Urban Menswear Myths #5

Long goes the time when men relied solely on their trustworthy tailors to keep up to date with the fashion demands of their social agenda. Garments were crafted according to each customer’s needs and liking. Nowadays, a massified fashion industry is hell-bent on delivering a never ending stock of ready-to-wear alternatives at the lowest price: after all, it’s just business…

Thankfully, the tailoring tradition has managed not only to withstand against all odds, but actually thrive in adversity due to the current “retro revival” moment we’re experiencing and the fact people are looking for better quality, unique items. Apart from this, there are those who despite the global change remained faithful to custom made garments, and not necessarily because they’re wealthy. I believe there’s a common misconception where people inherently associate custom made to hefty price tags, which isn’t entirely true.

The price tag depends on a variety of factors such as the item itself, fabric and of course, the craftsman behind it. World renowned tailors may charge you absurd amounts, but then again so do their designers counterparts. As with so many other things in life the key is balance: finding a quality/price ratio that suits you is crucial. Once you do, you’ll see that pieces tailored to your liking may perfectly compete with similar RTW alternatives, with the perk of being unique and perfect fitting. Say you choose a Thomas Mason fabric for a shirt or a Zegna for a suit, the end result may very well be cheaper than the same versions purchased at a retailer.

If you haven’t done so already give it a try, you might be in for a pleasant surprise…

LINKS À LA MODE: WEEKLY ROUNDUP 10/13

My first entry of the Urban Menswear Myths series made it to this week’s Links à La Mode! Here’s the list…

You animal.

Edited by Vahni of Grit & Glamour

It’s been a while since I’ve done a LALM roundup, and it’s nice to be back! You’ve been busy little bloggers—some trend reporting here, a little schmoozing backstage at Salvatore Ferragamo there, and a lot of DIYing. You’re veritable blogging animals, with fabulously-spotted hides to match! Yeah, the animal trend—prints, furs, style stalking, what have you—with this round of posts, consider it done. And well-done, I might add.

THE IFB WEEKLY ROUNDUP: LINKS À LA MODE: OCTOBER 13TH

SPONSOR:

Sunglasses at Shopbop: Stella McCartney, DITA, Tom Ford, Ray Ban, Karen Walker, The Row, YSL, Marc Jacobs, Matthew Williamson, Gucci, Carrera, & Cloe.

PLEASE READ IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE

If you would like to submit your link for next week’s Links à la Mode, please register first, then post your links HERE. The HTML code for this week will be found in the Links a la Mode group will be published later today. ~Jennine

Urban Menswear Myths #2

It’s usually accepted that a gentleman should stick to a particular color palette, comprised of classic shades and refraining from overly bold items and accessories. Although this perception of the overall ensemble is slowly falling into oblivion, one item in particular has been breaking boundaries and rapidly assuming the spotlight when it comes to introducing color and pattern into an outfit: the sock.

As with so many other elements in menswear, it’s assumed that socks should only be purchased in a variety of solid hues of black, blue, grey and brown. In strictly formal, corporate environments, any kind of subtle alteration is often looked upon sideways, making it all the more easier and somewhat safer, to stick to those basics and avoid unnecessary risks and attention. Make no mistake, even within this range there’s a fiery debate on how socks should match other elements, namely the shoe or the trouser.

However, as the definition of formal is changing by the day, allowing us to present slight glimpses of personality through our attires, be it in the form of a colorful tie, pocket square, cufflink or even socks, now is the time to do so. Sporting a slightly flashier solid or patterned version, should not be faced as provocative, but rather as a strong dash of character. If done right, it’s a perfect way to add visual interest and the right amount of edge to any look. Just don’t go overboard and stay away from childish prints or motifs, but don’t be afraid to show some color; especially with more casual outfits…roll those cuffs and show them socks! Contrasting ankles are a great way to step it up a notch.

Urban Menswear Myths #1

No matter how much our society has evolved fashion wise, there will always be a few well cemented premises regarding one’s desired/accepted image. There’s a general idea of how men and women should dress and the notion of classic and distinct usually hits a common ground for most people. When it comes to menswear in particular, the array of acceptable options is much more limited than that of our opposite sex…

The intrinsic idealism of a man’s “standard” outfit gave place to several outdated assumptions, which are desperately in need of an update to meet society’s current needs, beliefs and demands. Add to that the misinterpreted conception that comfort equals baggy, loose clothes and we end up with a series of style conundrums. In this series, I’ll try to shed some light on these “urban menswear myths”. 

On the first entry and still inspired by the remaining sunny days (it’s still 30ºC here in Portugal), I’ll get into the controversial topic of dressing up in hot weather. This is something I find myself getting in arguments over with constantly. Most men are adverse to the idea of buttoning up in warm days, stating that its utterly uncomfortable to wear a shirt, let alone a tie. There’s no doubt that shorts and a tee are the perfect match for those days, but lets face it, if you’re required to dress up for professional reasons you won’t be able to sport them anyway, so you might as well do it properly.

Looking put together in hot weather is perfectly doable if you take into account these two factors: fabric and fit. Linen, seersucker or lightweight cotton are all adequate alternatives fabric wise, which leaves us the not so easy task of finding fitting items. While all your items should be fitted, usually the most important one to assure comfort is the shirt: a perfect fit is crucial, especially on the neck. Obviously, made to measure is the way to go, but if you’re lucky enough you might be able to score off-the-rack versions that suit your neck size. Once you do, you’ll notice that buttoning up and sporting a tie is a breeze. If you take these two paramount variables into account, there’s no reason not to look your best.

A few examples of how hot weather does not deter them…