Threads for Thought: Cocktail Cuffs

You may find yourself wanting to dress up for an occasion but don't want to be the guy that over did it, but you still want to stand out. Everyone has a nice suit, sport coat, tie, shoes, whatever the item may be, they're all quite commonplace in today's world of men's wear. So what's something that you don't see out there as much as other items, if at all?

I forgot to mention, this is the quintessential Bond shirt.

There is a specific type of shirt out there that has a special cuff on it, which may help with the whole differentiation problem, the cocktail cuff shirt. This cuff is the cutaway cousin of the French cuff shirt that makes it much less formal and all the more unique. Unlike the French style, the cocktail cuff doesn't require cuff links; it's just like any other barrel or mitered cuff shirt you own, just with some extra fabric to fold back over.

Simplicity is key with cocktail cuff shirts.

Keep this one simple, solid neutrals or simple patterns that pay some respect to formality, because the cuff is what you'll want people to pay attention to. The arm of your coat will fall nicely over top the cuff (if not, the cuff may be too big), giving the whole look an extra bit of contrast without any extras. The only thing you have left to do is partake in exactly what the shirt was named for, have a cocktail or two and relax!

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

Wardrobe Essentials: Tweed

I have already detailed across the spectrum of my blog that fall and winter is all about texture, all about creating definition with rich fabrics and fine details. There won't be any shortage of options available and the main operative is going to be find the quintessential cold-weather fabric.

Old photo, but still Nick Wooster rockin some tweed.

If there ever was such a fabric, tweed is it, and it can be found in just about any piece of clothing out there. Suits, sport coats, vests, shoes, hats, ties, pocket squares; if its something you wear, it definitely has a tweed rendering. The herringbone tweed is the most common variation, originating in Scotland (good on ya Scots!) and is also the most distinguishable with its high contrasting color combinations and alternating orientation of the weave.

Rich texture all around.

My best advice for your hunt is to get tweed that you're going to wear. There is no wrong choice when it comes to the pattern, but if you simply don't wear vests, then don't get a vest. Traditional tweeds will be wool or a wool blend meaning a higher price point, but that doesn't mean you can't find wool substitutes. On that note, I'm willing to bet that you could find a nice tweed sport coat at your local thrift shop or goodwill, so check that out for a cheap alternative.

Notice the rich color variations in the fabric.

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

Tech Tuesday: SnapTrax

You already wear hats as it is, so why not throw some technology into it and call it a day? That's the exact thought that the team at SnapTrax had and have since started funding for their little innovation. Utilizing my favorite new technology, Bluetooth LE, their hats can connect with your phone for a variety of purposes. Temple mounted microphones and speakers allow for seamless and clear communication between you and your device for a phone call, directions, Siri request, etc. The team also plans to develop an app alongside their headgear to make for a more comprehensive experience, with the intention of making both software and hardware available to outside companies for 3rd-party development.

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

Monday Outlook: Shearling

Cold-weather gear is all about functionality and cold-weather style is all about the layering of these simple and functional pieces to create a unique weight to your outfit that you can't get in spring and summer. Combining leathers and wools, flannels and quilted fabrics, these combinations all lend to a gravity that is indicative of the fall/winter style.

A little Black and Tan goes a long way!

One of the key trends for the upcoming season happens to be shearling, a finish to coats that creates extra depth by combining a fur lining to the collar of a jacket. The jacket itself can be any type of fabric, cashmere or even a contrasting fur, but the main point of shearling is to create a differentiated and defined collar. Although typically reserved for lambskin or sheepskin, this year designers are introducing luxe furs to provide an elevated look for the wearer.

Fur on suede is a great combo.

This style is reserved for outerwear, as the fur acts as a buffer between the elements and your neck and face, so it won't be found on tailored pieces such as a sport jacket. Rule of thumb with shearling is to go with what is most comfortable to you in both the neck and the body. If you love cashmere, stick to items featuring that as the main construction and then focus on narrowing down the furs that you want in the collar. Just remember, the piece you buy will more than likely carry a hefty price tag with it, so make sure this will be something that functions in your wardrobe for winters to come, not just 2015-2016.

Just a little something Balmain has in store this season.

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:

Monday: Plaid on Plaid

Tuesday: Jibo, The Family Bot

Wednesday: Windowpane Three-Piece

Thursday: Biker Pants

Friday: Too Big Tie Bar

Saturday: Kanye West

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

Celebrity Saturday: Kanye West

Say what you want about the man, I know he's not high up on my favorites list, but this man is one of the most talented artists of his generation. Kanye West is definitely out there, and if you've seen any of his talk show appearances or read any of his interview with GQ this month, you'd be reaffirmed of his intense narcissism.But hey, when you know you have the goods, why not let everyone know it. Outside of his musical endeavors, Kanye also tries his hand at design most notably with his Nike collaboration for the Red October sneaker and most recently his work with French brand A.P.C., both of which released with a craze reminiscent of The Beatles invasion of the States. If you want to take any cues from Yeezy, go all out on your goods, buy the absurd and splurge on some luxe items. Oh yeah, and don't let other people and their opinions bother you.

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

Friday Faux Pas: Too Big Tie Bar

There are a multitude of issues that men seem to have with tie bars. Where do they go? What color? What style? How big/thick?The list goes on and on, but my biggest concern comes down to the width.

Everything was good...until the tie bar.

There nothing that irks me more than to see a man who got something stylish put together and then falls short because his tie bar is thicker than his tie. This slip up portrays one of two attitudes: my ties are way too skinny or i don't know what I'm doing here, either way, these aren't Things your want tacked on to your style resume. There's a little thing in the math world called the golden ratio and its relevant to your world because it deals in proportions and getting a detail on par with this ratio will be very noticeable. Pertaining to the tie bar, it should take up about a third of the width of your tie or the opposite being two thirds, keeping true to the ratio. Seeing as your standard tie is 3 inches, you're going to want to keep it simple with anything between one and two inches, that way you have absolutely no chance of it being wider than your tie!

Just stop. Go home and start over.

Got a little caught up yesterday so check in a little later for a stylish celebrity influence and next Friday for the next edition of Friday Faux Pas!