Courtesy of Rutherford Classics.com
I’ve always loved high fashion. I consider it an art form, though you’d never guess to look at me. In my retirement years, I might pass for a bag lady. If I could, I’d wear pajamas all day. Dominique Browning, former head of House and Gardens, before it went defunct, wrote a memoir called Around the House and in the Garden. In it, she expressed a similar affinity for pajamas, particularly those made for men under the Brook Brothers label. I hope to get a pair, one day, to test her theory that they are the best armament for periods of outrageous fortune,
Aside from Browning’s salute to Brook Brother pajamas, I’ve never paid much attention to men’s fashions. What is there to think about? A suit, grey, black or blue, a muted shirt and a Jerry Garcia tie for the daring. Frankly, whenever I’m obliged to purchase a gift for a friend of the opposite sex, it’s usually a box of sox or handkerchiefs from a local chain store. If men don’t care about their fashion, why should I?
Actually, I may have misjudged some males compatriots. In the 14th century, men preened and pranced as might any woman. (Click) Louis IX was no slouch when it came to fashion. So why should I be surprised to stumble across a hot site for men’s recycled clothing? Grail’s the name. In internet parlance, says writer, Max Berlinger ,grail is an article of clothing you’ve been searching for forever.” (“Fashion Forward,” by Max Berlinger, Bloomberg Businessweek, Feb 6-12, 2017, pg. 60.)
While there are many sites for resale apparel, Grail stands out because, says Berlinger, the site “seems as much a fashion magazine as it [does] a consignment shop.” (Ibid pg. 60.) Started by 29-year-old Arun Gupta in 2014, the business is already making a profit. The company charges a 6% sales commission and, of course, the inventory depends upon what the market has to offer. Still, the business has tripled since it began and because women shop for the men in their lives, Gupta provides a “Woman’s Guide to Grilled.” “Jawn,” for example, means “cool, trendy clothing.” “Archive,” is an item of wear no longer in production. “Nwt” means “new with tags. “NWOT” suggests the garment is new but comes without tags.
Having equipped my readers with the basic lingo, I leave you with one more acronym “gaas.” Go ahead and shop.
(First published 7/27/17)
