Friday Faux Pas: Button-Down Dress Shirts

In fashion and style, details are everything, and one in particular has become quite an issue with men, young and old. Getting dressed to the nines can all go to waste with the simplest of things, and this case, it just so happens to come in the form of two buttons and a collar.

This is casual.

Pinpointing this bad habit's origin isn't possible, but look around and you'll notice plenty of men decked out button down oxfords, thinking its the normal thing to do. Maybe the southern prep culture is to blame, or maybe the president during any of his public addresses. Not to say that wearing an oxford with a tie and suit or sport coat is a bad thing, but it's not a dressed up look and attempting to use it in that way is downright wrong. When it comes to collar choice for anything even remotely dressy or formal, spread or cutaway collars are the only way to go, portraying an elevated sense of fashion and understanding of true style.

This is dressy.

Check in tomorrow for a stylish celebrity influence and next Friday for another installment of my fashion faux pas!

Threads for Thought: New Age Branding

Branding is typically pretty high up on the list when it comes fashion faux pas as it usually comes off as a gaudy attempt to show off a brand or to call attention to someone. Some of the companies out there are trying to change that stigma by re imagining the who branding process.

Leader of this regime? Supreme, the exclusive skate company out of New York that likes to create trendy pieces and then find unique ways to brand them.  Most times that means plastering Supreme in all caps across the chest and other times its a subtle nod to the company. They seemed to have sparked other companies to do the same, changing the norm from company logos to something completely different.

The idea here though is to not go over the top with any of the branding, the logo may be the focal point of the piece it is on, but it shouldn't be the focal point of any outfit. Chances are there will be a chance to throw a layer over the branded piece, take that opportunity and turn the comments from "You must like BRAND X" to "Oh, that's a cool logo, who is that?"; conversation pieces are much better when someone actually has to ask about it.

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

Wardrobe Essentials: Houndstooth

Simple and clean looks with loads of depth and texture are essential to cold-weather style, but sometimes a wrench needs to be thrown into the engine to break up the monotony. That's what plaids, checks, and stripes are for, but are admittedly an unimaginative lot in terms of pattern.

Houndstooth is the answer to this creative issue, providing a unique take on a checkered print. Look closely at any Glen Plaid piece you have and at the intersection of the plaid will be a small cluster of the houndstooth pattern. Now take that, and blow it up to not so minute proportions, and create a style staple for many years to come. Traditionally available in white/cream and black, this pattern will jive well with any and all colors.

There are two routes to take on the houndstooth journey, clothing and accessories. Overcoats? Blazers? Pants? Shirts? Pretty much any piece of apparel out there will be made up in houndstooth somewhere, it just takes some searching. Accessories are where the fun is at, with ties and pocket squares and hats, oh my! There are plenty more examples, but the idea here is to blow up the pattern so that everyone knows that it is indeed houndstooth on your person.

Check in tomorrow for a fashion piece that deserves your consideration and next Wednesday for another piece that needs to be in your closet!