The Ascot

When I think of an ascot, I think of a true gentleman, sophisticatedly dressed, and perhaps sipping on scotch in the study. The ascot look can be worn, however, in a more modern, preppy fashion that brings a bit of interest to an otherwise traditional button down. 

I was inspired to use a pocket square as a little ascot or foulard while shopping at Ralph Lauren when I spotted it on a mannequin. It is easy to do, and pocket squares come in a variety of fun prints and colors to add interest. Just roll the pocket square, and tie around the neck for an easy ascot. For me, I love the air of European flair it adds to an outfit. Below, I've paired a yellow paisley with a black and white oxford for contrast.

Pocket Square: Polo Ralph Lauren (Similar) // Shirt: Ralph Lauren Black Label (Similar) // Belt: Hermes

New York Essential: Bean Boots

This winter has been quite relentless in the Northeast. We just received 11 inches of snow and or forecasted to pick up a few more inches over the new few days, with the potential for a major storm in a few weeks. 

Snow in New York is pretty for about 10 minutes, and then it turns into a slushy, brown mess. This time, with the polar vortex in place, this slushy mess is not going anywhere any time soon. This makes stepping out the door and moving around the city and nightmare...for your shoes that is. 

I will be living in my LL Bean Boots over the next 1.5 weeks as the streets continue to be wet and slushy. They are known for their exceptional quality guarantee and are actually quite versatile when it comes to making an outfit. Below I am wearing the original style, but also have the fleece lined style for when its very snowy- in fact, I packed them for a trip to Aspen last January. 

I put together an outfit that keeps my feet dry on the street, but also keeps me warm inside during the very cold weather we are also experiencing thanks to the heavy cardigan. I love the check pattern of the shirt and the elbow patch details on the cardigan. A wool toggle coat overtop would make this the perfect outfit to trek out in the aftermath of the storm and into the polar vortex. 

Shirt- Jack Wills (similar) // Sweater- Jack Wills (similar) // Denim- 7 for all Mankind Belt- Ralph Lauren // Boots- LL Bean

Paris Fashion Week

After shows in London and Milan the past few weeks, the attention has moved to Paris. This is one of my favorite settings as some of my favorite designers show in Paris. I have been loving most of what I am seeing on the runways for autumn/winter 2014.  Neutrals seem to be dominating the Paris runways.

I loved the tailoring and outwear from Balmain, whom never disappoints in this category. Other favorites that have gone down the runway so far have been Valentino, filled with loose fitting suits and "couture pieces", a new direction for the brand in terms of menswear. Additionally, I personally loved the modern collections shown by Phillip Lim and Dries Van Noten.

I know New York comes alive during Fashion Week, so I can only imagine what it is like to be in Paris during these exciting times of the year. Last week, Maison Kitsuné annouced the opening of their new café in Paris. The café is set to open today, and it looks amazing! Below are a few photos that give a look inside. Given its fusion of fashion, music, and coffee, I imagine it will be a fashion week "hotspot"

As we head into the weekend, I can only wish that I was in Paris sipping on espresso at Café Kistuné as I browse the street style from likes of Tommy Ton and The Satorialist.

What collections have you been loving from the menswear shows? 

Photos: Balmain via Style.com and Karl Hab

Fashion Friday: Motorcycle Inspiration

The motorcycle trend is very popular this season, with many designers showcasing moto jackets and denim. I personally love motorcycle jackets with all the pockets or side zippers as well as the details on moto denim. 

The weather has turned much more fall like, so I was able to start wearing some new pieces of outwear and sweaters. One designer that always has hints of motorcycle inspiration throughout the collection is Ralph Lauren Black Label. I put together a motorcycle inspired look, perfect for the fall 2013 season with my own Black Label pieces. 

I love the versatility of this jacket with all its pockets and the belt. I like to use the belt as the zipper, just tying it around the waist to close the jacket instead of actually zippering. This creates a much more casual and effortless style. 

This denim is absolutely amazing with its heavily waxed canvas. They are actually all cotton, but give the appearance of leather. The denim goes perfectly with the moto inspiration.

