Posts tagged FASHION
Total Black Outfit
Balmain Jacket.jpeg

Whether it’s the summer’s trending Hawaiian shirts or a tie that injects some much-needed life into your business-casual looks during the colder months, the colour wheel rarely stops spinning. But when you’re tired of wondering whether lemon and mauve go (they don’t, by the way) know that darker tones always have your back.

Black is always the new black. It’s never a ‘Colour of the Year’ because it’s the lack-of-colour of every year – the shade that won’t clash, won’t add pounds, and won’t tell tales when you pour a glass of Rioja down yourself. It’s as happy at work as it is in clubs, or shutting down the front row. But it’s happiest in certain wardrobe staples, the inky workhorses that every good look is built on.

Whether you prefer to dabble in darkness or go all out with the deceptively easy (but always effective) all-black-everything look, these are the pieces you need and how to wear them.

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pasquale Balmain fashion.jpeg
How To Style Casual The Checked Blazer
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Check blazers are everywhere this season. The season’s runways were awash with fashionable check patterns of all iterations. But that’s not why we’re telling you to embrace pattern in your wardrobe. For all its timelessness, a check blazer is a point of difference, a break from the norm and could be just what you need to spice up both your formal and casual dress.

If it’s your first foray into the pattern, then start with a casual take on the check blazer and keep it simple. By its very nature, checks carry an air of formality, especially if they’re weaved in contrasting colours. Today, the check translates perfectly to a more urban casual look. 

The Canali versions of checked blazers are perfect, worn with white jeans, a plain T-Shirt and casual loafers.The plain neutrality of the look will ensure a casual take throughout. And for those who don’t know Canali, Canali has been the paradigm of tailor-made Italian luxury and men’s elegance for more than 80 years. Since 1934, it has been promoting the values of Made in Italy excellence through its artisanal know-how, creating sartorial masterpieces of exceptional wearability and comfort in a perfect balance of elements that blends culture and history with style and taste. 

So guys go and check the treasures that Canali offers simply by visiting www.canali.com and invest in a classic checked blazer that will last forever! To shop editor’s favourite pieces just click on the pictures below. 

Virgil Abloh Goes Fiber Optic With New Louis Vuitton FW19 Bag and Sneakers
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Virgil Abloh’s second collection for Louis Vuitton proved to be an exemplary infusion of retro-vintage inspiration, with the designer channeling his inner Michael Jackson for the uniquely designed runway show. While the clothes were packed full of unique cuts that donned a refined finish, the fiber optic-infused monochrome bag and light-show-bearing sneaker stole the show.

In a unique power-move for the designer, one part of the show included a black-out of the venue’s runway lighting, with 5 models stacked in a diamond formation showcasing the collection’s new monochrome-print bag and newly created sneaker. As spotlighted in a recent Instagram post from the brand, the new high-top shoe totes a color-changing detailed upper with a tongue that hosts a morphing Louis Vuitton logo.

The new pieces ought to catch a few eyes, and being one of the highlights of the show, will most likely fetch a hefty price as well.

Check out the runway image above and a more detailed look below, and for more fashion-related news be sure to peep the recent street style from this year’s Paris Fashion Week.

RIDE WITH ME
Total Outfit: PEPE JEANS

Total Outfit: PEPE JEANS

One of the things I absolutely *LOVE* to do here at Be Stylish is to take a complete outfit, reverse-engineer it, then tell you how to put it back together for yourself.

But classy suits and silk slim ties is not the only thing that’s stylish. A biker look can show just as much style as the most expensive suit IF you wear it in the right circumstances. Plus, you need to BE the kind of guy who would wear something like this.

Today I want to present to you a classic biker look. The black-grey t-shirt and jeans are everything you need. You don’t need much help here, just go for some simple denim.

Boots! if you’re really going for that biker look, the books will make the whole difference. Just imagine Dustin in wearing black leather shoes instead. he wouldn’t make that much of a fashion statement in that case.

Add to the boots a leather belt, a cool haircut and we’re done… or are we?

Remember: it’s all in the details.

Total Outfit: PEPE JEANS

Total Outfit: PEPE JEANS

Total Outfit: PEPE JEANS

Total Outfit: PEPE JEANS

Total Outfit: PEPE JEANS

Total Outfit: PEPE JEANS

Spending The Day By The Sea
Total Outfit: Hackett London by Shop And Trade

Total Outfit: Hackett London by Shop And Trade

Great is the sun, and wide he goes
Through empty heaven with repose; 
And in the blue and glowing days
More thick than rain he showers his rays. 

