August 30, 2014 by Beau H.

The Product Review: Navali Stowaway Weekender Bag

The Navali Stowaway Weekender bag in Carafe. A sturdy, durable bag at a great price.

Hitting the road (or hopping on a plane) doesn’t mean style should take a backseat. In fact, far from it. Traveling is a great way to put both your packing skills and your passion for style into practice. And getting to a final destination in style is a big part of the trip itself. That’s why what you carry with you should reflect similarly fashionable ideals. If you’re a discerning traveler or a man interested in looking presentable, it’s time to ditch the gym bag when outside the gym, and reach for something infinitely more durable, stylish rugged-looking. I found all of those traits with my Navali Stowaway Weekender Bag, and it’s definitely worth picking up, especially for under $100 (as it is right now on Navali’s website).

The particular model featured here (bought at full price) has a rich brown (or ‘carafe’) color, accented by darker brown leather straps and fastenings. It’s a sturdy bag that’s already held up fine for a cross-country trip to San Francisco, and should hold up well for the foreseeable future (Navali gives its Weekender bag a lifetime warranty). First and foremost, it’s got great functionality — it fit neatly under the seat in front of me on each plane trip, making for convenient and remarkably easy access. And as you can see from the below photo, it was packed fairly full:

Travel well: Most of the spread for a weekend music festival in San Francisco.

Throughout the trip, it handled exactly like I hoped it would. Combined with a detachable shoulder strap, the bag was easy to carry — not too heavy to lug around when filled with clothes and shoes. The strap sat nicely on my shoulder and didn’t dig in or slip, a nice bonus when considering how frequently it’ll have to be carried through airports and the like. The bag’s zipper is strong and the top of the bag feels reinforced and not nearly as flimsy as my old Everlane Canvas Weekender bag (it doesn’t look like these are sold through their site anymore? Seems as if the sturdier Twill version has taken its place). Unfortunately, the Everlane bag suffered a bad rip, and the hole worsened from there — leading me to this Navali number. The bag’s handles, which I used a decent amount of the time, are easy to grip yet don’t feel too flimsy; the leather is soft and should wear in nicely over time.

The bag comes with a lifetime warranty, and could easily last that long.

The bag features a number of handy extras, too. For starters, it has an exterior zipper pocket running the length of the back of the bag, useful for storing things like phone chargers or other odds and ends. Two exterior pockets on the opposite side combine thick brass and leather fastenings for yet more outer storage space, and an interior zipper also provides more room. An open pocket on the inside of the bag (as seen above) further adds to the utility of the piece without taking too much space away from the main compartment.

A closer look at the durable fastenings on the bag’s exterior pockets.

Notably, this bag seems like it can take even more than what I threw at it. The washed canvas exterior is malleable without being too soft, and the bag itself held enough clothes for four days on the road with room for just a bit more — exactly enough space for the stylish traveler. On top of its tremendous function, the bag is a pretty handsome-looking piece. The rich brown color, combined with the deeper brown leather finishings, stands out in all the right ways compared to a normal gym bag or even a black duffel bag. Also available in a lighter ‘natural’ color as well as charcoal grey, the brown shade (or ‘carafe’) finds the right balance between being weekend-appropriate and polished. It manages to look rugged yet refined, the absolute best way to look when traveling across the country or just up the road.

Any experience with this particular piece? Any favorite luggage pieces when traveling? Leave it all below.

August 19, 2014 by Beau H.

One Year of Men’s Style on Siblings With Style

If you’re just now catching up with Siblings With Style, welcome! And if you’ve been along for the ride, welcome back! It’s been a little over a year since I first posted about men’s style here on this blog, and it’s high time for a recap of what’s been going on in this small corner of the blogosphere. If you’ve taken the opportunity to read or share posts, first of all, many thanks. And if you’ve commented on an article or interacted with myself or Olivia (the women’s style half of this site) on social media, thanks again! The journey to better style is a constant, winding path, and to be able to write about it has been fun and challenging at the same time. With that being said, here’s what you might have missed across this past year or so with #SiblingsWithStyle:

Menswear essentials

An essential: The ‘Classic Polo’ in white from Old Navy. About as inexpensive & simple as it gets.

Yet another essential: A classic blue OCBD from Old Navy.

One of the first topics covered on the blog (and perhaps one of the most important) centered around style essentials — those items that guys can wear anytime of year regardless of the season or other trends. We’re talking things like the blue Oxford cloth button-down — the perfect polo alternative. We’re also talking about the one pair of pants every guy needs to have — that would be dark denim. And of course, a crisp white polo is never a bad thing to reach for you in the warmer months, either. Start with these items as the foundation of your wardrobe and incorporate new products (more on that in a second) and your style is off and running.

Product reviews

As reviewed: Use a watch strap to inject some color into a look on sunny days.

