Bean ToWn Fashion BlunDers

      I'd like 2 have a moment of silence to deal with the sorrow of Boston, my home town, being ranked the worst dressed city in the country by GQ magazine... *closes eyes, rests chin on clenched fist and shakes head*...  Ok, enough of that!  To be quite honest I'd be lying if said I'm surprised at our ranking on the sartorial totem pole because, let's face it, my hometown has quite a bit of work ahead of them if they wish to dig themselves out of this one.  Boston is a melting pot of both cultures and fashion trends, however, the problem with Bostonians is they get stuck in any one particular fashion trend for far too long, ie. the neon colored, N.E.R.D inspired clothing, shapeless dress shirts or square-toe shoes.. we tend to have a hard time letting go.  I can attest to the fact that a person dresses in a way they feel will be acceptable to those around them; for years I surpressed my true sense of style because I didn't want to be too different or stand out from what everyone around me was wearing but, that God, I've been cured of this!  When a person looks around at their fellow city dwellers' attire, they tend to follow suit even if it means appearing as though getting a good look at his/herself in the mirror prior to walking out their front door was the last thing on their mind. 

People often tell me that I dress as though I live in New York or LA.  Why is that?  My attire is never over the top or extremely flashy so why is it that people don't feel its appropriate for Boston?  The overall culture of Boston is very business/education oriented which leaves very little room for creativity.  Such a culture, for the most part, has left Bostonians very rigid and devoid of the desire to be expressive in terms of fashion, and it doesn't help that all things fashion related are mostly confined to NY, LA and Europe.  Thanks to companies like H&M, Forever21, Zara and Club Monaco extending themselves to the northeast, Boston has been able to at least have a peak at the trends of the moment and have access to fashionable items.  Though it wears me down every time I see my fellow Bostonians still hitting the pavement in oversized jeans (still hanging of their hind-parts, smh), shapeless button-ups and bubble coats I will not give up on them.  We, as a city, have the ability to adopt trends of all 4 seasons and make them distinctly our own and the day will soon come when the name 'Boston' will be on the tongues of fashion's elite as being a city of truly unique and diverse style.

What we're doing wrong:

    According to the Boston Metro, men's image consultant Emmi Sorokin says Boston's biggest downfall is sports gear.  Men in particular are clinging to sweats, hoodies and sneakers instead of broadening their style sense to include items of higher quality and better fit.  Metro says GQ feels Boston females are mostly to blame for this, stating "Beantown ladies are easily impressed with the hoodie-wearing boys that pass off sports gear as fashion."  Fellas, not only will women learn to appreciate our attire once they become accustom to the sight of us in more tailored pieces, but we'd also be creating a culture where taking pride in ones appearance will become a chain reacton.


How do we make it right?

    A big part of being stylish is appropriateness.  One's profession and overall lifestyle are what dictate his style choices and below I've laid out a summertime style-o-gram tailored to each man's specific lifestyle which identifies the common mistakes most men make as well as the items that will help you correct these mistakes.  I always say that having great style isn't about being flashy or having the brightest, loudest ensemble in the room but rather it's about fit, texture, color and a cool accessory or two thrown in.  What's your lifestyle?...


The Student/Artist                        The Cubicle Guy

                     
Mistakes: overly distressed den-              Mistakes: blousy button-ups     
im, flip-flops, worn out sneakers,                 with tee shirt showing, baggy/     
schleppy tees.                                                       ill-fitting khakis with heavy         
                                                               pleating, square-toe/worn out    
Opt for: straight leg, slightly distre-          shoes.                                             
ssed jeans, fitted tees in cool colors                                                              
with humerous/thought-provoking            Opt for: tailored shirt with ta-
words or phrases. mocassins, Conv-           torso (tag will say "modern" or     
erses or espadrilles.                                           "athletic fit"), slim or tapered        
                                                                                    khakis or chinos with light, we-     
                                                                                    pressed pleats, dress socks in        
                                                                                    unique colors like lilac, green,        
                                                                                    royal blue or even stripes (yes,     
                                                                                    you can take it there).  A sleek     
                                                                                    watch, nothing overdone, will         -
                                                                                    add a nice finishing touch.               
                                                                                    Simple black/brown lace-ups or    
                                                                                    slip-on loafers.                                   
                                                                                                                               
The Executive 

                                                                                                                        

Mistakes: Baggy/box-shaped suits in only navy or black, “white shirt only” syndrome, bland tie, worn out shoes.

