Turtlenecks & John C Reilly has swag
why didn't we know this sooner?
It’s been a while, but the Crappy Club for Jerks is back in session, and we’re going to find some regularity here.
This week:
The news is scary and cringe (again)
Turtlenecks are dope
John C Reilly (like, Dale from Step Brothers?) knows fashion
Some content that doesn’t suck
Let’s begin.
Losers are destroying the world
So this week has been hectic for world news. I don’t want to get into it - if you have any stomach for current events at this point then you know the schtick anyway. But yeah, ChatGPT will write history books about these months.
I don’t know if the world is ending but Gen Z is glorifying chainsmoking now so I think we’re all kinda betting on it.
Just like in the movies, there’s a few key characters that feel like they’re at the helm of. this peril. We’ll call them the Bad Guys. Except in the movies, the Bad Guys are cool, they have a bit of edge. Here, they look so corny I almost want them to win out of sympathy.
While Agent Smith was out here doing Bullet Time dodges in the Matrix, Trump’s throwing the saddest, least hype military parades you’ve ever seen. Elon’s oligarchic antics have been while doing so much Special K he can’t pee right.
Bad Guys used to be cool. If only we were afforded that dignity.
It took 500 years, but Turtlenecks earned a
spot in your rotation.
It’s winter here in Melbourne, and early odds suggest the turtleneck is going to be my go-to basic for the season. I went down a rabbit hole and was surprised that this might just be the hardest working garment in fashion history.
High-neck jumpers went from medieval knights, to workwear, to movie stars, academics, and political activists, to Steve Jobs. I made a video about it here.
There’s a lot of room to style turtlenecks - here’s some of my favourite references…
Miles Davis - High neck base layer with a scarf
Miles Davis is a sartorial reference for just about everything - here we’ve got him with a turtleneck sweater as a base under a suede jacket and silk scarf. Watch sticking out, dark trousers.
A relatively easy look to put together for how considered it looks. The scarf hides the high neck a bit but the sweater’s form is still flattering, you’re able to wrap the scarf in more ways because the high neck is always there.
Steve McQueen - The Sports Jacket
Another classic mens’ style icon. I’ve been wearing a vintage Fletcher Jones suit jacket I found thrifting a couple of years ago with my turtlenecks and feeling fly.
Because the sweater fits pretty close to the body, I think a jacket with a relaxed fit brings a nice contrast - especially a slightly longer one. On that note, I’ve also been liking the turtleneck under an overcoat.
Steve Jobs - A True Minimalist
The true modern representation of the high neck sweater.
Steve Jobs famously ordered a lifetime supply (over 100) mockneck sweaters from his favourite designer, Issey Miyake. He was rarely seen in anything but one of them with a pair of blue jeans and some New Balances.
A simple outfit that fit the man so well. High neck tops were popularised by progressives and post modernists as a sort of ‘Anti-tie’ move, and Jobs was clearly too motivated to tolerate formality. You probably have to avoid this exact fit, lest you be mistaken for a Steve Jobs impersonator, but it’s the perfect case study of the turtleneck as a basic.
John C Reilly has swag and no one had any idea
John C Reilly - actor, musician, and apparently, menswear enthusiast - appeared on Throwing Fits this week for what might be my favourite podcast of 2025 so far.
The man, who was first known to me as Cal from Talladega Nights and then Dale from Step Brothers, surprised a lot of people both with his depth of taste and his overall thoughtfulness.
He spoke about how a health scare opened him up to dressing exactly how he wants, which is frequently three piece suits. He enthusiastically shouted out some of his favourite garment makers, from tailors in the US to 17th century hatters in London. And he advocated for personal style; that you should seek some ambiguity and surprise in what you wear.
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But my favourite bit? When he said that getting dressed is important. That dressing better is “a way to make the world more beautiful.” I liked that. It’s not ego, it’s understanding and owning the fact that we will be perceived and that’s an opportunity to bring a bit of joy.
I highly recommend giving it a listen - he is of course also very funny and has an incredible story about robbing a train when he was a kid. Links to the podcast here.
Creators firing me up this week
Far out, there’s some bad shit out there. That being said, short form content is an important medium right now - for creators, brands, and consumers. Here’s a few references to get inspired/entertained by:
Fuseinatti (@Fuseinatti)
Japan-based fashion designer and stylist, this guy is putting out a mix of thoroughly entertaining brand-building vlogs, short sartorial essays, and world building vignettes that showoff his styling and film making abilities. Here’s one I could watch on repeat for hours:
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Isabel (@artificial.isabel)
Isabel is a super talented art director, creator, and philosophy nerd. A content is a unique blend of these three worlds to bring about videos and carousels that leave me in awe every time I see them. You probably can’t do what she’s doing but you can definitely take notes. One of my favs, from that weird period between Christmas and New Years:
Garrett (@garrettking.co)
Garrett AKA the internet’s friendliest photographer, has made a name for himself breaking down everything related to taking great portrait and fashion photos. From super clear lighting tutorials, to tips on working with models, to sharing references and putting us onto other great photographers, he’s well on his way to owning that niche.
As a super out of practice photographer, his work is going to be a bit of a go-to for me to get back shooting. Here’s one from my favourite series of his, Compliment Attack:
Alright, that’s it for this week kids. Keep chasing the cool, and wear something nice this weekend, even if you’re just going to buy some eggs. Make the world better.
A delight.