Posts filed under 'Trendscape'
We asked: Would you wear Horizontal Stripes?
You said: Yes to Horizontal Stripes, with 75% of the vote.
Style tip? Horizontal Stripes get a bad reputation for figure flattery, since they can make you look wider than you actually are. But it’s all in how you wear your stripes. Small, narrow stripes are pretty easy to wear by themselves. And you can counteract the widening effect of wide horizontal stripes by wearing them in moderation–such as under a jacket. Plus, you can take advantage of the widening effect by wearing them on a part of your body that you’d like to widen. If you have narrow shoulders, for instance, you can wear horizontal stripes at the shoulderline to visually balance them out.
Next question: When it comes to pants, high waisted silhouettes are growing in popularity. But what do you think? Tell us, would you wear High Waisted Pants? Cast your vote on the sidebar!
Pictured: Striped Tie Tank | $34.50 at Gap.
May 5th, 2008
High end designer horizontal stripes. Clockwise from top: Michael Bastian Striped Sweater | $995 at Saks Fifth Avenue, Michael Kors Seersucker Shorts | $195 at Saks Fifth Avenue, Junya Watanabe Saint James Peacoat | $1,765 at Saks Fifth Avenue.
by John Liu
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:
Our $$$ Picks:
Adam Kimmel Black and White Sweatshirt | $275 at JakeAs always, an Adam Kimmel piece with a distinct American feel.
Bureau Long Sleeve Henley | $158 at Oak
Slim Fit Striped Polo | $125 at Burberry
I especially like it in white and washed gray, available at Bloomingdales.
Chimala Border Print Tee | $110 at Oak
Our $$ Picks:
Converse by John Varvatos Trim Crew in Metal Grey | $57 at Revolve Clothing
Be sure to also check out a cream/washed grey long sleeve piece by John Varvatos (not the same as Converse by John Varvatos). You can get it at Saks Fifth Avenue.
Mount Marshall Polo in Grey Stripe | $49.50 at Abercrombie and Fitch
Our $ Picks:
Slub Cotton Stripe Fitted Crew Tee | $39.50 at Banana Republic
Men’s Sailor Tee | $36 (sale) at Built by Wendy
I think serves better as a layering piece.
Poly Cotton Stripe Crew Neck | $22 at American Apparel
Textured Henley Striped Shirt | $11.99 (sale) at Gap
April 23rd, 2008
Light Blue and Spring Green
Light blue and spring green combine for a soothing, natural look. Simply gorgeous.
Feeling the love for this set? Here’s more information about it.
Lilac Purple and Navy Blue
Men, take note–your navy blue suit looks positively dashing with a pressed lilac shirt.
Feeling the love for this set? Here’s more information about it.
Bright Yellow and Orange
Warm up an outfit with this bright color combination. We love it paired with navy blue–or dark rinse jeans.
Feeling the love for this set? Here’s more information about it.
April 22nd, 2008
by John Liu
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:
Engineered Garments Plaid Woven Shirt | $144 at Bloomingdales (in store only)
Engineered Garments got their name from a pattern maker who claimed that the clothes were not designed but rather engineered due to the amount of detail put into each article of clothing. Translation: these clothes are fantastically constructed. This piece was adapted from last season’s long-sleeve version of the same shirt.
How to wear it? Plaids can be “intense,” so follow a simple layering tip and wear something monochromatic over it. By physically hiding part of the shirt under, say, a black or charcoal peacoat, the shirt serves as a colorful, bold accent, and it isn’t overwhelming.
A.P.C. “Plaid Shirt” and “Plaid Belt” | $140, $100 at A.P.C.
A.P.C. offers a shirt and belt with the same plaid pattern on it. While I like them individually, I don’t like them worn together, even though the model does it. It looks too calculated when you have an outfit that has parts that match exactly. To complete the outfit, I would recommend wearing brown pants like these Mason’s chinos because it picks up the peach in the plaid shirt. The plaid shirt and the chinos combine for a great casual summer look. Note that A.P.C. runs a tad small, but this is a summer shirt, so the fit is more classic (read: looser). As a point of reference, I wear a 40” jacket and I buy a large in A.P.C.