As reviewed: Wolverine 1000 Mile Austen boots in black. The perfect shade and style for fall and winter.

Product reviews on the site here have focused on virtually every item of clothing a guy might need, ranging from stylish polos to a colorful watch strap to sturdy boots fit for stomping through the snow. In the meantime, other reviews have touched on seasonal basics, like crisp white sneakers for the summer or a lightwash denim shirt equally at home in the summer or winter. My favorite of these products? Probably my white Tretorn sneakers, which have gotten tons of wear with T-shirts and jeans as of late. Use these reviews to find style inspiration and make your own decisions about what’s right for you, and you’ll build a versatile and well-stocked wardrobe.

Store reviews

As reviewed: Express.

As reviewed: J. Crew.

In the quest to build great style, there are all kinds of resources out there, a sometimes-confusing web of brands, stores and e-commerce outlets. The Starter Style Review series looks to cut through this clutter and provide the highlights, in pictures and words, of stores that can be tremendously helpful when shopping on a small (or decently large) budget. Entries have chronicled everywhere from the likes of basics bargain store Target to quirky college-town staple Urban Outfitters and even the more continental Club Monaco. Swing by one of these stores and see for yourself how your dollars can work for you when building a curated wardrobe.

Style suggestions

For the winter: A casual way to switch up the v-neck sweater.

For the spring and summer: Lightwash jeans.

Across the past year, style suggestions have been a frequent favorite of mine to write about. Check out spring style suggestions for items that can work interchangeably (like lightwash jeans and a denim jacket) and dig into winter style for ways to stay warm when chillier weather hits. Highlights here include the best way to swap out your regular v-neck sweater (reach for a shawl collar cardigan) and what shirt to throw on with that cardigan (try a chambray shirt that’ll also work year-round). And in the spring, when wearing shorts or shirts, check out some of these tips here and here.

Travel tips

Travel well: Most of the spread for a weekend music festival in San Francisco.

In recent weeks, my travels took me out West to the Outside Lands music festival. With that trip came the chance to really put my knowledge (limited knowledge?) of packing well to the test. It was an extremely fun trip that really made me focus on how to create combos that stood up to the weather while also staying versatile — and I learned a bit about what I would pack in the future, as well. Oh, and the music (Local Natives, Haim and Arctic Monkeys, among others) was pretty good too, as was the company (my amazing girlfriend, Liz)!

The rest

Dressing for a holiday like Christmas or Thanksgiving? Or bouncing around parties on the Fourth of July? Check out the linked articles for how to stay stylish and celebrate the occasion.

What to look for in the future:

In the coming weeks, keep your eyes peeled for a review of my Navali Stowaway Weekender Bag. Also, be sure to check out the blog for style suggestions as fall approaches (more than likely including an appearance by the Gustin Chore Coat, among others). Anything else you’d like to see on the blog? Suggestions for improvement? Leave it all below and thanks so much for reading!

Stay stylish,

-Beau

August 13, 2014August 14, 2014 by Beau H.

Curtain Call: Recapping a stylish music festival

Most of the spread for the weekend. What worked and what didn’t? Read on below.

This past weekend, I had the amazing and incredibly fun opportunity to go to San Francisco for the Outside Lands music festival. Of course, I had an absolutely awesome time! Particularly because I had a great travel companion, my beautiful girlfriend Liz. The festival atmosphere was incredible, the music rocked (getting the chance to see Local Natives, Haim, and Death Cab for Cutie, back-to-back-to-back, on one stage!) and the food at the festival was equally delicious. Heading across the country was also a great chance to put my packing skills to the test. Going into the festival, I knew the weather would be chiller than New York City (in the ’60’s), yet also with the potential for some rain and wind. While not rainy (with the exception of some Saturday sprinkles), the weather ended up cloudy to partly cloudy, with some chiller-than-expected temperatures. With that in mind, check out the outfits I wore below (and for more on my daily wardrobe picks, follow @beauiswearing):

Friday

Chambray shirt by J. Crew. Jeans by Uniqlo. Boots by Steve Madden. Watch by Stuhrling. Glasses by Burberry.

Saturday

Popover shirt by J. Crew. Charcoal cardigan by Frank & Oak. Jeans by American Apparel. Boots by Steve Madden. Ready to see Local Natives and Haim.

Sunday

Using the versatile chambray shirt-and-cardigan combo to stay warm at the Golden Gate Bridge.

As you can see, there were definitely certain items I returned to across the weekend (hopefully one of the signs of a versatile packing job?). I found that for both the flight there and concerts on Friday (including a fantastic show by Bleachers), my chambray shirt and dark denim more than got the job done in terms of being comfortable for the plane ride and wearable to the festival itself, although it did get slightly chilly on Friday night sans cardigan or jacket.

The tank top stayed in the bag, and the popover needed to be paired with a cardigan this past weekend.

