A sartorial look at mens fashion

It would be a fair assumption to say men’s fashion is a much slower moving beast than that of the goliath that is women’s fashion. This is not to say men’s style has not changed recently, there are many new styles that have crept up into the wardrobes of stylish guys.

For instance, there has been a shift towards a more put together look. This doesn’t mean you have to wear dress clothes, just put some thought into your outfit. Here are some easy pieces to put together before you head out the door. Don’t worry it takes less than ten minutes so you can still sleep up until you absolutely have to leave for class.

Legend has it guys like pockets, a lot of pockets. Since the weather is getting cooler there is a remedy for both pockets and weather. The cargo jacket has at least four pockets on the front and has a cool military look to it. Look for something a little structured and hits just below the waist. These jackets come in darker colors and khaki so you can wear it with just about anything.

Everyone loves their jeans, but maybe it’s time to give them a rest every once in a while. Corduroy’s are a good alternative and not as bad as when you were younger. Believe it or not cords can be cool as long as you find a pair that has a straight leg and in a navy, brown, or olive green if you’re more daring. Try pairing them with a flannel shirt or a simple v-neck tee. To top it all off here is something for your feet.

Sneakers are awesome and come in all shapes and styles, but so do boots. Nothing fancy of course, just mid top boots will do. There are a variety of styles from a hiking boot to utilitarian, just nothing chunky or really tall. Boots are great for the winter especially in the snow and allow you to change it up from wearing sneakers.

Style should be nothing to worry about too much, just take a moment to put a look together you feel comfortable in. Perhaps you may even start to attract the ladies when they notice your cool new attire, because let’s be honest that’s what truly matters.

Shoes, ohmygod shoes

They are the last thing you put on in the morning and the final key to completing your outfit; they are the shoes on your feet and they deserve to be acknowledged. This season, there are three styles to focus on and consider adding to your wardrobe.

The ankle boot or booties are a great way to wear high heels that stay on your feet and look great at the same time. Find one that cuts just below your ankle to give shape, or you could suffer from a look that resembles you foot being abruptly cut off.

Look for boots with studs on them for an edgy look or a lot of buckles. Ankle boot wedges are also a great option if you don’t want to teeter on spiked heels. If you are comfortable in heels, there are some beautiful high heels to check out.
This season, spiked heels were on the runway, but on the opposite spectrum was the straight block heel. The width of the heel makes it possible for these to reach heights of four to five inches, and your legs will thank you for making them look amazing. Check out the Louis Vuitton beauty pump for a great example of this heel.

Marilyn Monroe once said, “I don’t know who invented high heels, but all women owe him a lot.” She would definitely be thankful for these sky-high heels.

Something a little more grounding this season, but nonetheless chic, are riding boots. The popularity of boots has grown exponentially over the past few seasons. Walking into a shoe store, you will see several rows dedicated to the current fashion staple. Every girl needs a pair of boots and if you happen to be one of the few who has still not picked out a pair, you have no need to fret as you have the opportunity to get ahead of the game.

In the boot family, riding boots are your cool cousin who lives in New York, and when they come to visit always have a story to tell about how they met this awesome band that no one has heard of. Intriguing, no?

There are a variety of riding boot styles to choose from. Some things to look for are a low heel, nothing slouchy, buckles are always a nice touch and try a brown leather boot. Black is always a great color but it is everywhere and you don’t want to look like everyone else, right? Be a fashion individual.

After a day of walking in any of these shoes your feet may need a little therapy, so don’t forget to thank them for totally rocking these styles. The easiest way is by just running a hot bath and slipping those puppies in. The next day your feet will feel fully ready to strut down any street knowing full well that they look amazing.

It's MAGIC!

I attended MAGIC this year which is held in Vegas, which actually seemed very appropriate I realized after visiting some of the conventions. I went with the student chapter of FGI from our university and it was a lot of fun and very eye opening, but let me tell you my feet were not prepared from the moment I stepped off the plane. I've been to Vegas before I know there is a lot of walking involved, I mean just walking from your hotel room to the front lobby is like an endurance feat in itself!

On the day we arrived we attended Project, which is for off price retailers. The best way to describe the clothes and accessories here is to imagine your self in one of those cheap clothing store where everything is a knock-off. It was all pretty ghetto fabulous to be honest. One woman's booth did have something interesting, she sold items that looked like Northface jackets and Abercrombie cargo shorts, but didn't actually carry the label. The truth is that $100 jacket your sporting was made in the same factory with the same materials as a much cheaper one the only difference is the embroidery on the front stating the brand. Very interesting!

From there we caught a taxi to the Wynn, which by the way I wouldn't mind spending my honeymoon there. Our next exhibit was ENK a very cool and young clothing vendor show. All the vendors there looked like characters from The City or The Hills and of course did have a kind of pretentious air about them. Needless to say I wanted to hang out in there all day. The clothes were amazing and everything had beautiful soft neutral colors with hints of bright colors like purples and reds. The shoes, my god, the shoes! Platforms, military, safari awesomeness! If I could stop time and just live in that showcase I would. Okay, time to move on.

