Posts filed under 'Ready Made Outfits'
It may not be ski season just yet, but it’s not too early to pull out your puffer jacket to wear with your city clothes. The keys to wearing your puffer jacket in style while you’re out and about are twofold: (1) Pair your sporty puffer jacket with fitted, tailored pieces (though not a suit - the two really don’t mix), and (2) Make sure your puffer is the longest jacket you’re wearing; you don’t want any other overcoats peeking out from underneath. Here’s how to look polished in a puffer jacket:
1. Start with a polished base: a dress shirt in a bold pattern or color and a pair of crisp dark rinse straight leg jeans. We love the purple gingham shirt, as it’s bold without being too loud.
2. Layer on a tailored blazer upon the polished base. Look for one that’s slim fitting, as you don’t want too much bulk.
3. Pull on your puffer jacket. We love the bold blue color of this jacket, especially how it contrasts with the purple gingham. Let the blazer and the dress shirt be seen from under the puffer.
4. Finish off the look with a pair of casual boots and a simple belt. (Yes, you’ll want to tuck in your dress shirt.)
How would you wear a puffer jacket? Share your style with us in the comments!
October 14th, 2009
Fall is here, and it’s time to break out your flannel plaid shirts. But how do you wear them without looking like a lumberjack? The key is fit. Big, blousy flannel plaid shirts scream "timber!" But if you choose a flannel plaid in a slim cut style, you can turn a potentially woodsy look into something more urban. Here’s how to wear flannel plaid without looking like a lumberjack:
1. Start with your flannel plaid shirt and a pair of casual pants. We like the mix of textures when you combine worn in cords with your flannel plaid.
2. When it gets cold, layer on a hoodie. We love the contrast trims on this casual sweatshirt. Style tip? Leave the hoodie’s top two buttons unbuttoned so that the flannel plaid will shine through.
3. Finish the look off with a casual boot. The leather and tweed really add to the textures in the look.
How would you wear flannel plaid without looking like a lumberjack? Share your style with us in the comments!
September 30th, 2009
Q: I noticed [cargo pants] are making somewhat of a comeback, especially simpler and better fitted (read, slimmer) versions. J. Crew has a couple out this fall that I bought and am in love with. Rugged, military, and go with a lot of stuff.
A: Cargo pants are indeed making a comeback, what with the military-inspired trends we’re seeing for men this Fall. The good news? The more fitted versions of cargo pants that you’re seeing today are a far cry from the oversized, stuff-your-pockets versions that were popularized in the 1990s. What we love about cargo pants is that they’re a great substitute for khaki pants and the dark-rinse jeans you have in heavy rotation. And they do work with a wide variety of looks. Here’s three looks that show you how to wear cargo pants:
Look 1: Shawl Collar Cardigan + Collared Shirt + Skinny Tie + Cargo Pants + Boots
Why does this outfit work? We love the mix of casual and formal, tailored and relaxed. The shawl collar cardigan acts as a casual version of the blazer - and takes the edge off of the collared shirt and tie combo. The rugged boots, which feel at home with the cargo pants, finish off the look with a casual flourish.
Look 2: Bright Polo + Cargo Pants + Casual Belt + Sneakers
Why does this outfit work? The masculine cargo pant gets a shot of fresh air with a bright yellow polo. The unexpected shot of color breathes new life into the look - and we love the mustardy yellow paired with a neutral khaki. The casual look is belted with a canvas belt and finished off with a pair of stylish sneakers.
Look 3: Henley + Cargo Pants + Casual Belt + Boots
Why does this outfit work? The fitted henley exemplifies casual elegance, and it adds an air of relaxed sophistication to the otherwise rugged look. Tuck the henley into the cargo pants and complete the look with a casual canvas belt. Rugged military-inspired boots help keep the look grounded as well.
Last thoughts about how to wear cargo pants?
(1) Cargo pants are weekend-only pants. They’re a substitute for khakis and jeans, but unless your office is pretty casual, save them for the weekend.
(2) Because cargo pants have a rugged, military vibe to them, pair them with the appropriate style of shoe: boots or sneakers. No fancy oxfords or loafers.
(3) Please, please, please don’t stuff your pockets with extraneous items. A slim-fit wallet, yes. But if your pockets are bulging, that’s too much. Just because cargo pants feature extra pockets doesn’t mean that they’re meant to be functional.
Have a great tip about how to wear cargo pants? Share it with us in the comments!
September 23rd, 2009
Go back to school (or suit up for the weekend) in a classic menswear fashion formula: the button-down shirt, jeans, and a cardigan. The twist? The stripe detailing on the fabric belt that echoes that on the cardigan sweater sleeve. Here’s how to get the grown up collegiate look:
1. Start with a pair of straight leg dark rinse jeans, paired with a brightly colored button-down shirt. The light blue shirt toes the line between conservative and daring.
2. Belt your jeans - we love the playful stripe detailing on this Fred Perry belt.
3. Slip on a slim-fitting cardigan sweater. The fit is the key here - too loose, and you run the risk of looking like grandpa. Note how the stripe on the sweater sleeve recalls the stripe on the casual belt.
4. Finish off the look with a pair of rugged, lace-up boots. The outdoorsy boots works with the casual belt, plus the rich brown color pairs beautifully with the bright blue shirt.
How would you get the grown up collegiate look? Share your style with us in the comments!
