Wardrobe Essentials: The Party Suit

Happy New Years Eve everyone! You all know what tonight means; dressing to the 9's and bringing in the new year with a bang. What better way to do it than in the best threads in the game.

For the past few years, the tux has lost a bit of its glamour, being substituted with other suits and being thrown to the back of the closet for "special occasions". No more, especially tonight, this is the power suit of any occasion whether it's special or just an occasion at all. It's time to shake off the cob webs and make sue yours still fits and is club ready tonight.

For those of you that don't already have one, then tonight won't be an option to wear it, but it should be something on your radar going into 2015. The black tux with the sateen peak lapels is the classic/safe option, but the midnight blue tux is what will have people breaking their necks to get a second look. That's what tonight is all about, making an impression in the biggest way and starting the new year off with your best foot forward!

Check in tomorrow for a fashion piece that deserves your consideration and next Wednesday for another essential style piece! And thank you to all of you who follow and read my blog, it's been roughly a year now since it's inception and I've enjoyed sharing and seeing others interested in what I have to say! Thank you and have a great night tonight! 

Tech Tuesday: Robo-Tender

In the spirit of the New Years Eve celebration, everyone should have the perfect outfit figured out by now and looking forward to the plans you've set weeks ago for one of the biggest nights of the year. Don't fall into that category either? It's OK, thankfully being last minute works out most of the time! But on another note, drinking is a big part of NYE and what better way to usher in 2015 than with a robotic bartender; and one that looks amazing too. Somabar allows you to make a drink with a mobile app and eliminates any human error in the efforts of self-intoxication. Just pour the ingredients in the on-board pods, Somabar will perfectly mix any drink you want, which means its time to kick back and watch 2014 drift into the rear view!

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

Monday Outlook: Women in Menswear

For the longest time, the women have dominated the shopping and retail experience and hence, designers blossomed left and right attempting to satiate the hungry beasts. But lately, men's sales in the fashion world have been outpacing women's sales and people are taking notice.

Coach's 2014 lineup aka shoe porn.

People like Michael Kors, Jimmy Choo, and Coach to name a few have been expanding existing lines or completely starting a men's collection. Coach is very well known for their women's accessories as well as Michael Kors, but both have had a men's division if only as a side note. This year, Coach developed and launched a brand new men's footwear line that pretty damn stylish for a first run. Sure, new companies have sprung up to ride the menswear wave, but it is exciting to see that powerhouses for the other sex are starting to get involved. Next year promises to see a lot more houses heed the call because they would be ignorant not to; needless to say, it's a very exciting time to be a fashionable man in this ever-changing world!

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

Tech Tuesday: Duet Display

The most recent campaign for the Windows Surface has been to point out all of the flaws of Apple products, most notably the iPad and Macbook. And although there is plenty of merit going the Windows way, a bunch of former Macintosh engineers have put together some software that may turn the tide. The new app, Duet, partnered with a Mac and an iPhone or iPad will turn your mobile device into a second computer display with touch capabilities. The company boasts 60fps refresh rate to create a seamless user interface that supposedly increases productivity by 48%. So for those out there with both devices already, you might as well download the app and test out just how much more you can do with Duet.

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

Monday Outlook: Here Comes Spring

It's readily apparent that designers are looking to get rid of all of their fall and winter goods. Sales are rampant from GAP to Saint Laurent so it can only mean one important thing, new merchandise is on its way and it's spring time.

Now this post isn't focused on any particular trend, but rather an overview of what to look for and how to transition looks from winter to spring. The cold-weather style is all about layering so as less layers become necessary, the time to through in spring styles has come. Substituting a single heavy layer for a combination of lightweight cottons, wools, and linens will be stylish and help you ease into the thaw. Initially, look for pieces that are going to mesh well with the fall/winter colors like shirts and first layers that will become complementary pieces once spring actually hits. And when that point comes, it will be the right time to look for the investment pieces, the staples like sport coats, pants, and shoes that will be the foundation of your wardrobe for the warmer half of the year.

Check in tomorrow for some exciting new tech and next Monday for further fashion 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:

Tuesday: Whiskey Shoes

Thursday: The Great Buffalo
Friday: Belts and Braces

Saturday: Eddie Redmayne

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

Celebrity Saturday: Eddie Redmayne

Former singer and current up and coming silver screen actor, Eddie Redmayne has exploded onto the scene on many fronts. In the acting world, he has featured in two major films, including new release The Theory of Everything where he stars as a young Stephen Hawking. Redmayne actually got his start in theatre, winning a Tony for his efforts, and it sure looks like the forecast is even higher for this actor. When it comes to fashion, there aren't very many celebrities out there that know how to wear a suit better, and its shown as you can find him frequently on the GQ Most Stylish Men list every week; it also helps that he looks like an 18 year old when he's really 32.

