. If you had written the Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test and watched very carefully where you sit for all this time, you could too. If you haven’t, don’t.
(photo Pedro Parga’s flickr)
The starched high collar, pocket handkerchief and “hats tie” are pure Radical Chic. Impeccable.
Tom Wolfe chronicled a generation. DFOF fondly remembers carrying a copy of The Pump House Gang around at university. It was the only hip thing he possessed.
Unless this is some deep American-Hawaiian cult thing of which DFOF is entirely ignorant, these gentlemen pictured below are about as far away from the Right Stuff as is sartorially possible. This is not good to be looking at over breakfast, or indeed any time. (thanks Zoli and Vinnie!)
(photo Brian Solis, via Zoli. The DFOF spy network is gradually infiltrating the digerati.)
DFOF has understood that these fellows are serious players in the valley. The photo is taken on a golf course, but even that is not a mitigating factor. This look should be consigned to the bonfire of the vanities or worse. It is cruel and unusual punishment. Even Americans could surely agree that a white suit in the wrong size is tantamount to torture?
All I can think about is the potential for grass stains. Horrific.
Gosh, the tailoring on the shorter guys pants is insane. You’d think a group of wealthy VCs could at least afford a decent tailor.
when I saw the two I thought one of them should shorter and screaming Ze Plane! Ze plane! - as in Tattoo and Mr. Roarke in the 70s TV show Fantasy Island…
Do you think Mr. Wolfe would call them Men in Full?
So it is not enough that Valleywag makes fun of David Hornik (http://valleywag.com/search/hornik/) and his Lobby conference (http://thelobby.typepad.com/lobby/why/), now DFOF needs to chime in too. Obviously these suits were a joke for a golf outing, however unfortunately even David’s regular clothing does not help him score points in the style department (http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=David+hornik). What’s up with the green dress shirt and white T-Shirts he is wearing at conferences?
Anyway maybe he can comment on his Blog (http://www.ventureblog.com/) or his really entertaining Podcast (http://www.gruntmedia.com/venturecast.html) which hasn’t seen new episodes for many months (well I guess he was to busy finding a white suit for the conference).
BTW I had a great idea for a conference as well. It is called “The Toilet”, because at every conference the s**t goes down in the toilet. Anyone interested to sponsor it?
And last not least I want to get invited to the Lobby2, please…