How To Test a New Trend

Menswear folk preach timeless style all the time, and you'll read on many blogs tons of advice and comments instructing you to avoid trends. In general, I tend to agree - to an extent. Yes, timeless pieces are just that - timeless - and as such, will probably be the more long-lasting versatile pieces in your wardrobe, and as such, are the ones worth investing in. However, trends shouldn't be ruled out entirely. For one thing, some of those trends do end up graduating to timeless status. If we never tried anything new, we'd still be wearing togas, or caveman skins. Even classic style evolves, and that can't happen without people trying new things. Also, timeless can get boring...sometimes you need to jump off a cliff and do something exciting, new, and fun.

So how do you go about testing a new trend? My recommendation is to dip your toes in the water before you dive in (although I did just make a reference to jumping off a cliff...). The trick is to find a way to try out a new style without investing yourself so heavily that if, as many trends do, yours falls to the wayside in a few months, you're out a chunk of change and stuck with some expensive and now useless crap.

With that in mind, you'll want to treat these trends exactly the opposite of how you treat timeless pieces. Instead of focusing on construction and quality, and saving your money to invest in a truly worthwhile piece, look instead for quick fixes - inexpensive options that embody the heart of the trend but don't require you to hand over a month's pay. Skip all the painstaking research, go with your gut, but go cheap.

For example, I've really been digging this microtrend lately of stark black and white outfits - especially in more casual terms. It's definitely a more street-wear friendly look, which isn't one I usually go for (tending instead to stick to a nice preppy/prepster balance). I'm thinking black jeans, some black leather trainers, a bright white tee, and a black bomber jacket. Something like one of these looks:

John Legend (photo via Créme de la Créme) | Anthony Urbano (photo via Closet Freaks)         

I've been so tempted to try it out, but I'm almost certain it's not going to be a strong player in my 'fit rotation, and might even just be relegated to a few wears. Therefore, I'm not even starting to look at premium denim, designer sneakers, or classic bomber jackets (I would spend some $$ on a tee, but only because everyone can use a white tee, and I'll rock that part for as long as it lasts). 

Instead, I'm going as cheap as possible. I just grabbed a pair of lightly used Levi's on eBay for around $12 (shipping included). If it weren't for those, I'd pick up this pair from H&M (a store I usually skip). I found a bomber jacket at Forever 21 (where I also wouldn't normally even consider shopping) in an especially fashion-forward mixed-media for only $30 . I actually already have a white tee that I copped from Bonobos, on sale for around $10, but you can score one for the same price at Uniqlo year-round. Even the trainers, I'm grabbing for just $45 at Vans. Voila, an entire (on trend) outfit for well under $100 (which wouldn't even cover the shoes for a 'timeless' ensemble):

This way, no matter the outcome of my little experiment, I'm only out a small amount of money. If I like the look, I can take some more time and spend some more money to get pieces really worth being proud of, and swap them out for my cheapskate options over time. If I'm not so fond of the look, like I said, little skin off my back (way less than if I went high-end on everything right off the bat). 

Deals and Steals for the Weekend - 4/4/2014

"Every weekend, check in on the blog for a collection of the best (read: my favorite) deals and steals on the interweb for some quality shopping over the weekend. Have any to add? Share them in the comments or shoot me an e-mail. Also, if you're biting on any of these hooks, I'd love to hear about it!"

Ok, so I was browsing around for deals, and got entirely immersed in the J.Crew sale selection. So much good stuff, such great prices, I couldn't resist picking out way more than the standard two pieces. We'll call it the J.Crew spotlight, plus some extra goodies at the end. Enjoy:

Extra 50% Off Final Sale Items at J.Crew:
Allllrighty so we'll start things off with one foot still in cold weather. I've had my eye on this quilted shirt-jacket since I included it in a course I wrote for Cladright (check it out, I got another course coming up this spring). I might have even had it in a 'Deals and Steals' post already. Normally $170, this is pretty expensive at full retail price, but every so often it ends up at a crazy discount, and I always kick myself for not grabbing one. Maybe this time will be the clincher, as the extra % off has it down to only $60. 

Quilted Shirt-Jacket | J.Crew

Especially at such a steal, this is a ton of bang for the buck. It's light enough to wear into spring, and slim enough to wear under a few layers when it gets all frigid again next winter. Also available in an olive color that hits the military trend spot-on.

