Someone once asked me "If you could, what would you tell your 19 year old self?". Thought about it for moment, and replied "Absolutely nothing. I'd still make a load of stupid mistakes, just different ones".
Don't worry Ash. When you get even older like me and you slow down on buying stuff all the time, you won't have the same desire for new things. I like the stuff I have and don't yearn for new.
I'm very nearly 70 and am about like that, now. I buy more for comfort than for fashion. About the only things I think I need now are a better jacket for more formal occasions and a new hat to go with it. I used to always have a pretty good watch, but these days, I have= not wore a watch in about ten years and no longer care what time it is.
Yes, same here - 52 next week. I realised a couple of years ago that I was just acquiring stuff for the sake of it, so I’m in the middle of a purge of belongings I don’t use or have need for. I try to buy the best quality I can afford, and make it last. The belongings I’ll keep are things that I use, and have a fondness for. I prefer to repair items until they are no longer capable of being repaired, before replacing them.
-I find pleasure in minimizing my belongings. However when I do need to buy or replace an item I do find pleasure in researching and choosing the best quality for the price on that item. My 23 yr old table saw finally gave out and I enjoyed the process of deciding it’s replacement. I also find pleasure in still getting useful life out of things I bought several years ago as opposed to replacing them with the latest thing.
Your son is going to love this video! I’ve wasted lots of money on watches, clothes and shoes. I’m in the process of selling off what I can, or giving away, and reducing to a minimal set of clothes which I love and are suitable. But without all the mistakes I guess I wouldn’t know what that minimal set should be. P.s. your wife is right about that leather jacket!
My biggest mistakes I have made along my journey is finding items that I love but I couldn't afford. Because I couldn't afford the items I loved, I would find an affordable substitute. The affordable substitute would never get used, and eventually would end up donated as a brand new item to a second hand store. Second note, I have bought items that were a size down vs myself because they were on sale. I managed to shed the weight, it was a great motivator for me
I have a friend that (has more money than me) always says 'Cry Once' but the fact, is I can't afford a Rolex Submariner like he has, looking on my dresser now I have 12 watches that if I sold might get me to a used Rolex, but I do like having choices. I do subscribe to buying the best quality that you can. But like you, there have been times when those items just haven't measured up, and if I'd waited and saved I could have got the thing I really wanted.
Your Aviators looks great on you. Perhaps getting an eyeglass professional to adjust them to fit your face is the answer. Aviators look great on almost everyone. I've been through 3 pairs of them in the last 45 years and always order them with black frames. They don't take kindly to being sat on, that's why I'm on my 3rd pair :)
I always look forward to your videos. You always have some good advice. Regarding those Rayban aviators, they only need a proper adjustment from a qualified optician. I’ve been a licensed optician for 45 years and only about 2% of the time would any eyewear fit reasonably well without being fitted.
Ash I am 39 years old and I enjoy watching you. We get so passionate about buying a watch that we can lie to ourselves about something that doesn't suit us. I think about my interest in the Tudor Pelagos 41, it is a thick and heavy watch but there are lies I tell myself to buy it :) Even as I write this message, I think "Actually, Pelagos is not that chunky & beefy." :) Greetings from Istanbul.
I have the Tudor Pelagos 25500TN. It has an ETA movement so is slightly thinner & cheaper to service. It's not a slim watch, but as it's titanium, it doesn't wear overly heavy. You can get a good one of these older models for £2500 now. Great watch.
Watches are so much a personal thing. I LOVE my Tudor GMT, exactly like yours. It’s a ‘tall’ watch, but I have others that are more ‘chunky’, including an Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean, White dial and orange bezel, which is even thicker. Like you said, watches fit differently on everyone. I also have a Panerai, and an original Omega 45.5 mm Planet Ocean which are huge, but you just have to love what you have on your wrist, and not just get something that is supposed to be nice. Thanks for the video!
Hello Ash. You have introduced some important insights. It is the problem of our western lifestyle to gain more and more. I can tell you that I have made similar experiences but I learned some things too. Making an inventory of the things I have, I see that I have many things that I don't need and I don't use. It is a result of 5 decades of growing and gaining. In the first half of ones life it is normal to grow and to gain as our focus is in the material world. In the second half of my life I have undergone a shift because I leanrd that all the things I could buy will not make me happy. And apart from that I can't take these things with me when I am gone. So now I focus more on beeing and experiencing rather than having. Of course it does not mean that I don't fall back to old behaviour but at least at some point I notice it - and have the chance to correct it. Thanks for sharing your insights. Satoshi
I must say the sunglasses are very flattering to your face, especially with smart-casual outfits. Maybe a different make so it will sit better on your face? But it really fits you!
Dear Ash, I have to disagree with you regarding the Tudor warch . 41 mm dial is right on and looks good. Yes, it is a bit thick , but so most of the GMT watches. Keep wearing it until you will give it to your son.. My " regrettable purchases" ? Leather jackets. I was in love with them since the 80s. Not anymore. I found them outdated and kind-of weird these days. Thanks again for your excellent videos and topics, cheers , keep going sir.
Interesting point.. my old IWC was 11mm, Hamilton even thinner....I do feel that there are exceptions though... my Speedy is 14mm but because of the overall look, proportion, weight on a leather strap, it just feels perfect...I normally don't like anything that thick, but.... it works
I must say i'm also guilty of buying some items which i regeretted buying afterwards. You're right, that reddish leather jacket wasn't the best decision, but aviator glasses looked pretty good on you, in my opinion.
Need you to walk down the street in the brown racer jacket, black boots, large hat and aviators 😂 Good video - you can get slightly smaller Tudor BB s now , interested in one myself.
Great video Ash. Polyester is the enemy of all forms of clothing. Natural fabrics only is the motto. I own a pair of similar boots and love them. I do a lot of hill and fen walking and got great value from them. I probably wouldn't have bought them if I wasn't a walker though. By sheer coincidence I was in my local hat shop lately. It's a shop I buy all my hats from and am friends with the owner. I wanted to buy a Homburg but the owner refused to sell me the one I wanted as I am 6ft 2ins and he insisted I should go away and think about it. The hat was exquisitely made from the best materials costing over €300. I'm so grateful that he refused to sell it to me as I came to realise I probably would hardly ever wear it. It's nice to know your gents outfitters are on your side now and then.
Exclusively buy all my ties, shorter length vintage Hermès mostly, second-hand from a older gentleman with a vast collection. It's a great experience, and it's not uncommon I travel an hour or two to his place (instead of having them sent), to have a cup of coffee and chat, even though it's an odd 40 years of age difference. I've gotten some good style advise (and some in my opinion bad ones too), and I wouldn't trade it for the retail experience, even if I got 50% off in the store. That said, I think that it's good that you highlight and normalize second-hand consumption, it truly is very positive for the individuals wallet and the environment - keep up the great work!
