Music Festival Style (Do's and Don'ts)

Here in Chicago, all the hype this week is in anticipation of Lollapalooza coming up this weekend. Personally, I’m a bigger fan of the smaller fests (with better lineups, IMO) like Riot Fest in September, or Pitchfork a few weeks ago, but there’s no avoiding the hubbub that comes with the Windy City’s biggest annual fest. Appropriately, I’m turning my eyes to festival style, and we’ve got a quick guide to keeping you good-looking while you rock out with your..well...you get the idea. 

The best thing about trying to stay stylish at a summer music fest? The competition is darn slim, if any, which makes it easy to pick just a few easy updates and come out looking sharper than your average bear. Below, we walk you through the transition from schlubby festival-goer to presentable young music enthusiast to sophisticated-gent-who-just-happens-to-be-enjoying-the-tunes. Avoid the first, aspire to the third, and be proud and satisfied if you land in the middle. 

Shoes:

         
           AVOID                             ACCEPT                                              ASPIRE

People tend to just go for comfort, with no regard to style, and fest footwear is the perfect example of this tendency. Thinking only of the heat, they opt for flip flops (or, thinking only of standing on their feet, go for some sort of running shoe or gym shoe). What a lot of guys don’t realize, is that you can be comfortable and stylish. White canvas sneakers give a laid-back, continental vibe that just gets better as they get beat up (which is never a bad quality to have at a music festival). The breathable fabric keeps your feet cool, while the sneaker sole will be comfortable. Of course, if you want to take things up a notch, you can rock some slick penny loafers and no-show socks, or camp mocs for something a bit (just a bit) more rugged. Just remember that there’s a decent chance you’ll walk through the mud, get your feet stepped on and scuffed, etc., so pick a leather that can take a bit of a beating and leave your luxury leathers and suede at home.


Bottoms:

  AVOID                                  ACCEPT                                      ASPIRE

I’m not sure where people get the idea that gym clothes or pajamas are appropriate clothing to wear in public, all day long, but they’re wrong. End of story. Not only do your mesh shorts make you look like a 12 year old carpooling home from soccer practice, but they are also actually very impractical, and make for a sure-fire way to lose your ID, cash, and keys along with your dignity. Just as we recommend chinos over sweatpants, here we suggest that you opt for some chino shorts to beat the heat but stay sharp and sophisticated. All the appropriate pockets are included, and a crisp, lightweight cotton will be cooler and more comfortable than nylon athletic shorts anyway. To up your style quotient like a true gentleman, linen trousers are the way to go - the fabric is cool and breezy enough to make you forget you aren’t wearing shorts. Press them sharp in the morning, and then embrace the wrinkles as the day goes on for the perfect air of gentlemanly nonchalance.  



Tops:

  AVOID                                  ACCEPT                                      ASPIRE

To be perfectly honest, if you’re nailing the shoes and bottoms, your shirt becomes way less important - but notice we didn’t say, ‘your shirt doesn’t matter at all.’ Sure, even a band Tee or tank top will look OK when worn with some chino shorts and white canvas sneaks, but we still don’t recommend it. Rocking a short sleeve OCBD takes just as little effort, keeps you just as cool and unencumbered as you dance your pants off, and yet remains a sharp enough option to wear right to the bar after the show and have no hesitation making moves on that pretty gal (or guy) making eyes at you from across the room. Now, if you’re taking our high-style route, a Tee won’t even come close to cutting it. The SS OCBD won’t fail you, but take the opportunity to be a bit more fashion-forward and grab a popover - find one with a sharp print to embrace two shirting trends at once. 



Shades:

  AVOID                                  ACCEPT                                      ASPIRE

Accessories are no time to start slacking off, either, although we do understand if you want to avoid bringing $100+ sunnies into an environment where there’s a pretty decent chance of them getting lost, stolen, or demolished. That said, those $5 ‘wayfarers’ you picked up at the convenience store on the way in - the ones with neon arms and mirrored lenses - have the power to negate every other style move you’ve made and leave you firmly planted in ‘obnoxious fist-pumping frat boy’ sartorial territory. If you want to stick with something inexpensive, the same stores that you go to for affordable takes on high fashion will treat you right - we’re talking H&M, Topman, Zara, etc. Stand out from the crown with some on-trend clear frames, or imitate the classics with a pair of vintage-y aviators. Now, if you actually trust yourself to take care of something a little more valuable, get the real deal - we’d go for a pair of Ray-Ban clubmasters to channel some off-duty Don Draper.


