I have to confess – I’m convinced that I have some of the best readers out there. When I get Reader Requests the questions are always great – topics and issues close to my heart. Definitely no questions about Uggs or tracksuits from this stylish crowd!
If I had to make a list of things that I love to see a man in, formal wear would be right up there at the top of the list so I was thrilled when a reader reached out with the following oh-so-chic request:
“I’m sure you have seen the Gangnam Style video by PSY. My question…WHERE DO I FIND HIS CLOTHES?! There is like 1 outfit in there I definitely won’t wear. The rest I’m pretty much in love with. Let’s make this happen!!”
Korean rapper PSY’s style in the Gangnam video is a striking combination of 20′s inspired Great Gatsby pieces and preppy, East Coast country club wear. It’s formal and put together, but filled with unique touches and fun colors.
A man who wants to get creative and expand his horizons sartorially? I figured I should write this post quickly before I wake up realize that it was all just a dream…
Tuxedo:
Nothing says formal wear quite like a perfectly fitted tuxedo or suit. The occasions for wearing a tux or suit may seem few and far between, but if you have one at the ready believe me when I say that you can find an excuse to wear it – Formal wedding, benefit or charity event, masquerade ball, attending the symphony, ballet or opera, New Years Eve party, even a Halloween costume a la Bond, James Bond.
In an ideal world all men could have a suit and tuxedo made for them – Pick out the fabric, cut, style, silhouette, and have it tailored perfectly for them. However back here in the real world off-the-rack is the most common, and easiest, way to go about finding a suit. Here are a few reasonably priced recommendations to get you started:
{Left to Right: Tailored black Italian Wool Two-Button Suit – $500 @ Banana Republic, Armani Collezioni ‘Giorgio’ Trim Fit Suit – $2,195 @ Nordstrom & Diagonal Weave Suit – $230 @ Zara}
- Banana Republic – For your classic, basic suit this is a good choice. You can also stock up on button-downs and ties while you’re there.
- Nordstrom - The benefit of a department store is that you’ll have a variety of brands to look through – From Ralph Lauren to Hugo Boss to John Varvatos. They’ll also usually throw in a fitting with the on-site tailor.
- Zara – For a slim suit with fun flares and an overall European vibe. This is going to be best for shorter, smaller boned men who want a slim fitting suit, those of you built like linebackers should stay away. Far, far away.
Which brings me to the most important part about securing yourself a suit or tuxedo that makes all eyes turn to you when you walk into a room – Get. It. Tailored. Hem the pants. Hem the sleeves. Get the pants and jacket fitted. That’s the KEY to making a suit look expensive and made for you even if it isn’t.
Spats:
If you think that all you have to pick from when it comes to formal mens shoes is matte black or patent leather you’re sorely mistaken. Luckily for us PSY has brought another old school style back in the form of spats and Oxford inspired dress shoes.
Spats are actually an accessory that slips over a shoe – Some Like It Hot, Anyone? – but these black & white wingtips are similar in style and silhouette. Another option that fits the bill are lace-up Oxfords, which come in an array of colors, styles, and materials and which fulfill the desire for an interesting and eye-catching shoe.
So where are some places that you can check out for a fun new dress shoe?
{Top Left to Right: ASOS Brogues With Leather Sole – $65 @ ASOS.com & Salvatore Ferragamo Beltramo 2 Loafers – $400 @ Bloomingdale’s, Bottom Left to Right: Florsheim ‘No String’ Wingtip Oxford- $100 @ Nordstrom & Stacy Adams Dayton Wing Tip Lace Up Shoes – $95 @ Macys}
ASOS - Ordering shoes online can be risky but once you’re determined your size and the brands that you like this is a great website with lots of variety and great searching capabilities.
Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom & Macys - All of these department stores will have a wide selection which means if you find a style they’re likely to have it in different colors, fabrics, and sizes which is very convenient.
Colorful slacks:
The pants worn by PSY in the Gangnam Style music video come in a wide variety of colors – From basic black and cream to bright pink and deep purple velvet.
If you’re interested in trying out a pair of brightly colored slacks you should approach choosing them the same way you would with a button-down shirt, you need to work with your coloring. If pastels don’t work with your skin tone, try either a brighter color or a darker jewel tone. After you find a color that works be sure to pick a pair of slacks that suits your frame and – you guessed it – be sure to have them hemmed.
