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Review of Jack Erwin “Mitch” Plain Toe Blucher
For menswear.
Jack Erwin should be your first stop when shopping the web for dress shoes. They know what they’re doing with a stunning selection of bluchers - beautiful, high-quality, and thoughtfully-designed.
Wait, what’s a blucher, you ask?
A blucher is a style of shoe similar to a derby dress shoe. The front part of the shoe, starting behind the toe and extending through the eyelets, is made of a single piece of leather (in other words, the leather is “one cut”).
Bluchers are named after the 18th century Prussian general Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher, and he commissioned a boot to provide his troops with better footwear. What a nice guy. This particular design was adopted by armies across Europe, and it has since become a fashion statement around the world.
Much like von Blücher of years past, Jack Erwin started out just wanting to create a product to be proud of. Products they needed and wanted, yet couldn’t access.
This particular shoe, the Mitch as it’s called, is part of the Foster Collection and is available in either walnut or black colors. Match the walnut shoe with a tan belt and you’ve just added some pop to those navy or gray slacks.
The Mitch has a straightforward profile for a shoe that will never shout, but dang, does it catch your eye. You could say it’s designed for the simple man. And sometimes the simple man prefers to do the talking himself.
Of course, dress codes these days are often relaxed, and a pair of Jack Erwins goes well with jeans, adding a touch of formality. Choice of shirt is up to you.
These dress shoes are fully leather lined with padded insoles, have hand-stitched leather outsoles, and are handcrafted in Spain. When your feet and reinforced stacked heels hit the pavement, the “clip clop” sounds will put some pep in your step and have you feeling confident heading to your next destination.
Be part of Jack Erwin’s journey to make high-quality shoes accessible to everyone, and check out their collection.
Fabulous and Freaky Spring 2016 Menswear
For menswear.
As soon as the holidays are over, most people’s thoughts are directed toward Spring. We are hoping that we are able to skip over the wet, cold weather of Winter an transition right into the milder temperatures and lighter fabrics of the season.
In the fashion industry, the fashion forecasts for the coming season can be seen on the runway well before that time arrives. There are some classic trends that carry on from year to year and other wacky ones that never make it into the stores. One Spring look that is pretty timeless is from a design house called Grungy Gentlemen, which was seen at the New York Men’s fashion Week. It consists of a slate grey heathered hoodie with ivory contrast trim around the hood, cuffs, and waist. The details of the ivory placket, shoulder seaming and over-sized hidden pockets make this pull-over more of fashion statement than its sports counterpart. Pairing it with a pair of lightweight khaki trousers and cobalt blue shoes make it the perfect outfit for Spring.
Another one of my favorite looks from the 2016 Spring/Summer Menswear collections comes from Michael Kors. The trench coat is a classic menswear piece that never goes out of style. Michael Kors has nailed it when it comes to the tan color, a lighter and more forgiving fabric, and all the classic details of a trench combined into a “go-to” coat for your wardrobe. Even though trench could be easily worn over a suit, Michael Kors keep the overall feel casual with mandarin collar button-down, white rolled-up trousers, and thick-strap sandals. Adding in the matching leather trio of a belt, sandals, and a bag help to pull the outfit together and polish off the look.
Also on the runway for Spring, you will see looks that should never make it into the stores. Duckie Brown let us see a little too much at New York Fashion Week with the see-through, white mesh t-shirt that they paired with some probably very expensive pajama pants. It is not a look that I can imagine wanting to see on the streets, but they do get credit for a great pair of grey leather shoes.
The other look that caught my attention in a bad way was by Gucci. I don’t know which part of the outfit is more disturbing: the 70’s style short-shorts; the open knit-work that makes up the pieces, or the huge embroidered figures on the top. There are just so many reasons to be traumatized by this look.
The Star Wars Red Carpet Premier
For menswear.
When the holidays roll around each year, it is not only the time for family and good cheer, but also the perfect release date for the block-busters of the season. This year, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” was one of the most highly anticipated films set for a holiday release. Fans of the original series that began in 1977, along with the newer, curious crowd who wanted to experience the Star Wars saga lined up for weeks in order to get a coveted premiere seat. On December 14, the TLC Chinese Theater in Los Angeles hosted the red carpet event. The new faces of Star Wars, as well as the old favorites, and celebrity fans made their way to the premiere in front of thousands of adoring fans.
