Subtle Sprezzatura - Socks Action

Subtle Sprezzatura is all about a simple way to break the rules and redefine an outfit. A subtle twist which crosses the line and rules without looking absurd and instead looks careless, carefree and artfully disheveled. For men the perfect way to put an outfit on its ear, add a hint of edginess and still look rakish, is with the ankle. Wearing bold and colorful socks or no socks at all, is an easy solution.

Not only does this look add an unexpected element to an outfit, it also is quite summery, especially when sockless.  Throw on a pair of white jeans and no socks or go sockless with loafers and you will not only look like summer, you will feel like it.

 

Some gentlemen tailor their entire outfit and wardrobes around bold socks, like Ign. Joseph.  Other use the bold socks to brighten a fairly mundane outfit.  This is Modern Dignified's favorite use of bold socks.  As shown here with a gray suit, white shirt and black tie.

Go boldly, go sockless, but go have fun with the ankle.

Style Profile: Norman Rockwell

Currently, I am enjoying looking back in time to how people dressed.  Understanding what truly is meant by vintage, beyond just what is spoon feed us by retailers and designers, but instead what the people of a time period really wore. Or at least what they wore in pictures and in paintings.  Norman Rockwell is a perfect place to look for an honest representation of a time period. His artwork may be idealized in themes and concepts but certainly not in his representation of people's looks and clothes. A few things about Rockwell jump out at me as I studied his artwork and him.

First off, I was impressed with his own personal style. I think that is part of the reason he represented other peoples style in such a flattering way.  He wore appropriately sized suits, great overcoats and hats.  A well dressed man for sure.

Even more impressive is his representations of other people's style.  Take for example the Freedom of speech picture at the top of the blog.  The gentleman in the picture has a vivid blue plaid shirt and well tailored jacket.  He represents the weather patina on the jacket, distinguishing it realizing the style in the man's outfit.  He looks like the man next door, with inherent style.  Take a notice at the gentleman in suits on either side of the protagonist, they both have nice suits worn in a stylish manner.

Take the picture of college student Willie Gillis.  He is casually relaxing in his dorm window reading a book and smoking a pipe.  He has a crew neck long sleeve shirt, brown pants and loafers, a very nice combination that fits him well.  To give the outfit a kick, Rockwell gives Gillis a pair of striped socks.  The reds, yellows, blacks and whites of the sock are the pop that takes the outfit from plain to stylish.

Lastly, take a look at the picture entitled, The Lineman.  Rockwell represents a power line worker in fall or winter in the middle of a repair.  The worker is quite stylish in his work clothes, utilitarian and stylish.  The buffalo check jacket with a hint of a blue workshirt popping out from the collar.  The brown khaki work pants, brown boots and matching leather gloves.  On top of his head is a navy wool cap, keeping hi head warm.  This is an effortless outfit, but still quite stylish.  Amazingly, the outfit feels modern, even now.

Norman Rockwell definitely has style.

Style Profile - Ign Joseph

Sometimes a fashion statement can be as simple as brightly colored socks.  Ign. Joseph has created a fantastically eclectic and unique style out of exquisite shoes, navy blazers, gray slacks and socks that pop with color.  Ignatious Joseph makes great shirts and clothes, they are well tailored and come in bold colors and patterns, without losing their classic feel. 

The bright burgundy shoes and bold socks seem to fit perfectly with the classic feel of the rest of his outfits.  And since the socks and shoes are so powerful, it seems appropriate that the pants don't reach the shoes and in fact are tailored to expose his bold decisions. 

Normally, I would frown upon the dramatically shortened pants, but Ign. Joseph owns the look and makes it seem quite normal.  Even without the shortened slacks we all can learn to brighten up an otherwise ordinary outfit with a bold choice in hose.

Rugby Fall 2009 Collection: Video

I'm on a Rugby by Ralph Lauren kick right now.  Check out the video for the Fall 2009 collection, it is entertaining.  Especially the hot women.

I hate that the guys in the video can't throw a rugby ball in any sort of realistic way.  But what should I expect?

Also, check out the cool skull socks.  They are sold for $15 and would make any suit pop with a real sprezzatura on the ankle.

Holiday Office Party Attire, done the right way

The proper Holiday Office Party attire should be able to be accomplished with your current wardrobe. You want to make sure the outfit is professional, classic, modern and fun. It needs to be memorable without standing out and representative of your personal style. To make sure that you fit all the requirements, stick to the mainstay classics in your wardrobe.

Classic Charcoal Gray Suit - Stick with a perfectly tailored and trim fitting suit. Make sure it compliments you and actually fits. Go with a charcoal gray, it will go with anything. You should already know what suit I am describing; yes the "Money Suit". If you live in an area where the weather is appropriate, you might want to break out the flannel suit for this occasion, but remember there will be dancing. Trust me, there will be dancing.

Black Oxford Shoes - Wear the classic black oxford shoes. This is the perfect occasion to breakout the shoes that you wear to interviews, weddings and funerals. Now add Holiday Parties to that list.

Dress Shirt - Keep it classic. The well tailored, white dress shirt with medium spread pin point collar is the perfect call for the occasion.  Think of it as the base for your tie and pocket square selection. It also makes the transition to the after party very well. Just undue the collar roll up the sleeves and you can hang all night without looking like you walked out of a Christmas themed nightmare. Remember, there will be lots of pictures and some sent to your clients and vendors, keep it classic.