{Left to Right: Levi 511 TWILL Slim Pants – $60 @ Piperlime, Straight Fit Five-Pocket Cord – $70 @ Banana Republic & Jack Spade Classic Dolan Pants – $175 @ Bloomingdale’s}
Piperlime & Banana Republic – These are similar brands (owned by the same parent company) and most of their styles come in multiple colors, fabrics, or textures. They frequently also offer slim and/or athletic cuts.
Bloomingdale’s - They have an excellent selection of chic menswear brands and GREAT sales. I highly recommend signing up to receive emails when there are menswear sales, you’ll be glad that you did.
{Click the Gangnam Style pictures above to be taken to the original source}
In your opinion what’s the best fashion part of PSY’s Gangnam Style video? Is this modern-Gatsby look something that you’d be willing to try?
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September 26, 2012 | Categories: Fashion | Tags: ' Wingtip Oxford, 'No String, 007, 1920's, 20's, 20's fashion, 20's menswear, 20's style, 2012 MTV Video Music Awards, 511 TWILL, A Man's Journal On Everything Chic, Armani, Armani Exchange, Asos, ASOS Brogues, Asos.com, Athletic cut, Athletic fit, ballet, ballet dress code, ballet dresscode, Banana Republic, Banana Republic suit, Beltramo, Benefit, benefit attire, Billboard, Black, black & white shoes, black suit, Bloomies, Bloomingdales, blue suit, BOSS by Hugo Boss, Bow tie, bowtie, BR Monogram, BR Suit, bright pants, Brogue, Brogues, Brogues With Leather Sole, Button down, Cashmere suit, charity, charity event, charity event dresscode, chic, chic menswear, colored pants, colored slacks, Corduroy, Corduroy pants, country club, country club fashion, Daisy, Dayton Wing Tip Lace Up Shoes, dress code, dress pant, dress pants, dress shirt, dress shoes, dress up, dresscode, dressed up, dressing up, East Coast, east coast fashion, East coast style, Emporio Armani, European style, Fashion, Fashion of Gangnam, Fashion of Gangnam Style, Fashionable, fashionable men, fashionable suits, Fitted, Florsheim, Florsheim 'No String' Wingtip Oxford, formal, Formal attire, formal clothes, formal clothing, formal costume, formal dress, formal dress code, formal dresscode, formalwear, Gangnam Style, Gatsby, Gatsby chic, Gatsby Fashion, Gatsby Style, Gatsby-inspired, Giorgio Armani, Golden Age, Golden Age Fashion, Golden Age Style, Gray suit, Great Gatsby, great menswear, grey, grey suit, Halloween, Halloween costume, handmade, hem, Hemline, Hemmed, hemmed pants, Hugo Boss, Hugo Boss Suit, James Bond, John Varvatos, John Varvatos suit, Juicy Couture, Juicy tracksuit, Korea, KoreAm, Korean fashion, Korean rapper, Korean Street Style, Korean style, lace up oxfords, Lauren by Ralph Lauren, let's hear it for the boys, Levi, Levi Staus, Levi Straus, Levis, loafers, Macy's, maroon slacks, masquerade ball, Max Law, Max Mayo, men on the red carpet, Men's fashion, mens clothing, mens department, mens formal shoes, Mens shoes, Mens shopping, Mens wear, Menswear, Menswear Collection, Menswear shopping, MTV Music Awards, MTV red carpet, MTV Video Music Awards, MTV VMAs 2012, musician, musician fashion, musician style, navy, navy suit, New Years Eve, New Years Eve attire, New Years Eve party, nice suit, Nordstrom, Nordstrom suit, NYE, off the rack, online shopping, opera, Opera dress code, opera dresscode, oxblood slacks, oxfords, patent, patent leather, pink dress pants, pink pants, pink slacks, pinstripe, pinstripe suit, Piperlime, plaid suit, PSY, PSY Clothes, PSY Clothing, PSY Fashion, PSY red carpet, PSY red carpet style, PSY Style, purple dress pants, purple pants, purple slacks, Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren suit, rapper, Rapper clothes, rapper fashion, Rapper style, Reader Request, Red Carpet, Red Carpet fashion, red carpet style, red dress pants, Red pants, red slacks, Sacramento, Sacramento Fashion, Sacramento style, Salvatore Ferragamo, Salvatore