Men’s Fashion Basics – Part 7 – Thick Knit & Cardigans

Moving on from last week’s article on jumpers, I thought it was probably about time we covered their older sibling cardigans, and thick knit clothing in general. Along with jumpers, I am a really into cardigans at the moment. Mainly because they can add a nice stylistic twist to the outfit you’re wearing but also, thanks to the time of the year and the weather outside, layering these pieces with your other clothes helps keep you warm for the winter months. It doesn’t hurt that these new breeds of cardigans are more fitting and slim cut than your granddads, making them the perfect complement to your striped and plaid shirts.

Rather than the thin layering that some of you may fancy, why not try some of the thicker knits out there? Fair Isle and Cable knits were really big last autumn and will most likely be so again this year. They come in a variety of styles and colours and the great thing about them is their simplicity. Rather than the complexity of thin layering and making sure everything is in its right place, just pull on a camel or cream cable knit jumper over your t-shirt to keep you warm as the daylight dwindles and set yourself apart from everyone else who thinks winter equals shades of black. Or for those times that you’re heading out straight after work, why not leave the jacket at the office and pull on a thick knit grey v-neck (like the one’s found in H&M’s current line) over your shirt and tie and head out ready for anything.

But in regards to cardigans, you can get them in thin knit materials such as cashmere and cotton or thicker versions predominately in wool. Thick knit cardigans are great as an overall top layer during the colder months, kind of like a cool substitute for your winter overcoats. My particular favourite way to wear them is over a blazer as seen in the picture above (far right) from Paris’ fashion week. However, I would recommend buying a few standard thin cardigans first before so that you have some versatile options all year round. You can wear them with pretty much anything and look great when layered with a shirt and blazer combination. But remember if you are going to sport these newer stream lined cardigans then remember to keep your under layers in a similar cut so that you don’t have any billowing or creasing material.
Ways to Wear

And as always here are some fool-proof ways of wearing cardigans : -

Trying pairing a black cardigan with your newly purchased denim shirt and jeans. Then add a knitted tie to compliment both the colour of the cardigan and the material of the shirt. Or just think of your black cardigan as you would your black blazer; it’ll go with anything.
For those days at the office, why not try wearing the same coloured cardigan as your suit under the jacket? It’s like wearing a three piece suit but not: all the connotations of power withnone of the stuffy drawbacks.
And for those lazy Sunday’s why not wear a navy cardigan over your favourite pair of jeans or chinos and a V-neck T-shirt. Or try substituting the tee for a vest as the weather starts to warm up or maybe even those jeans for some chino shorts?

So there you have it, buy some cardigans and thick knit jumpers to see you through these remaining months before the summer finally arrives. Just remember if the cardigan is simple in design and colour you’ll have more room to play with patterns and designs with your under-layer. Similarly, if you’ve picked up a patterned cardigan (like I have, it’s got crazy argyle going on), try to keep the shirt and tie as simple as possible and let the cardigan do all the talking. Look for ones in navy, grey and, particularly as spring kicks in, camel or cream and you can’t go wrong.

Knitwear Picks :

Source : www.fashionbeans.com

Men’s Fashion Basics – Part 4 – Jeans

So, I’ll admit this article has been scaring me for awhile. Not because I have some sort of denim-based phobia but because guys jeans are a VERY personal preference. Everybody has their favourite style, detailing and fit, and more than that, there is such a huge variety out therethat the thought of me having to compact it all down into about 600 words had me running for cover. But I persevered nonetheless…

Jeans are a MUST. They can be used to dress down or dress up just about any outfit.They’re versatile and when done correctly, you should only need to buy three or four of the right pairs to last you for a long time. The more you wear them, the more lived-in they look, giving them distinct detailing that becomes individual to you. You can wear them with a belt or not, cuffed or no cuff, with loads of pockets, with none at all… basically however you want and they will always serve you well.

However, there are a few ground rules we should cover. DO make sure your jeans fit you on your hips, buy them in natural or neutral colours for the moment (like blacks, greys, blues) and try to stick to the stonewashed variety. All acid wash is going to do is remind everyone of a Motley Crue video. The same goes for holes, rips and long threads; the distressed jeans are popular right now and right on trend with the whole worker wear look, but they come and go quickly and seeing as you are at the start of your journey then we should go with classic cuts and colours that will LAST. As for all those guys with designer brands plastered over the pockets on their arse? The last thing I want when a lady is checking out my derriere is for her to then have some other guys brand or name in her head. And neither should you!

