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Journal: How Do You Pair Your Clothing and Accessories to Your Car?

How Do You Pair Your Clothing and Accessories to Your Car?

By Yoav Gilad
March 13, 2014
22 comments

Petrolicious believes in driving tastefully, not only in our actions and words, but also in terms of how we dress. Stylish clothing and accessories are de rigueur. For instance, when driving a convertible a baseball cap will do, however I find a flat cap to be a more stylish option. Then, during winter, turtlenecks and high-collars replace scarves in open top cars (this should especially be true for women who favor long, billowy wraps). If driving a warm, enclosed coupe a nice wool scarf is perfect though, remove it as soon as you’re inside! 

My choice of watch will also change according to the car I’m in. When I’m driving something big with presence, I may just wear my slim, vintage Vacheron. Of course some cars naturally belong with some timepieces. For instance, an early 1970s Porsche almost demands a Tag Heuer Monaco.

Some may think it peculiar, but I admire watches and their complex movements as much as I am intrigued by automotive drivetrains. Maybe they both speak to motion; I don’t really know what, if any, connection exists. Regardless, I make conscious decisions about my appearance as I’m sure many of you do too.

So I’m curious, how do you pair your clothing and accessories to your car? And do they change depending on what car you drive?

Photography by David Marvier and Josh Clason for Petrolicious

Tags Clothing and Accessories While Driving/ Question/ Scarf/ Style/ Sunglasses/ Watches
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Harvey Mushman
Harvey Mushman
2 years ago

Wow….way to Gay up driving….

7
amandatrincher
amandatrincher
3 years ago

Great ideas, thank you. My husband and I often use classic clothes, and recently updated my wardrobe with the 1017 ALYX 9SM collection – https://rodengray.com/collections/1017-alyx-9sm which perfectly complements its look. I think that it is suitable for many cars to create a good male image

4
Matt Duquette
Matt Duquette
7 years ago

depends on what I am getting into, if is my TR6 then I go as gentlemanly as possible, desert boots, skinny jeans, a button down, my black wayfarers and a fossil swiss automatic, if its my BRZ then its all about where ill end up. sometimes its just jeans and a t shirt and others its very planed out who knows

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dan
dan
9 years ago

One of the best places I have found for my luxury watch purchases is at [url=”http://timepieceperfection.com/”]http://timepieceperfection.com/[/url] Everything I have been has been crisp and clean

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Michael Fischer
Michael Fischer
9 years ago

I can usually be found in my MINI wearing MINI leather driving gloves, Ray Ban Cockpits, a plaid shirt, jeans, Irish flatcap and Piloti shoes. Autodromo Vallelunga Chronograph on my wrist, always.

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RJN
RJN
9 years ago

I think that in clothes- as is often the case with cars- classic, understated, properly fitted pieces are the key to success. It’s easy to try too hard at being fashionable and come off as a little affected. My “standard” is an oxford shirt, straight-leg chinos, and either canvas sneakers (I favor Vans Authentics or Eras) or some brogues. It’s a combo that can be easily dressed up or down with the right details… not unlike my E30.

0
Joshua Payne
Joshua Payne
9 years ago

Unfortunately, my taste in classic cars and motorcycles is too expensive, and my desire to have more is too great, and so I have insufficient income remaining to spend on vintage watches or other fashionable clothing, even though I would very much like to have them! One day…

0
Darshan Reddy
Darshan Reddy
9 years ago

The Cartier Roadster (http://www.jomashop.com/cartier-roadster-watch-w6206018.html) is a perfect match with the top down on my 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet, usually paired with a Polo shirt, Tod’s and Tom Ford aviator shades….

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Yoav Gilad
Author
Yoav Gilad
9 years ago
Reply to  Darshan Reddy

A lot of people mentioned shoes, which completely escaped my mind when I wrote this brief piece. Of all the shoes I’ve ever tried, I’ve found Puma Speedcats to fit me best for driving. Not very elegant, but unmatched for heel-toe’ing.

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Antony Ingram
Antony Ingram
9 years ago

I’m afraid I’m a bit of a fish out of water with stylish clothing. Not that I find it impossible, more that I’ve not got a keen eye for fine threads and too little time to change that situation.