Ferragamo Beltramo, Salvatore Ferragamo Beltramo loafters, San Francisco, San Francisco Fashion, San Francisco Fashion Blogger, San Francisco shopping, San Francisco Street Style, San Francisco style, San Francisco Symphony Gala, SF, SF Fashion, SF Fashion Blogger, SF Shopping, SF Street Style, SF Style, SF Symphony Gala, shopping, Shopping for a suit, shopping for a tuxedo, shopping for guys, shopping online, Slacks, Slim, Slim cut, slim fit, slim pants, Spats, spy, spy chic, Stacy Adams, Stacy Adams Shoes, Street style, Streetstyle, Style, stylish, stylish mens clothing, stylish mens fashion, stylish menswear, Suit, Symphony, symphony dress code, tailor, tailored, tailored pants, tailoring, The Great Gatsby, The Korean American Experience, three piece suit, tie, tracksuit, tux, Tuxedo, tweed suit, Ugg boots, Uggs, velour tracksuit, VMA red carpet, wedding attire, wingtips, Wool suit, Zara, Zara Basics, Zara blazer, Zara slacks, Zara suit | 1 Comment »
Sometimes what you need is some serious color to make a look come together. I love stripes and these two-toned round toed pumps are one of my favorite pairs, but what made this outfit pop was definitely the cropped red pants
{Striped Pocket Tee - Zara, Cropped Red Pants - Calvin Klein via Bloomingdale’s, Black Quilted Bag – Vintage, Chainlink Wrap Bracelet – Vintage Chanel & Two-Toned Round Toed Pumps – Very Volatile via Ambiance}
{You can HYPE this look on Lookbook.nu, shop similar pieces on ASOS Fashion Finder, or click the hyperlinks above to shop comparable pieces and visit store websites}
Check out more outtakes from this shoot here (just log into Facebook to view).
I’m very picky when it comes to my pants – VERY PICKY - and I returned two other pairs of cropped red pants before I settled on this great pair from Calvin Klein. I like a relaxed waistline so that sitting isn’t uncomfortable, and fabric with a little stretch so that they fit my frame a little better – as opposed to the dreaded pleated pants!
What’s your favorite thing to pair with a striped piece? Do you like to mix prints with other prints, or are you a fan of adding a splash of color to a print-heavy look?
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August 21, 2012 | Categories: Fashion, MCLV Style | Tags: Ambiance, Ambiance boutique, Asos, Asos Fashion Finder, Asos.com, black & white, black white & red, Bloomindale's, Calvin Klein, Capri pants, chainlink, Chanel, Chanel bracelet, Cropped Pants, Facebook, Fashion, Fashion Blogger, fashions, Lookbook.nu, outtakes, pocket tee, quilted bag, quilted handbag, red head, Red pants, RewardStyle, round-toed pumps, San Francisco boutique, San Francisco Fashion, San Francisco Fashion Blogger, San Francisco shopping, San Francisco Street Style, San Francisco style, skinny pants, slim pants, Street style, striped tee, Stripes, Style, T-shirt, Very Volatile, Vince Camuto, vintage, vintage bag, Vintage Chanel, Vintage Chanel Bracelets, vintage handbag, vintage jewelry, Wrap bracelet, Zara, Zara Basics, Zara top | 3 Comments »
Recently Victoria’s Secret models Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Miranda Kerr both stepped out in slim black pants, a loose, hippie-licious cream blouse and pointy-toed heels. What’s great about this outfit is that its chic and put together, but simple and easy to recreate on your own.
Enjoy a breakdown of the two similar outfits, both parfait pour this fall!
{Miss Rosie Huntington-Whitely}
{Mrs. Orlando Bloom}
Whether you want to go for a relaxed, bohemian silhouette, an eye-catching patterned fabric, or keep your top casual you can find a way to get this look to work for your own personal style.
For pants that are a similar styles to those pictured above you could either go for nighttime glam like Rosie and try out some faux leather pants, or daytime chic like Miranda and try out some ankle-length leggings or slim denim pants.
