Posts filed under 'Men'
We asked: Is The Color White In or Out?
You said: Overwhelmingly in, with 79% of the popular vote.
Omiru’s take: It may not be the most slimming color, but The Color White is winning fans this season with its fresh, clean look. We’re hooked too.
Style tip? Go bold with white, and make it the dominant color in your outfit. Pair it with a splash of color for interest. And don’t forget to carry Shout! Wipes to help clean up stains. Want more on White? Here’s some more tips on How to Wear White.
Next question: We’ve always been a bit weary of plaid (the 90s grunge rocker look is still too fresh in our minds), but recently, we’ve changed our tune. Case in Point: John’s article about How to Wear Flannel Stylishly and Trisha’s How to Wear a Plaid Shirt Without Looking Like a Man. Tell us, is Plaid In,
or is it Out? Cast your
vote on the sidebar!
Pictured: Stadium Cloth Trench Coat| $345 at J Crew.
December 10th, 2007
Q: While I love hats, do you have any good tips on how to keep hair looking good after taking the hat off? I always end up with flat, lifeless hair.
A: Hats are the ultimate in chic accessories, but they have the unfortunate side effect of giving you Hat Hair. Hat Hair comes in two strains (that aren’t mutually exclusive): Matted Hair and Static-y Hair. You can try to minimize Hat Hair’s effects by wearing hats of lighter weight or those that don’t have an extremely tight fit, but sometimes you just can’t prevent it. Here’s what to do if you have a case of Hat Hair:
Matted Hair: Apply a bit of volumizing spray to your roots and use your fingers to give your hair some oomph.
Static-y Hair: Spray a bit of Static Guard onto your hairbrush and run it through your hair. Don’t have Static Guard and a brush? In a pinch, you can apply a touch of hand lotion to your hair with your fingers to get rid of static.
Pictured: Static Guard Spray | $4.99 at Walgreens.
Have a great tip about how to combat hat hair?
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Style question? We’ve got answers. E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question.
December 6th, 2007
Q: I’m 18 years old and need a blazer. I’m about 120 lbs and 5′9â€, so I’m having trouble finding one that fits properly. Do you know of any good places I would be able to find something like that? And would it be easier if I just bought one that fit across the shoulders and had it taken in?
A: First of all, I applaud your desire to find a) a blazer and b) a blazer that fits properly, especially at age 18. You will really appreciate having this blazer when you go out for a nice dinner or a night on the town (read: lounges and clubs that have unspoken dress code policies) in college.
There really are two answers to you questions, both of which you touched on. The current trend is to sport slim fitting suits, not those boxy cuts you may be used to seeing older gentlemen wearing. Fortunately for people like us who favor slimmer silhouettes, designers across the board are making plenty of slim fitting jackets. As a result, most respectable department and retail stores will have the slimmer jackets you are looking for. Forbes.com even ran a feature on how the new Gorden Gekko business “power suit†is actually a slim fitting two or three-piece suit, not the boxy cuts that most execs seem to wear.
I myself wear a Paul Smith London suit and a Marc by Marc Jacobs blazer often; both jackets needed limited tailoring, so I would suggest checking them out first, if you are looking for specific designers.
The second part of the answer is yes, it is easier to buy one that fits across the shoulders and have it taken in. In fact, this is really the only way to buy any suit, tux, or blazer. Why? The shoulder is the one place that even great tailors will not touch. You should still go for designers that are slimmer fitting, however, since excessively slimming the sides can lead to all kinds of problems that may require more tailoring.
If this is your first blazer, I would strongly advise buying a wool navy blazer. It’s a staple in a man’s wardrobe and is quite versatile. Check out our article on the navy blazer. Read that article even if you aren’t getting a blue one; it will let you know the “right†way the blazer should fit and give you a few suggestions of what to wear with it. If this is your second blazer, opt for a gray blazer (go darker than lighter). If this is your 3rd or later, you have a few options here, not only with color, but with fabric – maybe you want a velvet blazer for the winter (especially if you live in the East) or a more casual canvas or cord blazer.
Pictured: Obey Corduroy Blazer | $199 at Ben Sherman.
Have a great tip about how to buy a blazer?
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Style question? We’ve got answers. E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question.
December 5th, 2007
Q: What would be a good shirt and tie combination to wear with black pinstriped pants? I am fair skinned with blonde hair & blue eyes.