Basic Types of Jeans
There are four basic styles of jeans you can go for and each one will present a different look to your outfit when you put them on. Over the last few years we have had a variety of new styles come onto the market like carrot cut, drop crotch, twisted etc. but these (below) are the four main typesthat all other varieties now modify in order to give you a different cut and feel. For this basics article we will concentrate on the originals, and from there you will then be able to diversify in the future, dependant on your preference:

Bootcut – I’m of the personal opinion that there is a strong move away from these occurring right now, with most people preferring the skinnier tucked in look when they wear their boots. However, if you don’t like that look but still love your chunky boots or have the kind of legs that get wider as they go down; these might be a style you want to look into. But remember if they start to remind you even a little bit of flares don’t buy them!

Relaxed – This just means more excess material and a slightly baggier look and a looser fit. Useful for a more casual/laid back outfit with t-shirts and trainers or when you’re lounging around the house on a weekend in your hoody.

Skinny – Nearly always named something different such as tapered, slim or tailored etc. Works for people of a more slender or youthful frame but I’m personally not a fan. With that said when it’s done right and combined correctly with other items it does work really well for some guys. If you draw inspiration from the indie scene or prefer a tailored approach to your clothes, these could be for you.

Straight – Probably the best option for most guys at the moment. They are a happy medium between relaxed and skinny, giving you some room to move while maintaining a shape and outline of your body.

Obviously, I’m not suggesting that you need to go out and buy all these styles in a variety of colours but it does give you an idea of what’s out there. What you need to do is sit down and think about what kind of jeans person you are. If your work days are dominated by suit trousers then I’m guessing your jeans are used as your casual wear to relax in. Or if you’re the kind of guy who wears jeans on a night out or in more formal occasions too, then you’ll probably need jeans that are appropriate to those settings too. What I would suggest is that every guy needs a great pair of straight dark blue jeans, a relaxed fit light blue jean and another straight pair in either grey or black in order to have some bases covered.

When going for a more laid back casual uniform, I find sticking to lighter blue and looser fit jeans works well. Don’t be afraid to let them have some detailing or ‘whiskering’ on them either, you’re supposed to be relaxing so show that you’re not scared to get them a little bit roughed up on your weekend!

On the other hand, when aiming for a smarter or formal look, a pair of darker denim jeans are a great way to dress up just about anything. Try to keep them as simple as you can which will give the other items in your outfit a chance to get all the attention. Think of them as another anchor that you won’t have to worry about, giving you more chance to experiment and build other pieces around it.
Basic Jeans Tips

And as always here are some fool-proof ways of using jeans: -
Taking inspiration from my article on Tee’s, a relaxed fit light to mid-blue jean paired with the V-neck or crew necks you should have in whites, greys and blacks is an easy casual weekend look. Throw on some knitwear or your favourite hoody/leather jacket for some extra warmth when heading outside.
For a night out, try pairing some dark raw denim jeans with a white shirt, black or grey fitted waistcoat and a plaid tie. Have the waistcoat buttoned up or open, whichever you prefer, just keep the jeans simple and fitted and make sure your best shoes are on. Mine would be my black Chelsea boots.
For the grey or black jeans, use them as a great base item for your plaid shirts. You’ll nearly always find me wearing my grey straight jeans with a white V-neck tee and a blue plaid shirt over it.

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg! Try them with your favourite shirts, blazers, waistcoats, shoes, overcoats, jackets, Tees, cardigans, etc. Experiment and see what looks good for YOU. Look through our LOOK BOOK CATEGORY for loads of ideas about which styles work well with which items. As long as they fit you properly and compliment the casual or formal appearance you’re going for then you can’t go wrong.

