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howdywrites · 5 years

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Cotton Candy (Vanya/Female OC)

Summary: Vanya Hargreeves goes on a date with a friend (Female OC/Reader Insert) because it’s what she deserves. One Shot. Sweet and simple!

Word Count: 2,074

Warnings/Disclaimers: None except maybe some angst. As far as disclaimers go, I tried to make Katherine kind of ambiguous but it didn’t work out the way I hoped. Also, this is my first time posting any of my work online lol so I’m terrified.

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They spent months as friends giving each other lingering gazes. Wondering if there could be more between them. Inching closer each time they hung out. Late night talks on park benches. Splitting off from the others when Vanya became overwhelmed. It was a matter of time before one of them cracked and asked the other on a date. Tonight would be the first time they hung out as possibly more than friends. She had put it off for weeks now, but the ever patient friend waited for her, not caring if it took years for her to accept the offer.

And the night finally came.

Vanya stood in front of her mirror with a smile askew on her face. The hot pink dress Allison gave her years ago hung on her like an old woman’s drapes. No. Absolutely not.

Tearing off the garment and discarding it over the back of the couch, she slipped back into her jeans and oversized button up. It wasn’t flashy or cute, but it was her and she could breathe again. Worried thoughts spiraled inside her head, prompting her to take the pill bottle from her pocket and dumping one into her hand. The water bottle in her hand shook.

The rev of a motorcycle brought her back to reality. Or maybe it was the medicine. Some days it was impossible to tell. Fussing with her hair, she eventually gave up and left it down. Wallet, phone, keys. Her heart beat wildly in her chest as she skipped out the door - nearly forgetting to lock it - and all but stumbled over her feet going down the stairs. In the foyer of her building, she paced around. Did she remember to brush her teeth? Would she be upset she didn’t put more effort into her outfit? As if standing at the end of a high dive, Vanya Hargreeves knew she couldn’t wait all night. She had to take the plunge.

Pushing open the door and bolting out, she came face to face with-

“Katherine, hey,” Vanya greeted, finding it hard to breathe.

Blonde hair glittered in the sunlight as her date turned around. A bright smile painted her lips. She adjusted her black leather jacket and strode over towards her. Vanya had to tilt her head up to look up at her. She mirrored her smile as butterflies tickled her stomach.

“Hey, doll,” She said, leaning down to kiss the shorter woman on the head. One of her index fingers touched the bottom of her chin with a coy smile. “You can call me Kat, Vanya. Here-” She lifted her free hand to show her a brand new helmet. “I’ve never had someone ride with me before - so I’m not risking anything.”

Vanya shoved her head inside the dark blue helmet and felt its weight when she let go. Kat rapped her gloved knuckles on the top with a pleased smile. “How do I look?” She asked, looking up at her date.

“Badass. And safe.”

It took a bit of maneuvering for Vanya to get onto the back of the motorcycle. Its sleek black frame made it slippery and she was held her breath when a helmeted Katherine got on in front of her. They were nearly pressed into one another. Her friend looked over her shoulder at the way Vanya leaned away from her and chuckled.

“You can touch me, I don’t bite. Much.” Heat bloomed in her masked cheeks. The headgear came in handy in more ways than one. Sheepishly, Vanya leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Kat’s middle. If there weren’t layers of clothes between them, she swore the woman would have felt her heart drumming away behind her ribs. The motorcycle roared to life and they took off in a flurry of wind.

Thrill struck like a shock of lightning. Hair whipped behind her as the rush of adrenaline trickled into her veins. So this is what it was like to feel? If only Allison could see her then. None of her siblings knew that she had finally stepped outside her comfort zone - not that they would care anyway. Vanya shoved her family deep into the back of her mind, snuffing out the weary glances and pursed lips from the last time she spoke with them. She laughed over the wind, arms squeezing tighter and catching the attention of Katherine.

Smiling under her helmet, a hand reached and rested on Vanya’s thigh when they stopped for a red light. She flinched instinctively. “Having fun back there?” Kat asked over the rumbling of cars.

“I think this is the most free I’ve felt in years,” Vanya admitted, cheeks hurting from smiling so much.