Hat:

  AVOID                                  ACCEPT                                      ASPIRE

Whether it’s to keep the sun and sweat out of your eyes, or to adopt a more outgoing, music-loving vibe, a lot of guys will end up throwing on a hat that they would never wear otherwise. Unfortunately, that ratty baseball cap is far from the most efficient instrument to protect your eyes, and that Backstreet Boys fedora makes you look less like a hipster troubador than you think (if that’s even a look worth aspiring to). Honestly, we think the best middle-ground here is to forgo the hat entirely. Shove a bandana in your back pocket to wipe away the sweat, and let your shades do the heavy lifting when it comes to blocking the sun, and a hat really isn’t necessary. You’ll have one less thing to keep track of, and lose one more chance of throwing off your much-improved festival ‘fit. Of course, though, if you’re looking for top-notch style, a real, grown-up hat can be the touch to tie the whole outfit together. Just don’t shy away from a substantial brim (an easy way to avoid that adolescent Justin Timberlake vibe), and be ready to throw down a few pesos for quality. 


The Outfits (In Full):

  AVOID                                  ACCEPT                                      ASPIRE

Accept:
White Canvas Sneakers by Converse
Chino Shorts by J.Crew Factory
Short-Sleeved OCBD by Frank & Oak
Sunglasses by Topman

Aspire:
Penny Loafers by Jack Erwin
Linen Trousers by J.Crew
Print Popover by J.Crew
Sunglasses by Ray-Ban
Hat by Goorin Brothers


To Wrap It Up...
In the end, each style move is small on it’s own, but yields a pretty significant transformation. Instead of wearing a hodge-podge of marginally comfortable ---- you can, at the very least, look like a presentable, music-loving young man. Step things up a bit more, and you’ll look like you should be signing the bands, and not just blending in with the rest of the countless screaming fans. 

Got any plans to hit some music festivals this summer? What will you wear? Share in the comments!

Memorial Day Style Suggestions

Holy cow, this year is just flying by. Seems like just yesterday we were celebrating Christmas, and now Memorial Day is less than a week away! Hopefully everyone is in for some nice weather, which should mean only one thing: BBQ time! And while a nice summer cookout is a great time to relax and let loose, that doesn't mean it's a time to slack on your style - whether you're trying to attract the other singles, or are already coupled-up but trying to impress your friends and family, the key is to balance sharp and casual and make it look effortless. Here are a few good looks that we put together (chock full of discounts, too) in case you're in need of some inspiration:

Hot-Weather Grillin':

First up is an ensemble for all of you lucky enough to be basking in some really steamy weather this weekend - I'm talking just too darn hot for pants or sleeves:

Chambray Shorts - J.Crew Factory

Polo Shirt - Michael Bastian x Uniqlo

White Canvas Shoes - Jack Purcell via MR PORTER

Braided Leather Belt - L.L. Bean

Shorts are a tricky beast for guys over the age of 20. The trick to keeping your look grown-up is to find shorts that hit above the knee and are fitted close to the body. Nothing skintight, of course, but similar to your slim chinos. We love a good pair of chambray shorts for something a little different from the rest of the pack without being wacky. Cap the darker shorts with a light-colored polo up top (we love the Michael Bastian x Uniqlo collab for some stylish and slim polos - try 5offUNIQLO for a $5 discount through 5/22) and some breathable canvas sneak's on the bottom. Keeping the belt leather holds the whole 'fit back from the uber-casual edge, but going for a braided option maintains the laid-back nature.

The Rest of America:

Most of us probably won't be sweating in the sun, considering we just had a day that didn't break 50 here in Chicago. This combo will keep you from shivering if it gets a little chillier, but still embraces the summery vibe:

Slim Khaki Chinos - J.Crew

OCBD - Everlane

Ribbon Belt - Levi's

Boat Shoes - Sperry's

Something about Memorial Day and grilling screams classic American prep to me, so we went ahead and embraced it with this outfit - from the classic khaki chinos to a casual OCBD (bonus: Everlane has free shipping this entire month) to the (preferably) kinda-beat-up boat shoes. Use the ribbon belt to inject a little youth and color into the look, or shake things up with some non-traditional boat shoes or an OCBD in a brighter or more saturated color.

