Land's End Offers Nice Odds and Ends

Accessories are a great item to add to the wardrobe, they can really change the look and feel of an outfit.  Men's accessories are the natural part of the style.  A blue oxford button down with khaki pants can change dramatically depending on the tie, the belt and the shoes.  Due to these dramatic changes a man can never have enough of the wardrobe's odds and ends.  Land's End offers these at reasonable prices.

 

 

Land's End narrow rep ties.  All of the Land's End ties range from $39 to $19 depending on if they are on sale.

 

 

Madras web belts.  The belts have O-Ring fasteners and leather accents.  Nice way to add a pop of color to the wardrobe.

 

 

A couple of red hued tie options.  The plaid tie is modern and would look great with a chambray shirt especially a gray version.  The red and white polka dot is a classic tie that will work in any wardrobe.

 

 

Silk pocket squares are always useful.  These come with a classic and varied design providing options with how the pocket silk is worn.  It certainly helps to make it look haphazard and sprezzatura.

 

  

 

The D-Ring belts with stylish rep stripes are a preppy addition to any wardrobe.

 

 

All of these accessories are available with Land's End basic clothing line.  Land's End Canvas offers some unique alternatives that Modern Dignified will explore in the upcoming days.

Power Color

So often people feel that power colors are red and yellow. It is said that wearing those colors in a tie or an outfit will bring others attention, make the wearer denote strength and importance. While at Modern Dignified we do not disagree, we do feel that there is a color that trumps all others. A color that is worn by the most powerful men in world as statement color.  That color is pink.

Pink is worn by powerhouse men of business and politics. Two professions where outfits are crucial to the way a person is perceived. If pink did not give the wearer an air of superiority mixed with confidence and kindness, then it would not be in their wardrobes.

Pink is donned regularly by Donald Trump, President Bill Clinton and even President Barack Obama. It is stylish and statement about their manhood and career. Pink is power personified.

Next time you want to come off as powerful, try going for a pink shirt, pink tie or pink accent.

Subtle Sprezzatura - Twisted Tie Knots

Growing up we were taught how to tie the perfect knot, and not just a perfect four-in-hand but the perfect Windsor, half Windsor and Prince Albert. Despite needing to know how to tie the perfect knot for particular occasions, such as business meetings, interviews and funerals, not in order of importance, we have found that in some instances the perfect knot is just that.

Rarely, do we want our outfit to look perfect, unless it is immediately followed with disheveled or a gorgeous woman is on the other end of the statement. Instead we find that adding a little bit of carelessness and nonchalance to the outfit is, much more intriguing. We find that looking a shade less than perfect, is in fact the way we end up with a gorgeous woman calling our outfit perfection. The key we have found to knowing the right amount of carefree sprezzatura to an outfit comes with knowing how to be perfect and then mucking it up. The planned and calculated mistake that gives an outfit a careless air is when we at Modern Dignified feel an outfit is complete.

A common tactic we have shameless stolen from one of the King of Sprezzatura style, is the twisted tie knot. This sprezzatura flair among other quirks helped crown Gianni Agnelli as one of the best dressed men in the history of the world. A shrewd business man and head of Fiat, Agnelli would twist his ties on purpose to make his competition and rivals underestimate his brilliance. Agnelli used sprezzatura fashion quirks as a way to lull his fellow businessmen into a false sense of security. It is with that planned dishevelment that we at Modern Dignified find so appealing.

The subtleness at which Agnelli twists his ties is amplified by the employees at Sid Mashburn in Atlanta, Georgia. At Sid Mashburn they take the sprezzatura of the past, take it out of the boardroom, make it modern and amplify it. Not only are the ties twisted but they do not have the "appropriate" length and the back of the tie is not secured to the front.

What makes the Sid Mashburn version of dishevelment so intriguing and stylish is that the colors, textures and fit of the outfit is impeccably arranged. The jackets are tailored with a nice Italian slim cut. The pants graze the top of the shoes, but are then rolled to show off the sockless ankles. The shoes are top of the line and more classic than you'll find in most men's closets. The entire outfit is Country Club appropriate, but it is done with a modern edge that would probably piss off the conservative codgers at the Country Club. And while all of these decisions are done with forethought, the outfit looks thrown together. As if each guy just happened to come up the perfect combination of colors and textures, it is sprezzatura in every way.

Mess with the tie, mess with the socks, mess with the colors, mess with rules of fashion, but whatever the means just make sure that you look far from perfect. Look perfectly imperfect.

Subtle Sprezzatura - Tie Clips

To further examine Sprezzatura in daily wear, Modern Dignified will be looking at subtle ways to express Sprezzatura, the artful form of dishevelment.  No man should be too perfect and this is particularly important in his clothes.  A man with a perfect outfit is considered flawed in ways he did not intend. He will come off as vain, stuffy, unapproachable and try-hard.  Sprezzatura is the graceful elegance of a looking effortless.  In reality this may be quite planned and calculated, but the attempt is to make it look quite the opposite.

