Monday Outlook: Hunter Turquoise

Fall and winter usually means very withdrawn and neutral heavy palettes that aren't exactly awe-inspiring. Layering of patterns and fabrics is the usual way of going about a creative style in the colder months, but there has been a movement in a new color that was once reserved for women's clothing.

Thanks to a darker remix of this bluish-green shade, turquoise has bridged the gap over to menswear, and it's looking very sharp. No doubt, indigo and navy are going to play a significant role in your closet for years to come, but when done correctly, there's no reason turquoise won't vibe wonderfully along side. And even without the navy, turquoise will provide a much needed pop of color to your gray and brown suits that have been collecting dust in your closet.

Even though this is going to be a nice color addition for you, I doubt that this trend will stick for very long, so don't go buying a turquoise suit or other investment piece. Find a shirt or a lightweight sweater that will easily layer into fall and winter, or even play with the accessories like scarves, ties, and pocket squares that you won't have to think twice about. Don't let the color dominate you or your outfit though, wear it with subtlety so that it draws the eye closer, distinguishing the other pieces around it.

Check in tomorrow for some exciting new tech and next Monday for more fashion trend insight for the coming months!

Friday Faux Pas: Pocket Square Overkill

Pocket squares may be one the easiest and cheapest style upgrades you could possibly have. Barring the fact that you splurge on over sized swatches of fabric, you can find them at my favorite site (The Tie Bar) anywhere between $8-$15 depending on the fabric or collaboration it might be affiliated to. But such an easy thing can turn sour if not done correctly.

#NOPE

It's not quite a widespread problem just yet, but lately, I have noticed an abundance of men who have these birds of paradise like pocket squares billowing out of the chest pocket on their jacket. At that point, it doesn't matter what the fabric or pattern or detailing the square may have because you have just lost any style that it innately had in the first place.

#FIRE

We are men and we are well dressed men most of the time. We are not clowns showboating our style around and we most certainly not attending costume parties everyday that require such garish and gaudy accessorizing. Cotton and wool pocket squares are meant to stick out of the pocket in a geometric and controlled manner where as silk is allowed to have a little bit of airiness to it, almost pillow like. Keep true to those 2 methods and you'll get noticed in all the right ways.

Got a little busy yesterday so today is a double post, so check in again for Celebrity Saturday and next Friday for another edition of Friday Faux Pas!

Celebrity Saturday: Xabi Alonso

For those of you foreign to futbol or Spain, Xabi Alonso might not rang a bell for you, but after this I hope you get a chance to google his soccer and his style. The man plays midfield for Premier League juggernaut, Liverpool, as well as a Spanish National Team that saw 3 major consecutive championships (Euro '08, World Cup '10, & Euro '12). Off the pitch, Alonso (at least in Spain) is famous for his impeccable style and was even named Best Dressed Footballer in the World (2010) and has even modeled for fashion powerhouses such as Ralph Lauren, Prada, and IWC. We can't all be soccer superstars, but we can be versatile in our style, the same way Xabi is on the pitch!

Check in tomorrow if you missed anything for the weekly recap and next Saturday for another stylish celebrity influence!

Threads for Thought: The Short Suit

So here today in South Florida, it was like a million degrees outside; thankfully I wasn't in work attire! But it brought to my attention that during the summer anywhere, it is almost too hot to be wearing long sleeve anything or pants. The alternatives for beating the hat abound, but one in particular is on trend now, so why hesitate?

Short suit spotting at Milan Fashion Week.

Short suits are exactly what the name implies, a suit with shorts. The jacket is the same, the style of the matching fabric remains, but instead of sweat inducing pants, you swap out for shorts. Granted, this look isn't appropriate all the time or at every occasion, but it is a fun way to challenge the status quo. It gives an almost juvenile edge to any outfit, so if young and hip is what you're going for, then by all means give it a try.

Nick Wooster is master of the short suit.

Before diving straight in and buying a short suit, try throwing together a sport coat and a pair of shorts you already own and see how you like it; my favorite look is my madras sport coat and a pair of shorts in a color that is woven into the plaid in the jacket. Another idea to break the ice, especially if you have an old suit lying around, is to take the pants to a tailor and have them turned into shorts for about $20 (at most). Experiment, see what works, and take this style head on because what better time than now?

