#OOTD: Everyday Style with a Classic Blue Oxford

Editor’s note: You’ve surely seen this hashtag lots of different places, including on Instagram. But how does that carry over to real life? The #OOTD series will take one great item and put together a versatile, stylish outfit around it. Look for past features here.

We’re back at it again with the #OOTD series here on The Style Guide, and today’s post keeps looking toward spring, ever so slightly. Colors are a bit brighter, textures are lighter and the weather is, well, a heck of a lot better than on any given winter day. Yes, it’s coming! And the sort of items you wear now — like a classic Oxford shirt or slim navy chinos — can pull just as much of their weight stylistically in the (slightly) warmer months as they can when it’s bitterly cold. The great part about using foundational building blocks in an everyday outfit is that you can afford to take some more risks, however small. As you’ll see in the below outfit, that means a slick pair of Chelsea boots where you might reach for some stylish dress shoes normally. That also means some nice color in the form of a patterned pocket square, and an attention-grabbing blue-dial watch. But enough of my rambling! The outfit’s here below.

OOTD OCBD Collage

A straightforward outfit with relatively simple tweaks — like those Chelsea boots and the patterned pocket square — made all the better by a classic blue Oxford.

The Shirt: JackThreads Slim Oxford, $39 — It truly is tough to find a brand producing a better-fitting, more versatile Oxford at such a nice combination of quality and price. This one’s a Style Guide favorite!

The Blazer: H&M Cotton Blazer, $49 — From David Beckham’s newest Modern Essentials collection with H&M, there’s no word on the quality of this blazer, and it’s likely not very high. But hey, think of it as a casual blazer alternative?

The Pocket Square: The Tie Bar Midway Pane Pocket Square, $10 — When you ditch the tie (or maybe go air-tie?), you can afford to toss some pattern into your outfit. The green windowpane pattern stands out just enough on that dark navy cotton.

The Chinos: Bonobos Jet Blue Washed Chinos, $88 — Bonobos has often staked the fate of its reputation on these chinos, and in three fits and versatile colors like this dark navy shade, they’re a very, very solid pickup for the price.

The Boots: Jack Erwin Ellis Chelsea Boot, $220 — These represent the slight style swerve from the norm within this outfit, and they make the ensemble look all the more sharp.

The Belt: Land’s End Distressed Vintage Jean Belt, $39 — A bit less dressy than a standard belt, this piece also represents a style swerve from the norm.

The Socks: Tommy John Performance Dress Socks, $16 — A simply, if slightly pricey, dress sock that wicks moisture and looks pretty crisp up against slim navy trousers.

The Watch: MVMT Watches The 40 in Blue/Brown Leather, $120 — A remarkably crisp and easy-to-wear watch that plays nicely off the dark navy chinos thanks to that brighter blue dial. Full review here.

With the aforementioned outfit in mind, you’ve got yourself the jumping-off point for all sorts of spring layering — and beyond. With pieces like those slick Chelsea boots, you can navigate rainy streets now — and with pieces like navy chinos and a slim blue Oxford, you’re set for dozens of outfit combos in the coming weeks and months. 

What’s your favorite way to style a blue Oxford? What small changes would you add to this ensemble?


Online Shopping Picks: Best Men’s Fall and Winter Sweaters

Editor’s note: For more Online Shopping Picks than your credit card can possibly handle, click here.

Just one sweater style you could throw on this season. Cardigan & shirt by Frank & Oak. Glasses by Warby Parker. Braided leather belt by Target Merona.

Just one sweater style you could throw on this season. Cardigan & shirt by Frank & Oak. Glasses by Warby Parker.

It seems we’ve had a bevy of Online Shopping Picks posts on this site in the past few weeks, simply because there’s so much standout fall product cramming store (and digital) shelves now. And, transitioning from the hot days of summer into the cooler days of fall & winter can happen rather suddenly — case in point: It was sunny and about 70 degrees in Brooklyn not too long ago, and now I’m fighting off the chilly fall rain; time to stock up on fall gear, and quick. So picking up a standout sweater or two would be a wise move. This latest Online Shopping Picks doesn’t focus on one style, like V-neck sweaters, and it doesn’t necessarily make the distinction between sweaters you might want to dress up and ones you want to dress down — although a V-neck sweater can certainly do both, as I noted in this throwback Effortless Gent post. The picks below, on the other hand, run the gamut of styles, brands and price points, all while bringing good versatility — so hopefully, you find one (or two, or heck, three) options that catch your fancy. And for a complete sweater hierarchy, head to Dappered in the meantime. Let me know if I missed any stellar selections in the comments below!

#1. Uniqlo Cotton-Cashmere V-neck Sweater — $29.90

A classic color and a can't-beat-it price.