Though closer still the blinds we pull
To keep the shady parlour cool, 
Yet he will find a chink or two
To slip his golden fingers through. 

The dusty attic spider-clad
He, through the keyhole, maketh glad; 
And through the broken edge of tiles
Into the laddered hay-loft smiles. 

Meantime his golden face around
He bares to all the garden ground, 
And sheds a warm and glittering look
Among the ivy's inmost nook. 

Above the hills, along the blue, 
Round the bright air with footing true, 
To please the child, to paint the rose, 
The gardener of the World, he goes. 

Summer Sun

Robert Louis Stevenson

Total Outfit: Hackett London by Shop And Trade

Total Outfit: Hackett London by Shop And Trade

Total Outfit: Hackett London by Shop And Trade

Total Outfit: Hackett London by Shop And Trade

Total Outfit: Hackett London by Shop And Trade

Total Outfit: Hackett London by Shop And Trade

My Diadora Sneakers
T-Shirt: Hard Clo / Jeans: Diesel / Sneakers: Diadora

T-Shirt: Hard Clo / Jeans: Diesel / Sneakers: Diadora

Diadora is an athletic footwear brand that's made major strides since its humble beginnings as a work boot manufacturer, Diadora continues to make waves with its premium and high quality designs. The Italian brand marries athletic performance with lifestyle details for footwear that's versatile and comfortable. Diadora sneakers deliver clean and classic style with lasting construction. Grab a pair of Diadora shoes and experience the impressive feel and sporty good looks.

T-Shirt: Hard Clo / Jeans: Diesel / Sneakers: Diadora

T-Shirt: Hard Clo / Jeans: Diesel / Sneakers: Diadora

Sneakers: Diadora

Sneakers: Diadora

Sneakers: Diadora

Sneakers: Diadora

Yacht Life
Shirt: Hackett London / Pants: Antony Morato / Sunglasses: Gucci

Shirt: Hackett London / Pants: Antony Morato / Sunglasses: Gucci

Are you looking for a casual but classy look to wear this summer? If so, then look no further than the men’s Riviera style. The Riviera style merges sophistication and casualness together into a stylish blend which light and cool for the warmer weather. 

The Riviera Trend

Ever since the first wave of well-to-do holidaymakers started flocking to southern parts of France and Italy in the late ’20s to early ’30s, an understated and elegant style began to emerge that was ideal for the endless boating, promenading and lounging they indulged in. This look is what has since become known as the Riviera trend. There may be a number of staple Riviera pieces already in your wardrobe: blue shirts, chinos, boat shoes, moccasins; but merging these pieces together can create a truly stylish look.

There are a lot of trends that swing about which are hard for people to come on board with. This isn’t one of them. The Riviera trend is really easy to incorporate into your already existing wardrobe as well as being easy to style and even easier to pull off. 

Shirt: Hackett London / Pants: Antony Morato / Sunglasses: Gucci

Shirt: Hackett London / Pants: Antony Morato / Sunglasses: Gucci

Shirt: Hackett London / Pants: Antony Morato / Sunglasses: Gucci

Shirt: Hackett London / Pants: Antony Morato / Sunglasses: Gucci

Shirt: Hackett London / Pants: Antony Morato / Sunglasses: Gucci

Shirt: Hackett London / Pants: Antony Morato / Sunglasses: Gucci

#PLEINSPORTCUP Spring/Summer 2019
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Milan, 16 June 2018 – Plein Sport makes a triumphant return to Milan this season and, with a tennis-inspired collection, serves a perfect ace. Staged on a full-size grass court surrounded by palm trees, the audience is magically transported to the Beverley Hills Tennis Club. The players warm up, returning shots from ball machines, practicing their backhand. Ball boys crouch eagerly at either side of the net as the umpire takes his seat. The Spring/Summer 2019 #PLEINSPORTCUP can begin…

Embodying the stylish flair of Björn Borg and the take-no-prisoners attitude of John McEnroe, the Plein Sport men are tough, toned Grand Slam-ers. The fresh-faced girls are young Billie Jean King’s: gripping their rackets, they’re focused and determined, champions ready to win their mixed match.

