Clae

Clae shoes, the essence of the modern kick, simple, plain, elegant.  Clean lines, interesting textures, good construction and a great profile.  With the clean classic styling to this shoe it could be worn with jeans or dressed up with chinos.  This shoe would work with shorts or support a hefty fall wardrobe of flannel and layers. 

With this shoe, it is the flannel texture with the gray leather accents that really provide the visual intrigue.  Its all about the depth and warmth that this shoe which is complimented with the basic and attractive profile.  If you are looking for a sneaker for fall, take a look at Clae.

Holiday Office Party

First and Foremost, I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday.

Pictures are in from the Holiday Office Party.  I wore a gray charcoal Hugo Boss suit, a white bespoke shirt and an Express wool plaid tie.  The tie is mainly gray and black with highlights of red and white.  This is paired with a red silk pocket square.  The silk compliments the wool tie well, as the different fabric add interest to the outfit.  The red in the square picks up the same color in the tie, helping to accent it, without being too much red, or looking too thought out.

A man never wants the outfit to look too planned, accidentally color coordinated and planned is the goal.  What I choose to call sprezzatura. 

Morris Stockholm: Fall 2009 Collection

Morris Stockholm called their Fall 2009 collection, Preppy Autumn.  An apropos name for the feel and look of the Fall collection.  I have become a fan of the Morris Stockholm look.  A look that is preppy, sprezzatura, carefree, classic and modern.

Morris Stockholm utilizes the classic F' 'em pants in the both their Spring and Fall collections.  Appropriately, the Fall collection are strong classic colors, base colors; red, blue & green.  The Spring F' 'em pants are in pink, pastel blue & pastel green.  Each season the color pallet changes and this is well recognized in the collections.  Heavy usage of colors, but the appropriate colors for each season.

A classic corduroy blazer, with elbow patches and leather buttons in a modern slim fit.  The sleeves are trim, which make the blazer look quite trim.  Navy patterned tie and patterned v-neck sweater, worn over a blue oxford shirt.  This is a nice combination of colors and patterns.  I also like the combination of wheat colored coat with gray slacks.  A mix of colors that is quite fall.

The lines on this outfit are very modern: slim, trim and clean.  The jacket is beautifully cut and in loud and broad colors in a great plaid pattern, this jacket will certainly stand out in the crowd.  I also love the tan shoes, both color and cut. 

The clean cut blazer in this outfit is gorgeous.  It is elegant, classic and has a modern cut, a great mix of two worlds.  The purple socks are an amazing touch with this outfit.  They are a pop of color that is otherwise not in the outfit.  That is the definition of artful dishevelment, sprezzatura.

I love the red flannel lining the underside of the jackets collar.  It adds a great unique element to an otherwise classic jacket.  And with this kind of jacket, you should actually be wearing it with the collar popped.  On overcoats, it is okay, on polos, it is a disgrace to your entire family.

Red plaid shirts are quite popular right now.  They are being worn in a variety of ways, but paired with tan/wheat colored corduroy pants it is not seen that often.  It is a great way to wear the shirt without channeling lumberjacks or farmers.  The oilcloth jacket is nice as well.

The story here is the red scarf with an otherwise purple outfit.  This is a beautiful mix of colors, but a very unusual one.  The addition of a red scarf takes this outfit to another level, something to remember when picking out a scarf in the future.

If a red scarf is the story in the last outfit, the red belt is the story in this outfit.  Once again the outfit is trim and modern in the fit.  Which makes the classic pairing look young and modern.  Add a bright red belt, as the sprezzatura element on the outfit, and you have an amazing outfit.

More bright colored F' 'em pants cut in a modern slim fit.  I personally would opt for a charcoal jacket, instead of the black featured here.  I actually think it would help make the whole outfit more cohesive.

Enjoy the weekend.

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.

Time for London Fog

It is the time of year to break out the London Fog.  Classic styling, good quality all-weather coats come from London Fog.  The coats are for the most part under $150 and will keep you dry and warm when needed.  It is time for London Fog to be broken out.  And if you don't have one to pick one up.

How bad can a brand be that uses Gisele Bundchen in their ad campaign as such?

John Varvatos Pants Update...

A few weeks ago I went to the John Varvatos Warehouse sale at the Convention Center in Downtown. I was disappointed in the selection but I did find a pair of lightweight chinos, which had to be shortened by a tailor to fit my legs. After finding the time to take them in and pick them up again, they are finally back. Shortened to my preferred hem length the chinos look great, well at least as good as anything can look on me.