Check in tomorrow for a recap of the week's topics and next Saturday for another stylish celebrity influence!

Friday Faux Pas: Belts and Braces

Keeping those pants in the place there meant to can be a challenge at times, and with the number of options available, its easy to assume that coupling some together would be a good idea. A "more the merrier" approach with solutions to this problem does seem appealing, but it's a major style no-no.

Don't you dare!

One of the biggest fashion crimes comes when a belt is coupled along with a pair of suspenders. Although, it may not look like anything is wrong, the level of redundancy is off the charts and hints at the fact that your pants might not fit all that great. This is an either or decision; suspenders work well when they are underneath a sport coat and then have the opportunity to be shown-off without it on while a belt works well in any situation, but must match the shoes your wearing. Both have there merits, but together they bring nothing but problems; be sure to avoid this mistake!

Much better.

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

Threads for Thought: Buffalo Plaid

There are very few patterns that go hand and hand with any particular season, and the grand majority of these options are must haves in any wardrobe. This season calls for a specific plaid, but can't necessarily be pegged as a necessity, more of a try it out for yourself item.

Everyone knows what buffalo plaid is, if not by name, then certainly by its pattern. A beautiful contrasting color combination of black and red in a neat checker pattern that is synonymous with the holiday season. With that said, this pattern plays nicely with all the fall and winter outfits and is highly encouraged after Santa comes to town.

Buffalo plaid is everywhere, and its really a matter or figuring out how to wear it all. The less and less favorably that the pattern plays off of your natural features, the smaller the item should be. Pocket squares are the minimum level of participation with shackets being the most involved, but everything in between is fun to play with like ties and shirts and even socks. Don't tread lightly, and have fun with it!

Abercrombie & Fitch: $130

J. Crew: $65

Ralph Lauren: $46

Check in tomorrow for this week's edition of Friday Faux Pas and next Thursday for another fashion piece that deserves your consideration!

Tech Tuesday: Whiskey Walkers

Collaborations aren't anything new in the fashion world, designers partnering to launch capsule collections to boost business just makes sense, but they usually tend to be in the same market or industry. So when a renowned shoe maker partners with one of the most iconic whiskey brands, the ears perk up a little bit. Oliver Sweeney shoes are known for their luxurious feel and classical styling, and Johnnie Walker has been around since the mid-19th Century making some of the finest whiskey available. So what better way for the two to partner up than to develop a shoe that has a nifty hidden compartment for whiskey in the heel. Its admittedly a gag, but for $465, you get a beautifully unique shoe and a fun party trick or two.

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

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: Vintage Inspired
Tuesday: The New Rolex
Wednesday: Gloves

Thursday: Bold Stripes

Saturday: Swaggy P

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

Celebrity Saturday: Swaggy P

It is always a good sign when athletes find there ways into the pages of GQ based solely on the style they bring to the table. Even for those who don't watch an ounce of Basketball, Lebron James is still somewhat of a household name, but most don't have a clue about a man out in Los Angeles by the name of Nick Young aka Swaggy P. He is one of those guys that is far beyond his time in terms of style, setting the trends before the trend setters and what a better place to do it then LA, one of the most progressive street style area of the country. It'd be a good idea to keep tabs on this dude to have a glimpse into the styles to come.

Check in tomorrow for a recap of the week's topics and next Saturday for another stylish celebrity influence!

Threads for Thought: Bold Stripes

Change is an inevitable reality in fashion, both men's and women's, so it is important to tread lightly in new trends just in case they turn faux pas after a season or two. But then there come changes that subtly differ from the norm, but impact your style all the more.

Striped shirts are a dime a dozen, and not to take away from the crispness of a pinstripe or the preppy status of a Bengal stripe, but its about time that they got a revamp. Bold, thicker stripes are beckoning, turning up the proportions of the regular stripe to something much more powerful. The effect is similar to that of a highlighter to the print, going from comic sans in italics to impact in bold. The extra punch is going turn every look into a power look with almost no thought at all; style the thick striped shirts the same as you would any other stripe. Pretty soon, you'll find yourself resorting back to this variety more often than not.

Etro: $483

Hentsch Man: $175

Hawkes & Curtis: $48

Check in tomorrow for this week's edition of Friday Faux Pas next Thursday for another fashion piece that deserves your consideration!