///

When they arrived at the fair, the sun hung low behind buildings and vendor tents. Rainbow lights flickered and buzzed in time with the cheesy pop music lazily playing over the drone of laughter and chatter. Side by side, Katherine and Vanya entered the fair and took in the salty scent of fresh popcorn and pretzels. The leather clad woman paid for a handful of tickets, despite the insistence and near begging of the other.

“What do you feel like doing first?” Kat asked, peering down at her. Free from gloves, her bare fingers idly pushed a few strands of loose brown hair out of her face. Vanya froze and shuffled her feet around the grave beneath them. Rubbing the back of her neck, she began to stammer.

“I mean...we can do what you want to do first - you did suggest the fair,” She looked around, a thin smile stretched across her face. Eyes landed on the pirate ship heaving back and forth. Kathrine quirked a brow and followed her gaze to the ride.

“You always want to do what I want to do, Vanya. Tonight we’re doing what you want.” Long legs took off towards the pirate ship, hands shoved in the pockets of her leather jacket. She stopped and looked at the wide eyed woman still standing where she left her, a reassuring look dancing in her eyes. “Well? Are you coming or should I carry you? My nephews say I give the best piggy back rides.”

Vanya shook her head, laughing bashfully and half jogged to catch up to her. They squeezed themselves into a back row of seats. Sandwiched between Katherine and the side of the ship, an arm draped over the back of their seat, just over her shoulders.

“I’ve got you,” Kat teased. “Wouldn’t want you to fall… like that spill you had on the ice a few months ago.” Vanya scoffed playfully, arms wrapped around herself.

“It was dark! How was I supposed to know they didn’t salt the sidewalks yet.”

Their fond banter continued for a short while before the ship began to groan and jerk them around. Stomachs flipped and both women squealed with laughter each time the ride rose and fell. Vanya curled into Katherine without thinking, not that the other woman would mind. Legs turned to jello as they stumbled off at the end, holding on to the railings as their world swayed.

“Remember that time you had too many moscow mules?” Vanya howled, wiping away the gleeful tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks. “And I had to convince you that we weren’t on a boat and you weren’t Captain Jack Sparrow?”

“I remember that night differently - I was in fact Jack Sparrow, and we were on a boat.”

“Kat, we were at Olive Garden.”

The pair walked around the fair, talking about anything and nothing all at the same time. Katherine watched Vanya’s face, content to listen to her enthuse about what pieces she had learned recently and where she would be performing next. The fair was a dicey choice. The two tended to gravitate towards quiet cafes and parks. But the woman’s eyes shined brighter than she had ever seen them shine. Vanya rarely relaxed like that and Katherine had a front row seat, left to wonder if she knew just how intelligent, wonderful and extraordinary she truly was.

The sun finally disappeared and the moon came out to play. Lit only by the string lights and neon bulbs, the fair set the mood. No more worries. No sense of impending doom. Just Katherine. Vanya requested the ferris wheel next to watch the moonlight glitter on the water just off the pier.

Like the motorcycle, the narrow seats on the ride squished the two of them together. Arms and shoulders touched, jean-clad knees brushed against one another. On the outskirts of the fair, the screams and metallic clank of machinery became distant background noise. Vanya became hyper aware of how close they were. How Katherine’s hands twitched, mindlessly scratching phantom itches. She herself fidgeted. For the first time, they were quiet. One by one, the seats filled, lifting them higher and higher into the air. A gentle, salty breeze brushed past them. They watched the water shimmer. Waiting.

A pinky finger brushed the side of Vanya’s hand. Her eyes dropped and noticed Kat had inched her hand over until it rested on the edge of her thigh. Without a word, heartbeat drumming in her ears, she nestled her hand beneath hers. Neither of them breathed or acknowledged the fact that their hands were interlaced, but both of them relished the simple touch.

The rest of the ride was a blur. They murmured compliments to the ocean and the mysteries she stored beneath her mirrored surface. Emotion swelled in Vanya’s chest like the crescendo of a Tchaikovsky concerto. Comfortable. Safe. Two things she never thought she would have and she found them in Katherine. As they stepped off, their hands stayed glued together as neither of them wanted to break apart.

