Fall-Winter 2009: A mix of colors,function,sexiness and style.

The themes for this season's collections are sophistication and sexiness, tailored yet sporty, and lastly protected from the elements. And from a guy's perspective what else could be better than having a bit of each in your wardrobe. This Fall-Winter, the runways of New York, Milan and Paris were loaded with pieces that would excite any stylish man. From bold colors like prison orange, accessories like oversized scarves, tailored metallic suits to "modern day mad max" looks, Men's Fall Winter 09 has got to be one of the more exciting fashion seasons we've had in long while.

The Top Trends for this season are:

Color. The range of colors for guys this season is quite wide. Designers like Duckie Brown have infused their line palettes with Prison Orange. Where other designers like Lacoste have gone with more of a muted color scheme in Sandy Beige, Ash Gray, and Cocoa Brown.

Prison Orange Coat from Duckie Brown

Image by Dan Lecca for Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, FW 2009, NYC.

Going Oversized. A lot of the pieces this season were cut a bit bigger than previous seasons where coats, trousers and even scarves were more tailored. The tailored look is still here to stay, but is being complemented by oversized pieces like scarves, trench coats and men's bags. Designers like Iceberg, Prosum, Duckie Brown, Louis Vouitton and Gianfranco Ferre donned their models with oversized scarves that well complemented their tailored pieces.

Oversized Scarf from Iceberg

Image by Marcio Madeira

Power Suits. Strikingly sexy. Tailored to fit your anatomy. Detailed construction. These types of suits (either full or suit separates) will be a mainstay this season. ZZegna, Calvin Klein, and Jill Sander presented a collection of not only tailored suits, but bright colored and metallic suits as well. Some designers have also brought back the double breasted but this time with a twist. Double breasted jackets this time around have a sleek silouhette, much tailored fit and distinct details.

Metallic Suit from Calvin Klein

Image by Dan Lecca for Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, FW 2009, NYC.

The Long and Short of It. How do you mix an extra long tank with a motorcycle jacket? How do you bring back acid wash jeans and combine it with a distressed coat? Labels like William Rast, Rag and Bone, Dior Homme how it can be done. Their collections this season incorporate extra long t-shirts with leather jackets, anorak jackets, winter coats and vests. William Rast also brought back the acid wash jean to go with the Long-Short look communicating a modern day mad max sense of style for today's man.

Long Dress Shirt underneath a Tailored 2-button Blazer, William Rast Fall Winter 2009

Image by Kris Krug of Static Photography.

There's a lot to look forward to this Fall-Winter. As always, keep trends in perspective, strive for a balanced look and know who you are and what looks good on you.

Smart VS Business Casual: Which one is right for YOU?

As the culture in corporate America changes so do the dress codes of its members. Although suits are making a comeback, majority of today's workforce lean towards the business casual attire in the workplace. However, depending on industry and personal style, the definition of business casual becomes very hazy. So much so, that it begins to tarnish not only the professional image of the individual but also that of the company they work for.

In industries such as technology, business casual can range from a pair of chino pants, an oxford shirt, and lace up leather shoes to a pair of khaki cargo shorts, a ring tee and sneakers. Because of the wide "in between" some companies have started implementing dress codes to present a consistent corporate brand, but also to maintain a level of consistency in what people wear in the workplace. As they do this, two terms that are most times interchanged are smart casual and business casual. The looming questions are "So what is the difference?" , "Can either of them be worn at my place of work?", "What do I need to create either looks?" Read on to answer those questions.

Monster.com, a premier online job search engine, defines business casual as "dressing professionally, looking relaxed yet neat and pulled together". The key words here are professional, neat, and pulled together. Good judgment will tell you that shorts, a tee, and runners don't associate with any of these adjectives. Generally speaking, if you are working in a business casual environment some of the more accepted combinations are

• Dress shirt, dress cotton/wool trousers, dress or casual belt, loafers or laceup leather wingtips
  
• Polo shirt, a pair of flat front chinos, dress/casual belt, slip on leather shoes.
  