Throughout the rest of the weekend, I was caught off-guard by how chilly it really did feel, which led me to layer my cardigan over my popover on Saturday, and again over that same chambray shirt on Sunday; however, an unexpected final-day temperature spike led to the cardigan being a bit too much. And while I hadn’t previously worn the combination, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked pairing my black jeans with my trusty brown Steve Madden boots. In fact, given the hilly terrain of Golden Gate Park and the requisite dust from trampled grass, I consistently reached for my boots again, not my white Tretorn sneakers. The chilly weather (with the exception of Sunday afternoon) also meant that my khaki shorts and blue-striped tank top stayed in my bag. But reaching for my desert boots meant that I got good wear out of the pairs of patterned socks I brought, including a red paisley pair from American Eagle (not available online). On the accessories front, I consistently wore my brown braided leather belt and brown Stuhrling watch, which I found was polished enough for both the festival and dinner afterwards. And while it was a good option to bring, the only time I wore my black Timex Weekender was on the flight home (paired with a short-sleeve gray henley, black jeans and my white Tretorn sneakers). Lastly, as a light jacket, my black Harrington jacket definitely worked as a nice extra layer for the plane.

Were I to pack for a similar climate in the future, I would change a few things up. Namely, I would bring one more long-sleeve collared shirt (probably a blue OCBD) and one additional pair of slim jeans in a slightly different wash for variety (something like this). Additionally, I would leave the tank top at home and add in another pocket T-shirt in a neutral color. I would definitely grab my cardigan and jacket again, and absolutely keep my chukka boots, brown leather watch and brown belt handy. Packing for this trip was a great exercise in putting fundamentals like versatility and function to the test, and I can’t wait to do it again.

Any experience packing for trips or festivals that you’d like to share? What to bring and wear (or what NOT to bring or wear)? Leave it below!

August 8, 2014 by Beau H.

Show Time: Packing for a music festival in style

This weekend, I’m heading to Outside Lands music festival in San Francisco. Along with being excited to see some great music (including personal favorites like The Killers, Arctic Monkeys, Haim, CHVRCHES, Local Natives, Bleachers and Lucius) I’m also excited to get out of New York City and experience all that San Fran has to offer alongside my lovely girlfriend, Liz. This, of course, presents a pretty neat opportunity to hit the road in style! And while what I’m wearing certainly won’t be a central focus of the trip, it’s always nice to be dressed appropriately for any situation, including festival-going.

While that could quickly devolve into wearing clothes more suited for a rave than being out among real people, for instance, it’s my goal to not let that happen. That’s why I’ll be bringing the following assortment of clothing on the road with me, packed into my Navali Stowaway Weekender Bag (look for a full product review on this piece in the coming weeks).

Most of the spread for the weekend.

Chambray shirt (J. Crew)

Short-sleeve geometric popover (J. Crew — similar here)

Striped tank top (Bonobos)

Charcoal pocket T-shirt (American Apparel)

White V-neck T-shirt (Not pictured — similar here)

Dark denim (Uniqlo)

Black denim (Not pictured — American Apparel)

Khaki shorts (Banana Republic — similar here)

Braided leather belt (Target)

White sneakers (Tretorn)

Brown desert boots (Steve Madden)

Two pairs of patterned socks (Similar styles here)

Brown leather watch (Stuhrling)

Black Timex Weekender watch with patterned strap (The Knottery)

Light charcoal cardigan (Frank and Oak) — similar here

Black Harrington jacket (Not pictured – -Ben Sherman)

Now, when packing for a trip like this, I took care of the obvious first — checking the weather. The forecast in San Francisco through the weekend calls for temperatures in the high 60’s to low 70’s, with partly cloud skies — ideal weather for escaping the sometimes-crushing heat of NYC and also a nice, temperate way to spend some time outdoors. Of course, being on the water and all, I expect it’ll get chiller at night and potentially rainy (genius thinking, right??). So with all that in mind, here’s more on what I came up with.

Blue on blue on blue.

Yes, the popover, chambray shirt and tank top all feature shades of blue. Like others, I have a bit of a thing for that color — but I’m breaking away from it, or trying to, at least. I plan to wear the chambray shirt with dark denim and desert boots for travel. as the desert boot is polished and yet sturdy enough to allow me to get through the airport, and around the city, in style. And the great thing about the chambray shirt is that I can definitely see myself pairing it with black denim and sneakers to head to the festival, or wearing it with khaki shorts elsewhere.

The popover serves much the same function — if it does heat up, I can turn to a short-sleeve option and pair it equally well with black or blue denim, and sneakers or desert boots in turn. The breezy tank top is yet another option to turn to if it gets warmer than expected — the stripes are bold and bright, perfect for a summer festival without straying too far into neon territory. And in case I feel like a change of shirt in between the festival and dinner, I wanted to have a couple versatile extras on hand — the charcoal pocket tee is just different enough than a regular T-shirt, and a white V-neck is simple and straightforward.

