Skip to content

Archive for August, 2010

Aug 30

2 Comments

Fall Essentials 2010: Gray Flannel Suit

This iconic outfit worn by Gregory Peck in “The Man In The Gray Flannel Suit”  was originally meant to represent his character Tom Rath as a hopeless corporate drone. The uniform of choice for those that had none.

For my generation, the flannel suit has taken on a new persona exemplifying class, elegance, and respect for classic tailoring. Only to be worn in the colder months of the year, a well made flannel suit will keep you protected from harsh elements. On the less brutal days, you may even be able to get away with not wearing a top coat.

With respect to Mr. Peck I feel the first flannel you should own is a simple gray one that follows the guidelines of a classic cut suit. I do not mean boxy but rather a suit with classic size lapels, a good button stance, and a proper fit. For this kind of venture one should consider spending a bit more on good fabric and going custom all the way because a well constructed flannel suit is one that can last long and be passed down to your son, nephew, or grandson. The pieces are also extremely versatile and can be worn separate or together allowing for multiple looks.

This fall and winter I hope you take the leap forward and purchase your own flannel suit.

Just remember:

Keep It Classic.

Keep It Simple.

Keep It Forever.

Gray Flannel Suit by Imparali Custom Tailors. Call For Pricing - 212-245-5555.

Aug 26

4 Comments

Fall Essentials 2010: Cap And Boots

There’s a very pleasing aesthetic in slim boots that can be worn with a suit. The most famous of all being the pair I found at Daffy’s. The reason I call them famous is because I have received at least a dozen e-mails about what brand they are and can only respond with “I don’t know” as the name/make has worn off the inside. Oddly enough, while flipping through Esquire this month I saw a strangely similar pair that are way more expensive. You can see them at the bottom of this article. I wonder if they’ve been reading? Hmmm….

Anywho, the perfect partner to the fall boot is most definitely a nice wool cap. If you look hard enough you can find really great quality at a low cost. My suggestion would be to check out your local Army Navy store. They usually carry them and are built to last through anything. I was lucky enough to find my favorite wool cap 5 years ago from a street vendor in Brooklyn for $10. To anyone who claims that you have to spend an excess of $200 on a cap for it to last is delusional. I’ve cleaned this cap a few times since I have owned it, stored it in a dry place on the off seasons, and it’s still like brand new.

Try your own cap and boot combination this Fall season.

Aug 25

6 Comments

Fall 2010 Essentials: Tote Bag

For the man who is constantly on the go a tote bag is more of a necessity than a desire. For professional purposes I use briefcases from Coach but for the everyday haul I go with a tote bag.

I do not for the life of me understand why some men feel this option is “girly”. A tote bag is more universal and practical for a man than most would think especially if said man is the father of a newborn who has to lug around tons of baby gear.

My own purchase is a simple, rugged piece that I found at Target for $39.99. It is in a nice orange color with brown trimmings making it easy on the eye. It also can carry a lot of items and has tons of inside pockets for pens, your mobile device, notebooks, and whatever else you can stuff in there.

The beauty of a piece like this is that it’s a four season bag. It can survive beach trips, weekends in the snow, and those lovely spring showers. I beat the hell out of this thing  and it’s no worse for wear than it was when I first purchased it. So far it’s been on a plane, stuffed in a trunk throughout most of Jacksonville Florida, and taken on beach trips as well.

If you can find it in your heart to drop the whole “real men don’t use tote bags” act, definitely pick one up. It’s well worth it.

Aug 23

6 Comments

Fall Essentials 2010: The Leather Jacket

I finally got around to seeing INCEPTION a few weeks ago and was blown away not only by the film itself but also by the immaculate attention to menswear. It is very rare to see this kind of menswear on film since the Bond films. There’s tuxedos, finely tailored suits, and, when the characters are in “casual” mode, beautifully fitted leather jackets.

Fall is an excellent time to experiment with said piece as long as you wear it right. What you want to completely avoid is a jacket that is too big or too small. You have to find one that you can freely zip up but not be over sized. I’ve seen too many men making this mistake and it looks the exact opposite of badass.