Like the game of tennis, their clothes are timeless and elegant. Green, white and navy dominate the palette of this Spring/Summer collection. Key pieces include training jackets with piping detail, block-color tracksuits, V-neck knit jumpers, chevron polo shirts, knee-length shorts and pleated mini-skirts. Complete with headbands, visors and wristbands, the look might be vintage influenced but it’s remixed for the sporting demands of today. Technical fabrics, breathable materials and lightweight engineering ensure this wardrobe is fit for smash-volley action. And emblazoned throughout – across hoodies, towels and even swimwear – a special Plein Sport emblem featuring two crossed tennis rackets.

Launched only one-and-a-half years ago, the Plein Sport brand has accelerated with incredible speed and, by the end of this year, will boast 40 standalone stores around the world. In the competitive activewear arena, that’s game, set and match to Plein Sport.

Philipp Plein is also pleased to announce that next year the brand begins a new partnership as the official fashion sponsor of Monaco Football Club.

Why I Love Summer!
Jacket: Ralph Lauren / Shirt: Vivienne Westwood / Pants: Massimo Dutti / Shoes & Sunglasses: Saint Laurent 

Jacket: Ralph Lauren / Shirt: Vivienne Westwood / Pants: Massimo Dutti / Shoes & Sunglasses: Saint Laurent 

Summer has arrived and I couldn’t be more excited to welcome the season of BBQs, beer gardens and trips to the seaside! I really love summer and below you will find the 10 reasons why summer is my favorite season of the year!

1. Ice Cream. The perfect date? Strolling along the sea front, with great company and a delicious gelato!

2. Late nights. There’s something about getting home from work when it’s still light that gives you bundles of energy! Dinner with friends, strolls in the park, there's so much to do when the evenings are longer.

3. The best foods are in season. Strawberries, cherries, grapes and watermelon, beautifully ripe like they only are in summer. Perfect for a fruit salad on a sunny day.

4. Al-fresco dining. We love a good picnic, and what better way to enjoy the sun than with tasty food outside?

5. The weather! There’s nothing like a sunny day to give you those happy feelings! Trips to the seaside are a must when the sun is shining.

6. Festivals. The season of fun has arrived! There’s a festival to suit everyone, so why not have a look at what’s out there? The smaller, quainter festivals are often the best…

7. Adventures. The warmer weather makes outdoor adventures much more fun! Bike rides, country walks – what are your favourites?

8. Barbeques. As soon as the sun comes out, so does the BBQ! Friends, family, sunshine and food, what could be more perfect? Leaving the winter coat, hat and scarf in the wardrobe and replacing them with sunnies, shorts and flip-flops!

10. Nature. And last but not least, nature! We get to see the flowers, butterflies, and beautifully coloured birds in all their glory.

Jacket: Ralph Lauren / Shirt: Vivienne Westwood / Pants: Massimo Dutti / Shoes & Sunglasses: Saint Laurent

Jacket: Ralph Lauren / Shirt: Vivienne Westwood / Pants: Massimo Dutti / Shoes & Sunglasses: Saint Laurent

Jacket: Ralph Lauren / Shirt: Vivienne Westwood / Pants: Massimo Dutti / Shoes & Sunglasses: Saint Laurent

Jacket: Ralph Lauren / Shirt: Vivienne Westwood / Pants: Massimo Dutti / Shoes & Sunglasses: Saint Laurent

Α Day in Zurich
Shirt: Religion / Trouser: Tom Tailor / Sneakers: Balenciaga / Sunglasses: Saint Laurent

Shirt: Religion / Trouser: Tom Tailor / Sneakers: Balenciaga / Sunglasses: Saint Laurent

Although it’s routinely placed at the top of lifestyle rankings, Zurich is rarely, if ever, rated as one of Europe’s cultural capitals. There’s a perception that it’s a bankers’ city – a Swiss Square Mile without any West End to escape into. While it is true that high salaries and a strong currency mean Switzerland’s biggest city is expensive for visitors, with some planning, and a focus on culture instead of cuisine, it makes for an enjoyable break, whether or not it is made part of a skiing holiday.