• V-neck sweater, white round neck under shirt, straight leg jean cut trousers, laceup leather dress boots.

Business Casual looks from Banana Republic. All pieces are available on http://bananarepublic.com

"But I got an invite to go to a work event tonight, and the dress code is SMART CASUAL. What's that? Can I wear that to work as well?" The elements that separate the business casual from the smart casual attire are usually the shoes and the blazer/jacket that one wears. I would define smart casual simply as "looking professional yet informal". The relaxed look of business casual can easily be amplified to smart casual with a fitted blazer. For a more modern twist, roll up your sleeves and put on a suit vest to create a very chic, professional, creative and comfortable look.

Smart Casual at work is widely accepted now days as we see workforces catering to a younger generation. Denim is being seen in more offices than it was even 5 years ago. Suit separates are becoming more prominent in designer lines, primarily to cater to the smart casual crowd. So yes, it can definitely be worn at work and after work. The key is to create a look that balances professionalism and social adeptness. Some smart casual looks that also work in a professional environment are

• Fitted suit blazer, Slim-cut Dress Shirt, Denim Jeans (no rips please), Dress belt, Suede lace up shoes.
  
• Military inspired jacket, Silk-Cashmere Turtle Neck, Light colored Denim Jeans, Casual belt, Leather Wingtips.
  
• Tweed Jacket, Colored Polo Shirt, Gray Chinos, Rope Leather belt, Loafers
  

  
  

Smart Casual looks from JCREW. All pieces currently available on http://www.jcrew.com

There are 5 key pieces to have in your wardrobe to allow for easy transition between the two attire categories.

• A fitted blazer in Navy or Black: These colors tend to work with any ensemble. If you dare, add a bit of pinstripe or herringbone to your wardrobe.
  
• A slim-fitting dress shirt: Dress shirts can easily be made to look casual with rolled up sleeves.
  
• A pair of straight/boot leg denim jeans without any excessive detailing: Remember that you are in a professional setting, so excessive stitching on pockets, rivets all over the place, rips and baggy cut jeans are just not cool.
  
• A pair of well pressed, flat front chinos: Chinos are a great alternative to jeans. They can be easily dressed down or dressed up.
  
• Leather Lace Ups: A boot or a dress shoe works well in both professional and social gatherings.
  

Remember that you are your own brand. So what you wear to work and events outside of work tells your story to others. Understanding the subtle differences between smart and business casual could be the winning factor for getting a job or landing a hot date. Words of advice: Know your work/social environment. Understand your personal style. Use good judgment.

Swim with Style: Pick the right shorts that complements your body type

Unlike women, men don't really think about their swimwear when they hit the beach or the local pool. If left to their own devices, most men would just wear a pair of shorts regardless of its type or function. There are too many guys on the beach that wear the wrong type of swimwear for their body shape. To accentuate and make the best of your body type, it's important to find the right pair.

For the Tall and Lean Guy

Boardshorts are your friend. Search for ones whose length is almost to your knees. A 23inch inseam is a good length. Anything past the first half of your knee cap is too long.

Patterns and bright colors works best. Stay away from solids as they tend to make you look even skinnier. Go easy on the Hawaiian prints. Look for something unique.

Consider cotton, a blend or all nylon fabric for you swim trunks. Cotton usually takes longer to dry due to its absorbent nature. Nylon is more water resistant.

For the Short and Round Guy

Boardshorts are not for you! These shorts usually have a low waist and are meant to be worn this way. If you have a gut, wearing board shorts will draw focus to your mid-section. It's the kind of attention you don't need at the beach.

Get yourself into a pair of "volley shorts" also known as the classic swim trunks. A bit shorter than your typical boardshort, they have either an inside drawstring or an elastic band to keep the short in place. The shorter trunks expose more of your legs, making you look taller and drawing focus away from your gut.

The goal is create a lean illusion of you. In terms of colors, stick with solids such as black or navy. Dark colors elongate you and draws less attention to your belly. Loud patterns and colors make you look shorter.