My own piece is colored in black/gray by Kenneth Cole. I found it here at the Bay Ridge Century 21 outlet for $200 last year. It’s a real nice piece and fits perfectly. My own is with a motorcycle collar and looks great with almost everything I can throw at it. The selling point on it, though, was the quality of the leather. Soft to the touch and very sturdy it feels like the jacket will live longer than myself.

There are many places that you can find a quality leather jacket for under $500. I suggest outlets, vintage stores, and even eBay. Definitely start looking for one this season.

Your lady friend will appreciate it on you, too.

Aug 19

4 Comments

Fall 2010 Essentials: The Updated Odd Jacket

The term “odd jacket”, for those not familiar, is a fancy word for a blazer (a jacket that doesn’t come with a suit). If ever you want to impress your friends with such terminology, you can read more about it here.

I know a lot of you may be thinking “Well, can’t I just use one of my suit’s coats?” The answer is generally “No” to this unless you are dealing with a jacket from a tweed suit. Suit coats that are part of a set worn with jeans just look bad most of the time. Maybe it’s my personal preference or I am too opinionated but when I see a guy trying to look “downtown” wearing what is obviously part of his favorite suit on top of jeans with a t-shirt it just cries out awful.

An odd jacket usually contains certain elements that a suit coat does not. Patch pockets, leather elbow patches, various and interesting collars are just a few things that separate the odd jacket from the suit coat. Hence, you can pair it better with the likes of jeans and khakis without looking like you forgot to put on your full suit.

The first thing you have to think of when purchasing an odd jacket for the fall is versatility. Don’t go too overboard on your first purchase. Find something that’s slim cut and with some really cool additions. One really affordable option that I have is from H&M. While I cannot vouch for their construction, this piece is made well and feels nice and sturdy when I put it on. It goes with a t-shirt, jeans, khakis, a button up, a polo, a tie…the list goes on for a while. It’s also colored in fail safe navy making it a very safe purchase. I scored this for a mere $20 on sale. It does have to take a trip to the tailor as it’s a little tight on the chest.

As you can see, it looks a lot like a suit coat but has some really cool additions to it. It’s also a three button so on the windier days you can button the top two (never ever ever ever the third) and pop the collar for extra protection.

Another safe and sweet option is a number from Indochino called the Montauk Blazer. I don’t own one but I do really love the peak lapels, white buttons, and the material looks Fall ready. I do think this is better reserved for those warmer Fall days but overall it’s a good option to have.

Then there’s the eBay option. You can always find ridiculous and amazing odd jackets there. A good example would be the tweed Bil Blass one I was going to pull the trigger on but ended up not due to the shoulder size being about 2 inches too wide. This one is not for the faint of heart but hell, if you are feeling brave enough go for it. You can pair this bad boy with jeans, trousers, sweaters, etc. And it was listed at only $34 which is a steal.

So there you have it boys. Pick a side and go get yourself a Fall odd jacket. Your wardrobe deserves it.

Aug 18

3 Comments

Fall 2010 Essentials: Suede Bucks

There is something very rugged about a suede shoe. The material itself cries out warmth and is versatile enough to go with numerous ensembles. The suede buck is a shoe I really have become fond of and it is perfect for the Fall.

I had found an excellent pair at Target for $29 earlier this year and absolutely love them. I will be replacing the rubber soles with leather at my cobbler but for now they are holding up nicely.I actually like the rubber sole, though, as I usually slip and slide all over the NYC streets in my leather soled shoes.

The important thing about buying an item for $29 is not treating it like you did. In addition to the shoes I also purchased a suede nubuck brush and cleaner set from KIWI. I make sure to NEVER wear them at the slightest chance of rain or snow and always keep shoes trees in them. Treating them this way has made them look better than the day I bought them.

As an alternative, Land’s End has some nice sets on sale at the moment here:

« Older Entries
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 568 other followers