For me, this look is urban and edgy at its finest. It would be perfect for a night out on the town, or a casual Saturday shopping Madison Avenue. Are you wearing the motorcycle trend this season?

Featured:

Jacket, Sweater, Denim: Ralph Lauren Black Label

Boots: John Varvatos

Fall 2013 Collection From Martin de Tours Clothier

During fashion week, I had the opportunity to preview the collection from customer clothier, Martin de Tours. The new fall 2013 collection is now ready to be purchased and is available online at Martin de Tour's website.

This is an upcoming brand that invites men to think about suiting differently, namely custom tailored dress shirts and suits. I think custom-made pieces are going to be the future of men's clothing. Instead of paying a large amount for a big name Italian suit that may not fit perfectly, Martin de Tours offers an alternative to off the rack garments and gives the best fit possible. I love accessible lifestyle Martin de Tours is creating because I can relate to having trouble with finding a good fit when shopping.

In the fall 2013 collection, the brand introduces their Prerequisite, Signature, and Heritage styles. All suits are 100% wool and all dress shirts are 100% cotton. I was able to experience the fabrics and quality firsthand, and I must say that they are of quality. Additionally, the prices for these made-to-measure garments are exceptional with suits in the $495 range and dress shirts in the $99 range.

Martin de Tours also makes the shopping experience, which some men dread, quite easy. Guests of the website have a personal style valet at their disposal to help select the perfect items to match your measurements and preferences. This brand makes you think twice before picking a suit off the rack and invites men to enter into the world of custom made clothing.

Photos: Tamara York PR

The Esquire Trunk Club Collection

Esquire Magazine and Trunk Club have launched a collaboration for key items for fall and beyond. Trunk Club is a high-end personalized shopping service designed for the busy man. Each new member is pared with his own personal stylist who picks clothing based on the member's preferences and lifestyle. You can sign up online at Trunk Club.

The collaboration features a limited edition trunk of 7 essential items for fall curated by Esquire's editors. The selection includes brands such as AG Jeans, Billy Reid, Bespoken, Barbour, Gant Rugger, L.B.M. 1911, and Vince. Below are the featured items:

I love the editors' selection as many of my favorite brands are included in the curation. I own pieces from the majority of these designers and the quality is excellent. Additionally, these pieces are both wear now and wear later in the season as we get closer to winter. Esquire fashion director Nick Sullivan said, "We worked hand-in-hand with the team at Trunk Club to select quintessential pieces for fall and beyond." I could not agree more- classic styles such as plaids and shawl collars are perfect for the fall and winter seasons. Additionally, pieces such as the Barbour vest are great for layering and for being used as transition pieces. 

What do you think of the curation? It is definitely representative of my style and pieces I love!

Photos: Allen Cooper Enterprises

Colorful Summer Linens

When one thinks of summer dressing, a few things come to mind: colors, seersucker, and linen. Linen is a perfect summer fabric as it is lightweight, breathable, and usually comes in an array of colors perfect for the season. 

These casual yet sophisticated linen button down from Ralph Lauren Purple Label come in beautiful colors. I opted for almost every color they had! The pastel hues will be perfect for summer night dinners, vacations, and of course my upcoming trip to the Mediterranean! Linen will definitely be a staple in my wardrobe as the summer continues, especially with the extremely hot weather we have been having.

Wear your linens tucked in with a belt for a more office appropriate look, or pair with white pants, untucked, and sandals for the ultimate Hamptons  casual look.

Styled:

Shirt: Ralph Lauren Purple Label
Shoes: Ralph Lauren
Chinos: Ralph Lauren

Above, I pair a bright pink with a dark navy bottom for contrast and a pair of simple loafers. The look is classic prep and perfect for any summer occasion. 

Fashion Friday: Fit For The Palace

The New York Palace, which we all know and love from Gossip Girl, recently underwent a $140 million renovation project and debuted their Royal Suite. You can read more about my preview of the Suite at Skimbaco Lifestyle.

When I got the invitation, I immediately started thinking about what I was going to wear to the Palace, especially being in the Royal Suite! The weather has been unbearably hot in New York for the past 2 weeks so I knew lightweight chinos and a button down would be perfect.

