Airport Style

Things have been pretty quiet on the blog, as I've been traveling a lot over the past week, and am working on some big (i.e. busy and stressful, but exciting) life changes (more on that later). Anyway, wanted to dive back into things, and while I was jet-setting over the weekend, I jotted some notes down on my advice for travel attire - more specifically, for what to wear to the airport. 

Sometimes, these decisions are dictated by the occasion - if you're landing for a job interview, or a business meeting, and therefore by necessity have to travel in a suit. Other times, though, it's completely up to you. Many people take this kind of opportunity to dress purely for comfort, but my recommendation is to really think through each item and go for the most practical and useful pick, and to aim for middle-of-the-road formality, as opposed to something uber-casual (or uber-formal) that will really limit your moves straight off the plane. Here are my thoughts:

Shoes:

My recommendation here is a nice pair of penny loafers, or boat shoes if you want to be a bit more casual. However, what it really comes down to is anything slip-on. It's just one less thing to do while you're in line at security. 

Socks:

Even though you're wearing loafers (or boat shoes) don't just go sockless. Walking around in your bare-feet on an airport floor? Disgusting, for you and for everyone else. Grab a nice pair of no-show socks and you'll be all set. 

Belt:

Honestly, this probably won't make a huge difference, but I tend to reach for a ribbon D-ring belt, as it adds just a little convenience - the belt itself is quick to get on or off, and (rather than stiffer leather), rolls up nice and small (I usually just stuff mine in my shoes).

Pants:

Lots of flexibility here - and speaking of which, pick a flexible fabric! Nothing wrong with traveling in jeans, but if you pick a pair with a little stretch, you'll probably be much more comfortable on the plane. Really though, chinos, jeans, trousers, whatever you feel comfortable in, as long as it matches the formality of the rest of your ensemble. I do, however, recommend against wearing white or even light khaki. You never know when you're going to hit turbulence right as your neighbor takes a sip of his red wine (I can speak from personal experience). 

Shirt:

I'll often go with an OCBD or some other mildly casual button-front shirt, but my real go-to is a Uniqlo x Michael Bastian button-down polo. It's sharp enough to wear with a blazer, but as comfortable as any Tee, and the pique fabric will hide the wrinkles and rumples(?) of travel much better than a crisper shirting fabric. 

Jacket:

It's by no means necessary, but I highly recommend wearing a jacket to the airport. First, the airport, or the plane itself, will often have some heavy-duty A/C on blast, and it's always easier to remove a layer if you're warm than it is to dig an extra layer out of your carefully packed bags. Even more-so, a blazer (or even a more casual jacket) has the benefit of lots of pockets. I can usually skip fumbling with the little change-trays at security entirely, with all of my loose items in my blazer pockets. Streamlining, folks! I alternate between a more casual, unconstructed blazer, or a light bomber if I know I'm keeping it casual once I hop off the plane.

BONUS: It's a pain to figure out how to pack a blazer without making it irreparably wrinkled and misshapen. Easiest solution? Just wear the damn thing.

To recap, a quick checklist:

• No laces!
• No white pants!
• Lots of pockets!
• No bare feet!
• Avoid stiff and pressed!

And as usual, versatility is the name of the game!

Now, of course going through the airport in sweats and a tee is going to be the most comfortable and carefree, but I think the above outfit has some solid advantages. The biggest and most obvious is that you can step off the plane, and head right to the bar, to your friend's place, out to dinner, pretty much anything but a formal or business occasion, without having to seriously freshen up and change outfits. 

Beyond that, I just prefer to have the more secure pockets that chinos or a blazer offer, rather than sweatpants and hoodie, where I constantly feel like my most valuable and important possessions and documents are going to fall out and disappear at any moment.

I want to end with one last note (even though this is getting loooong). Someone commented on our post on fest fashion, observing that a lot of aspects of all of these different suggested outfits are the same, or at least very similar. They weren't wrong at all - in fact, I think it really demonstrates my assertion that versatility is king. Instead of picking up pieces that are only appropriate for air-travel (see some of those compression socks and 'travel' or 'packable' fabrics), or only appropriate for a music festival (band tees, crazy graphic patterns), stock your closet with things that will keep you sharp, comfortable, and collected for the widest variety of occasions. Once you have that foundation nailed, it's far easier to branch out without blowing a budget or making big style mistakes. 

Alright, how do you all head to the skies? Share in the comments!

Matching Socks - Taking the Middle Ground

Back in April, I wrote a post explaining in detail how to go about picking out a pair of socks to go with your outfit. Our previous advice was to pick solidly between two distinct options - either match your pants (but never your shoes), or to contrast your pants with something bolder, but compliment some colors elsewhere in your outfit (like your tie). 

However, I've recently enjoyed eschewing my own advice (gasp), and instead have been favoring a middle ground. In large part, this has corresponded with a growing tendency in my own style to lean just a bit more classic, and less bold and modern - but I still feel just a little 'off' with plain, solid socks. That in mind, I've been trying to find monochromatic patterns that allow me to put a little bit of contrast and visual interest into my socks while still matching my trousers.

My favorite example is this pair of brown socks I recently picked up from The Tie Bar:

Big Tooth Socks in Chocolate/Light Champagne | The Tie Bar

First, I just gotta say The Tie Bar socks are always a pleasant surprise in comfort and style - especially at the price. That aside, though, I love the tan houndstooth pattern laid over a darker brown background. It's not quite solid, but it's also not a real attention grabber. Additionally, the light/dark mix makes these work just as well with khaki chinos or darker brown dress trousers:

On yours truly. What can brown do for you? (UPS - don't sue me)

Another pair I've been enjoying are these light cotton socks from Frank & Oak in marine blue:

Lightweight Cotton Socks in Marine | Frank & Oak

These actually are listed as solid, but in-person the ribbing actually comes across as a lighter, fine stripe that helps separate them  just a bit from a pair of similarly colored chinos or trousers:

Again, on yours truly. No catch-phrase for blue off the top of my head...

The lesson to be learned is that all the lines drawn in the menswear sand can be blurred. Sure, our previous article listed two pretty distinct methods for math info your socks - but is that all there is to it? Of course not - feel free to interpret, bend and blend the guidelines until you find your own go-to methods. Even then, don't ever be afraid to question those methods and allow them to grow and develop with yourself!

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!