Ready Made Outfit: Refined Biker | Men’s Edition

For a stylish look that is one part one part polished and one part hip.

Biker Jacket | $150.00 at Kenneth Cole
Just a great addition to any man’s casual jacket collection. You can dress it up and dress it down to suit your mood, and the biker jacket’s detailing adds a extra dash of style to almost any outfit.

Cashmere V-Neck | $178.00 at JCrew
Look for a sweater in an interesting color. The V-neckline shows off the collared shirt and tie underneath.

Solid Tie | $39.50 at JCrew
Pick a tie complementary in color to the shirt(s) it is accompanying. Here, I’ve chosen a tie whose purplish tint forms a stylish complement to both the blue and white collared shirt and the bright green sweater.

Washed Chain-Stripe Shirt | $49.50 at JCrew
Stripes, to give the outfit some visual texture through pattern.

7 For All Mankind Relaxed Fit Jean | $143 at Nordstrom
A versatile, comfortable fit that is equally at home with the casual biker jacket and the more formal sweater/collared shirt/tie combination.

Add comment May 13th, 2005

Ready Made Outfit: SoCal Casual Chic | Men’s Edition

Radiate the essence of the beachy Southern California lifestyle with a casual, yet fashion forward, ensemble.

Scunthorpe Soho Fit Shirt | $79.00 at Ben Sherman
Patterned for a dash of style! For a more metro look, go for a fitted cut in the shirt. For a more casual look, try a shirt in a looser fit.

No Tag Fitted Ringer Crew | $16.50 at Banana Republic
Nice and simple.

Braided Cotton Belt | $24 at JCrew
A nod to the nautical style of the season.

Nashville Slim Jean | $98 at Lucky Brand Jeans
Narrow-leg jeans cut in a dark, slimming wash.

Tulum Leather Sandals | $65 at JCrew
Leather sandals for a more polished look.

Add comment May 6th, 2005

Q&A: The Shoe-Belt Connection for Men

Q: I still haven’t quite figured out shoes and belts for men. What’s the connection between shoes and a belt (one time, or, to be honest, many times I’ve worn black shoes with a brown belt and had comments flung my way)?

Also, I’m the kind of guy who only has one pair of shoes at a time — which color has more power to look professional and match khakis, brown or black? And last up, what am I doing wrong in trying to buy a belt– I walked into Nordstroms to get a black belt recently and they averaged $90, which is way above my budget. What am I to do?

A: General rule of thumb: match the belt to the shoes. So if you’re wearing a black belt, wear black shoes. If you’re wearing a brown belt, wear brown shoes. And so forth. However, this isn’t a Law.

A better rule might say match the style of the belt to the shoe. That style is most visually expressed through color–hence the "match the belt to the shoes" mantra. I wouldn’t want to pair the black and the brown, but pairings that don’t exactly match, but are similar in style are definitely A-OK.

Note also that there are formal belts, and there are casual belts. Skinny belts are usually reserved for more formal occasions, and thicker belts are more appropriate for casualwear. For casual belts, leather isn’t the only option–there’s nylon, grosgrain (ribbon), and canvas, for starters.

If you want to look professional, I’d recommend moving away from khakis and going towards black or grey pants. In your industry, though, it might be more acceptable to wear khakis. In that case, I’d recommend a darker shade of brown. For the black or grey pants, black would be the preferred option between the two.

As for buying a belt, try Macy’s. I’ve found decent quality, stylish belts in the $30-$40 range there. Other options: Club Monaco, or the everpresent Banana Republic and Gap stores.

Add comment April 29th, 2005

Q&A: Stylish Color Combinations for Men

2 comments April 21st, 2005

Q&A: Mixing Metals

I’ve been getting more questions via email—I’m just going to make this Q&A week! If you have a burning style question, send it my way: styleintelligence@gmail.com.

Q: Is it okay to mix metals (e.g. gold and silver) when choosing jewelry?

A: Yes, it’s okay to mix metals. However, be careful to choose some unifying theme. I’d recommend choosing pieces that are similar in style, color, or even shine. You wouldn’t, for example, want to combine a shiny platinum and a dull gold. When in doubt, there are always pieces that are made of multiple metals—these generally do a good job with the combination.

Note that the same guidelines apply for picking metallic-colored pieces of clothing.