“Oh wow,” Vanya marveled, pulling them to a stop. A woman in a pink pinstripe apron stood behind a machine with cotton candy swirling around the cone she held inside. The blue fluff billowed until it made an unholy mound of sugar that sat precariously on top of its paper home. “I haven’t had cotton candy in years.” Katherine, smirking a bit, pulled away from her and immediately pulled out her beat up wallet. Vanya followed hot on her heels.

“Hey, you paid for tickets, I’ll pay for-”

“Pink or blue?” Kat asked, already forking over the small wad of ones to the vendor. “You deserve to be spoiled after all my pestering.” Vanya sighed, running a hand through her hair. “Blue.”

With a sugar cloud bigger than their heads, they found a corner of the fair no one occupied. Old wood creaked as they stepped onto the edge of the pier, leaning against the railing. Cotton melted in their mouths. While Vanya meticulously picked at her side, Kat devoured her like a starving lioness. She paused her feast and let a few fingers trail over her shoulder. The shorter woman didn’t flinch, though she did attempt to hid the color in her cheeks by looking out over the ocean.

“You’re stunning, Vanya,” Kat spoke, voice low and gentle. “And extraordinary.”

“Stop,” Vanya laughed, shaking her head and letting the wind carry her hair back out of her face. Pain lingered in her eyes and she no longer smiled. Kat shifted, standing up straighter and shuffling closer. This was the side of her that she saw in those empty parks. A woman carrying guilt and shame, shutting people out as soon as they start to get closer. Yet so desperate for love and human touch.

“Vanya.”

“No, Kat-” Vanya stumbled over her words, flustered and doubting herself. “I’m just… normal. I can’t even make it to first chair. My family…”

“Maybe you’re not extraordinary-” Kat moved to stand in front of her, tender eyes studying her face. A hand laced fingers with Vanya’s sticky blue ones. Wet eyes flit around before dragging themselves up to look at her. “To them. But to me you are. I would watch you play for days if I could. Let you talk until your voice is gone. I adore you, Vanya Hargreeves. Absolutely adore you.” Soft lips pressed into Vanya’s, capturing her before she could refute. She tasted sweet like candy. Slowly, Vanya let her eyes slip closed. Cotton candy fell from her hand as she pressed herself into Katherine. Even if this one woman thought she was enough… then perhaps that was all she needed to start believing it herself.

#the umbrella academy #vanya hargreeves #one shot #vanya hargreeves pairing #myffwriting #vanya needs a hug #tua #tua vanya #fanfic #fluff #tua fanfic

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realityisonlythebeginning · 7 years

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Can you please write daddy robron (their own kid) headcanons/drabble/fic. pretty pls i will give you anything.

I would like a fifteen minute hug with Robert Sugden, but if that’s too hard then I would like a cup of tea and a picture of a corgi.

Here’s a little fic for you; Robron as dad’s at their sons birthday :)