The Cover-Up:

Hotter or cooler climate, chances are that in May, temps will drop as the sun goes down, so bringing a lightweight layer to cover up with is never a bad idea. 

Cotton Sweater - J.Crew Factory

Lightweight Bomber - Barracuda 

A cotton sweater will give you a little more warmth without being quite as cozy as a wool knit. Nautical stripes are perfect for the spring season, and add another preppy edge to an outfit. Very JFK on vacation. On the other hand, a lightweight bomber is sharp and subtle, and maybe a bit more versatile. Our favorites are made by the iconic Barracuda brand, but you can find affordable and nearly-as-stylish alternatives at much lower prices.

Sharper Than Your Average Bear:

The majority of us will probably be keeping things pretty casual over the holiday weekend, but I'm sure there are some gents out there with something a little more dressed-up on their calendar. From a full suit in cotton chino or linen to a sharp summer blazer and chinos, you've got a lot of options. If it were us, here's what we would be wearing: 

Oxford Cloth Trousers - Bonobos

Linen Dress Shirt - Uniqlo

Unconstructed Blazer - J.Crew

Chocolate Suede Loafers - Jack Erwin

Pelican Belt - Narragansett Leathers

So pumped to bust out the Oxley's this season - I talk em up all the time, and they really are the most comfortable dress pants I've ever worn, but they hold a nice crease and stand up great in a more tailored look (if it's your first order, and you plan on breaking $75, use our referral for $25 off). Keep your blazer unlined and even unconstructed - sharp and semi-formal, but not business-like. Since you're adding an extra layer with the blazer, you'll probably want to keep your shirting lightweight, and this may be the perfect chance to rock a linen shirt. Finally, some rich suede loafers and a pelican-hook belt add some subtle, classy flair.

What do you think? How will you be stuntin' this weekend? Chime in below!

Socks - How To Choose 'Em

I recently professed my love of socks, one of the things that I have a zillion of and can't stop buying. Eventually, you get to a point where you have some in every color and pattern, and it can seem a little daunting to pick out a pair that doesn't clash. Sure, they might be covered by your pants most of the day, but those times that they do flash, you want the proper effect.

And that's really what it comes down to. What's the effect that you want? You really have two choices. The first is definitely the most basic. You just want to match. You don't want to stand out, you have no urges to inject your look with a pop of color, you want to be stylish but unobtrusive. If this is your motivator, simply pick socks to match your pants. A lot of people waiver between matching their pants or matching their shoes, and let's end that hesitation here and now - always match your pants, never your shoes. By matching your pants, you make your legs look longer, which is a good thing for 90% of guys out there (that's an exact statistic, by the way). Comparatively, if you match your shoes, your legs can look cut off at the ankle. Also, if you're wearing some snazzy kicks, the lack of contrast between your footwear will make them far less likely to shine. 

Thompson Chino Suit Pant in Navy paired with Basic Crew Socks in Navy | J.Crew Factory

The second effect is to show a little pizazz around the ankle...whether it be that pop of color, a flashy pattern, or even some subtle texture. I'm sure there are tons of methods to doing this, but my personal method is to pick a part of your upper outfit (above the waist), and try to play off that piece. This may be your shirt, your tie, even something as small as a pocket square. This is a great way to really make your outfit a whole, with correlation between the top and bottom halves. There's not necessarily anything wrong with it, but it's very easy to have one outfit from the waist down, and another, not necessarily clashing, but unrelated outfit from the waist up. 

However, you do NOT want to match exactly - a faux pas almost as bad as wearing a matching tie and pocket square. Instead, compliment. An easy way to do this is to match solid with patterned, and vice versa. If you have a patterned tie (or pocket square, or shirt, or whatever you are trying to match), pick one color from that pattern, and match it with a solid sock. If you have a solid tie, go ahead and rock a patterned sock that shares one color with the tie. Once you are confident in your pattern matching, go ahead and mix things up, but be careful not to get too out of hand and risk looking clownish. This is your clothing, not a costume. 

