Fashion Meets Sweat

 Men's fitness and fashion have not traditionally been in the same sentence when discussed. Many fashion experts considered it a fashion oxymoron. But today, men have a variety of options for looking good while working up a sweat, thanks to advances in technology, cultural changes in society and fitness clothes that double as casual wear.

Technological advances have made clothes that help support your body while you work out and make you feel better as you exercise. These clothes, made from man-made fibers, promise to keep you dry by effectively evaporating sweat and providing support for your hard working muscles.

 For your super-fit guy, you want to consider any items made from moisture wicking material like Nike's Dri-Fit and Pro-Fit lines or Adidas' Clima-cool options. 

Most major sportswear manufacturers make fitness wear from a similar material and technology. These clothes were once popular only with runners and bikers, or worn underneath pro athlete uniforms. Today, they're seen on the backs of weekend athletes everywhere.

 In the past, men's workout gear was pretty basic; cotton sweatpants, t-shirts or cotton sweatshirts. Now there's a wide variation of colors and styles to be found on sporting goods store hangers, and in high end department stores such Saks fifth Ave.

Today, you're as likely to see men’s fitness fashion in shopping malls as casual wear as well as in your gym. Some men sport their golfing shirts and sweater vests while shopping or out “just chill’n” (like me). For men, fitness gear has become an acceptable casual wear, but just should be worn in the Saturday morning hours in my opinion or sporting events.

Major fashion designers and clothing companies have also entered the fitness fashion market. Still, you can't go wrong with the purchase from one of the more recognized names in sporting goods, like Nike and Adidas; they have stepped up their design game to produce fitness fashion that is as stylish as it is functional.

 Now this is how the material works. Nike Dri-Fit goes above and beyond a typical moisture-wicking material. Instead of simply wicking sweat and other moisture away, Nike Dri-Fit moves moisture to a fabric layer away from the skin where it can evaporate. This leaves the skin protected, comfortable and cool. The material blend for Nike is 62 percent cotton (5 percent of which is organic), 34 percent polyester and 4 percent spandex. Now, Adidas offers a similar product called ClimaCool, which is made from 100 percent polyester and allows air to flow continuously through it. Likewise, Reebok makes a 100 percent polyester product called Reebok PlayDry that also offers excellent ventilation, thus reducing skin irritation. Finally, Under Armour offers a line of apparel that keeps an athlete's skin dry and cool and helps disperse odors which what most of the guys I noticed in Starbucks Saturday must have been wearing, because there was no stench in the café ( this is my number one choice). Men make your choice; the workout apparel for us has truly evolved. Until next week, “Stay Style Connected!”

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Looking Cool in the Right" Shades"

Guys, we have always used sunglasses or shades as we called them back in the day to look cool. Now the trends in sunglasses has reverted back to the trends we grew up on.The latest trends in men's sunglasses are retro, boxy, bold, masculine and over-sized. The hottest brands are Gucci, Ray-Ban, Armani Sunglasses, and X Loop's collection of plastic and metal eye-wear. Fellas, slide on a pair of Ray-Bans or a pair of over-sized Gucci sunglasses and tally all the complements you’ll get.

Ray-Ban Wayfarer

The retro style is very popular; I personally wear English Laundry, which is based on the same style as the Ray-Ban Wayfarers.

English Laundry

For the past few years the aviator style has been highly popular, with Gucci sunglasses being right there at the top offering a bold stylish look.

Gucci

Whether you're on the beach, the golf course, or “kicking it” at the family reunion, choose to wear one of the latest styles and hottest trends in men's sunglasses. Check out what your favorite celebrity maybe wearing for the trends in eye-wear,or create your own unique style.

 Consider the shape of your face when selecting a frame. Shades can be decorative or simple, bold or colorful. Choose a frame to match your personality, taste and mood. But remember eye-wear not only enhances your style, but also offers protection against harmful ultra-violet rays, and as a preventive measure why not keep an extra pair in your vehicle, for those hurried moments when you've left yours behind. From casual to chic, to bold and stylish, the choice of styles and cost in men's sunglasses vary, but there's definitely a pair that's sure to fit your budget and taste. Until next week, “Stay Style Connected!”

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Scents For the Season

A man’s scent is also one of the accessories a guy should take pride in. Even after you have left the room it should still be on the ladies minds. So fellas, with the change of season there should be a change of fragrance.The heavy colognes you wear during the winter months should not be worn in the summer. Summer weather dictates a lighter approach to your signature scents. During the summer months you need to wear colognes with citrus or floral top notes that ride lightly over musk and spice bottom notes. The definition of note in cologne is different than what it means in music.  The top note is what you get when you open the bottle and smell. The middle note is really the heart of the cologne; the body and helps to produce the scent. The base note or final note of cologne to holds together the fragrance. But back to the topic; the floral notes should be in the background as most men should only have a hint of floral notes to give off a fresh smell. No guy wants to smell like a woman, even though there are plenty of unisexed scents on the market; stay away from them.

Summer colognes for men work best in the heat and humidity, the opposite of how winter colognes work. The good thing about summer colognes is that designers will put out versions for each season, so it’s easier to pick the type you need. Choose your signature scent wisely; it will be what stays on people’s minds once you have left the room; besides your style ensemble. Keep it simple don't over do it. And please never choose your scents alone; get a second opinion. Until next week,” Stay Style Connected!”

These are my five top picks for the Summer.

