Do Me a Solid

There is a big trend emerging for spring but it works so well for fall/winter that I think it is worth mentioning right now; a dark solid dress shirt with a solid tie in a contrasting color. I pulled this picture off of the fashion industry website www.WWD.com. This picture features numerous designers including Van Heusen, Perry Ellis, Kenneth Cole, DKNY, Nautica and Thomas Pink. Note the similarities: trim shirt, fairly skinny tie, fairly small collar and dark hues. (Tie bar and motorcycle gloves not required.)

As long as it works this season, why not be ahead of the game, right?

No need to break the bank on this trend. Express Men has solid thin ties in a plethora of colors for only $39.90! Their "Eastern Red" is shown below.

Express Men Solid Tie $39.90

Calvin Klein and Kenneth Cole both have some great deals available right now.  **Shopping tip- Choose your shirt first and then find the contrasting tie to match!**

Calvin Klein Mens Body Dress Shirt

Kenneth Cole Reaction Men's Spread Collar Tonal Solid Woven Shirt

Do you already have these items in your closet? Will you wear them for fall? Tell us your thoughts on this hot trend!

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Brace Yourself

I've always loved the look of a man in braces.  Its possible that as I say that you are conjuring up images of Larry King or Steve Urkel. But braces can be both classy and sexy, and should not be limited to your utmost of formal wear--the tux. Think Michael Douglas in Wall Street.

I've used Ed Westwick on the set of Gossip Girls as inspiration several times on this blog. The stylist for that show does an amazing job. Here's a great shot of Ed on set donning classic, red braces and looking totally fantastic. (p.s. Note the glimpse of red sock tying the accessories together!)

If you wear them right, braces can look hot with a tee and trousers--or even jeans. The Viridi-anne shows us how its done.

Braces were originally intended to be under your jacket. There's an instant feel that you've relaxed a bit...taken off a layer, yet you're totally clothed. Its as if you're seeing a hint of one's undergarment. Even when under your jacket--you reach in to get something out of your pocket and your jacket pulls back a bit to reveal an extra touch that no one knew was there a minute ago. They make a very attractive statement.

Many trousers come with no belt loops, and instead contain buttons for fastening braces. However, if yours didn't and you'd like to make the switch, this is an easy and inexpensive change for your tailor to make that can give your wardrobe a new feel. Just don't have both; that's a fashion no-no. There's another benefit to using braces rather than a belt. You don't have to match them to your shoes! Although, if the base of the braces are made of leather, you will still want to coordinate.

John Varvatos and Marc Jacobs both have casual pants out this season that come with a set of braces ready to go!

Marc Jacobs at Bluefly.com

John Varvatos at Bloomingdales

 If you're going for something a little more dressy, either to pair with your suit or tux, you have two choices. Go classic, like the picture of Ed Westwick above, or add some of your own personality! There are some very fun braces out there! Brooks Brothers offers the always classic option:

Classic Braces from Brooks Brothers

Trafalgar helps you show some personality:

So hold up your pants with class! Brace yourself!

Rethink Your Cargos

In an ideal closet, you've carefully chosen pieces that will work with almost everything else. This allows you to find the mix master within, and create unexpected combinations that will make it seem like you have a huge wardrobe.  This also allows you to buy better quality instead of higher quantity. Sometimes we need inspiration from others to get ideas on how to re-purpose some of our basics. There has been a new trend of this popping up everywhere from the runway to the street--dressing up cargo pants with a sport coat! Its a fun and unique look. The cargos keep it casual while the jacket helps you look pulled together. Here are four examples to get you thinking about how you will wear your cargos this week!

Nick Wooster www.streetfsn.blogspot.com

Ralph Lauren

Land's End

Men's Club

MANimal Prints

Can men wear leopard?

Kanye West

......if they're not a rock star?

Brad Goreski in Givenchy

Ok, he IS a stylist, but check out this picture below from the Haversack Fall 2011 Look book. They chose a middle aged average Joe model and put him in a leopard cardigan.

Right now it is a trend-of-the-moment in both the Women's and the Men's style scene; and not just as tight pants on Steven Tyler. The great thing about leopard is that in spite of the busy print, its a neutral. Tan and black go with everything. EVERYTHING. Pair it with any color or other prints. A little splash in an accessory shows just a hint of edge--even in a business setting. Here are some not-too-rock-and-roll options for mixing this trend into your wardrobe. Some are subtle. Some aren't.

Dress shoe by Rachel Comey.  Click Here

Coat by MSGM. Click Here

Leopard pocket square from Topman. Click Here

Burgundy leopard sweater from Marc by Marc Jacobs. Click Here

So? Can you find the MANimal inside and rock (just a little) a leopard print?

Give Your Pants a Break--or not.

Let's get down to the bottom of this. Your pants, that is. All the way down to where your pants hit your shoe. What is a break? How do you know how much of a break to have in your pants? All your questions will soon be answered, my friends. Read on!

First, let's define a break. The break of your pant is determined completely by the length at which your pants are hemmed. It is the horizontal crease that forms at the bottom of your pant right above your shoe.

Does this sound like a picky little detail? It actually has an enormous effect on the look of your trouser. You have three options: No break, medium break, or full break.  This is one of the only aspects of fit that is totally up to you! Your tailor will hem your pants to whatever break you like. Your decision should be based on a few things:

1. Your personal taste and style.
2. Where you will wear them (to a formal east coast law office, or an art opening in LA).
3. Your height.

