CoLoR Me GoooooD!

    I'm constantly encouraging you guys to incorporate color into your wardrobe especially since the warmer and more sunny months are upon us, but I recently had a friend of mine ask me "where do I start??"  Since we, men, have a seemingly natural tendency to gravitate to darker & less ostentatious colors, we have to make more of an effort to go against the grain.  When my friend expressed that his dilemma is knowing which colors to combine when putting together a complete look I initially told him to take chances and trust his instincts, but shortly after giving him this response I realized not all guys have the instinctive ability to recognize or create great color combinations.  Now, I 'll admit that undertaking this task of breaking down the science of color combinations was no easy one considering that I've been blessed with a natural eye for great style and have always been able to simply recognize a dope colorful ensemble upon first glance but, for you guys, I took on this task with vigor!  Let's have a brief but informative science lesson, shall we?  Oh, and it'd behoove you to stay awake because daydreaming or falling asleep, as some of you may do during your science classes at school, will result in you missing out on gaining the fundamentals of color & risking your ensemble being completely off balance.  Let's begin...

The Basics

When brainstorming ideas for creating an interesting look that tells a cool color story, a great way to lay a foundation in your mind is by imagining all the different colors that exist and a color wheel is the perfect visual tool to illustrate all of the many colors that exist:

Every possible color you could ever think of including in your wardrobe can be seen in this one simple wheel (so I guess our kindergarten teachers knew what they were doing when they kept this wheel hung in their classrooms, who'da thought?!)

Now, we, men, tend to stick to the more basic colors (ie. red, blue, yellow and green) which actually makes things much easier, especially when you're a guy whose just getting his feet wet in the vast sea of color.  Focusing on these basic colors will help you develop, over time, a keen eye for color because it pushes the remaining 8 shades in the wheel into the background thus causing you to feel less overwhelmed.  See, starting off isn't as difficult as some of you may have thought!  Now you can breathe... Let's continue...


Harmony

It takes a seasoned fashionisto to take garments in crazy colors, put them together and create an unconventional yet amazing look that the average person never would've dreamed of creating.  Remember, if you're just starting out you'd want to keep things simple.  Now the fun begins!  So you've more than likely chosen a garment in one of the four basic colors I previously mentioned and you're attempting to add in some other items & accessories to create a full look, let's go to the color wheel for some ideas for accent colors:

The color that is directly across from the color of the garment you're going to wear is its complimentary color which means its the ideal color to create a harmonious pair.  For example: if you are planning to wear a pair of navy blue slacks, a yellow shirt would be the best color to pair them with (on the color wheel blue is directly across from yellow).  Or if you're a guy who has a taste for something a bit more bold, orange and a slightly lighter shade of blue would be a knockout pair!



The 'POP!'

    By now you've found your main garment, chosen an accent color, now comes the opportunity to have a li'l fun!  Adding in cool accessories is the perfect way to add interest (or "pop" as its called in the fashion world) to your look so why not think outside the box and throw in some unique items that'll give people a reason to truly appreciate your ensemble?!  We, men, have a very limited amount of choices in terms of accessories therefore we really have to make the ones we choose count.  No matter what genre of style you're going with on a particular occasion, there's always room to add accessories to amp up your look... 

 

Business:      
                                                                         

A navy suit doesn't have to be bland & ordinary; toss in a solid color pocket square (a white cotton one folded into a square also works fine), a sleek watch with leather straps and yellow socks (complimentary color) will transform this classic suit.



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Casual/Sporty:
   

 As I've said in previous posts, you want to have one item be the main focal point while the rest of your look remains fairly subdued and less bold overall.  For example, when wearing something as bold as a fire engine red blazer you'd definately want to build around it and incorporate maybe a black or brown beaded necklace and/or wristbands, light faded jeans, and a pale turquoise tee (complimentary color) underneath.
    

