The 'F' WoRD

      Yes the warmer months are on their way and after being forced to brave the bitter, frigid blanket of death a.k.a the northeastern winter, I await the warmth with bated breath.  That being said, I want to stop this spirit of carelessness that's ran rampant and practically ruined past springs and summers for so many of you without you even realizing it.  So many of you were robbed of your swag like a sleeping infant in a stroller having his rattle swiped by a passing stranger, "how was I robbed?" you ask?  Your blatent lack of attentiveness to the FIT of your clothes!  That's right, the F-I-T, you know that thing you refused to pay attention to after your mother stopped dressing you as a child because she assumed you'd gotten the hang of it?  Warmer seasons require less covering up and more attention to detail!  I cannot allow my fellas to suffer through another sunny season filled with saggy this and oversized that, nor will I sit idly by while you guys to allow the garments on your back to make you a laughing stock the moment you step out your front door.  Forget the bedazzled jeans and multi-colored Ed Hardy tees you see the guys rocking on The Jersey Shore, it's time for you to start taking yourself seriously enough to care about what you pull off of your closet hangers and below I've laid out what I like to call the "Golden Rules of Fit" which are simple and will keep you from looking like a 10 year old playing in his Father's clothes.  Your clothing should accentuate your masculine build, not hide or over expose it... there's a thin line between 'tight' and 'fitted' and as usual your boy has your back!  Etch these rules in your brain and I guarantee ladies on the street will rather enjoy resting their eyes on you, trust me...

The Polo:

Golden Rule- Should skim the torso with no bagginess, the sleeves should fall no lower than mid-bicep and should closely hug, not squeeze, your arms.


                 Right                                                               WRONG!!

        

Shades:

Golden Rule- Keep them slightly understated, anything too over the top will cause you to seem as though you're trying too hard.  Crazy-colored lenses or lenses that resemble window blinds are out of the question because, let's keep it real, you want to be able to see.  Aviators are always a great choice, they suit any face shape and their thin wire frames keep them from being overpowering.

                    Right                                                                      


















                               WRONG!!!

Cargo Shorts/Pants:

Golden Rule- Just because the word 'cargo' is in the name doesn't mean you need to look as though you're carrying an overwhelming amount of it, they should still fall at or above your knee with a slightly close fit just like any other pair of shorts.  The same goes for your pants, neat is key!  I advise that you bypass those floppy cargos sold at Expressions and Hip Zepi, if you have no clue what either of these names represent consider yourself lucky...


                                  Right                                                                              Wrong!
            

____________________________






Shoes (the dressy kind):

Wearing laceups during the spring & summer is something a man must do with absolute confidence and it's a cool look that I plan to try in the forthcoming season.  European men have mastered the art of pairing dress shoes with laid-back attire such as shorts, jeans, a relaxed fit button-up, etc. and they do so with ease.  Make sure to don a pair of sleek, classic shoes like brogues, wingtips or even loafers as these work best with relaxed attire.  Oh, lose the socks and please put lotion on your ankles.

examples...

(ok, maybe the ascot is a bit much)

Button-ups:

Golden Rule- The same ideas applie here as with your polo shirt: the shoulder seams should come to the outside end of your shoulders and not hang any further down your arm, the sleeves should be slim with the cuff hitting your wrist and not your knuckles, rolled-up sleeves are sexy as well.  The bottom of the short should fall either at your waist or just slightly passed it so that it's not too long (in case you want to wear it untucked)...

               

                    Right                                                         so  WRONG!

Denim:

Golden Rule- PULL 'EM UP!  The only people who should be privy to your hind-part are your doctor, your mother and your wife.  When designating a trend to follow, try to choose one that doesn't make you look sloppy, unkempt and immature... basically an utter fool!  I don't know about you but having to grab hold of my pants while I walk is entirely too much work.  Listen to your mother when she tells you to pull those suckers up... she's right.

          Dude, seriously?  WRONG!!!!

DISGRACEFUL!!!!

                                                                 
                                                                     (let us pray...)

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

 

~Street Shots~

         I know this blog is aimed at dishing style advice to the fellas but, as a man, I can't help but appreciate a fine sista who takes pride in her appearance and isn't afraid to be bold.  I came across this young lady at a subway station and even from the stairwell railing I was perched on, which was 15 feet above her, I could clearly see that her swag and her look were worth me jetting down roughly 25 stairs to snap a few shots.  Upon approaching her she gave me a bit of a sassy attitude but once I flashed my pearly whites, complimented her on her look and stressed that this blog was indeed legit (she had her homegirl google it on her cell phone on the spot) she was more than willing to show me the goods!  Her hair (not pictured) was straight up fried, dyed & laid to the side in an edgy side-swipe cut and her makeup was photoshoot-ready, check her out...

