A Diva State of Mind

Dwyane Wade made headlines this week when he was spotted wearing a Gucci double breasted polka dot suit jacket with ankle baring pants. This is a prime example of “when men wearing rolled up pants goes wrong.”

Guys, let this be a quick tutorial on how you can successfully wear rolled up pants during the spring/summer season. Your pants should not be tight like skinny jeans! There is debate over how high they should be rolled. You can check out an article on the art of rolling pants HERE which outlines how many inches pants should be rolled depending on style (jeans vs. khakis, etc).

Personally, I don’t think they should go higher than your ankle. Anything higher than that and you run the risk of looking like your clothes are too small or you’re wearing high waters (although some people want to achieve that look). Kevin Hart joked that D. Wade stole his suit and in this picture it looks like it! D. Wade’s thighs look like they are screaming for circulation and they just look too short!

If you’ve ever considered rolling up your jeans or khakis, check out the photos below for inspiration.

You can also check out Trey Songz’s photo spread in GQ Magazine for inspiration!

Here’s what the guys on Inside the NBA had to say about D. Wade’s satorial choice. Hilarious!

Last week I was invited to attend the PINK event at United Colors of Benetton in Georgetown. The event kicked off Benetton’s Spring Summer 2013 campaign.  For this year’s campaign, Benetton asked nine unique Style Ambassadors to share their personal interpretation of color. These ambassadors include model Alek Wek, boxer & model  Dudley O’Shaughnessy (he’s the love interest in Rihanna’s “We Found Love” video) and more.

Upon entering the Georgetown store, guests were greeted to champagne. As much as I wanted to buy something I was generous to my wallet and didn’t (this time).  It’s been a long time since I shopped at Benetton and they have some really cute pieces so I will definitely be back.  Instead of shopping, I spent time taking pictures of the women’s and men’s Spring Summer 2013 collection just for you!

Women’s Collection

Men’s Collection

A lot of color and prints for the new season!! For more information about the Spring Summer 2013 campaign, click HERE.

There’s nothing like a man in a well tailored suit!!

Indochino , the pioneer and global leader in online custom menswear, will open a Traveling Tailor Pop-Up Shop at LivingSocial in Washington, DC from Saturday, March 2nd through Sunday, March 10th from 8am-8pm daily (918 F Street NW).

Following much success in Chicago and New York, Indochino has decided to bring its Traveling Tailor Pop-Up Shop to Washington DC, where their expert staff will take your measurements for you, and provide you with personal styling.  Learn which customizations work best to complement your specific body type, which colors are great for your skin tone, which collars will suit your face shape. Online measurement profiles will be created at the event; after that, creating a custom wardrobe of suits, shirts, outerwear and chinos is simply a click away.

Appointments are available from March 2nd through March 10th in 15 minute intervals for men to meet with one of Indochino’s custom tailors and stylists. Everyone who books an appointment will receive a FREE dress shirt ($79 value) with any suit purchase, one shirt per customer. Book your appointment now at:  http://www.indochino.com/dc.

Guys, if you’re in need of a custom suit, this is a pop-up shop you’ll want to consider checking out!

Check out the Forbes review of Indochino HERE.

I know it’s really hard to talk about Spring while it’s 30 degrees outside, but you know the fashion world is always a ahead of the current season.

It’s no secret women’s fashion includes florals, but what about men’s fashion?

According to LuxuriousPROTOTYPE.com, one men’s Spring 2013 trend we can expect to see is Print and Patterns/Arty Abstractions: abstract art, florals , abstract lines and digital prints.  We don’t often see florals in men’s fashion choices but it looks like things are changing in 2013.

Christian Louboutin recently released the Rantus Orlato Tapestry High Top Sneaker in an all over floral tapestry design.   This design definitely screams vintage and is one design I wouldn’t expect to see in menswear.

If you’re a guy that may be on the fence about florals but is interested in trying the trend, a shoe like this is a great subtle way to incorporate the trend into your wardrobe.  Fellas, pair the shoes with a pair of dark denim jeans, blazer and/or blazer, white t-shirt or button up for a clean, casual look.

Floral trend on the Spring 2013 runway:

Bottega Venetta | Calvin Klein | Canali | Gucci

The sneakers retail for $725. For more information, check out the Christian Louboutin online store here.

Guys, what do you think about the floral trend? Are you going to try it this year?

Source: LuxuriousPROTOTYPE & Danchiz

We all know guys usually need a bit of a help in the wardrobe department, so what better Christmas gift than something that makes him a bit more stylish? Clothing is too often overlooked when we’re buying presents, but there’s no reason a great shirt or jacket can’t be just as thoughtful a gift as a watch or jewellery – especially if you choose something that reflects his personal style.

Unless yours is particularly sensitive about his fashion sense, most guys appreciate being given a (subtle) nudge in the right direction clothes-wise. This doesn’t mean it’s a green light to throw out his wardrobe and get him to dress the way you want – but the odd purchase here and there can go a long way, especially if you make a point of telling him how good he looks in his new clothes!

