You asked, we answered! In this Q&A video, we discuss things like what to splurge/save on, our upcoming wedding, some of our favorite motivational books and podcasts, and much more!
How To Take Care Of Your Jeans
Knowing how to take proper care of your jeans is not only going to keep your go-to jeans looking sharp and clean for a long time, but save you money in the long run. So, in this video, we’re showing you all the tips and tricks on how to take care of your jeans!
Don’t forget to check our deep dive on all things jeans and our Fit Guide.
Jean Picks
Designer Slim Fit:
Budget-Friendly Slim Fit:
Designer Straight Fit:
Budget-Friendly Straight Fit:
POTW: Johnston & Murphy Burgundy Cap Toes
I was prepping for a fitting, and I came across these Johnston & Murphy burgundy cap toes that I thought you should know about. I’m not normally a fan of burgundy shoes because I often find the color to be difficult to wear and usually ends up being too much of a statement piece. But, these are different because the darker color is closer to a burgundy brown instead of the more reddish-oxblood color you often see with other “burgundy shoes” and that makes them much easier to wear. So, I had to make them my pick of the week!
$155 – Johnston & Murphy Burgundy Conard Cap Toe
Best Ways to Wear
The decorative broguing along with the brown soles adds a casual look to them making them easy to wear with your summer suits, like a green or navy cotton suit, or with some chinos or dark wash jeans. Blues, greens, and khaki go great with burgundy. If you’re ever unsure how to wear these, just know that whenever you wear brown dress shoes with a more casual outfit, you can easily wear these instead.
I also want to address the contrasting stitching. On more formal shoes it can be very distracting and pull the attention away from your outfit and really focus it on the shoes. But on a casual dress shoe, such as these, it works because you’re never going to be wearing them with a really formal outfit. So if you’re thinking about doing that, then please don’t.
Like I’ve said before, accessories are a great way to add some fun touches to your outfit and these shoes do exactly that.
Look 1
$40 – J. Crew Slub Cotton Deck-Striped T-Shirt
$68 – J. Crew Navy or Green Stretch Chino Pant in 770 Fit
$30 – Uniqlo Slim Fit Flat Front Chino in Navy
Look 2
$69 – Brooks Brothers Selvedge Oxford Sport Shirt
$70 – Levi’s 511 Slim Fit Stretch Jeans (in blue flame, dark hollow and stump town)
$228 – JBrand Tyler Fit in Blue Hood
Look 3
$358 – J. Crew Ludlow Suit Jacket in Italian Cotton Oxford
$188 – J. Crew Ludlow Suit Pant in Italian Cotton Oxford
Shirting – See my dress shirt article
Ties – See my ties article
POTW: The Perfect Blue Chambray Shirt
I was doing a pull for a client when I randomly stumbled on this indigo blue chambray shirt and I had to share it with you. It’s not often that a simple shirt like this blows me away, but this one was something special. It was the perfect shade of indigo blue, the buttons where a similar color to the shirt, so they blended in nicely. And the fit was really darn good. If you don’t already have one (or a few) of these in your closet, get one – or many!
$45 – Topman Navy Wash Twill Casual Shirt
This shirt will definitely not be available for too long so be sure to order yours if you’ve been wanting a chambray shirt for awhile now because it’s so tough to find one this good.
Best Ways to Wear
Chambray shirts look great year round. You can wear it dressed up with a sportcoat, dress it down with a bomber jacket, or wear it on its own with the sleeves rolled up and paired with some chinos or grey or black jeans.
$149 – H&M Wool Blazer
$45 – Topman Navy Wash Twill Casual Shirt
$198 – J. Brand Tyler Taper Fit in Seriously Black
$75 – Adidas Stan Smith Sneakers
$250 – Life After Denim Flight Jacket
$45 – Topman Navy Wash Twill Casual Shirt
$75 – Adidas Stan Smith Sneakers
$70 – Levi’s 511 Slim Fit Jeans (in black stretch, nightshine, or beluga grey)
$75 – Adidas Stan Smith Sneakers
IWC Portugieser Automatic Watch
POW: Lightweight Wool and Cotton Jacket
Last Sunday I was getting a client ready for the Oscars, and a friend of his was wearing this incredible lightweight wool jacket that I knew I had to share with you. It’s been quite awhile since a jacket got me this excited.
