Tag / gq fashion

by Beau H.

#OOTD: How to Wear A Chambray Blazer

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 will take one great item and put together a versatile, stylish outfit around it. Look for past features here.

When the heat waves start to roll in, it can be a tricky time to try and dress well. There’s that ever-difficult balance between keeping your cool and looking cool that requires you mix things up a bit. In the case of today’s post, that means we’re talking how to wear a chambray blazer. It’s the lightweight alternative to the classic navy blazer, what with a rougher, more visually interesting texture and (usually) less internal construction. That means it looks more natural when paired with other casual menswear pieces, such as a simple T-shirt and twill pants. It’s a get-up that nods toward a trend (that would be the menswear world getting more and more casual by the day), yet you still look crisp and put-together. As you’ll see with the below #OOTD, it’s a look you could even pull off as you dress for summer travel.  So with that being said, get to reading below. For more #menswear inspiration, check out yours truly on Instagram, or swing on through Facebook for a daily briefing.
Ben Sherman

An effortless mix of casual and cool -- a chambray blazer plus a simple striped tee.

An effortless mix of casual and cool — a chambray blazer plus a simple striped tee.

 

The Blazer: JackThreads Chambray Blazer, $79: A chambray blazer for just $79? Believe it. Slim, stylish and well-made, from a brand that just gets things done.

The T-shirt: Bourbon and Blue Surfcomber Heathered Red Stripe Tee, $55: If you’re going to rock a tee under a blazer, it’s best to pick up one that’s comfortable, well-made and trim-fitting; warm weather stripes don’t hurt, either.

The Pants: Old Navy Ultimate Slim-Fit Khakis, $29: While the color of the chinos in that particular picture is lighter than the pair on Old Navy’s site, the principle remains the same — slim khakis fall in line with that trim blazer and tee, and can be easily rolled to show off those sneakers.

The Sneakers: GREATS Pronto in Cadet, $199: GREATS does, well, a great job at producing versatile, comfortable sneakers that are easy to wear with high-low style combos  like a blazer and tee (Italian manufacturing just does that).

The Socks: J. Crew Anchor No-show Socks, $10: Stylish no-show socks are an absolute summer must, and these add another subtle, nautical touch to the outfit while keeping your feet cool.

The Belt: J. Crew Factory Double-striped Webbing Belt, $14.50: As much as it’s popped up in a few recent #OOTD posts (including this post on how to wear a short-sleeve shirt), it’s a highly versatile casual belt that adds some nice color to this ensemble.

The Watch: Timex Weekender Fairfield, $75: Timex watches are as solid as they get, and this particular timepiece is suitably refined enough to heighten that blazer-and-tee combo just a bit.

The Accessory: Cambridge Satchel Oxblood iPhone Case, $32: So not everyone still has an iPhone (just me?), but regardless of what phone you’ve got, it’d be a neat touch to finish off your everyday with a rich leather phone case.

Does that check all the boxes of dressing sharply in warm weather? Well, mostly. If you feel a tee is too casual, you could always swap in an essential chambray shirt or a classic blue Oxford. But the best part about pairing a tee with a chambray blazer is the combination of effortless style and comfort it gives you. It’s an on-the-go style move that meets the warm weather while looking cool and sharp. Plus, it works well when paired with a classic set of navy sneakers — a more comfortable answer to brown leather wingtips, for starters. And crisp accessories, like a lux leather phone case and a dependable watch, are going to be by your side (and on your wrist) for plenty of outfits in the future. Even starting gradually (swapping out denim for twill pants and upgrading to a lighter chambray blazer) can be a step in the right direction. Still unsure? Give it a try –it might become a go-to style combo.

Are you sold on the idea of pairing a blazer with a striped tee? What about sneakers? Let me know in the comments!

Frank & Oak

 

Buck Mason - Timeless Design. Made in America.

 

by Beau H.

The Friday Read: Summer Shirts, NBA Fashion and FIFA Corruption

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Editor’s note: Expect these posts once a week on Fridays — consider this a jumpstart on reading for your weekend downtime. Expect a mix of style and non-style content. For more entries, click here.