Excuse the horrible pictures, I am not adept at taking pictures in mirrors, but I will try to get better.  Also realize the pants look as those they have a stain on them, which is in reality a smudge on the mirror and not the pants.  I also provided a picture of my complete outfit which was taken in the hallway mirror, excuse the bad lighting. I am certainly glad that we have fall like weather in LA, at least for the beginning of the week. It is nice to break out the sweaters and trench/over coats. We are supposed to have weather in the mid 60s with a chance of rain for the first three days of the week, before it jumps back up to the 80s.  LA weather certainly keeps you on your toes this time of year.

Today, I decided to wear the new John Varvatos pants, I am always antsy to wear the new stuff, with green gray slip-ons. On top is a blue micro-check gingham light blue & white shirt, a navy sweater with a blue gray, light blue & white argyle pattern on the front. And finally, a Banana Republic trench coat just in case it rains, like the weather man warned. The trench coat might be the best pick up of the early fall, I bought it on sale for $35 since few in LA feel the need to be appropriately prepared for rain, rain essentials are often steeply discounted at retail chains so that they will not take up space in the stores for long.  One of the advantages of living in LA, a disadvantage is the selection is always drastically limited.

After all the ramblings, I have to say I am pleased with the John Varvatos Warehouse Sale purchase.

A Pop of Color

Purple & Yellow Combo by DandyFashioner on Polyvore.com

A pop of color is best done with well selected accessories.  In the example above a purple sweater and white shirt are worn with a simple gray suit.  These pieces can be found anywhere and are in most men's closets.  It is the scarf and pocket square that make this outfit noticeable and unique.  The yellow, blue & purple are found in the scarf and the pocket square, but in different patterns.  They play with each other without looking like a pre-planned set.  There overall appearance would also be minimized once the outfit is worn, but the pops of color are still quite noticeable and pleasant to the eye. 

It must be noted that all of the items have classic styling and by themselves would not be memorable.  Only when they are put together do the items pop.  The purple background of the sweater is key too, since it is a complimentary color to the yellow and works in both the pocket square and scarf.  The colors in this outfit all work off the color wheel, which is a key to making sure the pop of color matches and not clashes.

This outfit would also work with a plain yellow scarf and a purple & yellow pocket square.  Simplicity may be more the style that you prefer, which is always a classic. 

When looking for a pop of color, think classic styles, simple basic colors and keep them complimentary.  In formal or casual wear, this concept will work great.  Sprezzatura is all about keeping people on their toes with colors, style and wear.

Fall Necktie - Paisley

The closer we get to the cold weather of fall the more I think about about paisley ties. My favorites are wool or flannel material paisley ties, but this season there are a lot of great paisley ties.

Ben Silver makes this great wool tie. I prefer the mustard and red versions of the tie but it comes in multiple different colors.

Drakes of London makes these two Paisley ties. Their bespoke ties are the ultimate of luxury.

Faconnable makes a great paisley pocket square & tie.

Robert Talbott makes a beautiful paisley tie this season. It has a beautiful design more focused on other elements than the paisley tear drop.

XMI makes this great paisley. The colors are all utilized in fall and make this tie quite versatile.

Enjoy the paisley.

Fall Essentials - Shawl Collar Sweater

Retro is back in fashion and that is certainly evident with shawl collar sweaters. I am still a little undecided if I love or ate the look, but it is certainly something different, which is always needed in men's fashion. Plus, shawl collars were popularized by Steve McQueen and Paul Newman, who can doubt their style?

Rugby Shawl Collar Cardigan - in the picture aboove

Rugby College Stripe Shawl Collar Sweater

Woolrich Shawl Collar Cardigan

Woolrich Shawl Collar Sweater

Rugby Shawl Collar Cardigan

Ralph Lauren Cable Knit Shawl Collar Sweater

J Crew Shawl Collar Sweater

J Crew Shawl Collar Cardigan

Hugo Boss Shawl Collar Double Breasted Cardigan

Hugo Boss Shawl Collar Sweater

Hickey Shawl Collar Sweater

Fall Essentials - Purple

Every season a new color becomes popular. A color that represents the season and the overall feeling of the season. This fall, my guess is that the color will be purple. It is certainly a color I want to use in my wardrobe. Here are my favorite purple items of the season.

Shirt & Cashmere sweater (pics 1 & 2) by J Crew. Tie by J Press. Cardigan by Rugby. V-Neck Sweater by Calvin Klein.