Friday Faux Pas: Dirty Shoes

In this month's issue of GQ, the king of cool and all-time fashion master, Pharrell Williams, was featured within the pages of the Style Bible section. He was referred to as a man that isn't afraid to change it up and do the unthinkable, but there was one part of that irked me the wrong way, and that particularly being his shoe choice in one of his spreads.

Freshening up an old charcoal or navy suit is always something that needs to be done from time to time seeing as they are very classic pieces. The way that GQ and Pharrell went about it was spectacular with a bold patterned shirt, bright tie, but then all fell short with the addition of "yard work sneakers". Basically, wear the shoes that you have long since siphoned away to the garage for those moments when the deck needs refinishing, the lawn needs mowing, or the hedges need pruning.

The shoes are the only culprit in this look.

GQ has a lot of great advice and I look to them for a lot of my inspiration (along with an array of other sources), but that doesn't always mean that they're right. I completely agree with the choice to sport sneakers with a suit, but I want them as crisp and clean as the suit suggests they should be. This fact extends to other facets of your style, your shoes should be clean and crisp, leave those manual labor shoes wear they belong.

I will be on the road this weekend so check in on Sunday for my weekly recap and next Friday for another installment of my fashion faux pas!

Threads for Thought: Bow Ties

I know last Thursday featured the knit ties and that was inspired by the fact that there is such a rift in the fashion community over the subject. Today's post is inspired by my brother or at least his reluctance to adopt a style piece that has been around for centuries and will remain long past his and our time on this earth. That piece is the bow tie or affectionately referred to by my former Irish roommates, the "Dickie Bow".

Swizz Beats doing it jazzy and casual.

The first bow ties can be traced to the 17th Century in Croatia but really gained its popularity in the following centuries among the French upper class, and since then, the bow tie has remained a staple in most men's closets. Nowadays, men are scared of the bow tie or at least the assumed "stigma" a bow tie exudes, which in my eyes is elegance and sophistication. Still, it is an item that most men shy away from.

Clooney doing it classy and formal.

If you're making your first purchase and not very sure-footed about a bow tie, The Tie Bar is a great source. If you're a seasoned vet that's looking to add to your collection, you should still check with The Tie Bar because they probably have something you've never seen before. Bow ties allow for more flashiness because they're smaller than a long tie and therefore won't dominate your look if its garishly designed.

Check in next tomorrow for another edition of my fashion faux pas and next Thursday for more pieces that beg your consideration!

Wardrobe Essentials: Street Shoes

When you think of fashion and you think of style, the blinders come on and you think the only thing you can wear are dress shoes or similar footwear that share the same shroud as dress shoes. The reality is that you shouldn't restrict yourself to just that genre of footwear; it's time you venture out into the street shoe world.

Yes, the sport coat, but check the shoes!

The title "street shoe" encompasses a broad spectrum of styles but can be broken down simply as a casual sneaker that can be worn with shorts and a t-shirt as easily as with a suit and tie. Ideally your choice would be for a solid color, and as for which color, that's all up to your personal preference. White will be versatile but may lack in character, where a crisp red will add a pop to any outfit you wear them with.

Converse is a great company for finding such a shoe, with great selections of Jack Purcell's and Chuck Taylor's that are classic and trendy all in one. But if you're looking to splurge a little more, designers have been pumping out luxe trainers lately that emulate that casual look with higher quality fabrics and leather that will make your feet feel like they're in heaven! Either way, the options are out there and with spring timidly approaching, now is the time to get a pair.

Gucci: $540

The Hillside: $175

Converse: $75

Check in tomorrow for a fashion piece that begs your consideration and next Wednesday for an essential piece for your closet!