Check in tomorrow for the next installment of Friday Faux Pas and next Thursday for  another fashion piece that deserves your consideration!

Wardrobe Essentials: The Greyscale Pocket Square

If you haven't jumped on board with the pocket square band wagon, then you might be a little behind when it comes to your style game. They are an easy add on with a sport coat that will take your shirt and tie combo from ordinary to extraordinary; that's what a little piece of fabric can do in the world of fashion. If you are new to the game and wondering where to start, there is one in particular that is sure to come in handy.

White with black trim is classic and stylish.

Black and white are a natural pairing, with a high contrast that creates a very definitive and modern look, which also happens to be very trendy right now. The other great thing about  the B&W combo is that they blend with any color, which makes them ideal when they come in the form of a pocket square. It doesn't matter what color, pattern, or texture your jacket, shirt, and tie are because the black and white square accommodates it all.

Classic gingham always wins out.

I have a black and white big check gingham square, and whenever I get stumped when it comes to my chest pocket, I defer to that. Yours doesn't have to be gingham (although it comes highly recommended) seeing as there are a variety of patterns to choose from. If you want it to be versatile in all seasons, get something in cotton with a simple pattern like polka dots, stripes, checks, contrast trim, etc. Whatever your choice may be, it's going to be a guaranteed win for you and your style.

The Tie Bar (Gingham, Pin Square, and Iron Gate): $8

Check in tomorrow for a fashion piece that deserves your consideration and next Wednesday for more essential wardrobe pieces!

Tech Tuesday: Floyd's Leg

Just some of the creative things already done with the Floyd Leg!

You may living in a bustling city. You may live in a sprawling suburbia. You may even live out on a ranch. No matter your distinction, I'm sure we all collectively appreciate the occasional stylish and functional home decor item; e.g. that little ottoman with all the blankets in it that your feet are currently resting on. The Floyd Leg is one of these such things, combining an idiot proof design that acts as legs to an existing flat surface (anything up to 2 inches thick) to create a very stylish and easily deconstructed table. These legs can be purchased in two height varieties, 16 and 29 inches, in two finishes, black and white matte, in a neat little set of 4 to get you on your way to styling your living space.

Check in tomorrow for a style piece that needs to be in your wardrobe and next Tuesday for more exciting new tech!

Monday Outlook: Embrace the Hide

All of the recent trend forecasts for pre-fall through to winter have included rugged apparel, distressed features, and lived in motifs. Waxed denims that look as good as any vintage leather, aeronautical inspired details reminiscent of mid-century airmen, and a reemergence of the ever popular Black and Tan color combo.

Just some croc leather from the runway.

Leather (if you live up north) is going to be your best friend in the upcoming fall as it will take on a majority of trending looks, while still remaining classically timeless. With that said, us southerners will have the ability to find lightweight leather pieces and even accents that will help to embrace the look while remaining cool(er).

Shearling aviator look is the way to go this fall.

The broad scope of leather obviously leaves you with some serious options and even more serious questions. What piece? What color? What grain? How much? Any leather item tends to be quite an investment, so rule of thumb for the normal folk is to get a piece that will be wearable for years to come, not just the next couple months. Yes, a shearling bomber jacket may not be "trendy" next year (who knows), but it will remain a key layering piece for many winters to come. Another personal tip, don't be gaudy, especially with leather; a black or brown jacket will go further than one in oxblood.

All kinds of style points here. Band collar anyone?

Check in tomorrow for some exciting new tech and next Monday for further trend insight for the coming months!

Celebrity Saturday: Neymar

He's playing in the biggest sporting competition in the world that his country is hosting, on one of the best teams in the tournament, and he just so happens to be the best player on his team (and one of the best in the world at his position). Couple his talents on the pitch with his out of this world hair and you've got Neymar, Brazilian soccer superstar and fashion icon. He has remained off most style radars simply because up until last year, he played for the Brazilian club, Santos, but he is sure to make some waves at his new home in Barcelona. He had a major animated spot in Nike's most recent World Cup ad and used the spotlight of the whole thing to make a 90's retro power move and frost his tips. As Nike would say, #riskeverything!

Check in tomorrow for an overview of the past weeks topics and next Saturday for another stylish celebrity influence!