On the accessories front, a pair of patterned socks in a relatively neutral grey or black can work interchangeably with the desert boots, blue denim and any of the tops. And because my black jeans are slim enough to wear sans belt, a braided brown leather belt will work the rest of the time with my dark denim and brown leather strap watch. The brown watch is dressy enough to wear out to dinner, but clean and minimal enough to wear at a show, while the Timex Weekender with interchangeable straps creates another set of colorful, coordinated options. To top it all off, if it gets chilly or rainy (or both), I can throw on either the black Harrington jacket or the charcoal cardigan and still look polished and crisp. At least, that’s the plan anyways.

Look for a recap next week of what worked (and what didn’t work) with this packing plan!

What’s your go-to festival get-up and what’s in your bag to get there? Leave it in the comments below.

July 31, 2014May 2, 2015 by Beau H.

Starter Style Review: Club Monaco

Men's Style
#menswear, basics, casual shirts, chinos, club monaco, denim, men's fashion, men's style, men's suiting, starter style, starter style review, style basics, suits, T-shirts, ties, washed casual shirts
2 Comments

Editor’s note: Building great style on a budget can be difficult and expensive. This is the seventh part in an occasional series chronicling great locations to start a wardrobe and buy affordable, good-looking style staples. Past entries have chronicled places like Banana Republic, Target and Express. Check out the full set of six posts in the series here .

When starting out reinventing your personal style, there are certain incremental steps along the way. And even for those of us who’ve worked at our style for a while (doing things like embracing fit, paying attention to small details, and reaching for timeless style essentials), there’s always opportunity to improve and mix things up. One of the easiest ways to do this in a relatively quick manner is turning toward a new brand. While some brands offer tried-and-true basics for almost everyone, the great thing about the world of men’s style is the amount of versatility and limitless variety out there, both from domestic and international brands.

Owned by Polo Ralph Lauren, yet decidedly different.

In that regard, Club Monaco is a brand that shakes up the traditional #menswear fornula just enough, providing the ideal opportunity to explore new styles and items at decent prices (for the most part). They have a more continental vibe than J. Crew, they have more variety than a basics outpost like Old Navy, and although some styles are zany, they don’t stray into full-on Urban Outfitters territory. They’ve been owned by Polo Ralph Lauren for about 15 years, but the brand seems to occupy its own space, something reflected in its clothing offerings. The brand itself is a hybrid of sorts — a mix of tailored wear with unique touches, and casual stylings that are just different enough from typical tried-and-true offerings.

Some of the brand’s washed casual shirt offerings.

The first noticeable thing about any Club Monaco outpost is the variety — spread throughout the store and within each individual section. Think heathered T-shirts next to sneakers, with casual washed blazers just a few steps away. It’s arranged in a pleasing manner that flows naturally, something that could be disastrous if done wrong.

Stripes, small prints and casual washes — the Club Monaco basics formula.

Club Monaco seems to emphasize variety in color as well, but again, in a pleasing manner. Its T-shirts, shorts and polos aren’t highlighter-bright and plastered in logos (looking at you, Express). Instead, there’s a nice mix of washed shirts, pocket tees and striped long-sleeve and short-sleeve offerings in neutral colors, none of which would look of place on its own or layered in mostly any season. Again, a basic grey T-shirt suddenly doesn’t look so basic when combined with a heathered wash, for example. The one area where certain casual offerings don’t jump out that prominently would be denim — the jean selection in-store (at least in this particular shop) isn’t extensive when compared to other brands. On the other hand, chinos receive slightly more prominent displays (a good choice considering the continental aura with many of their styles).

Peak lapels help this suit stand out from other, more plain suiting options.

And the brand’s tailored wear is a strong point, too. The fits and stylings are more conservative than ultra-tight offerings from H&M or another retailer, yet they’re still trim and polished. The requisite variety in the suiting game is there too — heightened blues, glenplaids and checks, mixed in with peak and notch lapels. The suit above is a nice example of the typical variety taken in an approach by Club Monaco — changing up the traditional navy suit by adding peak lapels and a ticket pocket to the jacket. The price point is where some might find issue, however. $525 for a cotton suit jacket seems a bit steep when compared to a jacket from J. Crew’s famed Ludlow suit ($358). And while there’s no denying the quality of the Ludlow suit, Club Monaco doesn’t seem to get as much play when it comes to well-dressed guys suiting up.

A deep (and artfully-arranged) array of shoes from menswear favorites.