Mike and Chris Hyperion Gingham Shirt | $121 (sale) at Tobi
Part of the allure of plaid is its boldness, right? Mike and Chris prove that you can do plaid in a subtle – but not too subtle – way. This piece features a large gingham pattern in faded grey and white. Style tip? This white/washed grey is a growing trend, especially featured as a horizontally striped pattern, for both men and women.
Gant has been pushing strong in its comeback and is really rising in the ranks. What I love about this tie is that the pattern and width makes it versatile enough to travel from the office to a night out in New York.
YMC Gingham Plimsoles | $89 from OakNYC
That’s right: the plaid trend has even hit shoes. These shoes, by You Must Create, or YMC, aren’t for everyone. But then again, plaid isn’t either.
Want more plaid inspiration? We’re loving these men’s and women’s plaid outfits from the Sartorialist.
April 9th, 2008
We asked: Would you wear Skinny Jeans?
You said: Yes to Skinny Jeans, with 62% of the vote.
Style tip? Dark wash jeans are going to be the most flattering, as they visually slim the leg. For a fresh look, pair a voluminous top (jacket or shirt) over your skinny jeans for a big-over-small look.
Next question: Trenchcoats are a classic that never really go out of style. The twist this season? Bright colors. Would you wear a brightly colored trench? Cast your vote on the sidebar!
Pictured: Earnest Sewn Cigarette Leg Harlan Jeans | $185 at 80s Purple.
March 31st, 2008
by John Liu
Spring is around the corner, so welcome it in style with these seven investment-worthy wardrobe upgrades.
The Tom Ford Inspired Shirt
Tom Ford Suit and Shirt, photo courtesy of Men.Style.com.
It’s an understatement to say that Tom Ford does everything bold. (Have you seen his ads? And the ones in US magazines are the “toned down” ones; check out the UK GQ for the real deal) So it shouldn’t be a big surprise that his spring collection is particularly eye-catching. Unfortunately, not all of us can a) afford Mr. Ford’s clothing or b) pull it off. We love the shirt in this suit set. Wear it under a solid colored blazer, such as charcoal, grey—or white, if you have that certain je ne sais quoi. Two more affordable options: the Secret Wash Point Collar Shirt in Large Gingham ($64.50 at J Crew), and a shirt with the same pattern (albeit of a lower quality) for a little less than $100 at Club Monaco (not available online).
The Slim Fit Polo Shirt
Michael Kors Striped Polo | $175 at Neiman Marcus
Polos are a staple of any gentleman’s casually cool spring summer wardrobe. Some designers to watch: Ralph Lauren’s spring line always resonates with color, and their rugby pieces have been recently increasing in popularity. Lacoste is celebrating its 75th anniversary by putting an oversized alligator on their classic polo shirts. Burberry has done two things we’ve loved over the last couple of seasons: (1) they came out with a slim-fit line of shirts, and (2) they’ve toned down the pretentiousness factor (i.e. they’ve gotten rid of that signature Burberry check on the front button placket on some shirts).
Bloomingdales sells a great rugby-striped, slim-fit, ultra-soft cotton polo by Burberry, which unfortunately isn’t available online. If you find it in store, check it out in the white/gray colorway. But similar to this Burberry shirt is the Michael Kors shirt pictured above.
The Perfect Chino Pant
Mason’s Chinos, photo courtesy of Men.Style.com.
As it gets hotter, jeans become a little too heavy to wear. Instead, try these chinos from Mason’s. They’re slim, rich in color and are sans pleats and cuffs. Perfect for any event not held at a country club.
