“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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“Watch” Your Style!

This week gentlemen I’m coming to you with tips about a much down played, yet sometimes over dramatized accessory; the wrist watch. The key accent to any men’s style is a classy watch. The watch guys, is the single most observed accessory on a man next to the neck tie. Even though the handy electronic devices we carry day in and day out all posses the means of telling time, let’s not overlook the watch. A stylish watch can give prelude to a man’s style sense; it can let others know you have class and sophistication. Your watch doesn't need to have the bevel encrusted with diamonds or have the face as the one around Flav’s neck, it needs to be simple. It needs to sync up with your lifestyle.

Your watch can be simple and make a large impact on you style image. Sure you can go and purchase a Rolex or a Cartier and have your style be associated with name recognition, or you can go simple and inexpensive and get the same affect. Believe it or not but I've given props to guys wearing a nice Citizen and a Timex. I personally go with Fossil brand (My favorite).

 I get more attention on my Fossils than I do my Gucci. Fossil has been around since 1984, and is stylish, reasonably priced watches with a fifties feel to it; they’re a great value. All I’m saying explore inexpensive (between $110-$200), yet quality minded watch brands. But make sure to align it with your personal style, it will make a difference. Until next week, “Stay Style Connected!”

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Get More for Your Money

 Fellas don't let your wardrobe break you, learn to mix and match. Guys’, learning to mix and match your clothing has a lot of rewards. You will able to increase the flexibility of your wardrobe without having to buy new pieces, which is helpful for those of us on a budget. You can change your look with a few essential pieces.

First, purchase basic pieces (slacks, jeans, blazers, and shoes) for your wardrobe in black, brown (tan), or navy, these will be used as your base colors and will help you manipulate your look every day. One of these three colors every day will be the anchor of your ensemble. You should have dress shirts to match your dark base colors in plaid and stripes. Buy a dark pair of denim jeans, which can transition your look from day to night. One tip: acquire more tops than bottoms. More attention is paid to a person’s upper body than the lower. So, wearing the same bottoms with different tops will give the facade of an extended wardrobe. After you have your basics, buy a few v-neck t-shirts and ties to wear optionally with pants and jackets. Here is an example: Your basics are the top three photos; the wardrobe extensions are the bottom six.

                                                                                                                                       

It's quite simple and much more economical than purchasing six different ensembles. And no-one will really notices you are recycling your basic outfits.Try this yourself, you may come up with more combinations than six. Until Next week," Stay Style Connected!."





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Can’t See the Forest for the Trees!

This week fellas I’m coming to you about your natural born accessory; facial hair. Guys if you have ever heard the saying” you can’t see the forest for the trees”, the saying goes for facial hair too.  You could have put together an eye catching ensemble you will catch looks, but if you’re not groomed properly it will surely go unnoticed. If you are one of those guys who just can’t grow a full beard; let it go no need try anymore. Now, if you’re blessed enough to be able to grow a descent beard; then keep it trimmed. Don’t look like Shia Lebeouf or Brad Pitt between movies or kids.

 And if you’re sporting so much gray that it makes you look much older than you are; then there’s nothing wrong with applying a little “Just for Men”, it’ll be just your secret. Guys emulate the likeness of Will Smith, Justine Timberlake, and John Legend; these men are always impeccably groomed.

One last note gentlemen, invest in a pair of nose hair trimmers, no-one wants to see the bush growing in your nose. Ironically my best friend seems to supply me with a new pair each Christmas. Until next week, “Stay Style Connected!”

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Now That the Season Has Changed, So Should You!

Well gentlemen, it’s officially spring, and summer is just around the corner. It's time to store away the sweaters, boots, and wool suits. It is time to add a little color in your life. Guys unlike women our summer wardrobe is typically limited with options. We have shorts, polo’s, t-shirts, tennis shoes, Khakis, and sandals. Even though we don’t have many options, we can still spice it up and look like grown a—men! And as fresh as Andre 3000 in our summer attire.

               

Fellas, venture in to brighter colors such as, yellows, greens, reds, and oranges. Colors give a youthful yet fresher look to normal polo’s and t-shirts. When wearing t-shirts please avoid ones displaying large logos and pictures and gravitate towards the plain colorful v-neck cuts versus the crew neck; they give a more adult look. Then there are the shorts, as long they don’t protrude beyond the bottom of the knee cap ( Hip Hop is dead, for the grown a-- man) you’re fine. Stay away from denim because it doesn't give your man section air to breath, and add colors to your shorts and khakis also, so that they aren't as mundane as usual.

 Fellas, if you haven’t already invested in seersucker, do so; the material is very comfortable and can be worn in casual and dressy environments, and is always a good look for warm nights out with your lady.

Guys please leave the Nike's and Air Jordan’s to the kids, when wearing tennis shoes this spring/summer try Polo or Sperry brands; the evenings should be dedicated to nice sandals and boat shoes. Spring is here guys so look cool while being cool. Until next week “Stay Style Connected!”


                                          Don't let me catch any of you in this!

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The Easter Sunday Quiz

Gentlemen, Easter as you all know is this coming weekend. And if you have been following my blogs you are more than ready to look great on Sunday; this will be your test. Some of you may even be ready to experiment with a new look; if you feel froggy then leap! But I just have just a little piece of advice; Easter and spring are both representative of pastel colors. So my advice to you fellas, is leave the pastel colored suits to the female escort liaisons (Pimps), it is ok to partake in pastel shirts and ties. Guys, experiment with wearing suit jackets and complementary colored trousers, double breasted suits, window pane pattern sports coats, or a bow-tie this Sunday. Whatever your look for Easter service is have confidence in it; it’s the best accessory you can posses. Besides, many of you have to look good because you’ll probably be called out for not attending service since last Easter. Until next week, Stay Style Connected!

DO

Don't

For those of you trying your hand at tying a bow-tie for the first time click the link below.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5PTLV-L_sk

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