Thrift Store Therapy, 12/17/10

I'm officially LOVIN' the thrill of finding great pieces at rock bottom prices, as you all know you're boy is always up for a good bargain!  I hit up a new thrift spot that a friend of mine recommended to me and it turned out to be not even the least bit disappointing.  For the last few weeks I'd been looking for a store that sells brooch pins as I've been seeing them on the runway (Javan and Randy B. of TheBlaqueBook also pull them off effortlessly) and figured they'd be cool to incorporate into my look (pinned to a pea coat, blazer or vest), this store put a smile on my face the moment I walked up to the front counter.  I asked the clerk if they sold brooch pins (all the while cringing inside as I awaited that disappointing "no we don't, sorry" response that all the clerks at previous thrift stores delivered to me with a sigh) and he quickly responded "yup, we sure do!" while pulling a velvet tray from beneath the counter.  You're boy was grinning from ear to ear as I rummaged through the tray's contents to finally purchase what I'd been searching for for weeks!  I also found a beautiful navy blazer with gold buttons that fit like a glove, it needs absolutely no tailoring (I kept bragging about it during dinner with a friend later that night, lol).  Check out these pics:

 I was initially afraid this one would be too feminine but paired with a black dinner jacket or waist coat it conveys a very refined, slightly Victorian look.

(Sorry about the imperfection, I've been having issues while uploading some of my pics)

Keep it stylish, keep it sexy but always keep it true to you!

Back 2 The Basics: The Henley

    

        I love pieces whose simplicity give me the freedom to create looks that are timeless while maintaining a subtle sexiness.  The Henley has been one of those pieces and has been a staple in my closet ever since I slipped one on for the first time 3 years ago.  This collarless and seemingly plain shirt was originally part of a two-piece men’s undergarment during the Victorian ages in England, rowers made it popular as a shirt to be worn as a visible outer-shirt when they would wear them during the famous rowing regatta that was established in Henley, England in 1839.  The thing that’s so special about this shirt is it’s undeniable nonchalance; when worn un-ironed, straight off the hanger with a slightly rumpled texture it conveys that your stylish without even really trying.  As with any shirt that a man dons, your Henley should be fitted (not tight).  It can fall just below your waist, sleeves rolled up and, of course, the buttons undone.  If you’re a physically fit guy or if you have a bit of chest hair –not that grizzly, unkempt, fur-looking mess- the Henley is definitely an item that will work well with your body type as it hangs just below the neck and is fitted without looking pretentious in that “I’m purposely wearing a ridiculously tight, revealing shirt to show off my nice physique” kind of way.  My favorite Henleys are those made by H&M and Old Navy, they’re good quality at a great price which means you can stock up on an assortment of colors.

    Tips:

GQ's been endorsing the Henley for years so I guess
it's cool enough...

• Wash separately.  Washing with other items, from my experience, causes it to accumulate lint. 

•  Air dry, the dryer causes serious shrinkage!If you don’t have a place at home to air dry it, buy it one size bigger than usual so that it shrinks down to the correct size when put into the dryer.

• Layer!  The Henley is perfect for layering: with a waistcoat, a blazer, a sweater, underneath a button-up, the possibilities are endless, seriously.

• Don’t go getting all stuffy with it, it’s meant to look relaxed while accentuating your physique just right.

Looking for ways to keep your skin on point during these harsh, wintery months? Check out "Winter Skincare" in the Skincare/Hair care section...

Young, Gifted and Black~

Personally, the reality that society doesn't necessarily have the highest expectations of me, a young African American man, is rather old news and is the fuel behind my ambition in life.  I've never been one to harp on the topic of "race" and the misfortune that Blacks have suffered for centuries, instead I bow my head each day, say a prayer of thanks for the hope of a bright future that I've been granted and I allow the hardships of my race's past to serve as a catalyst to propel me to positivity in my education, relationships and sense of self-worth. The 2 gentleman behind Street Etiquette, one of my favorite blogs, created the project The Black Ivy, an homage to historically Black colleges- particularly those which aim to educate young Black men- and the sense of style, culture and overall mentality that emerges among Black men within such intellectual environments.  It is a video that details all of these elements and I must say that I was utterly moved while watching it for the first time and have found a new sense of pride in being an intellectual Black man.  This idea of style, intellect and drive is in no way reserved to Black men alone but our demographic often needs positive reinforcement such as this to help us shake off the negativity that's constantly projected onto us.  Hopefully this video will inspire you just as it did me.  Be Blessed.

