Posts filed under 'Trendscape'

Who said that khaki pants have to be boring? In a season full of neutrals, we dare you to add a bit of color to your wardrobe. Instead of wearing standard sand-colored khakis, why not try a slightly nontraditional color? You can play it safe with navy, olive, grey, or brown - or go wilder with a lighter blue slate or an orange-tinted clay color. How to wear these colored khaki pants? Pair them with a slim cut shirt and driving shoes for a classic summer look. And where to get them? J Crew’s colored khaki pants are well-cut and well-priced - here’s four of our favorites:
1. Sun Faded Stanton Pant in Urban Slim Fit | $39.99+ at J Crew
2. Broken in Chino in Classic Fit | $29.99+ at J Crew
3. Sun Faded Stanton Pant in Classic Fit | $69.50 at J Crew
4. Lightweight Essex Pant in Classic Fit | $49.99+ at J Crew
How will you wear colored khaki pants? Share your style with us in the comments!
July 28th, 2010

April, with its incessant showers, may be almost over, but we’re not letting the wet weather dampen our spirits. In the face of dreary weather, we dare you to wear color! We present to you a few choice pieces that exemplify classic American fashion but still manage to push the boundaries on color.
1. Velour Ethan Bellow Pocket Jacket | $210 at Steven Alan
2. Tea Stained Scarf | $24.50 at Gap
3. Brandon Plaid Shirt | $49.50 at Gap
4. BDG Blocked Pocket V-Neck | $20 at Urban Outfitters
5. Short Sleeve Chambray Shirt | $39.50 at Gap
6. Vans Authentic Sneaker | $45 at Urban Outfitters
What will you be wearing? Share your style with us in the comments.
April 27th, 2010

Perfectly lightweight and effortlessly chic, cotton madras fabrics feel quintessentially summery, as befits their Indian roots. (The name "madras" comes from the old British name for Chennai, the Indian city that popularized the fabric.) In shirts, shorts - and even jackets and pants, madras fabrics are found in plaid-type patterns - some crisply plaid, with others featuring colors that softly bleed into one another.
Style tip? Because madras fabrics are so breathable and lightweight, they’re the perfect summer fabric - and as such, should be worn only when temperatures permit. Stock up now, and break your madras out once the temperature hits the mid-70s.
With fashion’s obsession with all things prep, they haven’t felt quite this fresh since the 1980s. Since madras fabrics never really go out of style, we’d recommend picking up a few pieces now for seasons to come. Here’s five madras pieces worth a look (#2 and #5 courtesy of Gary):
1. Gitman Vintage Purple Madras Shirt | $156 at Oak
2. Plantation Madras Plaid Shirt | $69.50 at J Crew
3. Thompson Madras Plaid Shirt | $79.50 at Rugby
4. Narrow Indian Madras Gold Tie | $85 at Polo Ralph Lauren
5. Button Down Shirt in Hillside Madras | $69.50 at J Crew
How will you wear madras? Share your style with us in the comments!
April 20th, 2010

It’s no secret that the easiest way to update your look is with aptly chosen accessories. Even if you haven’t gotten around to picking up your chambray shirt or splurging on a utility jacket, you can still grab some "quick wins" with our five classically cool accessory picks: the statement tie, the quality moccasin, the canvas tote, the spring snood, and the aviator sunglasses. So don’t wait - step up your style for spring with these five must-have accessories.
1. Cotton Madras Tie | $59.50 at J Press
2. Grizzly Moccasin | $249.99 at Quoddy
3. Want Organic Mirabel Day Roll Bag | $145 at J Crew
4. Grey Jersey Snood Scarf | $24 at Topman
5. Aviator Sunglasses | $5.90 at Forever 21
March 30th, 2010