No Break
The no break option is modern, hip, and works well with a trim pant. The front line of the pant will go straight down from your waist to your shoe. Make sure your shoes are in good condition and you are wearing nice socks, because they will show! Keep in mind when approving the length that once you sit or walk, more of your ankle will show than while you are standing in front of the mirror getting marked. Not necessarily a bad thing! Just remember it. I do not recommend this look for very tall men, as it can give off the feel that your pants were just barely long enough to pull off. This look is most commonly worn without a cuff, however the picture below shows that a cuff can work as well.

www.mensclub.jp

Medium Break
The medium break is both classic and timeless. THIS is what you wear to the east coast law firm. It is also what you should choose if you are investing in garments long term, as it will always look appropriate at any occasion. Just because its classic, doesn't mean it has to be conservative. That's all about your personal style. Mix it with a bold fabric as shown below, and you have a very fashion forward look with a classic break. The medium break works equally as well with and without a cuff.

www.mensclub.jp

Full Break
The full break can look just as modern as no break even though it is the exact opposite. In this case your trousers have been hemmed long. As with the tall men and no break, shorter men should not wear the full break. It will make the pant seem too long for your legs. The full break is most often seen with a cuff and is fun with a wide leg trouser. If you are going to wear a full break, take care to make sure that the rest of your get up is polished, otherwise it can appear sloppy. But with a dapper top half, this can really give you a unique look.

www.mensclub.jp

www.mensclub.jp

What kind of break do you take?

Breaking Down a Basic-- The Tee Shirt

I was also considering titling this post "Why Your Hanes 3-Pack Isn't Cutting It"

I would be hard pressed to think of a piece in your wardrobe that is more of a staple than the tee shirt. Its timeless and everyone of every style and every age wears them in some fashion or another. Most people wear a tee shirt multiple times a week, and yet spend the least amount of money on them! Think about it. Shouldn't the item you wear that frequently be something to invest in? You want it to last and look amazing! There is no reason to look frumpy when walking out of your house in jeans and a tee. In fact, it can be one of the most effortless AND sexy pairings out there. I do realize that undershirts have their place. But that is what they should be used for. If the tee is at all part of your outfit--including layering, you should be wearing quality.

It is my opinion that 99% of men look best in a V-neck. Now hold up. Before you start saying things like, "I don't like my chest" or "I'm too hairy" or whatever your argument may be, keep in mind that there are many V depths out there. A lot of V necks sit right on your clavicle and really don't dip down any farther than your crew. But the shape of the neck is much more flattering. Take this Banana Republic tee, for example. The V is fairly high, the color is a nice change from black or white, and their fit is really quite good.

Banana Republic

If you've never spent money on a tee before and are having trouble wrapping your head around it, this is a good place to start. Most of their tees are around $24.50 and they have a really nice selection of basic and versatile colors. I chose this photo on purpose (instead of the one featuring the tee) because I wanted to show that even with a totally casual weekend look, the quality makes a difference. He looks more pulled together than if he had layered with a thin, cheap white tee shirt.

If you are ready to truly invest in your tees, James Perse and Theory both make a very nice mid range tee shirt, ranging from $50 to about $110. You will feel the difference in the fabrics and get longevity out of the garment. These tees are great with their expected counterpart--denim, but also work beautifully when dressed up with a suit or sport coat.

Theory Tee available at Bergdorf Goodman

Theory Tee available at Bergdorf Goodman

If you're planning to wear your tee all on its own, look for fun colors and interesting fabrics. This great tee by Drifter is a perfect example of a sexy cut that will turn heads without too much effort on your part! These tees are usually around $42-$48, but are on sale at www.bluefly.com for only $21.00 in several colors!

Drifter Tee

 If you already have your tee shirt situation dialed in and are looking for a way to mix things up, consider switching to a Henley. One or two undone buttons has a  very attractive vibe, and as shown below, they are equally as versatile as your regular tees! Get a layered look like Kellan Lutz by putting a body hugging tank under the Henley.

Brad Pitt wearing a Henley and Sport Coat

Mario Lopez wears his just like a tee

Kellan Lutz layers a tank

So there you have it! Every man should have at least two each quality solid white and black tees. Then start throwing other colors in the mix, such as charcoal, navy or burgundy. Do you already wear quality tee shirts? Who makes your favorite?

Take a Double--Cognac Shoes!

I had a friend come to visit from San Francisco this week and she arrived wearing this amazing pair of very orange cognac leather boots. They made such a great statement and ended up being quite a versatile travel shoe, working with almost every outfit she packed. We went out on the town the next day and she wore them again. She literally got compliments every 10-15 minutes on her boots. By the end of the afternoon we would start laughing when someone would ask her about them. They had a pretty basic shape, but the color had huge impact while still acting as a neutral.

She just left this morning, and ironically, as I sat down to my computer, this picture showed up on a  great blog I read called Por Homme.

Cognac shoes have been around for a long time, but they come in a very wide range of colors. To shake things up a bit, seek out a pair that is heavy on the orange tones. Besides adding some variety to your footwear, orange is such a great color for fall, but difficult for some skin tones to pull off. By wearing it on your feet you get the great benefit of some pop while not competing with your coloring. Wear them casually as shown here, or get a matching belt and pair them with a dark charcoal suit for some very classy high contrast!

This great pair of shoes from The Frye Company available on Zappos can be worn to the office or juxtaposed with some faded jeans and a sport coat for a hot Friday night look.

If you like the boot route, check out this pair by The Cool People. Be sure to show off the boot by wearing a shorter hem or rolling your pant!

**Shopping Tip**  Do not try to shop for a matching belt without having your shoes with you. As I mentioned before, there are many colors of cognac leather out there and no matter how well you think you remember the color in your head, there is a high probability the two won't match when you get home.

What do you think of this classic way to add some punch to your fall style?