A: Some guys try to go stripe-happy (striped suit, striped shirt, striped tie) and end up looking like the result of a Queer Eye for the Straight Guy makeover. Now, it’s not impossible to do, but it’s very difficult. I myself avoid it, but if you want to try it, make sure your stripes are of different sizes. Most suits have relatively thin pinstripes, so this means finding a shirt and tie with thicker stripes. Honestly, I haven’t seen very many pull off the triple threat very well, with one exception being Isaac Ferry (rocker Bryan Ferry’s son) in the July 2007 GQ. But then again, he only looks good because he knows he looks good.
For a more subdued look, try a simple solid shirt and solid tie. You can try matching your tie and the pinstripes (unless they’re white). Silver tie with silver pinstripes and a blue shirt always looks good. Some check-patterned shirts look great here too. You can’t go wrong with a crisp white oxford here either. If your suit has a navy base, a purplish/blue tie will do well here. You can also try a houndstooth-patterned tie or a dark colored dotted tie. Or for something a little different, try a textured wool knit tie. You can also try wearing a suit without a tie, à la Tom Ford (although I’d suggest buttoning your shirt a bit higher than he does, unless you know you look good).
Long story short, you have a wealth of choices to wear with pinstripes, which is why the pinstriped suit is a classic and a staple of the well-dressed man’s wardrobe. Want more ideas? Go pick up any issue of GQ or Esquire. You’re guaranteed to find some great examples of pinstriped suits.
Pictured: Straight Black Pinstripe Dress Chino | $78 at Banana Republic.
Have a great tip about what to wear with black pinstriped pants?
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November 28th, 2007
Peacoats come in many styles, cuts and colors, but for me, the perfect one is dark (but not black), tailored, and waist length. I prefer a shorter coat (i.e. not thigh or knee length, but waist length) - some say “trend,†I say “sporty.†Style tip? As with all black wool clothes, a black wool peacoat easily picks up lint.
I’m quite picky, so don’t feel bad if you are too. Peacoats can be expensive and if you don’t find the perfect one, don’t spend money on it. But if you’re looking for the perfect peacoat, you’re in luck—I’ve already done the legwork for you. Here are the best peacoats out there:
This is the peacoat I ended up buying, so naturally, I think it’s the best one. I loved the length and the sleek, tailored look. The extra wide collars might be a turnoff for some, but I actually like the detail. If you zoom in on the picture, you can see what spurred me to pull the trigger on this purchase: the texture. It gives the coat personality. Although I don’t normally like boxy cuts, I liked the boxiness of this coat, which gives the coat a dressier feel and a strong shoulder.
“Wuffy†Jacket | $450 at DieselI really like this peacoat in black/gray from the brand new online Diesel store–his check pattern reminded me of the pattern on the Oak flannel shirt. Like the Michael Kors coat, this coat scores points for (tweed) texture. As with all things Diesel, it’s very form fitting and tailored. You’ll definitely be noticed in this bold coat.
Yeah, I know what the guys are thinking: “Wait a minute, doesn’t my girlfriend have a towel-like pair of pants with the word ‘juicy’ on the butt?†She probably does, but don’t be ashamed if you, too, wear Juicy Couture. Juicy has evolved into much more than a terry cloth pants company for teens. They make some great graphic T’s for guys and they make a good-looking peacoat. And, with Juicy, you know you’ll be getting something trendy and with a twist. In this case, that twist is a screen-printed satin lining.
With glowing white buttons, this navy coat is hit or miss. To me, it’s a hit. The navy/white gives the peacoat a very nautical, traditional feel. With Burberry, you know you’ll be getting a boxier cut.
Corpus Detachable Sleeve Peacoat | $418 (sale) at Oak NYCI love the texture on this coat from one of my favorite stores, Oak NYC. Again, this is hit or miss, as it is quite unusual – it has detachable sleeves. This uncommon feature also makes it practical: do as the store’s description says and layer it with a sweater.
Of all the coats I have suggested, this peacoat is the most timeless. It features a more traditional length (i.e. thigh level), and it is dark and simple. This is a great coat to get if you want something classy and tasteful. I myself was *this* close to buying this coat.
My last pick? The “dream on†coat: Michael Bastian Shearling Coat | $4,495 at Bergdorf GoodmanGot $4500 to drop on a coat? This coat by the one and only Michael Bastian is for you.
I’ll leave you with one last Style Tip, or rather a Style Rule. Button you coat! Double-breasted coats look very bad when you don’t button them. You don’t need to fasten all the buttons, although traditionalists will rebuke me for saying this. My best advice? Leave the top button undone.
Have a great tip about where to find a great men’s peacoat?
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Style question? We’ve got answers. E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question.
November 23rd, 2007
Q: I’m going to go meet my girlfriend’s family in New York for the first time this Thanksgiving. I want to make a good impression, but I also want to stay true to who I am (which can be described as casually offbeat). What should I wear?