{Top Left: AK Anne Klien 7Crista in Red Patent – $50 @ 6pm.com, Top Right: Dina Snake-embossed Pumps – $75 (on sale) @ Talbots.com, Bottom Left: Tahari Seude Pointy-Toe Pumps – $55 (on sale) @ Lord & Taylor & Bottom Right: Roberto Festa Lizzie Patent Slingback – $110 (on sale) @ footnotesonline.com}
Depending on what time of day you’re rocking this look or where you’re headed, I would adjust the accessories accordingly. To mimic Miranda’s relaxed and low-key style for a day of errands you could try adding a pashmina (large scarf) and some killer shades to the basics that you already put together above.
If you’re planning a night out on the town or have a girls night out coming up you can channel Rosie’s bombshell take on this look and dress your outfit up with a flashy clutch, blingy cocktail ring, and bright red lips.
What do you think of these looks? Do you enjoy the well-chosen basics that these ladies picked out and the individual way that they each made the look their own?
You can also check out past MCLV Style File looks below:
If you have a look that you’d like to get a breakdown for feel free to email me.
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November 17, 2011 | Categories: Fashion, Style File | Tags: ''Maverick' Cargo Pants, 901 Leggings, AK Anne Klein, Anne Klein, Asos, Asos.com, BCBG, BCBGeneration, BCBGirls, Bib Blouse, black jeans, bling, blouse, bluefly, bluefly.com, Bohemian, boho, Bright Denim Skinny Jean, bright lips, Butterfly frill blouse, Butterfly print, Capri jeans, Capri pants, Cargo pants, Chanel, Chanel beauty, Chanel Lipsticl, Classic Wayfarer, Cluster Cocktail Ring, Clutch, cocktail ring, copped pants, Cream blouse, Cream Fluffy Snood, cropped jeans, Current/Elliott, Current/Elliott Skiny Twill Cargo Pants, CUSP, D&G, D&G Cream Butterfly Print Silk Chiffon blouse, date night, daytime fashion, daytime leather, daytime style, Denim, denim leggings, Devan Convertible Clutch, Dillard's, DIna pumps, Dolce & Gabbana, Dorothy Perkins, Elie Tahari, Endless, Endless.com, Eric Javits Go Go Clutch, errands, evening style, Fantas-Eyes Women's Old School Resin Sunglasses, Faux fur, faux leather leggings, faux leather pants, Felix Rey Superstar Wristlet, flashy clutch, fluffy scarf, footnotesonline.com, FP Vegan Leather Cropped Skinny, Free People, Geo Jersey Snood, girls night out, Greylin, Guess, GUESS Long Fringe Scarf with Lurex, Haute Hippie, Hippie, hippie chic, Ivory pussybow blouse, J Brand 'Maverick' Cargo Pants Womens Vintage Black Widow, J Brand Low Rise Coated Legging Jeans in Black, J Jill, J.Brand, JBrand, jean leggings, Jeans, jeggings, kitten-heals, leather leggings, leather pants, Leggings, Lisa Stewart, Lizzie Patent Slingback, Lord & Taylor, low-healed pumps, Macy's, Miranda Kerr, Model fashion, Model Style, Neiman Marcus, New York & Company, New York Street Style, nighttime fashion, nighttime style, NY&Co, old school, online shopping, Orange jeans, out on the town, Oval Cocktail Ring, pants, pashmina, patent leather, Patent Leather Pumps, Peter Pan Collar, peterpan collar, Pink Mascara, Piperlime, pointy toed heels, pumps, pussy bow, Pussy bow blouse, Pussybow, Rachel by Rachel Roy, Rachel Roy, Rag & Bone, Rag & Bone/JEAN, Rag & Bone/JEAN The Zipper Capri Jeans, Ralph Lauren, Ray Bans, Ray-Ban Large Classic Wayfarer, Red jeans, red lipstick, Red pants, red patent, Retro, Roberto Festa, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Rouge Coco Lipshine, Ruched Back Pussybow Blouse, ruffle collar blouse, Savannah Bib Silk Blouse, scarf, shades, Shiny Faix Leather Skinny Trousers, shopbop, Shopbop.com, Silk Charmeuse Blouse, skinny jeans, skinny pants, Skinny Trousers, Slacks, slim pants, Slingbacks, snake-embossed, Snood, Starfish, Street style, Street style fashion, sunglasses, sunnies, supermodel personal fashion, Tahari, Talbots, The Zipper Capri Jeans, TopShop, Twill pants, Victoria's Secret models, vintage, Wayfarer, Wayfarers, Woven Fringe Scarf, Wristlet | 11 Comments »
