Take a Victory Lap in the Winner’s Circle

Black Friday took the guilt out of shopping, if only for one day. Houstonians pulled out in droves to get a great bargain. Wives and mothers trashed the men’s area to get the two-for-one suit deals at SAKS Off 5th. Recession aside, it was great to see people not afraid to shop for the people they loved.

But, the madness left me wondering, why are men comfortable allowing women to make wardrobe decisions for them? Leaving the sartorial decisions to a woman who has limited knowledge of male wardrobe editing can be detrimental to manhood. Men, you no longer have anyone to blame if you and your woman are matching from head to toe. It might inspire you to be more proactive about being in charge of your personal statement. More men should feel confident in taking a smart approach to their own style in wardrobe.

It could be laziness, or lack of knowledge on how to dress, maybe even a combination of the two; but dressing out of a Mervyn’s ad in the Sunday paper is what seems to be the standard during these hard times. Let’s speak prosperity into existence by being dressed for when it returns. For the eligible bachelor who comfortably styles and profiles in church attire to a lounge or club, your game has already taken three steps back from a possible connection. Recession dress won’t get you a conversation from someone who really has their shit together. At best, you might get a fake phone number. To stop that from happening — and face it, you’re sick of watching your one homeboy with the personality of a reality show reject get the stunner based on his style and dress alone – pay attention to the threads.  When life throws you rotten apples, try recreating your brand and you will see improvement in the women you attract. Try reaching out to a man you feel has conquered confidence in his dress. Find a style mentor.

Take a look at Korey Huff. This CEO and founder of The Huff Law Firm, shows signs of life in this city of nine to fivers. He’s no reject. He’s a criminal attorney, and he evokes the confidence of a young Wall Street executive. With his knack for structure in dress, he knows the value of a first impression.

“As a criminal attorney I must show my confidence and professionalism in court, it creates a positive image with the judge,” he said. Standard corporate attire is navy, black, or pinstripe grey. But is the standard enough to win you a case, a date, or a possible business deal? Be above average.

Huff grew up in west Texas, but drew inspiration from other places — a good tip for a man trying to establish his personal style.

“East coast fashion was the trend back in the early 90s,” Huff said. “Michael Jackson, the emergence of the hip hop brands, and the music were my inspiration.”

His style has gotten more complex as he’s grown into his manhood with 60s-era touches splattered throughout his styling choices. This 34-year-old entrepreneur has put away childish fashion, which sets Huff apart from many young Houston professionals.

First approached by theblvdmag.com at The Breakfast Klub he flaunted his self-confidence in the structure of his double vented, two slits on the side of the jacket, navy blue suit while eating lunch with his friends. Single vents are less clean on the silhouette. Theblvdmag.com spotted Huff again in his confident stride; he sported a pinstripe double-breasted suit in the same restaurant.

“Some men are too lazy to care about appearance or are just unaware,” Huff said. He recommends Banana Republic’s tailor fit suits because they are affordable and modern. He also recommends Zara in the Galleria “their merchandise gives a European tailored fit.”

The quality of the suit lies in the structure and the cut on one’s frame. Vents are very important. It allows room for easy pocket access and creates less of a pear shape in the buttocks.

Huff says “Pants should be flat-front. Please note that most stores with European cut suit pants will fit the crotch area a little tight because the waist is cut lower. You get around this problem buy purchasing a pant size one level higher than normal.”

A great suit allows the cufflinks to get some shine. A blazer or any structured suit jacket should not fall past the wrist. “The jacket should taper the back and waist while the arms of the suit should be slightly shorter than the cuffs of the button down dress shirt,” says Huff.

Houston is no Saville Row. Preferred tailor Marcello’s at the Galleria and shoes from Donald Pliner may be a step in the right direction.  As you take that victory lap in the winner’s circle be sure to pass on these tips to the next generation. Fashion mentors are obsolete in the south.

Photography by Debra Ham

More photos of the shoot

Spontaneous Logic

Recent travels to Memphis, San Francisco, a three-day roadtrip to and from South Carolina just before the Thanksgiving holiday, got me thinking about one of my favorite things: travel shopping.

