Indochino 2010
Reintroducing the classics we all love, Indochino has a brand new collection for 2010!
Archive for January, 2010
Jan 19
Jan 18
2010: Time To Go Bold
Suit + Pocket Square: H&M, Shirt + Tie: Indochino, Gloves: H&M, Jacket: Patrizia Pepe, Watch: Burberry, Briefcase: Coach, Glasses: Ray Ban, Hat: Cato's Army Navy
In 2009 I was so happy to see men taking notice of their tailoring after the advent of the Mad Men craze as well as slimmer silhouettes coming into play. The only drawback I observed was that very little risk was taken. We all seemed to stick to understated looks which, in essence, is amazingly classic and works at every turn but I felt that my own wardrobe choices were missing something:
BALLS.
And what is making a statement without a giant set of sartorial cojones? This year, I am choosing to go bold.
Big glasses, heavy patterns, nothing too matchy…a subtle shift in what I was building in 2009. I will, by no means, be wearing man skirts, but I will be pushing my own limits in terms of pattern mixtures and accessories.
One of my first moves was to purchase an over sized pair of Ray Ban wayfarers.
I love basing outfit choices around these glasses because the bolder you go with the outfit, the more they stand out.
Welcome to 2010, boys. The year we get our balls back.
Jan 13
Year In Review 2009: OMG, Shoes
Shoes are often the last thing I thought about but found them to be the most important part of rounding the edge of a perfect wardrobe. Since shoe shopping can be a really daunting task, I will make it very simple for you.
The Necessities:
All you really need is what you see above. One pair of winter boots (Guess, $69.99), one pair of brown shoes (H&M, $59.99), and one pair of black cap toe oxfords (DKNY, $25.00). Honestly, this is all you will ever need. All the rest is fluff.
I do, however, love me some fluff.
The Fluff
Boots. They can be rugged and manly, or sharp and dandy. Either way, I like to have two pair in my closet: one pair black (Via Spiga $69.99), and one pair light brown (Daffy’s $59.99). These are really good because both go with jeans and suits really well.
The Shoe Tool
My use of the blasphemous plastic shoe tree will no doubt be poo-pooed by most but I find the $45.00 cedar pairs a little out of my budget but the plastic shoe trees do the job pretty well at $5.99. These are really important for keeping your shoes wrinkle free and looking new.
The Shoe Shine Kit
This is something I actually need to get together this year. My father, an Italian immigrant, first earned his living in the States by shining shoes for a nickle. That grand tradition carried on and he, to this day, has a leather bound pouch filled with all the equipment needed for a proper shoe shine. I highly recommend a DIY shoe shine because it saves you money and is actually a fun little chore to do once or twice a week.
If you don’t know where the name of this blog post came from, please enjoy the following educational video:
Jan 11
Year In Review: A Wise Investment, Part 2
Tuxedo by Indochino
Gather round, boys and I shall tell you a tale. A tale of a young co worker who was in desperate need of a tuxedo when he realized he had nothing to wear to a full on black tie event being hosted by one of our biggest clients. Of course, this young man came to me and, thankfully, his frame fit the tuxedo my father had given me. At the event, he was a shining star and everyone took notice.
Let me say that his original intent was to wear a black suit with sneakers. I cannot begin to tell you just how wrong this was for a full on black tie event. Luckily I was there to help him out. But what if I wasn’t? What if he HAD gone with the original plan? I shudder at the thought.
In 2009, I bought a tuxedo from Indochino. It was a whopping $299, cut beautifully, and made from high quality fabrics. I never had any use for a tuxedo before but I thought to myself since I have all these suits, why not make an investment in a tux? I felt like I really should have one for a “just in case” moment such as the example above.
In 2010, you should consider a custom made or off the rack tuxedo (think Ralph Lauren, not Men’s Warehouse) because rented tux’s almost always look like shit. Seriously. They do.
You also never know when you are going to be presented with that invitation to a black tie event.
And since we don’t work together, I won’t be able to loan you one of mine.
Jan 6
Year In Review 2009: A Wise Investment
Indochino Custom Dress Shirts - 3 for $199
The white shirt is the cornerstone of every man’s wardrobe. So in 2009, I bought plenty from Indochino. They are well cut, made from top material, and shrink to perfection. I cannot tell you just how important and essential white shirts are. They can go with most anything and always present a clean, finished look to your suits or jeans.
I prefer french cuffs on mine as well as standard pointed collars. Once in a while I will chose a spread collar but almost always go for the french cuff/point combination.
You should have AT LEAST 3 white shirts in your wardrobe and they should fit trim to the body. F0r your first three go for one with French Cuffs, one with an Oxford Collar, and one standard barrel cuff with a spread collar. That way you will always have a choice.
I go with custom made for my own shirts and HIGHLY recommend you do too, but you can find comparable brands like Brooks Brothers and even the Merona brand at Target. Just make sure the sleeves are long enough. Almost 80% of the time men don’t realize their shirts are too short on the sleeves.
Take care of your shirts with minimal dry cleaning, wash and press at the cleaners, or if you have access to your own washer dryer keep them going with cold water washes on the gentle cycle. Finish them off with a light drying and a steam iron.
Trust me, you’ll be very happy when you see those pearly whites staring back at you from your shirt collection.
Jan 4
Year In Review: How Much I Spent On My 2009 Wardrobe
Rice Pin Stripe Suit (From Daffy's $139), H&M Gingham Shirt ($39), H&M Tie ($20)
This question had to be answered as this blog was as much an experiment in bank as it was style.
In 2009 I formed my own company. This extra income plus my day job’s steady check started to bring in more money than I ever made before. A huge chunk was used to pay off all my debt, buy equipment for the company, and put aside enough to revamp my wardrobe throughout the year. As I flipped through GQ for style inspiration I decided I would, for the cost of just one of the higher end suits they feature, build an entire wardrobe. Amazingly enough, this dream became a reality.
I cannot say I have not received discounts and freebies from some of the menswear outlets that have been featured on this blog but even without the freebies I managed to build a lot of my wardrobe on my own and with my own money.
The cost for my entire wardrobe including tailoring, shoes, shirts, hats, etc. came out to about $5,000. Now this may seem like a lot but we are talking an ENTIRE wardrobe here. That is almost exactly the amount of a PRADA suit I saw showcased in last year’s GQ.
The point of this is that maybe you do not want or even need as much as I did but you can certainly set aside $1,000 from a bonus or savings, take it, and invest in some nice custom shirts, a suit, jeans, and some shoes. I showed you through out 2009 how you can do it.
In 2010, step up your game and go for it. It’s worth the money.