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“Daddy. Daddy? Daddy?”Robert had been awake from the moment the door creaked open, Aaron had as well but as history had dictated, if they kept still enough he would grow bored and return to his own room. Not that morning however, as the little boy climbed on the bed; pushing at his arm,“Daddy.”He fought the smile as his son leant in to his face, pushing his small hands at his cheeks,“Daddy!”Aaron was the cause of the little boy’s sudden scream as he grabbed him around the middle and pulled him down into the bed,“Daddy stop!”He was squealing with laughter as Aaron tickled him,“Why are you awake? Huh? Why?”Robert laughed as the boy reached for him,“Daddy! Help!”Aaron wrapped his arms around the boy; covering his face in kisses,“Get off!”He wriggled free and headed toward Robert who pushed a hand through his hair,“Why are you awake so early, trouble?”The boy climbed to his knees, bouncing up and down excitedly,“Is my birthday!”Robert frowned and looked at Aaron,“First I’ve heard about it. Did you know Aaron?”Aaron shrugged,“No. No idea. Are you sure it’s your birthday?”The boy pushed at the man’s legs,“Yes! Is my birthday!”Aaron sucked in a breath,“I dunno. I think it’s my birthday.”Robert nodded,“I agree. Happy birthday Aaron.”“Thanks.”The boy put his head in his hands and groaned,“No!”He dropped his hands,“Is my birthday today!”Robert couldn’t stop his smile,“Yeah? How old are you?”The boy held up a hand,“Four!”Robert gasped,“Four?!”He looked at the smiling Aaron,“Aaron he’s four!”Aaron’s mouth fell open and he stared at the boy,“Four?! Wow! You’re getting so big!”The little boy bounced up and down on his knees,“Did you get me birthday presents?”Aaron laughed,“Birthday presents eh? Why would we do that?”The boy groaned again,“Daddy-y-y-y!”Robert smacked his hand against his forehead,“Ohhh it’s Oliver’s birthday!”The boy bounced up and down,“Yes!”Aaron put his head back,“Ohhh of course!”Robert grabbed the boy; sitting up and laying him flat,“How can it be Oliver’s birthday if I haven’t given him birthday kisses?”Oliver squealed with laughter, kicking his legs as Robert covered his face with kisses, he sat back and Oliver immediately crawled to Aaron,“Is my birthday!”Aaron laughed, ruffling his hair,“Alright, alright. It’s your birthday.”Robert grinned and sat up,“Come on.”He swung his legs from the bed and patted his shoulder,“Hop on. Potty time.”Oliver climbed over, wrapping his arms around Robert’s neck and pushing his face into the man’s back as Robert gave him a piggy back ride into the bathroom. Aaron shook his head fondly and climbed from the bed as well.

Aaron had just finished cutting the toast for Oliver when the boy bounded into the room,“Daddy!”He threw himself at Aaron who grunted when the boy hit him with his whole body,“Oof.”He looked down at him,“Monster. Go on. Sit down.”He climbed onto his chair and grinned up at Aaron as he placed the plate before him,“Butter choccy!”Aaron ruffled his hair again and nodded toward Robert as he walked in,“Coffee’s on.”Robert leant against the counter,“Just had a text from Chas. wants us to drop round after we’ve fed him.”“Are you talking about me?”Robert looked over,“Alright, big ears.”Oliver covered his ears with his hands and stuck his tongue out; making Aaron laugh,“Eat your breakfast.”Oliver put his hands down,“Can I have my presents?”Aaron looked at him,“Do you still have food to eat?”Oliver looked at his plate and silently picked up another piece. Robert smirked and nudged his arm before turning to grab another cup to make his coffee.

“NANNY!”Chas ran around the bar as soon as they arrived; Oliver running full speed into her arms, tiny arms around her neck as she lifted him up,“Ohhhh happy birthday monster!”He pulled away and looked at her,“Do you like my buzz lightyear top?”She put him on the floor,“Let me see…ah! I love it!”She knelt down and took the little boys hands in hers,“Guess what I’ve got for you?”“Is it presents?”She grinned and jerked her head toward the back,“Do you want to go and see?”He nodded and took a few steps before turning back and holding a hand out to Robert,“Come with me.”Robert clicked his tongue,“You can go. I need to have a word with Nanny Chas.”Oliver looked at him then at Aaron,“Daddy come with me.”Aaron sighed and took his hand,“Come on then.”He nodded at Chas he walked past, leaving her and Robert in the pub,“How was he this morning?”Robert smiled, leaning against the bar as she got him a drink,“He was excited. Woke us up at about seven, bouncing about.”He took the glass from her,“Cheers.”Chas smiled, looking toward the back as a squeal of laughter filled the air. She turned back and poured another drink,“What time is the party?”Robert swallowed his beer and licked his lip quickly,“Half two.”She handed him the second glass,“Come on.”He followed her through, the sound of Oliver growing only louder as they walked into the room to see Aaron holding him upside down and tickling his stomach,“Oh yeah no, please shake our child.”Oliver stopped wriggling and grinned at Robert,“I have a wedgie.”Robert’s eyebrows shot up as Aaron burst out laughing, setting the boy on his feet,“Someone’s been hanging out with Auntie Liv again.”Robert shook his head and put the glasses down,“Ollie!”He smacked the little boys hand away from his trousers,“Leave your bum alone.”He pushed the boy’s head as he laughed and looked up as Chas placed a cup of juice on the coffee table,“Right. Does Mr want his presents?”“YE-E-E-E-ES!”Aaron threw a cushion at the boy,“Stop. Screaming.”Robert sat heavily on the sofa beside him and watched as Chas pulled the big bag of presents from behind the table,“Happy birthday!”Olivers face made Aaron snort with laughter again, his eyes wide and his mouth open,“Wow there’s like a hundred!”Robert shook his head with a smile,“You’re too generous.”Chas waved him away,“It’s his birthday.”Oliver stopped in the middle of ripping paper to hold his hand out,“Nanny Chas, sit with me.”Robert slung his arm around Aaron’s shoulder as they watched the little boy open his presents excitedly.