Wardrobe Essentials: Gloves

The need to stay exceptionally warm in these months is typically overlooked until the hands go ice cold and somehow helplessly useless; its strange what the bitter cold does to the body. And there are only so many things a man can do with his hands in his pockets.

Thank goodness for those hand-dandy gloves (pun intended) that stave the cold off of your skin and your fingers fully functional. The options are certainly out there, but regardless of a man's pay-grade, they should be investing in a good pair of gloves, not throwing money at a new pair every year. Super soft cashmere linings and supple leathers top the list of utter luxury in the glove market, so aim high. The leather will protect your hands and develop a vintage patina over the years while the cashmere lining keeps them nice and cozy; relining a pair of gloves isn't ideal, but certainly doable. Classic colors and classic constructions will provide a timelessness that will have these gloves fully functional in your wardrobe for as long as you don't lose track of them.

Dolce & Gabbana: $445

John Varvatos: $268

Ralph Lauren: $88

Check in tomorrow for a fashion piece that deserves your consideration and next Wednesday for another piece that needs to be in your closet!

Tech Tuesday: Not Your Average Rolex

We've all seen the prototypical Rolex, the Datejust in gold with the milled bezel and the Yacht Master in its classic blue and white. There are plenty more to be mentioned, but the main theme here is that the Rolex line-up doesn't offer much in the way of innovative and novel designs that really blow your mind. But then they went and teamed up with Milgauss and Bamford to make a truly breathtaking and radical new watch. Coming in red, green, and aqua, this limited edition collaboration, Aftershock, provides a 3D lens effect on the face coupled with a blackened titanium encasement that will surely grab the attention of anyone, watch aficionados included.

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

Monday Outlook: Vintage All Around

Fashion, in all its grandeur, comes with the flaw of being subject to the ebb and flow of trends; colors, fabrics, constructions, whatever it may be, all tend to be similar no matter what brand. This also leads to repetition and mimicry throughout the menswear world, so what to do?

This is where the neighborhood salvation army, consignment store, and flea market come in handy. Vintage has always been a big deal, especially with denim, but it has really seen a reinvigoration this season. Its easy enough to find timeless staples at a goodwill, and easier still to find a fashion oldie that has made its way back into the fashionable side of the style spectrum.

Vintage is all about the hunt, all about finding that piece with a mystery to it and that still has the fashionability to be worn whenever and where ever. It's not very common, but there is always a chance at finding a luxury item in the mix, and its your duty to save that style unicorn! With that said, it's not all about the label on the piece, its about the style and what can be done with it, because at the end of the day, everything is dirt cheap.

Check in tomorrow for some exciting new tech and next Monday for further 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:

Tuesday: Tile
Wednesday: The Repp Tie

Thursday: Blanket Coats

Friday: Belt Loops, No Belt

Saturday: A$AP Rocky

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

Celebrity Saturday: A$AP Rocky

It's such an explosive time to be in the menswear game and people have begun to notice, and more importantly, stars and celebrities have been getting involved. Some of them as brand ambassadors, others branching out to create their own lines. A$AP Rocky, one of the hottest rappers out there has taken the collaboration route as well as partaking in a campaign for Ferragamo. Getting this kind of attention can only be attributed to the man's radically forward style, similar to what Kanye does, but with a punk motif. He also made quite a big wave last year at the Met Gala with his new-age black tie style; what else would explain the explosion of the air tie?

Check in tomorrow for a recap of the week's topics and next Saturday for another stylish celebrity influence!

Friday Faux Pas: Belt Loops...and No Belt

Some fashion faux pas can go unnoticed as they are usually masked by other pieces of clothing, and then there are others that stick out like a sore thumb no matter what. This next peeve happens to fall into both categories and its really only noticeable to the trained eye.

Its hard to see, but a close look reveals...belt loops!

Most pants in a wardrobe will have belt loops on them with a few dress pants having pull tabs to adjust the waist band and lack belt loops; the latter are for formal occasions and should never be worn with a belt. The former seem to have some men confused, as more and more you see the belt loops, and no belt. This look exudes the kind of sloppiness that shouldn't be in any man's style repertoire, the only excuse for this would be a forgotten belt at home, which is why having a back up or two at work is so critical. Its an easy rule of thumb to follow, belt loops require a belt, do this and stay clear of any undue style mishaps.

No loops, no belt. Simple enough.

Check in tomorrow for a celebrity style influence and next Friday for another fashion faux pas!

Threads for Thought: Blanket Coats

Wouldn't be a superb reality that allowed for the comfort of a blanket with the social acceptability of a jacket? The first commercial attempt happened to be the Snuggie which didn't pan out to well, but now there seems to be some sort of hope for this image.

