Not the Shoes! » Trends

Gray Levi’s

Theo — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 19:37:13 +0000

I know this isn’t military related…but I just had to put this up, so bear with me.

Last weekend I was in Miami and forgot my jeans in the hotel…so I endeavored to find a new pair for the summer. I was walking down Broadway south of 8th St. and passed one of those storefronts with the windows entirely covered in ’sale’ ads for jeans. I always thought these places were a little sketchy or for tourists, so I never went in. This time, I said ‘what the hell’ and popped in to see what it was all about. This particular place was called ‘O.M.G. Jeans’ which in and of itself should sum up the shopping experience. It was like shopping for sunglasses on St Marks and 3rd Ave. Too many people asking if you needed help and everytime you even looked at one of the racks someone had three pairs in their arms pushing you towards the fitting room. It was really something else.

Shopping experience aside, I ended up with a pair of Levi’s 511s. Skinny, lightweight but firm denim, very stiff upon first trial but the hope was they’d stretch. I also thought I’d do something different. I went with the washed out gray. Really not my traditional style at all, I’ve always shied away from ‘alternative’ wash jeans and stuck to solid, dark blue. But lately I’ve been drawn to white jeans….and in lieu of making a REALLY bold statement, I went with the gray.

I love them. I think they are going to be a big hit this summer and become a ‘thing.’ So today, I came across the June/July Esquire laying around in my office. Flipping through, I was looking at all the recommendations for summer styles. And guess what was prominently listed as a must have for summer 2010?

Yep. Gray Skinny Levis. Now, I’m not trying to toot my own horn, but it’s always nice to feel like your weird urges and impulse buys aren’t that crazy. So check out the new issue of Esquire for some good style tips, and if you want to try something new, grab a pair of gray skinnys.

Military Fashion

Theo — Wed, 19 May 2010 17:37:37 +0000

Have you ever noticed that many of the trends that last in fashion are borrowed or inspired by the military? Necessity is the mother of invention- the fact that things designed for the military are designed to be simple and functional, getting the job done in the simplest and most commonly accessible way. Or maybe it’s something about how there’s always been a certain romance around the uniform and all that that connotes. The fact that people who are wearing these things are trained to fight and kill gives them a certain cache of badness or danger that is irresistible to many people. Hence the love of war movies and books throughout history. I’d like to take a look at some of these trends over the next few weeks. Let’s start with on the most obvious.

First and foremost is the Aviator style of sunglasses. Popular history says that during WWII pilots needed tinted lens goggles to protect their eyes from sun glare and the smoke of combat. Ray Ban developed the first model of these goggles, then called ‘pilot’s glasses,’ and sold them to the US Military. They were large enough to shade the whole eye and built to be rugged and long lasting. The bulging lens rather than flat lens blocks light from more angles and helps with peripheral vision.

America’s love affair with aviators began when Douglas MacArthur landed on the beach in the Philippines and was photographed wearing them. This picture circulated around newspapers and magazines, and became iconic both of the war and MacArthur. Prominently featuring these pilot’s glasses, and looking cool doing, propelled the style to stardom. Ray Ban released the consumer version in 1938 and they’ve been made and remade popular many times since by movies stars, musicians, and trend setters everywhere.

Look forward to posts upcoming about more trends and styles drawn from our men in arms.

Dress Sneakers and suits. (Oxy)moronic?

Theo — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:12:43 +0000

Note: I apologize for my absense lately. Starting a new job and a computer hard drive crash have been pretty all encompassing recently, but I will try to keep up the frequency from now on.

Last night was the Academy Awards. The night were all of Hollywood asks their stylists to dress them up in something stunning and different so they can in turn be the subject of talking heads across the internet, print, and TV worlds. Well here is my take: I can’t get on board with the ‘Dress Sneakers’ thing. Here are some of the examples I found just checking out the net….some examples from Dior, DSquared2, and Topman.

Wearing sneakers with suits has been more and more popular lately, especially with the styles and materials that make up sneakers changing a lot. Where sneakers used to be all canvas and rubber, all functional for skateboarding, running, etc., designers are embracing sneakers as the next item to mold and reinvent. I’m 100% for cool stylish new sneaker designs, but don’t wear them with tuxedos on the red carpet.

I have nothing against RDJ as a man and actor, just as a man wearing sneakers and a tuxedo. Taking a traditional outfit and tweaking one part of it to make it unique is the basis of fashion innovation, but a man’s shoes are something that should set the tone of the rest of the outfit. Want to refresh a boring tuxedo? Do something with a tie color/style, or maybe a hat or patterned scarf. I would even prefer something as outlandish as NPH’s sequin sparkle tux jacket to sneakers. They say a man can be judged by the quality and style of his shoes. When wearing a tuxedo, keep the shoes nice and dress down something else.