Everyone can agree that travel shopping is fun, but it’s not a cakewalk to know where to go and what to buy. The mindset one should have when travel shopping is one of spontaneous logic.

The spontaneous part is probably what most people are somewhat familiar with; you know, you’re on vacation in New York, Miami or some fun place for the first time and you splurge in the shopping district.

But that’s not exactly what travel shopping is all about. Traveling shouldn’t be an excuse to run up the credit card debt or buy a few early Christmas gifts, although the savvy shopper doesn’t wait until holiday season to buy presents. Instead, use your travel as an opportunity to differentiate your wardrobe. That means that instead of shopping at Banana Republic and Foot Locker, you should find the locally-owned and operated boutiques. Urban Outfitters may be the one exception to this rule because most of their stores vary greatly from city to city. Doing so will put the “you” in your wardrobe.

Trust me, shopping at locally-owned stores may not save you any money, but when you go back home and get kudos for that new peacoat from a small store in Chicago or sneakers from Undefeated in L.A., you’ll beam both inside and out knowing that your friends can’t cop that same coat or pair of kicks unless they make the same trek.

The spontaneity of travel shopping isn’t about how much you spend, but how many stories you collect in the process of shopping away from home. Keep that in mind as you apply the logic I’m about to discuss.

Now that you’ve decided to go local, it’s important to go logical as well. Don’t buy something just because no one in your hometown will have it. Don’t splurge on a new dress without an occasion to wear it in mind. And certainly don’t blow your load in one store. Shop around.

Sometimes people have difficulty leaving a store that they found things they liked while traveling because they tell themselves they’ll never be back, but this is nonsense. Haven’t you heard of the Internet? Shelling out more than $150 in any store can almost be counter-productive unless you are absolutely certain that you won’t find that item, or anything close to it, anywhere else.

I was in San Francisco with my girlfriend and we went into one of my favorite stores in Manhattan, SkunkFunk, and she saw at least half a dozen things she wanted. It got to the point where she liked almost everything she tried on. In situations like this, where you’re in a store for the first time, as she was, it’s important to apply logic and get only the most unique and sensible piece. In this case, she bought a pullover that doubles as both a sweater and a going out top, a smart decision on her part.

Similarly, I was in New Orleans buying shoes from SportieLA and was truly blown away with the sale prices on Nike dunks, blazers and Supra kicks as well. I ended up buying like 10 pair. Sure, I spent around $700, but that was $1,200 worth of sneakers that were too good to pass up.

The lesson in all this is simple: remember that you’re traveling and spontaneity is almost always good for travel, but also keep your home life in mind. Don’t go overboard in one store or on your budget unless you can justify it on the plane, boat, car or train ride home.

Shouldah Pads: A BAD FAD or A CLASSIC

Some vintage trends should stay buried for a little while longer. In this case its shoulder pad, circa the late 80s to mid 90s.

Three of the hottest celebrities out are shown flawlessly styling “Accentuated Shoulders”  courtesy of the Dynasty era. Question: Do ugly trends seem to work better with celebrities?

Yes and no.

Yes because shoulder pads are an attention grabbing accessory. Celebs are desperate to outdo and one-up each other on the next great trend. A hot designer can promote a brown stain and have stylists rushing to get their clients photographed with it. The ferocity of celebrity marketing can be dangerous and leave a layman looking crazy. Shoulder pads can easily  leave you looking like the girl with the shoulder pads. Wanting an extra accessory to give you some individuality? Try digging deep within yourself and find what in your personality can show in a wardrobe. Shoulder pads may not be the hit.

The idea of padded shoulders started with the wive’s of rich merchants in the 30’s and were later militarized during World War II.  Power dressing donimated the market in the 80s giving birth to the soap opera fashions of Dynasty and Dallas.

It’s not as if shamelessly sporting a blazer stuffed with exaggerated cotton shoulders is a bad idea for the regular working ladies. Expressing one’s individuality is an essential part of exuding style, but there comes a time when one must pause and think about the future. Combing through photos of authentic nostalgia can be a fun way to amuse onself as opposed to checking out last year’s facebook photos and realizing that you were the victim of some forced trend.  The lack of originality is what keeps me at bay. It could also be the time I sat near a man wearing the exact same white jacket Beyonce wore (above) at one of her concerts.

