Throwing Fits – PATREON PREVIEW: Menswear's Affordability Crisis
Date: December 12, 2025
Hosts: Lawrence Schlossman & James Harris
Episode Overview
This episode centers on the growing crisis of affordability in menswear. Lawrence and James set the table for an in-depth, candid discussion about the disappearance of the 'menswear middle class,' reflecting on personal experiences, brand favorites, shifting price points, and what’s being lost as the industry polarizes between luxury and fast fashion. Amid the signature banter, they touch on dependable brands, closet organization, and stories from their own sartorial journeys.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Announcement Teasers and New Segments
- [01:33] The 2025 Fitties & The Incarceration Corner
- Lawrence: “Before we get into menswear’s affordability crisis, the 2025 fitties are kicking off, and introducing a new segment, the incarceration corner.”
- James: “Jesus Christ.”
- Adds a playful and irreverent tone right off the bat.
2. Fit Check: What the Boys Are Wearing
- Lengthy, detailed fit checks showcase a mix of high-low dressing, brand loyalty, and practical considerations.
- Lawrence's Fit ([01:50])
- Scarpa Mojitos: “An Italian brand named after a Cuban drink.”
- Carhartt vintage double-knee pants, Hanes beater, Add-Som quarter zip (“makes me feel a little James Bond, honestly”), cap by Press a Bootleg via Venspace, underwear by Skims, puffer from Austrian climbing brand.
- On Add-Som: “It’s not flashy, so it won’t necessarily cut through the noise...but that’s because it’s just focused on goodness.” ([03:28] - Lawrence)
- On Scarpa: “It’s real clothes like that for real people to wear.” ([03:48])
- James's Fit ([06:06])
- ROA Silver Surfers (“Inspired to pull these out based off the Alexi Workshop ROA collab that just dropped today”), Nike Drifities socks, 316 x Throwing Fits collab jeans, Lauren Manoogian shirt, Orley hoodie (“duck canvas, faded burgundy—or is this pink?”), S.S. Nicholson x Aaron Levine jacket, hat from Sushi Cop Sydney, Echoes Lada sunglasses (“As always, I don’t know where they are”), Topo Chico hydration.
- On ROAs: “Some people say ROAs are not comfortable. And I gotta highly disagree.” ([09:14] - James)
- Closet shoe organization: “The best shopping you can ever do is your own closet.” ([08:17])
- Color debate: “You can call it faded burgundy like our friends at Orley. But you’re wearing a pink, pink jacket.” ([11:21] - Lawrence)
3. Menswear’s Vanishing Middle Class
- [03:48] The hosts flag that labels like Add-Som exemplify the dependable but non-splashy brands fading from public conversation as menswear's “middle class” vanishes.
- “Add-Som...Steady Eddie. It’s always going to be there. It’s always affordable...you forget about it because it’s there in a good way.” ([03:48] - Lawrence)
- Implied that the lack of flashy marketing or influencer hype makes these brands less visible but indispensable for day-to-day wear.
4. Brand and Product Loyalty
- Both hosts discuss how their everyday favorites aren’t necessarily the buzziest or most hyped but provide value, fit, and a sense of reliability.
- “It's real clothes...for real people to wear.” ([03:48] - Lawrence)
5. Closet & Shoe Storage Strategies
- [07:40]–[09:14] They compare notes on how they store and organize their shoe collections—themes include limitations of New York apartments, “out of sight, out of foot,” and theft stories.
- Lawrence notes, “If I don’t see them, I forget about them.” ([08:13])
- James affirms, “The best shopping you can ever do is your own closet.” ([08:17])
- Story about theft: “I got a bunch of stolen [shoes] including a bunch of ROA slip-ons.”
6. Comfort & Practicality Debates
- [09:14]–[09:47] Offer disagreement with a mutual friend’s take that ROA shoes are uncomfortable, with consensus that city biking and day-to-day wear prove otherwise.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On Add-Som:
“It’s not flashy…so it won’t necessarily cut through the noise…but that’s because it’s just focused on like, goodness.” – Lawrence ([03:28]) - On Missing Menswear’s Middle:
“Add-Som...Steady Eddie—it’s always going to be there, always affordable.” – Lawrence ([03:48]) - On Closet Shopping:
“The best shopping you can ever do is your own closet.” – James ([08:17]) - On ROA Comfort:
“Some people say ROAs are not comfortable. And I gotta highly disagree.” – James ([09:14]) - Color Debate:
“You can call it faded burgundy...but you’re wearing a pink, pink jacket.” – Lawrence ([11:21]) - Genre Theory:
“If James Bond was going on a little covert operative outing, this would be like a potential option...the fact that it’s a tactical turtleneck in and of itself is genre-spy.” – Lawrence ([04:33])
Key Timestamps for Important Segments
- 01:33: Introduction to the episode’s main theme (menswear affordability crisis)
- 01:47–06:00: Detailed fit check and discussion of everyday staples
- 03:48: First mention of menswear’s disappearing “middle class” segment
- 07:40–09:14: Closet organization strategies and discussions
- 09:14: ROA comfort debate and personal wear stories
- 11:21: Color debate on “faded burgundy” vs. “pink”
- 12:06: Fit check complete; general camaraderie and sign-off to the main content
Overall Tone & Style
The Throwing Fits vibe is sharp-witted, self-aware, irreverent, and deeply knowledgeable about menswear, streetwear, and the culture around it. The hosts’ banter is filled with playful roasting, asides, and self-deprecating humor, making this “affordability crisis” episode both informative and true to the show’s character: a blend of insider insight and relatable real talk about the realities of getting dressed in 2025.