Counter clockwise: Prada, Le Male by Jean Paul Gaultier, Bleu de Chanel, YSL Frozen, and Hugo Red

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Its Your Wedding Too!

                                                      

                                                              

Men are always questioning what to wear to their wedding? I have recently been approached by a quite a few ladies inquiring on how their men should dress for their wedding( and I mean their's, not mentioning its the guy's wedding also). If it’s an evening ceremony the choice is obvious; the traditional black tuxedo and tie. But loose the cumber bun, it’s a little dated. A little dash of flavor can be added to the ensemble by wearing a patterned tie or bow tie with a colorful pocket square to match the color scheme of the wedding. For weddings before six in the summer spring month’s guys should stay with tuxedo colors such as white.

                                                                    

Another acceptable option for grooms wear is a suit. The appeal of this option is that it can be worn in a less-formal wedding setting and also can be worn for other occasions. The wedding suit is much more flexible in terms of fabrics, colors and styles than the traditional tuxedo. If your wedding is in the morning or afternoon, a lighter colored suit can be appropriate for example, tan, white, or light blue. You can also engage in lighter fabrics for the anticipated warm days such as linen look (100% linen will give a wrinkled look in pictures) or seersucker. With suits there are many style options ranging from one, two, or three button jackets to double breasted. Any of your choices will be versatile with a straight tie or bow tie.

                                                  

Guys’ one final tip; only wear black shoes with the black tuxedo or black suit. With your other style options go for a caramel color lace-up shoe. Wearing a black shoe with anything other than black will completely diminish the look of your ensemble. Keep it classy! Until next week," Stay Style Connected!"

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Don't Confuse Your Style!

Guy’s I had a completely different topic for this week, but seeing Dwayne Wade in his pre-game entrance changed all of that.

Guy’s you have heard me say I’m all for experimenting with your own personal style, and to identify your style with your personality. But, go back to one of my earlier blogs where I raise the question, “Can I get away with this look?” If you have to ask the question then it’s not the look for you. Gentlemen you may think there should not be rules to experimental style, but there is. When attempting gender crossing looks like D-Wade did you must ask yourself if this is the image I won’t to portray to the public. He and his stylist took a risk of taking a staple piece from women’s spring wear (The Capri’s) and decided to venture into making it an unisex ensemble. Well, it flopped!  D-Wade is known for his controversial style choices, but this went too far. He is engaged to one of the prettiest black women on earth and he decides to dress like her. Fellas, there are a lot of unisex styles that can be pulled off; scarves, flower lapel pins, and some cases flower patterned shirts. But Capri’s are not one. D-Wade fire your stylist she’s hurting your off court image. Until next week” Stay Style connected!”

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“Top “it Off with the Right Hat

The purpose of summer hats are to protect our heads from the sun. Let’s be real people, we wear them for style; to accentuate our coolness! But guys you must wear the hat made for the appropriate seasons. The key I believe is to wear hats that look like they should be worn in the summer. Don’t wear felt or velour hats when it’s 90 degrees out. You may think you look cool, but most people are probably just wondering if you’re on crack. So let’s try to find a way to keep your heads protected from the sun, while simultaneously learning the distinction of different hats styles with the ones that I consider my picks for the summer listed below:

 The Straw Fedora

For real summer style throw on a straw fedora. The fedora will always be classy, but the straw adds summer class. It gives you the same style affect as the winter felt does.  It Keeps you cool and makes you look even cooler.

 Porkpie

 

The Porkpie is a great alternative to the fedora. While the fedora is classy the porkpie is more relaxed and casual. They look great with summer linens and cottons, especially when there made from straw like the one pictured.

The Straw Baseball Cap

I call it the Frankie Beverly. The straw baseball cap is perfect to top off casual wear such as with shorts, sandals, and t-shirts.

The Boater

The Boater has always been popular in my family for decades, and it will become more popular after this Friday’s release of Leonardo DiCaprio in The Great Gatsby. It’s vintage and brings an unusual element to summer style. Now it takes a fashionably confident person to pull it off; it’s not for everyone. But, you will see me sporting mine this summer.

So there you have it, my four ideas for fashionable summer “lids” that you can add to your style repertoire. Just remember, just because it works for someone else doesn't necessarily mean that it will work for you. Style is a very personal, but once you find your own you really start to make impressions. Until next week, “Stay Style Connected!”

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“Fit In” With Your Jeans

Gentlemen this week we’re going to discuss jeans. It’s getting warmer now and that means a lot of evenings out with your lady or the fellas. The staple of every man’s casual ensemble is denim jeans. I remember when the most expensive pairs of jeans you could purchase were Jordache and Calvin’s (as they were called back in the day). Now designer jeans these days range from $220 upward. Mind you most of those jeans do fit well and made from the finest denim in the world, but who says they’re for all guys. I posses pairs of the best known jeans currently; True Religions, 7 For All mankind, and Joe’s Jean’s, grant you these are all great jeans and if you can afford them, then do so.

 But for quality and fit I always return to Levis. Levis are the best inexpensive low maintenance jeans on the market and always fit into dressy/casual atmospheres. Levis have been around for 140 years, and continue to be relevant, innovative, and always competitive. For the man on a budget and requiring a quality jean, Levis are the choice.

 For heaver gentlemen look at Levis 559’s they are a great fit. Stay with tradition; Levis are great.  And choose a dark wash, the dark colors always make an outfit "pop!" Now tradition does not mean go back to wearing Cross Colours (you know who you are). Until next week,” Stay Style Connected!”      

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