(Kanye's grey tee works great
as well because its a muted tone
which is a nice contrast to the
bold red)

Last but not Least: The Foundation

      Let's recap: you've selected your main garment, chosen complimentary pieces and threw in a few accessories for flare.  Now all you need to do is finish it off with the right shoes; sounds simple, right?  Shoes are the simplest part of your wardrobe, especially when it comes to more dressy/formal attire yet I constantly see guys getting it horribly wrong.  To eliminate any further confusion I'm going to let you in on a few li'l secrets that are the rules of thumb for your shoe game: 

• Black pants/suit- black shoes & belt (dressy attire: your belt & shoes should always match)
• Navy, Grey or khaki suit/pants- brown shoes (black shoes also work well with gray)
• Sporty/street-inspired attire- Most of the time just go for it!  Take chances with funky colors to really make a statement!  Today's streetwear has a nostalgic look; its all about bright colors that are reminiscent of the '80s & early '90s.  Note: as I previously mentioned, when wearing bright colors try to keep the rest of your look balanced (including your shoes).  If you wear a bold colored shoe, let that be the focal point thus building the rest of your look around that.  When wearing bold colored shirt & trousers, keep your shoes a bit more subdued.  Balance not clashing! 

Keep it Stylish, keep it Sexy and always keep it true to YOU! -Mr. Hampton   

SpriNg Has SpRUnG!

       Unless you've been living either under a rock or in some fashion-deprived intergalactic universe, you've seen the bouncy GAP, H&M and Macy's commercials proclaiming that this spring/summer will be all about color, color and more COLOR!  Any of you, fellas, who still shudder at the mere mention of color being a part of your wardrobe need an intervention fast!  I'm gonna have to sound like a style snob and say that being afraid of color is sooooo 1996, so GET OVER IT!  I can't tell you how inspiring & refreshing it is to see guys, both young and older, rockin' ensembles that features bold color stories.  The key to successfully pulling off color without resembling a circus clown dipped in melted Skittles is to let one piece (pants, shoes or colorful accessories) be the focal point while keeping the rest of your look subdued.  This spring & summer, the areas I'll be focusing on infusing color into are my shoes & trousers.  I've always been a sucker for a bold-colored casual shoe and the sunny seasons give me an excuse to showcase such nice footwear.  I was browsing today during my lunch break and saw these wingtips (pics below) that were the perfect balance of color and class and of course your boy HAD to snatch them up.  What do y'all think?...

The yellow boat shoes caught my eye also... Yes, I snatched them up too!

The blue sole adds a simple pop of color while the grey upper keeps it simple... I'm LOVIN' this shoe!

Of course I couldn't stop at just one pair.  As soon as I saw these, I had to have them... the yellow looks amazing and the simple leather strip along the heel is a cool li'l touch!

Keep it Stylish, keep it Sexy and always keep it true to YOU! -Mr. Hampton

WIAWT

I'm beginning to notice my blazers aren't getting enough attention, they've just been hanging in my closet & waiting patiently for their chance to make contact with the outside world.  Today I decided to go for a look that has a more preppy/classic feel and this cotton navy blazer fit the bill perfectly!  I kept my ensemble solid with a white oxford button-up and added a few punches of color with a neon red watch and striped socks.  I hope you guys are diggin' my look...
                               

                                             

                                           

 

 

H&M blazer

Thrifted brooch & button-up

Watch- street vendor

StreeT ShoTz~

So I was in a rush earlier today when I spotted this dude in the subway station.  I was walking behind him and, even from a distance, I couldn't help but notice two things about him- 1: he was extremely tall (about 6'2") and 2: his style was bold but somehow tamed at the same time.  The weather in Boston is abnormally warm today considering that its January, and it seems that such weather always gives New England's fashionistas & fashionistos a reason to break out their more fashion-forward duds even if its just for one day.  This fella's look is definitely on the high fashion end of the sartorial spectrum, however the different pieces he incorporates into his look can be seperated and worn in many different ways.  Check him out...

                                  

     Younger guys are learning the secret of the leather jacket which their dads & uncles have known for years, and that is: it instantly makes you look cooler and feel invincible (Fonzie-esque walk not necessary)             

                  

       

His skinny jeans automatically give his look a cool, hipster feel

This beaded tribal-inspired necklace with it's bold gold medallion is definitely a statement

                piece which can be worn simply with a plain white tee or graphic tee

His blond high-top fade & bowler hat are channelling early '80s fashion and I'm diggin' it!

Leather spats over combat boots with silver toe?? This dude was pulling out ALL the stops
unapologetically!

