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Brian Sacawa is the Founder of He Spoke Style and one of the original men’s style influencers.
MoreI know there are some people who swear by thrifting and vintage shopping. I’m not one of them. It’s not that I don’t like doing the vintage thing, it’s just that I’ve never really had much luck. Part of the reason is that I’ve got a relatively smaller build. At 5’9″, 140lbs, and a 36″ chest, it’s rare that I’ll find a garment that fits. And when you’re talking about suits, there’s nothing you can really do if the shoulders and chest don’t fit other than look like you’re wearing a suit that’s too big, which is worth several thumbs down emoticons. However, when I was in LA this summer, I got extremely lucky.
| WEARING | Vintage Yves Saint Laurent suit, Michael Andrews Bespoke shirt, Brooks Brothers tie, QG Custom pocket round, Ray-Ban sunglasses, Citizen watch, To Boot New York suede boots | PHOTOGRAPHY | by Rob McIver Photo
After checking out of my Airbnb apartment, I had about six hours to kill before I needed to head to the airport. So I decided that in addition to hitting up Cecconi’s one last time for lunch, that I’d spend the afternoon walking Melrose Avenue to check out some of the shops I’d missed previously. One of those was ConsignMEN, a luxury consignment shop filled with tons of designer items.
The majority of my browsing went as it usually does in any vintage store, meaning everything was too big for me. Then I happened upon a brown suit on a YSL hanger. It was a size 38, but I decided to try it on just for kicks. The jacket fit perfectly, as did the waistcoat. And much to my surprise, aside from the almost bell bottom-like leg opening, so did the pants.
I went back and forth a bit on whether or not to buy it, but decided that the $250 price tag was worth it. And since I never have much luck at vintage shops, I didn’t want to let this one get away. $150 in alterations later—I had Earle hem and taper the pants, as well as do some more in depth surgery on the jacket’s sleeves to narrow them slightly—and I’ve got a great fitting and versatile designer suit that’s perfect for fall.
What was your best-ever vintage score?
Thanks for reading.
Stylishly Yours,
Brian
He Spoke Style
Brian Sacawa
Brian Sacawa is the Founder of He Spoke Style and one of the original men’s style influencers. Since 2013, his goal has remained the same: to provide men the advice and inspiration they need to dress well, develop their personal style, and gain more confidence. Brian’s interest and passion for men’s style and luxury watches has led to his writing for The Robb Report, The Rake, and Sotheby’s and he has been quoted on menswear in publications such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Today.com, Brides Magazine, and the Huffington Post. He lives in the woods north of Baltimore with his wife, Robin, kitties Nick and Nora, and German Shepherd/Collie mix Charlie.
