The Half Placket Dress Shirt

We're not in the business of giving out too many compliments, but when we see something that really gets us all kinds of excited, we (I) can't help but to give it a little praise. The half placket shirt is a trend that has always flown under the radar, I would say it has never lived up to its full potential. Sad, right? It's simplicity in design, combined with its amish-chic feel really speaks to me, naturally. It is basically a dress shirt, but the buttons do not travel all the way down to the bottom... much like a polo shirt, but with a more structured collar and a lighter material, not the pique knits. If there's anything you should be buying this fall, it should definitely be a half placket shirt.

Details of Menswear

 

Let's talk detail. It's no surprise that I am drawn to fashion photography, having spent the last few months in the fashion department of a magazine. I think images of clothes can be quite beautiful, and the idea of them being comparable to a history text, letting people, centuries from now, look back to see what trends we are embracing now. Having said that, photographs of clothes are beautiful, especially when their close up. It allows the details on the garment to be displayed. Take the image of the khaki trench coat below, seeing it from that angle, that close, really gives a sense of what a trench coat is, and what makes them so intricate. Or the numerous pictures of the a few different pieces of an outfit, put together, and zoomed in to display each facet of the look, without the obstruction of too much to look at it. Check out all the photos below, they give off a certain appreciation of dressing and what goes into a pattern, and how those patterns, among other things, work with whatever else you wear.

Jack Spade Stowaway Tote

 

Who doesn't love a surprise? Especially the kind of surprise that allows you to pack with a little ease. Now it's not so surprising that Jack Spade designed the perfect travel bag that is the equivalent to a tent. The Stowaway Nylon Tote can carry quite the load, or can collapse down to nothing more than a knapsack. The featherweight nylon material adds no extra weight and allows you to stuff it anywhere when not in use. I can imagine this bag will be a travelers best friend upon their return with more stuff than what was departed with. And in true Jack Spade fashion, the nylon is stronger than traditional nylon, so feel free to bring it to the beach, on a weekend getaway, or to the office when your regular bag is just too heavy for the summer heat.

Lanvin '13 S/S Shoes & Accessories

 

A love for Lanvin is like a love for a surprise. The french fashion house is always one to bring about the unexpected. Their 2013 Spring/Summer collection was mainly black and white, but the shoes and accessories that are in the same collection are anything but black and white. The Derby-style shoe is what stands out in the collection, all having reinforced rubber soles and some in colored exotic skins, each choice is surely able to stand on its own. Also the wide range of accessories from jewelry to belts will add just as much interest to the overall look. All the accessories are adorned with different leather, beads, or metalwear, something some what different for the house. With a collection like this, it is definitely the shoes and accessories that make the overall look work. 

Patterns Down Below

 

Let's talk pattern. If you resist warm weather, like myself, you most likely take solace in shorts during the warmer months. One can't go wrong with the classic Bermuda short, I own multiple pairs. Hopefully when you sport the (unpleated) Bermuda, you at least cuff the bottom to sit somewhere above your knee... it gives it a little style without demanding much effort. But if the shorty shorts don't give you enough style, go for a pattern. Patterned shorts are having quite a moment this summer, and why shouldn't they? They're comfortable, different, and serve the purpose of regular shorts but add more personality. And who doesn't love personality? There is definitely no shortage of patterned shorts this season, especially from brands like Burkman Bros, and Mark McNairy, along with some of the more luxe brands like Piombo and Comme. These will definitely carry the wearer from day to night activities, but one must cognoscente that the shorts do no look like a swimming suit. There is a fine line between patterns for land and sea. 

Person of Interest: Milan Vukmirovic

Every so often I come across someone who seems to be everywhere, but I have no idea who they are or what they do; but the man or women must be a person of interest because they are at all the right events, and looking undoubtedly stylish. After noticing his luxe sense of style on The Sartorialist (multiple times), and then in the front row of some great fashion shows, this suave bald man was spotted all over Europe at the A-list events. After a little bit of digging, I found his name, and then the details of his extremely respectable career emerged. Milan Vukmirovic is a frenchman who most recently left his post as Creative Director at Trussardi 1911, designing clothes and accessories for the Italian label. He also left   his position as editor in chief of the French mens fashion magazine, L'Officiel Hommes (which he founded). As far I can see, he does still co-own a portion of the Webster, a super sleek clothing store in Miami; by the way, that's really just in the past two years. This veteran professional has been apart of a number of successful ventures in the fashion world, including cofounding the hugely successful and chic Paris store Colette, he was the design director at Gucci under Tom Ford and creative director at Jil Sander. Not only is he savy in business and design, but he is also a photographer, who has photographed major ad campaigns for Giorgio Armani and Hugo Boss. Mr. Vukmirovic has shown longevity with a taste for everything, his short but jam-packed career has resonated with me, and given me the insight and inspiration to not limit myself to one field or position, and plus he is one of the most unfussy stylish men I have seen in a long time. 