“Can you sort the table cloth?”Robert put the jugs of juice on the side and reached into the bag; pulling out a blue table cloth and unfolding it,“Bet you didn’t think you’d be unfolding a Paw Patrol table cloth when we bought this.”Robert straightened it on the table and shrugged,“I mean I figured sooner or later I would. Just guessed it would be for your thirtieth.”He dodged the sausage roll that Aaron whipped at him and laughed,“I’m kidding!”He walked over and pulled Aaron in by his belt, pressing a kiss to his jaw,“We all know you’re a Horrid Henry fan.”Aaron rolled his eyes and pulled Robert in for a kiss,“DADDY!”They broke apart and Aaron looked over toward the stairs,“YEAH?”Robert nudged him,“Stop yelling.”Aaron clicked his tongue and walked toward the stairs,“OLLIE?”Robert picked up a sausage roll and popped it into his mouth,“NEED A POO POO.”He snorted as he laughed before coughing,“You answered him. You deal with it.”“DADDY!”Aaron sighed,“Coming!”Robert watched him as he ran up the stairs and smirked; turning around to finish cutting the food up. He was just moving the crisps when the little boy thundered down the stairs; landing with a jump and holding his hands up as he roared at Robert,“Ollie!”“I’M A DINOSAUR!”Robert grinned, putting the bowl of crisps down and turning around,“You’re a dinosaur?”Oliver nodded, crouching down then leaping in the air and roaring again,“Boy! Stop yelling. Go put your new shirt on. Party starts in a minute.”Oliver ran to him,“I’m really hungry.”Robert reached down and cupped his cheeks, pushing them together,“You’re hungry?!”Oliver nodded,“Really-”The doorbell going made his head whip round fast,“DADDY!”Aaron appeared on the stairs, carrying the shirt, he threw it at Robert and headed toward the door,“He gets the loud from you.”Robert laughed sarcastically as he wrestled the boy from one shirt and put on another,“Where’s my nephew?”Oliver tried to run only to be stopped by Robert,“Shirt on.”He pulled at Robert’s grip,“Daddy!”Robert held him by both arms,“Calm down. Now.”Oliver stamped his foot,“Let go!”Robert gave him a serious look,“You want a time out?”Oliver put his chin down and pouted,“Oi?”He looked at Robert,“Do you want a time out? Because I’ll put you in the car.”He shook his head and Robert nodded,“Right, then calm down.”He let go of Oliver and put his shirt on,“There.”He looked at the boy and pulled him in for a hug; the little boy wrapping his arms around his neck as Robert squeezed him,“I love you.”“Love you too.”He kissed the boy’s head then ruffled his hair,“Go say hello to Auntie Vic.”Aaron walked over to Robert as he leant against the counter,“You getting your strict dad act on again?”Robert scoffed as he moved around to get the food on the table,“He’s being a little turd.”Aaron grinned, pulling Robert in toward him,“No worse than you on your birthday.”Robert rolled his eyes, pressing a quick kiss to Aaron’s lips then moving to go and talk to Victoria.

