Style and Direction

New pod is here, but MJ isn't (he's on a trip)! Spencer and Ethan talk about potential purchases (Ben Davis pants and vintage tiger stripe fatigues, respectively) before diving into athletic wear and Hobbit attire. Ethan then recounts how he brought his pal Josh to a Drake's pop-up to give him an easy, stress-free way to learn about menswear and get some inspo. Then, at the end, Ethan talks about his decision to write less...or at least less than before.

Show notes: https://alittlebitofrest.com/2026/10/04/track-field-and-hobbits/

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This is a clip of the latest Bonus pod! For the full episode, please subscribe on Patreon.

This bonus pod is about the late Bob Mackie's excellent period costuming for "Pennies from Heaven" (1981)! It's a musical unlike anything we've seen before, with the characters lip-syncing (rather than actually singing) pop songs from the 30s with spectacular choreography, all serving as an escapist contrast to the dour reality of the Great Depression. Mackie costumes the film well, using long point collars, collar bars, and fedoras to dress the men, none of which are particularly sympathetic. It's an interesting film that was worth the watch and discussion!

Ethan’s Blog: https://alittlebitofrest.com/2026/09/29/the-menswear-in-pennies-from-heaven-1981/

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This new pod is a fun one that has no philosophical discussion! Instead, Spencer talks about the best wedding he's been to. MJ talks about packing for a work trip to Washington and how he *only* brought Nike Killshots and Tabi boots (epic). Finally, Ethan talks about wearing vintage menswear to go camping and two late-summer Occasions to wear aloha shirts. Of course, this led to a big discussion about how much they love aloha shirts. I mean, what menswear guy doesn't?

Ethan’s Blog: https://alittlebitofrest.com/2026/09/22/aloha-shirts-in-late-summer-camping-in-menswear-and-an-epiphany-from-touching-grass/

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In the new pod, Spencer and Ethan give a shout-out to the most important person in their menswear journey: their tailor! Rueben and Noe have been helping us out for years, whether it's a simple hem or tear repair or a complete transformation, like narrowing a jacket's shoulders or reshaping the trouser fit by *lowering* the backrise. The SaDBoys also talk about their appreciation of Straw Boaters, how they define what an "Outfit" is, and the importance of knowing your Outfit's "Form" or "Template". Figuring this out is Personal Style, as every other expressive choice flows from it. You might even say that to know Form is to know *what* and *how* you create, whether it's an Outfit or any other creative medium!

Ethan’s Blog: https://alittlebitofrest.com/2026/09/06/an-ode-to-my-tailor-visiting-catalina-the-importance-of-form-template-when-making-outfits/

Support us on Patreon and join the Discord: https://www.patreon.com/styleanddirection/

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www.instagram.com/styleanddirection/

In this pod, Spencer and Ethan give a shout-out to the most important person in their menswear journey: their tailor! Rueben and Noe have been helping us out for years, whether it's a simple hem or tear repair or a complete transformation, like narrowing a jacket's shoulders or reshaping the trouser fit by *lowering* the backrise. The SaDBoys also talk about their appreciation of Straw Boaters, how they define what an "Outfit" is, and the importance of knowing your Outfit's "Form" or "Template". Figuring this out is Personal Style, as every other expressive choice flows from it. You might even say that to know Form is to know *what* and *how* you create, whether it's an Outfit or any other creative medium!

Ethan’s Blog:

Support us on Patreon and join the Discord: https://www.patreon.com/styleanddirection/

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This bonus pod has got our dynamite prepped for when we meet the jaguar shark that ate our pal Esteban. That's right, we're covering "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou"! The SaDBoys discuss how much they love Team Zissou's whimsical uniform and how dynamic it is, thanks to the sheer number of branded, on-color-palette garments the team is afforded! This film is a great case study in showing how a group can present a unified aesthetic while still leaving room for personality.

Ethan’s Blog: https://alittlebitofrest.com/2026/08/31/the-menswear-in-the-life-aquatic-with-steve-zissou-2004/

Support us on Patreon for the full bonus pod and join the Discord: https://www.patreon.com/styleanddirection/

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New pod is out! The SaDBoys talk about recent outfits, from Spencer's rugged ivy look for Disneyland to a backyard wedding that asked guests to wear florals and vibrant colors in lieu of dark cocktail attire. This prompted a discussion centered around appreciating External Occasions, the rare times where an event specifically calls for a dress code or themed outfits. That could be a wedding— or attending the Magic Castle, Hollywood's famous invite-only club that requires a strict dress code (suits only, no separates) if you are to enjoy being entertained by the magicians contained within its walls. Of course, nothing beats a day where you get dressed for yourself, like wearing a white suit to treat yourself to a coffee. It's a fun episode that is guaranteed to get you thinking about how you dress for the Occasions in your life, whether they're internal or externally motivated!

Ethan’s Blog: https://alittlebitofrest.com/2026/08/24/playing-with-dress-codes-green-tailoring-and-external-occasions-revisited/

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MJ talks about wearing shorts, Spencer's dipping into poly-cotton with new chinos, and Ethan talks about how he celebrated his 31st birthday, all by approximating a mess jacket and breaking out his dumpy Christian academy uniform for a high school-themed party. We then spend the rest of the episode discussing the phenomenon of Online Intellectualism and how it's invaded all sorts of content (including menswear), serving as both empty performance against the algorithm and a thin veil for creators' capitalistic intentions. Oh yeah, and apparently Ethan had never really picked up a book until the pandemic. Go figure!

Ethan’s Blog: https://alittlebitofrest.com/2026/08/09/celebrating-31-being-an-intellectual/

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What are we doing? Making chocolate, o' course! In this bonus pod, the SaDBoys dive into the whimsical sartorial style of Wonka (2023), praising the titular character's elegant frock coat, ratty hat, and delightful scarves. We also get into the bespoke confections worn by Wonka's rivals, which are delightfully vintage-inspired and color-coordinated. There really is something about how, whenever a film needs to feel quirky yet familiar, it tends to lean into vintage tailoring. Wonka does that with aplomb, showcasing just how fun, and dare I say *whimsical*, suiting can be!

This is a clip of the latest Bonus pod! For the full episode, please subscribe on Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/styleanddirection/

Ethan’s Blog: https://alittlebitofrest.com/2026/07/27/the-whimsical-menswear-in-wonka-2023/

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Podcast is produced by MJ

In this episode, the SaDBoys talk about recreating a 10-year old cosplay (which, beleive it or not is an adult baby mafia hitman in a suit and fedora), Spencer's new deck shoes, and how much menswear content (and social media in general) just sucks...and why its all because content creators view their audience as Stakeholders, without whom "they would cease to exist". Yes, it's super corporate and capitalist, and that's *exactly* why it's bad out there. Maybe it would be better if people just didn't listen to their audience...

Ethan’s Blog: https://alittlebitofrest.com/2026/07/19/back-at-it-a-wes-anderson-concert-redoing-a-cosplay-from-16-years-ago-and-why-content-sucks-now/

Support us on Patreon and join the Discord: https://www.patreon.com/styleanddirection/

Follow us on Instagram!

www.instagram.com/styleanddirection/