A ton of the ties I rarely wear (I have a tendency towards cravats, both formal and informal, and knit ties) but are nevertheless great to have are a part of the inheritance from my late father, I got them way before I started wearing ties (wear ties as a 16 year old in the early in 2001+ was not of my taste - well I had none - or inclination) but now having them is a very nice thing and most of them are silk and the disgusting artificial ones (he never wore, I can't remember seeing them on him ever) I gave away or donated to charity. It's just... nice *and* great for the environment as a bonus. (And there are some I kept which are the abysmal "taste" of the early 90s and late some of the 80s - back when history ended you know, I keep those in case anyone wants to throw a 90s party🤣) Hats off to you Sir! Raoul G. Kunz
Thank you kindly for sharing your experiences, dear friend! I really like the watch and the sun glasses, though! Fragances, I love "Aventus" from the brand "Creed" and "Oud" from "Acqua di Parma". Both are delectable and keep the scent for a long day . Will you share any cravatta brand or hankerchief? Cheers!
Ash, your advice about not blind buying fragrances is spot on. A few years ago I decided to explore some “old school” fragrances first formulated in the 20th century. Dior Eau Sauvage, Floris No. 89, Geo. F Trumper Eucris, and that classic cheapie Old Spice. Now I’m not a young man, fast approaching 70. I tried to convince myself I liked them. Then it dawned on me. If I have to convince myself I like something, the reality is I actually don’t.
Some would say, "never judge anything by your first impression", but I totally agree with your point about brainwashing and convincing yourself that you made a right choice, while in reality it is not.
Loved the leather jacket and the hat, laughed so hard. Loved the honest humour. And yes, you're not alone. By the way, just got an Affliction biker jacket, rust colour. At 54. Not a rider, not even a bicycle
Ha, Sooo many things that looked fabulous in the advert that didn’t even look good hanging in my closet. Off to the charity shops they went. I’ve since reformed. Thanks Ash!
I had a supposedly leather jacket that turned out not to be when I tried working on my car in it. It also was far too "hoodlum" for my personality and style. Great video, Ash!
Great video Ash. I learned a long time ago that leather jackets were not cup of tea. One thing I don't like about them is you're either too cold in the winter or too hot in the summer. As for watches I learned the hard way to wait for what you want and not buy something inexpensive thinking it will fill the bill. Save for the one you want. Now I have three inexpensive watches I need to get rid of. I must say I never went down the polyester road. Even in the 1970s in highschool I hated it and wouldn't wear it. We always talk ourselves into things. I have learned to walk away and come back another day and that gives me a different perspective. Thrift stores and eBay. Best regards Ron
"Handing things down to my father" and "being laughed at (regularly) by my wife". We seem to have some similar quirks, Ash. Great video, as always! Thanks!
14:22 Coincidentally, my biggest recent purchasing regret is a pair of black Clarks Craftmaster derbies. Like you said, the juxtaposition of formal colour against casual style makes them impractical, sadly.
I have looked at the Tudor gmt sooo many times. It’s so charming, but it’s just too thick. Glad I waited because now I have a vintage GMT Master 2 root beer and I absolutely love it.
@@adam_meade Most modern Tudor’s are slab sided. The case flanks have the graceful curves of a brick. My vintage Tudor Prince Date is svelte and graceful, my recently sold BB36 that was to replace it….not so much.
@@thatguy6111I'm convinced Rolex keeps Tudor thick on purpose. At this point I like every one of their designs over Rolex with the exception of the explorer. If the BB pro was a bit thinner I'd sell my explorer ii and swap. I do love the Pelagos line though.
I was lucky enough to realise a watch mistake soon enough to rectify it. I wanted the Longines Spirit Zulu Time but the 41mm was too big for me and they hadn’t yet launched the 39mm. The salesman convinced me to get a Breitling GMT instead. I took it home tried it for 2 days and realised I just wasn’t obsessed about wearing it, which I should’ve been with a new watch. Took it back and they gave me a full refund. Bullet dodged!
As an aspiring chap i must help a fellow chap out. At 1:05 you say "less and less of those purcashing mistakes". As 'purchasing mistakes' are countable, the correct choice of words would be 'fewer and fewer of those purchasing mistakes' - as far as i am aware. Thanks.
Pino by Pino Sylvestre smell almost exactly like Creed Bois du Portugal, especially in the dry down. It is a classic and beautiful fragrance. I'm sorry it didn't sit will with you but others should absolutely try this amazing fragrance.
I can definitely relate on a few items. I turned my Tudor frown upside down and traded it in for the pre-Rolex jewelry purchase. I LOVED your Tudor GMT reviews though. Those really sold me on your channel and content.
Going back to the 1990's i purchased a tan trenchcoat, but being short at 5'7 the coat was so long it was down to my feet. I wore it for the first time but felt rather self conscious. I resembled Frank Spencer, or worse still a 'flasher'! I decided to try and improve the look of the coat by shortening it with scissors. I literally cut the bloody thing in half and needless to say i never wore it again!
I tried that once on a fiberglass dinghy boat with my friends when we were like 15. Except we wanted to lengthen it. I can't even remember what we did with the two halves. Thanks for the laugh.
Great advice. I have been guilty of many of these. Sometimes you get carried away with emotions when purchasing something, and you don't think things through. I think it's better to sleep on it before making a purchase if you're not 100% sure.
Scents (I have bought far too many), Leather bags which I never use, and an Akubra cowboy hat which just looks ridiculous on me. I also have a habit of “keeping for best” which means that I don’t use my nice things enough.
Hello Ash. Great Video. The Sunglasses really made me laugh, because I own a pair of RayBan Wayfarer. The exact same model my dad used to wear, when I was a kid. And I loved these sunglases. But I thought they were a bit to small so I bought them again in a bigger size and they were just to big an didn't suit me well. So now I wear the smaller model and keep the bigger ones in my car for passengers. But I will keep them as a reminder to be more thoughtfull and don't buy anything out of a mood or an impulse.
The purchase I regret mostly. A pair of second hand Loake cap toe oxfords. Purchased them online and tried them after receiving them. They did not fit which wasn’t a big deal, planned on polishing and reselling. About a week later when polishing is when I realized they where two different sizes. The window of time to dispute the purchase was 3 days after receiving. I keep them to remind me look over online second hand purchases closely.
Great video and great timing as I was recently considering a pair of similar Islay black boots with a commando sole by Crockett and Jones. They were very striking (and pricey), but now I'm debating their versatility. Maybe a dark brown or oxblood would be a better option 🤔
03:10 - Regards the aviators, I had the same issue until I was informed that despite the universal bridge size for Ray-Bans the nosepads are designed to be pliable so they could be adapted to fit any nose shape. This definitely helped, though I do favour the wayfarers more these days regardless.
I rather like Pino. As we know fragrances work differently on different skin. On me it has slight minty-ness and the pine is pleasant. It smells best after about an hour, more peppery. My regret purchases are definitely jackets which are too large, with an intention of alteration which is just too extensive to be worth it.
It happens with most of us. Recent one for me was a pair of trousers which are polyester and absolutely non breathable. Last year it was a jacket which I have worn only once. Major regret.
3:00 most of my 48 fragrances i have bought blind, but not until after i extensively researched through countless of youtube and fragrantica reviews. there have been a handful of fragrances i have indeed gotten rid of, but i take that as part of the fragrance journey.