But, moving through Club Monaco yields some high-quality finds in the shoe department. The brand has partnerships with noted #menswear favorites Wolverine, Grenson, Clarks, and Tretorn. That’s a pretty hefty lineup of heavy-hitters, which brings great variety to the brand’s lineup, especially in-store. The quality of the shoes is just as good as going through the brand directly (take these Tretorn sneakers, for example) And the prices via Club Monaco for some shoes, like a pair of Grenson brogues, are significantly lower than the UK site itself ($380 vs. $450). The brand’s ties are, like the rest of the store, just different enough — neither too silky-smooth or plain, there’s a nice mix of current lightweight summer fabrics, like cotton and chambray, next to toned-down silk offerings (seen below).

A mix of ties in woven knit and summerweight ties, along with traditional silk.

The standout attribute about Club Monaco is the way in which the brand takes traditional favorites, like a standard T-shirt, and slims down the fit, changes up the wash and injects it with some new life. The same applies to their suits (with features like peak lapels and slight textural differences) and shoes (sneakers with some variety versus traditional low-tops, for example). While their prices are above that of J. Crew in some respects (as high as some of us might go when paying full-price), the return on the investment, particularly when it comes to sharp footwear and quality basics, appears to be worth it.

July 18, 2014May 31, 2021 by Beau H.

The Product Review: Tretorn Nylite Canvas Sneakers

A great pair of white sneakers. T-Shirt by Bonobos. Jeans by Levi's. Watch by Stuhrling. Sneakers by Tretorn.

A great pair of white sneakers. T-Shirt by Bonobos. Jeans by Levi’s. Sneakers by Tretorn.

Nothing beats a crisp, casual sneaker in the summer. Especially when days are hot, the ground is free of crazy winter weather, and you’re in need of something cool on your feet, few things are more ideal than the right canvas sneaker. While styles like the Converse Jack Purcell are plentiful in many places (as well as classic), sometimes it’s nice to change things up a bit with another pair of the best men’s sneakers. Particularly in the past few years, we’ve seen the classic white sneaker get a high-fashion upgrade, popping up outside runway shows and on menswear blogs with alarming regularity and with all different kinds of outfits. Now the great thing about classic white sneakers is that you don’t have to drop hundreds of dollars to snag the perfect pair — variations and price points abound, especially in this category. In particular, Tretorn’s done a great job separating itself from the pack, and their Nylite Canvas Sneaker fits the definition of the ideal pair of crisp, white kicks — all for an astonishingly low price. You can also find other picks for the best sneakers for men right here. Among other white sneakers, I also love sneakers from Huckberry.

The breathable canvas exterior is surprisingly comfortable — perfect for a day walking around NYC. Watch by Stuhrling.

While on a recent spin through the men’s section at Club Monaco (a fun trip all on its own), I stumbled across just the pair of shoes I’d been looking for this summer. Tretorn’s canvas sneakers have gotten a lot of play across the Web recently for their clean styling and versatility (for more on their other sneaker offerings, see this review from Dappered). And this pair certainly meets my expectations. The sneakers are incredibly lightweight and breathable, perfect for strolling around sans socks.

Sneakers by Tretorn. Jeans by Levi’s. Holding up very well so far.

For being a low-cut sneaker, they wear very comfortably — they don’t feel flimsy at all, unlike other types of ankle-high canvas sneakers. The solid rubber sole seems pretty durable, something you’d expect from a company that originally started making car tires. After three consecutive days of wear across the past weekend and into the week, the shoes have held up quite well. And surprisingly for being all-white, they seem to resist dirt and stains pretty well. Stylistically as well, these sneakers are on-point. Without the clutter of additional colors or lines, they’re totally streamlined. Unlike a higher-cut sneaker (like the ALDO Gia), these pair more naturally with cuffed chinos or jeans and without socks. And they add a casual, yet crisp, flair to other outfits, too. The sharp white color helps ground more outlandish prints, including that shirt in the link from Saturdays Surf NYC (a personal favorite).

On top of their casual versatility (wearable with T-shirts, polos, printed short-sleeve shirts and shorts alike), these kicks could more than hold their own with something like an unstructured navy blazer (like this one seen here) and perhaps some light grey washed chinos and a heathered oatmeal henley. While that outfit might seem a bit odd at first thought, the surprising thing about a clean pair of white sneakers is the flair they lend to any outfit — sharp, and sophisticated … yet they’re still a sneaker — a nice sneaker, at that. When seeking out some new kicks, there’s no need to spend lavish amounts on a luxury brand. These Tretorn sneakers (and other ones in that range), are the ideal white sneaker for the price.

Again, if you’re still looking for suggestions for the best sneakers for men, click that link.

July 11, 2014July 16, 2014 by Beau H.