We all know how mesmerizing effortless style and grace can look.  Sprezzatura is the Italian term for the art of making one's outfit look artful disheveled, without looking try-hard. Sprezzatura comes from applying subtle but deliberate errors, mistakes, sartorial contradictions to one's outfit. It is purposefully breaking the rules so that the outfit and the man do not come off as too perfect. Sprezzatura is also about not crossing the subtle line that prevents an outfit from looking sloppy or lacking style. At Modern Dignified we feel that small subtle Sprezzatura goes a long way, one or two elements are all an outfit needs. We also find that the more formal the occasion the small statements go a long way. In less formal circumstances broader and more aggressive the statements are needed.

One of the simplest statements of Sprezzatura that can be made is the slanted tie clip. It always looks careless (which is a good thing) and can work at the most formal of occasions. It is visually appealing and adds the needed element of error that every man's outfit desires. Since it is so subtle, additional elements will probably be needed for most men to make a dent in the perfection thing, but it is certainly a step in the right direction.

With the slanted tie bar, it is recommended to try various techniques and angles to find what suits you best (pardon the pun). Does a drastically slanted tie bar work for you? Or are you more of a slightly slanted tie bar kind of guy? Either way, we certainly hope you are not a boring straight a cross kind of guy.

Be unexpected and keep them guessing.

A Great Color Combination

Items in this set:
Red wing boots
Gap Mens Whiskered Authentic Authentic Fit Jeans (Authentic Wash), $55
Gap Purple gingham shirt, $40
wedding & parties furnishings White linen pocket square, $42
Navy & Polka Dot silk knit tie

While walking to lunch yesterday I passed a gentleman wearing a purple gingham shirt, navy silk knit tie & a cream colored jacket. It was a very cool, modern and attractive combination. I have been wearing a purple gingham shirt with a navy tie for a while, but the addition of the cream colored jacket really puts the outfit over the top.

Personally, I would wear the purple gingham shirt, like this one from J Crew, with a navy blue silk knit tie, like this one from Ralph Lauren. I would then throw on a cream and tan linen jacket to complete the look. This outfit would look good with navy slacks, tan or khaki pants or great with a pair of dark jeans.  However you wear the outfit you can be sure that this color combination works great, as is evident in this purple gingham shirt, cream suit and blue ground paisley tie. I would opt for a different colored pocket square, but it is an otherwise smart looking outfit. I think a white linen pocket square is the right choice with these colors, the crisp white would make the dark shirt and tie colors pop. It also avoids the outfit feeling to coordinated.

This is certainly an outfit combination worth stealing! Hats are off to the man on the street yesterday, he certainly has a nice sartorial sense.

Sprezzatura At Its Finest

Lapo Elkann exudes style. He makes bold statements with his outfits and always seems to own the looks with a cool confidence. I love the outfit captured here by the Sartorialist. Lapo wears a bold colored odd jacket that is impeccably tailored with a even bolder pink shirt. He adds a dark pink knit tie and linen pocket square for good measure. Elkann also adds some sprezzatura to the outfit by unbuttoning the cuffs on his sleeve, twisting his tie slightly and haphazardly wearing the pocket linen.

My favorite element of the outfit is the sartorial contradiction of the chunky motorcycle boots. The boots balance and ground the bright pink worn on top. They are interesting, have vintage appeal and anchor the look. It is the addition of the boots that really make the outfit memorable and manly.


This is an outfit that not all men have the confidence to pull off, but Lapo does it with a rebellious cool that makes us all wish we could.

Four-In-Hand Make the Best Knots

Deciding on which tie knot to wear or not wear is a fundamental and defining decision of a man's style. Each tie knot has its advantages and gives the man a different feel and aura to his outfit. In my opinion the clear choice is the Four-In-Hand tie knot. The Four-In-Hand is a classic knot that is inherently imperfect and flawed, a built in element of sprezzatura in an otherwise impeccable outfit. The Four-In-Hand never looks the same two times in a row, the dimple rarely falls in the center of the tie and the knot can leave the tie askance slightly, all major benefits to the Four-In-Hand knot.

In my opinion the Full Windsor and Half-Windsor knots are too symmetrical, too balanced and too perfect. A man's outfit should never look too perfect, as he may come off as unapproachable, affected and vain. The perfection of the these tie knots becomes a detriment for a man that does not want his
outfit over power his personality. The large size of the knots can also create an unbalanced and un-proportional look that will be unflattering.  This is why I highly recommend and only use the Four-In-Hand knot. It is also a versatile knot that looks great with the perfect 3" wide ties as well as ties that are wider and skinnier.

The Four-In-Hand knot also looks great with normal collars or spread collars, as well as finished or loosened at the end of the day. The Four-In-Hand allows for variation, while other tie knots only look good with a suit. The Four-In-Hand loves hanging with jeans as much as starched collars and three-piece suits.

Imperfection is Perfection

An outfit on any given day should an air of nonchalance. It should not elude to any planning or fore thought. Instead it should look carefree, spontaneous and effortless. The outfit should have mistakes, imperfections, elements of artful dishevelment and sprezzatura. The gentlemen that work at Sid Mashburn in Atlanta, Georgia, certainly dress with that thought in mind.