Model Watch: Sean Opry



      I feel as though this dude has grown from being a goofy, pale-faced kid with modelling potential to now being one of the most in demand male models in the industry right before my very eyes.  The very first time I stumbled across his face was through an awkward computer hickup; google somehow brought me to his myspace page after I typed in "Oprin" (the last name of a woman I was studying in my history class) and this was the first of what seemed like never ending sightings of this kid's asymmetrical face.  I began seeing him in photo spreads whenever I flipped through my GQ, I'd see him in just about every runway show on youtube and now he's a bonafide supermodel (making that supermodel dough, I'm sure!).  He's like the little brother I never had so Sean, this is your big bro. taking a moment to give you a shout out and commend you on your rapid success in the fashion industry!  Keep doing your thing my man!  Pics below of him now:

Fall/Winter 2010 Must Have: The Toggle Coat



        There are few things that irritate me more than seeing a guy whose well dressed (shirt, pants/suit, shoes) but is wearing a coat that is either the complete opposite of the rest of his ensemble or is in such shabby condition that it deserves nothing less than to be burned on sight.  Maybe you're the type of guy who finds tailored topcoats and trenches a bit too stuffy, I get it.  This, however, doesn't make it okay for you to yank out the first coat that you stumble upon while clearing away the dust from those rubbermaid bins that have been housing your garments from last winter.  To strike the perfect balance between business and playtime I recommend the toggle coat, aka the "duffle" coat.  Originally making it's debut in 1995 when worn by Scottish football players as they received their first ever national trophy in the Challenge Cup, this coat is making a comeback in a major way!  It's loops and hooks give it a bold feel while maintaining a look that's masculine enough even for the most manly of men.  Rock it with a suit or with your weekend gear, you'll look put-together at all times.  So, fellas, no more wearing South Pole bubble coats to job interviews or important meetings, the toggle coat will get you noticed whenever you step out in it.  Check out these pics...

Thrift Store Therapy

Your boy was recently inspired by my fellow bloggers Randy and Javan B. of TheBlaqueBook.com to visit a thrift store and allow myself to experience the unique joy of finding fashionable secondhand items at mindblowing bargains.  I'd already been twirling the idea around in my head for quite some time but could never bring myself to actually do it (mostly due to the unsettling thought of wearing an item that's been on some stranger's back, ugh!).  All of this anxiety subsided on Monday of this week when I decided to go on a little thrifty exscursion and I have to admit, it wasn't half bad!  Oh yeah, all of my items rang up to a grand total of...., are you ready for this?  19 bucks!  Check out these pics of some of my cool finds...

Tan herringbone blazer (no tailoring needed, straight of the rack it fit me like a glove!), gold, green & red rep tie, 2 woven belts: one green with maroon stripe, the other yellow (this one I turned into a wristband since it was too short for my waist, pics soon to come), and a green & grey striped sweater:

(please pardon the imperfection, I had a bit of trouble while uploading this pic.  I'm sure you get the gist of it though...):

Yes folks, this is herringbone...get up close & personal with it:

I'll post pics of myself wearing these items in the near future under the WIAWT section, this way you'll be able to see them styled and paired with other pieces to create some nice, cohesive looks.

New Lanvin Men's Collection for H&M Didn't Meet my Expectations

So, H&M recently collaborated with the label Lanvin to debut a mens and womens collection, however the mens collection doesn't exactly have me jetting out to be the first in line at the nearest H&M, unfortunately.  When I first heard of this collaboration I actually wasn't aware that there would be a mens collection also, so I kinda left all of the hype for the females.  Today I hit up my homegirl D., aka MindOfaBudgetnista (check out her blog for items for the woman in your life), to see if there would be new Lanvin items for the fellas and she informed me that the mens collection was already in stores... Really?  Your boy decided to hit up H&M on Newbury St. after work to see what fresh new items were on the rack but I couldn't really make out which items, if any, were from the Lanvin collection.  Maybe this was due to it being a friday evening (payday fever was in the air!) but the store didn't have any racks or sections specifically advertising Lanvin items so I gave up after searching the crowded aisles. 