Shirt: Ralph Lauren Purple Label
Chinos: Ralph Lauren
Sandals: Ralph Lauren
Belt: Hermes

I love the contrast of something brightly colored against a preppy navy. In this instance, it really makes my shirt standout, and in addition my sandals contrast against the navy chinos as well. I am not usually a huge sandal person, but these have such a European flare to them that I thought they were a perfect fit with the outfit.

So if it was perfect for the Royal Suite at the Palace, I think this outfit would definitely work for dinners, the Hamptons, or perhaps on my upcoming trip to the South of France!

Fashion Friday: Give Back With The Limited

Ladies, The Limited is making is easier than ever to give back and celebrate your success while supporting a great cause. Founded in 1963, The Limited brought runway styled fashions to women across the country and expanded the growth of malls. Now, the company is celebrating 50 years with a special campaign supporting Dress for Success.

Dress for Success is an international non-profit that offers interview apparel as well as career development for women entering and re-entering the workforce. They are currently located in over 125 cities throughout the United States and the world. 

The best part? Giving back is so easy. Simply share a story of your success/life lessons on the Limited's website here, and for every story that is submitted, $1 will be donated to Dress for Success, up to $50,000. If you are in the mood to shop, The Limited has designed a special clutch and bracelet that will debut this fall, with 30% of proceeds from these products going to Dress for Success. 

Share you stories and make a difference. 

Images Courtesy of ZPR

Hopenlife Launches Linen Collection

Linen is the perfect fabric for summer occasion. It is lightweight and breathable, yet looks slightly dressy and chic. Hopenlife is a French men's lifestyle brand that was created in 1987. The brand spans three lines: Premium, Lifestyle, and Hipstyle.

The new Hopenlife linen collection revisits the sophistication of linen with a range of shirts, Bermuda shorts, and trousers in the perfect summer colors. The focal piece of the collection is a trouser with the effect of denim. Thus, it allows for a more urban style that is still crafted in linen.

On a side note, linen is an eco friendly fiber. The farming of linen requires neither water nor pesticides. The plant itself detains parts of carbon that spread throughout the atmosphere. Do you love linen in the summer time? You can see each Hopenlife collection at HopenLife.com.

Photos: David Guili, HopenLife

Fashion Friday: Tonal Color Palette

When I mix colors in an outfit, I often mix colors that are more complimentary then those that are in the same color grouping. For example, I will pair a blue oxford with yellow chinos or a navy cable sweater with a pink polo.  The contrast between the colors makes the outfit pop. 

Tone-on-tone is another popular option. I see most people doing tone-on-tone white or black outfits. I tried doing a more tonal look with color of course.

Instead of pairing, say, a green sweater with this yellow shirt, I selected orange which was much closer to the color palette of the entire shirt. I like the look of a more tonal pairing. Do you wear tone-on-tone outfits?

Wallis Debuts Autumn Winter 2013 Collection

London clothier, Wallis Fashion, hosted a preview of its Autumn/Winter 2013 Collection at the Bryant Park Hotel. The backdrop for the showing was a view of the Manhattan Skyline from the terrace of the hotel. 

The focal point of the preview was the new, up and coming line "W" designed by Satil Mehta. This new line is for an older, upscale woman who is looking for trends without becoming a slave to fashion. Mehta brings his skills in tailoring and details from menswear to the collection. The new, exclusive "W" line was show cased next to current pieces from the spring/summer collection.

This was my first exposure to Wallis, and it is amazing quality for the price. These are pieces you can wear season after season without spending a large amount. For example, blazers were about 100-$120! Cannot beat that. In the US, you can shop Wallis online.

Satil's new collection was received very highly by the press, and I also recommend checking it out when it debuts. The quality difference between the current line, and the new, upscale one were definitely notable. 

Here's a few pieces that were on display:

The autumn/winter collection is filled with knits, detailed outerwear, and dresses in wearable jersey fabrics.