The last part of your video spoke to me. Thanks man. As for your question, not sure I'd classify them as "regret" but sort of a waste of money are 1. My two pairs of Grant stone boots 2. 1 pair of Alden boots 3. Sons of Henrey derby shoes The boots are a waste not because they aren't quality as you said but I just don't wear them as I work from home. The sons of Henrey derby is a snuff suede shoe and I realize I only like Dark brown suede footwear. I dyed them in hopes they would turn dark brown but nope that did not work. Plus the fit isn't all that ideal, I have to wear sport socks as I get heel slip
I bought far too much stuff in the first place and now getting rid of most of it. Moving, divorce, moving, inheritaning etc. Going mininal before it gets worse.
Pino silvestre used to be a very popular fragrance in Italy back in the '70s, one of the main reasons being that it was one of the very few fragrances avalilable basically everywhere. I was a child back then and I absolutely HATED it! 🙂 If there's such a thing like a fond memory of something that horrified you it would be the one of my granddad applying unordinate amounts of this poisonous substance on himself, you could smell it from hundreds of meters away! So thank you Ash for bringing me back im my childhood years, even if that meant reminding my nostrils one of the worst experiences they had so far 😀
That hat looks great on you. I need a new hat and I'm looking at two hats. One is the Stetson Open Road. The other is something like a gambler style hat. Throughout my 20s, I wore a black hat with a flat brim, a common crown that is somewhat reminiscent of a telescope crown, and a red, white, and blue hat band. It was often compared to the Billy Jack hat from the tv show of that name. I wore it out. So I'm thinking of getting and open crown hat and having it shaped like that and then find a hat band that works. I would look at a standard gambler's hat, but every one of those I have ever seen was too flimsy.
Quite right about the Tudor GMT and almost every Tudor watch because the hight v width parameters are just all wrong. I've had four Tudors, all a mistake.
This is a very appropriate subject to cover. I think all of us have probably bought items that were a mistake. For me, though, the biggest mistake is in something that I somehow misplaced. I had a really good wool overcoat that went down to just above my ankles. It got lost in a move about 35 years ago. I have looked for one just like it, but can't seem to find one. The overcoat was offered to me several years earlier by someone who had rarely, if ever worn it -- obviously, something he must have regretted buying. I immediately jumped at the chance. It may not have worked for him, but on a rainy night, it went along great with the western hat I used to wear.
I’m like that with cars. I’ve ALWAYS made compromises over colour, spec, interior, etc and never been 100% happy with the purchase. Always carried regrets. Now I’ve promised myself I’m gonna save up and buy exactly what i want next time
I grew up in Buenos Aires (born in NYC) and my stepdad did get as a gift a bottle of Pino Sylvetre , they actually made it in Argentina for their market , still do I believe. The scent was yuck, loved the bottle. My stepdad is more Guerlain Vetiver - that was always lovely. I always tilt towards citrus scents. In love, love, love with Czech and Speake Neroli ( as well their fantastic 88) can you believe, that they used to sell it for $40 US at Barneys back in the 80s. Great channel!
I agree with the polyester tie comment . I used to wear them simply because i could tie them quicker for work. But my last job was not time critical so i changed to silk having more time to tie them.
18:15 hats were very often weared until 60's. Churchill wore Homburg. Even some youth subcultures, like Punkers in the 1980's wore hats like Bowler hat, which is a part of British tradition. Hats should be wore more often.
I just took a few of my regrets to the donation bin earlier this month- three or four Winchester shirts from Brooks Brothers. Early in my "journey to chap nirvana" I thought that Winchester shirts were the ultimate in sophistication. They do have their place, but as I've grown to understand my personal style, I've learned that a slightly more casual look suits my lifestyle and personality better. I wonder about a Homburg though...
Loving this series! I did the Ray Ban sunglasses thing and promptly lost them! I'll stick with more affordable options. I love my Bulova precisionist watch. It's a chunky watch, but I'm a bigger guy so it works for me. I love Clark's shoes! I'm a barber and on my feet all day. They're the most comfortable shoes I've worn! I feel I'm on my way to being a proper chap!
very insightful video ...i regret buying woodlands shoes ( not once but twice ) .... i only purchased it because of its brand ...it never suited me really..they were too bulky for me and instantly regretted the purchasing decision .... and another one red tape derby shoes ...those pointy shoes i bought online and i never liked them ...
Another excellent video Ash. We've become a society of excess, and paring our items down when they dont serve us any purpose (be it utilitarion or asthetical) is what I believe the definition of minimalism to be.
I know exactly what you mean. I have several articles of clothing and footwear that I regret buying. One of them is a pair of Thursday President lace up boots that are absolutely wrong for me and I have worn them 1/2 dozen times and will likely never wear them again. They are great boots and super well made but just not for me. They are not cheap and I will probably sell them to someone that can use them as they are just sitting in my closet collecting dust. I have perhaps another 10 items or so that I regret buying and wonder what I was thinking at the time I purchased them (a leather motorcycle jacket, brand new, never worn). All of us occasionally talk ourselves into bad choices of clothing etc. But I must admit my purchase of quality dress shoes at discount/bargain basement prices was a great decision and helps make up for my mistakes. Anyway it was interesting to hear that you occasionally make the same type of mistakes in buying items that I have made, hopefully I will make better choices in the future. :)
Regarding the sunglasses, as a myopic person, I notice it is all about those "cushions" which go on the nose - go to the optician and have them set for you. Or even changed. And this has to be done regulary, because through use they get pushed apart.
You also have to buy sunglasses from a good optician. They can make the glasses fit well on your head. So out of the box, glasses don't really fit anyone well.
The watch should not be a regret. It is simply a birthday gift or Christmas gift for your son you bought in advance. I recall from a previous video you commenting he is hard on watches. So you have been waiting for him to grow into it. The boots you showed are my go to boots. Every day all winter for casual wear and highly shined. The Hamburg hat might be considered sort of like a dinner jacket or tail coat. Saved for the right occasion.
Definitely not a connoisseur of fragrances myself, but I am happy to be vindicated about my appalling experience wearing Pino Silvestre - luckily only in the house as, even if I can't try a fragrance before buying it, I will not go out sprayed with one before I've tested it on myself. Sadly I found it quite unpleasantly sour and persistently so, and I never continued using it past that first test. In theory I would love to wear a fragrance which smelled of pine, but the pine was hidden way back beneath all that acid. I'm not knocking it for being cheap, I wear Quorum all the time based off your and Big Pretty's recommendation. It's my go-to cold weather fragrance and I even get frequent compliments on it. There is also a fragrance sold by Lush which I regret not getting, that smelt of freshly cut grass and nothing else. Next time!
With watches it is a hard thing.. If you fancy a watch and you get something similar instead (even if the quality is alike) sooner or later you will get the first one and regret buying the look alike. Great topic!
Great advise. I have a wardrobe full of stuff I only ever wore once or twice and that I convinced myself I needed or would look good with. Fools and their money are soon parted.
I live in the US and well I bought a pair Justin cowboy boots, which is good but I’ve warm three times I’ve had them for six years. I bought a Daytona Rolex because I like it the white dials before it popular. Well I don’t like to watch I wore maybe three times luckily in 2021 when the Rolex went up through the roof, I sold the watch roof but I do have the two tones Rolex seminar the blue one and I wear that every day. Good keep up the good work.