August 26th, 2009
Bright socks? Yes, you read that right, and yes, you can wear them without looking like you stepped off the runway. You can incorporate brightly colored socks into your regular wardrobe. The key is to keep the rest of your outfit simple so as to make your socks stand out. Here’s how to get the look of bright socks:
1. Start with your foundation: a plain white button down shirt and a pair of jeans. As usual, fit is key here so that the look is sophisticated, not sloppy. (Alternatively, sub in grey trousers for the dark straight leg jeans, if you’re going for a dressier look.)
2. Add the key element: a pair of bright orange socks. We chose orange to complement the dark blue jeans.
3. Finish off the look with a brown belt and wing tip shoes, for a dressier touch.
How would you wear brightly colored socks? Share your style with us in the comments!
August 5th, 2009
Who says that monochromatic dressing is boring? Just because you’re constraining your color palette doesn’t mean that you’re reining in your style. There’s more to an outfit than color–there’s silhouette and texture. Mix up the rest of these elements, and you get an outfit that’s subtly stunning. Here’s how to get the modern monochromatic look:
1. Pick a color to build your outfit around. We chose brown, a nice neutral that works in dark and light shades. The button-down shirt is a nice medium brown color that the rest of the pieces will play off of.
2. Okay, so white isn’t really a shade of brown, but it Is another neutral. We paired the brown button-down shirt with a pair of straight-leg white jeans.
3. Layer on a blazer in beige, a cross between the medium brown shirt and the bright white jeans. Note the nice linen texture on the blazer–a great foil to the brown cotton poplin shirt.
3. Finish off the outfit with accessories in rich shades of brown: a belt (yes, keep that shirt tucked in) and a pair of leather flip flops. The flip flops help the outfit relax; if you’re wearing flip flops, you probably don’t take yourself Too seriously.
How would you make monochromatic dressing fun again? Share your style with us in the comments!
July 28th, 2009
No matter how popular the color becomes, purple still tends to strike fear in the hearts of (some) men. Dust off your worries of wearing what some may consider a feminine color–and remember that purple was worn proudly by men before it was co-opted by the fairer sex. Here’s Omiru’s primer on how to wear purple for men:
1. Start with a basic foundation: a fitted button-down shirt in white, and a pair of grey jeans.
2. Layer on a purple cardigan, allowing the white of the button-down to shine through. Note the grey cuffs on the cardigan, which tie in nicely to the grey jeans.
3. Finish off the outfit with a brown belt and loafers. The brown contrasts nicely with the purple; together, they all feel richer.
How would you wear purple? Share your style with us in the comments!
July 21st, 2009
While it’s easy to pair tops with blue jeans (e.g. almost anything goes), it’s not quite as simple to pair pants with a jean jacket. What are the rules for wearing a jean jacket? There’s really only one biggie: Don’t try to match your jean jacket with jeans in a similar wash. Too matchy matchy. You can pair denim with denim, but make sure that it doesn’t look like you’re itching to match. Beyond this, you’re pretty free to experiment. We crafted a look that pairs a jean jacket with a pair of khaki pants. Here’s how to get the jean jacket look:
1. Start with a pair of straight leg khaki pants.
2. Add a button-down shirt. A fun blue and yellow plaid and the two front chest pockets make this standby a little more visually interesting. Note how the yellow ties in with the warm undertones in the khaki pants and the blue echoes the blue in the denim jacket.
3. Slip on a jean jacket, allowing the plaid button-down to peek out. Feel free to turn up the sleeves for effect.
4. Finish off the outfit with a belt (yes, tuck in the shirt) and a pair of loafers.
How do you wear a jean jacket? Share your style with us in the comments!
July 15th, 2009
We’ve gotten mail from a number of men about how to wear color. If you’re hesitant about trying bright color–but you’re interested in giving it a shot, we recommend wading into the color pool by trying it out on one piece. Here’s how to create an outfit around a splash of color:
1. Start with a neutral base: a black and white striped polo (try a fitted-but-not-too-tight cut for best results) and a pair of dark rinse straight leg jeans. To pair with the black and white polo, we chose jeans that are nearly black.
2. Add a punch of color with a brightly colored belt. Note how the bright blue striped belt echoes the stripes in the polo shirt, creating a sense of continuity.
3. Continuing on with the blue color scheme, add a jacket (for nighttime) in a more muted shade of blue. We love the richness of the blue jacket–deep but not attention-grabbing–and how it pairs with the bright blue striped belt.
4. Finish off the outfit with a neutral: a pair of bright white sneakers.
How do you wear color? Share your style with us in the comments!
July 8th, 2009
Sure, jeans are versatile and can go almost anywhere. But instead of tossing on a pair of jeans, why not reach for a pair of khakis? Khakis are another style classic, but they’re having their fashion moment this year. We haven’t seen so many khakis since the dot com days! But you don’t have to pair your khakis with a blousy blue button-down shirt. Instead, dress them up with tailored items: a navy blazer and a sharp pair of oxfords. Here’s how to dress up khaki pants with a navy blazer:
1. Start with a pair of khaki pants. Straight leg, flat front, classic style.
2. Add a fitted, button-down shirt to pair with your khaki pants. We’re loving the bright color of this shirt - it really warms up the outfit.
3. Top off the outfit with a crisp navy blue blazer. The bright color of the button-down shirt will peek out from under the lapels of the blazer.
4. Finish off the outfit with a pair of classic oxford shoes and a canvas belt. Notice how the belt beautifully echoes the stripes in the shirt–without being too literal.
How do you wear khaki pants? Share your style with us in the comments!
July 1st, 2009
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