Once I got home I checked online for the Lanvin lookbook to see what pieces had been churned out and I must say that I was quite disappointed (pics below).  The collection mainly features formal wear: shawl collar suit jackets, dressy trousers with drawstrings around the ankle (kinda innovative), bowties, white dress shirts, patent leather tuxedo shoes in blue, purple and maroon and I think I saw a cummerbund somewhere in the mix.  Don't get me wrong, the items themselves look pretty good but my question is: where's the casual wear?  I read a blog post that said the collection is supposed to be "holiday inspired," however I don't plan on slapping on a bowtie and patent leather shoes everyday simply because it's the holiday season!  Can I get some khakis?  Some creative graphic tees?  Some casual shoes or boots?  Some nice button-ups or cardigans?  I was reading a blog that said H&M would debut more items later on, but if the pieces are gonna be singing the same notes as the all-formal-wear-and-nothing-else collection that's already out then I'm not looking forward to it.  We'll see...

I gotta admit, the drawstring pants are kinda hot!

More dinner jackets and patent leather shoes?  Really Lanvin?

Oh yeah, I can really see myself pounding the soon-to-be-snow-filled streets of Boston everyday in these! (sarcastic voice) 



White shirt & high-waisted (and high-water) trousers

Building muscle without the excess bulk! Check out 'Lean & Mean' in the Physical Fitness section...

Back 2 the Basics: The White button-up

     The white button-up shirt is, or should be, one of the cornerstones of every man's wardrobe.  It's a fail-proof item that can be dressed up (with a tie, blazer and dress slacks) or down (top button undone, sleeves rolled up and tucked into jeans with a pair of laceup shoes) which makes it an easy yet stylish option. 

Originally known as the 'Oxford shirt' because of the cotton fabric from which this type of shirt was originally made back in 19th century Britain, this shirt has been around since our Great, Great, Great-Grandfathers were pulling them off the store racks.  For our modern generation Calvin Klein and Geoffrey Beene (my favorite) make an impeccably tailored, quality white button up that will last you (just make sure to dry clean it ONLY and request that it not be starched, starch breaks the fabric down over time and gives it that shiny, worn look).  Your shirt should:

• Be made of durable, 100% cotton so that you don't end up with that cheap, see through look.
• Be slim-fitting enough where it's not ballooning around your waist & torso, this way it'll still look neat if you decide to wear it untucked.
• Have slim (not tight) sleeves that fall just at your wrist (not your knuckles!).
• Fall (the bottom of the shirt) mid-hip or at the middle of your, umm, butt (I gotta be frank :)

Quick Tips:  When buying a white shirt for a dressy occasion, always get one that has a quality made collar (feel the collar flaps to make sure they're slightly firm, a floppy collar looks cheap and will crinkle up over time).

- If you can't find one with a firm collar, make sure it's as firm as you can find because you can always slip collar stays into the long, slim pockets underneath the collar flaps. (pic below)

(Collar stays: you can purchase them at Macy's, Men's Warehouse  or K&G.  They usually come in packs of 4 or more)

What do you think...?

I bought these sneakers online back in the summer for only 40 bucks.  They were kinda cool and unique so I scooped them up.  I really like the turquois sole (they came with a 2nd pair of laces in the same color) and the 2 straps & buckles... what do you think?

 They look really dope when there laced only halfway up with my pants falling over them.  I don't know if you can see it in the pic, most of the shoe is suede and the straps and trimming (if that's the right word, lol) are leather so it has a really cool design.  I haven't worn them yet, I've been trying to find the perfect outfit that would really showcase such a bold pair of kicks.  I think I'm gonna rock them pretty soon though, we'll see...

Temperatures are dropping, time 2 bring the swag level UP!