Source : www.fashionbeans.com

Men’s Fashion Basics – Part 3 – Long Sleeved T-Shirts

Following on from our last article on T-shirts and how they are basic items for any man’s wardrobe, I thought I’d expand on the topic a little more and broaden our horizons into the world of long-sleeved T-shirts. Now there are quite a lot of them about on the high street at the moment with the coming of autumn/winter making them perfect for layering as a base for your outfit. I can’t say I’ve ever really been that much of a fan of long sleeve T-shirts in the past, other than using them for extra warmth under other items… but nonetheless I dived into all the stores in town and had a look at was on offer and what was being done with them.

Similarly to T-shirts, the long sleeved variety come in crew neck and v-neck styles and a myriad of colours to match. A big trend at the moment is the ribbed versions that are being sold in places such as Burton and Topman and seem mainly designed to be used as your first layer when dressing yourself. On the other hand, with the Henley-style (y-style neck with button opening) thick-knit jumpers and T-shirts making a big impact on most designer’s autumn and winter collections, long-sleeved varieties have appeared to become more of a focal point for outfits and can be used singularly when matched underneath some great open knitwear or statement jacket like a trench.

I have in fact purchased a black and charcoal grey striped one from H&M just the other day and think its amazing. When it comes to the Henley versions I would say you’d want to go for some kind of detailing like stripes or patterns, maybe even in bold colourings to differentiate them from your bog-standard under-layers, which should be without details and in neutral colours so they will go with most of your other clothes.

Quick Tips

As always, here are some fool-proof ways of using long-sleeve T-shirts in outfits:
The most obvious one here is the layered look and you’ve got two options. First would be a boldly coloured one in a sky blue, plum purple or a maroon over a neutral one (which hopefully you’ve remembered is either black, white, grey or navy) and just mix up the style of crew and V-neck (open cut version on top). Or go with a white or black crew neck and put a patterned Henley-style one over the top and let the top layer do the talking. Partner with dark-wash jeans, chinos, blazers, scarves, gloves, beanies, anything you can get your hands on.

Try pairing it with a T-shirt or even a Polo Shirt over the top. Kind of the same as what’s been said above but think about getting a graphic T-shirt involved giving the look more of a grungy/skater vibe to it. Go with a more relaxed jean in a lighter wash (but please not those baggy jean shorts from yester-years) and some Vans sneakers to round it off.

Swap them for the T-shirts that you use as the base layer for your casual shirts. Either keep it simple with a white or black crew neck or pick one that will highlight or co-ordinate with a colour already in the shirt. For example, with a red and black plaid shirt think about keeping it in the red family and go with a maroon long sleeve. But remember to roll up the shirt sleeves a little bit to show more of the layer underneath it.

Use a long sleeve t-shirt under a statement jacket on its own. This look can work with neautral colours with something like a mac or military coat to give a really clean and chic look. Alternatively you can use a thick statement long sleeve t-shirt under something like a gilet in order to show off the longer arms and pair with cut off gloves and a great winter scarf.

Don’t think or try too hard. Long sleeve t-shirts can essentially be used just like a normal short sleeved version worn on it’s own, under a hoody, under a check shirt or with a great piece of knitwear or statement jacket. Experiment with layering and using new items within your wardrobe.

So there you have it, something to think about as a variation to T-shirts now that the weather is getting worse and the wind is picking up. I know I’ve changed my mind on them just from walking around on a Saturday morning and checking them out. They’re great for that transition from autumn to winter when you need a little more warmth for your body. They are timeless items which can create a variety of casual or relaxed formal looks when paired with the right items. Find out which way of wearing them works for you and then go out and grab yourself a couple for the coming months and start of next year.

Example :

Source : www.fashionbeans.com

HAPPY PILLS

a candy store in Barcelona called Happy Pills. If this isn’t innovative design, then I don’t know what is. This might be my favorite design concept of the year. Enjoy!

Source : design-milk.com

TYPOGRAPHYSHOP: CLOTHING AND ART FOR TYPE NERDS

Designer Patrick King sent me a link to his TypographyShop online shop for designers and typophiles but I had already known about it. However, I realized I never blogged about it… so here goes!

The shirts in the shop are not only for typophiles, but for graphic designers, too or anyone who might geek out over fonts. I’m particularly font of the “Sans” shirt and “Well Kerned”:

Also, he released a new endeavor – the George Lois Poster Project – in which they are debuting a new poster by Massimo Vignelli, with 10 other prominent designers’ entries in the works.

Source : design-milk.com