Summer Plaid Tie (patterned) paired with Basic Crew Socks in Navy (solid) | J.Crew Factory

OR

Red Chambray Tie (solid) paired with Triple Stripe Socks (patterned) | J.Crew Factory

Bonus Tip: The scale of the pattern tends to be directly proportional to the casualness. Pin dot socks, or fine stripes, perfectly OK for business attire. Large polka dots, rugby stripes? Probably best kept to more casual occasions.

OK, after giving all that advice, I just gotta say, socks are a great place to stretch your sartorial wings, largely because they are so low-risk. They do stay hidden most of the day, so if you experiment a bit and it doesn't work out, you're not going to be running around looking like a fool all day. So have some fun! Try something new!

New Year's Eve Style Featuring G.H. Bass Weejuns

Just a quick one for you all this New Year's Eve. G.H. Bass was kind enough to send me a festive pair of Mapache Weejuns as a gift to style for the holiday. I was going to dress em' up, wear em' out, and post my outfit but a) we have a winter storm coming here in Chicago that might limit photo shoot options, and b) I wanted to give you some inspiration in time to dress up yourselves. So, voila, here's my 'fit broken down to it's elements, and look out for in-action pictures on Instagram tonight, or on the blog later this week!

The Shoes:

G.H. Bass's Weejuns are the epitome of classic prep. While loafers had been around for a while, when G.H. Bass starting producing their signature Weejuns in 1934, they added the strip of leather across the vamp, and penny loafers were born. This particular pair eschews the standard polished brown or black leather in favor of a rusty red that is festive and fun without being in-your-face or tacky. As you all know, I'm a big fan of doing something special for a holiday, spicing things up a bit, and these are a perfect instrument to do so. Still, the color is subdued enough that I'll be using these to inject some color into my looks throughout the year, holiday's be damned. 

The Rest of the Outfit(s)

I'm actually rocking two different outfits through the day today, mainly because I have some down-time between work and festivities and didn't want to be dressed to the nines all day. For the few annoying hours I have to be mentally present at work this morning, I donned something a bit more casual, but still sharp and festive:

Dark Blue Jeans by Levi's

Crimson Shawl-Neck Sweater by Frank and Oak

White OCDB by Uniqlo

Grey Socks via Nordstrom

The red sweater matches great with the shoes with a similar dark, rusty shade. I tend to avoid items that are too 'matchy,' but the variety in texture between the wool and leather, along with the spacial distance, broken up by the dark blue jeans, allows these reds to play off each other nicely. Since the red shoes (and sweater) are a bit bolder of a look, I kept the rest simple with dark jeans, a white shirt, and neutral socks. A little color goes a long way.

Now, of course when I go out for New Year's Eve debauchery, I'll be dressing things up just a bit more. I'm making a few new moves this year, first with the colorful shoes, but also by rocking my very first bow-tie. I'm not sure it's 'my look' on a day-to-day basis, but it's another fun and classy way to spice things up for the holiday.

Grey Chinos by Dockers

White Custom Shirt by Modern Tailor

Black Belt by Everlane

Bow-Tie by The Tie Bar

Custom Made-To-Measure Blazer by Tailor4Less

This look is very similar to my Holiday Concert Outfit featured earlier this month, with some key changes. First, the grey chinos add some class (instead of denim) to the outfit. I especially love this pair for the occasion because they look snazzy but feel tough, and will be able to hold up as I hop in and out of cabs, dance to Pickwick, and pick up all sorts of salt and snowy sludge as I trek through the city. The custom shirt in a luxurious twill from Modern Tailor steps things up from the OCBD I wore earlier, and like I said, the bow-tie is the icing on the cake (if I can ever get it tied).

How about you? Feel free to share your NYE outfit picks in the comments below, or shoot me an e-mail at wideeyestightwallets@gmail.com! Have a fun, safe New Year's Eve and here's to another incredible year in 2014!

