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Casual Friday: Blazer and Bucks

9 November, 2012

Like:

The blazer: I’m sure some of you are still unconvinced that a blazer can be worn as a casual option but this is a great rendition of it. The size is just right, it has patch pockets, the leather buttons give it a sporty feel. Great blazer.
The jeans’ fit: Slim without being too skinny, the length is also good in that he can roll them for a more casual look without them ending up halfway up his leg because they’re too short.
The shirt: Definitely casual because of the pattern but still looks well-dressed because the pattern itself isn’t overly large. The colors are appropriate for this time of year and would work with warm and cool complexions because of the contrast between the olive-green and the blue.
Shoe color: The sandy shade of the upper works well with the lighter soles. These are a great color for fall.

Fence:

The color of the jeans: It looks like it has some green in it. I’d have to see his face because it could work really well or it could completely ruin the whole ensemble.
The watch: I’m partial to smaller, slimmer faces and bands. This looks too sporty to go with what else he has on.

Don’t like:

The socks: There is a difference between ankle socks and no-show socks. He’s wearing the former in an attempt to look like the latter. It doesn’t help that they’re black either. It’s also odd to go sockless during the cooler months. A better option would have been some grey or even red wool socks. The contrast between the low-profile bucks and the thicker socks would have been appealing.
The faux-distressing on the shoes: It just looks bad. I would have already tracked down and ordered those shoes myself if they were left clean instead of having all the frays.

PS. Did you know I do private style consultations? I can help you dress better according to your budget and your needs.

Contrast Via Texture

8 November, 2012

A silver lining to the shorter days and colder temperatures of fall and winter is that it’s a lot more fun to dress well during these seasons. Spring and summer, with their heat and its limitations mean most men (and thankfully women) are looking to wear as little as they can get away with. But once the mercury starts dropping we have a lot more clothing we need to be putting on.

With those extra layers comes the necessity of more variety. It’s easy to put on a pair of white pants and a blue shirt in the summer and call it good, but more layers means more variety and color isn’t always the best way to do that. It would look ridiculous to have color contrast in every piece of clothing you wear during the fall and winter so a great way to get some visual contrast is through texture.

Take a look at this gentleman.

There are a lot of different textures going on here – tweed jacket, wool pants, leather bag, suede shoes, knit tie, silk square. But the ensemble itself is congruent because texture is a much more subtle form of contrast. This is especially helpful to you men of a muted complexion who can be overwhelmed by having too much color contrast. Now, those of us who have moderate or stark contrasts are still going to want more contrast through colors or patterns, but we can take advantage of the texture contrast as well.

Learning to rely on texture is where you really start to set yourself apart as a well-dressed man. While most people won’t consciously think, “That guy looks so good because he mixed all those different textures so well.” they will see you and realize you’re a step above even the other men in their lives who’ve ever had a conversation with a tailor.

The key to mixing textures well is to have everything rooted in traditional men’s style. This man would look ridiculous if his blazer was silk and his pocket square were leather, along with wool shoes, and a knitted bag. Stick with the tried-and-true applications of each texture and then mix and match as you want with different items.

PS. Follow me on Twitter for updates and insights.

Reviews

8 November, 2012

I have a favor to ask anyone who’s taken advantage of any of my services in the past. As my business expands I’m looking for ways to be able to reach out to other men who need my help and convince them that it’s worth the time and money to sit down with me. If you’ve done any type of consultation with me over the last few months and feel like you’ve gotten your money’s worth, please send me an email at tanner(at)masculine-style(dot).com telling me what you ordered and what you liked about it. I can use first names, full names, or pseudonyms as you prefer and will be posting a review page for future clients to see.

This is as good a time as any to thank you all for the business we have done. My wife quit her job when we had our daughter back in June and there’s no way I could have made ends meet without working with all the men who frequent this site. I’ve had a huge influx of readers and clients from other bloggers who have either liked what I write or done consultations themselves and want to specifically say thanks to those men for what they’ve done to help me along the way.

My goal is to be able to have Masculine Style be my sole source of income by July 2014 and I look forward to being able to make improvements in my content and services. While I may not get the most comments or have the highest traffic, I appreciate the core group of readers I have and have genuinely enjoyed helping you learn a crucial aspect of presenting your worth as a man to the world around you. Thanks.

PS. Follow me on Twitter for updates and insights.

Wednesday Weigh In: Olive

7 November, 2012

PS. Did you know I do private style consultations? I can help you dress better according to your budget and your needs.

What to Wear for Thanksgiving Dinner

6 November, 2012

Thanksgiving is a couple of weeks away and it can be a tough time for a lot of guys to know what to wear. I remember hating it as a kid because my cousins could wear T-shirts and jeans while my mom made us put on button-up shirts and sweaters. It’s funny to think about how things have changed.

Thanksgiving has become the perfect High/Low holiday. Some of you will spend it eating pizza and wings while watching a football game and others will be gathered around a table with the formal china and silverware polished and ready to go. Regardless, you want to be able to look sharp and still be comfortable for the turkey-induced coma you’ll experience a couple of hours after eating.

Here’s a good baseline of what to wear.

Clarks Originals Desert Boot: These are the original chukka and there’s a reason they’re still around today. Comfortable but durable – they’ll look good dressed up or down and will keep you dry on the trek from the car to the house during that winter storm. $120

Dockers ‘Alpha Khaki’ Chinos: These are not Best-Buy-employee khakis. In fact, they’re endorsed by overall manly man Bear Grills. The construction, cut, and material are all going to be durable like a pair of jeans, but they’re still khakis so the overall appearance is more dressed up. They have a good taper down the legs so they’ll be slim without making you look like you stole your sister’s pants. $60

Gap Waffle Henley: Choose a warm color like this olive-green to be appropriate with the season and also to contrast off the grey of the khakis. This is going to provide the low in your High/Low so you don’t end up sticking out like a sore thumb. $30

Gap Herringbone Blazer: Herringbone is definitely a winter pattern and the new navy offering from Gap looks to be pretty promising. It’s cut a bit short so it will look casual as a jacket, however it’s still going to be your High because it’s a blazer. $98

Bill Adler Nubuck Leather Belt: Nubuck has a much softer feel and look than traditional leather. The brown of this will complement the sandy color of the desert boots without matching it directly and the texture is going to imply comfort without sacrificing formality. $28

PS. Did you know I do private style consultations? I can help you dress better according to your budget and your needs.