Fall
FIVE FINDS: HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS FOR MEN
It’s the season for holiday shopping again! Like a recurring déjà vu, figuring out what to get for friends and loved ones always seems like such an arduous task. Truth be told, part of the problem is obsessing too much about the gift itself. At the end of the day, it’s truly the thought that counts. Don’t you just love clichés? Nonetheless, if this were true you wouldn’t be reading this anyway and would probably be busy buying star names at the International Star Registry instead.
Below are 5 great finds to gift a friend, loved one, or, yourself!
1) There are many amazing things going for these shoes. First, and foremost, for every pair you buy, Tom’s will donate a pair on your behalf. That’s like giving someone else a gift for free! Second, in buffalo plaid they scream winter wonderland like no other. But more importantly, thanks to the ironic propensities of the hipster movement, plaid isn’t going anywhere and so it’s hardly an exclusively seasonal item. Finally, the extreme comfort of these is that they’re comfortable enough to double up as house slippers.
$54 www.toms.com
2) Sweaters? As a holiday gift? Ground breaking! We know. Well, it’s definitely much more suitable than gifting trousers. Plus, Top Man really nailed it with this one. This Charcoal Pattern Sweater employs the right ratio of holiday spirit and functional cool. The colors are exceptionally fun and pair really well with almost anything.
$80 www.topman.com
3) This is an item that is full of cheer! Having said that, don’t get this for the guy who owns a lot of Patagonia stuff, or the guy who’s so into things of an ethnic look that they own a poncho and a bag with indigenous patterns on it. Regardless, such items, when employed sparingly, can festively bring a touch of color and texture to any ensemble.
4) If you are serious about accessories, you know they’re actually worth the splurge. This classic bowtie by Rag & Bone is a both an elegant and simple gift. It’s especially suitable for one who doesn’t own a bowtie, bringing forth an opportunity to up the ante on the dandy factor. But most importantly, this is a perfect supplement to anyone’s formal miscellany.
$105 www.barneys.com
5) Everybody love’s Target! They’re the pioneers of bringing affordable, good design for all, a mantra that has become almost standard across the board. Timex is also another brand worth loving just as much. Their collaboration with J.Crew in recent years has brought forth an indubitable respect for a solid, American brand that is affordable and stylish. At $35, this is a great, stylish gift.
$34.99 www.target.com
If you hate to futz around with laces you probably have a real appreciation for a shoe that simply asks you to slip your feet right into it. And while such an arrangement is hardly hassling, let’s be honest, it’s not always the most elegant. Don’t get us wrong. There are all sorts of attractive and functional choices in the men’s footwear realm that do not require lacing. For example, nothing can compare to a penny loafer. Further, when it comes anything low maintenance, there really isn’t anything like a pair of Tom’s, an essential, especially for traveling and dealing with airports while retaining a sense of style.
But while all that is true, it is important to note a new contender on the market. The Monk Strap has been making splashes in the footwear realm for sometime now. The trend started this past spring when the style was exclusively limited to high-end footwear ateliers. Fast forward to this fall, and we are now seeing a lot more options and takes on the Monk Strap, regardless of price point.
While we always preach that less is more, it seems the Monk Strap shoe looks really good with two buckles as opposed to one. The appeal of the style is probably attributed to our current cultural obsession with objects that pertain to anything heritage or Old World. The trick to get the most out of the look is by pairing with more casual items. Think, jeans or chinos. Opt for dark, dressy denim or a slimmer, dressier type of khaki or chino. The double Monk Strap will look a little too ostentatious if matched with a suit or attire that is more formal. So remember to mix it up.
Another important point to highlight, is how wonderful these shoes pair with textures, colors and even patterns. The Double Monk Strap exudes great style when exhibited alongside a little rolled up denim. There is just something about the metal buckles that seem to speak fluently to textures, particularly metal and colors.
Want to keep looking different as the temperatures begin to drop? It seems that once those mercury levels start to drop an army of coats and sweaters begin to occupy the streets. Below are some layering alternatives that should keep you feeling warm while retaining a sense of individuality.
1) Consider the button-down shirt as an uninvolved alternative to the sweater, jacket or cardigan. However, instead of the ubiquitous plaid, think about different patterns and styles, like solid colors, stripes or other patterns and textures. More recently, cameo and polka dots have surfaced on the shirt market. While these aren’t necessarily your go to shirts for work, when employed as outerwear they exude a much different sensibility to them. Just make sure you are selecting a heavier twilled fabric to bring about warmth to your mix of style. Layer over a Henley, under a tech vest, a thin-knit turtleneck or even a tee.
2) For those randomly-warm-yet-fall sort of days. Think about the sweater vest. This genius invention can retain fall texture and warmth but its sleeveless attributes can serve as a winter sort of tank, only not as skimpy as its summer counterpart. For a rakish look, opt for real simple knits in neutral colors like grey, black, camel or even gold. Pair with crisp, dark denim and ankle-high boots, wayfarers optional.
3) GQ’s latest nailed it with this one. If you’re really looking for something different, this is definitely something interesting that you can experiment with. If you’re like a lot of folk out there who don’t have the space or extra funds for a winter suit, consider layering a tech vest over your shirt but under a suit blazer or jacket. This can look especially arresting with a tech vest that is electric blue or red. Just make sure your suit is in a simple hue like grey or navy.
Building from the ancestry of the iconic fashion house, Versace’s collaboration with H&M is set to be an exhibition of Technicolor splendor and bold dynamism. Hitting stores on November 19th, the classic Greek key will be found on scarves, beanies and other accessories. Notably, it will be studded in gold on black tees and leather.