One of the female actors, Gwendoline Christie, who had been known for her role in “Game of Thrones”, played a new character Captain Phasma in The Force Awakens. She arrived on the red carpet for the premiere in an Oscar de la Renta creation that looked like it came from outer space with the yards of white netting on the top and under skirt. It was disappointing for a couture gown, which gave the impression that it was separate pieces thrown together, instead of a gown in which the separate pieces came together as one.
Another new face in the Star Wars series was British Actor John Boyega. He stepped out at the Chinese Theater in LA in a glimmering plum-colored Versace tuxedo that was dramatic on its own with the black accents, but John added to the drama with the mystery of the one black leather glove. The mystery was solved when it was noted that John Boyega is a huge fan of Luke Skywalker, so it was a fashion reference that paid homage to him.
From the original Star Wars movie in 1977, one of the iconic characters was Princess Leia. She was remembered for her curve-hugging, strappy white gowns and her “hair buns”, but for the premiere of The Force Awakens, Carrie Fisher will be remembered for whatever that outfit was that she was wearing. I know that time has marched on, but I think that Carrie could have done a little better than the deeply-split velvet dress, covered by an embroidered/jeweled bowling shirt. Even if her curves have shifted, there is probably a better way to package them.
Posted in menswear
Tagged carrie fisher, Gwendoline Christie, john boyega, Star Wars
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The Puffer Jacket: A Winter Fashion Favorite
For menswear.
Even though many of us in the North East spent our holidays in short sleeve shirts, we knew that old man winter would eventually make an appearance. With the fresh blanket of snow on the ground, everyone is scrambling to keep warm and one of the favorite outerwear pieces of the season is the puffer jacket. The originator of today’s puffer jacket was one of the foremost creator of outdoor wear: Eddie Bauer. During the 1930’s, Bauer was on a fishing trip in Washington State and he was at real risk for hypothermia when his wool coat was saturated with water and the temperature was dropping with the sunset. He did manage to make his way back to civilization and his goal from that point on was to make a coat that would stay dry and be able to withstand the elements.
Today, the puffer jacket comes in many fabrics and fashions. Men and women alike have found it a necessary addition to any winter closet. The Classic Puffer is very full, like this jacket in blue, with wide pockets of down feathers that are stitched to keep them in place and cold weather chaser details like a filled detachable hood, a closure that is both zippered and snapped, and deep secured pockets to house your gloves and hats when you are not wearing them.
There is also a more lightweight version of the down puffer coat, like this metallic brown one from J. Crew, which has the smaller gussets of down that will keep things more compact, in order to get the same warmth in a less bulky jacket. This allows you to layer other items underneath without looking like the Michelin Man. They even have developed down jackets that are able to be rolled up into a ball or bag for easy packing like these from North Face.
The puffer jacket even has move onto the luxury category for men, like this one with the mixed media of a knit collar, a diamond-quilted navy fabric, vest-like body with leather pockets, trim, and sleeves. The mixed media coupled with the button down placket and bright suit jacket lining elevate this puffer jacket to a modern level.
Posted in menswear
Tagged Charmeuse wedding gown, jackets, men's coats, puffer jackets, winter
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DIY Fashion - Trend That Can Save You Money
For menswear.
Halloween is usually that time of the year where we think to ourselves “I want to do something for Halloween but I don’t want to spend that much money on a costume”. That’s when one a little lamp lights up above your head saying “Let’s be creative and make some DIY costumes”. It’s interesting how we feel creative when it comes to creating our own costumes, but why should we restrict ourselves to only Halloween?
The holiday season can also be a good opportunity to exercise the right side of your brain by creating new clothes and accessories that will capture everybody’s attention. Usually during the holidays, many clothing retail stores hike up their prices in order to generate more sales during this period of the year where people spend the most. There is always a last minute gift for someone in the family to buy. But the truth is that although you feel as though you really need that new dress, is it really worth spending all your hard earned cash on it? Not only that, but sometimes we accumulate so many clothes in our closets that we have no idea that we actually have. So during this controversial time of the year, where some people claim to give more for the others and some others claim to have to buy more gifts, a good idea is to do some sort of recycling in your closet while revamping a few of you own looks.