There’s several reasons why I love this jacket for Spring and Summer, or year-round if you live in a warmer climate: lightweight wool and cotton fabric, incredible construction, texture and color, and its so damn stylish. Normally, I’m not a fan of pockets on the front of a jacket for all body types, as they can add bulk and throw off your proportions if you’re a thinner guy, but, as you’ll see in the video above, these pockets blended in so seamlessly that it isn’t an issue at all.
Wear it with a t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers or dress it up with a collared shirt, wool trousers, and dress shoes – it will go with most casual and dressy casual outfits. Yep, this jacket is that good.
Jacket
I went into the store and had my friend Michael, who’s average height but a broad build, and Dorian, who’s 6’3″ and slim, try the jacket on and they both looked great in it. See the video above to see what I’m talking about. Also, Dorian ended up picking up the blazer version of the Chore jacket for himself.
$278 – Apolis Indigo Wool Chore Jacket
How To Wear It
Crewneck Sweater
$158 – J.Crew Lightweight Italian Cashmere Crewneck Sweater (in Heather Dove)
$122 – Life After Denim Lacrosse Crew
$40 – TopMan Grey Ripple Textured Raglan Slim Fit Sweater
White T-Shirt
$60 – James Perse Short Sleeve Crewneck
$10 – TopMan White Slim Fit T-Shirt
Jeans
$228 – JBrand Tyler Taper Fit in Rasalas
$70 – Levi’s 511 Slim Fit Stretch Jeans (Blue Flame or Dark Hollow)
Sneakers
$509 – Common Projects Achilles Low Premium
$65 – Converse Jack Purcell Classic Low Top (in White or Black)
Snorkel / Parka Jacket
Because of all the rain that’s been happening here in LA and the East Coast, I’ve been trying to find stylish yet practical jackets for some of my clients who are doing press right now along the soggy coasts. I found this awesome snokel jacket that fit the bill perfectly.
Jacket
I was so excited to find a lightweight snorkel jacket that fit the bill perfectly. A snorkel jacket is basically a parka. It’s a 3/4 length jacket hitting mid-thigh and has a drawstring hood that can tighten so your entire face is covered except a small breathing hole, hence the name snorkel. A lightweight jacket, like the one in the image, will also take you through Spring and is easy to layer under.
$788 – Todd Snyder Storm Parka in Beige
$298 – J. Crew Lightweight Snorkel Jacket
$150 – Zara Technical Parka
Shirt
In the image, the jacket is layered over a striped long sleeve shirt, but you can also wear a grey, navy, or burgundy sweatshirt or crewneck sweater.
$168 – Todd Snyder Italian Silk-Cotton Striped Sweater
$95 – Vince Striped Long Sleeve T-Shirt
$60 – J. Crew Striped Long Sleeve T-Shirt in Heavyweight Jersey
$35 – TopMan Selected Homme Navy and White Stripe Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Jeans
Not only does this outfit look great with some dark wash jeans, you can also wear a pair of chinos or wool trousers with it.
$228 – JBrand Tyler Taper Fit in Rasalas
$70 – Levi’s 511 Slim Fit Stretch Jeans (Blue Flame or Dark Hollow)
$40 – Uniqlo Stretch Selvedge Slim-Fit Jeans
Shoes
The V-Neck Sweater
The V-Neck Sweater is an essential because you’re going to need warm layering pieces for the cooler parts of the year and it allows you to mix and match your Essential Wardrobe a little better by layering it with a blazer or suit, over an oxford or semi-spread collar dress shirt and paired with simple dark wash jeans or wool trousers and a white sneaker, boots or oxford dress shoes. So how could I leave it off this list?