It’s back baby!

Theo — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 23:07:30 +0000

If you’re anywhere near the music scene in NY you’re familiar with the absolute explosion of electro-pop bands like MGMT and Passion Pit. I certainly love these bands and while I’m not about to claim that they are ground breaking musicians or song writers, they are catchy and fun to listen and dance to. That said, beware: beyond their upbeat, colorful, uber-pop is something very sinister….

They say that fashion in financial downturns becomes colorful and showy to give people something to smile about despite other more negative aspects of life. I don’t mean extravagant in price or ‘luxurious’ as it were…but more flamboyant in accessories, colors, styles, etc. Styles that need not be more expensive thought; if the trend is what it is there will be options at all price levels. This has been reflected in the growing focus on mens fashion and how the things men are wearing today are much more daring and colorful than in recent years. Articles about this have been in the Times, GQ, etc. so I won’t rant further about it. Another example I’ve noticed recently is that the aforementioned electro-pop scene has adopted quite a flamboyant style of its own. One reminiscent of a wonderfully horrific time in our fashion history….let’s take a look at some of the big bands on the scene right now:

First, and arguable foremost, is MGMT:

Here’s a little montage from Around the Bend by Asteroids Galaxy tour….

How about these shots from Dress to Digress by Boy Crisis….

Last one….Here’s an album shot of Empire of the Sun….

Look familiar at all? The flowy shimmering gowns…the old school repeated rainbow mirror imaging in the music videos…the bohemian/glam beads, sequin accessories and patterned tunics….long hair and mustaches behind a soft focus camera lens and back lit glowing smoke. Anyone? Anyone?

That’s right! Disco. Make your own judgments based on personal tastes and experiences….but the similarities are striking. Here is a compilation of screen shots from classic disco videos.

Perhaps the crowds that see these bands will start channeling Travolta in both attitude and appearance. We’d all be better off….right?

What will people laugh about 20 years from now?

Theo — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:09:18 +0000

This past summer I had the realization that we are all slaves to trends. Not all, of course, some people wear the same cargo khakis and t-shirts their whole lives, and if they are comfortable with that, then carry on, god speed. But most people at least to some degree follow trends, and there’s nothing wrong with that. We all want to fit in, or stand out, or be different, or whatever. Often, standing out and being different turns into trends and then what once was eye catching becomes common, and trend setters have to keep pushing the bounds. This is the natural cycle of style. So this past summer I remember showing up to meet some friends in Hell’s Kitchen and I was wearing the ubiquitous heather grey deep neck V t-shirt and jeans…similar to this fellow:

The first few times I wore this sort of shirt it elicited comments or laughs…which is the point of wearing what we wear right? To be noticed? To stand out? By the third or forth time, it became common place, people expected everyone to be wearing such shirts. They were everywhere. So the V’s started getting deeper, and the pants started getting shorter…and I thought to myself, ’self, this is a ridiculous trend. This may be the first trend I’ve followed that I’ll look back on and laugh in 20 years.’

In the 60s, it was tie die ponchos and birkenstocks, the 70s polyester suits, the 80s….well we all know what the 80s were all about. I imagine that back in those days people saw these trends developing, dabbled in some new outfits, and received laughs and comments. But then after awhile it became common place, everyone was doing it. So it got bigger and better, bell bottoms got wider, neon vests got shinier, hair got first longer, then bigger. And it was 100% serious in the moment, just like we are 100% serious right about about hipster moustaches, skinny high-water jeans, and ray ban sunglasses. (maybe not 100% serious…websites like www.latfh.com parody at least the hipster movement. Surely there were similar sentiments during all the previous trend decades, but there wasn’t an easy universal outlet like we have today with the interwebs). So I’ll leave you with this picture…surely our fathers looked like this one day. And one day, our children will look at pictures of us and laugh just as much.

Popular this winter: Tartan Scarves

Theo — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:10:07 +0000

The weather in New York took a serious turn this past week, with the first reported ’snow fall’ on Saturday. While I wouldn’t count that as our first snow, as it was more of a wet slushing that didn’t stick, it does mark the beginning of the longest, darkest season. And with that, coats and scarves make their first appearance. For girls the new thing seems to be the ‘ring scarf’ and for men, the Tartan scarf.

Tartan is the traditionally Scottish plaid with horizontal and vertical stripes of various sizes and patterns. It comes in many colors and styles, each originating as representative of a Scottish family heritage, sort of like a coat of arms. Red is the traditional base color for Tartan, and the style that I have been seeing most frequently around town.

Whether its from a fine Retailer like Glen Prince of Great Britain or from the man on the street, these are a classic and versatile piece of any wardrobe. Like the famous Burberry pattern, a red Tartan will match with most styles, fall browns or winter blacks, and they add a nice splash of color to an otherwise drab winter wardrobe.