A: A study conducted some time ago about the importance of first impressions in job interviews concluded that the interviewer passed judgment of the potential employee within 3 seconds, and more often than not, that judgment was right. No pressure, though, right?
The point of this story is to not only emphasize the importance of first impressions, but also to applaud your taking them so seriously.
That said, you don’t want to seem like you’re trying too hard to impress your girlfriend’s parents either. Look well dressed but not overdressed; look sophisticated, but not old (yes, you can still look sophisticated and casual at the same time). And try but make it seem effortless, which, admittedly, can be hard.
Since it is a special occasion, you probably want to dress up a little. A sweater would look a little stuffy, as would khakis or dress pants if not done right. I would go with either sporty chinos (flat fronts, unless you’re 35) or dressy jeans (dressy meaning dark with no fade). For a shirt, you can either wear an oxford (keep it conservative here, stick with white, blue or something with stripes) or a polo underneath a cotton or tweed blazer (wool would seem a little stuffy here).
Try the pictured polo from J. Lindeberg (I have one in burgundy and charcoal and it’s GREAT) with a charcoal cotton blazer over some dark denim and either lowtop white sneakers or brown penny loafers.
You could also try wearing this rugby shirt from Gap underneath a gray tweed blazer like this beauty from Ralph Lauren over some flat-front, sporty stone khakis and brown penny loafers.
It’s always hard to tell another person what to wear, so maybe the best thing to do is tell you what I would wear if I was visiting my girlfriend’s parents (with the caveat that we probably have different personal styles): gray tweed or cotton blazer over a light blue shirt and maybe a burgundy/gray cardigan over dark denim and simple white sneakers (have you seen those Common Projects lowtops?).
The second most important thing is fit. Bagginess is for kids. Wear your pants on your waist, not your hips. If you have any doubts or questions, visit your tailor.
So what’s the most important thing? Dinner Etiquette. Brush up on your manners with this guide and remember, the proper way to eat bread is to break the bread, butter the broken off piece, and gracefully eat it.
Pictured: J Lindeberg Polo Bold Stripe Pique Black | $95 at J Lindeberg.
Have a great tip about what to wear to meet the parents?
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Style question? We’ve got answers. E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question.
November 20th, 2007
Q: What colour should my suit be if I’m wearing it to a late afternoon wedding in a tropical country? Dress code is "coat and tie."
A:
“Coat and tie†is an unusual dress code. There are standard rules for black tie, black tie optional, etc., but “coat and tie†seems vague. It may sound silly, but you can judge the formality of the wedding based on the appearance of the invitation. Is the font and overall appearance of the card more casual? A suit will be just fine. Is the writing calligraphy and formal? You’ll probably need a tuxedo.
Still unsure? I would go so far as to even call the happy couple (or someone else that would know). I’m sure they wouldn’t mind the question and would probably appreciate your respecting the special nature of the event.
For the most part, it doesn’t matter where the wedding takes place, tropical or not. Wear what you would wear to a normal wedding. My guess is that “coat and tie†means black tie optional. What to wear to a black tie optional wedding? It’s pretty standard: a simple dark colored suit, crisp white shirt and your (tasteful) choice of tie. Since you’re going to be in a tropical climate, however, lighter colors (e.g. beige, white) are also acceptable. You could also consider wearing a cream tropical dinner jacket.
The only other thing to consider is footwear. If the wedding is on a beach, go barefoot and bring a towel to wipe the sand off your feet.
Pictured: Ben Sherman ‘Kensington’ Seersucker Suit | $595 at Nordstrom.
Have a great tip about what to wear to a tropical wedding?
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Style question? We’ve got answers. E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question.
November 16th, 2007
Flannel is one of those things people seem to avoid because, I think, they are scared of looking like an early 90’s grunge rocker wannabe. And it’s true: flannel can look very grungy when done sloppily. It’s too bad, though, really. Flannel button downs are great for locales with colder fall seasons such as the Northeast because of the heavier fabric. Plus, the patterns, usually plaid, can make a bold statement.
So if you want to stand out from the crowd, wear flannel–but do it right. Here’s how:
Find a Great Flannel Shirt:
First off, you need to find a flannel shirt. Well-made flannel shirts aren’t the floppy and flimsy pieces that you probably saw in the 90’s. No, they have lines and form a great shoulder. And while I said they aren’t floppy; I didn’t say they aren’t soft. Here are three of the best flannel shirts
Pictured: Oak “Slash Pocket Buffalo Plaid Shirt†| $130 at Oak
This is a great piece from a great store, Oak NYC. The bold pattern goes well with anything, from jeans to a wool coat. It looks boxy in the picture, but it’s not when you wear. Notice the absence of a collar; it’s a ring collar, similar to that of a t-shirt. The pocket detail, Oak’s signature, is another sleek feature.
