I consider my relationship with clothing a bit out of the ordinary. Since I was a kid, I’ve opted out of wearing shoes, stomping around my parents house with my wider than usual feet. I would scale the black olive trees in our front and backyard, not a worry in the world for the dexterity of my feet. Even then, anytime I threw on a pair of sneakers to monkey around on my favorite tree, I would complain about my connection to the tree and eventually toss them to the ground, continuing my ascent to the top. I’d imitate monkeys in the canopy, gripping as much as I could with my feet. A bathing suit was the little fabric that hugged my skin. Of course, like any happily active child, I needed to be prepared for an impromptu pool dive. It felt right then and it feels right now; to wear as little as possible while I explore my environment.
Unfortunately, social conventions required that I had ‘shirt and shoes’ into any establishment that I walked into. My parents also didn’t want to bring their monkey son along without proper attire, understandably so. Perhaps it was my disinterest in clothing in general that has led me to the fashion decisions I make today, donning neutral colors and purchasing the most utilitarian clothing I can find. Although minimalism is where I point my fashion compass, I don’t consider myself devoid of style. As I travel more and find myself desiring less and less to pack, I am paying more attention to the clothing choices I make. Here are my go to articles of clothing that allow me to practice movement and head straight to a lunch meeting with a friend or prospective client.
Shoes
If you’ve been on Instagram long enough and you’re into movement culture, you may own several pairs of or have seen these low profile, zero drop, minimalist sneakers called Feiyues. They’ve become synonymous with movement culture and have been my go to shoe for nearly every moment of my waking life. They come in two colors, black and white, and you can find them on my feet from parties to training sessions.
Wil doing his handstand thing in some Asics.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BhINp8SHrHd/?taken-by=nelsoncuadras
Kevin, aka ‘La Goonie que to cononoces’, and I rocking the white Feiyues
AJ, The Jedi, Chavez working on his fingertip strength in the ‘Doublestars‘
Pants & Shorts
https://www.instagram.com/p/BkWKRwTFwKB/?taken-by=nelsoncuadras
Kit & Ace Shorts
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bk3WPtglcva/?taken-by=nelsoncuadras
Lululemon ABC pants
I’ve never been one to enjoy wearing pants but when I had to buy a pair of Prana’s for Worklete, my idea of pants life completely changed. The Prana Zion pants are stretchy, come in favorite color, grey, and have the perfect zipper pockets as well as buttons about midway up the calf so you can change the look and cool off a little bit by rolling them up. They fit just tight enough to create the look I like without being constraining and looking like they were painted on. These are my favorite go to, wearing them almost everyday.
When I’m trying to be a bit more formal, I throw on my black Lululemon pants. I never thought I would be caught dead wearing Lululemon but when my friend Laura had me come in to Lululemon for a fitting, I felt in love with the look and fit. They fit a bit slimmer and have more of a jeans type look. They are called the ABC pants to let you know that your nuts will be comfortable in any position, hence the acronyms meaning, ’Anti Ball Crusher.’ I must admit though, if I hadn’t been gifted them for the low low price of Free99 (thank you Laura!), I probably would have bought the Prana Brion pants instead, simply due to price.
Shirts
Lululemon Metal Vent Tech Surge Tank
https://www.instagram.com/p/BiUgjfVFgTy/?taken-by=nelsoncuadras
https://www.instagram.com/p/BinBgEEFPxK/?taken-by=nelsoncuadras
I’m usually not wearing one but when weather and society require, my go to has been the lululemon tee that came into my life a few months ago. Before that I would wear cotton cut off tees and my Uniqlo $5.99 tees but this shirt has been a game changer. It’s lighter than anything else I’ve ever worn, wears cool, drys quickly, and when it’s rolled up is the perfect size for travel. If i’m not using this tee I’m usually wearing one of my neutral colored Uniqlo packaged tees. If you live in a city with Uniqlo like NYC or San Francisco, you can find these at the sweet price of $5.99. Great part is that they don’t wear as inexpensive as their price. I’ve owned the tees that I wear for over 2 years and they black ones are just beginning to hit their limits in terms of color fade. They fit perfectly for me and I love the material. Not too soft yet not too firm. Sleeves are perfect length and they don’t run long, falling just below the belt line. Did I mention that they’re $5.99?!
Underwear?
None or Uniqlo briefs
I”m usually living the ‘commando’ life, free balling through my travels. (Kramer meme) I prefer not having the constriction and being able to breathe down there. Pro tip: Baby powder makes like much easier when you’re hanging loose 😉 When i’m feeling like I need some support, I throw on my Uniqlo briefs. They are soft, thin, and breathe well so you don’t feel heavy or too constricted. They are on trend with the minimal style undies that have become popular from brands like MeUndies but at a fraction of the price.
Socks
None or Uniqlo
Oh Uniqlo, you have my heart. Their socks are dope! They come in several different lengths and patterns. From thin to thick, they have it all and inexpensive. I prefer the no shows as they are the thinnest and show off the sexy ankles while being great to travel with due to their tiny size. If you need something with a little more thickness, they make a classic style mid-length white sock that looks dope with the white Feiyues.
Jackets
One black Uniqlo plastic jacket and a Hoodie
Although it may have that plasticy look that won’t win you any fashionista awards, the light jacket from Uniqlo is my go to for travel. It’s reversible if you want a different look and packs very light. It’s perfect to always have on me just in case it get’s a bit too cool inside a coffee shop or if a light rain hits out of nowhere. With a form fitting look, it keeps with the aesthetic that I enjoy, minimal and light. When life gets a bit heavier and cooler, I like to grab a basic hoodie that I also picked up at no other than, you guessed right, UNIQLO! It’s a neutral grey and is warm enough for anything up to 50 degrees F. It’s a bit heavy for travel so I only bring it along if absolutely necessary but it’s also perfect for training in colder temperatures as it makes me feel like a bboy and I couldn’t care less if I completely tore it up.
I find myself coming into a style that speaks to how I carry myself through life. Minimal materials looking for functionality that does not call too much attention to itself. Sometimes, I like to get loud though so there may be a piece of clothing you find on me that doesn’t quite make sense. Maybe it’s the paradox of life coming through. Not everything needs to be so uniform all the time. It may be efficient and work for me most of the time and so, let me embrace the moments of color to come in the future.
What’s your style like? What clothes do you love to move in? Do you prefer striking colors or neutrality? Do you find clothing to represent a significant part of who you are?
Disclaimer: If you click on some of the links and buy stuff, I might make a few pennies here and there. Be proud in knowing that you will enable my coffee addiction for another day. Thank you 🙂
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