       I really hate being cold so I'm never too amped about those low temperatures that start to set in at this time of year... living on the east coast is definately a task once these last three months of the year roll around!  But the one thing that lifts my spirits during this arctic season is the fun I get to have with my attire!  During warmer weather everyone's style is very minimalist; you're limited in terms of the number of pieces you can wear at one time but in cooler weather you can go stone crazy!  Now I get to layer 3 or 4 pieces at one time, I can opt for fabrics with more texture (ie. corduroy, tweed, denim, etc.) and warmer colors (brown, maroon, black, etc.).  I get to rock more substantial footwear like work boots & chukkas, I even get to pull out my thicker neckties (can you tell how excited ya boy is? lol).  Here's a pic of a few pieces from my closet that'll rival even the lowest of the low temperatures.  Fellas, have fun with your wardrobe during this time of the year, don't be afraid to experiment with different patterns & textures because 8 times out of 10 you'll probably put together something really hot!  

(I got that braided brown belt on sale from GAP for only $7!  And my Prada Amber is right there chillin' in the pocket of my Levi's, 514s to be exact!) 



WIAWT (What I am wearing today)...11/2/10

What's poppin' fellas?!  This is the first of my "What I am wearing today" posts which are photo breakdowns of the look I was rocking on a particular day.  This is something that we do on the style forum @ GQ.com so I figured I'd let you guys in on the fun as well.  I'll be posting these periodically to give you guys some insight as to what pieces are in my closet and this will hopefully serve as suggestions as to what items you guys can add to your sartorial repertoire.  Feel free to leave comments and let me knoe what you think of any given look, I'm always open to hearing what people think (now, don't start bashing ya boy if you're not feeling one of my ensembles!  Keep it constructive.)  Today I was going to class so I decided to keep it fitted and simple...

Navy Henley (H&M):

Jeans with Whiskering on the thigh: (H&M):

(back view) whiskering on back pocket & back of knee 

Blue Chuck Taylors (these sneakers are over 3 yrs old and they still look good!)

Keep it fly, Keep it sexy and always keep it true to YOU! (UrbanGent.)





DUN-DUN-DUUUUUUNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (sound of trumpets)

I'm here, I'm finally here folks!!  Starting this blog has been on my mind for quite some time, but my hectic schedule made it seem impossible to find the time to actually make it a reality.  But ya boy has finally arrived and I must say, it feels great to be here!  I've always had a passion for style; my father is a stylish dude, his father was a stylish dude and I'm sure the style gene dates back further than that.

       At the age of 15 I read my very first issue of GQ magazine and oh, what a pivotal moment in my life that was.  I was an intern at a local newspaper and one of the writers had a huge stack of magazines sitting next to his desk and one day during my lunch break I asked him if I could borrow a couple of them (he looked at me with a "can't you see I'm busy!" expression on his face then gave me permission to rummage through the magazine stack whenever I wanted to).  I remember carrying this GQ magazine to the cafeteria to flip through it and see what wonders lie between it's glossy covers and my jaw dropped further and further to the floor with every flipped page.  What did my wondering eyes behold?  Models with slicked-back hair dressed in impeccably tailored Yves Saint Laurent suites and sleek leather shoes.  I saw expensive leather messenger bags made in places I've always dreamed of visiting, slim fitting trench coats, vests, yeah... you get the picture now, right?  Basically my eyes were opened to a realm of mens fashion & style that I never knew existed and it made me all the more passionate about being a fly gentleman. 

       This blog is going to be dedicated to bringing REAL style related information to REAL young urban men of the our modern era.  I'll give tons of tips and advice on how to navigate the modern world in true style.  I'm ready!  The question is: are you ready?

Fall/Winter inspiration pics~

Texture and layering create unique looks that have individuality and flair:

A stylish workboot that can be dressed up or down (tip: untie the strings and tuck the pants inside for a casual, laid-back look):

The trench (tip: small armholes, fitted shoulders/torso and sleeves that fall just above the wrist keep the coat from looking bulky or oversized):



The Snood (it's basically a scarf with both ends sewn together.  I bought one last winter and it's probably one of the dopest accessories in my closet, real talk!):

Keep it stylish, Keep it sexy and always keep it true to YOU!