Steven Alan “SA Work Shirt†| $178 at Steven Alan
I really like this shirt in Red/Green (use the "choose a style" dropdown to view). Bold and colorful, it’s slim fitting and has a great shoulder. It also has a hint of rugged outdoorsman sex appeal. The picture doesn’t quite do it justice. Also be sure to check it out in White/Navy.
Cassette Flannel Shirt | $253 at Revolve Clothing
A little pricey, to be sure, but very stylish. It has a hint of West Coast/Southern California fashion, but it doesn’t obnoxiously scream “Los Angeles†like those Ed Hardy graphic Ts do. The slightly faded pattern gives it a worn-in (in a good way, like a pair of jeans) vibe.
Craft an Outfit around the Flannel Shirt
As always, fit is going to be key here. If the shirt is big on you, it will look very sloppy. Too small, and you’ll give off an emo rocker vibe.
Since these patterns are so bold, you want to let it be the focus of your outfit. Whatever else you wear, make sure it’s subtle and, preferably, patternless. Wear your flannel shirt with some dark denim with no fade (or a subtle one at the most). Well-fitted khakis would also work—and they’d look especially good with the Steven Alan shirt. The tan from the khaki complements the green and red, which immediately stand out, but it’s the subtle brownish base that really makes it work. If it’s cold enough to wear a jacket, pick one that isn’t too busy and one that picks up or complements the base color of the flannel shirt. As for shoes, sneakers should (as always) be low tops. Shoes other than sneakers can also work, but this look is harder to pull off.
How you wear your hair is actually important here too. Having medium or longer hair will give off kind of an indie rocker vibe. I’m not saying you shouldn’t wear flannel with longer hair, but I’m not saying you should either. I think shorter, more styled hair gives it a refreshingly sleek look.
Last tip? Don’t bother wearing an undershirt with these flannel shirts; wear just that shirt and button it, but not all the way.
Photo of man wearing flannel courtesy of The Sartorialist.
Have a great tip about how to wear flannel?
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November 14th, 2007
We asked: Are Pleated Trousers In or Out?
You said: Out, with 54% of the vote casting the ballot towards Out and another 11% voting them On the Way Out.
Omiru’s take: Pleated Pants get a bad rep for their unflattering silhouette–they tend to visually add 5 pounds with their extra folds of fabric around the waistline. For this reason, flat front pants are gaining in popularity for both men and women.
Style tip? For women, if you do decide to don the pleated pants, make them part of a menswear-as-womenswear look. As for men, pleated pants do actually have their place. Traditional Italian suits feature pleated pants–and if you’re going for that look, pleats are actually preferred.
Next question: After seasons of tailored skirts and body-hugging pencil skirts, Full Skirts are making a fashion comeback. But what
do you think? Tell us, is The Full Skirt In,
or is it Out? Cast your
vote on the sidebar!
Pictured: Nordstrom Pleated Gabardine Wool Trousers | $95 at Nordstrom.
November 12th, 2007
Q: Is it possible to wear a white blazer casually in the fall and winter months?
A: As far as I know, there aren’t any “rules†associated with the white blazer; there aren’t any “rules†in general on when to wear clothes, the famous exception being the old-fashioned “Don’t wear white after Labor day rule,†which I tend to ignore. That said, there are plenty on rules associated with what to wear in certain circumstances. So, if you really wanted to, you’re free to wear the whitest white blazer you can find.
To me, though, it seems a bit “off†to wear a white blazer in the fall and especially in the winter even though white has become a year-round color. White blazers feel like summer wear; I’m even willing to bet that you can’t find a ready to wear white blazer made in a winter fabric (i.e. a heavier wool) for that reason. I personally stick to shades of navy and gray for my fall/winter blazers.
If you feel confident and savvy enough to wear the white blazer, be careful not to dress like Don Johnson. Check out Omiru’s feature on how to not give off the Miami Vice vibe and check the great photo in the comments section.
Also, I wouldn’t recommend buying a white blazer– instead, choose a cream or off-white colored white. And, in fact, the best (i.e. highest quality) white blazers are more of a cream color than paper white, since wool itself isn’t bright white. As GQ’s resident sartorialist Glenn O’Brien says, “If the jacket is really white, it’s probably polyester, a fabric that doesn’t breathe well and thus isn’t the best warm-weather option.â€
Pictured: Sleek Blazer | $195 at Armani Exchange.
Have a great tip about when and how to wear a white blazer?
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November 9th, 2007
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