A good and classical example is the white dress that we would all like to wear for New Years Eve. You probably have no idea about how many white clothing items you might still have in your closet. You may have bought because it was a very good deal but you’ve only end up wearing once or twice. This is the perfect example of clothing that has great potential to become your brand new NYE look. With the help of some Pinterest images for inspiration and a few embellishments and craft supplies you can make a look that will rock the New Year’s party.
What about the ugly Christmas sweater? Most retail stores are transforming the classical ugly Christmas sweater in a trendier sweater by adding a few sequins to it. This little detail makes the whole difference and brings a more festive style to the original sweater.
Why not trying to do the same while saving some money? If you master the art of sewing and quilting, this is the best time of the year to remember these skills that were perhaps forgotten in the past. You can easily find fashionable yarn that already comes with sequins so that you can have fun sewing your own DIY trendy Christmas sweater. What if you could do all that without leaving the comfort of your house during the holiday break? Isn’t it the perfect plan? You can easily shop and buy fabrics online and put your creativity to the test!
The Hottest Trends in Hip Hop Jewelry
For menswear.
Featuring iced out watches, diamond encrusted pendants and gold chains, hip hop jewelry (or “bling”) has taken the scene by storm and can be seen everywhere from the urban streets to the red carpet to high profile music videos. Though hip hop jewelry has been around since the 1970s, these extravagant styles in this male dominated music scene became more popular after hip hop went mainstream. Today, hip hop jewelry is worn by the biggest rappers in the business, as well as their fans. Here are some of today’s hottest trends in hip hop jewelry.
Gold Chains
Gold chains have been a major part of hip hop jewelry since its inception. In the beginning, wearing multiple skinny chains was in, and then later large became the norm. Though many hip hop stars switched over to platinum in the ’90s, gold is still king when it comes to hip hop chains. Gold chains are remain a big seller in hip hop jewlery stores and are often worn by hip hop stars, such as Kanye West, Drake, T.I., Jay-Z and Chris Brown, and countless others.
Diamond Encrusted Pendants
Nowadays, hip hop jewelry is all about the bling, and you can’t have bling without a diamond encrusted pendant. And, of course, diamond pendants are the best way to customize a chain. Diamond gold and platinum pendants have become one of the biggest trends in hip hop jewelry, and they are constantly being rocked by the most famous rappers in the game. One of the most well-known diamond chains is Rick Ross’ Self Chain, which has an estimated value of $1.5 million and features custom-made gold diamond version of himself. Other famous chains include Young Jeezy’s large diamond Certified USDA chain (valued at $100,000), Sean Kingston’s Crayon Chain (valued at $500,000), and T-Pain’s extravagant BAC chain (valued at $410,000).
Iced Out Watches
The hip hop jewelry look isn’t complete without an iced out watch. Pretty much every big rapper can be seen with an iced on watch on their wrist. Whether it’s a signature diamond watch from Rolex or a custom Joe Rodeo, watches are a classic timepiece that adds swagger to any outfit. You’ll want to keep your watch in pristine condition, so consider anti-tarnish products to keep it looking brand new at all times.
Black Diamonds
Along with the traditional white diamond, rappers are icing out their jewelry in black diamonds. Though black diamonds don’t have the same sparkle and sheen as white diamonds do, they give jewelry a bold, stunning and unique contrast. Natural black diamonds are real diamonds that are extremely rare. These precious stones get their black color from the inclusion of graphite that occurs in the crystalline structure during its formation. Along with their color and the inclusion of graphite, black diamonds differ from other diamonds in that they are completely opaque. But, like classic white diamonds, black diamonds look stunning on all kinds of jewelry, including iced out pendants, stud earrings and bracelets. Tons of celebrities can be seen rocking black diamonds, with well-known pieces including Just Blazer’s black diamond encrusted PlayStation 3 controller chain and Nas’ “N” chain made of 50 carats of black and white diamonds.
These are some of the biggest trends in today’s hip hop jewelry scene. While hip hop jewelry trends have evolved over the years, what they represent has remained unchanged— a rapper’s presence, prestige and accomplishments.
