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phoenixs's review
3.0
3.5 stars in truth, for me. This book was a fascinating mix of memoir and fashion history. I'm not entirely sure it pulled together as strongly as I was hoping, but the author's writing was very precise and sincere. This one is worth your time, especially if you're mens fashion enthusiast. Part of me wants to say that it was the author's intention to have the seemingly disparate elements of his story remain somewhat separate even when it reaches it's climax, where there is some unity admitted between the three stories of himself, his father and the progression of the suit they share across generations. However, another part of me wants to say that the separate elements, although each compelling in their own right don't string together as seamlessly (ugh two puns I didn't initially intend) at the end of the tale as they should have.
At the end of the day though, I enjoyed this book. I would even welcome a sequel to this, although I'm not sure what the subjects of that book would be.
At the end of the day though, I enjoyed this book. I would even welcome a sequel to this, although I'm not sure what the subjects of that book would be.
holmesstorybooks's review
4.0
This book surprised me.
I didn't expect to like it. I picked it up because I gravitate towards immigrant stories, being an immigrant myself. There's something about the dual-identities that draw me in, and then a deeper realisation, that immigrants are not Chinese and Canadian, or, in my case, Australian Canadian, but Chinese Canadian, as its own separate entity that I adore and come to terms with on a daily basis.
And then I started reading it, and it completely blew me away. JJ's passion for menswear is infectious. He would pick an article of men's clothing, such as the pocket square, or the tie, or the lapel and I would be passionate about it. He weaved intricate tales about how the frock coat came into being, how Oscar Wilde defied all of England's fashion conventions, how knights in armour defiantly raised their skirts so they could move better in battle. He told stories of James Dean, of Sean Connery, of Frank Sinatra, all from their pant hems, from their upturned brims of their hats, from their tie pins.
JJ Lee is a sentimental, romantic, admirable little nerd and I adored all of his Star Trek, Star Wars and comic books references.
He challenges masculinity as much as he welcomes it. Through these stories, he tells the story of the fraught relationship he had with his father, how he aspired to be him, his father's alcoholism and his resolve never to be like him. He becomes a tailor for a short time, and in a moment of inspiration, decides to alter his father's suit.
Though the sections about his father's alcoholism were hard to read, the author used micro-histories about clothing between each emotional chapter. As a mechanic of writing, it helped me to keep reading and not get swamped with miserable detail. Lee does what I think is difficult to do when recounting a story of someone who suffers from substance abuse, and that is that he wrote about the good times as well as the bad.
This book is layered without being difficult. It is emotional without being draining. If Lee could be sure of one thing, it is that he can write. Not only that, but that he can write and make the reader care.
tw: alcoholism, domestic abuse
I didn't expect to like it. I picked it up because I gravitate towards immigrant stories, being an immigrant myself. There's something about the dual-identities that draw me in, and then a deeper realisation, that immigrants are not Chinese and Canadian, or, in my case, Australian Canadian, but Chinese Canadian, as its own separate entity that I adore and come to terms with on a daily basis.
And then I started reading it, and it completely blew me away. JJ's passion for menswear is infectious. He would pick an article of men's clothing, such as the pocket square, or the tie, or the lapel and I would be passionate about it. He weaved intricate tales about how the frock coat came into being, how Oscar Wilde defied all of England's fashion conventions, how knights in armour defiantly raised their skirts so they could move better in battle. He told stories of James Dean, of Sean Connery, of Frank Sinatra, all from their pant hems, from their upturned brims of their hats, from their tie pins.
JJ Lee is a sentimental, romantic, admirable little nerd and I adored all of his Star Trek, Star Wars and comic books references.
He challenges masculinity as much as he welcomes it. Through these stories, he tells the story of the fraught relationship he had with his father, how he aspired to be him, his father's alcoholism and his resolve never to be like him. He becomes a tailor for a short time, and in a moment of inspiration, decides to alter his father's suit.
Though the sections about his father's alcoholism were hard to read, the author used micro-histories about clothing between each emotional chapter. As a mechanic of writing, it helped me to keep reading and not get swamped with miserable detail. Lee does what I think is difficult to do when recounting a story of someone who suffers from substance abuse, and that is that he wrote about the good times as well as the bad.
This book is layered without being difficult. It is emotional without being draining. If Lee could be sure of one thing, it is that he can write. Not only that, but that he can write and make the reader care.
tw: alcoholism, domestic abuse
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