When choosing what to get, think about the kind of thing he usually wears and try to pick a garment that fits in well with the rest of his wardrobe. It’s best to avoid anything too out-there or anything that’s not what he’d usually wear: even something as simple as a work shirt that’s a little bit more upmarket than what he’d usually buy makes a great gift.

*This is a sponsored post*

Last week I saw the Cravatta Pelliano “Movie Star” Collection featured on Fashion Citizenand I was immediately drawn to it. While the focus of the collection is on the Pelliano knitted ties, bowties and pocket squares, the vibrant colors of the collection is what drew me in.

The campaign features many of the world’s most famous movie characters and their tag lines. Each product was designed and developed with a particular fictional character in mind. Linking celebrity life with pop culture, in web of Italian ats and crafts makes for that postmodern twist Cravatta Pelliano became famous for.

This campaign is a true demonstration of the company tagline: classic style & quality remixed for the 21^st century. To learn more about Cravatta Pelliano and to shop visit http://www.cravattapelliano.com.

All pieces are made of 100% of the softest cashmere or 100% of the finest silk in Italy.

Every day I ride the metro to work. And every day I see a young man wearing pants that look like this:

Why would anyone want to wear pants so low they couldn’t walk properly? Who wants to have to pull at their pants every two minutes to keep them from completely falling down??  And showing off boxers or boxer briefs to the public is NOT CUTE!  I don’t want to know if you decided to wear the navy or army fatigue boxers today.

I know I know, this is a “trend” with the young people (and unfortunately some grown men) that has been going on for decades. When I was growing up, it was common to see guys wearing baggy pants. And maybe because I was younger it didn’t bother me as much as it does now, but when I see these boys on the metro, I just want to stop them and tell them to pull up their pants! It wasn’t cute when I younger and it’s not cute now.

I know I don’t have any teenage boy readers, so for the grown men reading this post, please help your young brothers do better (and your friends that are still wearing their pants this way)! Explain to them that baggy pants makes them look sloppy (I’d use the words HOT MESS).  No one takes them seriously when they walk around that way.  Real men wear clothes that fit.

Let’s explain to our young men that wearing their pants this way will not get them a job. And if they ever want to meet a respectable woman, their pants are going to have to fit correctly in the waist.  Maybe consider wearing a belt? Belts are not the enemy!  

If you’re a grown man that still wears his jeans like the guys in the picture above, get your life. It’s time to let go of your youthful days and wear clothes that properly fit!

Ladies, how would you feel if your man started wearing tights? Yes, tights like the ones we wear during the winter season to keep your legs warm?

Fashion sites have been buzzing about a new trend in men’s accessories: mantyhose.  According to New York Mag, 2 to 3 percent of annuals sales for hosiery retailer Emilio Cavallini are by men.  With the trend rising over the past three years and to cater to demand, Cavallini decided to create unisex tights that allow for greater breathability:

“When we started our online shop we noticed that a lot of tights sized medium-large were being purchased by men.  So I did a search on the Internet and discovered there is a cult following for mantyhose.”

According to Clutch Magazine, the retailer claims that men are wearing the pantyhose the same way women do; underneath clothing for an extra layer of protection from the cold or underneath shorts; this looks has been seen on Italian men.  Have men not heard of long johns?

It’s one thing for men and women to wear matching hats or shirt, but matching tights? Absolutely not; this is a hot mess!  Just like men wearing skinny jeans, these should be off limits for men too!

What do you think of mantyhose?

It’s been awhile since we featured a male “Looks We Love” so when I came across these photos of Trey Songz, I knew I had to post them!!!

Songz recently teamed up with GQ Magazine for a sports jacket photo shoot; GQ highlights some of the best men’s sports jackets and why every man should own one.  Trey Songz also gives a little insight into what we can expect to hear from him in the future in terms of new music.

Check out the pics below; ladies, you’re welcome!

Not sure why he’s holding his crotch in the last picture *shrug*  Click HERE  for more information on each look.  Lookin’ good Trey!!

Source: GQ Magazine

Last month I attended an event at The Gibson for Marshall Anthony, a men’s accessories collection based out of New York.  The collection features neckties, bow-ties, handkerchiefs, custom shirts and suspenders.  Marshall Anthony has had much success in New York and are now focusing on expanding into other major markets including Washington, DC and Atlanta, GA.

Marshall Anthony was founded in 2009 by Darhel Anthony, in search for a simple quality bow-tie. Over the years, the brand has evolved to include handcrafted neckwear and accessories. In 2011, Darhel and Caron Gabriel partnered to share with the world their vision for the modern gentlemen. Marshall Anthony will soon be a full high end menswear brand, encompassing all garments necessary for a gentleman’s wardrobe.

The target audience for Marshall Anthony is the gentleman of all things sartorial, regardless of age and status.

The ready to wear bow-ties and neckties range from $75 to $105.  The made to order garments range from $85 to $115. Prices of custom garments vary.

There are a number of brands that provide men’s accessories however, the quality of design and construction of each accessory truly sets Marshall Anthony apart from the rest.

To learn more about the brand and to view the current collection visit www.marshallanthony.com.  Information on all upcoming events will be available via the Marshall Anthony website and Tumblr page www.marshallanthony.tumblr.com