The fond memories of Dynasty, Dallas, Grace Jones and the Golden Girls brings peace to the iconic symbol of girl power. Fashion is an ever evolving rotation of the old becoming anew.  Diahann Carol and friends deserve big ups for the effortless execution of wearing a good shoulder pad. When will there be a trend that’s unseen? High-waisted belts, shoulder pads, hammer pants, fro mullets,  80’s tight jeans. Soon we’ll be wearing what we wore yesterday as if it’s brand new.

WHO wins best shoulder pads? BEYONCE, CI CI, or Rhianna?

Festivals and Fashion Markets

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There will never be another Woodstock. Never. We’ve seen the images of flower kidz, zonked out from the overindulgence of sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll. The mud baths, the iconic performances of artists, Hendrix, Dylan, Santana, The Band….since 1969, many festivals have tried to do repeat- think Lalapalooza and Coachella, but ya can’t redo an era.

I’ve heard references to the new Obama generation as a light weight spin off to the 1970’s hippie movement. It’s quite far-fetched and our hybrids wouldn’t support muddy interiors anyway.

Here are some great examples of festival fashion. There were hipsters who seemed to Battle each other for the coolest concert t-shirts, Structured leather jackets (the temp was a nice 85 degees in Austin)and free spirited beauties roaming in bliss on the grassy park.

RAPHAEL SAADIQ LOOKED RATHER CLASSIC IN his 60’s styled vintage black suit.

If you missed The Find, this past weekend you missed out on a treat. Mostly women, vintage lovers came from all over River Oaks and The Heights in search of unfound diggs to sport for the fall.  I came across the best booth of the entire market. A young lady by the name of Samadhi and she happens to have one of the largest vintage collections in Houston, Texas. She’s been in business for over 10 years with her mother. After salivating over a vintage gucci bag that I was close to buying, but in guilt passed off to my cousin, I was able to cop an eel skin clutch made in the 60’s for amazingly $60. Eel skin clutches run about $300 in high end stores. Check out her website at ancestorvintage.etsy.com.

A Few Pointers for Thrift Shopping & 90s Fashion

Earlier this month, two of the biggest touring bands, Pearl Jam and Dave Matthews Band, headlined the Austin City Limits Music Festival, which could only mean one thing: the 90s are coming.

Think about it; in the early-mid 90s, we celebrated the 60s and 70s. Spike Lee’s Crooklyn and Forrest Gump come to mind. And in the latter part of the 90s and through this decade we’ve appreciated the 80s — most recently evidenced following Michael Jackson’s death –, but now we’re moving on. Perhaps it was Jackson’s death combined with Michael Jordan’s induction in the Hall of Fame that got us thinking about the 90s again…regardless, they’re back.

I was in L.A. a few months back and saw plenty of girls with the pants formerly known as “Hammer pants”. And a few weeks ago, in New York, I spotted this attractive young lady coming out of the Subway station with a great flannel that reminded me of my first arena concert back in 95: Green Day.

Growing up in the 90s meant being aware of all of the great music and style that was out. So, if I wanted to listen to hip hop or if I wanted to listen to Pearl Jam or Dave Matthews Band I could do so seamlessly. So yeah, what’s old is new again and the 90s are upon us.

That said, I don’t really care to see baggy F.U.B.U. jeans and throwback jerseys anymore, as Jay-Z comments on The Blueprint 3’s “Off That”.

Which leads me to my point in all of this as it pertains to guys especially; the 90s are a delicate time in our fashion history and tread carefully when going retro. The best skill any guy can have in order to fully embrace the MTV Real World decade and still look HBO Entourage cool is to know how to shop in thrift and consignment stores.

You can find a Goodwill or Salvation Army just about anywhere so here are a few rules to go by:

1.    Keep good karma
Before you go to the thrift store ready to shop, go into your own closet and take out anything you haven’t worn in a year, put it in a bag and donate it. This almost always leads to me finding a gem. One time it was a Brooks Brothers suit, another time it was a Christian Dior tie.