The one thing I regret buying is an Irvin jacket. It cost a pretty penny and is a lovely well made jacket fits like a glove, the downside is it’s never cold enough now to feel the benefit of it. We do have a few cold days during winter but not like years gone by so it’s hardly worn unless I take up flying Spitfires
Hi Ash. I made exactly the same mistake as you, buying Pino Silvestre. I thought it would have a fresh pine, masculine type of scent. But it was awful and acrid. I chucked it straight in the dustbin.
Lots to agree on here: Never buy fragrances without testing ( mainly on skin)... Better a few things of good quality than many mediocre ones... A magnificent summary in four questions... And I add this one from my Latin years: Ned quid nimis (Nothing in excess) Cheers from Sunny Spain.
It’s either a fougère or a chypre but not both. Used to be a great fragrance, dont know now. Maybe it was simply very old stock. Your jacket is simply the wrong colour. Your fedora looks great though
I find it fascinating that your list is quite similar to mine. I'm a fan of vintage stuff more and more. The chunky watches I disliked because shirt sleeves hang up on it, which drives me slowly but firmly insane. Oh yes, I own a tuxedo that I have worn 3 times in 20 years. But I always keep it tailored and cleaned, just in case.
I regret buying a Stetson hat, it looks nice and fits well but I never wear it. Maybe one day I will. I recently treated myself to two things which I have been loving a Moccamaster Coffee maker and a great new pair of speakers for my turntable. Another great video Ash.
Homburgs are dope. Edward VII and American gangsters love them. You need to tilt it cattycorner and have them slightly curl the sides closer. Try a grey or charcoal. Alternatively, move to another neighborhood and get you a pinstripe.
I had the same experience buying an Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional. Cracking good watch but too large for me. I later traded it for something smaller and better suited for my wrist size. If you don’t love the Tudor, sell or trade it.
It's a pity about those Clarks boots, I think they look really good and would be ideal for country strolls. Black might not be the most versatile colour but I tend to think that sartorial standards can be relaxed a little when we're stomping about in mud and wet grass. To make the boots a little less austere you could perhaps experiment with different colour laces? A black and grey stripe possibly, or even - gasp - a deep red?
I have a pair of lace up cap-toe boots, as well as a pair of tanker boots, both in black cordovan and by Alden. Just like you, I hardly find an occasion to wear them and they sit collecting dust. So sad as both pairs are beautiful, superbly crafted boots.
Ray Bans can be adjusted by professionals (should stop slippage). Also - you'd probably suit the size up Ash, they're available in several sizes. I recommend the classic ray-ban wayfarer in tortoise shell, again - research of the sizing is extremely important.
I agree with you. Before shopping try and be in confidence with you. Buy that suits you, fits you and nothing else. If you don't have a lot of money get an appointement at the british red cross of Chelsea. You find quality at smooth prices !
Hi Ash, Over the years the reason I have made purchasing errors is because I’ve gone out with the intention of getting a certain item of clothing or whatever, and unable to find exactly what I wanted have settled for something less, rather than come home empty handed.
I recently cleared out off some old stuff and made me realize how much & many things I end up never use or regret. I think after that short experience I think I now know which brand to buy from & ones not. when clearing things out I found my first navy suit in worsted wool which I never wore & it cost a pretty total. I never wore it because I don't like wool pants which is silly to say but I'm always cautious about staining it which will cost dry cleaning but with chinos or corduory I can put them in the wash. Which lead me into getting a navy chino & green corduory suit from "Alex Mill" instead. I think both fabric suit me more since I'm more casual, I can wear them more often without worrying about stains too much since I can machine wash & hang dry them & the navy chino can pass off for formal events in my life. I'm still keeping the first suit since I'm not ready to part with it yet but I really like to wear my other 2 suits more.
I agree with you on Pino Sylvester, but in fairness I last purchased this some 20 or 30 years ago and was excellent but recently purchased a bottle and yes it is now awful, just used it up by spraying it in my welingtons!
Thanks Ash, your watch journey has resonated with me. I have a large collection of inexpensive watches (my most expensive is an Oris aquis bought for me by my wife) . I've been retired for a few years now and my last defined benefit pension has just matured leaving me with a substantial lump sum. I've always yearned for a luxury watch and the Santos de Cartier has been my grail. I've tried it on and still love it but its still a chunk of money to spend. I'm very much leaning to not buying and keeping the money as after all these years it still seems like and impulsive buy.
I too made the exactly same mistake as you and bought a pair of black combat boots. Perhaps it was an attempt to recapture memories of a rebellious time in my youth. It took me about a month to realize the error I had made. I'm a little reluctant to sell them though, but I might give them away to some deserving younger colleague who shares the same size. It would be a waste if they don't see any use.
Here i am trying to order a barbour beaufort size 40 for my short 167cm & 82kg frame ... fingers crossed that i dont regret this purchase (46% off b.new)
I bought a Barbour Ashby a few years ago, definitely something I regretted. The Ashby isn’t made in the UK and I think interior to some of the more traditional Barbours. Anyway, the zip quality was awful, very difficult to zip up. The zip eventually seized 11 months into ownership, fortunately I was able to return the jacket to the retailer for a refund. Also, one thing people never seem to talk about with wax jackets is that they attract lint like nobodies business, so difficult to keep it looking neat/clean.
The man who makes no mistakes is the man who does nothing...
Well said!
You mean: “A man who has never failed has never tried anything new”
@@RedPandas3111 yes that would echo my sentiment
Or a liar
Someone once asked me "If you could, what would you tell your 19 year old self?". Thought about it for moment, and replied "Absolutely nothing. I'd still make a load of stupid mistakes, just different ones".
The man with all the answers is the man who has made all the mistakes.
Don't worry Ash. When you get even older like me and you slow down on buying stuff all the time, you won't have the same desire for new things. I like the stuff I have and don't yearn for new.
He's already pretty old to be honest.
I'm very nearly 70 and am about like that, now. I buy more for comfort than for fashion.
About the only things I think I need now are a better jacket for more formal occasions and a new hat to go with it.
I used to always have a pretty good watch, but these days, I have= not wore a watch in about ten years and no longer care what time it is.
Yes, same here - 52 next week. I realised a couple of years ago that I was just acquiring stuff for the sake of it, so I’m in the middle of a purge of belongings I don’t use or have need for. I try to buy the best quality I can afford, and make it last. The belongings I’ll keep are things that I use, and have a fondness for. I prefer to repair items until they are no longer capable of being repaired, before replacing them.
-I find pleasure in minimizing my belongings. However when I do need to buy or replace an item I do find pleasure in researching and choosing the best quality for the price on that item. My 23 yr old table saw finally gave out and I enjoyed the process of deciding it’s replacement. I also find pleasure in still getting useful life out of things I bought several years ago as opposed to replacing them with the latest thing.