Why a V-Neck and Not a Crew Neck?
Crewnecks are okay, but they’re a more casual item. So for this reason, a V-Neck sweater is essential because it’s the classy mofo of the sweater world. V-necks add a touch of dressy formality that you just won’t get with a crewneck.
I love crewnecks, don’t get me wrong, but most guys don’t know how to wear them so then it starts looking really sloppy. I know some guys like the crew neck and tie or suit look, but I would choose a v-neck or cardigan sweater over a crewneck in this case almost every time.
V-Neck Sweater Do’s and Dont’s
Do
- Wear them under Suits
- Wear them under a Blazer
- Wear them under Overcoats and Peacoats
- Wear them under Leather Jackets
- Wear them with or without a tie
- Wear them with Semi-Spread Collar Dress Shirts with the collar tucked into the “v”
- Wear them with Oxford Button Down Dress Shirts
- Wear them with Wool Trousers
- Wear them with Dark Wash Jeans
- Wear them with White Sneakers
- Wear them with Oxford Dress Shoes
- Wear them with Boots
- Let your partner borrow them to snuggle with or wear
- Throw them out if they get worn or thin around the elbows or the collar gets stretched out
Don’t
- Wear them with a dress shirt and have the collar resting on top of the “v”
- Wear them with shorts
- Wear them over Polo Shirts (ever)
- Wear them over T-Shirts (ever)
- Wear them without any shirt underneath – gross!
- Wear them if they have any holes, pilling or they’re worn thin around the elbows
Fabrics
I prefer the V-Neck Sweaters I work with to be made of wool, – either regular or merino wool. Cashmere is also a great fabric, but it’s definitely on the pricier side. If you run a little warmer, then go for a wool/silk or cotton-blended sweater – Pima cotton is also great, but it stretches out very easily.
Colors
You need at least 1 black V-Neck Sweater in your closet. If you’ve got a black one already, grab a navy and/or charcoal gray version. These colors will go with everything else in your Essential Wardrobe. If you want a 3rd option, then a darker brown will also go pretty well with your wardrobe, too.
How Should a V-Neck Sweater Fit on a guy?
Check out my V-Neck Sweater fit guide for how (all) your sweater(s) should fit.
The Best Men’s V-Neck Sweaters
Designer Options
I love these because the fit, fabric weight, and overall construction is impeccable and I’ve worked with these brands many, many times.
Ermenegildo Zegna Black V-Neck Sweater
J.Lindeberg Black V-Neck Sweater
Burberry Navy V-Neck Sweater
Brooks Brothers Navy Saxxon V-Neck Sweater
Vince Navy V-Neck Sweater
Ermenegildo Zegna Black V-Neck Sweater
J.Lindeberg Black V-Neck Sweater
Brooks Brothers Navy Saxxon V-Neck Sweater
Budget-Friendly Options
I love each one of these v-neck sweaters, especially the H&M and Life After Denim sweaters. Even though they’re budget-friendly, the quality, fabric weight, and overall fit is really good.