2.    Be methodical.
When Tiger Woods lines up for a putt, he’s doing the same thing he does every put –reading greens, doing a test putt and then stroking the club. He wins because he’s not trying to change his game up, he’s methodical. Shopping is just like golf, you have to have a method that you trust and will not falter from. For me, it’s quite simple; I only look for button-down shirts. If I happen to stumble upon a nice suit rack or set of ties, of course I’ll look, but only momentarily. I can be in and out of a Goodwill with two Polos quicker than you can order a Whopper.

3.    Compliment your wardrobe, not replace it.
This may seem simple because most of us are shopping in malls and boutiques more often than thrift stores, but you’d be amazed by how many times I see guys in Salvation Army looking at every single t-shirt or collared shirt like they’re back-to-school shopping.

Nonsense, I say. Thrift and consignment stores are perfect for two things and two things only: 1) complimenting clothes you already have (maybe a t-shirt to match some new kicks) or 2) getting something you want, but can’t afford at a department store like Nordstrom’s or trendy store like Urban Outfitters. That means everything from flannel shirts and vests to skinny jeans and quirky-looking ties to fill out your 90s look.

The 90s were some glory years for many of us. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, BET’s Rap City and the ’96 Atlanta Olympics were just some of the highlights for me. I still remember hearing about the Tommy Hilfiger-styled U.S. Olympic team outfits for opening ceremonies. Ahhh, those were the days. However, the 90s fashion redux shouldn’t be overdone in your closets or daily fittings. Just remember to tread carefully, and visit thrift stores regularly.

Photo credit Joah Spearman

The FIND | Friday and Saturday October 9th & 10th from 9am-6pm

THE FIND is an emerging designer show that travels with new and underground designers exposing shoppers to fabulous up-and-coming collections including: jewelry, handbags, shoes, and ready-to-wear items for public viewing and purchase. THE FIND experience draws inspiration from both New York and Los Angeles to provide a unique shopping atmosphere to each city. We give local shoppers the opportunity to discover those designers who haven’t saturated mainstream retail locations. While this is not a charity event, each designer gives a portion of their profit from THE FIND to a charity of their choosing.

Currently, THE FIND is planning for upcoming shows in Houston, New Orleans, Dallas and New York.

Houston Details:
Collections:  Adults & Kids
Friday and Saturday October 9th & 10th from 9am-6pm
@ Winter Street Studios Gallery
2101 Winter Street Houston, TX 77007

For information about these shows and the showroom events at THE FIND, sign THE FIND’s guestbook at www.thefindhouston.com to receive e-mail updates.

Contact information: Creative Director: Chelsea Dreyer Chelsea@thefindhouston.com 713.213.6997

Making The Tranisition: Houston’s Summer to Fall Looks

BACK to school, BACK to work, BACK to pounding the pavement in search for a new career move is on the agenda for most Americans in the post-Bush era.

The fashion industry has taken a huge hit and now is the time to take advantage of sales, clearances, and any coupon deals retailers have to offer.

You may tell yourself “making purchases to suffice my self esteem is irresponsible and unnecessary.” With the trends of budget cuts across every corporate sector, the once lavish American has been transformed into a frugal saver. The downfall of the economy has been a huge smack in the face and  a life’s lesson for many with bad spending habits. Good for you. Bad for the Fashion Industry.

A major problem I see as I people watch are the drab signals of depression and weakness folks send into the universe via wardrobe and personal style. Should all of society really be exposed to how you feel on the inside? Feeling down and out is nobody’s business but yours. So dress as if you love yourself. If you’re not a trend whore like myself, call a friend or just ask me to help you mix up your threads. With a change of your own wardrobe you may feel more confident to take on the world.

Food outweighs clothes on necessities.  Breaking yourself on trends is irresponsible (unless you have a “BIG” on your team). If you can spend a little extra on yourself for the upcoming fall season, here are some ways to save and remain in style.