In terms of the cut of the trunks, no need to go overboard. Stay true to your waist size and slimmer cuts. Stay away from baggy shorts. It will only make you look rounder.

Be at your best this summer! Make sure you wear sunscreen. Don’t forget the sunglasses. More importantly, wear the best type of shorts that suits you. First impressions count…especially at the beach!

Obakki : Raising the bar for Vancouver Menswear this coming Fall

A few weeks ago I attended Obakki's FW 2009 show. Obakki is a Vancouver-based international design house that markets both mens and womens wear. Their men's line is very much understated yet brings about a spirit of strength and masculinity. Like other menswear brands such John Varvatos and Alexander McQueen, this local brand shines in the originality and refined details of their pieces. If you haven't seen their collections, visit Obakki online.

Some key trends to keep in mind for Fall:

1) Plaid will be a staple. Although the show had an obsessive amount of plaid pieces, one plaid shirt in your closet would be enough. Plaid shirts can look great with a plain colored cardigan, sweater, vest, or jacket.

2) Slim Straight/Skinny Trousers remain. They're hanging out for one more season if not longer. Only wear if you are slim or skinny. If you're round and short, stick with a regular straight pant. Herringbone, Houndstooth and Tweed are still popular fabrics for pants.

3) Outerwear can go Rock and Roll or Outdoorsy. Leather jackets are making a strong comeback. To bring out your inner rockstar, get a motorcycle jacket in calf skin leather. Surely, this piece will be hot one this season. Oversized parkas are also going to be seen a lot more. Made from ballistic nylon or recycled polyester shells and lined with faux fur, this item is mandatory is rainy cities such as the ones in the Pacific Northwest.

Look out for a full Fall-Winter trend report straight from New York Fashion Week as we get closer to the season. In the meantime, make use of the boardshorts and enjoy the summer.

All images by Kevin Kinisky

Three Degrees of Wearing White: Which level are you at?

It's still very rare to find a pair of white pants in a guy's closet. Let's face it. Wearing white is such of a fashion statement that most guys are intimidated to wear it. And the key to breaking that wall down, is really having a good understanding of how best to pull it off. By the time you're done reading this, you should be making a trip to your favorite mens store looking for your first pair of white pants.

The rule of thumb for wearing white is creating balance. Pairing your white pants with the right shirts, shoes, and accessories can make you look sophisticated, classy, and luxurious. On the other hand, the wrong combination can bring out the Old Man Sailor in you. So here are the rules.

1) For the beginner, get initiated with a pair of white denims. Like your regular blue denims, its all about fit. Stay away from wearing Skinny whites. Stick to straight or boot cut denims. These cuts give you versatility to easily dress your denim up or down.

One of my picks this season is Rivet De Cru's "The Michael" jean. This stylish white 5-pocket denim comes with flap on back pockets, a button fly closure, and Rivet De Cru's signature pocket stitching. This jean works well with guys who have the "hockey butt" but also gives skinnier guys a nice comfortable slouched look. This jean can easily be dressed up with a nice black dress shirt or dressed down with a nice polo. Shoe options depending on the look include pristine white sneakers, loafers, or laceups.

2) Once you've broken in your white denims, its time to move on to white linen pants. Anything made from linen always comes with a self regulating cooling mechanism. The nature of this fabric makes it the ultimate choice for pants, shirts, scarves, hats during the summer months. You can easily pull a sophisticated look with a navy pinstripe french cuffed shirt, sand suede shoes, and paper fedora.

3) Now that you've built your confidence up and are ready to kick your white wardrobe up a notch, explore a white linen suit. Again, easily dressed up or down with a contrasting colored dress shirt or v-neck for a more casual look. For suiting, keep the fit tailored and modern. The length of your sleeve should sit on your thumb knuckle. And you know your suit jacket is too tight when you start seeing creases across the first two buttons of the jacket.

White symbolizes cool, relaxed, purity, cleanliness and innocence. It makes Spring colors come to life. It makes a great canvas for patterns, shapes and lines. Most importantly, it makes every man's wardrobe contemporary this season. No longer feeling intimidated? I thought so.