As it is, the extent of my automotive fashion is usually jeans, a vaguely nice t-shirt and a set of thin-soled shoes so I can feel the pedals. And a pair of sunglasses on suitable days, though I’m a glasses-wearer anyway so they’re necessity as much as anything else.

Perhaps a Petrolicious article on appropriate styles for various cars – even if it’s for whimsy’s sake, rather than instruction – would be welcome? I’m sure there are enough dapper Petrolicious readers out there willing to offer photographs of their style and their cars.

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Matthew Lange
Matthew Lange
9 years ago

No affiliation but tomorrow I’m probably going to pop up to the vintage car boot sale in London. Possibly the perfect place to find that vintage driving outfit http://www.vintagefestival.co.uk/events/classic-car-boot-sale-15th-16th-march-2014

0
Bradley Price
Bradley Price
9 years ago

I recommend to any classic owner to try wearing a suit or sport jacket in their car sometime. Last summer, I had to drive my Dino to a formal event and I have to say the feeling of driving that car in a dress shirt and blazer on a perfect summer evening made me feel incredible. I know it is easy to drive in a comfy t-shirt and shorts (i do it too) but once in a while a sense of occasion is a great thing that can transform the driving experience in new ways. Of course I get a big kick out of wearing my own accessories and watches whenever I drive, as well!

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Matthew Lange
Matthew Lange
9 years ago

I don’t particularly dress to suit the car I’m driving, but I might if I’m taking it to an event of some kind. I try to remember not to wear jeans with sticking out zips to studs in the Daytoona though as they can scratch the leather. As to a watch it’s the same Rolex Explorer II that I’ve been wearing almost everyday for the last twenty years.

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Gary
Gary
9 years ago

I’m a car guy, Not a clothes guy. It’s usually the same thing ….blue jeans, deck shoes for easy shifting and tee shirts. I do like to wear my vintage Tudor chronograph when I drive my 73′ 2002Tii or 75′ TR6…jut like this one.http://forums.watchuseek.com/f29/amazing-clean-highly-collectable-1961-rolex-tudor-monte-carlo-home-plate-pre-owned-watch-627525.html

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Erik Tomlinson
Erik Tomlinson
9 years ago

The typical clothing for my daily driver (a 2012 Subaru STi) is unfortunately horrible – flat-brim cap, goofy sunglasses, energy drink sponsored logo shirts and so on, so I choose to forgo the correct “look”. I wear a hat like the one in the first picture and just look like a weirdo, and that’s ok with me! 😀

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Mark McNeely
Mark McNeely
9 years ago
Reply to  Erik Tomlinson

Having recently owned a WRX TR, I completely agree with the usual look of those who drive these cars. It can be a cringe-worthy experience meeting other WRX/STi drivers.

0
Tyrus3
Tyrus3
9 years ago
Reply to  Mark McNeely

Indeed, which is why I drive an STi swapped RS. Is it really that much better for attire? No, but at least most skinny jean, beanie/flat bill bros dismiss it because it doesn’t have a WRX or STI badge on it. It helps when it is badgeless and stickerless. What? No hellaflush, jdm-tyte, daily driven, etc stickers? Your loss bro! (Seriously, I love Subarus but anyone with a daily driven sticker on a Subaru, maybe sans 360/360 bus, should be relieved of their duties.

0
pjrebordao
pjrebordao
9 years ago

Bingo !
10-11 years ago, my dear wife offered me a Monaco and a 911S !

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Tobin Carlson
Tobin Carlson
9 years ago

I pair my clothing to my car in the sense that when it’s cold outside, I wear jeans and a hoodie, and when it’s warm outside, I wear shorts and a t-shirt. My car has no top.

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Christopher Wilmot
Christopher Wilmot
9 years ago

I only wear tucked in button ups and ties in my 70’s roadster. And of course a pair of matching gloves to match the leather in the car. Black for the roadster, tan for the camel leather in the newer coupe. Of course time piece has to match the gloves and sunglasses to match as well!

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Bertram Wooster
Bertram Wooster
9 years ago

Accessories go on the car, not the driver!;)

1
Benjamin Shahrabani
Benjamin Shahrabani
9 years ago

I feel something with a mechanical movement is a good fit for a vintage car. For the late 60’s early 70’s Porsche, maybe a Rolex GMT with rubber or nato strap though? I think the TAG, while McQueen cool, is a bit fussy, and the square shape is a bit polarizing. at least IMO.

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