The Summer of Suede Shoes

 

Summer time means hot temps, and hot temps means a hot body, and not in the attractive sense. When the mercury rises, so does your body heat, but that doesn't mean you should shudder from wearing suede on your feet. Choosing a suitable pair of shoes for the months between May and September isn't an easy task, but you can definitely count on a choice that involves lightly colored suede to keep you current, and cool - in all senses of the word. Almost all of the classic footwear styles now come in a suede variation, with pops of color, or toned down hues for the more serious gentleman. Some of the untouched suede choices are the classic pair of bucks from Gucci or the insanely cool and chic brogue. But some of the new choices include classic boat shoes decked out in suede along with some basic sneakers, both variations being transformed into something outrageously stylish and really appropriate for summer time.

Summer Essentials

 

As the sweaty warmer months of summer approach, I naturally start to compile a list in my head of things that are absolutely necessary for summer. And this is season is no different, in fact it is only elevated, due to my summer plans. Come the middle of May, I will be moving east for three months to work in New York City. Although I live in a big city now, I can only imagine the differences between Chicago and NYC, and what better way to prepare myself than to shop? Take a close look at my guide to summer above, and see what you're missing.

The Store Up There

Shopping is a sport for many, and when you can shop in a store like Holt Renfrew you're going to feel like a winner. The luxe chain of Canadian department stores have been around since 1837, which started as a hat shop in Quebec City, and soon transitioned into selling furs (becoming the official furrier to the Queen). Holt Renfrew has seen the fashions go in and out, and while doing that, the department store has developed relationships with some of the world's best designers including, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Dolce & Gabanna, Louis Vuitton, Michael Kors, Burberry, Tom Ford. Not only are the items in the store luxe, the buildings themselves are the epitome of luxury; Janson Goldstein designed the HR Vancouver store which breathed new life into the old-world brand. I've never shopped at Holt Renfrew, nor have I ever been to Canada, but HR will definitely be on my to-do list when I travel North. 

Not Sick of Dr. Martens

Gritty, right? Don't worry, everything in that pictures repulses me as much as the rest of you... except for the boots. If I remember one thing from growing up with three sisters, it's that Dr. Martens were The thing to have... I remember not being to enthused with them back in the 90s, but that's probably because I was still had cartons on the bum of my underpants. Enough about my bum, the English shoemaker is back and ready to rumble, so to speak. Having started production in the 1960s, and being loved by the British workforce, they soon transitioned into the shoe of choice for skinheads. So there's that. Now that their consumer has hopefully grown some hair, and compassion for other races, they are making quite a statement. I personally think that they were brought back after the Prada platform Brogue situation from a few seasons ago. But either way, they have some really nice looking pairs. My favorite shoe they offer is the Beckett, which is the blue number with the white sole at the bottom - reminiscent of Givenchy, another high-end fashion house. Either way, these are a great choice for adding a solid foundation to any look, literally. And the price point is really conservative for a well-made shoe, remember, they were originally made for British workman.

The Button Game, Part II

Let's pretend for a moment that I am The One you think about when getting dressed in the morning, probably because of my passion for fashion intense interest in what you layer on your body. Just kidding, I don't really care. To each their own. Whatever. But if you do actually care about what is going through my little head when thinking about what I/you want to sartorially express next, you will have to acquire a great number of buttons. Yes, I'm talking about buttoning that woven shirt all the way to the top. Shatter the glass ceiling that is your neck. When you halt buttoning one to three buttons from your jugular, it can look pretty suave and sexy, but lets face it, I am not suave and/or sexy. I will then take the Amish approach to dressing by limiting all skin exposure - except for where it counts... my face, aka, heaven on Earth. I find this trend to be very minimal, and in my recent monotone-style of dressing (that being black), it gives a very linear look, which who could ask for more, am I right? Anyway, I especially like this look because anyone can virtually do it without have to buy anything new, and it really changes your whole look. Just try it. And shut up about it.