Tie - For the tie I would recommend a classic gray tie with hints of red or maroon or burgundy. This will give it a hint of the holidays without making it look like you've been dreaming of a white Christmas since July. I also think a solid dark red tie in a satin or silk would look great. If you are going with a pattern, keep it small and classic. A wool tie or silk knit would also look great, as the fabric would play well against the worsted wool suit. As always make sure the tie is 3" or skinnier. Since it is a party, you can go with a tie skinnier than normal, but please do yourself a favor and do not go down to the 2" tie.

Pocket Square - Have some fun, it is a party after all.  Go with a wool or silk red pocket square, patterned with other colors if it is wool.  If it is silk, go with a dark red and avoid the true red.  Another great option is the always appropriate white linen pocket square, worn off slightly off kilter.

Sprezzatura - Don't look too perfect.  That is an easy way too look like a nancy and have everyone hate you.  Mess something up a little bit.  Unbutton your cuffs, mess up the tie a bit, keep the pocket square sloppy.  No man should ever look perfect.

Socks - Have a lot of fun with your socks.  Make them brightly colored, striped, paisley, or another pattern.  Make them a different color than the suit and shirt.  Wear red, green, whatever.  This is a great opportunity to wear green and red plaid to go with the Christmas spirit, like the one above sold at Ben Silver.  It will be recognized and you will lauded for having pride in the season.

J. Crew 2010 Spring Collection

J. Crew in my opinion is the one of the best brands for presenting Sprezzatura style.  Thanks to Frank Muytjens, J. Crew has created a very uniform style over the last few years.  Especially in the last year or so.  I feel that the brand represents the modern male fashion, preppy, tailored, sprezzatura, elegant, classic, cool while not being try hard.  They seem to be blazing the trail, while the other brands are trying to keep up with their brand representation.  I personally love the look and find quite a bit of inspiration in it.

Here is how J. Crew sees the 2010 Spring/Summer.

Navy Suit - The most classic suit in the classic American wardrobe, a navy suit.  This is a lighter navy, which makes it stand-out from the crowd.  It also prevents it from being misdiagnosed as a black suit.  It has a modern slim fit without looking ridiculous.  It also has the appropriate level of Sprezzatura: no socks, chambray shirt, slightly rolled cuff.  It also has the appropriate level of classic elements: rounded toe wingtips, pocket square and navy suit.  A great outfit.

This outfit looks like something worn by a Kennedy on Holiday in Cape Cod.  Classic sunglasses, Sperry Topsiders, chinos and a button-down.  A very casual cool weekend uniform.

The best part of this outfit is the tan shoes.  I prefer the shoes to be oxfords and not bluchers, but I do like the bulk of the blucher, especially for a casual outfit.  I also like the tie for this outfit is light colored and almost gets lost in the outfit.  It is very Sprezzatura to wear the tie lose with a tie bar, very cool.

Tan suede desert boots, slim straight destructed jeans and a red chambray shirt.  It doesn't get much more casual than this outfit, yet due to the color and textures it is still stylish.  This outfit is appropriate for errands on a Sunday, but can still be worn on a casual date.

This is my favorite outfit of the J. Crew collection.  This outfit would be cool in 50s or 60s or today.  The outfit is a great representation of the American style while not looking cliche or overplayed.  The green jacket with red plaid lining is a standout piece, without being over whelming.  The blue shirt, gray sweater and chinos is classic and stylish and cool.  The washed chinos make it sprezzatura and the slim lines make it modern.  Also, the outfit is much more casual with the shoes, a more formal.

Chino suits are great for the summer, so are topsiders.  The combination is classic and contradictory, a good thing for any outfit.  I would lose the bow tie though.

Nice weekender bag, it looks like his father owned it, exactly the right look.  A denim shirt and denim jeans can look horrible and the epitome of style, but due to the shoes, the Sprezzatura way the shirt is haphazardly worn and tucked in and the slim fit jeans, the outfit looks modern.

Who doesn't like a sweater with shorts?  I always love a gray undershirt, that look never gets old.  Throw on topsiders and the outfit is complete.  I would lose the ugly ass big bag though.  For the love of all that is manly, leave the purse carrying to the women.

Shawl collar cardigan fantastically classic and modern.  It is a look that never leaves the closet of the stylish but is now being added to the closet of the fashionable.  I still think you should wear it, I know Steve McQueen did.  The chambray shirt adds depth to the outfit.  Also, shorts with desert boots is the sartorial contradiction that is both modern and Sprezzatura, it is completely unexpected and appropriate.

In this photo I really dig the white blazer.  It is a look that is perfect for the Spring/Summer.  Make the blazer a shawl collar, slim fit and washed, and no one will think you just walked out of Saturday Night Fever.  I also appreciate the chino suit jacket paired with the navy suit pants, it is a nice color combination.

The blue chino slim fit pants in this picture (on the left) are great.  The color and the fit make them enormously useful.  They go with almost any color in a closet and make an outfit standout.  All that while still being classic and not standing out and making you look like a jackass.

Here is a close-up of the chambray shirt.  It is an interesting shirt a good color and has depth since it has multiple levels of blue in the fabric.  The tab color also makes it more interesting than the standard shirt.  The military green belt is also a great touch.  It is rugged and aggressive but also very stylish, especially when worn with a nice pair of chinos.

Could you add any more colors or patterns?  Probably not, but the outfit still works.  This is the ultimate Sprezzatura, it looks like he dressed himself in the dark, yet still "luckily" got it right.  This is modern fashion at its best, unexpected, daring, classic and incredibly interesting.

J. Crew inpires me.  Good job Frank Muytjens.  By the way, Frank Muytjens personal style is also quite interesting.  The shoes and purple socks are fantastic.  I love that the socks match nothing on the outfit.