James Patrick McLaughlin’s Menswear 10 Commandments
The more discerning among you will surely be acquainted with James Patrick McLaughlin via Instagram. There, under the raffish moniker of @hushyourprettymouth, he trafficks in tasteful imagery of art, architecture, craftsmanship, machinery, culture both high and low — and always, but always displays impeccable personal style.
What makes McLaughlin stand out is his juxtaposition of rock’n’roll attitude, dandified tailoring and old world elegance… It’s a combination that comes utterly naturally to this gentleman.
McLaughlin played his first rock show at 15 years of age and was signed to a record label at 21. He and his band played all over the United States, opening for groups like the Black Crowes and The Replacements.
McLaughlin has put his encyclopaedic knowledge of British rock’n’roll music from 1965 onward to good use DJing parties and fashion shows from LA to Chicago to Milan and back, plus running nightclubs in NYC and San Francisco.
Today, McLaughlin earns a crust in the motorcycle business. He’s operated four of the most high-profile Ducati/Triumph dealerships in the world, including the Triumph flagship in Brooklyn, NY, and has overseen the design and build of dozens of custom motorcycles that have received worldwide acclaim.
He spends his winters in St. Moritz, his summers in the States — and 24-7-365 dressed to “kill the room” (as he puts it below). Here’re his secrets.
This image and all below by Joanna Grodecki (Instagram: @monochic)
10. “Don’t listen to anyone, especially me! Do your own thing, do what makes you feel good. Style is all about feeling good. And don’t be bashful — this is not a time to be bashful.”
9. “Colour and pattern… don’t be afraid of either. I enjoy mixing patterns and colours. For me, this is what makes style so much fun: pushing boundaries. Typically, I get my colour inspirations from outside of the fashion world. I look to art and architecture, design and nature for inspiration. I love the colours in a Gio Ponti plate for instance, or the homes in the Engadin.”
8. “Get cultured. A well-dressed dimwit is still a dimwit. Know things, go places, see art. Music and musicians have always been synonymous with style for me. Charlie Watts and Brian Jones are single-handedly responsible for my sartorial journey. And Paul Weller is the most stylish cat ever. I love how in the late ’60s the Beatles and the Stones descended upon Savile Row, so punk. They took it and made it theirs. When I first walked into Chittleborough & Morgan and met with Joe and Michael, all I wanted was a chalkstripe three-button double-breasted breasted suit with flared trousers, just like Brian Jones circa ’67. They refused to make it for me, ha! Michael owes me a three-button double-breasted chalkstripe suit!”
McLaughlin and The Jam / Style Council frontman Paul Weller
7. “Stand when a woman walks into the room, open the car door for her. We seem to have forgotten the basics and all the clothes in the world will not make up for a lack of simple manners.”
6. “I see a lot of talk about ‘dressing for the room’, etc. Fuck that. Do not dress for the room. Have you seen the room? Do you think Alain Delon dressed for the room? Kill the room.”
Joshua Dobrik and Kimberley Lawton, who’ve recently opened their doors on Savile Row.
5. “I like to mix eras and styles, vintage with bespoke. Nothing is cooler than a well-worn denim shirt with a bespoke jacket. Nicolas at Husbands knows this; that cat is kindred spirit and stylish as fuck. I could spend hours with him — he gets it.”
4. “Keep in touch with the new generation of tailors, some incredibly exciting things are going on right now. For me, Kimberley Lawton at Dobrik & Lawton epitomises everything that is exciting about young tailors; she has a deep love for vintage fashion without being weighed down by it, incredible taste in music and a personal style that is phenomenal. The stuff she’s making is fantastic.”
3. “Find a tailor and stick with them. I have been so fortunate to have two that I admire so much and have become great friends with. I am fortunate to have worked with Michael Browne on several pieces and I consider him, not only the pinnacle of tailoring, but also a dear friend. For me, he’s the standard. I love the way he’s never afraid to push boundaries. He’s truly remarkable. The other is Tom Arena at Paul Smith Westbourne House. Tom and I share a deep love for music and style and he is a criminally underrated tailor.”
McLaughlin says Michael Browne sets the standard by which other tailors are judged.