A classic color and a can’t-beat-it price.

As with most Uniqlo products, it seems there might not be a better value for a sweater on the market in terms of price and quality than this V-neck sweater (although a budget brand like J. Crew Factory is also worth a look). But there are certainly some positives to this Uniqlo number aside from the price. It features a fit that’s likely quite slim, and the cotton-cashmere fabric should actually have a hint of stretch to it. It’s also available in a plethora of colors (every option but those Orange or Light Green picks should do very well this fall). And the price simply can’t be beat!

#2. H&M Wool-Blend Sweater — $19.90

Two bold chest stripes and a deep navy color helped this sweater land at No. 2 on this list.

Two bold chest stripes and a deep navy color helped this sweater land at No. 2 on this list.

Have you caught wind yet of the Fall 2015 version of David Beckham’s Modern Essentials collection for H&M? If the product is anything like the spring offering, it should be a well-curated collection of both tailored and casual wear with a continental edge. And that wool-blend sweater just might be the best of the bunch. It’s a got a noir-ish vibe to it thanks to the dark navy color, and the chest stripe provides enough contrast that it should still pair well with dark blue denim. A chest stripe is always a nice touch on a sweater, as it can accentuate your build. And it’s the kind of piece that be paired with something as casual as a chambray jogger or as dressy as some light grey trousers and a white Oxford. Again, the price is an absolute highlight (although it’s best to pay close attention to how you wash it, as it could shrink – this is H&M, after all).

#3. Grayers Avalon Cardigan — $125

A shawl cardigan and soft fabric make this a nice high-low piece.

A shawl cardigan and soft fabric make this a nice high-low piece.

Here, we’re jumping right from affordable, versatile pieces to a chunky shawl cardigan that leans more casual in nature – and is definitely more expensive. That could turn some away from it, but this Grayers cardigan still has a lot going for it. It’s an in-between shade of grey-blue that meshes nicely with some navy trousers (as modeled by my friend Clay of Brothers & Craft on the Grayers site). It looks like it’ll be thick, warm and comfortable, too – the type of sweater to throw on for casual weekend errands or a casual Friday on the job with some dark denim (you could even throw it together with some tweed trousers and a blue Oxford for a high-low work week look). And any way you style it, a shawl cardigan is an excellent piece to convey tough, rugged style – a la everyone’s personal favorite, James Bond.

#4. Todd Snyder Classic Pocket Sweatshirt in Olive — $98

A pricey basic that remains a great investment.

A pricey basic that remains a great investment.

This is, again, a decidedly casual sweater that won’t be for everyone – after all, it is just a crewneck sweater, yes? Well, not quite. Todd Snyder’s been pumping out reliably well-fitting, well-made updates to sportswear classics for a few years now and his crewneck sweatshirts are always a hit. They fit slim, incorporate small details like that chest pocket and come in versatile colors, like this olive option here, which will do well to dress down grey denim, wingtip boots and perhaps a chambray shirt and navy knit tie. If splurging on a crewneck sweatshirt isn’t your bag, Old Navy offers similar styles for much, much cheaper.

#5. JACHS NY Light Grey Merino Wool Cardigan — $125

The ideal type of sweater to get you through fall, with some on-trend elbow patches, to boot. Short-sleeve henley by Pistol Lake. Stainless steel dive watch by Invicta.

This cardigan was first seen here as a Style Pick of the Week just last week, and it’s the kind of sweater to buy now, wear now and keep in your rotation through fall (and likely into winter). The merino wool is surprisingly lightweight and breathable, while that light grey color provides some good versatility (pair it with everything from navy corduroys to olive chinos). Because it’s lightweight, that’ll make it a bit more of a tricky play in winter, though. The elbow patches, on another note, are a neat styling touch that seems to have come back into play across the menswear board. The price is another matter for most of us, but maybe it’s a pre-fall splurge. Or, you could pick up a solid handful of multi-colored V-neck sweaters from a place like Uniqlo and call it good.

Florsheim

Sorting through such an assortment of sweaters proved fairly difficult, what with lots of brands, fabrics and styles. As always, J. Crew did an excellent job with its sweater offerings this fall, particularly this lambswool colorblock number. Brands like Old Navy and even Target’s Merona line ($8.74 per sweater!) absolutely shouldn’t be pushed off to the side, either. And if you can make the trip into a physical retail location, it’s worth it to swing through Express for a look at the brand’s V-neck sweaters, which fit slim and (when free of that lion logo) are quite comfortable & affordable when on-sale. And if you fancy yourself a sweater addict (again, *raises hand*) picking up a few of these styles will leave you well-set for this fall and winter … and the next.

Which of the above picks will you be snagging for the season? Any styles or brands that you think are worth a look?

Ben Sherman US

Ernest Alexander