Archive for November, 2010

The fashionable man is a fairly rare bird in Shanghai, so it’s always nice to pay tribute to someone who can work the casual angle, like this cutie patootie cruising the French Concession on his vintage-y China Post-style bike*.  He’s from South Africa, and most of what I know about SA comes from watching District Nine and Blood Diamond, but Wikipedia says that South African men are well known for wearing informal clothes with great success (no it doesn’t).  But let’s talk about the outfit.

Cardigans (mandigans?) on dudes have become more than acceptable, they’re downright fashiony.  I guess we should be thanking Mr. Rogers, who was WAY ahead of the curve on this one.

Now gaze lovingly at the loafers this guy is sporting.  What is it about a man in loafers without socks that makes me so giddy?  I love this look and hope we’ll continue to see it in the warmer seasons to come, especially with summer suits.  I forced my BF to ditch the socks at a July wedding we went to this year and I have no regrets.

Put it on your body:

• Ray Ban shades – even if they’re not Ray Ban, the shape, as with aviators, won’t be going out of style any time soon**.
• Cardigans on guys: sexy (his is from Paul & Shark)
• Casual loafers: do it without socks
• · Socks
• Denim: we’ve talked about this before…

*I’m told he used to ride a fixed-gear.  Good call on the switch up.  Brakes = good + safe.
**Friends don’t let friends wear glasses without lenses.

Heavy Lined poka dot vest, period

There is a terrible, terrible thing in this world, a blight upon civilized society, a scourge, if you will.  And that is the jean-on-jean aberration known as the Canadian tuxedo.   For too long, America’s lame cousins to the north have tortured the world with this crazed denim nightmare which, in Toronto or whatever, passes for formal evening wear.

Weirdly, though, it turns out that there is actually an acceptable way to wear denim both above and below the belt without people looking at you and wondering, “Canadian?”

I first caught sight of this rare creature, the fashionable C-tux wearer, on an airplane in 2005.  I was astounded by my lack of repulsion and pity for the confident and, indeed, sexy hot man wearing the jean/jean combo.

I think the trick is this: contrast.  Both in color and in texture – so lose the jacket in favor of a chambray shirt.  You don’t want crowds to flee before you as you lumber through the B.P. at Nordstrom wearing a wall of stonewashed denim.  Mix it up, boo.  Like this fine Danish rose munching a ‘nana on a sunny afternoon in Copenhagen.

Here we go:

The jeans – skinny, cropped, a nice medium wash.  The shirt: fitted, button down, a shade or two lighter than the jeans, with the cuffs and collar popped in a non-annoying way.  Also: a softer, thinner material than the jeans.  Ergo, contrast.  Plus the urban preppy look is perfectly accessorized with a blond bob, deck shoes and the tranquility that comes from living in a country with an exceptional social safety net.

Not the point.

The point is, if you wear jeans with a jean jacket, it must be 1982.