We’re coming to the end of a four-day week that’s felt a lot longer than that (starting a new gig will do that to you — check out the About page for more on my transition!). But the holiday weekend was definitely a nice one, and hopefully things are going smoothly as you kick off summer. (Got your travel accessories covered, by the way?). Check out a selection of mostly style-related reading picks for your weekend going forward below.

  • The ever-stylish team at GQ tackles everything you need to know about rocking a short-sleeve shirt for the summer.
  • Know a college or high school graduate? Or a dad? A dad-graduate? Joe at Dappered dishes out his picks for twelve watches worthy of such a momentous occasion.
  • AskMen hands out its awards for the postseason’s best-dressed with the NBA playoffs in full swing
  • Long(ish) Read of the Week: The New York Times examines the somewhat underexamined side of the FIFA corruption scandal  — the reactions of the event’s many sponsors to the whirlwind of controversy surrounding soccer’s international governing body.

Got a hankering for more style content?

  • Our esteemed guest contributor Madhav Sekar of Wardrobe Domination offered up his pick earlier this week for the best  men’s sneakers to own right now.
  • I had the chance to take a pair of Taylor Stitch chinos for a spin — even wrote about it for GearHungry (Editor’s note: A full review with original photo content is planned for this blog next month; be on the lookout!).

 

Ernest Alexander

The Watchery

by Beau H.

Brand Profile: The Hill-Side

Brothers Sandy and Emil Corsillo, founders of The Hill-side, with menswear blogger and brand supporter James Wilson.

Brothers Sandy and Emil Corsillo, founders of The Hill-Side, with menswear blogger and brand supporter James Wilson. Image courtesy of GQ.

An increased focus in recent years on men’s style and fashion has had a lot of really positive benefits for those outside the industry, too — like the launch of GQ’s Best New Menswear Designers in America program. It’s an awesome way to check out what’s new and what’s next while finding out about great brands — like The Hill-Side (and on that note, the brand’s collaboration with GAP as part of the program should be drool-worthy). You might recognize the brand from its appearance on the head of a certain famous NBA player, too. The Brooklyn-based brand was launched in 2009 by denim-obsessed brothers Sandy & Emil Corsillo with business partner & friend Hisashi Oguchi. Obsessed with outstanding fabrics & Japanese workwear brands, the brand has found itself a nice niche — eclectic styles that manage to look of-the-moment at the same.

Some of the store's wares, including standout socks and great chinos, on display in Brooklyn.

Some of the store’s wares, including standout socks and great chinos, on display in Brooklyn.

I had the chance to stop into Hickoree’s, the brand’s physical outpost opened by the team in Brooklyn. And man, was I impressed with what I saw. In addition to stocking gear from The Hill-Side itself, the store also sells items you never knew you needed — like cool leather keyholders and Japanese pottery. The space is also, for one, exceptionally cool. There’s almost too much high-quality menswear to even begin to describe. The store stocks everything from indigo T-shirts and jeans from Blue Blue Japan to amazing chambray slip-ons and hemp denim sneakers (made in Japan for the brand).

Indigo wares on display from Blue Blue Japan, among others.

Indigo wares on display from Blue Blue Japan, among others.

Casual, washed shirts from The Hill-Side and the Gitman Brothers Vintage line are a highlight too, as are the unique trousers the store also stocks (like these sturdy jeans from Phivgel). The brand’s lightweight, infinitely wearable blazers are unlined and unconstruced, making them easy-wearing, and they have a tailored fit that’s not too restrictive. There’s also a standout selection of ties and pocket squares made from soft, textured fabrics — something that put the brand on the map in the first place. Pair that with a casual shirt and one of the many workwear-inspired jackets they also stock, and you’d have one standout outfit. Things can be topped off with a set of super comfortable and breathable socks  in a variety of colors (also the brand’s own). In fact, I picked up an olive Donegal tweed pocket square and some charcoal-tipped socks on this trip.

Beautiful ties in textured fabric from The Hill-side.

