Monday
Feb232009
The Minority Report: Las Vegas
Posted on 
February 23, 2009 by Ryan Willms
February 23, 2009 by Ryan Willms 
Last week speed by quickly with a 3 day trip to Las Vegas right in the middle. I keep saying it, that city is insane. It's really not my top city of choice, as I hope most readers could guess by the general taste of h(y)r collective - but how bad could it be? I have no problem with guys who like to gamble, get wasted and look at strippers, but since I wasn't doing any of those activities, my options felt a bit limited. I was there on business; covering Capsule, as well as checking out the GUILD show, Project and Magic. Without going deep into all of the negatives of the city, I will say, that more than ever, I have realized that we are the minority. In the world, in fashion, and especially in Las Vegas, USA. The handful of people I saw that appeared to have good taste were so scarce, I couldn't believe it. As I walked the city, the hotel lobbies and the trade shows, I was constantly surrounded by the most terrible clothing I've ever seen. Whether it was Ed Hardy itself, or it's 7th generation knock-off, there were enough sequins, daggers and tattoos on shirts to dress an army. And it turns out this army is spread all around us, spending a lot of money on ugly clothing and Yager bombs. I knew it was going on, but after being in what felt like the center of crapsville, my mind has been boggled. There were of course some bright spots; Capsule and GUILD were both quite calm, had nice crowds, reasonable music and nice clothing on the racks. There were also a couple of needles in the crapstack at Project and Magic too, but not many. It sounded like ENK might have been a decent show too, but unfortunately my time ran out, and I'm again safe back in Vancouver. Sometimes I think there should be standard issue uniforms for guys around the world; oxford shirt, white T, APC denim, white sneakers - would that make the simple items less special? Maybe it's good being the minority, even if it is mind boggling...
Tags : Las Vegas, Minority Report
Las Vegas, Minority Report 
Reader Comments (22)
i know what you mean !!
as you said simple is always best, how can it be so difficult to wear a decent pair of jeans and an oxford shirt..
but most guys don't get it, they what branding all over there god damn body...
hahaha.
sounds like you got a short sharp shock.
welcome to the world of internet streetwear and cut&sew lines.
its tragic stuff.
so you have a job with Capsule now? well done!
um, yes, most of the country does not dress well nor cares to. It puts your fashion obsessions in perspective I guess?
I fucking hate Vegas with a passion. The Airport, 'the city', everything... Spend millions of dollars on new casinos and whatnot, but the airport looks like its from Communist Poland. Jesus Christ...
^^^^
so do most us airports.
get used to it. it's only going to get worse.
hahaha sounds like you were full of the fear on your trip to vegas! you know what's even crazier than the sheer number of people who dress like that? they think we're all full of the wackness...
it's all perspective. there's more of them then there are of us.
Vegas and places like Disney World are great representations of a cross section of average americans.
so does majority rule? them being right, us being wrong?
Just my two cents but...
Sure, it's nothing new that people dress badly, but I'm surprised by how reactionary your post was. Even if I don't always agree with the choices you post on your blog, I won't go complain that YOU should have the same opinions as ME, because mine would be better.
It's just a question of perspective and in the end, I don't care much how people dress around me, as long as I can dress the way I want and like. I would rather see diversity around than people switching from one unform (Ed Hardy) to another (BoO/APC/CP for example).
i agree with den
take the japanese, i have found and i don't want to generalise..but they only like hanging out with ppl who are cool..pure aesthetics ..
which i find rather dull, in europe or should i say uk, men generally dress badly.
One of the reasons for this especially in london is the sheer lack of decent clothing stores. If you compare it to nyc, it pisses on london..
More money for beer i suppose
Den, added great points that need repeating.
Dressing would be no fun at all if everybody dressed well or the same via a uniform (oxford shirt, white T, APC denim, white sneakers) as you suggested.
Can you imagine, ugg. My style evolves all the time. If you still have this blog 2 years you will likely be promoting a completely different aesthetic.
And I know we come off as complete snobs sometimes on my own site, but this whole notion so surface level.
