Menswear Wednesday: What Fall?

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So it’s technically fall, as of the 22nd.  But if you’re looking outside, you’d never know it.  It’s still warm, and whether you’re in Phoenix or Houston (I’m assuming a bit about the readership of this blog at the moment), the last thing you’re thinking about is breaking out that parka.  But that doesn’t mean you can’t dress like it is fall. Wool tie by Alexander Olch

Call me a traditionalist, but I’m into the idea of seasonal dressing.   Particularly when the spring rolls around and I’m able to bring out the lightweight fabrics and the white shoes again, it’s like the first day back at school, seeing old friends again.  Particularly when you live in a climate where the seasons are replaced with simply “cold days”, hot days, and hotter days, it’s a nice little reminder of the ebb and flow of the year.

The typical demarcation between the seasons are Easter and Labor Day; between those days, if it’s lightweight or brightly colored, it works.  The intervening season becomes more muted; earth tones and grays rule the day, and heavier fabrics like wool and flannel gain the upper hand.

And there we are again: verge-of-October or not, it’s still a bit too hot for tweed, and it likely will be until this time next month.   So what’s a guy to do? A trio of quick suggestions, after an overly long introduction:

  1. Cotton sweaters.  Up north, sweater season is already in full swing.  A fitted v-neck sweater in a lightweight pima cotton or cotton-cashmere blend (or even a linen-cotton blend leftover from the summer stock at places like J. Crew) is a perfect layering piece.  Put it on over a button up shirt with jeans, and you’ll look all snuggly without sweating like a pig.  Lightweight cardigans work here, too.
  2. Corduroy.  When you really get down to it, cord pants aren’t really any hotter to wear than dark denim.  So grab a pair of cords in a casual, jean-like five pocket style, and wear them in place of jeans to the office or a night out.  A good corduroy blazer is another good look that isn’t too heavy.
  3. Wool ties.  This one is almost a no-brainer.  It’s obviously not going to add weight to your outfit, but it is going to add some  fuzzy charm to your get-up.  Fortunately, most of the wool ties you’ll find these days are a little more slim, so they won’t look like you actually are wearing a sweater.

Do yourself a favor, and embrace the season, even if “football weather” means it dipped below 80 degrees.

Menswear Monday: A 5 Shoe Closet

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As guys, we're fortunate that our shoe situation is a lot more simple than our lady friends'. Shoes for us break down broadly into the categories of dressy and casual, and for many of us, that's as far as we generally think about it. But as we face a range of different social situations and events, it's easy to be left wondering what the best shoe is for that particular occassion. With a carefully curated collection of shoes, you'll have all your bases covered without turning into some chick from Sex In The City.

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Lumber Jack Men

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  Can someone tell me when lumber jack beards became a trend? Billy Reid (who won menswear designer of the year), J. Crew and Urban Outfitters have some major facial hair going on in their catalogs.

I don't mind some decent scruff, but some of these beards are out of control. Maybe I've just missed the boat on this. Do anyone of you guys or gals find lumber jack beards fashion forward?

Menswear Monday: Whatever Happened To Banana Republic?

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When I graduated from college, I joked that I was able to make the leap from Old Navy and Gap to Banana Republic. Having a real job meant more grown up clothes, and BR seemed like the easiest route. I don't think I'm alone in this progression; after all, the reason that I started shopping at Banana was that most of my co-workers and friends did, too.

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