The Lightweight Blazer
Soft Blazer | $165 at Oak
When it gets chilly at night—or you need to dress up for that dinner date, you’ll want to wear a blazer. If you’re looking for a new one, we recommend this blazer by OakNYC, as it’s a great lightweight summer choice. Style tip? The trick to instantly casualizing anything, especially coats (even trenchcoats) or blazers, is to push up the sleeves. Note that pushing is not the same as rolling– rolling up the sleeves will wreak havoc on finer jackets.
The Low Top White Leather Sneaker
Common Projects Sneakers | $264 at Revolve Clothing
The perfect casual summer shoe is a low top white leather sneaker. I recommend a slip on by Common Projects (a style that is in fashion at the moment, but not in stores yet). The pictured sneaker, a low-top lace up, is a close substitution. Well made and comfortable, Common Projects shoes bear no logos. Instead, each shoe is individually numbered in subtle gold writing. Style tip? When wearing white sneakers and dark denim, beware: dark denim is often dark because of a powder coating. This powder will rub off onto your shoes (and shirt, for that matter).
The Trenchcoat
Modern Glen Plaid Straight Trenchcoat | $198 at Banana Republic
Springtime welcomes warmer weather—but it also brings rain. When storms hit, you’ll need to keep dry. This single breasted trench by Banana Republic will do that for you. Note the glen plaid design, which keeps things interesting.
Even though its spring, it can still get chilly at night. You’ll want to have a casual, lightweight jacket like this reasonably priced one by Banana Republic. It’s only available online in black - the picture doesn’t quite do it justice - but we suggest looking at the cream color, which you can see but not buy online.
March 12th, 2008
For years and years, the black tie wedding was de rigeur. Tuxes. Long white gowns. Same old, same old. But now, it seems that the uber-formal Black Tie Wedding is starting to take a backseat to the Casual Wedding.
Earlier this month, Omiru’s John Liu advised one of our male readers (Phil) about what to wear to his casual wedding. In the comments, Ria chimed in about her own casual wedding, held this past summer. Said Ria, "We had a casual wedding, no ties! Well, no ties for the guests. My husband wore a tie but no jacket, same with the groomsmen. Just putting it out there as an alternative. It was hot so no jackets or vests worked for us, but the ties added to the wedding party style."
Indeed, the wedding party exuded style. Ria’s pictures, below, show that you don’t have to dress to the nines to look fabulous at your wedding. All you have to do is capture your own personal style.
Ria: "The green bridesmaid carnation bouquets matched my husband’s shirt, and their sashes matched the colour of my dress."
Ria: "The handmade family recipe books had green accents in the printing and purple ribbons, and the mini menus at each place had blue trim."
Ria’s cousin Katherine whipped up the wedding cake and cupcakes, each of which had a special design on top. Ria’s husband, Johann, is into frogs, and his favorite color is green–so the wedding cake featured an adorable frog couple.
January 30th, 2008
By John Liu, sartorialist
Peacoats come in many styles, cuts and colors, but for me, the perfect one is dark (but not black), tailored, and waist length. I prefer a shorter coat (i.e. not thigh or knee length, but waist length) - some say “trend,” I say “sporty.” Style tip? As with all black wool clothes, a black wool peacoat easily picks up lint.
I’m quite picky, so don’t feel bad if you are too. Peacoats can be expensive and if you don’t find the perfect one, don’t spend money on it. But if you’re looking for the perfect peacoat, you’re in luck—I’ve already done the legwork for you. Here are the best peacoats out there:
This is the peacoat I ended up buying, so naturally, I think it’s the best one. I loved the length and the sleek, tailored look. The extra wide collars might be a turnoff for some, but I actually like the detail. If you zoom in on the picture, you can see what spurred me to pull the trigger on this purchase: the texture. It gives the coat personality. Although I don’t normally like boxy cuts, I liked the boxiness of this coat, which gives the coat a dressier feel and a strong shoulder.
