Wednesday, June 29, 2011

2011 BET Awards Mens fashion=YaWn.. zzzzzzzz

       The title expresses my immediate reaction to the wardrobes of most of the men at this year's BET awards.  Just about every member of the male species who was present that night, with the exception of Nick Canon and Jaden Smith, rolled into the place wearing either all black or variations of black & white... Yawn. I'm ever so perplexed by the male tendency to automatically reach for black the moment someone mentions an award show.  Granted, there are certain events that are 'black tie' in which case it's appropriate for us to adhere to the standard of formality by wearing a tailored black suit, however, let's keep it real and say the BET awards is anything but black tie (the singer Lloyd's attire?  I rest my case).  As usual the males kept it too basic, and in most cases boring, while the females took center stage in their color-infused ensembles.  Why is that?  Who ever sent out a mass memo to the entire male population instructing us never to wear items of color?  I never received any such notification and I doubt that any man has, so why do we constantly feel the need to shy away from pieces that feature color and instead play it safe?  While most of the color-challenged outfits of the night were snoozers, there were a few fellas who took their own interesting approach and below I've laid out a photo spread with my personal critiques of each man's look.. I hope most of these fellas aren't paying stylists to dress them, if so they're clearly not getting their money's worth!  Let's get started, shall we?...


    Really Romeo?  You're Master P's son which means you have money to burn yet a polo shirt (with wrinkled collar), acid washed jeans and a huge contraption (which I'm guessing is a cell phone holster) dangling from your hip was the best you could come up with?  

My Critique: If you're gonna rock a polo, lose the tee-shirt underneath and make sure the collar is starched.  And you're nolonger a teen so a pair of sleek laceups and more fitted jeans would've been a more mature choice while not being at all stuffy.  Lastly nix the shades and b-ball cap, it's been done before.
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Smh... First off, dude looks like an off-duty GI Joe on his way to perform at a strip club.  Anytime a man over the age of 13 deems it okay to appear at a nationally televised event with his underwear in plain view it's a sign that he's experiencing some hard times (how many years has it been since his last album?...)

My Critique: Let ya Mama see you before you leave the house!  I can assure you that such a wardrobe misstep wouldn't have occured if Mama Polite had've given him the once-over prior to his arrival to the show. 
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There's been quite a bit of noise on facebook concerning Drake's new haircut, it looks like he's going for curls minus the fade and line-up, however my concern is with what's beneath his dome.  Besides the fact that I'm seeing black AGAIN, his ensemble is way to basic.  The shirt looks sorta cheap and the fit of his pants is, well, horrible.  I must give him credit for the shoes though, they're unique and guess what?  It adds a splash of COLOR!

My Critique: Opt for a shirt of higher quality with a more tapered fit and a more substantial collar.  Lastly, either buy pants that actually fit without all the bagginess and bunching or simply take them to a tailor.
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Black fedora, black shades, black tee, black beaded necklace, black bomber jacket, black & gray sneakers, did any of these fellas realize it's June and therefore hot outdoors?  I don't have much to say about Ne-Yo's look other than the fact that it's extremely one-dimensional.

My Critique: the bomber jack has become the new blazer for men under 30.  It has a great fit and it's cropped just low enough at the waist to keep it looking hip, however, since it's such a commonly worn piece you should step it up with a vibrantly colored tee or a bold button-down with a skinny knit tie.  I'm diggin' the white pants but a woven belt in a cool eye-catching color would've been so much more interesting than the white-on-white that's going on here. 
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Mr. Laz Alonso, I'm rather surprised at him for wearing such an ill-fitting suit when he's initially from corporate America.  I've always respected this dude because he has that 'everyman' appeal; I can see him as an executive, store manager, garbage man, pretty much any role suits him which I think has worked to his advantage as an actor.  But sadly, the buck stops there!

My Critique:  I'm sick of guys in wacked-out suits, take it to a tailor!  Trim the sleeves down to where they skim the arms neatly, the jacket should hit just below your hip, bulky laceups are a
no-no, your pants shouldn't have 5 extra inches of break at the ankle and the only time you should be wearing your top button undone while wearing a tie is if it's a skinny collar with a skinny tie.  Button it up.
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Most women in America feel as though Boris Kodjoe can do no wrong and I must side with you guys, but only about his wardrobe.  His ensemble is dark and has no pop of color anywhere but what it lacks in vibrance it makes up for in fit.

My Critique: I honestly have no critiques.  Everything he's wearing is sleek, fits well and his shoes are impeccable (smooth and understated with a thin sole).  I guess when you're this good looking it's hard to walk out of the house wearing just any ol' thing, right?
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Hip-Hop artists tend to miss the sartorial mark when it comes to events where fiited hats, throwback jerseys and airforce 1s aren't necessarily acceptable but to be quite honest, I have yet to see Nelly in attire that's tasteless.  As I draw my mind back I realize that whenever he's on the red (or green) carpet he looks put together and I can say the same for him here.