If your eyes do not prove to you the benefit of dressing with nonchalance, artful dishevelment and eccentricities as displayed by the Sid Mashburn crew than the following two quotes hopefully will.

"Have no fear of perfection - you'll never reach it."
- Salvador Dali

""I want to be loved, not in spite of my faults, but because of them.""
- Lise Bennett

The Italians use the term sprezzatura to describe the purposeful mistakes made in one's dress. I personally, think the term has an elegance to it that provides me with confidence when I break the conventional rules of style and fashion.

To prove my point, once again take a look at Peter Samuelson, Matt Lambert and Justin Doss, the featured employees of Sid Mashburn. Their clothes are well tailored and proportional. The colors and designs and looks are all traditional Americana. But it is the mistakes in the outfits that add the visual interest. No socks, short and crooked ties, button-down collars left un-buttoned, those are the eccentricities that define the outfit.

Reader's Question: Tie Widths Abound & Other Questions

Mr. BigShot writes (and no I am not making up that name)....

“I came across your blog the other day and enjoy reading it. I saw a post where you explained the best tie width is 3 inches. Do you know where I can find 3 inch ties? Most stores carry ties in 3.5-4 inch width, so it's a bit hard to find them.


I also have a couple more questions on items I need to locate. I'm looking for a pair of flat-front mid-grey (think grey heather or charcoal heather colors) for under $150, preferably under $100. Do you know where I can find these? I'm also looking for oxford collar button down shirts with shoulder pleats instead of the box pleat, which I find unnecessary. I have an athletic, lean body type, so a box pleat only adds extra fabric and puffiness to the back, which I don't need. Know where I can find one for under $75? Thanks.”

Thankfully, more and more retailers are adding the “slimmer” ties to there selection, at some stores they are not even categorized as slim ties and are just the only tie width sold.  Like with jeans, stay away from the skinny and gravitate toward the slim.  I certainly have my favorite places to sell ties around 3” they are in two different categories:

The High End -

Thomas Pink makes great dress shirts and ties.  Some of the best color combinations made, this also applies for their slim ties.  They sell slim ties for around $100 a tie and come in a wide range of colors and patterns.  This is certainly suggested for those that perfer bold colors.  Shown here is a more classic blue tie with white & red stripe, quite an elegant tie.

Brooks Brothers is known for classic, conservative style.  One of the original makers of the sack cut suit, they rarely make any deviations from the classic and most conservative style.  The fact that they are selling slim ties, is not an inditement on them, but instead an approval of the rebirth that 3" ties are having, thankfully.  Brooks Brothers sells their slim ties for $75 to $90 a tie and they come in a variety of classic looks and patterns.

Mid to Low Range Cost -

Starting at the top and working our way down.  J. Crew only sells ties in the 3" range.  They have a wide range of silk, wool and cotton ties in a variety of modern and classic patterns and colors.  It is a great way to experiment with patterns and colors without completely jumping the shark with an odd pattern.  J. Crew also is great for the traditional, classic, collegiate look, my personal favorite.  A look that J. Crew does as well as anyone, except for maybe Brooks Brothers.  J. Crew ties sell from $60 to $40 at full price and have quite good deals in store when ties go on sale.  I have picked up more than one tie at J. Crew for under $20, just need to keep your eyes open.

Most men's retailers now sell slim ties, Nordstroms, Bloomingdales and even Macy's.  The latter have a variety of ties from different manufacturers: Ben Sherman, Alfani & Tallia.  The quality of the designs varies store to store and region to region depending on the buyer, but they usually have a good deal on the ties ranging from: $50 to $25.  I perfer the Ben Sherman or Tallia designs, but Alfani can have some good ties for evening events.  Stick to other brands like Pink, Brooks and J. Crew if you are buying the ties for work.

Grey Slacks -

As for the mid-grey slacks if you live near NYC, I suggest you try Uniqlo.  They have great prices and the cut is slim and slender, perfect for a slender fellow, like yourself.  The Uniqlo wool slacks are typically under a $100.

Another option is Banana Republic.  They have well made slacks in a wide range of classic colors.  I have a pair of flannel mid-grey heathered slacks that I picked up at Banana Republic for about $100.  Make sure you stick to the "Tailored" fit pants, as they are slimmer and will look better on you.  The "Modern" fit are slightly bigger throughout the leg.  Banana Republic sells their wool pants from: $180 to $40, depending on sales.  Good news, BR usually have the best sales on pants of any retailer.

The last recommendation is J. Crew.  They have the "Ludlow" cut pants, a slim, modern cut, which would look great with your frame.  The Ludlow pants are from $150 to $120 and rarely come down much in price.  They also do not typically come in a heathered look, but they will fit you well.  It is at least worth taking a look.

Oxford Shirts -

For the Oxford shirt, I recommend finding a bespoke tailor near you and having them make 3 to 6 shirts to your body type and with the pleats and buttons and collars to your preference.  Once you go bespoke with shirts it is hard to go back.  They are made especially for you to you liking and will make you look the best you can possibly look.  The slight increase in cost is completely worth the statisfaction you will have with the shirts.  This is an investment that will change your opinion on the way ready made shirts are sold.