Tag / chambray

by Beau H.

Until we get there: Hitting the road to see Lucius

Editor’s note: Head this way for more personal style posts.

Dressing in style to see one of my favorite bands, Lucius, in the lovely town of Pawling, N.Y. Natural Trucker Jacket by JackThreads. Slim short-sleeve striped chambray shirt by JACHS NY. Slim grey selvedge denim by Billy Reid. Grant Brown Nubuck Shoes by Soul36. Brown leather watch by MVMT Watches. Glasses by Warby Parker.

Dressing in style to see one of my favorite bands, Lucius, in the lovely town of Pawling, N.Y. Natural Trucker Jacket by JackThreads. Slim short-sleeve striped chambray shirt by JACHS NY. Slim grey selvedge denim by Billy Reid. Grant Brown Nubuck Shoes by Soul36. Brown leather watch by MVMT Watches. Glasses by Warby Parker.

As I wrote about during my recap of the 2016 Governors Ball music festival a few weeks back, music is a huge passion of mine outside of my day job (and writing The Style Guide, of course!). That goes for live music in and around NYC, particularly.  So, when I saw that one of my favorite acts of all-time, the indie-pop band Lucius, was playing a small show at Daryl’s House Club in the small town of Pawling, N.Y., I knew I had to hit the road once again — more on the evening in a second, but know that the show was fantastic. Of course, going right from the office to a train to a concert is no matter to be trifled with, so I met the occasion in style (click here for more summer travel style tips in the meantime).
Florsheim
Now, if you’re unfamiliar with Lucius — please fix that (only partially kidding). Berklee College of Music grads Jess Wolfe & Holly Laessig are a duo unlike any other, complemented by a great three-piece band and their blend of indie pop is infectious, melodic, innovative and in short, like nothing you’ve ever heard. They burst onto the scene with their debut album Wildewoman in 2013, which garnered heaps of critical acclaim from critics and fans alike (particularly after they performed a very neat Tiny Desk Concert at NPR). Songs like “Until We Get There” immediately struck a chord with me as well — I was hooked from the first time I heard them! The success of their first album and the resulting acclaim led to an extensive tour run — in fact, I had the pleasure of catching them at Outside Lands in 2014 — and all the while, they blew audiences away with a melodic stage show, ornately designed and coordinated stage wear(more on that in a second), and a refreshingly honest approach to life as seen through music. Seriously — please check them out.

Lucius Good Grief Tour 2016

An intimate evening at Daryl’s House Club in Pawling, N.Y. with the lovely ladies of Lucius.

And the release of their second album, Good Grief, brought them back out on the road again earlier this year — including the stop in Pawling playing to an enthralled crowd as seen above. On that note, the night’s opening act, the lovely Margaret Glaspy, is also worth a listen. Now, I’d already caught one of two NYC shows Lucius played (at the Music Hall of Williamsburg on a great Thursday night), so my expectations were quite high this time around. Musically, the group’s second album evolves their style and blends some 80s rock influences with the lilting, retro-leaning songs for which the group is known (the two best examples of this contrast are perhaps “Born Again Teen” and “Dusty Trails” — both excellent songs in their own right!). Given that they’ve toured the globe, played festivals and wowed more than 1,000 people earlier this spring at Webster Hall in NYC, it was a treat to know that the atmosphere at Daryl’s House Club would be much more intimate (roughly 200-person capacity). The venue doubles in part as a bar and restaurant, making it even more unique. Of course, that’s no less of an excuse to dress in versatile style, right? Concert-going often calls to mind lots of black slim denim, tough boots and maybe a denim jacket, but there are just as many ways to dress for a concert without going that route.
Buck Mason - Timeless Design. Made in America.
To go from my NYC office to the quaint town of Pawling, I grabbed my JackThreads Natural Trucker Jacket and a slim short-sleeve chambray shirt via JACHS NY, along with my durable Satchel & Page Slim Mailbag to haul my gear. The color of the Natural Trucker Jacket is a welcome change of pace from a dark denim jacket, and the short-sleeve chambray shirt is a slightly more dressed-up approach compared to, say, a slim short-sleeve henley (although that would also work here).  And given that the stage style of Lucius is eclectic, unique and often tailored (right down to the coordinated yellow blazers worn by their band), it seemed fitting to wear a collared shirt — style upgrades are in the details, after all. I paired that combination with some trusty slim grey selvedge denim from Billy Reid, another style swerve compared to the black or classic dark blue denim — I’d recommend keeping things slim and tailored when rocking denim to a show.

On the footwear front, I paired up that high-low style combo with the comfortable, lightweight Soul36 Grant Brown Nubuck Derby — of course, no-show socks were essential to finish off the outfit. It’s yet another change of pace from normal footwear found at concerts, but the shoes were comfortable and easy to stand in, and the small space at Daryl’s lent itself to a more relaxed footwear choice. And I capped off the outfit with my brown leather MVMT Watches timepiece, a crisp-yet-casual watch that lent itself to the colors of the outfit nicely thanks to the blue dial. With all that gear in place, I hit the road from work to Pawling, and had just enough time to swing by the Corner Bakery for a tasty afternoon iced coffee. The town itself is small, quaint and worth a trip if you fancy a getaway from NYC. Given that it can often be hectic trying to travel in style and get to a destination on time, it was worth the trip to have the opportunity to explore the town before the show — of course, my main focus was the upcoming performance!