My Critique: I'm loving the quality of his shirt's collar and the wide cuffs and extra gather in the sleeves give it a slightly old Victorian look.  The vest fits well and the ashy, acid-washed gray jeans add to the casual feel of his look.  I'm elated to see a pair of Converses being worn neatly instead of with the tongue flapping and the laces strewn about them.  Nicely done Nelly, I give you an A+... but next time leave the key holder thingy hanging from your belt loop in the car. 
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My man Diggy Simmons aka up and coming style hound!  I've admired his unique sense of style since Run's House was on the air; I've never seen a young Black male with such a passion for style and a rather good sense of fashion at such a young age.  As soon as he designated Pharrell Williams as his fashion idol I knew this kid had a special eye for talent.

My Critique: Though his look followed the typical tone of the evening, his creme colored biker jacket was a nice break away from the usual white.  I like the detailing down the side of the pant legs as well as the cool strap that's hanging from the waist in the front.  Only a pair of high-top sneakers is the appropriate choice for a bold & funky look such as this and he chose right.  My only criticism is homeboy's posture, didn't his Mama teach him not to slouch?!  
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Keep it Stylish, keep it Sexy and always keep it true to YOU  -UrbanGent

Monday, June 27, 2011

WIAWT, 6/26/11

Bean town was a little bit on the humid side but the sun was in full view so I couldn't complain.  As a result I was in a laid-back/beachy mood (ditched the razor too) and decided to rock a light-weight yellow slope-neck tee, navy cargo shorts, slate colored moccasins and a few assorted bracelets (have you noticed the religious beaded bracelet is my fav?  I'm wearing it in practically every one of my posts lol).. Stay fly, fellas!







Keep it Stylish, keep it Sexy and always keep it true to YOU! -UrbanGent

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Men of Mad StyLe~

In my opinion the '50s represents the pinnacle of male elegance.  Whenever I come across old photos or even tv shows and movies that are based on this era, I'm utterly fascinated and I've been known to literally stop dead in my tracks to admire these stunning visuals.  In fact, most of today's trends for men, such as skinny ties and slim-fit suits, were made popular by men of the '50s.  Mad Men, one of my absolute favorite tv shows (if you haven't at least heard of it then I encourage you to come forth from beneath the rock you've been under and join us) does a superb job of capturing the refinement of the men of this day without it appearing contrived or costume-like.  Hair slicked back with Vitalis, 2-button suits, notch lapels and wingtip shoes are just a few of the staple components that made these men the most dashing fellas that ever lived.  When I think of the '50s I think of Frank Sanatra and Sammie Davis Jr. strutting about with a good inch of shirt cuff peaking from beneath the sleeves of their blazers, I think of men who didn't need a special occasion to wear a 3-piece suit but most of all I'm taught of a decade where the term "metrosexual" had no place because appearing unkempt just wasn't an option; the charisma these men displayed was truly magnetic!  Let these photos take you back in time and provide lifelike proof of these men who had mad style...


Sammy Davis Jr., homeboy landed the cover of GQ!  Need I say more?








actor Cary Grant (Ladies, when was the last time you were swept off your feet by a man who looked this clean?)


 Your look wasn't complete without a fedora


Style for no reason, I'm lovin' it!



We took our cue from them


Keep it Stylish, keep it Sexy and always keep it true to YOU! -UrbanGent

 

Thursday, June 2, 2011

WIAWT... 6/1/11

To kick off the first day of the month in which summer officially begins, I decided to rock these cool blue socks.  Not only are they just plain dope they're also very comfy.. I'm not sure what material they're made from but whatever it is I'm lovin' it!




Keep it Stylish, keep Sexy and always keep it true to YOU! -UrbanGent

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Trey Songz Stylez*



I'm utterly dumbfounded when I see celebrities dressed badly.  First off, What we, everyday folks, need to remember is just because celebrities have heaps of money doesn't mean they know what to do with it; money does not equal style.  Even when they've enlisted the help of a professional stylist, some celebrities still manage to fall flat on their faces when trying to pull of a particular look (*cough* Chris Brown and Omarion *cough*) and often end up looking like circus clowns on the run from the big top.  Just as I was about to throw up my hands and accept the fact that my famous fellas had clearly been beaten with the rod of tackiness, a young brotha named Tremaine Neverson (aka Trey Songz) broke free of being the poster boy for the corn-row-sporting, white tee-wearing R&B cliche to now being that for truely versatile and stylish masculinity.  Most of young America became familiar with Mr. Songz while he was yet in his streetwear phase, during which time it seemed he was nothing more than a byproduct of the music industry.. you know, where the record labels churn out a new teen wannabe hearthrob every 20 minutes for young, pubescent females to salivate over.  But watching this dude's transformation has been a real life coming of age story.

I often see Songz in tailored suits, waistcoats, cardigans and fitted jeans all of which make it evident that he's nolonger afraid to pay attention to his own personal tastes.  Even in his downtime or when he's performing for younger crowds, his urbanwear consists of fitted, acid-washed jeans in bold colors, v-necks, military jackets and aviators.  Style is not limited to the mere clothes on your back but rather it encompasses confidence, elegance and a can-do attitude and Songz's BET reality show Passion, Pain & Pleasure showcased his overall persona.  His business acumen was beyond impressive; his attention to detail and ability to manage his entire music team along with inking a campaign deal with Rocawear gave him even more of an air of style than I'd seen prior.  Fellas such as Mr. Songz and Ne-yo have used their top hats, suspenders and dope laceup shoes to show young men that it's possible to opt for more tailored sportswear and still preserve our sexy.  We're taking our cue from you Mr. Songz so continue to keep it gentlemanly!