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Archive for February, 2010

End Of Winter Blues

Well boys, we are reaching the end of winter and while it’s still colder than a witches teet out there, I really love the style that winter brings. I’m such a sucker for a hearty wool, thick boot, and a driver’s cap. So towards the end of my favorite dressing season, I like to go with my trusted Imparali 3 piece around the office as it offers a great look with a jacket:

Made to Measure Suit: Imparali $500, Custom Shirt: Indochino $99, Tie: Vintage YSL: $1, Hat: $10, Glasses: Ray Ban $160

And without:

The Purple Pinstripe, Minus One Button

Indochino has upped their game so much since I discovered them a year ago it’s scary. They went from producing really nicely made custom suits with decent fabrics to making amazing custom pieces out of really, really nice fabric.

Let’s take their Purple Pinstripe suit as an example. When I spoke to them about creating a bolder suit rather than the usual two button numbers I usually go for we thought this was a great choice. I don’t know exactly what thread count the fabric is but it is soft and lush, definitely not stiff. It flows gently and is very comfortable on the body. For the button choice, I chose only ONE for the suit. I wanted a one button suit in my wardrobe since all have two. The fit on this is what really shines through, though.

There are some really wonderful touches on this suit as well. Each button hole is outlined in a lighter purple than the suit itself making the functional button holes really something to look at:

You get to choose the lining color as well and I went for the standard dark purple on the inside which matches my purple H&M pocket square perfectly. Of course, I had to add my very own MADE TO MEASURE, NY monogramming as well.

Unfortunately this suit is no longer available but I’m sure you can find something comparable through them. What I really am trying to show through this post is just how creative you can get with a custom piece. I also feel that a subtle colored suit like this purple number adds a nice bit of kick to your day to day suit wearing. It’s bold but not brazen with nice little details that will surely get noticed.

Raising Caine: The Alfie

Suit: Lands' End, Shirt + Cufflinks: Indochino, Pocket Square: Perry Ellis, Shoes: H&M

When I think of the original ALFIE I think swinging London and slim cut Saville Row suits. For this look I put together what I think would have definitely been part of Alfie’s sartorial rotation. Grey pinstripe slim tailored suit, white french cuff shirt with silver cufflinks, white pocket square, no tie, and some brown shoes.

This is a very simple yet effective piece that works on any man. Even if you’re not as promiscuous as Alfie was.

Raising Caine: How To Dress Like Carter

Suit: Indochino, Shirt: Indochino, Tie: H&M, Cufflinks: Vintage, Shoes: Via Spiga

The key to the Get Carter look is to keep it totally simple. Caine exudes minimalist elegance with a sharp fitting 3 piece suit in navy blue and a shiny pair of black shoes/boots.

For the shirt, go for a light blue to contrast a bold dark blue tie. The pictured tie is thin but a thicker option is preferable. Go without a pocket square and for the hardware keep it simple as well. A silver chronograph will complete your Carter look to perfection.

Style Icon: Michael Caine

The first time I saw the film GET CARTER was on a rainy afternoon sometime  in early 2000. During this time, I fancied myself a bit of a mod and loved to soak up anything and everything British and/or Swinging London.

Enter Sir Michael Caine as the hard boiled Jack Carter who is out for revenge and drenched in style.

It was because of this movie that I started to look up to young Michael Caine as a non stop shop of style  inspiration.It’s not so much what he wears but how he has it tailored. Everything always fit him incredibly well. Take, for instance, this screen shot from GET CARTER. His navy 3 piece suit is just impeccably fitted with just the right amount of cuff peaking out from the sleeves. Throughout the film he wears it just like Cary Grant wears his sartorial masterpiece in North By Northwest:

Maybe it is the inherent sense of English tailoring that seeps into the sartorial mind of most British men or maybe it’s just the simple fact that Michael Caine knew how to dress, but one thing is for sure:

Young Micahel Caine is a sartorial force to be reckoned with.

Over the next few days I will put together some options so that you too raise a  little bit of Caine where ever you may go.

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