Legend has it that Engineered Garments got its name from a pattern maker that remarked that the clothes weren’t just designed, but engineered, due to the amount of detailing involved in each garment.

I was skeptical too when I read that little tidbit, but I’ve since been won over.  The workmanship is top notch and the price, especially for the quality, isn’t outrageous.  Pictures don’t do it justice, but we’ll try anyway; here are four pieces we love from the GQ/CFDA “ Best Designer in America” winner.

Where to Buy:  Online retailers include Hefjina, Steven Alan Annex, and Stuart & Wright. Boutiques include Hollander & Lexer and Odin (New York), Legion (Los Angeles), Mac (San Francisco), Relish (Washington D.C.), and select Bloomingdales.  Though Engineered Garments has been around since 2005, it is only now that the industry has started to take notice.  As time progresses, I’m confident that more stores will start carrying Engineered Garments.

by John Liu

A: You’re in luck–you don’t need to spend a lot in order to look more mature.  In fact, you can often replicate a designer look at generic prices.  To me, the spirit of “young but mature” rests in taking staples of a man’s wardrobe and putting a contemporary twist on them.  The most common outfit you will see that captures this spirit is the classic t-shirt under the blazer look.  You may also see some guys pushing up the sleeves on blazers.  As for your specific question…

Pants: Ditch the cargo pants.  Those bulky pockets are just a bit too high school.  Instead, try some well-cut khakis in a lighter color.  They’re worth the investment.  I would look into a designer called Save Khaki; I like their cut and casualness. If you’re in New York, you can go to their boutique; otherwise you can find them at online at Barney’s Co-op, Neiman Marcus or Bergdorf Goodman.  And if its prep you want, look no further than a pair of Nantucket Reds; these classics are the very definition of East coast prep.  You can also try Ralph Lauren or J. Crew, which always has some good chinos (and of course, their classic chambray shirt).  Or, if you want something new, you can explore Gant’s Rugger line.  And while we’re on the subject of pants, don’t be afraid to try jeans that aren’t blue.  Grey jeans look great.
   
Shorts: For those hot days, look into some clean cut Bermuda shorts; they’re like cargo pants without the bulky pockets.  Nantucket Reds can be pretty stylish, as seen on Michael Bastian (pictured top right). Also check out what Banana Republic has to offer.  Style tip?  Properly fitting shorts do not fall below the knee.

Tops: You can stick to polo shirts, but I have a feeling that if you look around, every 3rd guy will be sporting a polo.  How to differentiate yourself from these other guys?  Look for polos that deviate from the common styles and brands.  Try investing in some interesting buttondowns; they’ll come in handy for dates too.  Solids and stripes are always a safe bet, but if you feel like being bold, try some checks or plaid.  Whatever you do, leave the collar down; a polo with a popped color isn’t preppy, it’s pretentious.

Shoes: Don’t bash yourself too hard about wearing slip on Vans; they’re actually coming back in style.  Also, classics such as Jack Purcells probably won’t go out of style any time soon, so don’t worry about wearing sneakers every now and then.  You can find some alternatively preppy shoes without breaking the bank though: try some Sperry Top-Sider or L.L. Bean boat shoes.

Blazers/Suits: Also, now that you’re in college, it’s time to look into blazers and possibly a suit if you don’t have one.  You’ll definitely need a well-cut suit for your job interview, so it’s only a matter of time.  For about $500, you can get some pretty good suits at Banana Republic.

You could always try the plain t-shirt under the blazer (or layered tees), but you can take the outfit up a notch by layering a fitted polo shirt over a t-shirt.  Bonus points for a brightly colored tee–we love the splash of color this creates at the neckline. 

Horizontal stripe patterns have emerged as a fresh-looking casual trend for both men and women this Spring.  From Burberry to John Varvatos, from American Apparel to Built by Wendy, this trend has manifested itself everywhere from high end fashion houses (hello Michael Bastian and Junya Watanabe) to accessible, affordable chain stores.  Here are a few pieces that do the horizontal stripe pattern well:

A: In order to stand out from the crowd, either dress up or down, but stick with one and do it all the way.  Of course, there is a little bit of wiggle room, but if you want to stand out, just don’t plant yourself right in the middle of the “formality” scale by wearing a structured blazer, dress shirt and dark blue denim.

I think the dress shirt/jeans combo is so popular because guys consider it to be that “in between” look.  They think (incorrectly) that by wearing a button down, they are dressing up, but by wearing jeans, they are also keeping it casual.  Their mistake is thinking that the shirt is the piece of the outfit that defines the formality.  In reality, the pieces of the outfit that define formality are actually the pants and shoes.  You could wear a suit jacket, a dress shirt and a tie, but if you wear shorts, it’s still a casual look.  Or maybe they’re doing it because everyone else is doing it.  Either way, don’t follow their lead. 

As for accessories, the idea here is minimalism: skip the belt.  The pocket square is up to you.  You can wear your watch, but only if it’s subtle. 

If you want to make the look more casual, skip the tie.  Or you can skip the jacket altogether and wear a vest instead—but only if all components of the suit are from the same suit (i.e. don’t wear a medium gray pants and a charcoal vest).  As always, fit is absolutely key.  If your suit doesn’t fit, you’ll look like you’re trying too hard.  Tom Ford (left) does it right, as always.

On the other hand, if you’re going to a place where dancing is central, dress up by dressing down.  I say this more for practicality rather than for style.  Wear jeans, but mix it up by wearing jeans that aren’t blue.  A great pair of gray jeans can go a long way.  Slim chinos, like those by Mason’s (available at Barney’s New York and Douglas Fir), are also a great alternative.  In Milan, you will see men wearing navy chinos instead of jeans. 

Also, don’t be afraid to wear a blazer (roll up the sleeves to casualize it); again, just don’t wear a formal, structured blazer over a button down shirt and blue jeans.  The trend of the moment is a horizontally striped crewneck tee.  The gentleman in the gray jacket (right) has the right idea.

Plaid became trendy again this past fall/winter, and it looks like it’s here to stay for one more season.  Here are five of the best summer plaids for men:

How do you know if the suit you want is worth its hefty price tag? While there are a lot of things that go into a great suit, there are two quick tests you can do on the showroom floor to help you determine the quality of the suit.

Wrinkle Test: A quick way to test the quality of the wool from the suit is to grab the cuff of a pant leg and firmly squeeze.  That’s right: I’m telling you to purposely try to wrinkle the wool.  If, after a minute or so, the wool remains wrinkled after you release the pant leg, we recommend you move on to a better quality wool suit.

This wrinkle test becomes important after a day at the office, during which you sit at your desk, elbows – and jacket – bent.  To all of the investment bankers out there: You may have stayed at the office overnight, but you don’t have to look like it.  Get a suit that passes the wrinkle test. Disclaimer: If you just throw your suit on your bedroom floor, even the best ones will become wrinkled.

Canvas Test: Between the exterior cloth and the lining of the jacket, every proper suit has a layer of cloth called a canvas.  High quality suits will have this canvas hand-sewn into the jacket.  Lesser quality jackets use a process called fusing, in which the lining is, essentially, glued to the jacket.  The canvas is entirely hidden, and you cannot see it unless you literally rip the jacket open.  Some designers will tell you that there are new innovations in fusing that make the fused jacket just as good as hand-stitched ones, but I’m not entirely sure if I believe them.  A jacket with a canvas will fit better, especially across the chest.  Plus, the canvas also gives the lapel its roll.