Fashion Friday: A Bold Pant

Preppy dressing is all about print, color, or pattern- or all three! I have quite a few statement pants in my wardrobe with wild paisleys from the likes of Lilly Pulitzer and Bills Khakis. A pant is an easy way to make a statement with your outfit, and can be toned down with the choice of top. 

Photo by Daryl Oh
Sweater: Tom Hamilton for Bergdorfs
Pants: Dries Van Noten
Shoes: Christian Louboutin

Above, I've paired a dark red, striped pair of Dries Van Noten pants with a neutral sweater. The pants make the statement, while the conservative choice of sweater helps keep the look relatively toned down. I opted to add bit more interest to the look with studded oxfords by Christian Louboutin. 

Whether you are a veteran at making a bold statement with your outfit or a novice, try a bold pant. It is easy and can often be repeated multiple seasons. 

Fashion Friday: Preppy Semi Formal

As I mentioned yesterday, I like to stand out from the crowd a little bit, contrast. When one thinks of semi formal attire they think of a boring black suit, a tie, and typical black dress shoes. I had to attend a semi formal event last evening, and I did not one to be dressed like every other man at the event. 

I infused my preppy style and love for print and color into a "semi formal" outfit that was not your typical black suit and a tie. 

Bow Tie: Lilly Pulitzer / Blazer: Thom Browne / Shoes: Billy Reid

The bow tie, paired with a white shirt adds a pop of color, and the navy tipped blazer is classic preppy style. Together with slim chinos and wingtip shoes, the outfit was perfect for spring event held by the water. Typical semi formal attire-no. However, I stayed true to my style and how I love to dress. A little Moet champagne goes perfect with the outfit as well!

 

Fashion Friday: Wearing a Double Windsor

There are SO many options out there for men when it comes to knotting a tie. Once we learn one, we usually tend to stick to it. For me, my go-to happens to be the double windsor. This knot is much larger than many other styles, and really makes your tie standout. 

I was prompted to share my love for the double windsor knot after my experience yesterday. I entered a luxury store in SoHo, dressed in business formal. I noticed the doorman looking at my knot as he opened the door for my entry. Upon leaving, he stopped and said, "I really like your knot. How do you do that?!" I explained to him that it was the double windsor knot, and attempted to demonstrate. 

Tie: Robert Talbot

For me, the double windsor is classic and sophisticated. Nothing makes one look more polished and put together than a prominent, well made tie knot. Want to try the double windsor yourself? Instructions are below:

Source: tie-knots.org via John on Pinterest

Fashion Friday: Spring Desert Boots

The desert boot, also called chukka boots, were popular during the 1940's and 1950's. The name chukka actually comes from the game of polo, and these boots have become popular once again amongst the preppy crowd. We have seen them in J.Crew catalogs over the past few seasons and in many of the major department stores. 

Desert boots are right on trend for spring 2013, in colorful suede to be exact.

Source: stylelover.tumblr.com via Life Through Preppy Glasses on Pinterest

I love these colors for spring wardrobes. These will be perfect paired with light denim or even white denim once summer approaches and an oxford. Shown above are options from Ralph Lauren, Del Toro, Closed, and Clea.

The desert boot is slowly becoming a staple in every preppy wardrobe...its giving the boat shoe a run for its money!

Fashion Friday: New Years Dressing

We are almost ready to ring in another New Year. Where does time go?! New Years Eve is a special occasion for many as well pull out the best of the best from our closet. Whether you are ringing in the new year in NYC, at home, or on the town, I hope you make it a black tie affair. One can never go wrong with a classic, black tuxedo for ringing in the new year in style. NewYears is not complete without lots of champagne on the side either!

Dolce & Gabbana Martini Slim-fit Wool and Silk-Blend Tuxedo Jacket
mrporter.com

DIOR tailored trouser
$510 - farfetch.com

Dolce & Gabbana Slim-Fit Cotton Tuxedo Shirt
mrporter.com

Rolex Explorer Ii Customized Watch
$19,835 - montaignemarket.com

Salvatore Ferragamo Antone Patent Loafer
bergdorfgoodman.com

Armani Collezioni Solid Black Silk Bow Tie
nordstrom.com

Wishing everyone a happy and stylish New Year!