@@simonhodgetts6530 You could be my twin brother
Your son is going to love this video! I’ve wasted lots of money on watches, clothes and shoes. I’m in the process of selling off what I can, or giving away, and reducing to a minimal set of clothes which I love and are suitable. But without all the mistakes I guess I wouldn’t know what that minimal set should be. P.s. your wife is right about that leather jacket!
My biggest mistakes I have made along my journey is finding items that I love but I couldn't afford. Because I couldn't afford the items I loved, I would find an affordable substitute. The affordable substitute would never get used, and eventually would end up donated as a brand new item to a second hand store.
Second note, I have bought items that were a size down vs myself because they were on sale. I managed to shed the weight, it was a great motivator for me
I have a friend that (has more money than me) always says 'Cry Once' but the fact, is I can't afford a Rolex Submariner like he has, looking on my dresser now I have 12 watches that if I sold might get me to a used Rolex, but I do like having choices.
I do subscribe to buying the best quality that you can. But like you, there have been times when those items just haven't measured up, and if I'd waited and saved I could have got the thing I really wanted.
Your Aviators looks great on you. Perhaps getting an eyeglass professional to adjust them to fit your face is the answer. Aviators look great on almost everyone. I've been through 3 pairs of them in the last 45 years and always order them with black frames. They don't take kindly to being sat on, that's why I'm on my 3rd pair :)
I always look forward to your videos. You always have some good advice.
Regarding those Rayban aviators, they only need a proper adjustment from
a qualified optician. I’ve been a licensed optician for 45 years and only about
2% of the time would any eyewear fit reasonably well without being fitted.
Thanks for the info!
Ash I am 39 years old and I enjoy watching you. We get so passionate about buying a watch that we can lie to ourselves about something that doesn't suit us.
I think about my interest in the Tudor Pelagos 41, it is a thick and heavy watch but there are lies I tell myself to buy it :) Even as I write this message, I think "Actually, Pelagos is not that chunky & beefy." :) Greetings from Istanbul.
I have the Tudor Pelagos
25500TN.
It has an ETA movement so is slightly thinner & cheaper to service.
It's not a slim watch, but as it's titanium, it doesn't wear overly heavy.
You can get a good one of these older models for £2500 now.
Great watch.
Watches are so much a personal thing. I LOVE my Tudor GMT, exactly like yours. It’s a ‘tall’ watch, but I have others that are more ‘chunky’, including an Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean, White dial and orange bezel, which is even thicker. Like you said, watches fit differently on everyone. I also have a Panerai, and an original Omega 45.5 mm Planet Ocean which are huge, but you just have to love what you have on your wrist, and not just get something that is supposed to be nice. Thanks for the video!
Hello Ash. You have introduced some important insights. It is the problem of our western lifestyle to gain more and more. I can tell you that I have made similar experiences but I learned some things too. Making an inventory of the things I have, I see that I have many things that I don't need and I don't use. It is a result of 5 decades of growing and gaining. In the first half of ones life it is normal to grow and to gain as our focus is in the material world. In the second half of my life I have undergone a shift because I leanrd that all the things I could buy will not make me happy. And apart from that I can't take these things with me when I am gone. So now I focus more on beeing and experiencing rather than having. Of course it does not mean that I don't fall back to old behaviour but at least at some point I notice it - and have the chance to correct it. Thanks for sharing your insights. Satoshi
I must say the sunglasses are very flattering to your face, especially with smart-casual outfits.
Maybe a different make so it will sit better on your face? But it really fits you!
Dear Ash, I have to disagree with you regarding the Tudor warch . 41 mm dial is right on and looks good. Yes, it is a bit thick , but so most of the GMT watches. Keep wearing it until you will give it to your son..
My " regrettable purchases" ? Leather jackets. I was in love with them since the 80s. Not anymore. I found them outdated and kind-of weird these days.
Thanks again for your excellent videos and topics, cheers , keep going sir.
@@grazzi67The previous BB is a little chunky. The BB58 would suit much better.
Biden killed that style.
10:21 i can fully understand that. I personally try to stay under 10mm thickness for watches. They have to be proportional
Interesting point.. my old IWC was 11mm, Hamilton even thinner....I do feel that there are exceptions though... my Speedy is 14mm but because of the overall look, proportion, weight on a leather strap, it just feels perfect...I normally don't like anything that thick, but.... it works
I must say i'm also guilty of buying some items which i regeretted buying afterwards. You're right, that reddish leather jacket wasn't the best decision, but aviator glasses looked pretty good on you, in my opinion.
I love when you show your adolescent vulnerabilities in taking chances and learning. Our pasts and our failures all help make us better.
Need you to walk down the street in the brown racer jacket, black boots, large hat and aviators 😂 Good video - you can get slightly smaller Tudor BB s now , interested in one myself.
Great video Ash. Polyester is the enemy of all forms of clothing. Natural fabrics only is the motto. I own a pair of similar boots and love them. I do a lot of hill and fen walking and got great value from them. I probably wouldn't have bought them if I wasn't a walker though.
By sheer coincidence I was in my local hat shop lately. It's a shop I buy all my hats from and am friends with the owner. I wanted to buy a Homburg but the owner refused to sell me the one I wanted as I am 6ft 2ins and he insisted I should go away and think about it. The hat was exquisitely made from the best materials costing over €300. I'm so grateful that he refused to sell it to me as I came to realise I probably would hardly ever wear it. It's nice to know your gents outfitters are on your side now and then.
That Gents Outfitters deserve a mention for customer service!
Exclusively buy all my ties, shorter length vintage Hermès mostly, second-hand from a older gentleman with a vast collection. It's a great experience, and it's not uncommon I travel an hour or two to his place (instead of having them sent), to have a cup of coffee and chat, even though it's an odd 40 years of age difference. I've gotten some good style advise (and some in my opinion bad ones too), and I wouldn't trade it for the retail experience, even if I got 50% off in the store. That said, I think that it's good that you highlight and normalize second-hand consumption, it truly is very positive for the individuals wallet and the environment - keep up the great work!
A ton of the ties I rarely wear (I have a tendency towards cravats, both formal and informal, and knit ties) but are nevertheless great to have are a part of the inheritance from my late father, I got them way before I started wearing ties (wear ties as a 16 year old in the early in 2001+ was not of my taste - well I had none - or inclination) but now having them is a very nice thing and most of them are silk and the disgusting artificial ones (he never wore, I can't remember seeing them on him ever) I gave away or donated to charity. It's just... nice *and* great for the environment as a bonus. (And there are some I kept which are the abysmal "taste" of the early 90s and late some of the 80s - back when history ended you know, I keep those in case anyone wants to throw a 90s party🤣)
Hats off to you Sir!
Raoul G. Kunz
Too many examples… but I have a $400 smokers jacket that takes the door prize
Thank you kindly for sharing your experiences, dear friend! I really like the watch and the sun glasses, though! Fragances, I love "Aventus" from the brand "Creed" and "Oud" from "Acqua di Parma". Both are delectable and keep the scent for a long day .
Will you share any cravatta brand or hankerchief?
Cheers!