THE OFFICE::

Whenever there’s a down turn in the economy, the fashion world responds quickly. Smart designers will use transition pieces to get consumers from season to season. The trends you will see are staples to any closet. Mixing a wardrobe with an over sized sweater or a leather bomber jacket will transform your entire look from bland to “I wanna date her.” Bold colored stockings and detailed tights can transform the right dress into a mod masterpiece.

THE BOYFRIEND::

We love our boyfriends and believe it or not, they think it’s sexy when we prance around the house in there shirts. A nice collard oxford shirt with a great pair of loose distressed jeans are comfortable and screams confidence. “The Boyfriend” is the sexy approach to dressing like a guy. When rolling up the jeans,  expose the entire ankle. Make sure the shirt is fitted to your shape. For any of you “four-eyes”  feel free to wear your nerdy glasses, it’s a cool compliment to this look.

THE TRANSITION::

An easy way to transition into the Houston Fall is not to rule out favorite summer pieces. Rompers were a fun trend this summer and there’s no need to throw them in the back of the closet just yet. H-town will get cool around mid-October, so you have to time to play around with some of your favorite summer items. Try pairing your favorite one piece with a light cotton sweater, a heavy scarf,  or a sexy rain coat. This will save you some dollars as you decide on what to spend on your new fall wardrobe.

BACK TO SCHOOL::

What saddens me about living in the south is the lack of layering. Layering is always a great way to mix a jacket with a great pair of jeans, a cool scarf and a great t-shirt. Houston is a driving city, so layering can be unnecessary if you’re not faced with harsh winds or a quick drop in temperature.

But I say, do what looks good. Every young lady should have a great blazer to pair with a mini skirt and of course jeans (remember jeans are in big demand due to the recession and the costs have gone down). Just make sure to throw on some boots and step out in style.

DOING LINES::

“All the girls standing in the line for the bathroom” will  either send major hateration signals or congratulate you for stepping out in full hotness.

Sure signs of hateration when you know you’re looking good:

1. When you’re in the bathroom and the chick next to you stares but doesn’t say a word

2. When a girl acts as if she’s drunk and spills her drink on your new outfit

3. When your “friend” refuses take a fun picture with you to promote on facebook because she’s not in the mood

These two lovely ladies below are definitely rocking out how lines should be worn. Never with jeans. It’s too fussy. Try pairing tights with a zipper and possibly nothing at all. But don’t be surprised if you get hated on for looking hot! It happens to me all the time!

SUMMER TO FALL::

An easy way to transition into the Houston Fall is not to rule out favorite summer pieces. Rompers were a fun trend this summer and there’s no need to throw them in the back of the closet just yet.

Try pairing your favorite one piece with a light cotton sweater or a sexy rain coat. This will save you some dollars as you decide on what to spend on your new fall wardrobe.

Remember learning how to transition will simultaneously keep your pockets full while impressing onlookers. Throw on a sweater bolero with your slinky short set, accompanied with a fall bag. Duo’s silver rain coat is a must have fall accessory and it can either enhance or create the look without hassle.

Photo Credit: Debra Ham

KEEP IT CLASSY HOUSTON!

When you stop into Duo give Ruben and the nice ladies a high five or a hug for keeping in style on the latest threads. All pieces the models are wearing can be found and purchased at Duo. With a printed copy of this article, you will receive a special discount at Duo . The offer ends September 30. Please read the details.

A Man’s Closet: Organizing 101

This isn’t a major spoiler alert or anything, but there is a scene in a recent episode of HBO’s Entourage where we get to see Turtle’s closet. For sneaker lovers like myself, the scene is like looking into the Garden of Eden only Nike Air Jordans have replaced the apple tree.

While many of us will never have millionaire friends in Hollywood like Turtle (and definitely not celebrity women like Jamie-Lynn Sigler), we can all aspire to attain a closet that is both eye-catching and efficient. There are three main tips you must know:

1. It all starts with the shoes.

Sure, many of us have closets full of suits and ties or maybe jeans and button-down shirts, but the shoes are the true pride of any closet worth showcasing. While this has always been true for women (Oprah included), it has only recently been adopted by us guys.

