Month: October 2015

Toasting for Five Past, to Five More
Posted on by Christopher Tuazon Posted in Uncategorized
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Toasting for Five Past, to Five More

I, like many others in the Asian region, owe a lot of my self-discovery in the world of style to The Armoury.  It’s difficult to place a finger at what exactly this store does that holds such an influence, and it’s just as difficult to think where I’d be without their guidance.  In a city of fast and fused garments, the aptly-titled retailer uses a few hundred square meters of territory, holding strong in the battle for good clothing.

Now in their fifth year, The Armoury’s sphere of influence has expanded into New York, instantly becoming a hit to an America that is poised for a return to form – at least, so I hope.  In the meantime, we toast to friendships, success, and not spilling too much on a good suit.
  • The details of a Tailor Caid tweed jacket. Precise adherence to 60s Ivy style, perfectly executed through Japanese craftsmanship.
  • Another Tailor Caid: a heavy, chunky overcoat. An essential shield against fierce winters Hong Kong is lucky to avoid.
  • David Pan, Editor-in-Chief of Taiwans Weeknight Magazine, giving props to The Armoury with its Justo Gimeno teba.
  • Aside from the requisite champagne, new local jazz bar poured their own specialty cocktails sugary and strong.
  • Jerry of Ascot Chang embracing color and pattern beneath his safari jacket.
  • The ladies of The Armoury, styled ever-so-sweetly in their own tebas.
  • Mr. Johnson's very special Patek Philippe.
  • The gentlemen of Ring Jacket arriving most elegantly, as usual. Here, Mr. Hiroshi Tomioka admires a customer's jacket.
  • Halfway through the evening's barrel, a db tobacco linen finds itself lounging atop a counter, legs crossed as if it were ready for story time.
  • Arnold Wong, ready to tell a few tales himself.
  • Armoury Co-founder Alan See.
  • Justin of Ascot Chang catching up with Arnold and Patrick of WW Chan.
  • For a store like The Armoury, a cocktail party is the ideal event to don classically chic, hearkening back to the golden age of mens clothing, when the gentleman earned the title not only for wardrobe, but for conduct.
  • Once the mixtures of the house drinks were empty, we found ourselves venturing into more inspired cocktails. Sam giving it a go.
  • Tailor Caid's founder, Yuhei Yamamoto, effortlessly owning his house style.
  • The evening settling down.
  • Even during the party, Armoury co-founder Mark Cho is focused on the task at hand: fitting a customer for a last-minute chance to order from Tailor Caid.
  • Ring Jacket president Kunichi Fukushima, and Manager Hidetoshi Sasamoto
  • The pattern of the jacket, cummerbund, and tie is a collage of every Ring Jacket logo in its sixty year history. Sasamoto-san, killing the room in his own eccentric way.

Posted on by Christopher Tuazon Posted in Dailies
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Ordinary Heroes

Kuya (1 of 1)

Below is a birthday greeting I posted to my larger-than-life big brother, Luiz.  I never told this story before today, and I get a good chuckle out of this one of many moments I tried to be like him.  And for all you little siblings out there: that’s totally ok.  

When I was a freshman in high school, I tried to run for class treasurer. I had no desire or knowledge of handling money, but my big brother had the position with his alma mater.

I was severely uncool in my first few weeks, but I had to present a campaign speech to the class of 2003 anyway. My big brother offered his speech totem: an orange hazard vest with the motto C.R.E.A.M. taped on the back. I didn’t know what whipped dairy had to do with managing accounts, but he helped me plan a speech and rehearse. 

Came speech day, I grabbed the mic from my opponent, and I said the words “CASH RULES EVERYTHING AROUND ME,” in the most suburban of inflections.

And the class of 2003 went wild.

I used to get a lot of shit for trying to copy my big brother, but first of all, IT’S LUIZ; everyone wants to be him. But most of all, because everybody has a hero.