Wanna Walk on Air this Season? Get Simple's Gumshoe

Back in the 80's there was a TV show called the "Greatest American Hero". The theme song called "Believe It or Not" peaked at number 2 on Billboard's Hot 100, spending 18 weeks on the Top 40. The chorus goes "Believe it or not, I'm walking on air. I never thought I could feel so free. Flying away on a wing and a prayer. Who could it be? Believe it or not it's just me."

I just got a pair of Simple's Gumshoe. And believe it or not, I was walking on air. This shoe has to be the most comfortable shoes I've put on -- EVER! I picked up the shoes at the EPIC Sustainable Living Show in Vancouver a few weeks ago, and have truly put it to the test.




Simple is leading the footwear industry with their commitment to making 100% sustainable products. There is a lot of hype in the fashion industry that its pretty difficult to find great articles of sustainable clothing that you can live with. Well constructed and comfortable shoes made from recycled materials are just rare. But Simple's Gumshoe, just like the hope I have for a greener world, gives hope that more cool products are made from reusable materials.

The Gumshoe is smart as it is stylish. This vegan-friendly shoe boasts a natural and breathable fabric upper made from hemp, organic cotton linings, and a durable sole made from old auto tire scraps. Although the sole could use a bit more grip, the shoe is a perfect summer shoe. The thickly padded footbed made from carpet padding gives you at-home comfort every step of the way. I wore the shoe for 8 hours straight. The heel is made from recycled PET (that's plastic bottles) and latex (natural rubber), completing the air like feel of the insole.




A Footwear Plus Green Award recipient, Simple has created a line of shoes that incorporate not only natural based fabrics like hemp, bamboo and cotton, but also other materials like recycled inner tubes, bicycle tires, and plastic bottles. They also have a line called Planet Walkers that use eco-certified leathers and suedes.



No hype is neccessary for this shoe, as it will soon make its way to every man's shoe collection simply on performance, style and quality merits. It's already in mine . And lastly, this shoe easily converts into a slipper with its innovative collapsible heel. So look up your favorite store and get a pair, because believe it or not its like walking on air!

For more information on Simple and to view their entire collection go here

John Varvatos' ARTISAN: a MUST HAVE fragrance this season

Miriam Webster defines an Artisan as someone who practices a trade or a handicraft. A true Artisan is someone who takes that practice, molds it, modernizes it, and calibrates it to create a piece that stands the test of time. This defines menswear designer John Varvatos and his debut fragrance ARTISAN. Known for timeless and fashion forward mens ensembles, his imprint can be noted in this fragrance as well.

Photo by Richard Phibbs

Spring/Summer fragrances for men are suppose to be light, pure, fresh with notes of citrus or blossoms. Fall/Winter fragrances are woody, musky, with hints of vanilla, caramel, and spice. Just a few sprays of the ARTISAN will take you to a fruit orchard filled with notes of oranges, clementines, and tangerines. Combine that image with a trip to a spice market, where your nose is tickled by the scents of marjoram, Indian Muraya, wild thyme and lavender That kind of a masculine citrus & herbal blend makes it a "must-have" fragrance this season.


Another great thing about this fragrance is its longevity. The scent doesn't simply go away. During the course of a day, most colognes evaporate leaving one scentless. This doesn't. In fact, the ARTISAN's notes shift from tart and fruity Sicilian orange clementines to North African orange blossoms and finally to a light musky Georgy wood. A perfect companion for those day and evening events!

Lastly, what can be more manly than a flask wrapped in caramel colored, hand woven rattan. Add to that an antique black finished bottle cap with a debossed logo, everything about this prodcut speaks John Varvatos' notierety for clean lines and casual elegance. This fragrance is not hard to wear.



From a day at the beach, a summer party on the deck of yacht, to a fancy gala this season, the ARTISAN brings out luxury and chic in every man.

The ARTISAN is available at freestanding John Varvatos boutiques across the US, as well as in better specialty stores throughout the world. www.johnvarvatos.com