What is The Regalia Americana?

The Regalia Americana is a battle cry against the creeping supremacy of ugliness, depression, and indignity thrust upon our civilization.

T.R. Sartor is an America First writer and style afficionado who has the honor and distinction of being targeted by the Jan. 6 probe because his gallant choice of clothing while protesting caught the eye of drab, envious feds. Sartor is an advocate of restoring begotten fashion standards to improve the aesthetic and, by extension, the character of the conservative movement. Sartor’s notion of the Regalia Americana, a wholistic national revival where standards of beauty are put at the forefront of our nation’s cultural, political and social spheres, is desperately needed for the MAGA movement to obtain its true potential. Here is Mr. Sartor’s Stone-endorsed manifesto:

In the world of style, especially classic style, no phrase is more frequently said by people than "I wish people dressed up more." I have been hearing this all-too-common phrase for the last ten years, ever since I cut my teeth at The Men's Wearhouse.

Naturally, as a young, eager man who was saying the same thing, I began asking why.

There are a million "Why we stopped wearing suits everyday" or "why buildings are ugly now" articles and videos, and nothing in that content actually offers a meaningful, serious solution to the American man's image problem. The closest you get are trendy how-to's or a vague "oh just give it a try for the hell of it." Even the best among the style world seem to have little interest in the broader cultural questions and strategies to not just make America beautiful again, but bring a sense of beauty and dignity back to the everyday American. After repeatedly returning to this question for a decade now, The Regalia Americana is the answer.

The Regalia Americana is a battle cry against the creeping supremacy of ugliness, depression, and indignity thrust upon our civilization. So many of our policy makers and thought leaders want to stir national pride and vigor through new economic policy or promises of prosperity, but how many really carry the image of and promise of a regal, distinctly beautiful America? The closest we've ever come was President Trump's executive order requiring all government buildings to be built in a classical style (which Biden struck down). However, we can go further than just restoring this. The public and private easily can and MUST come together to give Americans a more beautiful country to be proud of.

Even in the MAGA movement, where one would think there would be calls for an aesthetic and cultural revival in America, there is almost nothing. In a bid to be widely accessible and populist, there is little in the way of a distinct, desirable cultural image: Conservative artists identical to liberal ones, slovenly dressed and covered in gaudy tattoos.

So far, nobody has been able to justify how this downward veneration of the derelict and unpolished makes America great again. When this point is raised, many react defensively, swiftly pointing out the populist appeal and saying that these tattooed, slovenly icons are desirable because it relates to the "average American." However, this cultural image couldn't be more counter productive to making America Great Again.

Donald Trump isn't covered in tattoos, or poorly dressed at all. He is a shining example of a more regal, dignified America. So why should the cultural image of the MAGA movement and more broadly the American culture not be of dignity and elegance? These are not traits that are exclusive to the wealthy or inaccessible to the average American.

Historically speaking, even the hardest worked of the working class prioritized a sense of presentation and dignity. Even to the coal miner and ditch digger, one's Sunday best and even daily wear, was a source of pride and identity.

The very nature of this all-encompassing, innate sense of beauty and dignity through elegance, like all things, comes from God. As His creations, we are granted a right of dignity, we only need to choose it. An elegant, polished working class is a hallmark of a Christian society. Even today, in secular Europe, the echoes of personal polish and dignity can be found everywhere. This vital element of a Christian civilization which raises up all will be restored through the Regalia Americana.

Many see these ideas of regal, dignified elegance as something exclusive to those with wealth, or for European royals, but the Regalia Americana is unique among the civilized world, in that America's royalty were born from various backgrounds, many without claims to wealth, and built it through skill, merit, and rugged entrepreneurship. American elegance and dignity are priceless traits that belong to no income bracket or social class.

Regalia Americana was a major contributor to the Restored section of T.R's Sartorial. As a teenager and college student without much expendable income, and being around a lot of young men who thought wearing suits was too rich for their blood, I wanted to create a shop where any man, regardless of wealth, could browse for suits and explore his style. The first time a man sees himself as classically stylish, he will ALWAYS pursue this feeling. He will crave a sense of elegance and polish in his life, as he feels a new degree of self-respect and dignity. One of the major goals of the Regalia Americana is to give back to the average American man that vital sense of personal polish and dignity that has been cast aside in recent decades.

Regalia Americana is bigger than just art and clothing, it also demands an architectural revival. While this undertaking will be a little grander and more complex than an everyman's haberdashery, under the right leadership and with the right initiatives in the public and private sector, it can be done. There are numerous young architects out there with literal piles of design ideas for new buildings inspired by ornate, golden age elegance. All they need is organization and opportunities which, if taken seriously, can truly make new beautiful buildings which people want to see and admire. While strategic avenues are being explored for ways this could be done, likely the most effective route is going to come from public policy fostering and encouraging classical architectural stylings for new projects.

What is the Regalia Americana? It is the long-awaited call for a better America. It is an American beauty like nothing before. It is a Reconquista of our nation's image, unconcerned with GDP and voting trends. The Regalia Americana will raise up the work of American Royalty like Donald Trump, Henry Ford, Andrew Carnegie, and many others. It will adopt their altruistic spirit to help build beautiful public works to inspire all Americans and make every American proud of their country again, and inspire a new, regal sense of dignity and pride in every household.