The city boasts cultural big-hitters including the Kunsthaus, one of Europe’s great modern art museums, and Museum Haus Konstruktiv, which showcases “concrete, constructive and conceptual art” in a former electricity substation. Zurich-West, a former industrial district, is a hub for contemporary art, design, food and architecture. The whole city is relatively car-free and bike-friendly.

Fashion is a big thing as well! In every little corner of the city you cans pot stylish and posh people walking silently around. Luxury fashion is huge there and people take risks regarding their style.

I found myself in Zurich and I wanted to explore the city but I needed a cute outfit in order to fit with the crowd. So I chose a Tom Tailor pair of trousers and a very cool and rich khaki color Religion Shirt. I paired them with my new Balenciaga sock boots,

Shirt: Religion / Trouser: Tom Tailor / Sneakers: Balenciaga / Sunglasses: Saint Laurent

Shirt: Religion / Trouser: Tom Tailor / Sneakers: Balenciaga / Sunglasses: Saint Laurent

Shirt: Religion / Trouser: Tom Tailor / Sneakers: Balenciaga / Sunglasses: Saint Laurent

Shirt: Religion / Trouser: Tom Tailor / Sneakers: Balenciaga / Sunglasses: Saint Laurent

Shirt: Religion / Trouser: Tom Tailor / Sneakers: Balenciaga / Sunglasses: Saint Laurent

Shirt: Religion / Trouser: Tom Tailor / Sneakers: Balenciaga / Sunglasses: Saint Laurent

Shirt: Religion / Trouser: Tom Tailor / Sneakers: Balenciaga / Sunglasses: Saint Laurent

Shirt: Religion / Trouser: Tom Tailor / Sneakers: Balenciaga / Sunglasses: Saint Laurent

Shirt: Religion / Trouser: Tom Tailor / Sneakers: Balenciaga / Sunglasses: Saint Laurent

Shirt: Religion / Trouser: Tom Tailor / Sneakers: Balenciaga / Sunglasses: Saint Laurent

The ''Forever & Ever'' Denim Jacket
Jacket: Antony Morato / Shirt: Antony Morato / Pants: Tom Tailor 

Jacket: Antony Morato / Shirt: Antony Morato / Pants: Tom Tailor 

The denim jacket is a timeless fashion staple. Comfortable, casual, and easy to wear, what’s not to love about this wardrobe essential? So, if you’ve been neglecting yours and leaving it hanging in the back of your closet, think again. The stylish and versatile piece of outerwear deserves to be donned with a range of looks and promises never to let you down. From cool casual outfits to sharp, smart casual styles, this must-have jacket for men can do it all, and we can prove it. Now, all you need to do is prepare to be inspired because we’re about to show you exactly how to wear a denim jacket in style this season

If you don’t yet own a denim jacket, it’s time to invest. While that means deciding upon the colour you want, it also means selecting the fit. Today, denim jackets are available in many shapes and silhouettes, meaning that you have a lot of choices. While loose and oversized designs are excellent for creating a relaxed appearance, fitted and cropped styles look sharper. For a classic cut, opt for a denim jacket that finishes on your hips. It should also feel snug but not too tight when the buttons are done up.

I chose for this summer this Antony Morato denim jacket with the 'Forever & Ever' logo in the back! I paired it with white sneakers, a casual jocker from Tom Tailor and a navy Antony Morato T-shirt. 

 

Jacket: Antony Morato / Shirt: Antony Morato / Pants: Tom Tailor

Jacket: Antony Morato / Shirt: Antony Morato / Pants: Tom Tailor

Jacket: Antony Morato / Shirt: Antony Morato / Pants: Tom Tailor

Jacket: Antony Morato / Shirt: Antony Morato / Pants: Tom Tailor

Jacket: Antony Morato / Shirt: Antony Morato / Pants: Tom Tailor

Jacket: Antony Morato / Shirt: Antony Morato / Pants: Tom Tailor

Jacket: Antony Morato / Shirt: Antony Morato / Pants: Tom Tailor

Jacket: Antony Morato / Shirt: Antony Morato / Pants: Tom Tailor

How To Wear The Skate Look
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If you had any lingering doubt that 1990s street culture was back, the rise of skatewear into mainstream fashion should put the matter to rest. Because suddenly it’s everywhere. The skateboarders who Anna Wintour would have once ushered away from the steps of the Palais de Tokyo have been invited inside to model what hangs in their own wardrobes, albeit reimagined at 10 times the price.