A Night at the Theatre — Men’s and Women’s Style

The two minds behind Siblings With Style, Beau and Olivia Hayhoe, share their unique takes on stylish and sharp outfits for both guys and gals.
For an evening out at the theatre in NYC (or any other ‘fancy’ event, for that matter), going for a look with some polish is somewhat expected — for men and women alike. In this particular instance, from a men’s fashion standpoint, it’s tough to beat a classic navy blazer, blue shirt and grey pants, but with some subtle, slightly different finishing touches. The blazer seen here from J. Crew has become a workhorse for me in the hotter spring and summer months, as it’s got a slightly different texture to it thanks to the cotton twill — which, along with the brown buttons, distinguishes it from a standard gold-button navy blazer. It’s also very lightweight and breaths well, and the lapels hit a personal sweet spot. So the blazer itself is just different enough. And although the blazer is navy, a light blue shirt (this one here is similar) works perfectly fine, as shades of blue definitely go together.

The standout accessory of the top half of my outfit is the navy floral pocket square — yet another blue-on-blue accent. That variety of pocket square can’t be found on the site, but this one is close.

On the bottom half of this outfit, light grey suit pants in an all-season weight are an ideal shade to pair with blue-on-blue accents, and the nice sheen on this particular pair dresses them up suitably next to a more casual washed blazer. As for footwear, mixing up the traditional confines of the blazer-and-pants combo can be done in just a few steps — as seen here with these suede double-monks from Banana Republic. Like the blazer, the double-monks are a warm-weather workhorse for me, pairing with everything from jeans and a pocket T-shirt to a slim polo and chinos for work days. A night out presented the ideal opportunity to break them out yet again.

-Beau

For ladies, the fashion possibilities for a theatre performance are endless, especially in NYC. Since I do not live in the city, I decided to go all out. Crop tops and tight skirts are very “in” right now– so I decided to play off that style. I bought a child’s size t-shirt from Joann’s and cut the sleeves off, and cut it shorter. As inspired by the song Fancy by Iggy Azalea (linked above), I designed in Photoshop a combination of letters from high-fashion brands and painted it on my crop top. I added a Betsey Johnson necklace to actually make it appear fancy. On top of that, I added a nice fitted blazer from H&M. This blazer has satin covered lapels, and looks similar to a men’s tuxedo jacket.

One of my life mottos is “When life gives you New York patterned clothing, you take it and run”, and so I did. Last time I was in the city I wore my Times Square pants in Times Square, so it has become a tradition to buy everything that I find that is covered in a tacky New York pattern. I found this skirt for less than $10 at Ross. It was quite long before, so I shortened it. If you are looking for a skirt, dress, or pair of leggings in a fun pattern, try Black Milk. They are known for their high quality, fun designs. To finish my look, I stepped into a pair of black, patent leather, pointed toe heels from Nine West. I wear these shoes for business casual events, as well as out on the town because of their versatile look. I paired them with a patent leather clutch that I scored at Goodwill.

-Olivia

Thank you to Teresa Kilzi for the awesome pictures!

July 3, 2014 by Beau H.

Style Suggestion: Fourth of July

With everyone’s favorite patriotic holiday quickly approaching, I’m sure you’re wondering what to wear (or at least, I assume you’re planning on wearing some form of clothing for the holiday!). Around special events like these, there’s always the option to wear things with a full-on Americana tilt. In situations like this however, there actually isn’t a ton of need to go all out and wear, for example, an actual American flag print pair of pants. Keep things simple, stylish and classic — as well as well-fitting. American-flag pants aside, that doesn’t mean you can’t have some fun with your outfit while still sticking to a patriotic color palette.

The Shirt

Chambray at an affordable price.

This shirt knocks out the blue portion of the outfit right off the bat. Assuming it’ll be hot where you are on the 4th, or at the very least a pleasant temperature, a shirt with short sleeves loses the added bulk of a long-sleeve shirt. And if short sleeves get too chilly when the sun goes down and before the fireworks start, a lightweight cotton sweater or cardigan in a neutral color could be handy to have near you. The above option pictured above from Old Navy is inexpensive and (from personal experience), just the right quality for the price point — not paper-thin, not too heavy either. It’s also available in a lighter-color wash, in case you feel the need to lighten things up a bit. And perhaps most importantly, in an all-season fabric like chambray, this shirt is highly versatile (for more options on what to pair it with, see a recent post by yours truly on Effortless Gent).

The Shorts

J. Crew’s Stanton short.

Directly on your lower half, we now see the red portion of the outfit. Without going full-on red, white and blue pants, a nice washed red shade will do the job nicely while losing the extra fabric of pants in the heat. In particular, these shorts from J. Crew have a stellar washed feel to them, without burning your eyes in terms of intense color. As with every other item in your closet, keep an eye on fit — the proper pair for your wardrobe should hit above the knee and fit trim (stay away from cargo shorts!). If your plans call for something more dressy and you’d like to keep going with red bottoms, reach for a washed chino in a similar color. (In the interest of full disclosure, I’m a PR intern with Bonobos — I can say without bias that their pants really do fit as well as advertised!). Conversely, if the situation calls for some dark denim, reach for a slim, inky blue pair like these.