And the show itself — absolutely stunning (catch the above video to get a sample of their live work). Again, the group was perfectly complemented by the blues rock of Margaret Glaspy, which got the crowd ready for a stunning night. Lucius opened with “Madness,” a powerfully rich song off of Good Grief, thrilled the crowd with “Tempest” and picked things up with “Almost Makes Me Wish For Rain,” a jaunty tune that merges an eclectic beat with the rich harmonies of Jess and Holly. The versatility in their set list really is something else, what with slower tunes like “Dusty Trails” playing off more uptempo pieces like “Turn It Around,” another personal favorite. A mid-set outfit change led into a stirring second half of the show, including beautiful renditions of “Don’t Just Sit There,” “Go Home” and “How Loud Your Heart Gets,” just three selections off the stunning Wildewoman album — still a favorite three years after its 2013 release. The highlight of the night was a hauntingly beautiful rendition of “Two of Us on the Run,” one of my all-time favorite songs, which Jess and Holly sang while seated after reading a statement calling for peace, love and unity in the face of so much violence across the country. A better tribute, there couldn’t have been. And a better night and show? Not a chance. Jess and Holly make an incredible duo, the show spans an amazing selection of songs, the entire band plays like a well-oiled machine and their on-stage style (sequined gold jumpsuits and ornate gold capes for Jess and Holly, in this case), is a sight to behold.

The topper to an amazing evening -- meeting Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig of Luicus, both of whom are extraordinary musicians and very nice, to boot!

The topper to an amazing evening — meeting Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig of Luicus, both of whom are extraordinary musicians and very nice, to boot!

The evening would have been spectacular enough in its own right even if I didn’t get the chance to meet Jess and Holly afterward — but that capped things off perfectly! It was a pleasure and an honor to meet them — they’re extremely nice, and it’s so refreshing to find that out about the artists who so oftentimes soundtrack our daily lives. Their music means so much to so many people, myself included. I’m counting down the days ’til I see them again! I was also pleased I was able to make the trip without an outfit change from office to concert, but the real takeaway here is that Lucius is an extraordinary band worth your time and money if ever you get the chance to see them — to say the least! Do so in style, and I guarantee you you’ll have a night to remember.

Until next time — see you in the front row,

-Beau

Have a question on how to take on your next event in style? Hit me up on Twitter or follow along on Instagram for all things #menswear.
Join Frank & Oak Elevate - Enjoy FREE Shipping, Cashback + more at Frank + Oak! Try it now for 90 days, risk free!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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! 

by Beau H.

Style Suggestion: The Chambray Shirt

It’s been a while since it got truly cold in most parts of this country, but that doesn’t mean we don’t all need a reminder on the certain types of textures and fabrics that just work well in the winter. The key here is to continue to look for items with a rougher texture, things that just seem to blend nicely with stark, cold landscapes.

In fact, the desire to change things up in terms of outfits and texture can be quite tempting this time of year, but there’s something to be said about doing what works, time and again. Filling this gap is, surprisingly (or not) where something like a chambray shirt comes in. It’s been written about and suggested on this site a good number of times, but with good reason. On a personal level, a chambray shirt in the rotation (as pictured below) is becoming a frequently worn item because of its versatility — they exist in that perfect space where they can be dressed up or down.

J. Crew's chambray shirt. Nice texture for winter, without a doubt.

J. Crew’s chambray shirt — dressy with a workwear feel.

Notably, chambray shirts are the perfect antidote to a look that might be too dressed up. In some cases, a crisp white shirt worn under a more casual, rumpled cardigan might just look too stark. Or with a more casual patch-pocket blazer, for example, the white shirt just might stand out a bit too much, even if it’s a white OCBD. Enter the chambray shirt. In a lighter shade like blue (like the J. Crew option pictured), it works in just as many different outfits as a blue Oxford cloth button-down might work. (See option #1 here for a reminder). If you’ve got a v-neck sweater under a navy blazer, throw a lighter chambray shirt in there to flip the look on its head. Wear it on its own under that same blazer, too.

Heck, GQ is even a proponent of wearing it under a suit (a bolder move, but one that definitely works). The texture of the shirt is the key here — it’s marled and weathered, and it’s got a great workwear feel to it. More importantly, it’s a item that’s trendy yet most likely won’t die out anytime soon — it’s become, in some ways, the modern-day version of the OCBD, as it exists in an older dimension with a workwear vibe and yet is cut slim for current times. It can be worn under layers in the cold, and it’s the perfect type of shirt to pair with a thicker-weight tie. A wool tie (or a knit tie) has more going on texturally than a silk tie, so the combination just works well together. Underneath the odd vest or a heavier blazer, (as seen in the photo below), the chambray shirt falls right in line with a lot of different textures going on.

The base layer on the top here is a nice chambray shirt.

The base layer on the top here is a nice chambray shirt.

For what it’s worth, many (including J. Crew’s head of menswear) count the chambray shirt as an essential, a highly versatile item that lends class and a rugged feel to any outfit — two things highly difficult to do at the same time. If you’re into it, it’s also got a very old-time Americana feel to it in terms of style — details like the tab collar option on the J. Crew shirt and the front-button pockets lend itself to that. Look for one cut slim and in a lighter color, and it might even continue to be worn into the spring and summer months. That’s the definition of versatile style right there.