For men, our chests have always been the focal point of how we presented ourselves. And that hindered us from doing anything creative with our closets.

It used to be that the more confident you were, the more you projected from your chest. Part of the reason why John Travolta’s strut in Saturday Night Fever is so famous is because it showcased a dramatic shift in attention from the man’s upper body to the entire package. No, not that package.

Of course, black men had already been styling themselves from head-to-toe and developing cadence-like stride patterns to grab attention, i.e. Shaft, but Travolta made it mainstream. And thanks to fashion trends of the last three decades, men have finally realized that it’s not just the blazer or collared shirt that matters in your closet. Today, everything from head to toe says something about you.

That said, deciding what to wear has never been so important for men and the added stress of picking the right outfit – something that has traditionally been a female-only issue – requires an efficient closet to make the process easier.

That’s precisely why the emphasis on shoes is largely to the credit of guys like Turtle who treat their Nike sneakers like prize possessions worthy of specially-designed shelving and premier closet space. If you get the shoes down, the outfit will build itself from there. Unless you don’t have enough shoes, and in that case, I recommend you visit Sneak Attack and start educating yourself one day at a time.

2. Color-coordinate your shirts.

It’ll make it a lot easier to decide what Polo or tee to wear with those Air Force Ones.

3. Clear the floor.

You need to give yourself room to operate comfortably so a) elevate your shoes with shelving and b) find some efficient, but durable hangars, most 99-cents stores have them.

Not all of us are sneakerheads like Turtle and many of us don’t have mahogany wood-filled closets, but picking the right outfit is always easiest with sound organizing of your closet. Who knows, maybe you’ll share a plane with a hot celebrity and need to look the part of a leading man.

Joah writes at Joah.Typepad.Com. In January, his first book Real Role Models (University of Texas Press) will be released. He is currently writing an all-access book on Austin City Limits Festival.

Those Who Create Are Rare

Those who create are rare; those who cannot are numerous. Therefore, the latter are stronger.- CoCo Chanel

Shuffling through the crowd of a fashion show on Montrose, I bumped into a young lady that I’d met before at a past event. JeyFree caught my attention with her carefree style of dress, small barbell nose ring, huge circular ornate earrings, and of course her mutual feeling of discontent of the late, humid, and unorganized show we were both attending. After a brief conversation over beer, and exchange of numbers I was able to schedule some one-on-one girl talk with this Bronx, New York native.

Upon arriving to her humble and eclectic apartment she mentioned she was in transition to move yet again to Chicago. As I checked out her place, her dining room wall, a collection of inspiration from clippings of magazines, art, and pop icons was a montage of art itself. We casually sipped Kool-Aid as we talked about music, Kenya, and the need for unity between females.

“What are you running away from?” I asked.

“Spiritually I feel that I belong in Chicago right now. I have an opportunity to do some marketing with my new line and I have some friends out there….I plan to come back, eventually.”

Not at all surprised by the excitement in her voice and her willingness to leave Houston in pursuit of her dreams, she began to explain a life changing trip to Nairobi, Kenya a week prior. Jey’s love for people and the quest to get an understanding of the history of African art lead her to work for the Go Down Art Center in Nairobi, where she assisted in art workshops and AIDS awareness. Witnessing the strength of the women and their laborious work load left her feeling proud of her heritage and thankful she’s American.

Jey’s pieces reflect that sense of self awareness she found so inspiring in the shanti towns in Nairobi, Kenya. Her pieces are unique and fun to wear. She’s definitely aware of color theory and she takes the time to handcraft each piece with canvas and acrylic paint. Most pieces have a common theme of Africa, female empowerment and color. What’s more satisfying is her ornate earrings are not heavy on the ear. “I’m not into trends, I want my pieces to speak for the consumer and for themselves,” she said.

It’s true, her ear candies are hanging on her wall, and you could imagine hundreds of these circular canvases all together, along with her wall o’ cool stuff, her accessories definitely have something to say.

JeyFree, birth name Jana Freeman, attended Mariste College in New York and tried a stint at Texas Southern University’s Liberal Arts program.