I was lovin' her chunky sweater and vibrant scarf.  She kept her top simple & muted and finished it off with a pair straight-leg jeans.

She says this is a vintage Versace bag... Whatever it is, I'm diggin' the bold jewels & studs (chicks get to have all the fun lol)

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

Hold up! Wait a minute...! Lemme put some funk in it!

    Just yesterday I posted an entry screaming about the fact that colorful footwear is on deck to make it's debut in the upcoming spring/summer season, however, I ran into this young dude at the train station today whose lustrous gear clearly didn't need above 80 degree weather to make an appearance.  Ya boy ALWAYS has his eyes open for style and when this dude walked passed me, I had to snap a few quick shots of his look...

Give me rich, bold colors ANY day! (ps. these pics really aren't capturing the boldness of these colors, they were truly magnetic!) 

Skinny jeans add edgy, modern flair...

He says he paid $140 for these kicks... you guys know I'm frugal but statement pieces like these are worth the splurge! 

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

Funky Footwear... ya Dig?!

     It doesn't take a seasoned fashionisto to notice the retro sneaker craze that's been pumping a fierce beat on the streets for roughly the past two years, and I'm all too ecstatic that the forthcoming Spring/Summer season will, yet again, serve as the perfect canvas for such an eye-popping onslaught of funky colors!  Now, my personal taste, for the most part, tends to lean more toward the urban-but-tame/American prep end of the sartorial spectrum, however, I must admit that I have quite the weak spot for sneakers which feature bright & unique color combinations.  Yeah I know, I'm always blabbering on & on about tailored blazers or the perfect button-up but sun-filled seasons like those currently on the horizon call for a young, vibrant approach to footwear.  And I give you my permission to take such an approach with absolute reckless abandon (think Matthew Broderick in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, complete with head-bopping, funky sunglass-wearing summertime fun!).  Don't be alarmed, O ye of boring shoe taste, there is a spectrum that ranges from "I don't think my Mom will approve of anything crazier" to "6 neon colors on one shoe, is that all ya got?!"  Pace yourself, if need be, and, for my self-proclaimed sneaker heads, I have some options that will have you salivating: 

Converses, always a classic option

 



These joints were designed by Japanese Designer Ato Matsumoto... Leave it to the Japanese to bring that futuristic flava!





Nike's updated, sleeker version of the retro Terminator shoe...

 Nike Dunk Highs... Nike collaborated with Nylon Magazine to create these beauties

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

The Ground beneath your Feet

      Ever heard the old saying "if you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything"?  Well, the basic meaning behind this phrase is that your personal beliefs & covictions are what guide your every move in this life and ultimately serve as your foundation.  It's like being in love with fashion but having absolutely no idea why; it's a hollow infatuation with no real substance.  One of the things that any true gentleman understands is that life involves more than just spending all of his time yearning for material things and the joy they bring to him alone, living this way creates a hedonistic attitude toward life and this can be dangerous.  Think of all those little tidbits your parents taught you concerning manners, such as opening the door for a woman, saying "please" & "thank you," helping someone in need and all of those other important things that serve as a reminder that you are not the only person living on this earth.  I'm sure our parents learned, through experience, how big of a difference these seemingly small habits make in the world around them and therefore wanted to continue to make the world a better place by passing these ideas on to us.  There's nothing more attractive than a man who clearly knows the world doesn't revolve around him.  After his daily grooming ritual which entails getting his hair to look just right, slipping into his favorite slacks and shoes, spritzing on the fragrance of his choice he steps out his front door with a positive attitude that radiates with every polite gesture he makes.  Making others feel comfortable in your presence and leaving a smile on their faces long after you've left them is priceless! 

My Grandfather, Johnnie Brown, was the epitome of a true gentleman.  On the days where he had free time, he'd get dressed, tilt his gray fedora on his head just right, hop into his Cadillac and go to the market to help women, whom had no transportation of their own, to get their groceries home.  Though he was of older age at this time, he never used it as an excuse to become lackadaisical about living but rather he took pride in being a Christian man and viewed his trip to this market as a small attempt at making a difference in the life of another.  You don't necessarily need to be of Christian faith to understand what your personal truths are but I encourage you, fellas, to tap into your convictions and be true to them first and foremost.  I know, those Dior shades or Ferragamo loafers may make you salivate and feel as though you absolutely can't live without them but trust me, you can!  Material things aren't the most important things in the world and instead of only being concerned with the joy they bring you, look for a way to let some of that joy reach someone else, then you'll be on your way to being a true gentleman.  Be blessed.