Next on the long J.Crew list is this Ludlow dress shirt in a plaid Thomas Mason fabric. Thomas Mason fabrics are widely renowned and usually hella expensive (take a look at the starting price of $170). Already pretty heavily discounted, the extra markdown has this at a pretty unheard of price of just $50:

Ludlow Shirt in 1903 Tartan | Thomas Mason Archive for J.Crew

The pattern is fantastic too...there's a lot of visual interest in the plaid, but the colors are muted enough to make this easy to pair. Spread collar, slim fit, all sizes available, it's a knockout winner, and you won't see a deal like this very often, for sure. 

There are actually a bunch of nice shirts in the sale section, but we just picked out one more. This floral patterned shirt is about as good as it will get for a guy looking to try out the trend, but hesitant to end up with anything too bold or, well, flowery:

Slim Indigo Shirt in Floral Print | J.Crew

First, it's plenty affordable, down to $30 after the discount (originally $88), which means it's not a huge risk either way. On top of that, the colors are all just a bit faded...the blue isn't super saturated, and the flowers are almost barely there, rather than a bright contrasting white. It's the kind of pattern that's almost hard to notice from a distance, but has all the interesting ingredients once you get up close. It's a great buy as we head into spring weather.

And to wrap up the J.Crew list this week, we've got our eyes on summer and hot days by the pool (or at the beach). I'm long overdue for a new pair of swim shorts, and these board shorts are definitely a contender.

7" Board Short in Oxford Cloth | J.Crew

I've never heard of an oxford cloth swim short before, and I'm not 100% sure how that would turn out, but I'm very tempted. Oxford shirts are one of my favorite things, so it would make sense that this would end up a winner in my book as well. The color is a just-right pale blue (have you notice that I like blue a lot?) that won't make you look too pasty while you're still working on your first tan, and the low price of $17.50 (down from $70), is - yup - a steal.

Check out the rest of the sale, there are ton of great finds in the 50% off section, and even more (not on final sale) at a 30% discount. Great chance to stock up as the seasons change.


Everyday Low Prices from Vans:
So, admittedly no discount here, but with the already low prices of Vans shoes, it's still a great chance to grab some canvas kicks in time for summer. Two pairs in particular stood out to me. First are these in a faded green for $55:

Brushed Twill Authentic in Granite Green | Vans

I love the color (it fits in very well with the seasonal color-scheme I laid out last week)...just unusual enough to be unique, but subtle enough that they won't be hard to match. For me, though, the real winning element is the leather laces. I wish you could opt for these as an option on all Vans, except I guess I'd have an even harder time narrowing down my choices.

For those of you looking for more of a classic, look no further than a pair of off-white Vans Authentic Originals:

Canvas Authentic in Off White | Vans

There are a few options very similar to this (brighter whites, contrast soles, etc.), but in the general white canvas category, these are my favorite. I think the off-white will wear in really well, and the blue trim breaks things up just enough that it's not one solid white blob (although I think some leather laces would look fantastic here too). At just $45, these are a very affordable option for a summer sneaker.


Grayers via Huckberry:
Last but not least, we have a few selections from Grayers available on Huckberry. Huckberry is a flash sale site similar to Gilt or MYHABIT, but with more of an outdoorsy focus, a more tightly curated selection, and an emphasis on quality (although slightly leaner discounts). Use my link (here) for $5 credit when you sign up.

I don't have personal experience with Grayers, but they have a solid rep, and I've been seeing them pop up in some very nice Instagram shots lately, so I was already interested when I saw them on Huckberry. The selection isn't too wide, but I found a few pieces I really dig. First is this selvedge chambray shirt, marked down to $70 from $95.

Selvedge Chambray Shirt | Grayers via Huckberry

It's not exactly cheap, but it's probably one of the lowest prices you'll see for a selvedge chambray shirt. It's got a great balance of rugged and refined, fantastic for casual gear, but definitely polished enough to work into a more dressy look. And yeah, chambray just rocks.

Last, this sweatshirt really caught my eye. It's got an awesome, throwback 70's surfer vibe that just screams summer. The description lists it as super lightweight, which will make it a great layering piece for cool summer nights.