Pictured, clockwise from top left: White and Red Slim Tartan Tie | $20 at Topman, Blue Liberty Print Slim Tie | $32 at Topman, Black Acid Wash Check Slim Tie | $20 at Topman, Purple Reversible Slim Tie | $20 at Topman. See Topman’s entire collection of ties here.
The foundation of a tie wardrobe is composed of solids and stripes in neutral colors. You probably already have your striped repp, your narrow black, and your perfect-shade-of-grey. But do you have ties that make a statement? Cross over into statement tie territory with a selection of ties that add a bit of spark to your wardrobe - but not in a crazy kind of way.
How do you wear a statement tie? Three practical tips:
(1) In order to make a statement without going overboard, choose a fun color or an interesting pattern - not both at the same time. Make your statement with a bold color, like the regal purple tie pictured bottom left. Or add visual interest via a special pattern, like the kitschy liberty print pictured top right.
(2) So that your statement tie takes center stage, pair your tie with a blank canvas. The plain white button-down is a clear winner, but depending on the color of your tie, you can also try a solid colored button-down in a complementary color. The liberty print tie, pictured top right, would look lovely against a pale blue button-down shirt.
(3) Keep the rest of your outfit simple - flat front trousers and a pair of brogues will do the trick.
How would you wear a statement tie? Share your style with us in the comments.
March 24th, 2010
If there’s an "It" pattern this season, it has to be Plaid. And what better fabric than plaid to dominate the runways and storefront windows? The fresh, unstuffy feeling of plaid crosses boundaries - of both class and occasion. You don’t need to confine plaid to the weekend, or to being paired with jeans and sneakers. Try dressing it up with a snappy, tailored overcoat and a chunky knit scarf or sweater for some extra texture. Here’s four versatile plaid shirts to incorporate into your wardrobe:

Eagle Plaid Shirt | $39.50 at American Eagle

Fitted Greenbrae Plaid Shirt | $49.50 at Gap

Firm Plaid Woven Shirt | $24.90 at Heritage 1981

Eagle Flannel Shirt | $29.95 (sale) at American Eagle
December 2nd, 2009
Guys, it’s time to start embracing Fall Fashion. Key menswear trends include a strong Americana vibe that gives a nod to quirky British style. Think preppy classics with special details - but details that don’t take themselves too seriously. Our sartorial recommendation for the season? Invest in classic pieces that will keep your look sharp not only for Fall 2009, but for Fall 2010 and beyond. Here’s five pieces that you’ll want to have in your wardrobe for seasons to come:
The 3/4 Length Duffle Coat

Gloverall Made in London Duffle Coat | $459.75 at ASOS
How to wear it: Make the bright red color really pop with a pair of dark denim jeans.
The Classic Flannel Shirt

Lightweight Flannel Shirt | $34.99 at Gap
How to wear it: Pair this cozy flannel shirt with gray denim and distressed boots for a look that’s urban meets rugged.
The Bright Layering Tee

Cotton Waffle Knit Crewneck | $40 at Banana Republic
How to wear it: Let a bit of color peek out from under your gray or navy cardigan. Added bonus for you? The extra soft waffle knit fabric.
The Slim Shawl Collar Cardigan

Cable Knit and Sweat Cardigan | $64.37 at ASOS
How to wear it: Wear this shawl collared cardigan over a slim fit shirt. We love the texture of the cable knit pattern, which pairs nicely with other coarse textures like a medium wale corduroy.
The Sporty Quilted Jacket

Quilted Four Pocket Jacket | $200 at Banana Republic
How to wear it: We love how you can take this chic quilted jacket anywhere this Fall. Whether you’re catching a game or strolling downtown, this jacket is a practical, stylish choice. Pair it with a bright scarf for a playful look.
What will you be wearing this Fall? Share your style with us in the comments!
September 8th, 2009
What’s the key to men’s style this fall? Masculinity. Think men, not boys - and a decidedly grown up, rugged look. To achieve this masculine look, add a pair of rugged boots to your shoe wardrobe. Wear them with your weekend chinos and jeans for hiking in the woods - or just walks in the park. Here’s our seven picks for rugged boots to invest in:

Timberland Earthkeepers Waterproof Boot | $160 at Nordstrom

Red Wing Classic Lifestyle Shoes | $183.96 (sale) at Zappos

Bed Stu Romel Boot | $185 at Nordstrom

Bed Stu Declaration Boot | $225 at Nordstrom

Bacco Bucci Marchant Boot | $255 at Nordstrom

Red Wing Iron Ranger Shoes | $270 at Zappos

Timberland Counterpane Plain Toe Boot | $375 at Nordstrom
September 1st, 2009
Mens fashion trends for Summer 2009 range from the tailored to the rugged to the preppy. Think white jeans, pocketed parkas, classic slim fit v-neck sweaters, moccasins, sharp blazers, and classic Ray Ban Clubmaster Sunglasses. But what are our favorite items that actually deserve a place in your closet? Omiru’s guide to summer 2009 mens fashion trends cuts to the chase to deliver the five items you’ll be reaching for over and over this summer.
Baseball Jacket

Baracuta G10 Slimfit Sport Harrington Jacket | $130 (approx) at Baracuta
Is there anything more reminiscent of Americana than the classic baseball jacket? Brings us back to the good old days - when the sport was more about the players and less about performance drugs. For those of you who want to evoke that Americana spirit, we have a classic baseball jacket (though ironically made by a British company) that’s even better than the original. We’re digging the slim cut on Baracuta’s Harrington jacket–it puts the style back into the sport.
Lightweight Shawl Collar Sweater

Linen Cotton Caine Shawl Cardigan | $88 at J Crew
You loved shawl collar sweaters last Winter in chunky knits. Now, continue your love affair with the shawl collar with a lightweight cotton version of the sweater that’s destined to become a classic. Perfect for those balmy summer nights—or days in heavily air conditioned rooms. BTW–these sweaters have to be our favorite 2009 mens fashion trend.
Horizontal Stripes

Lightweight Cotton Wool Admiral Stripe Crewneck | $62 at J Crew
We called Horizontal Stripes as a key menswear trend way back when, in April 2008. But it’s just as relevant now as it was then. Not to mention that The Upgrader over at men.style.com featured these stylish stripes last month in a horizontal stripe trend report piece (btw, we love the tongue-in-cheek “cost per stripe” calculation on each item). The key takeaway? Wear these horizontal stripes—on t-shirts, sweaters, and even hoodies.
Madras Plaid Shorts

Olive Madras Club Short | $59.50 at J Crew
Crisp and light, Madras plaid is named after its city of origin, a warm city in Southern India. True to its roots, Madras plaid is carefree, youthful, and colorful. Add in a dose of preppy—and they’re the perfect fabric for a pair of summer shorts. Get your plaid on with a versatile green-and-blue pattern from J Crew. Fun fact about Madras plaid? In the US, Madras plaid is a popular summer choice for both men and women. But back in India, it’s worn almost exclusively by men.
Aviator Sunglasses

Selima Optique for J Crew Aviator Sunglasses | $198 at J Crew
Aviators have been popular since the 1960s, but they’re back with a Top Gun like rage this summer. The teardrop shape of these sunglasses is flattering on a variety of face shapes. Plus, their oversized style makes them a celebrity favorite. Grab a pair of designer aviators for a price that’s somewhat less than designer (though still not cheap, we know). It’s worth it though – Selima Optique is known for their luxury sunglasses.
Tell us, what Summer 2009 mens fashion trends will you be wearing? And which trends will you be steering clear of? Share your style with us in the comments!
June 10th, 2009
Cozy up in a thick knit sweater - the perfect antidote to the cool weater outside. But instead of reaching for a plain, solid-colored sweater, mix things up a bit by investing in a good quality Fair Isle sweater. The distinctive multicolored knitted patterns on the modern Fair Isle sweater are a wonderful foil to your everyday basics. Presenting our five favorite Fair Isle inspired sweaters:
Our $ Picks:

O’Hanlon Mills Reverse Hooded Zip-Up | $88 at Urban Outfitters

AE Holiday Cardigan | $99.50 at American Eagle
Our $$ Pick:

Shelter Island Cardigan | $180 at Hollister
Our $$$ Picks:

Haystack Mountain Cardigan | $350 at Abercrombie

3.1 Philip Lim Wrap Neck Collar Sweater | $438 (sale) at Oak
November 19th, 2008
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