Skate has always had a hard-bitten aesthetic, equal parts protective and anti-authoritarian. Thick twill trousers are robust enough to prevent concrete shredding too much skin, while a hoodie shields the face from cameras when skating where you shouldn’t. And though practicality remains a long way down most designers’ lists of concerns, it is as obsessed with the underground as ever. What it means for you and me is that some of the most comfortable and hard-wearing threads you can buy also happen to be the most fashionable. What it doesn’t mean is that Tony Hawk is the new Don Draper. 

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The Rise Of Skatewear

Before we get to the rules, it’s worth stating that while brands have adopted skatewear in part as a way to lend bank balance-draining clothes some much-needed authenticity, the look’s surge is not entirely cynical. In the late 1980s, the boom in VCRs turned a niche sport into a global movement, as kids were suddenly able to share tapes of their favourite skaters.

Those kids have long since hung up their decks. But they are now at the age when increased spending power and nostalgia meet. They work in places where a suit seems out of place and they want clothes that are stylish but comfortable. They want trousers with a little more room, shirts with a softer handle, even if they’re being tested in a co-working space rather than on a flat bank.

They also share taste with the new heads of many design houses. Gosha Rubchinskiy, for example, centres his shows around the crew he sessions Moscow’s streets with. Meanwhile, Vetements and Balenciaga boss Demna Gvasalia and streetwear obsessive Kim Jones at Louis Vuitton have both spearheaded collaboration with skate OGs Supreme. These men – and they are almost universally men – are channelling their own and their customers’ love of skate culture into garments that reimagine and upgrade what kids have always worn on their boards. 

All of which makes the ‘skater look’ an odd thing: at once a blatant cash-in and a genuine expression of a subculture that has influenced streetwear since the 1960s. It also means that any man can steal the look. Even if you can only heelflip in a video game.

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Hoodies

If you can’t (or at least don’t) skate, then co-opting the full Palace look smacks of desperation. “Wear the pieces that are a natural fit for you,” says Giles Farnham, head of River Island’s Style Studio. Hoodies are a skate staple, and this cultural cache means they can be used to nod to the aesthetic even if you don’t know your Eric Koston from your Eric Clapton.

Skate Shoes

The grip tape that forms a buffer between foot and board is like sandpaper. Its endless rubbing and scuffing means skaters value shoes that are affordable and hardwearing, since they’re only going to get battered anyway.

Logo T-shirts

True streetwear is simple. Because it was cheap, brands tended not to experiment too far outside staples: hoodies, sweatshirts, caps and T-shirts. Distinctiveness came not from the cut, but from branding, which meant oversized logos and knowing spins on more established iconography.

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Craving Summer
Jacket: Hackett London / Shirt: Pepe Jeans / Pants: Antony Morato

Jacket: Hackett London / Shirt: Pepe Jeans / Pants: Antony Morato

Summer is the most carefree time of the year. After a long winter, I find myself craving the warmth of the summer sun and all the activities that come along with it. Here are a few reasons why you may be craving the summer season just like me.

  1. Summer concerts: Whether you love country, rock, pop, or rap, you could not be more excited for your summer music venue to open it's door for summer. These nights become the ones you'll never forget.
  2. County Fairs : Whether you live in a small country town or in a big city, the travel to any local fair over the summer is worth it. 
  3. Driving with the windows down : There's not a better feeling in the world than driving with the windows down during the summer and blaring your favorite music for all to hear.
  4. Beach days : Sometimes you need to take a break from all the chaos that summer brings and just have a relaxing beach day with your friends. Whether you're on a lake or an ocean, nothing beats relaxing at the beach on a hot summer day.
  5. Boating : Boating with family and friends during the summer months is how some of the best summer memories are made. Tubing and water skiing are just added bonuses to the fun of boating.
  6. Hiking with family and friends is an experience all its own but nothing beats the rewarding view you get at the top.
  7. Ice cream dates : You know that summer is right around the corner when your favorite ice cream shop opens for business in early spring. Over the summer you are guaranteed to always see someone you know when you go to get ice cream at your favorite local spot.
  8. Old friends : Overall, the best summer memories are made when you meet up with your old high school friends and catch up like nothing has changed.
Jacket: Hackett London / Shirt: Pepe Jeans / Pants: Antony Morato