The Shoes

An All-American classic.

And here we have the white portion of the outfit. The key to keep in mind with this combination is that while it nods to the colors of the holiday, it doesn’t go overboard. Particularly, a subtle, classic canvas sneaker can be worn nearly anytime of the year, and so it just seems like a natural choice — especially in the heat of the summer. Additionally, it pairs equally well with colored shorts because of the stark white color, and it also wouldn’t look out of place with some cuffed denim or rolled chinos. If the bright white is too much, a simple grey pair could work, too. Keep in mind that the collared shirt up top helps you go more casual with your shoe choice. But, if it gets fancier on you and plans change, some polished-yet-casual loafers would be perfectly in order. And when going sockless with these shoes, keep in mind these tips about proper shoe (and foot) care.

The Rest

A simple summer belt.

Although it’s assumed that your pants or shorts could most likely rest just fine without a belt based on proper fit, it’s always a nice fundamental touch to wear a belt (let’s say you get the urge to tuck in your shirt, or attend a gathering that’s a bit more dressed up). In the summer, keep things casual and don’t overdo it — avoid the shiny leather dress belt you might reach for with a suit, and go for something lighter-weight, like a cotton option with a hint of stretch. The above option from Club Monaco is decently priced, available in most sizes and, more importantly, epitomizes summer casual, especially with the D-ring loops.

A clean and classic Timex.

Adding in a watch can go one of two ways — if you stick with the largely casual version of this outfit and go with shorts and sneakers, something like a sturdy yet still-polished rubber strap watch could blend in perfectly with the rest of the casual outfit. And since the outfit and watch are both casual, there’s no need to worry about matching the black rubber strap to the leather on the belt. However, if you go with the dressier version of the outfit (denim or chinos and loafers), a stainless steel dive watch would be an excellent, versatile accent to the ensemble. Given the ability to go either way on this occasion, this Timex Easy Reader watch hits both points of the dressy spectrum. It’s well-made for the price point and can do almost anything, too. The leather strap is a go-between option to both dressy or casual outfits, yet the crisp, white face (with numerals) is sharp without being crazy minimal or too dressy. And although it wears somewhat smaller than some other brown-leather watches, it’s still an extremely valuable pick-up for the price point.

The biggest key with this patriotic (yet simple) outfit is to nail fit on the shirt and shorts and keep the accessories relatively minimal and simple, while nodding to the colors of the holiday. More importantly, these are just clothes — the biggest thing is to enjoy the day and have fun spending time with loved ones!

June 30, 2014July 9, 2014 by Beau H.

The Product Review: Alara Italian Indigo Denim Shirt

Alara’s Indigo Denim Shirt. Tie by American Eagle. Pants by Black Lapel (Part of custom suit). Shoes by Banana Republic. Watch by Stuhrling. Photo credit: Liz Todd.

Mixing up high-and-low elements has become a popular calling card for #menswear fanatics in the past few years. Using unconventional, more casual items (like a denim jacket), paired with dressier items (like a shirt and knit tie) is probably the most commonly seen version of this style move. And the return in popularity of the chambray shirt, coupled with the fact that brands like J. Crew have brought them back into vogue as part of the ‘workwear’ revival, only highlights this fact further. The desire to break up more formal elements, like sleeker suit trousers, with unique textures and fabrics (like chambray or denim) is a movement that’s not losing steam, and that’s where a high-quality denim shirt comes into play.

The brand Alara has perfected using high-quality fabrics to craft both sport and dress shirts across the past two-plus decades, first parlaying that experience into producing house-brand shirts for major retailers and designers, and lately using their expertise to craft shirts under the Alara brand name. Based out of a Midtown NYC showroom, I had the opportunity to speak with the brand’s head of e-Commerce, Phil Davies, and the brand’s president and founder, Mehmet Ulu. Getting the chance to see so many well-crafted shirts in person was a real treat, as many are made with ridiculously soft Egyptian cotton. They were also gracious enough to provide me with their Italian Indigo Denim Shirt in Slim Fit, (part of their collection of Sport Shirts) for review.

This shirt pairs easily with dressier fabrics thanks to the cutaway collar.

What works so well about this particular denim shirt (and denim shirts in general) is that perfect mix of high-low styling. A denim shirt is inherently casual, with a more unique texture than the average dress shirt, along with a vastly different color. This shirt, with its lighter wash, is much the same; however, a cutaway collar instantly makes it a bit more formal (for some great examples of how to pull this collar style off, visit the fantastic site Men’s Style Pro). This shirt is a lighter-weight denim that’s equally fit for both warm and cold weather — it’s got a rugged look to it that brings to mind lots of workwear vibes that remain so popular in many menswear circles. And even though it’s a lighter-washed denim, I could see it pairing equally well with a v-neck sweater and a herringbone blazer in the colder months. Although the cutaway collar is more daring than a traditional spread collar or a more conservative point collar, a slimmer tie knot holds up well and doesn’t look too out of place.