Keep it Stylish, keep it Sexy and always keep it true to YOU! -Mr. Hampton 

FaLL DAyZ

      As you guys have heard me say a million times, fall is my absolute favorite season!  A scarf carelessly tossed over the shoulder and a few extra layers are usually all I need when stepping out into the brisk autumn air.  This past Thanksgiving, right after I left church that morning and just before diggin' into the mouth watering soul food feast that my Mother prepared, I took a few shots of my ensemble.  I kept my look fairly laid-back with earth tones, considering I was about to be immersed in the feasting & hoopla that comes with the Thanksgiving territory!  The holidays are the perfect time to look your best and impress your family and friends so don't be afraid to opt for pieces that fit well and convey a message of "I've been taking very good care of myself since the last family gathering, can you tell? *wink*"  Being stylish is a choice and one which we should be thankful for because, let's face it, looking good makes you feel good!  Stay fly, fellas~

Vest, Aeropostale

Jeans & henley, H&M

vintage brooch

assorted wristbands

Photography by: Nola Hood of Noble Shots

Mr. HamptoN to ThE REscUe!

       Within my circle of friends, I've become the resident style guru.  My homies deem me the style go-to guy and they never hesitate to hit me up whenever they find themselves in the midst of a fashion dilemma, and I, of course, am more than thrilled to offer my assistance.  I've decided to now make myself available to all of my fellas via this blog because let's face it, a lot of you have style questions but don't have a source who's fashion expertise you trust.  Sartorial Suggestions is not simply your run-of-the-mill style blog where I regurgitate a bunch of fashion facts, on the contrary this blog aims to teach the basics of style in a way that can be comprehended by the everyday man.  To get the low-down on what works for your wardrobe and what doesn't, simply email your questions to me at SSb2b1@hotmail.com and include the below personal details so that I'm able to provide the best analysis that works for you:

1. Your city & State and the 1st letters of your first & last name  
2. Race
3. Skin Complexion (light, caramel/light brown, dark)
4. Height
5. Body Type (slim, lean/athletic, husky)
6. Celebrity whose sense of style you admire (if you have one)

I will then answer your questions here on Sartorial Suggestions and provide you with the best info to not only help you to look your best, but also feel your best!  No fashion-related topic is off limits, nor is any question "dumb" or trivial to where I wouldn't take the time to answer it; you can ask ya boy ANYTHING and I will in turn give you my most honest yet helpful answer.  Consider me the younger, African-American version of Glenn O'Brien, GQ's Style Guy :).  Helping you guys is what I'm here to do so start submitting your questions and regularly check in on my blog to see when your questions get answered and your sartorial conundrums solved (that was a li'l GQ jargon for ya!).  As always, keep it fly!

ALteR EgO

        When I try to pinpoint my one signature/favorite style of fashion, I've found this to be a slightly daunting task mainly because my sartorial tastes tend to range from distressed jeans tucked into a pair of combat boots and finished off with a military-style top of some sort all the way to tailored blazers & oxford shirts paired with fitted trousers & sophisticated lace-ups.  Whenever someone asks me what my signature style is, my mind conjures up images of my closet full of eclectic pieces but then suddenly draws a blank.  I'd ask myself, "what is MY signature style?" When I think of specific men, be they celebrities or influential guys in my personal life, I can quickly label or identify their overall style sense; Fonzworth Bentley- preppy with European flair, Lenny Kravitz- fearless rocker chic, then there's me, Willie Hampton-??... Rather than attempting to confine myself to one area of the sartorial spectrum I've realized there's a duality of tastes going on within me and guess what, its ok!  Accepting this reality of what would seem to be a case of style confusion, I've been introduced to a new man whose been shaking things up in my life, fashionwise, for as long as I can remember.. his name is Mr. Hampton, my alter ego.  This dapper fellow is eccentricity personified.  He has a passion for vibrant & unique colors, impeccably tailored pieces, bold accessories and anything/everything that catches one's eye and makes a statement!  He's fearless in his approach to fashion and he's only just getting started.  In my younger days I'll admit I tried to suppress him, mainly because I didn't quite understand him, but I'm officially turning him loose on the world so get ready!  Mr. Hampton is alive and well and is living life unapologetically and to be quite honest, I wish I had've embraced him sooner rather than later.