Ash, your advice about not blind buying fragrances is spot on. A few years ago I decided to explore some “old school” fragrances first formulated in the 20th century. Dior Eau Sauvage, Floris No. 89, Geo. F Trumper Eucris, and that classic cheapie Old Spice. Now I’m not a young man, fast approaching 70. I tried to convince myself I liked them. Then it dawned on me. If I have to convince myself I like something, the reality is I actually don’t.
Some would say, "never judge anything by your first impression", but I totally agree with your point about brainwashing and convincing yourself that you made a right choice, while in reality it is not.
So true. I just posted a comment saying pretty much the same thing.
Loved the leather jacket and the hat, laughed so hard. Loved the honest humour.
And yes, you're not alone.
By the way, just got an Affliction biker jacket, rust colour. At 54. Not a rider, not even a bicycle
I have the pino silvestre after shave and i'm very pleased with it...
Ha, Sooo many things that looked fabulous in the advert that didn’t even look good hanging in my closet. Off to the charity shops they went. I’ve since reformed. Thanks Ash!
So true!
Stubled across this channel by chance. Great advices. I'm 60 and the experience has taught me to obey my mind and body. Great video.
I had a supposedly leather jacket that turned out not to be when I tried working on my car in it. It also was far too "hoodlum" for my personality and style. Great video, Ash!
You are a very incredibly generous person. You shared and explained MISTAKES. I thank you. From California.
You are so welcome!
I like my Tudor BB GMT very much.
Great video Ash. I learned a long time ago that leather jackets were not cup of tea. One thing I don't like about them is you're either too cold in the winter or too hot in the summer. As for watches I learned the hard way to wait for what you want and not buy something inexpensive thinking it will fill the bill. Save for the one you want. Now I have three inexpensive watches I need to get rid of. I must say I never went down the polyester road. Even in the 1970s in highschool I hated it and wouldn't wear it. We always talk ourselves into things. I have learned to walk away and come back another day and that gives me a different perspective. Thrift stores and eBay. Best regards Ron
I loved and talked myself into buying an Invicta Russian Diver. The first comment I received was ,"Why are you wearing a wall clock on your arm?".
"Handing things down to my father" and "being laughed at (regularly) by my wife".
We seem to have some similar quirks, Ash. Great video, as always! Thanks!
14:22 Coincidentally, my biggest recent purchasing regret is a pair of black Clarks Craftmaster derbies. Like you said, the juxtaposition of formal colour against casual style makes them impractical, sadly.
I have looked at the Tudor gmt sooo many times. It’s so charming, but it’s just too thick. Glad I waited because now I have a vintage GMT Master 2 root beer and I absolutely love it.
I love the new opaline dial tudor gmt but it's way too big for me too.
@@adam_meade Most modern Tudor’s are slab sided. The case flanks have the graceful curves of a brick. My vintage Tudor Prince Date is svelte and graceful, my recently sold BB36 that was to replace it….not so much.
@@thatguy6111I'm convinced Rolex keeps Tudor thick on purpose. At this point I like every one of their designs over Rolex with the exception of the explorer. If the BB pro was a bit thinner I'd sell my explorer ii and swap. I do love the Pelagos line though.
I was lucky enough to realise a watch mistake soon enough to rectify it. I wanted the Longines Spirit Zulu Time but the 41mm was too big for me and they hadn’t yet launched the 39mm. The salesman convinced me to get a Breitling GMT instead. I took it home tried it for 2 days and realised I just wasn’t obsessed about wearing it, which I should’ve been with a new watch. Took it back and they gave me a full refund. Bullet dodged!
As an aspiring chap i must help a fellow chap out. At 1:05 you say "less and less of those purcashing mistakes". As 'purchasing mistakes' are countable, the correct choice of words would be 'fewer and fewer of those purchasing mistakes' - as far as i am aware. Thanks.
We do like a polite correction! Great point, well made.
Just found you, Ash. I am part of my way down the Sartorial path, and I am thrilled to have discovered your channel. Thank you!
Welcome aboard!
Pino by Pino Sylvestre smell almost exactly like Creed Bois du Portugal, especially in the dry down. It is a classic and beautiful fragrance. I'm sorry it didn't sit will with you but others should absolutely try this amazing fragrance.
I can definitely relate on a few items. I turned my Tudor frown upside down and traded it in for the pre-Rolex jewelry purchase. I LOVED your Tudor GMT reviews though. Those really sold me on your channel and content.
Going back to the 1990's i purchased a tan trenchcoat, but being short at 5'7 the coat was so long it was down to my feet. I wore it for the first time but felt rather self conscious. I resembled Frank Spencer, or worse still a 'flasher'! I decided to try and improve the look of the coat by shortening it with scissors. I literally cut the bloody thing in half and needless to say i never wore it again!
Haha!! Love that. Great story. Thanks for sharing.
I tried that once on a fiberglass dinghy boat with my friends when we were like 15. Except we wanted to lengthen it. I can't even remember what we did with the two halves. Thanks for the laugh.
Been following this channel for some episodes. This time I have subscribed.
Great advice. I have been guilty of many of these. Sometimes you get carried away with emotions when purchasing something, and you don't think things through. I think it's better to sleep on it before making a purchase if you're not 100% sure.
Scents (I have bought far too many), Leather bags which I never use, and an Akubra cowboy hat which just looks ridiculous on me. I also have a habit of “keeping for best” which means that I don’t use my nice things enough.
Hi Ash, appreciate the video. Hilarious how you dealt with the unwanted cologne!
Hello Ash. Great Video.
The Sunglasses really made me laugh, because I own a pair of RayBan Wayfarer. The exact same model my dad used to wear, when I was a kid. And I loved these sunglases. But I thought they were a bit to small so I bought them again in a bigger size and they were just to big an didn't suit me well.
So now I wear the smaller model and keep the bigger ones in my car for passengers.
But I will keep them as a reminder to be more thoughtfull and don't buy anything out of a mood or an impulse.
The purchase I regret mostly. A pair of second hand Loake cap toe oxfords. Purchased them online and tried them after receiving them. They did not fit which wasn’t a big deal, planned on polishing and reselling. About a week later when polishing is when I realized they where two different sizes. The window of time to dispute the purchase was 3 days after receiving. I keep them to remind me look over online second hand purchases closely.
What was the discrepancy in sizes? I have seen single shoes sold online for amputees
Great video and great timing as I was recently considering a pair of similar Islay black boots with a commando sole by Crockett and Jones. They were very striking (and pricey), but now I'm debating their versatility. Maybe a dark brown or oxblood would be a better option 🤔
03:10 - Regards the aviators, I had the same issue until I was informed that despite the universal bridge size for Ray-Bans the nosepads are designed to be pliable so they could be adapted to fit any nose shape. This definitely helped, though I do favour the wayfarers more these days regardless.
Fantastic video man❤.. yeah I don't blame you I'm the same way here I have to have cologne
I rather like Pino. As we know fragrances work differently on different skin. On me it has slight minty-ness and the pine is pleasant. It smells best after about an hour, more peppery. My regret purchases are definitely jackets which are too large, with an intention of alteration which is just too extensive to be worth it.
It happens with most of us. Recent one for me was a pair of trousers which are polyester and absolutely non breathable. Last year it was a jacket which I have worn only once. Major regret.