Blanket coats bring to mind a time when a visit to the ski lodge was the cool thing to do rather than head to the beaches. It also draws back to the late 80's and early 90's where fashion was quite sporadic and vibrant, but still, all the more stylish. The item can be plain and simple, but the strongest of blanket coats happens to also be the epitome of holiday sweaters.

Something like this is perfect for a winter getaway, providing some flash with people that aren't part of your day-to-day life; lots of risk, little chance repercussions. It can be worn again back in the regular environment, weather permitting, but only once or twice a year to avoid becoming "that guy". And it's called a blanket coat for a reason, just throw it over any proper winter outfit (besides another holiday sweater) and you'll have yourself a look.

Burberry: $3295

Ralph Lauren: $500

Filson: $495

Check in tomorrow for this week's edition of Friday Faux Pas and next Thursday for another fashion piece that deserves your consideration!

Wardrobe Essentials: The Repp Tie

Neck wear in the men's world is one of the biggest staple in style and says a lot about the man wearing it. Whether he is classic or contemporary, reserved or outgoing, business or casual, all can be told by what is around his neck. Although there are many, few make the list of necessary for your closet; this one makes that list.

Repp ties are an English invention, but the popularization and Americanization of these ties can be credited to Brooks Brothers. Ever since their American debut, repp ties have become the quintessential Ivy prep accessory, exhibiting an elevated aura that can only be attributed to being a member of a yacht club or exclusive whiskey tasting syndicate. Either way, the power that this tie brings to the table is hard to do with any other tie.

Partner a repp tie with that super power suit or with a casual Sunday brunch look, it works with every genre of your wardrobe. Styling isn't the issue with a tie like this as it goes with anything, so the colors are really "make or break". The traditional options include evenly sized stripes, a thin/wide combination, and the multi-stripe with 3 colors, with contemporary options ranging from rainbows to patterned stripes. If this is your first Repp, go with a traditional color combo that resonates with something in your life, and if this isn't the first rodeo, go crazy with it.

Ralph Lauren: $125

Brooks Brothers: $79.50

The Tie Bar: $15

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

Tech Tuseday: Tracking by Tile

There are so many things we carry around every day and plenty more that are used within the house and at work, all overlooked until they go missing. That's when the mini-heart attack sets in and the mind starts to backtrack to where it might've been lost and what you're going to do if you can't find it. If this has already happened, too late, but before it happens again, consider Tile for your necessities. Keys, wallets, bags, remotes, whatever it may be, this little Bluetooth enabled tracking system partners with a phone to keep track of up to 8 different tiles at once. If an item is lost within 100 meters of your location, the Tile app will display the signal strength of the tile, getting stronger the closer it becomes and then ringing when it is close; if at a greater distance, the app will display the last location the Tile was within range. For peace of mind, do yourself a favor and grab a couple of these Tiles for yourself, they're only $17.50 a piece!

Check in tomorrow for a style piece that needs to be in your wardrobe and next Tuesday for some more great technology!

A Strategy for Cyber Monday

And so has begun the holiday season after everyone stuffed their face with turkey and imbibed copious amounts of alcohol. Now despite the emphasis of this Thanksgiving weekend being on electronics sales, there are many more sales going on for apparel and accessories for men, but as with any thing Internet, there is way to much to sift through.

There are some amazing deals to be had, and Cyber Monday is the day to take care of any personal fashion and gifting needs. This is where the email notifications that spam your mailbox actually come in hand. Start with your inbox, find the brands that you know and trust and, most importantly, know your size with; this will make for the best possible fit and help to mitigate any possible returns that plague online shopping.

After the inbox, go through this progression to ensure you get the best deal:

1. Department Stores: Will have a broad range of brands and great discounts
2. Wholesalers: Usually already reduced and will have a nice discount kicker
3. Mid-Priced Brands: A solid sale and clearance section and possible full-priced discounts
4. Budget Brands: Trying to clear house for new merchandise, capitalize on basics
5. Luxury Brands: Unlikely to have any sales or have "Thanksgiving Sales" that have already been picked over, but its worth a shot

One last thing to consider are shipping and return policies. Free shipping is obviously ideal, but shouldn't be a deal breaker, especially considering the deals you could be getting. With returns, most companies will credit back the value of the merchandise (not the shipping charge), but if an item is final sale, make absolutely sure it either fits or that you can at least gift off.

Also, check out the GQ Cyber Monday Guide, which as usual is thorough and extensive!