Category: ‘men’s fashion’

What: Uppity T-shirts, $25

Why: Just when we’re so over the t-shirt phenomenon, along comes a breath of fresh air. Original. Mildly sarcastic. And something to make you smile. Uppity is a new line of stylish t-shirts with smart and witty words or phrases. Using quality American Apparel shirts, you might already be familiar with their soft feel and true-to-size fit. And at $25, a very recession-friendly splurge that will lighten your mood.

Get Yours: Uppityshirts.com

What: Titanium & Black Cable Dog Tag Chain, $149

Why: Jewelry for men is one of those taboo topics rarely uttered in mixed company. I mean, even the phrase conjures images of Tony Soprano and his entourage. So I’m a strong believer in less is so much more—both in the amount of jewelry worn and the design.

If you’re looking for that special Valentine’s Day gift, chains (men don’t wear “necklaces”) have become popular again and we love the Titanium & Black Cable Dog Tag Chain from Zales. The simple, modern design is sophisticated with a bit of edge. Other types of jewelry we think are acceptable include brushed metal watches, cuff links with personality, and tie bars (although these may be a bit too trendy for some guys).

There are a few items we do not encourage you to pursue. Unless it’s a wedding band, rings are too difficult for men to pull off because most are so gaudy. Dare I even have to say that the chance to wear an earring has long passed for him. At lastly, the bracelet – no matter how thin and understated it may seem  – absolutely not.

Receive free shipping on this chain as well as any order over $149 from Zales.com.

Get Yours: Zales.com

What: Tumi T-Tech Adventure Computer Backpack, $250

Why:  As a New Yorker without a car, I find myself carrying things all the time. It's pretty much been that way since I was a kid in elementary school. But now that I am grown up, I need a grown up travel bag. Recently, Tumi has introduced their new line of backpacks called the T-Tech Adventure. This bag is perfect for the man who needs to carry things to the office and to the gym. The T-Tech Adventure is incredibly comfortable when carrying many items and does a great job of distributing weight to avoid back and shoulder injury. It has a separate space for a laptop and another huge space for folders, gym clothes, shoes, etc.  There are many small pockets to carry items along with small zippered pouches along the straps of the bag – perfect to keep keys or an iPod. This backpack is stylish (I went with black), well-made, and apparently on trend. 

Get Yours: luggageonline.com

What: J. Crew Cashmere Knit Tie, $98

Why: It’s time for ties to lose their stigma as only a business dress accessory. They look great with a casual blazer and button-down shirt or even under a v-neck sweater…both with denim. Keep it simple (with a touch of luxe) with the J. Crew cashmere knit tie. From the brand’s new Liquor Store concept, the tie is part of a recent collaboration between J. Crew and Andy Spade, designer for Jack Spade and yes, husband of Kate. Made in Italy using deliciously soft cashmere, you’ll add something special to his wardrobe for a night on the town. We love the heather grey color, but it’s also available in black.

Get Yours: jcrew.com

What: Bobby Jones Swiss Black Leather Strap, $275

Why: There is something about a nice watch that makes the man. I’ve always had an appreciation for all of the different styles and brands that I see in magazines, but those were often at least a thousand dollars – sometimes a lot more.  As the holidays approach, I’d suggest looking at the assortment of Bobby Jones watches. They're classy, stylish and affordable.  One that caught my eye is the Swiss Black Leather Strap. This watch has a solid frame and feels very comfortable on the wrist. The color is great – a blue that changes subtly depending on the light.

Along with Italian leather straps and an old fashioned seconds sub-dial, this unique timepiece could be a perfect item for your man’s arm (aside from you).

Get Yours: BobbyJonesShop.com

And check out our guide on how to Hippify Your Guy for more ways to make your man stylish.

This week, HeFindsAdam exhibited tremendous courage by allowing three women to come into his home and re-vamp his entire look. Our pro stylists helped him put together a sophisticated, grown-up, and pared-down wardrobe. Below is a round-up of the week's looks:

I helped Adam exorcise his closet of any duplicates and unworn clothes. We also went shopping for a laid-back outfit he could wear for a night out charming the ladies. 