3:00 most of my 48 fragrances i have bought blind, but not until after i extensively researched through countless of youtube and fragrantica reviews. there have been a handful of fragrances i have indeed gotten rid of, but i take that as part of the fragrance journey.
Interesting, as usual. I remember you talking about slimming down your watch collection. Do you plan on making a video about that? Thanks a million!
Yes sir. Coming soon.
The last part of your video spoke to me. Thanks man. As for your question, not sure I'd classify them as "regret" but sort of a waste of money are
1. My two pairs of Grant stone boots
2. 1 pair of Alden boots
3. Sons of Henrey derby shoes
The boots are a waste not because they aren't quality as you said but I just don't wear them as I work from home. The sons of Henrey derby is a snuff suede shoe and I realize I only like Dark brown suede footwear. I dyed them in hopes they would turn dark brown but nope that did not work. Plus the fit isn't all that ideal, I have to wear sport socks as I get heel slip
I bought far too much stuff in the first place and now getting rid of most of it. Moving, divorce, moving, inheritaning etc. Going mininal before it gets worse.
Pino silvestre used to be a very popular fragrance in Italy back in the '70s, one of the main reasons being that it was one of the very few fragrances avalilable basically everywhere. I was a child back then and I absolutely HATED it! 🙂
If there's such a thing like a fond memory of something that horrified you it would be the one of my granddad applying unordinate amounts of this poisonous substance on himself, you could smell it from hundreds of meters away!
So thank you Ash for bringing me back im my childhood years, even if that meant reminding my nostrils one of the worst experiences they had so far 😀
Oh..... obviously there's something terribly wrong with me. I smother meself in the stuff. Maybe I need to book that lobotomy!
There are some smaller GMT watches now, from Seiko and Timex. A different price bracket, obviously, but still nice.
That hat looks great on you.
I need a new hat and I'm looking at two hats. One is the Stetson Open Road.
The other is something like a gambler style hat. Throughout my 20s, I wore a black hat with a flat brim, a common crown that is somewhat reminiscent of a telescope crown, and a red, white, and blue hat band. It was often compared to the Billy Jack hat from the tv show of that name. I wore it out.
So I'm thinking of getting and open crown hat and having it shaped like that and then find a hat band that works. I would look at a standard gambler's hat, but every one of those I have ever seen was too flimsy.
Look at Stetsons "Boss of the Plains".
I once bought a pair of trousers from a tailor that never sewed zippers during the day. Turned out to be a fly by night type of operation.
Nice one
@@TheChapsGuide Don't encourage him, he'll only do it again....
Quite right about the Tudor GMT and almost every Tudor watch because the hight v width parameters are just all wrong. I've had four Tudors, all a mistake.
This is a very appropriate subject to cover. I think all of us have probably bought items that were a mistake.
For me, though, the biggest mistake is in something that I somehow misplaced. I had a really good wool overcoat that went down to just above my ankles. It got lost in a move about 35 years ago. I have looked for one just like it, but can't seem to find one. The overcoat was offered to me several years earlier by someone who had rarely, if ever worn it -- obviously, something he must have regretted buying. I immediately jumped at the chance. It may not have worked for him, but on a rainy night, it went along great with the western hat I used to wear.
I’m like that with cars. I’ve ALWAYS made compromises over colour, spec, interior, etc and never been 100% happy with the purchase. Always carried regrets. Now I’ve promised myself I’m gonna save up and buy exactly what i want next time
I grew up in Buenos Aires (born in NYC) and my stepdad did get as a gift a bottle of Pino Sylvetre , they actually made it in Argentina for their market , still do I believe. The scent was yuck, loved the bottle. My stepdad is more Guerlain Vetiver - that was always lovely. I always tilt towards citrus scents. In love, love, love with Czech and Speake Neroli ( as well their fantastic 88) can you believe, that they used to sell it for $40 US at Barneys back in the 80s. Great channel!
I agree with the polyester tie comment . I used to wear them simply because i could tie them quicker for work. But my last job was not time critical so i changed to silk having more time to tie them.
18:15 hats were very often weared until 60's. Churchill wore Homburg. Even some youth subcultures, like Punkers in the 1980's wore hats like Bowler hat, which is a part of British tradition. Hats should be wore more often.
I just took a few of my regrets to the donation bin earlier this month- three or four Winchester shirts from Brooks Brothers. Early in my "journey to chap nirvana" I thought that Winchester shirts were the ultimate in sophistication. They do have their place, but as I've grown to understand my personal style, I've learned that a slightly more casual look suits my lifestyle and personality better.
I wonder about a Homburg though...
BB shirts are great quality but even with the mtm the fit is just awful unless you're in the NFL. But that Homburg is located in chap nirvana.
Loving this series! I did the Ray Ban sunglasses thing and promptly lost them! I'll stick with more affordable options. I love my Bulova precisionist watch. It's a chunky watch, but I'm a bigger guy so it works for me. I love Clark's shoes! I'm a barber and on my feet all day. They're the most comfortable shoes I've worn! I feel I'm on my way to being a proper chap!
Could the Clark boots be repurposed for hiking / rucking in the countryside? My biggest are buying things regardless of cost that I never use
very insightful video ...i regret buying woodlands shoes ( not once but twice ) .... i only purchased it because of its brand ...it never suited me really..they were too bulky for me and instantly regretted the purchasing decision .... and another one red tape derby shoes ...those pointy shoes i bought online and i never liked them ...
Another excellent video Ash.
We've become a society of excess, and paring our items down when they dont serve us any purpose (be it utilitarion or asthetical) is what I believe the definition of minimalism to be.
I know exactly what you mean. I have several articles of clothing and footwear that I regret buying. One of them is a pair of Thursday President lace up boots that are absolutely wrong for me and I have worn them 1/2 dozen times and will likely never wear them again. They are great boots and super well made but just not for me. They are not cheap and I will probably sell them to someone that can use them as they are just sitting in my closet collecting dust. I have perhaps another 10 items or so that I regret buying and wonder what I was thinking at the time I purchased them (a leather motorcycle jacket, brand new, never worn). All of us occasionally talk ourselves into bad choices of clothing etc. But I must admit my purchase of quality dress shoes at discount/bargain basement prices was a great decision and helps make up for my mistakes. Anyway it was interesting to hear that you occasionally make the same type of mistakes in buying items that I have made, hopefully I will make better choices in the future. :)
Regarding the sunglasses, as a myopic person, I notice it is all about those "cushions" which go on the nose - go to the optician and have them set for you. Or even changed. And this has to be done regulary, because through use they get pushed apart.
Sir, I would love to see you using all of these at the same time! The jacket, boots, tie, watch, hat... all in one style 😂
That would be a right mash up.
You also have to buy sunglasses from a good optician. They can make the glasses fit well on your head. So out of the box, glasses don't really fit anyone well.
The watch should not be a regret. It is simply a birthday gift or Christmas gift for your son you bought in advance. I recall from a previous video you commenting he is hard on watches. So you have been waiting for him to grow into it.
The boots you showed are my go to boots. Every day all winter for casual wear and highly shined.
The Hamburg hat might be considered sort of like a dinner jacket or tail coat. Saved for the right occasion.