The To-Do List: Setting Goals and Meeting Them

I was sorting through some old drafts and documents on my computer the other day and ran across an old list of sartorial goals. I was originally going to write a post based on this list when I first wrote it, pointing out that, while I'm here dispensing advice to you folks, I have a lot of improvements I want to make myself. The article never really came into fruition, and I honestly kind of forgot about the 'to-do' list that I had made. Stumbling upon it again now, it's actually really encouraging, because, for the most part, even without looking at it every day, I lived up to my goals and can cross most of these items off:

• Tie a good tie with a strong dimple at the right length in less than 20 minutes. - Boom. I've got my tie-tying down to an art. I actually had one of my best friends come visit the other week, and we got all inebriated and had a tie-the-knot drinking game/contest (at 2 in the morning on a Tuesday, much to my girlfriend's dismay). I have some awesome and ridiculous pictures from the night, which I'll share someday.

• Don't somehow, mysteriously, fuck up my shoes every time I wear them on things like, no joke, cracks in the sidewalk. - This one I honestly still struggle with, haha, but I'm not exactly sure how to work on it. I will say that, in general, as I've dressed better and better, I've really noticed myself moving with more care and purpose. I think I can safely say that I'm a generally less sloppy person, in large part because it's hard enough to afford to buy clothes (and shoes) once, let alone replace them because of my own damn clumsiness. So, I'm gonna call this one a win too.

• Don't get stuck on one outfit that worked really great, and then wear it over and over. - Another one I think I pass with flying colors. In fact, I may have taken this into problem territory on the other end of the spectrum. Instead of struggling with wearing the same things, I struggle with a need to wear something new or different every day, whether it's a whole new piece or even just a new combination, and it's become a bit of an insecurity in it's own regard. Brian Sacawa  of He Spoke Style started his own blog with the idea of wearing a 'uniform' every day for a year, and I think that challenge takes a whole different level of confidence.  

• Find a really good fitting jean. - I give myself a half-check on this goal. I've gotten a better fitting jean, but still don't have that one, high-quality, perfect-fitting piece of denim that denim-heads tend to gush over. I'm giving myself a pass though...I purposefully held off on this all summer just waiting for the weather to cool down a bit so I could justify buying some mid-weight denim that isn't really hot-as-sin-and-humid-as-all-getout compatible. Now that the temps are cooler, as soon as my bank account can handle it I'll be grabbing pair, probably from Gustin or Dyer and Jenkins.

• Find a great tailor and build a relationship with him. - Alas, I can't really check this bad boy off the list, which is sad, because it's probably the most important item on here. Like I say all the time, fit is everything, and a tailor is the best way to get that perfect fit on every item of clothing you wear. Right now, I'm struggling with Chicago's selection of tailors...too many expensive options that get less-than-desirable reviews. Unfortunately, I don't have the spare funds (or clothing) to really dive into the trial-and-error fiasco that finding a solid tailor can be. The Peter Field seamstress gets my whole-hearted endorsement for alterations like taking in a shirt, and I have a last-ditch high end fella that I take more complicated work to if need be, but I still am looking for someone to fill that middle ground.

• Wear a blazer/jacket on a daily basis (and not just for warmth). - When I first started taking my daily wear to the next level, I limited myself to shirts and ties, and really only threw a blazer on as an extra layer in colder months. I'm proud to say that I am now comfortable wearing a blazer on a day-to-day basis as a part of my basic outfit. I honestly think I've actually evolved sartorially past this step by recognizing that nothing should be an every-day-no-matter-what necessity, and instead dress on a day-to-day, by-the-occasion basis. Happily though, these days this involves a blazer more often than not.

• Wear pocket squares (with confidence). - Man, I was so very timid when first stepping into the pocket-square game, and unnecessarily so. I now have a small but decent selection and try to wear one as often as I wear a blazer. I've even started experimenting with throwing them into less formal outfits, tossing one in the back pocket of my pants, or the breast pocket of a shirt or casual jacket. Instead of being an element that makes me nervous and hesitant, I now accessorize with confidence.

The whole point: not only is it great to have a list of goals to pursue, it's also great to recognize when you've achieved some of those goals and allow yourself a good pat on the back. Now it's time for me to create a new list, tuck it away somewhere for a few months, and see if I live up to my own aspirations and expectations. I'll keep you posted.