Onlan Crew Neck Pullover | Grayers via Huckberry

This one has a pretty nice discount, too, knocked down to under $60 from a starting price of around $80. And damn, it just looks so comfortable.

And there you have it, another week down!

Spring Colors: My Picks

Back in the fall, I did a series of two posts (here and here) on fall colors - the industry 'color of the season,' was a forest or hunter green, while my own personal favorite was along the lines of a burgundy, maroon, or oxblood. I was hoping to do a similar set of articles for the spring season, and was brainstorming over the weekend when I realized just how similar my two favorite warm-weather colors this year are. In fact, you could even say that they are just a re-interpretation of those two fall colors, adapted and invigorated for the brighter, more lively color-ways that tend to dominate in the spring and summer.

When it comes to the green, fall called for a dark, dark green, sometimes with touches of brown that lent it even an olive color. This worked perfectly for fall, as bright green leafy trees give way to darker evergreens with a healthy dose of bare branches (see? dark green, hints of brown...this is easier than you think). Now, those same colors are giving away to bright new buds and are being given a healthy dose of sunshine. Similarly, the greens in your wardrobe should see some new life. Instead of reaching for those dark greens, pick something lighter...now, I'm not talking neon bright, or even pastel. Last year I was all about mint, and those days may come later this summer, but for now, it's just the emergence of color, so keep some air of subtlety. My favorite has been an almost sea-foam green, but not quite so light. Close to emerald, I guess, but a little more washed out. It's the kind of color that is bright and bold on it's own, but can easily be tempered by pairing it with a few neutrals. Here are some options to give it a try:

Frank and Oak has been killing this color already this season. I just grabbed a pair of green cords that are unfortunately no longer available, but they've still got this OCBD in a very subdued shade (BONUS: use this link for $25 off if this is your first purchase):

Jasper Oxford in Sea Green | Frank and Oak

The folks over at Dockers took this a bit more balls-to-the-wall. These chinos are definitely a bolder move, but like I mentioned, just adding a few neutral balances will keep everything in pretty safe territory (BONUS: These are currently ridiculously on sale):

Alpha Khaki in Water Wheel | Dockers

On the other hand, the fall took red and completely over-saturated it, again adding that touch of brown, for something dark, rich, almost heavy. The same logic applies, and as I write this, I think about how much out minds associate winter with death, or at least absence of life, as much in color as in nature. With spring comes new life, and therefore new color, and brightness. The burgundy and oxblood reflect, for lack of a better word, decay (while remaining handsomely attractive all along). Now that we are through the winter (kind of?), it's time to brighten the shade. Burgundy takes red to the dark extremes, but the color this spring will take red in the opposite direction. Still a big fan of subtlety, I'll avoid anything bright red, or even in your slightly-faded Nantucket red that is so inherent in prep style. Instead, I go for something that is, again, a little washed out. My favorite example here is a red chambray shirt. The white threads woven in with the red lighten the color, but not to a pink or orange. Instead, the color is just as red, but again the opposite of burgundy...undersaturated and kind of understated. I've been seeing the same thing lately in some chinos and canvas trousers, and every time I do, something else gets added to my wish-list. And again, it's a color that seems bright on it's own, but is easily muted by including balancing pieces in the rest of an outfit. Here are some items I found around the web:

This. Exactly what I'm talking about here, from GANT. Featured these in Deals and Steals a little while back, but had to pull them out again for this post:

Canvas Chino in Summer Coral | GANT

This pair of sneaks (by Vans, for J.Crew), is a bit deeper of a red, but that washed canvas is gonna fade and wear in beautifully:

Washed Canvas Authentic Sneaker | Vans for J.Crew

And yeah, I know the fashion-world is all about orange this spring, and I've seen it utilized in some pretty awesome ways, but it's a damn tough color to use, and can just as easy bring to mind chintzy halloween decorations as it can vibrant spring hues. Instead, I'm taking my own route and picking these two. Come summer, I expect to continue to see and use these tones, only in paler and paler reincarnations (think mint linen shirts and pastel red OCBD's). Until then, here you have it. I plan on following up in the next week or two with a post putting these colors in action, just like I did last year. 

Share your favorite seasonal colors in the comments!