Friday Faux Pas: Fat Tie Knots

I am one of the few people that think ESPN sportscasters (especially Kevin Negandhi) deserves an article in an upcoming GQ at some point. But I think the only thing stopping them from their moment of fame in the style world comes down to how they tie their neckwear.

The Culprit: ESPN.

There is no clear sign as to wear this little trend began, although probably with former athletes and Wall Street tycoons, but it is a style pandemic that needs to nipped in the butt. I've seen knots tied as thick as about 90% of a men's neck and it just looks foolish and ruins whatever garb you may have on. The knot shouldn't be any thicker the tie itself and if you're one for thicker ties (2.75-3.5 inches) you shouldn't even consider that as a tie knot width.

The Aftermath: Everyone doing it.

Unless you're a professional lineman or an Olympic weightlifter,you should be using one of a few select knots for your neck. Four-in-hand, half Windsor, and the Windsor (pushing it) should be your go-tos and really the only knots worth knowing. All of them are classic and refined with my personal favorite being four-in-hand, giving you and longer knot than the Windsor and creates an effortless dimple. And if you're concerned with covering up the open space of a spread or cutaway collar, stop yourself and then embrace the openness of the collar, don't fight it.

The Solution: Stop with the fat knots.

Check in tomorrow for a stylish celebrity influence and next Friday for the next edition of My fashion faux pas!

Threads for Thought: Banded Collars

There's a certain breed of man that prefers casual over formal and refuse to, or at least are very uncomfortable, wearing a collared shirt (Shquilly). Am I one of them, not at all, but I am just as open to the idea of having a new style of shirt amongst the rest of my shirt arsenal.

Take a second look. Not your typical collar.

Banded collars have been around for a while, but have recently become very popular, all thanks to that aforementioned casual group and the warm weather that comes with summer. Just think of a collared shirt and cutting the collared part off, leaving just the button up feature, and you'll have an idea of what a banded collar shirt is.

As casual as it is dressy.

I think they are a delightful mix between a shirt and a Henley that can be dressed up just as easily as it is dressed down. Seeing as ties won't work with them, get adventurous with patterns and colors and play around with it under a sport coat or just by itself. And even though this shirt is great for warm weather, there's no rules saying it can't be layered in to your fall and winter wardrobe, so opt for cotton as opposed to linen or silk and avoid any seasonality.

Ralph Lauren: $170

J. Crew: $98

Orvis: $59

Check in tomorrow for the next installment of Friday Faux Pas and next Thursday for another fashion  piece that deserves your consideration!

Wardrobe Essentials: Double Monks

There is a saying, I believe it goes "The shoe makes the man", and I don't think anything truer can be said about style. Your shoe choice can make or break your outfit, so it's imperative that you keep that in mind in the morning while you get dressed. There is one shoe in particular that should be in every city man's closet and is almost thoughtless when it comes to pairing with outfits.

Bomber jacket and double monks make a great pair.

As the name implies, these shoes were worn by monks centuries ago as a more formal alternative to their sandals. Durable and easy to wear, monk straps have become very popular with the city class (especially commuters) who are looking for a versatile shoe with comfort and class. Traditionally constructed with a cap toe, they are equal parts dressy and casual, but can also be found with broguing and have become very popular this season in suede.

Colored chinos and double monks? Yep.

The distinguishing feature between different monkstraps is the amount of straps on the shoe; starting with one and going up to three from my experience. The ones you'll want to go with are the doubles, providing a happy medium between the formal one-strap and adventurous three-strap. Find them in a leather and color combination that you are comfortable wearing with a majority of your wardrobe because you're going to end up wearing them as often as possible. (Disclaimer: don't be mad at me when these become your favorite footwear option)

Grenson Shoes: $395

Howard Yount: $349

Suit Supply: $289

Check in tomorrow for a fashion piece that deserves your consideration and next Wednesday for more Wardrobe Essentials!

Tech Tuesday: Nomad

I'm sure we all share the same problem of having to charge our phones midway through the day in order to stave off losing our main connection to the "world". Nomad has queued in to this need and has developed some everyday carry essentials that act as a phone cord while remaining very sleek and covert. Their offering includes the NomadClip, NomadCard, and NomadKey, all of which do the same thing, just in a different package; it all comes down to what you want to have with you everyday. The NomadKey is my favorite judging from the pictures, but if you don't carry your keys with you everywhere, then the NomadCard will be a better option.