Following Target’s successful stint with Missoni, the Versace collection is affordable for Versace, but pricey for H&M (some dresses will run you well above $200). Regardless, this is set to be a sartorial milestone marked collectively for men and women’s wear, and also the home. The collaboration is the first for H&M, which includes a small collection of decorative pillows and interior accents.
Dresses dominate the women’s collection, bringing forth an emphasis on archival Versace. Color, pattern and daring cuts are the recurring themes of this collaboration. That said, a black silk crepe dress with Grecian button echoes Versace’s nineties louche with simplicity and grace.
The menswear collection is focused on sharp tailoring and the prevalent Versace notion of the loud and bold. Nonetheless, sophistication is maintained with fine details and chic delivery, notably, the gold corner tips that accentuate the shirts’ collar points. Shirt makers will be sure to pick up on this detailing trend. Duly noted is a pair of hot pink leather lace ups. These could make quite the dashing statement with a black suit.
Many editorials and men’s fashion publications are finally letting the cat out of the bag! Apparently, there are a lot of men out there who use and swear by women’s products. At DAMstyle we need to assert that there is no shame in that at all! In fact, this makes perfect sense. The men’s grooming and beauty market, while growing, is yet to catch up with the extensive selection and heritage of products available for women.
Weather you do it in secret or public, here are three products I think more men should use:
1) Aveda Phomolient Styling Foam: For women this creates weightless volume. For men, after washing your hair and conditioning it, this is part styling cream, part final touch. You can still use your regular product additionally but the result is a naturally styled look that leaves your hair looking good without the artificial sheen of pomade
2) Shiseido Bio-Performance, Advanced Revitalizing Cream: Many women use this as a night cream after cleansing before going to bed. You should do that too! This luxurious cream works hard to prevent wrinkles and maintains facial elasticity and firmness.
3) L’Oreal Advanced RevitaLift: If you are not using eye cream at this point then we’re not sure what your deal is! Nonetheless, this one is a great eye gel that lifts and also treats wrinkles too.
The pop star-turned-designer is finally starting to showcase her work like she is an acknowledged designer. Instead of creating pieces that seemed too classic and beautiful with no regard to a concrete story or point of view, Beckham’s latest is heavily influenced by the current sportswear trend that has been prevalent in New York this fall.
There is, of course, still a lot of impeccable tailoring. But there is a shift. A rounded anorak made of luxurious fabric for example, speaks to the change in perspective Beckham is embracing. There is play with dimension and depth and things are not as surgically form fitting as they had been in season’s past. There were caps made of leather and dress straps that were reminiscent of airline seat belts. These were harnessed with beautiful hourglass shaped gowns that appeared almost lacquered over the models’ bodies. Additionally, there were some really pretty shift dresses that added bounce and whimsy to the whole collection.
Fashion critics have been stating almost incessantly that Simon Spurr is the menswear designer to watch out for.
After working with Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein in seasons past, he has consulted for Tommy Hilfiger’s Spring 2012 collection. Simultaneously, his seventh collection, debuting under his moniker, has continued to maintain the successful momentum his own past collections have created.
Spurr has proven himself, time and time again, an adherent of classic British sensibilities. However, he is not as seasoned or playful as someone like Paul Smith. Nonetheless, his collections have consistently proven that he possesses a strong fashion perspective, particularly in tailoring.
His jackets, shirts and suits referred to the heritage of the high-end men’s tailoring one would associate with Savile Row. Yet everything was finessed with a young point of view. Spurr’s 2012 spring palette constituted a canvas of mostly petrol, grays, white and pops of grey and lavender. However, black and brown punctuated pieces of outerwear strikingly. Jackets and blazers with leather sleeves and brown piping were unusually successful. Quilted leather was rendered stylish. Striped zigzagged patterns were applied on knits and even on some jackets too.
As Fashion Week in the city of cities wrapped up, we have spent sometime at DAMstyle collecting our thoughts on what our readers can essentially take away from the collections that hit the runway. Consequently, we have a short list of the most recurrent themes designers were embracing. This should help influence the way you put your clothes together next season and perhaps even call attention to what you may need to add to your wardrobe.
Theme 1: Neon
This is hardly ground breaking for the Spring. Nonetheless, neon was tastefully employed in suiting; think particularly in trousers or vests. Bold pops of color were also consistently incorporated in shirts and even the soles of shoes. Most notably Michael Bastian and Marc Jacobs mastered the art of neon. The successful instances were ones that relied mostly on neutral solids and were then punctuated in neon sparingly. Think; white trouser, classic pink dress shirt and a turquoise blazer.
Theme 2: Bleached White
White denim was the thing to have this past summer, and its relevance is continuing into the chillier months. Next spring, white will be resurfacing but in suiting. It will look abrasively clinical but very sharp. Lacoste and Tommy Hilfiger brought out this point of view, harshly but still very convincingly. This is an opportunity to consider an alternative to the classic black suit.
Theme 3: Shorts
The use of shorts on the runway this time around wasn’t about showing more skin and creating clothes that are more functioning for warmer months. The formula here was totally replacing jeans, khakis and cords with shorts that are bold and filled with patterns. It is a stretch to consider this as a staple. Nonetheless, it is a serious opportunity to consider an area that one could jazz up in their wardrobe. The trick unsurprisingly, is to find the right pattern for your body and skin tone. This can add to a really interesting spring weekend look. Billy Reid and Richard Chai brought out the most successful results.
Theme 4: Varsity Jackets
We are totally convinced that the varsity jacket is here to stay. It made a demure debut on runways last year and today it has rolled out into the mass market. For Spring 2012, the essence remains but the varsity jacket is rendered more impeccable, erring on tailoring that is reminiscent of suiting. Patrick Ervell and Timo Weiland translated this point of view fluently.