“Wuffy” Jacket | $450 at DieselI really like this peacoat in black/gray from the brand new online Diesel store–his check pattern reminded me of the pattern on the Oak flannel shirt. Like the Michael Kors coat, this coat scores points for (tweed) texture. As with all things Diesel, it’s very form fitting and tailored. You’ll definitely be noticed in this bold coat.
Yeah, I know what the guys are thinking: “Wait a minute, doesn’t my girlfriend have a towel-like pair of pants with the word ‘juicy’ on the butt?” She probably does, but don’t be ashamed if you, too, wear Juicy Couture. Juicy has evolved into much more than a terry cloth pants company for teens. They make some great graphic T’s for guys and they make a good-looking peacoat. And, with Juicy, you know you’ll be getting something trendy and with a twist. In this case, that twist is a screen-printed satin lining.
With glowing white buttons, this navy coat is hit or miss. To me, it’s a hit. The navy/white gives the peacoat a very nautical, traditional feel. With Burberry, you know you’ll be getting a boxier cut.
Corpus Detachable Sleeve Peacoat | $418 (sale) at Oak NYCI love the texture on this coat from one of my favorite stores, Oak NYC. Again, this is hit or miss, as it is quite unusual – it has detachable sleeves. This uncommon feature also makes it practical: do as the store’s description says and layer it with a sweater.
Of all the coats I have suggested, this peacoat is the most timeless. It features a more traditional length (i.e. thigh level), and it is dark and simple. This is a great coat to get if you want something classy and tasteful. I myself was *this* close to buying this coat.
My last pick? The “dream on” coat: Michael Bastian Shearling Coat | $4,495 at Bergdorf GoodmanGot $4500 to drop on a coat? This coat by the one and only Michael Bastian is for you.
I’ll leave you with one last Style Tip, or rather a Style Rule. Button you coat! Double-breasted coats look very bad when you don’t button them. You don’t need to fasten all the buttons, although traditionalists will rebuke me for saying this. My best advice? Leave the top button undone.
Have a great tip about where to find a great men’s peacoat?
Share it with us in the comments!
Style question? We’ve got answers. E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question.
November 23rd, 2007
From the catwalk to the boardwalk, plaid appears to be the pattern du jour. Here are a few choice pieces to help you get the look.
Our $$ Pick
Diesel Sparty Short Sleeve Plaid Woven | $88 at
Urban Outfitters
Our $ Picks
Quiksilver ‘Santiago’ Plaid Shorts | $49.50 at Nordstrom
Bingham Madras Cambridge Tie | $49.50 at J Crew
Standard Messenger Plaid Short | $39 at Urban Outfitters
Plaid Madras Belt | $34 at J Crew
March 21st, 2007
INSPIRATIONS
Athletics
Narciso Rodriguez, Kim Jones
Bourgeois Weekends
Perry Ellis, Lacoste
Preppy Military
John Bartlett
DETAILING & FABRIC
Horizontal Stripes
Perry Ellis, Lacoste
Pocket Detailing
Perry Ellis, Cabbeen, Lacoste
Embroidery
Cabbeen
Cuff Detailing
John Bartlett
Colorblocking
John Bartlett, Duckie Brown, Cabbeen, Narciso Rodriguez
Plaid
Duckie Brown, John Bartlett, Perry Ellis, Cabbeen
GARMENT CLASSIFICATIONS
The Vest
Duckie Brown, Michael Kors
Skinny Pants
John Bartlett, Duckie Brown, Buckler, Narciso Rodriguez, Lacoste
Wide Pants
John Bartlett, Duckie Brown
The Sweaterjacket
Perry Ellis
Cropped Styles
Perry Ellis, Duckie Brown, Lacoste, DKNY
ACCESSORIES
Colorful Accessories
Duckie Brown
Gloves
Perry Ellis, Duckie Brown, Narciso Rodriguez
The Beanie
Duckie Brown, Perry Ellis
February 14th, 2007
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