Jacket: Hackett London / Shirt: Pepe Jeans / Pants: Antony Morato

Jacket: Hackett London / Shirt: Pepe Jeans / Pants: Antony Morato

Jacket: Hackett London / Shirt: Pepe Jeans / Pants: Antony Morato

Jacket: Hackett London / Shirt: Pepe Jeans / Pants: Antony Morato

Jacket: Hackett London / Shirt: Pepe Jeans / Pants: Antony Morato

Shirt: Pepe Jeans / Pants: Antony Morato

Shirt: Pepe Jeans / Pants: Antony Morato

A Day In The Comfiest Jeans
Total outfit by Pepe Jeans / Bandana: Vintage by my collection

Total outfit by Pepe Jeans / Bandana: Vintage by my collection

If there’s one thing you want to do at the end of the day, it’s wiggle out of your jeans and throw on a pair of sweatpants. But what if you bought such comfortable jeans that you didn’t even need—or want—to change out of them?

It’s totally possible, which is why I thought that you would appreciate showing you the comfiest pair of jeans that I own by Pepe Jeans. I was spending last week in Monemvasia, when I tried on those jeans for the first time. From that moment that pair of jeans become my on-the-go jeans. They fitted so well and I felt completely free to move. 

Below you can find some tips and simple rules to choose your own comfy pair of jeans:

  • They should have some stretch to them. Often, that means there is some spandex mixed into the fabric. With stretch, you can move how you want without feeling stiff (exactly how traditional denim can be). 
  • They should feel broken in by the time you slide them in. None of this you can’t breathe in them/they hardly move with you/you’re hoping a few washes will fix them. Nope, they have to be jeans that you want to walk out of the fitting room wearing.
Total outfit by Pepe Jeans / Bandana: Vintage by my collection

Total outfit by Pepe Jeans / Bandana: Vintage by my collection

Total outfit by Pepe Jeans / Bandana: Vintage by my collection

Total outfit by Pepe Jeans / Bandana: Vintage by my collection

Total outfit by Pepe Jeans / Bandana: Vintage by my collection

Total outfit by Pepe Jeans / Bandana: Vintage by my collection

The Return Of The Reebok Classic
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Love them or loathe them, the '90s favourite Reebok Classics are back on the fashion radar, with bloggers  spearheading the retro trainer renaissance. But if you remember them first time round, will you stick to time tested wisdom and leave well alone or bravely embrace the old-school look?

A mix of sporty and luxe (the combo of leather and nubuck making them an easy off-duty piece), the selection of colours brings a touch of masculinity to the chunky style. It may seem like a daring throwback, but street style stars prove you can put an adult spin on the look – just add tailored trousers and a camel coat  or a total denim outfit like me and treat them like a fun alternative to Stan Smiths or Nikes.

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How To Wear A Beret
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Wearing a beret may seem like a tricky sartorial manoeuvre, but it needn’t be. Worn since the Bronze Age, the hat went into mass production in 19th century France and Spain, and remains popular to this day. A timeless design, the beret cropped up at Loewe, Louis Vuitton, Prada and Wales Bonner this season, among others. Here is a way to wear the latest trend. I paired it up with my Massimo Dutti Camel Coat, a white sophisticated wool turtleneck from Massimo Dutti as well, with a khaki pair of trousers and my Santoni leather boots. My Beret is from my personal collection and it is a vintage one.

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Men’s Fashion Guide To Wearing All Black
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Black is by far one of the most popular colors when it comes to fashion, and it’s easy to see why. The color black in fashion has traditionally been associated with class, sophistication and even mystery, which makes it amazing for smart style and formal wear. Be careful when buying your black clothing though, it’s easy to see when a piece of black clothing is low quality because after a few washes it fades to an icky grey color. When it comes to black, quality is very important.If you live in a warmer climate, I’d steer away from wearing too much black in your outfit, as it can look awkward and feel awkward. Sunny climates are meant for color! While there is nothing wrong with wearing an all black outfit, make sure black doesn’t take over your entire wardrobe like it has a tendency to. Wearing black all day every day can and will get boring. Layering your black outfits with things such as hoodies and black leather jackets makes for a great look. Sometimes when the outfit calls for it, throwing some vibrant or earth tone colors can make an all black outfit look even better.

