Men Style

Hey all. Sorry to those who have sent me questions that I have not responded to yet...I promise I am working on responses for all enquiries. I've received more than expected, and don't want the answers to seem rushed.

Keep checking in, Style Blogger.

Greetings from the oh-so-stylish land of Italy!

Recently a concerned reader raised a good point, and reminded me to clarify something about my posts.

The most important thing when it comes to style, in my opinion, is being unique and original. Because of that, therefore, there aren't really any "rules" to good personal style. So when I use the word "rule", which I will try to stop using from now on, what I mean is more "guideline" or "tip".

Therefore, when I write that the bow tie or denim jacket is "back", I do not mean that it wasn't as stylish before, but simply that it is becoming more popular among stylish men. At some point, of course, someone has to completely break the mold and be the first to start this kind of new "trend".

The take-away message here: if you have the confidence and style to pull it off, you can wear anything. Never limit yourself because of what others think, write in magazines or post on blogs...these are simply forums used to help, not control your style choices.

The Sky is the Limit! Yours in style, Style Blogger.

"Love people and use things. Do not love things and use people"

It is important, especially for us fashionistos, to remember that materialism is a vice. That is all, a little philosophy over fashion today :)

Style Blogger

Almost forgot to post the answers to the game I posted on May 28th.

Here they are:

1. Women

2. Man

3. Women

4. Women

5. Man

6. Man

Congrats to Marwan and Philip, the only two to get it right. So I guess I had a point, huh?

Thanks for reading! Style Blogger

In a related story, the denim jacket is also back like it forgot something.

With denim jackets, however, there is greater downside then upside, meaning it is much easier to get it wrong then it is to get it right. Here are some tips:

1. Keep it simple. Go with a basic "trucker-style" jacket with a collar and a button-front. Stay away from motorcyle collars, zippers, True-Religion-like stitching, or any other "designer" details. Levis is your best bet, they`ve been doing it for decades and have barely changed their awesome design.

2. Go vintage! If you can get your hands on a vintage denim jacket, one that has been well worn-in, grab it! I got mine on ebay from a real trucker whose been wearing it since long before I was born. When I got it it smelled like smoke and had holes in it...but after a good wash and a visit to my seamstress it is one of my favorite items in my wardrobe. I`m actually wearing it right now. Total cost: about $35.

3. Fit Fit Fit. A denim jacket should fit like a jacket, not a coat. It should be slim, snug in the shoulders and hit a little above your waist. As a guide, I`m 6 foot 2, 195 lbs and have a size 38 (S-M).

4. Rough up the collar. Wear the collar half-popped, or messed-up. Basically, make it look roughed-up, as should be.

5. Roll up the sleeves.

6. Wear it alot. It gets better with time, so don`t be afraid to get some use out of it. The beauty of it is that you can wear it with anything...from a shirt and tie to a layer over a graphic t-shirt, and everything in between.

7. Accesorize the left pocket. Not every time, but don`t be afraid to throw in a colorful linen/cotten pocket square (note "throw in", not folded square) or a pair of shades, or both.

WARNING, FOR ADVANCED SARTORIALISTS ONLY. 8. Wear it with jeans. That`s right, the old Canadian tuxedo. If you have the swagger to pull it off, try wearing your worn-in denim jacket with a pair of jeans in a different (preferably darker) wash. Never match them. This is one of my favorite looks right now. I even sometimes wear a denim/chambray shirt with it (in a third shade).

I have some great pics of some gentlemen killin-it in denim jackets...can`t wait to share them.

Yours in style, Style Blogger.

Ladies and gentlemen, the bow tie is back! Welcome back little friend, we`ve missed you.

Bow ties are showing up on the streets more and more, so if you`ve been thinking about trying one out, do it asap...it still hasn`t gone quite mainstream, so you still have time before it becomes "played out".

If you`re a beginner in the bow tie game, the trick is to keep it dark, with a simple pattern, and, most importantly, keep it in proportion. For example, if you are 6 foot 9 like my main man Ben "Bid Watch" N. then a super slim bow tie by the likes of Thom Browne or Band of Outsiders might make your head look too big. On the other hand, if you are 5 foot 5 like my man Chris "Dimple Daddy" C. then an oversized neckpiece might make you look smaller than you`d like.

As a matter of fact, proportion is key in everything, not just bow ties...I`m working on a post on the importance of proportions...coming soon.

Lastly, stay away from clip-ons. Learn to tie one yourself, there are plenty of helpful links on the internet. And in case you are wondering, no, not all of my friends have nicknames :)

Yours in Style, Style Blogger.

As I mentioned, I have been traveling Europe for the past few weeks, and have a had a hard time finding time to blog. We just stumbled upon a cozy little internet cafe in Vienna (our fifth country in 2 weeks) and have taken some time to do some catching-up online.

This trip has certainly been an eye-opening experience in many ways, including fashion.

I will try to share some posts that I have been thinking about, but sorry, can`t upload any pics in here...i`ll have to wait to share those.

Thanks as always for reading.
Yours in style, Style Blogger.

To my readers,

Sorry for my lack of posts lately. I have been traveling Europe for the past couple weeks and haven't had much time for blogging.

The good news is, I have been taking pages and pages of notes and seeing some truly inspiring fashion this side of the seas - not to mention taking some great 'street style' photos which I will share once I return home.

I hope all is well with everyone reading. No worries, the blog will be back up and running on a daily basis soon.

Yours in style, Style Blogger

I watched The Curious Case of Benjamin Button last night for the second time. It is a great movie, although a tad long. The story is thick with life metaphors and historical context, but the best part of the film is Button's incredible wardrobe (although it doesn't make much sense that he's unemployed in New Orleans in the mid 1900's but wearing some serious designer threads). Nevertheless, it made the movie more interesting - at least for me. I love the use of wardrobe to further develop characters.

Of course, it doesn't take much to make Brad Pitt look good, but he rarely repeats any outfit, wears his clothing with a great nonchalance, and is always well suited for the occasion. Kudos to the wardrobe stylist. Watch and learn.

Also, a great quote that stuck with me from the movie:

“...What I think is, it’s never
too late...or, in my case, too
early, to be whoever you want to
be...There’s no time limit, start
anytime you want...change or stay
the same...there aren’t any
rules...We can make the best or
worst of it...I hope you make the
best...I hope you see things that
startle you. Feel things you
never felt before. I hope you
meet people who have a different
point of view. I hope you
challenge yourself. I hope you
stumble, and pick yourself up. I
hope you live the life you wanted
to...and if you haven’t, I hope
you start all over again.”