The second day was the big day, we would be heading down to the Las Vegas convention center to see the Mecca of fashion, MAGIC. When we walked in I could not believe the amount of vendors there and how amazing there booths could be. Some of the bigger retailers had their booth designed to look like a miniature version of their store. A couple of friends and I were lucky to make it into the Jessica Simpson booth and look around and talk to one of the girls who was a vendor. Let me explain the lucky part.

Some of these booths were pretty exclusive/ intimidating looking. They had people standing in front of their little makeshift entrances and it seemed only by invitation or if you were a serious buyer could you actually go in, so yes we were lucky to make it into the Jessica Simpson booth.

Next to MAGIC was a new show called Platform, which was entirely for shoes. It was amazing. The only underwhelming part was waiting an hour to see Paris Hilton. She was debuting a line of shoes.

The sad thing was I have seen these shoes in all different stores. I don't mean hers specifically, but the style. They had been done before and it was nothing new. Plus, she was late so it added to my distaste. Whatever Paris, you are so not hot.

MAGIC was exhausting to say the least, but it is something I will never forget and I hope that this was not my only time visiting. I look forward to seeing what vendors continue to produce and see who puts their amazing product in their stores.

Side note: I will post pictures and notes to accompany from a presentation on trends for next year. It was also amazing (of, course).

From military to leather jackets, I've got you covered

It's been waaay too long since my last post and I know I know I really need to stay on top of it if I'm going to keep a fashion blog. I finally have something to post and it's an article I wrote for my college newspaper. Enjoy!

As fall sets upon us and the temperature starts to drop we must all don something new: layers, layers, layers people! There is a reason the September issue of every major magazine is the largest; the fashion community welcomes fall with open arms and you can too with these new trends.

Predominantly seen on the fall runways this season was a throwback to 50’s glamour. Outfits were more sensual and curve hugging yet still conservative. Things to take away from this trend are longer skirts and high-waist pants, which is a relief. It’s a nice alternative to the low-rise jeans plaguing our waistlines and everyone else’s awkward glances when we sit down.

The military style is also an easy trend to translate into everyday wear. Olive green and khaki colors paired with metallic accessories make this trend accessible for everyone. Take a military inspired jacket paired with a white tank and skinny jeans and you’re set! Add riding boots in dark brown leather and prepare yourself for people coming to you for fashion advice.

Last trend that must be stressed is faux fur and this takes some guts. Real and faux fur was across many runway shows (see Chanel and their iceberg themed runway), though the faux version is in more favor. Just a small article covered in the fuzzy stuff can really make a statement and add life to any outfit, ironic right? Fur not for the fashion shy and will turn heads most definitely so wear proudly.

Fella’s don’t worry you have not been forgotten there are trends you should definitely consider trying out. First I would like to address something that most guys already know, but it should always be reminded. Every man needs an awesome suit and this doesn’t mean you need to buy an expensive one. A good tailor is your best friend; the suit needs to fit closely. This means nothing baggy guys that train has come and gone. For fall many designers opted for the three-piece suit, which pulls the suit together very nicely.

For those of you who live more on the edge you are not left out the leather jacket was seen all over the runways. Whether it was motorcycle or bomber style, a fitted leather

jacket always looks bad a**. If you’re wondering what to wear with this automatic cool pass it’s simple and I’m sure most of you already have this in your closet: a plaid shirt paired with jeans, so cool.

Some parting advice for any fashion venture is this: if you are ever in doubt about what you are wearing, you probably shouldn’t wear it. That includes wearing sweatpants in public. Just say no.

Uggghh Colorado, it has been freakishly cold leaving no inspiration for my daily wardrobe. The frigid cold frightens me and all I want to do is crawl back into bed where it is safe and not a trace of a breeze. I have to wear boots with jeans practically everyday....where is the warm caress of spring? I miss the sun and am looking forward to rain instead of snow. At least if it rains I can wear my trench coat and rain boots, which is a nice departure from my same red coat I've been wearing for the past FOUR months! Monotony is not my friend.

Keep holding on fashionistas a change is coming...soon I hope.

If you want a great website for inspiration for everyday dress then check out lookbook.nu. I love checking in every so often to see what

awesome outfits people have. Here are some recent favorites, and I mean recent because new pics pop up every minute.

Can you start a fashion library? Because I am well on my way

practice

It's a new year and as promised I have the new camera. I thought it would be good practice to take a few pictures of some new pieces I've added to my wardrobe! Please ignore the the plastic and wire hangars (Joan Crawford would appalled!).

I was super excited about this vest and I got it on sale, my friends are still skeptical though. I will turn them, mwahaha!
This kick ass jacket I also got on sale, and consequently was super stoked.

I will say this, everyone needs a pair of Oxford's

This is Maple, my dog/muse. There's no real purpose for her picture here I just think she looks funny.