Up-close and personal. Glasses by Burberry.

The shirt is soft and breathable, making it easy to wear in the heat. And it has a relatively slim fit that’s not restraining — the armholes are decently high and the sleeves are pretty trim, both positives for an off-the-rack shirt. However, it’s not quite as slim as a J. Crew slim-fit shirt, for comparison, something that could be a drawback for some. The shirt does, however, live up to its Italian name — it’s got a nice sprezzatura vibe to it, something especially relevant given the inspiring street style seen recently at Pitti Uomo. Another instant positive about this shirt? The price. In talking with Mehmet at Alara and doing some research, similar shirts retail in the three figures. However, Alara sells this specific shirt for $78 — compare that to a lower-quality Express 1MX shirt, which retails for just $18 less at full price, and you realize you’re getting quite the deal for a well-made shirt. Of course, other budget options are out there too, like this more distressed and Western-leaning shirt from H&M.

On a final note, the summer seems like an especially perfect time to wear this shirt; it’s got an easygoing, laidback vibe that practically begs to be worn to a slightly upscale outing or a nice dinner, preferably outdoors somewhere. It could even serve as a layering piece, much like a workshirt, if the temperature dips during a beach weekend. Wear it as often as you like, dress it up, dress it down — this is one denim shirt that’s fit for suiting and swimwear.

June 16, 2014June 16, 2014 by Beau H.

The Product Review: ALDO Sneakers

Sneaker culture continues to intersect more and more with the world of #menswear on a daily basis through the influences of both hip-hop artists, athletes and the clash between streetwear and high-fashion brands. These competing influences can make it difficult to seek out sneaker styles that are, first and foremost, both wearable for the stylish guy and inexpensive (unlike, say, this style “on-sale” at Barneys New York). There are definitely welcome antidotes to both increasing trends and questionable designs, however. Thankfully, certain options will never go out of style (think low-profile kicks like the Jack Purcell sneaker or the similarly classic Chuck Taylor model), and the great thing about investing in a pair of clean, minimal sneakers is the potential for getting all kinds of wear out of them during the warmer summer months.

Casual sneakers in the summer. T-shirt by Gap. Jeans by Levi’s (508 fit). Watch by Stuhrling. Sunglasses by Tom Ford. Sneakers by ALDO. Photo credit: Liz Todd.

On the other hand, a pair of higher-cut sneakers can do just as much work leg work (pun intended) as a lower-profile pair of sneakers. While it’s always a wise move to have a relatively inexpensive, basic pair on-hand (like these from Urban Outfitters), a higher-cut sneaker rests more easily under jeans, provides more stability for walking around or exploring a big city (take NYC, for example!) and can actually team well with colored shorts in the right setting.

A recent purchase from ALDO (as seen above) definitely fits the bill for a solid, casual sneaker, despite being different than your average pair. The ALDO Gianpiero model (or the Gia, for short) does a few different things well. Available in light grey with a black captoe (or in a light blue option with a navy captoe), the sneaker is made out of a lightweight canvas that nonetheless provides good stability around the ankle. It’s free of any visible logos, another positive in a streetwear era where so much seems to be driven by having a large symbol splashed across an outfit.The construction of the sneaker and the upper part of the shoe also provides nice breathability.

These sneakers can be worn just as easily with a T-shirt as a casual button-down shirt.

The white sole is a welcome addition, a slightly stark pop against the light grey-and-black combo, and the black laces seem durable, yet could also be switched out for a more eye-catching pair. The most notable thing about these sneakers revolves around the fact that they combine certain elements we see in high-fashion sneakers — like the faux-leather captoe and black details — with a distinctly wearable quality and, even more importantly, a very affordable price point ($75, according to the ALDO product page).

In fact, the black captoe echoes the classic Jack Purcells or Converse Chuck Taylor sneaker, just in a different shade and on a slightly beefed-up model. The great thing about these sneakers is that they can also pair just as easily with the same type of casual outfits as a more conventional, low-cut sneaker. They’ve worked personally with a striped navy tee and olive jeans, ( as well as the above outfit), and they’ve also paired with light blue shorts and a black v-neck (sans socks on the feet). They can more than hold their weight under some slim denim, and the sleeker profile means they also won’t look out of place in a shorts-centric outfit.

Although it’s certainly tempting to reach for low-cut sneakers when the weather heats up, mix up your sneaker rotation with some higher-cut kicks. Better yet, pick up a pair that avoids the high-fashion trappings of most sneakers, and you’ll continue to add to a well-rounded wardrobe.

The Style Guide

All the best men's style essentials you need, every day.

Author / Beau H.