Oh, and obviously after reading this post, it's pretty apparent how much I love buttons. Feel free to read another post, where I profess my love for cardigans (because they have buttons). I may take Suze Orman's advice and tattoo a row of buttons down my chest, so it always looks like I'm wearing a jacket.

 

All images courtesy of The Sartorialist 

The Specs on Specs

Considering that I'm nearly blind due to my stunning genetics, I am an avid wearer of contact lenses, which obviously have an accompanying pair of eyeglasses that are basic and subpar. I was once quite the looker in my current optical choice, but unfortunately, time has progressed and fashions have changed. So in an effort to become more political, I would like to start my own campaign to overhaul my optical fashion, by mounting a new pair of specs to my face. Any of these choices, high and low, (literally) are classic, retro, and most of all, perfect for my odd-shaped face. Starting at the top - just like my head in comparison to my body... I would like to nominate Tom Ford as mayor of my face, because he designs some of the most luscious (yes, I know what that means) eyewear for men, women, and whoever else wants to look super chic in retro frames. Now, if I'm not looking to have to sell my eyeballs to afford a pair frames by Tom Ford, I could hit up the more economically-ethical eyewear dealer of Warby Parker. This company is genius when it comes outfitting the front-end of the top-portion of my unfortunate body... they'll ship you five pairs of glasses (FOR FREE), allowing you to try on different styles in your home, and then ship back the ones you don't want... which might be difficult, considering their line up of spectacles, which are all fantastic. I am partial to the round-ish frames, because they're reminiscent of a certain controversial director that will be unnamed, due to an outpouring of rage and discomfort when he last made an appearance on Standard Luxe.  Moving on, I tend to gravitate towards classically retro shapes for the frames, but am not opposed to shaking (effing) things up a bit when it comes to color. The lucite frames below are pretty perfect for giving a certain sense of attitude; I, in fact, know someone who sports a pair of lucite frames and all he's ever given me was attitude (and an air-conditioning unit). The steal-ly grey-faded-to-black frames are perfect for looking like you write novels in a cabin in the woods, which is perfect for me, right? So, in conclusion, feel free to buy me any of these pairs of glasses.

 

Filmore by Warby Parker

 

Winston by Warby Parker

 

Shuron Freeway

 

Crosby by Warby Parker

Top picture: FT5147 by Tom Ford

All Tied Up

 

Bonjour! I'm back, and ready to blog. My sincerest apologies for not posting anything for an entire month. Apparently working and going to school takes up a lot of the time that I had recently reserved for writing about fancy things. But if any of you were wondering how my experiences are going in the wonderful world of public relations. It's great! I've made black about 70% of my wardrobe, I've mastered steering a clothing rack, I've become very pushy, and most of all, I developed a healthy amount of rage. I feel as thought it's where I belong. But back to what makes me happiest... featuring clothes I can't afford. And to stay in the spirit of me being "tied up" with other commitments, let's talk about neck ties. Get it? As far as I'm concerned, Spring is rapidly approaching, if it's not already arrived, and it is ushering in a new sense of dress for the warmer temperatures. First stop, a silk knit necktie situation. These light and airy pieces of soft silk that hang down your torso are the perfect way to welcome spring, especially if the colors are bright and bold. These aren't your average solid silk ties, because the ribbed texture brings a light quality. And jackpot, the texture makes for an easier time tying the knot. So I don't get myself too worked up about getting back on the blogging bandwagon, I will end it here: just buy a knit tie for Spring.

More Ami Please

 

Menswear fashion week has come and gone, but some lasting impressions were made. Standard Luxe has featured Ami before, and the brand's Fall 2012 line is definitely just as great. The line's designer, Alexandre Mattiussi has the smart philosophy of designing clothes for his friends, making them wearable, unique, and most of all, fresh. My absolute favorite look in this collection is featured right below the text, the navy suit with a drop-crotched pant, and a wool scarf; all looks which have been featured on Luxe before. I am seriously considering trying to incorporate a drop-crotch pant into a suit for work; I just think the silhouette of the pant looks so new and cool. But this collection has a lot of other great looks, from great jackets, awesome sweaters, and some really neat prints. Ami is a fairly new brand, but if they keep altering classic looks with subtle updates, they will be around for many more seasons.

 

Photos courtesy of Style.com