Cherry, Eh?

The 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics came to an end yesterday, and we (us Canadians) went out with a bang! A great win, for a great nation.

For those of you who watched the game, you probably didn't forget a short interview with a man named Don Cherry. Cherry, an NHL head coach turned tv host whose best known in Canada for his analysis on "Hockey Night in Canada" is quite a unique fellow, eh.

Now I wouldn't go so far as to call him a style icon, but I have to say, we can all learn an important lesson in cojones from Cherry. For the record, I don't necessarily agree with his clothing choices, but I can certainly appreciate his "this is me" attitude.

Cherry is certainly not afraid to be himself and have a unique sense of style, as we can see from his custom-made floral-print double-breasted jackets and collars stiff and upright enough that he could take a nap standing up.

Think of him as the Canadian Craig Sager (although Cherry definitely takes the crown).

Regardless of his crazy costumes, I think the lesson to be learned from this man is important: don't be afraid to be yourself. Don't dress (or act, or strive, for that matter) to "fit in" with those around you. Don't be afraid to take risks because you are afraid of what your friends, or co-workers, or whoever might think. Express yourself and be true to who you are, in the way you dress, and otherwise.

Thanks for reading.

Your in style,
SB

Tip-of-the-Day: Dress like a cartoon!

So this is going to sound funny (no pun intended). You've probably never been advised to dress like a cartoon...but watching your favorite animated program can be a lesson in proper-fitting clothing! Don't ask me where I get this stuff...but most cartoon characters have perfectly fitting clothing (I know, because they don't have bodies).

The lesson here is that your clothing should follow the natural lines of your body. Your shoulder seams should hit at your shoulder (not hang off), your inseam should cover your leg (not too short showing your socks, and not too long bunching up at your shoes), your sleeves should hit straight down at your wrist (not bunch-up or hang into your hands), your collar should fit your neck (not hang off), etc.

Even Homer has a great tailor.

Yours in style,
SB

Is it just me...

...or are tv characters becoming more and more stylish and fashion-forward?

It started with Gossip Girls' uber-preppy, and equally as cocky, student/rich kid Chuck Bass (played by Ed Westwick). 

Then came the great 1950's chic advertising guru Don Draper (played by Jon Hamm) on Mad Men.

And most recently, Neil Caffrey (played by Matthew Bomer) debued yesterday as "the world's coolest [and best dressed] con man" on White Collar.

Not that I watch much tv, but if this is the direction that series' are heading, maybe I'll start making more time to watch.

Yours in style,
SB

Tribute to THE KING

I am a HUGE Michael Jackson fan.

I just finally found the time to watch the MTV Video Music Awards, and loved the MJ tribute. Madonna's speech was great, especially this line: "there is no question Michael Jackson was one of the greatest talents the world has ever known". The best part of the tribute was that although the imitation dancers did a tremendous job, if you watch the video screen behind them of Michael himself dancing, you can clearly see why he was so special. Nobody can compare.

Before you focus on the tainted view of Michaels life defined by the issues and accusations in his later years, consider this as proof that he was the man. A relative of mine once attended an MJ concert in the early 90's. The show was sold out and he put on an incredible performance. So incredible that the show had to be stopped six times because women were fainting and needed to be carried out of the arena. Six times (in two hours)! When have you ever had that effect on a woman?

Not only did Michael (damn I hate writing in past tense) make legendary hit after legendary hit, but he was also a true style icon, and since I was away when Michael passed, I never really had the chance to write a worthy post on his unique and inspiring style.

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that wearing a sparkling studded glove to the office tomorrow morning is a good idea, but Michael's style can be used as inspiration to dress with self-expression and find YOUR own unique look. Just keep in mind that entertainers have a full time "wear whatever I f-ing want" pass (case and point, Lady Gaga, below).

Don't try to be Michael, but don't be afraid to be YOU.

Yours in style, SB.

The Most Stylish Music Video Ever?

I am absolutely loving the transition of hip-hop music and culture. I've always been a big fan of hip-hop music for its creativity, originality and its "anything is possible" attitude.

Love it or hate it, hip-hop has always been very influential and has always had a strong impact on youth culture, specifically on the way young people dress. So now that rappers are rhyming about Martin Margiela ("ain't nobody fresher, I'm in Maison, uh, Martin Margiela" -Jay-z in "Run This Town") and wearing high-end fashion brands like Tom Ford and Calvin Klein Collection (see picture below), we are seeing more and more people wanting to dress-up and wear clothing that is slimmer, more tailored and more fashion-forward.

Photo via GQ.com

This transition, which is due in large part to the genius and influence of Kanye West, is producing a whole different type of music video, like the one below, which is part short film, part work of art, and part runway show.

Watch the video HERE (it wouldn't allow me to embed it directly onto my blog).

If you're wondering, my favorite look is Common's (the third rapper on the track). Check out those shoes! Those ain't no Air Force One's.

Yours in style, DT aka SB

Well done Button...

I watched The Curious Case of Benjamin Button last night for the second time. It is a great movie, although a tad long. The story is thick with life metaphors and historical context, but the best part of the film is Button's incredible wardrobe (although it doesn't make much sense that he's unemployed in New Orleans in the mid 1900's but wearing some serious designer threads). Nevertheless, it made the movie more interesting - at least for me. I love the use of wardrobe to further develop characters.

Of course, it doesn't take much to make Brad Pitt look good, but he rarely repeats any outfit, wears his clothing with a great nonchalance, and is always well suited for the occasion. Kudos to the wardrobe stylist. Watch and learn.