Check in tomorrow for a style piece that needs to be in your wardrobe and next Tuesday for more exciting tech!

Monday Outlook: Black & Tan

I wish we were talking about the delightful beverage they call a Black and Tan, but we must stay on topic this Monday. The upcoming movement may very well define your wardrobe in the cooler months and will provide you with a multitude of staples to carry you into future seasons down the road.

Full on adoption of Black & Tan.

Black and Tan is one of the most classic of color combinations, popularized by the British during the Pre-Colonial period when they still had the false notion that Scotland and Ireland were there's. Nowadays, you see it occasionally and may accidentally put the combination together yourself, but the fall/winter 2014 aims to bring it to the forefront. Leathers, fabrics, and furs all sporting the contrasting hues, some (leopard print) even mingle the two together.

Leather and shearling will be big too.

This trend is going to be very easy to adopt seeing as your closet is already filled with all forms of Black and Tan, it's just a matter of how you're going to express these old pieces in new ways. Or if you're looking to replace some older items, you'll be able to do so knowing that those pieces are timeless (unless its leopard). With that in mind, splurge a little bit, buy that big ticket item that you've had your eye on or stock up on essentials, it's your call.

Notice the shoes! Great transition rig from summer to fall.

Check in tomorrow for some exciting tech and next Monday for more fashion trend insight for the coming months!

Week in Review

Here are the links from the past week if you didn't have a chance to see them earlier this week:

Monday: All Chrome Everything
Tuesday: Exuvius Multi-tools
Wednesday: Seersucker Neckwear
Thursday: Summer Brights
Friday: Venetians for Shame
Saturday: The New Ronaldo

Look through the things you may have missed this week and then go back to spending time with your dad on this Father's Day! They do a lot more than we will ever know and they are example that many of us will follow in the years to come!

Check in tomorrow for some upcoming fashion trend insight and all next week for more tips and advice on style! 

Celebrity Saturday: CR7

You can't have Irina Shayk, but you can adopt CR7's style!

He may not be playing till Monday, but Cristiano Ronaldo is game ready everyday with his style. Clearly, here in America, soccer players don't get any of the recognition they deserve, instead we turn to other sports like baseball and women's basketball. But enough about my misunderstanding of the American majority, CR7 is by far one of the most well known sports stars in the world and this month he's on center stage with a couple select other players in Brazil for the World Cup. One thing that amazes me is his ability to look good no matter what he's doing; his look withstands and excels through 90 minutes on the pitch and translates to his impeccable taste in clothing outside of soccer. Sure, it helps having money, but knowing your fit applies to all levels and he has his down to a science, take notes.

Check in tomorrow for a recap of the weeks topics and next Saturday for another fashionable celebrity influence!

Friday Faux Pas: Venetian Loafers

There is a difference between effortless style and surrendered style, a situation that occurs when something works, but doesn't do anything for you. The prime situation, in my opinion, is the black tie when not at a strict black tie gathering; it just shows that you didn't really care to pick out a tie. There is unfortunately a shoe version of this dilemma and men everywhere have them, and its sad.

Everything looks good...and then the loafers.

Venetian loafers are the kind of footwear that are signified by a plain toe and slits on the top vamp near the ankle to accommodate putting the shoe on. Throughout, there is almost usually no design features  and worst of all, the grand majority tend to be square toed, a big no no. Whatever color they may be, all you're doing when opting for these atrocities is being too lazy to put on my lace ups or showing other that you have zero taste in shoes.

Great leather, great socks, great chinos, hate the shoe.

If you have them, throw them out and go shoe shopping ASAP! If its a simplicity thing, get some single tone saddle shoes or wingtips. If its an effort thing, horse bit loafers and monkstraps require the same effort, but with immensely more style factor. Lucky for you, there is an abundance of variety in the shoe world and you will find something that will fit your taste that has much more style than the forfeit of a shoe that the Venetian loafer is.

Check in tomorrow for a stylish celebrity influence and next Friday for another installment of my fashion faux pas!

Threads for Thought: Neon

Usually these posts cover a single item or style, but today is somewhat of an overview of a summer trend. Spring and summer are usually marked by their bright color palette and lightweight fabrics which usually ends up with the same old pastels that you see every time around.

Which suit do you notice first? Thats what I thought.