Pete, I would beg to differ on your opinion of London. I'm a New Yorker, and based on my travels to London, a lot of men are very well dressed whether it be modern, street or more dressed up styles.
I agree that it wouldn't be good, or reasonable to have everybody wear those basic, good items. It is something to be interested in and care about because it is a bit special and unique.
And life isn't all about looking good and dressing well, there are tons of other interesting things going on, and people should focus on them as well. I was just simply blow away more by the blatantly poor taste, rather than lack of everyone wearing my favorite items.
I had a hard timing believing that London's shopping is better than New York's as well. Especially with how the prices are normally. New York has a pretty incredible selection.
Style has as much to do with personal expression as it does your enviroment. Both play a role in the other. For the most part if the environment is tacky so shall alot of people's style and Las Vegas by far is the kingdom of tacky. If your talking about issues of basics and quality in menswear you have to consider that menswear hasn't changed that much in almost a hundred years. Shirt, Trouser, Coat, Hat, Shoe, Belt. With the exception of the odd trend here or there the man's wardrobe is defined as basic. It's the quality, construction, and execution of these basics as it relates to people's environments that defines that era's style and style is style that lasts. No matter what your wearing it's got to look, feel, act good and survive. Thanks for letting me Rant!
I didn't say London's shopping is better. I said that men's style is as good in London as it is in New York. Europeans on the most part that I've seen dress better than Americans on the whole.
"oxford shirt, white T, APC denim, white sneakers"- Sounds like the "Party's Uniform" 1984
Much of what has been said from Christopher and Den is very accurate of style and then fashion. When you’re in the industry long enough to understand that trends and fashion have nothing to do with style, and the whole thing has lost its luster then come back to this blogging about this topic. The fashion industry has horrible clothing everywhere, and one piece here and there can be made into an item of personnel style, but trends revolve and fashion dictates this, not every trend is stylish. The industry is about making money period, not making stylish people out there. Those tattoo shirts sell, and thus someone is making a lot of money making them, those brands and manufactures stay around. The gilded ages, our legacy, engineered garments they die in five years or so(if lucky), to be replaced by other hopeful and foolhardy designers making another financially unviable product. Fashion is a business, as you become more involved in it you'll see that, and most people either sell-out to the money makers making sequin crap, or turn their backs and just savor getting dressed every day.
One other thing, I'm sure not to many people like your aesthetic either, they may think "what's up with the geek from the 1940's."
Jason is dead on.
As depressing as it sounds for all you hopefuls. Those are the facts. They aren't going to change.
Just yesterday, Swaim of Obedient Sons emailed me looking for work. And he had a great line that sold well for us and was a CFDA award nominee just a year ago. And so the cycle goes...
i never said london was better than nyc, i said vice versa..
the men who are dressing well are clearly shopping in hennes
As a designer I have been going to Vegas for 10 years. I have always had a great time, met great people and seen some amazing things. What I can't stand is when people in "fashion" complain about how sophisticated they are in comparison to a place like Vegas. Not being bale to have espresso on every corner or organic everything. My point is that fashion is for everyone, not just the purveyors of "taste". Be it rhinestone Ed Hardy or whatever people have the right to express themselves how they want...thank god for that! More and more people in "fashion" are looking the SAME. So afraid to step out and have their own style. Who isn't inspired by American work wear or military these days? Please.
I’m surprised someone as into American made products, you couldn't see the historic value in a place like Vegas, maybe next time take in some of the culture there or maybe go try and have some fucking fun!
Whoaaa! Yesss! Finally! I was wondering if I really missed out on being in Vegas last week, but I just couldn't bring myself to go! Vegas scares me and really isn't my idea of fun either! LOL! I trust I would have felt the same way but I also agree with Jason Dean and Beth.
But fashion is fashion and if it's not your thing it's not your thing and you have every right to state that. Standards my friend, standards. I like that you stick to your standards.
jesus didn't know vegas had culture, wonder why im stuck here in london with that testimony
When I went to Vegas I got up in the morning way before the show and rented a car and went into the desert to look at the Joshua trees, sand dunes, lonesome shacks and Coyotes. Non-recycled inspiration and culture is in the eye of the beholder.