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Milan Fashion Week - Etro Presentation
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With models lounging on giant cushions, perched on vintage trunks or reclining on kitsch patterned sofas, their decorative outfits blending with the furniture, all that was missing was a psychedelic soundtrack. Etro for the presentation of its 50th anniversary men’s collection — presented at the cavernous Palazzo del Ghiaccio, the ice-skating rink in Milan — recruited the help of local auction houses to re-create the home of a dandy without the walls, with all of the items up for sale. The message? “The way you live is the way you dress, and I’ve always been known as an interior decorator of men’s,” quipped Kean Etro, seated in a vintage orange chair, dressed in a check suit and shirt accessorized with a beaded headband. “The design started from here,” he added, pointing down to a Persian carpet, symbolizing the origins of the house’s paisley symbol, as models sauntered by in long, lean, graphic carpet coats and droopy sweaters with bands of carpet embroidery. One gleaming all-embroidered tuxedo jacket was a work of art. Tailoring ranged from fitted suits in jewel tones to classic suiting in stuffy plaids but updated with bold colorways, such as orange accents in the overcheck. Even the subtler stuff, like a camel coat, sported a stitchwork outline of a horse at the back.

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How To Wear Velvet
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Have you always thought velvet is too glitzy for you? Too Liberace-esque and so best left in the closet? Think again because this suave and swanky fabric is too good to keep under lock and key. But to look good in velvet means wearing it right. Here’s how to look super sharp in this most luxurious of fabrics.

Velvet only looks classy if it’s good quality. Avoid velvet made from synthetic fabrics, such as those produced in polyester and nylon. Products like these look cheap and nasty and don’t wear well either. Real velvet, woven from silk or cotton, is the only choice for gents with style. It oozes quality and authenticity and as long as you look after it, will keep you looking great for years. Velvet has that smoking jacket feel and a lot of people like it because it has a bit of a vintage look. Velvet looks best when you choose one smart, tailored piece worn with contrasting fabrics. Velvet materials are very seductive, so wear it with macho attitude. 

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Casual velvet? Yes, sir” says Benjamin Fitzgerald at Dmarge. For less formal wear he says a velvet jacket makes a great alternative to a leather jacket. Velvet blazers play a melodic rock ballad without all that metal and unnecessary zip detail. For a dressed down look, pair your jacket with a plain t-shirt, simple silk scarf, dark trousers and a pair of Chelsea boots. I suggest you wear your velvet jacket with a denim shirt for a shabby chic outfit that still oozes style. For more formal wear, I suggest you to team velvet with a roll neck sweater for a jazzy, shirtless look.

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Style Defined: The Double-Breasted Jacket
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Among the many classic menswear staples that have gone in and out of style only to see a resurgence in popularity recently, the history of the double-breasted jacket is particularly interesting and unexpected.

When you think of a double-breasted jacket/suit, what’s the first thing to come to mind? My guess is either a stodgy 80s or 90s banker-type or a wide-shouldered caricature of a mafia boss. Either way, it’s all formality and rigidity, right?

THE DOUBLE-BREASTED JACKET WAS ORIGINALLY BANNED BY MANY BUSINESSES AS INAPPROPRIATE OFFICE ATTIRE.

But that’s where your assumptions would lead you astray. In fact, the origins of the double-breasted jacket go back to a distinctly casualstyle called a ‘reefer’ jacket.

Like most all men’s jackets, the reefer jacket was born in the sporting world. Originally very casual and usually worn as outerwear, in the late 19th century it was associated with gents heading to tennis matches or other country affairs, and was in fact banned by many businesses as inappropriate office attire.

THE DOUBLE-BREASTED JACKET ORIGINATED IN THE SPORTING WORLD AS A CASUAL GARMENT CALLED THE REEFER JACKET.

Yet, over time, the double-breasted jacket was slowly adapted into a more formal piece – a shift heralded in large part by the Duke of Windsor (who led many style trends of his time). However, even when he started wearing the style to official public outings, it was originally seen as gauche and poor taste (or rebelliously counter-traditional, depending who you ask).

However, just as the recent wave of menswear enthusiasm has brought the more simple and versatile single-breasted suit back into the casual wardrobes of stylish men, the double-breasted suit has made a more widespread come-back as well. It’s a bold move, but the payoff can be a striking and distinctive look.

Thanks for reading.

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