This summer comes with it a refreshing burst of washed out neons, which to the untrained eye, is just another pastel. For those of you "trained" folk, you'll notice the deeper contrast in coloring these neons compared to your pastels, almost like they were pastels doctored up via Instagram filter. Even the preppiest brands with pastel staples have opted for neons this season and have thrived on them (maybe they'll keep coming back now).

Layer your neons with toned down items.

To me, this movement mirrors the late 80's style when bright colored items were mixed in throughout everyone's look and these are the vintage remnants of that era. Either way, treat these colors as a layering piece as to add some accent to something a bit more toned down; a neon polo under a classic seersucker sport coat would make for a dashing outfit. And also, forgo the urge to couple neons together, because there's a difference between looking good and going to EDM festival.

Check in tomorrow for this week's edition of Friday Faux Pas and next Thursday for more fashion pieces that deserve your consideration!

Wardrobe Essentials: The Seersucker Tie

In the spirit of National Seersucker Day and alongside the fact that I have already covered the Seersucker Suit, I decided that there is another item in the seersucker family that you'll wear until it falls apart.

There is no shortage of options for you out there.

Seersucker ties are perfect for the spring and summer, even working well with the fall, so you'll get most of the wear during those seasons; its traditionally "faux pas" to wear it after labor day, but things change and some rules are made to be broken. Seersucker cotton is very breathable and lightweight, so you'll barely even notice it around your neck when the sun turns up the heat.

Why not? Seersucker on seersucker!

Pair it with a dark solid or fine patterned shirt to add some nice contrast to your look, but make sure your suit or sport coat is light. That goes for the white and "insert pastel color here" seersucker ties, but my favorite color way is the blue and navy, providing you with a textured navy tie that has an almost tonal stripe to it; for this style, I would do a fun madras to really liven up the mood of your garb.

Jack Spade: $98

Brooks Brothers: $45

J. Crew: $20

Check in tomorrow for a style piece that deserves your consideration and next Wednesday for another essential wardrobe piece!

Tech Tuesday: MacGyver's Collar Stays

To my recollection, collar stays have been the same since they first came into being, with the only difference being the material they were made of and the insignia of the company that produced them. This new product is changing the game and will have you saying "What's in your collar?" Like some Samuel L. Jackson wannabe.

Exuvius is in the men's accessories business, specializing in two areas, cufflinks and collar stays; today we're going to focus on the latter. While everyone else is making multi-tools that fit in your wallet or separately in your pocket, but Exuvius decided to go for collar stays. Constructed of TSA approved Titanium, these little guys pack 2 screwdrivers, a bottle opener, thread cutter, and ruler while still keeping your collars crispy. Clearly, they are lacking the diversity of a bigger multi-tool, but atleast this one actually serves a purpose other than making your wallet that much thicker. You can get these bad boys at Exuvius's website in either the 2-pack or 4-pack, for a price that's probably lass than the cost of the titanium is takes to make them.

Poppin bottles, no popped collars.

Check in tomorrow for a style piece that needs to be in your closet and next Tuesday for more exciting tech!

Monday Outlook: All Chrome Everything

There exists a bit of a fuzzy, transitional area between summer and fall where you're not really sure whats going on with the weather. Designers usually dub their collection releases during this transition "Resort" or "Cruise" lines in addition to the Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter collections.

Two guys that know all about the chrome.

This year's transition is going to be marked with chrome, and lots of it. Designers across the board are adding chrome accents or even completely bringing out entire pieces of their lines. Now to clarify, this is not the metal chrome we're talking about, but instead various metallic tones of patent leather. This will add to the leather that is already going to be popular in th fall and winter and add a unique contrast to the furs that are making a come back.

A sneak peak at the upcoming Gucci Horsebit loafer.

Gucci's classic horsebit loafer is getting a chrome spectator revamp while Ralph Lauren is launching a gold women's accessory line;you know it's a big deal when the major fashion houses are going all in. I highly recommend chrome accessories, which will add some serious pop to any outfit without screaming for too much attention, and avoid major pieces being chrome as you may come off a bit too disco-ballish. Also, find a tone you're comfortable with and stick with it, and if you happen to like them all, just make sure your jewelry is in tune with everything as well.

Street trainers in chrome are a definite eye catcher.

Check in tomorrow for some exciting new tech and next Monday for insight into the upcoming months' fashion trends!