Aaron couldn’t think; the house seemed suddenly too small with nine four year olds running around, all screaming at the top of their lungs. He jumped out of the way as one little girl shot past him, followed by two more. He dodged them and smiled politely at the parents standing about chatting and made his way to Robert who was kneeling down and talking to a little boy,“Okay?”The boy nodded at him and ran off as Robert climbed to his feet,“He alright?”Robert nodded,“Yeah he’s fine.”He nodded over Aaron’s shoulder at someone,“There’s more juice on the side if you need.”He looked back at Aaron with wide eyes,“Get us out of here.”Aaron smirked, rubbing Robert’s back,“Couple more hours-OLIVER!”Robert whipped his head round as Aaron walked over and grabbed the boy,“What I have I told you about bouncing on there? Go on.”Robert shoved his hands in his pockets and dropped his head forward,“Regretting having the party here?”He looked at Vic and grinned, putting his arm around her,“It was fine when he was small!”Victoria laughed,“Yeah, cos you could put him in one spot and he’d stay there!”Robert rubbed her arm,“Laugh now. It’ll be you next year.”Victoria smiled and rubbed her hand over her small bump,“Hopefully this one won’t be a four year old boy.”Robert smirked,“True…”He trailed off when he noticed Oliver climbing on the sofa,“Oliver Patrick!”The boy jumped and leapt to the floor, running across the room followed by three screaming boys. Robert rubbed his face,“I need a drink.”Victoria rubbed his back,“It’ll be over for a whole year soon.”Robert scoffed,“Yeah…”He met Aaron’s eye across the room and nodded,“Time for cake…KIDS!”They all stopped in their tracks, making Robert straighten in surprise. He met Aaron’s eye and smirked as the man grinned at him. He looked back at the children and clapped his hands together,“Right! Cake time!”

Robert put the final dish in the machine and shut the door. He wiped his hands on the towel and reached for his beer; taking a swig and wiping his mouth before moving onto tying the bin bag and putting it by the back door. He yawned; stretching his arms up and cracking his back. He grabbed another bottle of beer from the fridge and headed to the sofa; flopping down and turning the TV on. By the time Aaron came downstairs he had his feet on the coffee table and was half listening to the news. Aaron groaned as he sat heavily beside him, moving in closer and lifting Robert’s arm so he could snuggle closer. He lifted his head and grunted to get the man’s attention, pulling him down for a kiss,“Ollie asleep?”Aaron nodded, resting his head against Robert’s chest,“Out the second he hit the pillow.”Robert smiled,“He’s had a hell of a day.”Aaron yawned,“Yeah…he got way too much stuff.”Robert shifted down the sofa and kissed Aaron’s head,“Set til Christmas then.”Aaron scoffed,“Yeah til Charity showed up with the twenty quid voucher.”Robert chuckled,“Maybe we can convince him to buy clothing?”Aaron tilted his head and looked at Robert,“Have you met our child?”Robert smirked,“Yeah okay.”He yawned,“God I’m shattered.”Aaron snuggled into him again,“‘Mmmm….oh!”He climbed from the sofa and disappeared into the kitchen,“Aaron?”He returned quickly, passing Robert a piece of cake wrapped in a Buzz Lightyear napkin,“Saved us some cake.”Robert sat up,“Brilliant.”Aaron sat down again, scooping some icing with his finger and sucking it clean,“Mm, paid forty quid for this cake, we’re having some.”Robert grinned, the two men silent as they ate the treat before Robert leant forward and grabbed the beers,“Mm…good.”He sucked his thumb clean,“Still…great day.”Aaron nodded as he sucked down some beer,“Yeah, the best.”He looked over at Robert,“Oi.”Robert looked at him,“Mm?”Aaron smiled,“Love you.”Robert grinned as he kissed him,“Love you too.”Aaron snuggled close to him again and yawned,“But…”He looked up at Robert again as the man smirked and met his eye,“You ever suggest a birthday party at home again and I’m divorcing you.”Aaron laughed and nodded,“Deal.”He turned his attention back to the TV, both men finally relaxing for the first time that day.

#long post #robron #fic #emmerdale #robert sugden #Aaron dingle

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wellwornwornwell · 7 years

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Continuing to have a 'casual wear' dilemma. I'm good at work with my tailored clothing, even better in the evening on date nights but I seem to really struggle with what to wear for casual affairs. Think nephew's weekend sporting events, car show on a Sunday and the like. What do you think strikes a good balance these days with everyone leaning toward sloppiness and workout gear? I tend to look to Ralph, Syd and Bastian for inspiration. Good start?