Beautiful ties in textured fabric from The Hill-Side.

Another personal highlight had to be the store’s stunning selection of sneakers — all from The Hill-Side itself. Whereas lots of brands are going for super clean, minimal shoes at the moment, there’s something to be said for sneakers that have unique texture and great construction (Donegal tweed sneakers or denim sneakers for the fall, anyone?). A set of herringbone twill sneakers in all-black were also quite well-made.

Just one pair of the awesome sneakers sold by The Hill-side.

Just one pair of the awesome sneakers sold by The Hill-Side.

Now, it’s absolutely worth noting that these pieces, from the blazers to the sneakers and even the socks aren’t cheap. They’ll set you back a pretty penny, to be sure. But the fabrics are beautiful on every piece, the quality and construction is top-notch and the styling potential for say, a chambray blazer or some clean white slip-ons, is huge. The great thing about the brand is that even though their line has expanded to more eclectic pieces (for example, small wooden display planes), they still have a grounded, defined sense of who they are — vintage, workwear-inspired and still very on-trend without trying too hard.

Soft-washed shirts from Gitman Brothers Vintage. Very well-made.

Soft-washed shirts from Gitman Brothers Vintage and The Hill-Side. Very well-made.

While not everyone will probably be able to get into the physical store soon, it’s for sure worth a trip if you ever find yourself in Brooklyn. And in the meantime, the brand’s excellent and quirky Web shop will have to suffice. Happy shopping!

What’s your favorite piece from The Hill-Side? Let me know!

by Beau H.

The H&M + GQ Modern Essentials Collection Launch Event

A collection of spring staples curated by the former British soccer star.

A collection of spring staples curated by the former British soccer star.

Wednesday night, I had the chance to attend the launch of the H&M Modern Essentials Collection (as selected by David Beckham) — a party put on by GQ, as luck would have it. I don’t often get the chance to attend fashion-type events like these, but as a member of the GQ Insider program, this launch was too good to pass up. Inside the 48th Street H&M here in New York, a DJ spun remixes, free drinks were on tap and the entire basement floor of the store turned into a showcase of everything menswear-related that H&M had to offer — including a specific selection of goods curated by Mr. Beckham for the collection (seen below). It was a pretty packed event but there was still plenty of room to shop Becks’ picks and more .

Beckham's collection has the basics covered from striped shirts to a tan denim jacket.

Beckham’s collection has the basics covered from striped shirts, a plain white tee and a tan denim jacket.

Thankfully, this year’s David Beckham collaboration reaches outside loungewear for crisp essentials, including a nice line of five-pocket pants for spring,  pastel crewneck sweaters, a now sold-out striped pique polo and a quick-selling linen mac coat (see the full line-up here). He also has evening wear covered for the warmer months with a sharp dark navy linen blazer (also sold out!). Beckham’s picks include staples like a white poplin shirt that could see lots of use if you follow some of these classic suggestions, too.

The pieces picked up by yours truly at the event. A light blue V-neck, checked navy trousers, a khaki cotton blazer, a grey twill shirt and a repp stripe tie.

The pieces picked up by yours truly at the event. A light blue V-neck, checked navy trousers, a khaki cotton blazer, a grey twill shirt and a repp stripe tie.

Elsewhere outside the Modern Essentials collection, H&M is a brand that delivers fast-fashion pieces for those of us on a budget — and they certainly do some things well. A lot of that inspiration was on display during last night’s event, and thanks to a nice 25% discount, I brought home some spring styles for myself. As Beckham wears so nicely in promo shots for the collection, the above navy mini-plaid trousers would pair nicely with white sneakers (like these here) and a crisp white polo in the warmer months.

I also snagged a slim-fit khaki cotton blazer and a discounted grey twill shirt, both of which should complement the navy, brown and silver repp stripe tie I picked up. Events like these don’t come around that often, but it was nice to be able to get out, do some shopping and pick up a discount in the process — hopefully, more are in the works as part of the GQ Insider program. Stay tuned!

What are your favorite items from Beckham’s collection? Experience with H&M menswear? Let me know!