“I didn’t graduate from college. I guess you can call me a drop out but I continue to educate myself,” she casually mentions.

A child of diversity, her mother’s biracial and father a native of Trinidad, she fell in love with art at the adult age of 20. How she discovered her craft is straight out of every girl’s personal necessity to accessorize an outfit on a night out.

“I didn’t have any jewelry to wear and there was nothing original to buy at a store,” she said. “I paint therapeutically, so I decided to give it a try with earrings.”

A blessing upon her many talents, she decided to step out on faith and in her New York way of hustling she opened up shop with a table and 20 handcrafted pieces of her now famed earrings in Uptown Tapas on Richmond. “I had a feeling they would sale well,” she said. “Not too many people hustle jewelry at lounges and clubs.”

Jeyfree’s a definite flower child. She’s a huge music fan of Chrisette Michelle, Erykah Badu and Solange Knowles. Her muse is her cool and introverted sister Amber and she describes herself as a “Freedom Fighter.”

With the last name Freeman, it’s a birthright. What’s it looking like for JeyFREE’s future? She plans to open a museum style gallery of accessories where people can purchase and experience her finds from across the world. You can check her out and order your customized accessories at http://jeyflysfree.blogspot.com/.

Photos by: Arnea Williams, livefreshvintage.com

Haute Summer

Oven heat is the last source of inspiration from the minds of fashion makers for men’s wear this summer. As a true testament of the limited amount of comfortable summer fashions for “hot as hell” cities like Houston; men sporting old college t-shirts and cargo shorts just to keep cool are not a rarity. Although  comfort is understandably priority for the weekend and after hours, stepping up the professional to business casual attire can be cumbersome, but corporate wear is and will be cumbersome if you allow it.

Corporate hours can be long and draining. Whether a top executive or mailroom clerk, if you’re not the HDIC (HEAD DUDE IN CHARGE) work sucks, so why ruin your sense of self with played out summer clothes?

Fashion accompanied with function should not be an anomaly for the young, hip and educated male. By narrowing down options and finding retailers that house a mix of appealing, modern, and well-tailored garments, the angst to step up your “playa” will subside. To separate yourself from looking like the IT guy on the 5th floor, try wearing a cotton Khaki suit paired with a light printed French cuffed shirt along with a peppermint striped tie. The Khaki suit will calm the boldness of the tie and shirt. Remember to throw in a light loafer with vents to cool the feet.

Gingham is a summer Favorite for designers. From Ralph Lauren to Etro, this all-American checker box print is a must have for an update on light cotton shirts. Although bold in print, colors range from vibrant red to a dull grey. If you want to add some American sexy, throw on the classic khaki polo shorts with a clean pair of converses.

A cotton khaki blazer that was once for work can convert into a fresh taste of suave. A light floral print button-up accessorized with a paperboy hat will simultaneously block the sun and keep heads turning. Adding a pocket square adds a “debonair” quality, without forcing an unnecessary fashion statement.

Red, the color of love, sex, anger and heat. Why not take the bold approach? Duo’s white collared, red sports shirt is airy and light to the touch. Accompanied with James Dean-esque chinos or a light cotton plaid pant, day or night, those occasional incidents of coming home alone may end.

If ever there is a time when you rub elbows with Jack Nicholson at a boxing match in Las Vegas, you better make sure you’re wearing the right suit. Take a trip to the Galley (Galleria) and you will find that Zara’s suits have an Itialian tailor-made quality at an affordable price (around $350). Duo’s polka dotted shirt adds some fun to the gray. Keep the sun out of your eyes with the American classic Ray Bans, and you’ll be unstoppable.

RULE OF THUMB (Lets make a toast to not ruining these style tips described above)

• Chinos should never ruffle at the ankles like granny panties, a simple trip to the cleaners can hem this problem.

• By now, Gingham should be apart of your wardrobe.

• Fitted Jeans are great. Skinny jeans are not!

• Love thyself and dress for success, even though the job may be a crapshoot, the sex life should be a win.

Photography by, Debra Ham

Styled by: Hollywood Cole

Model: Hani Abdulbaki

 

Special Thanks to Ruben from Duo

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