J.Crew Black Wool V-Neck Sweater
Life After Denim Charcoal Tournament V-Neck Sweater
H&M Dark Blue Wool V-Neck Sweater
H&M Gray Wool V-Neck Sweater
J.Crew Black Wool V-Neck Sweater
Life After Denim Charcoal Tournament V-Neck Sweater
H&M Dark Blue Wool V-Neck Sweater
2 Ways to Wear A V-Neck Sweater
J Crew Rugged Cotton V-Neck Sweater
Brooks Brothers Milano Fit Heathered Gingham French Cuff Dress Shirt
Brooks Brothers Milano Fit Plain-Front Flannel Trousers
The Tie Bar Black Grenafaux tie
Allen Edmonds Wide basic dress belt
Johnston & Murphy Fielden Cap-Toe
J Crew Rugged Cotton V-Neck Sweater
Brooks Brothers Milano Fit Heathered Gingham French Cuff Dress Shirt
Brooks Brothers Milano Fit Plain-Front Flannel Trousers
The Tie Bar Black Grenafaux tie
Allen Edmonds Wide Basic Dress Belt
Johnston & Murphy Fielden Cap-Toe
Brooks Brothers Navy Saxxon V-Neck Sweater
Brooks Brothers Red Fleece Gingham Sport Shirt
J Brand Tyler Slim Fit Stretch in Tumble
Allen Edmonds Carlyle Plain-toe Oxfords
Baume & Mercier Clifton-automatic
Brooks Brothers Navy Saxxon V-Neck Sweater
Brooks Brothers Red Fleece Gingham Sport Shirt
J Brand Tyler Fit Jeans Tumble
Allen Edmonds Carlyle Plain-toe Oxfords
Baume & Mercier -clifton-automatic
Men’s V-Neck Sweater Outfit Inspiration
Credits
Photography: Justiin Charles
Model: Joseph Boyd at Wilhelmina Models
Hair/Makeup: Brendan Robertson for Exclusive Artists Management using Clarins Skincare and Kevin Murphy Hair Care
The Holiday Party Series – Part 2: How To Dress For A Friend’s Party
In The Holiday Party Series – Part 1: How To Dress For The Office Party, we went over what to wear and how to act at this year’s formal or informal work party. In Part 2 of the series, we’re going to discuss how to dress for your friend’s holiday party.
A friend’s party is usually a more relaxed, but that still doesn’t mean it’s time to pull out the sweatpants and hoodies.
If you’re single, the holidays are a perfect time to meet someone special – for the night, the month, the year, or for life. And showing up like the well-dressed gentleman that you are, definitely helps your chances.
If you’re attached, your girl is going to love watching the other women ogle you from afar. I know that when someone looks at my man, I always think, “Yeah, that’s right, keep looking – he’s with me!” Any woman can appreciate a well-dressed man and they will, whether you’re attached or not.
Topman Green V-Neck Sweater
Boss Hugo Boss Jason Slim Fit Blue Striped Dress Shirt
G-Star RAW – Dexter Super Sl Comfort Flacks Denim (Raw)
H&M Premium Black Leather Belt
Allen Edmonds Clifton Oxfords
Topman Blue Marl Herringbone Suit Jacket
Topman Dark Green Marl Slim Fit Sweater, $35
Brooks Brothers Non-Iron Regent Fit Mini Pinstripe Dress Shirt, $92
JBrand Tyler Taper Fit in Rasalas, $228
H&M Leather Dress Belt, $20
Allen Edmonds Park Avenue Cap-Toe Oxfords, $395
Topman SELECT Homme Grey Salt and Pepper Wool Rich Suit Jacket, $220
Throw on a dark green v-neck sweater over a crisp, light blue dress shirt. Leave the top 2 buttons undone and make sure the collar tips are tucked underneath your sweater.
Finish with a pair of slim, dark wash jeans. Avoid jeans that have whiskering, fading, or holes because they’ll make your entire outfit look sloppy.
Don’t forget to add a black belt (making sure the buckle isn’t too large) and black leather dress shoes to complete the look.
Another option is to pair the above outfit with a sports coat. If you go this route, add a pocket square to finish it off. Remember: It’s all about the details.
If you missed Part 1 of The Holiday Party Series: How To Dress For The Office Party, I talked about the thing that’ll make or break this outfit is whether you’ve layered properly. So keep those layers on the thinner side!
Tips & Etiquette
- Bring a nice bottle of wine to thank the host/hostess for throwing the party.
- Bring a few business cards, just in case.
You never know who you might run in to. - Introduce yourself to every person in the room.
Avoid only talking to the people you know. It’s not weird or inappropriate to go up to strangers at this party because they were invited by your friend/host, just like you were. So use the fact that you have a mutual friend to introduce yourself. - Before leaving, make sure to say goodbye to the host(s) as well as the people you spoke with that night.
In the adult world, it’s extremely rude to leave without saying goodbye.