Definitely not a connoisseur of fragrances myself, but I am happy to be vindicated about my appalling experience wearing Pino Silvestre - luckily only in the house as, even if I can't try a fragrance before buying it, I will not go out sprayed with one before I've tested it on myself. Sadly I found it quite unpleasantly sour and persistently so, and I never continued using it past that first test. In theory I would love to wear a fragrance which smelled of pine, but the pine was hidden way back beneath all that acid. I'm not knocking it for being cheap, I wear Quorum all the time based off your and Big Pretty's recommendation. It's my go-to cold weather fragrance and I even get frequent compliments on it. There is also a fragrance sold by Lush which I regret not getting, that smelt of freshly cut grass and nothing else. Next time!
With watches it is a hard thing..
If you fancy a watch and you get something similar instead (even if the quality is alike) sooner or later you will get the first one and regret buying the look alike.
Great topic!
Great advise. I have a wardrobe full of stuff I only ever wore once or twice and that I convinced myself I needed or would look good with. Fools and their money are soon parted.
I live in the US and well I bought a pair Justin cowboy boots, which is good but I’ve warm three times I’ve had them for six years. I bought a Daytona Rolex because I like it the white dials before it popular. Well I don’t like to watch I wore maybe three times luckily in 2021 when the Rolex went up through the roof, I sold the watch roof but I do have the two tones Rolex seminar the blue one and I wear that every day. Good keep up the good work.
The one thing I regret buying is an Irvin jacket.
It cost a pretty penny and is a lovely well made jacket fits like a glove, the downside is it’s never cold enough now to feel the benefit of it.
We do have a few cold days during winter but not like years gone by so it’s hardly worn unless I take up flying Spitfires
Hi Ash. I made exactly the same mistake as you, buying Pino Silvestre. I thought it would have a fresh pine, masculine type of scent. But it was awful and acrid. I chucked it straight in the dustbin.
I love your honesty
Lots to agree on here: Never buy fragrances without testing ( mainly on skin)... Better a few things of good quality than many mediocre ones... A magnificent summary in four questions... And I add this one from my Latin years: Ned quid nimis (Nothing in excess) Cheers from Sunny Spain.
It’s either a fougère or a chypre but not both. Used to be a great fragrance, dont know now. Maybe it was simply very old stock. Your jacket is simply the wrong colour. Your fedora looks great though
I find it fascinating that your list is quite similar to mine. I'm a fan of vintage stuff more and more. The chunky watches I disliked because shirt sleeves hang up on it, which drives me slowly but firmly insane. Oh yes, I own a tuxedo that I have worn 3 times in 20 years. But I always keep it tailored and cleaned, just in case.
I regret buying a Stetson hat, it looks nice and fits well but I never wear it. Maybe one day I will. I recently treated myself to two things which I have been loving a Moccamaster Coffee maker and a great new pair of speakers for my turntable. Another great video Ash.
Homburgs are dope. Edward VII and American gangsters love them. You need to tilt it cattycorner and have them slightly curl the sides closer. Try a grey or charcoal.
Alternatively, move to another neighborhood and get you a pinstripe.
I had the same experience buying an Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional. Cracking good watch but too large for me. I later traded it for something smaller and better suited for my wrist size. If you don’t love the Tudor, sell or trade it.
It's a pity about those Clarks boots, I think they look really good and would be ideal for country strolls. Black might not be the most versatile colour but I tend to think that sartorial standards can be relaxed a little when we're stomping about in mud and wet grass. To make the boots a little less austere you could perhaps experiment with different colour laces? A black and grey stripe possibly, or even - gasp - a deep red?
This never gets old 💯💯💯. Keep it coming‼‼‼
I can easily set up an eBay site with all the purchases no longer wanted. We all do it, and I’m a pretty thrifty chap.
I have a pair of lace up cap-toe boots, as well as a pair of tanker boots, both in black cordovan and by Alden. Just like you, I hardly find an occasion to wear them and they sit collecting dust. So sad as both pairs are beautiful, superbly crafted boots.
Ray Bans can be adjusted by professionals (should stop slippage). Also - you'd probably suit the size up Ash, they're available in several sizes. I recommend the classic ray-ban wayfarer in tortoise shell, again - research of the sizing is extremely important.
I agree with you. Before shopping try and be in confidence with you. Buy that suits you, fits you and nothing else. If you don't have a lot of money get an appointement at the british red cross of Chelsea. You find quality at smooth prices !
Hi Ash, Over the years the reason I have made purchasing errors is because I’ve gone out with the intention of getting a certain item of clothing or whatever, and unable to find exactly what I wanted have settled for something less, rather than come home empty handed.
I recently cleared out off some old stuff and made me realize how much & many things I end up never use or regret. I think after that short experience I think I now know which brand to buy from & ones not. when clearing things out I found my first navy suit in worsted wool which I never wore & it cost a pretty total. I never wore it because I don't like wool pants which is silly to say but I'm always cautious about staining it which will cost dry cleaning but with chinos or corduory I can put them in the wash. Which lead me into getting a navy chino & green corduory suit from "Alex Mill" instead. I think both fabric suit me more since I'm more casual, I can wear them more often without worrying about stains too much since I can machine wash & hang dry them & the navy chino can pass off for formal events in my life. I'm still keeping the first suit since I'm not ready to part with it yet but I really like to wear my other 2 suits more.
I agree with you on Pino Sylvester, but in fairness I last purchased this some 20 or 30 years ago and was excellent but recently purchased a bottle and yes it is now awful, just used it up by spraying it in my welingtons!
Thanks Ash, your watch journey has resonated with me. I have a large collection of inexpensive watches (my most expensive is an Oris aquis bought for me by my wife) . I've been retired for a few years now and my last defined benefit pension has just matured leaving me with a substantial lump sum. I've always yearned for a luxury watch and the Santos de Cartier has been my grail. I've tried it on and still love it but its still a chunk of money to spend. I'm very much leaning to not buying and keeping the money as after all these years it still seems like and impulsive buy.
It is hard not to follow the heart - but the brain is usually right in these matters!
Wow, pino sivestre was my dad's favourite after shave beach in the 80s...that bottle brings back so many memories
I too made the exactly same mistake as you and bought a pair of black combat boots. Perhaps it was an attempt to recapture memories of a rebellious time in my youth. It took me about a month to realize the error I had made. I'm a little reluctant to sell them though, but I might give them away to some deserving younger colleague who shares the same size. It would be a waste if they don't see any use.
I’ve done this many times, but I now always wait and sleep on it.
Here i am trying to order a barbour beaufort size 40 for my short 167cm & 82kg frame ... fingers crossed that i dont regret this purchase (46% off b.new)
I bought a Barbour Ashby a few years ago, definitely something I regretted. The Ashby isn’t made in the UK and I think interior to some of the more traditional Barbours. Anyway, the zip quality was awful, very difficult to zip up. The zip eventually seized 11 months into ownership, fortunately I was able to return the jacket to the retailer for a refund. Also, one thing people never seem to talk about with wax jackets is that they attract lint like nobodies business, so difficult to keep it looking neat/clean.