There is no better indicator of a man’s comprehension of style and dress than what he wears when tailored clothing is not an option. Granted there are guys out there who will say tailored clothing is always an option, but those guys should really do less. Unless you are a part of a very select set of politicians or global elite, you shouldn’t reach for a suit by default. As I’ve said before, you don’t want to be the guy sweating through a three-piece suit at your brother-in-law’s backyard barbecue, furiously mass-posting, “Style is for men, swag is for boys!” to your subreddit.

Getting back to casualwear as a barometer of taste, all too often we see guys who look perfectly acceptable during work hours reaching for jeans their wife picked out, un-tucked Robert Graham contrast-cuff shirts, and Ferragamo loafers as soon as they are invited to an NFL game. Those guys don’t realize it, but that’s the official uniform of dudes most likely to sexually harass the suite attendant before halftime.

While I won’t pretend to have casual dress down to a science (casual dress is inherently more fluid and at the mercy of more palpable trends or fads), I do have some concepts that I think about when heading out for the weekend:

Stealth WealthAlright, so the term “stealth wealth” is objectively cheesy and trite. However, I’ve yet to find a more succinct way of putting my preferred approach to dressing. While the aforementioned designer clod goes out of his way to remind you that tacky designer button-front shirts NEVER go on sale (for less than 70% off…), trying to signal status is almost never a good look. We all know a guy who tries to put on every noticeably designer item he owns just in the hopes some girl ten years younger will overhear him talking about his personal shopper at Neiman’s and ask for a ride in his Porsche. It’s much better to stay low-profile.

I really like label-free basics from the Japanese streetwear brands like Loopwheeler, Nonnative, and Nanamica. In fact, turning to the Japanese for inspiration on how to wear sedate, really expensive clothes in a natural way is never a bad idea. By keeping away from logos or markers of excess, you can bet you’ll always look in-step, regardless of who is around you. I would caution not going off the deep-end, however. Dressing all-Japanese-everything often results in looking like a goth ninja, technicolor robot, American cowboy, or all three at once. As always, pick your spots and let your taste dictate.

An Investment in BasicsPiggy-backing off the above, it’s never good to try and reinvent the wheel when dressing casually. While there is certainly a temptation to step into outlandish colors or avant-garde designs after a long week of soporific charcoal greys and sky blues, it’s best to keep things grounded. A lot of guys give into this temptation on weekends, often with results ranging from new-money Mediterranean at Easter to color-blind gay guy just off a flight from Key West. Though you’ll never turn heads in earth tone solids, it’s also worth remembering your clothes should never be what someone remembers you for.

LayeringA great way to mix things up is by layering. This time of year there are a ton of interesting outerwear pieces, from airy linens to chunky boiled wool, that can be mixed and matched with relative ease. Maintaining the above guidelines on basic, tasteful designs and colors will make this all the easier. Granted, if you live in a climate similar to mine, layering becomes much less enticing from April to September, but more mild climates can enjoy the extra layers more or less year-round. Just make sure a white crew-neck undershirt isn’t in the equation. That doesn’t constitute layering.

And on the topic of outerwear, some of the best casual brands are those who specialize in outdoor gear. Patagonia and Arc’teryx specifically make up a decent chunk of my casual wardrobe. While you never want to look like you’re heading to or from a mountain climb, the athletic cuts and minimalist designs are generally flattering for most body types. They also sell a ton of different items, so you can usually work something in regardless of climate or weather.

Lived-In Aesthetic The biggest piece of advice when it comes to wearing casual clothes is to turn to items you’ve worn the shit out of. While the name of my blog hints at my bias on this topic, there are few better places to turn when dressing down than to t-shirts you’ve had since college, shorts that you wore to paint your house, or button-downs that have long since been too frayed for office appearances. Granted, you want to maintain some semblance of sanity (the Derelicte look is never good), but a pair of worn and whiskered jeans, a beat-up and frayed OCBD, and loafers that have been resoled more times than you can count is always a good play.

In terms of people to look to for inspiration, I think you have a good list amassed. Without knowing your lifestyle or proclivities it’s hard to say who makes the best model, but picking and choosing from people who catch your eye is always the best starting place.

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