Amy Salinger showed Adam there's more to daytime casual than gym shorts and a sweatshirt. She combined a retro pair of Adidas with some light corduroys for the perfect weekend ensemble.

Kalyn Johnson yanked Adam out of his routine of plain shirts and tired ties when dressing formally. She created unique tie and shirt combos and showed him how to pick the perfect suit.

Which outfit do you think brought out the true essence of Adam? Was it the laid-back for a night out, the daytime casual, or the evening formal? Let us know your favorite in the comments section below. 

What a pleasure it was to meet the incredibly upbeat and personable Amy Salinger, my second stylist of the week. Amy's a professional stylist who has been on every TV network and magazine including MTV and The Today Show, and has worked with several celebrities. She was also a cast member on the reality show The Cut. I was excited to spend time with her to come up with a casual daytime ensemble.

Amy first tackled my shoes. She pulled out a pair of blue Adidas (similar to the ones above) that she thought were great. Amy showed me a ton of different items to wear with them and suggested getting additional casual and “dress casual” shoes at DSW or Zappos.

Once we got the shoes sorted out, we focused on a casual outfit for day. Amy really liked a Cordarounds pair of pants that I owned (and reviewed for GuyFriday) and suggested matching them up with a dark blue casual fleece and grey undershirt. She brought out my Adidas shoes and we were good to go. I would have never put this outfit together myself, and I think Amy did a great job of taking me to a place that I would never have gone on my own. 

I highly suggest learning more about Amy on her website at www.amysalinger.net!

Here are her stylist tips:

• Mixing patterns: Subtle with subtle always works. Subtle with bold is more daring. Save the bold with bold for when you are a pro!

• Add an unexpected color. The key is to have everything match and then throw it off with one surprise color. This is what sets you apart from the crowd!

• Layer it up! T-shirts, button-downs, sweaters, and blazers. This is the order from which to layer. Think options… Layers one and four. Layers two, three and four…

And check out our guide on how to Hippify Your Guy for more ways to make your man stylish.
 

On Day 3, the wonderful Kalyn Johnson came to my door to prepare an outfit for a more formal evening. Kalyn's work is featured in countless magazines, and she has a number of NYC clients who all rave about her, including Ryan Smith, the co-host of BET’s My Two Cents. She has created a “Little Purple Book of Style” that everyone should get their hands on – focusing on the essentials of building a better wardrobe.

Kalyn’s first suggestion was to go shopping and accessorize. Combinations of ties, cuff links, and shoes can really make an outfit extra special. She also felt I needed a great pair of black dress shoes from Johnston and Murphy as a staple to my wardrobe.

Kalyn showed me ways to put together patterned dress shirts and ties – combinations that I would have never thought of myself. She combined a striped blue tie similar to the one above with a white and blue checked button-down to create a unique and modern look.  

Another great suggestion was to replace plastic shirt collar stays with stainless steel versions for the most important shirts in my wardrobe.   

Kalyn provided me with a full evaluation of my formal wardrobe after our meeting and I highly recommend learning more about this fantastic stylist at www.kalynjohnson.com.

Here are Kalyn’s stylist tips:

• Suits: A charcoal grey suit will look great on you and will work with most of the dress shirts you own.  Once you find the right charcoal grey suit, you will be able to use it in place of your black suit.  Go for an all-weather fabric, a 2-button jacket and flat-front pants with pant legs that narrow towards the ankle.

• Shoes: One way to update or elevate your look is to invest in new shoes. Plan to spend at least $250 on one pair – over the course of time, you will get your money’s worth. Break down the cost of the shoes by number of times you will likely wear them (or number of years you will wear them). Don’t let the dollar amount scare you off, focus on maximizing your investment over the long-haul.

• Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize:  Accessories can make or break an outfit; I cannot emphasize this enough.  For your formal wardrobe, that really means ties and cuff links. Consider adding a pop of color to your tie collection. And for the bling at the wrist, find a pair that make your heart leap. Check out Paul Smith, Century 21, Saks, Bergdorfs, and Steve Alan.

And check out our guide on how to Hippify Your Guy for more ways to make your man stylish.

Always up for a challenge, our incredibly brave Guy Friday writer, Adam, agreed to a closet overhaul and makeover by three different stylists who helped him create specific looks for his busy lifestyle. This week, he'll share his experiences with us, and (hopefully) reflect fondly upon his transformation. Here's Adam's account of Day One:

Most men I know seem to have 2 problems – throwing things away and spending time going shopping for new clothes. I fall into both worlds and our first stylist, Bryn Taylor, came to my rescue. Bryn is currently the Managing Editor of SheFinds with a ton of stylist experience.

We started by emptying every item in my closets onto my bed in huge piles. We went through each item and anything I hadn't worn in over 8 months or so was put in the adios pile. There were other items that I had worn recently that Bryn told me either made me look like an old man, a gay man, or a young boy. And since I am none of those, they had to go. A lot of duplicates also hit the charity pile.

Ultimately, 75% of my clothes ended up going to a good cause.

Now it was time to buy some clothes. We started with jeans. In the past, the most I had spent for jeans was $60, so you can imagine my surprise when the first pair was almost $200 by Diesel. But we discussed how often I wear jeans and how this investment would be well worth it. After trying them on,  they felt great and the darker color blue really worked.

The second pair by 7 For All Mankind was a bit long, but could be shortened. I had no idea jeans could be tailored – keeping the same original bottoms on (which I got done a week later by a local tailor, which every stylist said you need to have).

I’ve always wanted a cool blazer, but never really was able to find the right one. Bryn handed me a charcoal blazer by William Rast that truly had its own personality. It was very versatile and worked with the jeans I bought and almost every button-down I own. I could wear it to work or out at night with jeans or with slacks (and I have already done both). All in all a great first step towards upgrading my closet.

Bryn offered me some tips I can use when left to my own devices:

• When maintaining your closet, the less clothes the better. If you have less to look at or choose from, your choices will be easier and you will take less time getting dressed.

• Opt for a slimmer, darker fit when buying jeans. It will make you look more polished and pulled together. And probably a few pounds lighter.

• A blazer goes a long way. Invest in a nice, neutral blazer and you'll find yourself wearing it to the office with a button-down, out at night with a t-shirt, and even on the weekends over a light sweater.

And check out our Hippify Your Guy Guide for more ways to make your man more stylish this holiday season.  

What: Banana Republic Cashmere V-neck Sweater, $180

Why: I absolutely love chocolate brown, especially when paired with a color like blue or orange. I almost bought a chocolate Lab instead of a black Lab, just so I could put a smart, colorful collar on her. Much to my excitement, chocolate returned this fall with a vengeance in just about everything. Give your guy some chocolate in the Banana Republic cashmere v-neck sweater. Rich and luxurious, he can wear it day or night, with a tee or button-down.

Get Yours: BananaRepublic.com

What: True Wind Navigator Duffel Bag, $165

Why: The duffel is a unique accessory that is defined (according to Wikipedia) as a large cylindrical bag made of cloth with the closure at the top. A unique word I like saying over and over (you should try it) who’s origins come from a small town in Belgium with the same name. The evolution of the duffel bag is represented beautifully in True Wind’s Navigator Duffel Bag.

This bag is the perfect gift for those men who love to be in and around the water. The nautical theme is simply classic and a great accessory for your active man. The True Wind Navigator Duffel is made (in the USA) of some of the finest materials – including real sailcloth (the same used in high-end sailboats) and very solid brass buckles. One of the coolest differentiators with this duffel is the unique stripe design inspired by the colors and patterns found on maritime signal flags. The bags come in two sizes and the colors on all of them are bright and vibrant. All hands on deck – it's duffel time.

Bonus: Have his initials embroidered directly on the bag!

Get Yours: truewindusa.com