Also, a great quote that stuck with me from the movie:

“...What I think is, it’s never too late...or, in my case, too early, to be whoever you want to be...There’s no time limit, start anytime you want...change or stay the same...there aren’t any rules...We can make the best or worst of it...I hope you make the best...I hope you see things that startle you. Feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people who have a different point of view. I hope you challenge yourself. I hope you stumble, and pick yourself up. I hope you live the life you wanted to...and if you haven’t, I hope you start all over again.”

Don't put your foot in your mouth, but let your kicks do the talking

I am often asked if it is possible for a man to pull-off sneakers (we're talking collectibles, like retro Jordans or limited edition Nike Dunks, for example) and look stylish - and not childish. The answer is yes, although it can be tricky.

While I rarely wear sneaks myself anymore, I used to have an extensive collection - from limited edition Air Force Ones to every Jordan from I to XX. So needless to say, I still have a certain fondness and nostalgia for a nice pair of kicks, especially if they are rare (after all, I'm all about being unique and original). Luckily, two of my long-time friends have perfected the art of grown-man-kickery.

The best way to do it, in my opinion, is to let the kicks do all the talking. That is, if your kicks are loud, don't put them in a shouting match with the rest of your outfit. Tame your outfit down, keep it simple, neutral, and (of course) well fitted. A simple, neutral-colored button-up or polo with khakis or plain jeans will have you looking like a grown man while also leaving a blank canvas for your kicks to jump off of.

Most men try to experiment with a dash of loud color in their outfits at some point or another (usually ties or pocket squares), this is just another (more casual) way to do it. Some minimal matching can slide, but the last thing you want to do is wear a bright pair of sneakers with a matching outfit (t shirt, hat, etc)...nobody will take you seriously, especially women.

Notice the picture below...if you look at it and put your hand over their feet to cover their shoes, they look like normal (although good looking and Italian) average Joes, just like everyone else. Go ahead, try it! Once you removed your hand, however, and look at their entire outfit, you start to get the sense that these two cats are unique, creative, original, cool, etc... They let their kicks do the talking...because their kicks have alot to say.

Stay original. Yours in style, Style Blogger.

The Guys Who Are Making Suits Cool Again

Young people are wanting to wear suits more and more. Men are wearing suits to "business casual" events, out to night clubs, and even with sneakers and t-shirts on their own time.

90's businesses across the board, lead by Google and the other "techies", adopted a (very) casual dress code where suits were no longer necessary. In my opinion, this overly casual movement created an old-world nostalgia for the days when guys dressed like men and wore suits, and took care of business while "dressed for success".

In combination with that, some of the coolest cats in the media (from athletes, to actors, to musicians) are rocking suits on a regular basis...and we all know the fashion pull that celebrities have.

Here are some of the top players who are making suits cool again:

Justin Timberlake

Kanye West

Jay-Z

Ari Gold

Mad Men

The Cast of the Ocean's Movies

David Beckham

P. Diddy

Remember the days when hip-hop artists dressed like this:

(If you are under the age of 15...Yes, that is P. Diddy, back when he was Puff Daddy)

I'd say it's been an improvement.

MJ vs. Lebron

Winner: Lebron (hands down, no contest)

Runner up: MJ

On the court, it's not so easy...

The Most Interesting Man in the World

I love these ads! Makes me want to be this man.

Disheveled Elegance

I used this term in a post the other day and called it the "top look in menswear right now"...and I've been receiving questions about it. So let me explain.

In my opinion, there is a spectrum of how men dress. It ranges from those who don't care at all (dirty t-shirts, old running shoes, sweat pants...) to those who try-too-hard (over accessorizing, perfect hair, pressed jeans...). Disheveled Elegance is a term used to describe a man who's style falls somewhere in the middle.

The man clearly put some thought into what he is wearing, but it looks like he just threw it together on his way out the door. There are some imperfections, but it makes his outfit interesting. Most importantly, he is not trying to throw his style in anyone's face, it is natural and comfortable. This look is often easiest to pull off with pieces that are well lived-in and broken in.

Yours in style, Style Blogger

The Tiger Woods of Style

Tiger hit his first hole-in-one when he was 6 years old. Here's another youngster at the top of his game.

Photo by Scott Schuman

I can only hope that one day my son will have this much swagger.

Reader Question

Reader:

What about popping your collar on a peacoat, a la James Dean? (see picture below)

Style Blogger:

Absolutely! James Dean is a tremendous style icon. He is regarded as the first to coin the "Effortless Cool" look...which is now known by many as "Disheveled Elegance" and is one of the top looks in men's style (a post on this is coming soon).

On top of being a great style influence, James Dean is also a great inspiration for a laissez-faire approach to life. Stick out from the crowd. Embrace youth. Live fast and hard. Sadly though, his story also reminds us that life is short. RIP JD.

Thanks for bringing up this point, I should have mentioned it in the earlier post on popped collars. I almost always wear my collar up when wearing a peacoat. This may or may not be due to unconsciousioulsy asking myself WWJDD :)

Thanks for reading! Style Blogger

Early bird gets the worm...

Check out this youngster with incredible style! Believe it or not he's only 8 years old.

See him featured in GQ here.

Ivy League Style

Ever wonder why your college professors are always wearing tweed blazers and shetland sweaters? Check out this awesome (and quite long) interview with Bruce Boyer on ivy-style. Boyer gives a great historical perspective of the evolution (or lack thereof) of men's fashion through time.

Check it out here.