Friday Faux Pas: Button-Up

February 27, 2015

Hey readers! I will be attaching a quick little survey for you to fill out in the next couple of posts. I only ask for your participation once, but I'm looking to make some changes and want to get your feedback! Thanks for reading!

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Casual is always cool, and some would call it the center of the nonchalance that is in full force in the menswear landscape. But, as with anything, moderation is crucial with the details; they're what set you apart and also show that you know what you're doing.

Please stop.

One of the biggest missteps in the casual corridor is leaving too many shirt buttons undone, flashing off too much skin. There is no "fine line" rule for how many buttons should or shouldn't be used on a shirt, but that's because there's not much real estate to work with at only 7 buttons. Treat an unbuttoned shirt just the same as a v-neck tee (the deeper, the douchier) although the less buttons in this case, the more an asshole you become. 2 buttons undone is the sweet spot for sporting the casual vibe without being "that guy" showing off all those chest follicles, so follow suit.

Much better.

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

Threads for Thought: Tie Belt

February 26, 2015

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Ties happen to be one of the most important accessories in the sartorial ways of menswear, being the focal point of most of the street styles that pop up throughout the Internets. But from the streets to the office, they tend to only be worn as prescribed, around the neck and in a crisp knot.

Let's inject a little laissez faire and creativity into the normal structure of the everyday garb and use the tie for something other than a tie. Instead of your collar, turn to your belt loops and use the old mainstay to hold your pants up. Everyone is used to seeing a simple strip of leather or cotton or at the very most, a needlepoint, so subbing in a tie will change the game tremendously. A tie with a simple pattern calls for another part of the outfit to have some print or texture with a more complex tie requiring basic pieces to pair with. It's a style move that can upgrade a look in the same way that a silk scarf would, but none of us seem to take advantage of it; major style points for tying the knot a little off center and askew!

Check in tomorrow for the next installation of my fashion faux pas and next Thursday for another fashion piece that deserves your consideration!

Wardrobe Essential: The Croc Belt

February 25, 2015

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Accessories don't make the man, but they sure as hell make him all the more interesting, and the importance of choosing those accessories wisely cannot be overstated. Some of these accessories are fleeting, some are seasonal, and then some are meant to last in your closet (practically) forever; guess which one a croc belt falls under.

When is the last time you really looked at you belt/belts? Any of them with even a little bit of use will reveal that belts really take a beating, and that a sub-par leather is doomed to tear and deform before you have time to find a new one. Croc leather is unique in that it is extremely durable while remaining very pliable, meaning there couldn't be a better option when it comes to belt leather. Just a little cherry on top of all the utility it brings to the table, croc skin is also a badass detail that gains a gorgeous patina as the years rack up. The first one in your collection should be the same color as the shade of shoes that you wear the most; precedent suggests black, but even though every man should have black shoes, doesn't mean they get worn as much as a pair of tan penny loafers or brown brogues.