Opt For: tailored suit in gray or khaki with slim lapels, tapered shirt with pattern and/or color, pants with one inch or less of break, color socks (yes, Executives can take it there as well), tie in a bold color/pattern, sleek lacups with thin sole and minimal stitching/patterns(no slip-ons.  Ok, maybe for casual fridays).

                                                                                                                  
    
To my Bean town fellas, let's make the effort to look our best now matter where we're going or what our lifestyle is.  Yes, it takes effort but you'll start to feel better about yourself and the payoff will be huge, trust ya boy!  Most important, let's never end up at the top of anyone's Worst Dressed list again.  With a little education and practice all of Boston's male population has the ability to develop a real sense of style.  Keep it fly!
                                                                                                                                 
                                                                   

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STreeT ShoT

     I was running across the crosswalk dodging oncoming traffic but did an immediate about face when I spotted this gentleman walking in my direction.  I'm a straight-up fanatic for a well-fitting blazer (cropped at the hip just right, slim sleeves and tapered torso), not only does it accentuate the physique as if you were born in it, but it automatically makes you look more put together which sends the message that you know exactly what your doing in terms of choosing quality pieces.  This fella's navy blazer was the first thing that caught my eye and as he came closer his pale pink shirt popped very nicely.  His overall look has a preppy feel but he paired his blazer, button-down and skinny khakis with navy sneakers (with khaki-colored soles) and a cool white belt which kept his look relaxed.  A truly stylish ensemble is all about the details; I noticed the embroidered crest on the pocket of his blazer as well as the brass-style buttons on the sleeves all of which made his look even more interesting than when I first saw him from afar.  I love these random moments where good style catches my eye because it reminds me that Boston is full of fashionable people, you just have to keep your eyes open for them.  As always, keep it fly!

(Note: clicking on each photo enlarges it and allows you to zoom in, this will help you to better see the details of the clothing... Enjoy!) 

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

  

WIAWT..... 7/3/11

What up?!  I decided to post some pics of my ensemble from this past Sunday; I snapped a few pics of myself as I was leaving church.. I'm always looking out for you guys and wanted to give you a glimpse of what I was rockin'.  I went with a color infused ensemble, which included a gold vintage brooch from my Thrift Store Therapy post, but kept it anchored with brown laceups and muted vest & trousers.  Enjoy, and remember to keep it fly!

H&M button-up

Thrifted tie (from my 1st Thrift Store Therapy post) 

Aeropostale vest

vintage brooch (2nd Thrift Store Therapy post)

Thrifted watch

Calvin Klein trousers

Aldo laceups

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

VoguE It!

     As I flipped through my first GQ magazine as an intern at a local newspaper at age 15, the images I saw were high fashion shots that I'd never seen before.  The term "high fashion" is used to convey edge, mysticism, quirk and an overal level of beauty that is anything but conventional.  The images that jumped out at me as I frantically thumbed through that GQ 12 years ago were images that were so vivid and raw, they were emotionally moving.  I've been obsessed with all things fashion ever since that day.  High-end fashion publications such as Vogue, WWD and Vman all take the high fashion approach in their photography and overall presentation because such an approach ensures that the images will reach out and grab the reader and ring from them an intense emotional response be it positive or negative.  Think of the Macy's and Target catalogs you receive in the mail; bring to your mind the friendly, cleancut, personable images you see on the pages.  High fashion is the complete opposite!  Most times high fashion photos are so fiercely raw they're enough to send a small town, Southern child running for safe cover beneath his/her Mama's dress.  But such images are astounding and will enchant your senses and momentarily make you feel as though you've been transported to a world of untainted beauty.  Let the below photos be your ticket abroad...



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

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