1 comment April 20th, 2005

Trendscape: Of Stripes and Sailors

One of the things I like most about this nautical-inspired trend is its inherent timelessness. Sailor stripes were chic even before Sarah Jessica Parker wore them in the final season of Sex and the City. And who can resist the understated elegance of knotted embellishments? Chances are, these items won’t be relegated to the back of the closet when the fashion magazines move on to the Next Big Trend.

A few items worth a look…

Stripe Tissue Camisole | $14.50 at JCrew
I know I’ve mentioned this one before, but I just love navy + green!

Whitney-Stripe V-Neck Tank | $28 at JCrew
Tiny horizontal stripes can be more flattering than wider ones.

Bridget Mesh Wrap Polo | $88 at Blue Label Ralph Lauren
Love the knot detailing!

And For Men:

Striped Lisle Polo | $79.50 at Polo Ralph Lauren
For a similar style at a lower price, try the Trapper’s Gorge Polo ($49.50)
at Abercrombie & Fitch.

Champlain Valley Polo | $39.50 at Abercrombie & Fitch.
A touch of pink, for those men who are comfortable with their masculinity!
Be careful, this one can come out a little "jailhouse."

Cotton Maritime-Stripe Crewneck | $58 at JCrew
Feels French, somehow.

3 comments April 15th, 2005

Ready Made Outfit: Prep School Meets Casual Friday | Men’s Edition

I highly recommend this look for a casual, yet pulled-together ensemble. It has enough polish to make you stand out, yet it is casual enough to be comfortable and fun. Great for casual workplaces, and Casual Friday at those workplaces with stricter dress codes.

Repp Pique Polo | 2 for $48 at JCrew

No Tag Fitted Cotton Crew | $16.50 at Banana Republic

3-Stripe Ribbon Belt | $55 at Polo Ralph Lauren
This belt also comes in blue, orange, and black.
For a less expensive alternative, try the belts at Club Monaco, another RL company.
Their color combinations can be a little more sophisticated as well.

Holman Fatigue Pant | $97.50 at Polo Ralph Lauren
Love the zipper detailing!

Add comment April 14th, 2005

Ready Made Outfit: Prep School Chic | Men’s Edition

What I love about this formula is that it’s so simple. It’s a very easy look to wear—great for those days when you need to look pulled together without looking as if you’re trying too hard.

The trick in upping the style factor of this formula is the color combination you choose.

My recommendations:

• Green + Navy + White. For a sporty preppy look.
• Sky Blue + Coral Orange + Purple Tinged Grey. Check out Club Monaco for these colors. Their coral color was spot on.
• Khaki + Sky Blue + Lime Green. Use the lime green as an accent color.

Summer Weight Cashmere V-Neck | $158 at JCrew
More choices abound at JCrew: a similar Pima Cotton sweater for $58, and a regular weight Cashmere one for $178. I love JCrew colors for a nice, preppy look. Check out the emerald (pictured) and navy sweaters in particular.

Summer Stripe Shirt | $65 at JCrew
A clean stripe that’s nice enough to get noticed, but not loud enough to call attention.

Tissue Chino Prospect Pant | $59.50 at Polo Ralph Lauren
This versatile pant comes in a variety of colors to suit your mood and your outfit.

Check the Style Intelligence Report tomorrow for more men’s fashion!

Add comment April 13th, 2005

Ready Made Outfit: Streetfresh Urban | Men’s Edition

For a cool, sporty look that rises above standard casual fare, try the following combination:

Jeans + Tee + Button Up Shirt + Track Jacket

To make this combination your own, look for garments with visual interest—through pattern, texture, and/or color.

You may want to add some sporty-casual sneakers to round out the outfit.

Add comment April 7th, 2005

Trend Alert: Hardware Trims on Knit

On the radar: a natural extension of the textured embellishment trend I discussed last week. Hardware trims such as zippers and metal snaps are turning up as utilitarian embellishments on clothes for both men and women. I love the contrast of the hard details on a soft piece of clothing, especially when done with a subtle hand.

I saw a couple of nice examples while trendscouting at Armani Exchange:

For Men: Zipper Placket on a Raglan Sleeve Knit Shirt.
$49.99 at A|X.

For Women: Snap detailing on a scoopneck tee.
$38.00 at A|X.

FYI–I’m taking a long weekend in LA for a mini-break and a fabric show (*sighs of happiness*). Expect a report on fabrics/colors for Spring/Summer 06 when I’m back on Tuesday!

Add comment April 1st, 2005