The Summertime Setup for Getup Pt. 3 - Splotched Jeans Jonny

Everyone is responsible for their own style. As I mentioned before, just be confident in what looks good on you, and you’ll be golden. To continue this series, I spoke to Jonny Duran, a friend of mine from Milwaukee. A great dude, he loves to laugh, and every time I see him I think, “damn, Jonny has that shit on.” Even if he’s just wearing his day job fit, (not sure if this is still the case, but I think he’s a drywaller) it looked well put together. Faded blue jeans splotched with paint and plaster, a plain white tee, and a silver chain was all I saw, but he wore it with confidence. 

And that was his main advice. When asked if there are any “do nots” the people should avoid this summer, it was a resounding no.

“Nah. I think it’s wear what you want. As long as you’re confident and don’t care about anyone’s opinion.”

When I explained what I was writing today, he seemed to agree with my Testarossa motto. If it looks timeless, it’s because it looks good. Once again, this article will follow the previous formats, with the parts of a sailboat acting as the major parts of an outfit. 

For some context on who Jonny is, I’ll explain how I recall meeting him. My friends Nate and Jackson had just moved into their apartment, and to celebrate, we all went out on a Friday night, and I slept on my friends’ couch. Safe to say the next day, I felt like hell. My own fault, nothing I can complain about. 

Who was sitting in the easy chair across from the couch late Saturday morning, having a conversation with Jackson? Jonny. What was in his hand? A beer. This is how Jonny and I met. His goofy laugh woke me up, and from that point on I’ve happily called him a friend. We’ve debated his distaste for lengua tacos on St. Patrick’s Day in Wrigleyville, chopped it up over beers on couches and at bars, and just generally have a good time when we hang out. The whole time, he’ll have an outfit on that, while not shouting at you or even particularly bold, is noticeably put together and works well with his style. This is why I tapped his shoulder for this series, and why I think us guys should heed his advice for summertime fashion. 

For the upper deck, Jonny advises linen, which is always a good look in my opinion. As well, he likes jerseys, something I think works well for a beach or pool party. The key with these though, is making sure they fit well. If you’re a big dude like me, get a size or two larger than you would a tee. You’re not wearing this to play a game, you’re going out. He’ll be rocking the 2000’s long sleeve polo look this summer, which can also be interpreted under the vintage look of rugby shirts. He also wisely noted that nothing is wrong with wearing plain white or black tees. If they fit well, you can wear them solo, or with some other kind of layer. Just because something is basic doesn’t mean it’s boring. 

As for the lower deck, Jonny agrees with Saint for the summer look. He advises that we wear jorts this summer, and while I personally won’t be, I could see this being part of someone’s style if they have the frame for it. 

Regarding one’s keel, Jonny’s advice was insightful. Jordan’s are always in fashion. The nice thing about high quality sneakers designed by the GOAT is that they look good in pretty much any condition. Brand new, they’ll look expensive and flashy, and beaten up, they look tactile and pair well with most outfits. Just don’t make the laces pink like I used to do. He also recommends loafers for more formal events. If you have a friend getting married or want to take a girl on an expensive date, these will do better than your average boat shoes. It all depends on the situation. Jonny also recommends looking into a decent pair of running shoes, probably for those days you’re on your feet for hours on end. If you’re at a sports game, or a music venue, you’re likely going to want a durable pair of shoes you can walk around in for a long time. 

Finally, in discussing the sail of your outfit, Jonny and I had the same conclusion. Keep it simple. If you’re going to wear any accessories, he’d say a decent looking watch, nothing too flashy, or a bracelet can really finish an outfit well. I’d do some research on buying these though, considering fake metals can leave residue or make your skin green. As for watches, I’d say the same as I’ve hinted towards most other pieces: subtlety goes further than flashiness. Everyone wants to wear the iced out Audemars Piguet like Future, but not everyone should. As long as the watch looks sturdy and fits with the rest of your outfit, you really can’t go wrong.

Consistent with this series, Jonny’s most important advice is to be confident in yourself and your taste. Keep your style your own, but don’t be afraid to experiment. Other people’s opinions aren’t important, and so long as you like it, you can’t go wrong. Don’t get me wrong, there is such a thing as a bad outfit, (recall that I once thought Hawaiian shirts paired with pink laced J’s was a hit combo) but it’s a low bar to get there. 

That’s about all I have to say on this matter. I’m not sure if I’ll finish this series here or publish one more. I’m getting a little bored of these, but I did reach out to one more person, so I’m not sure what direction I’m going in yet. Anyways, get new clothes if you want. Thanks for reading.