The Perfect Wardrobe

Hi everyone!!You might be having dozens and 100's of things in your wardrobe but its never complete without the few things.

Here's a list of things a guy should have to make his wardrobe perfect and complete.

1. A White Oxford Cloth Shirt

 
  
The most versatile shirt you’ll ever buy.Easy to dress up with some formal trousers and a blazer but works equally as well with a pair of jeans. For maximum versatility, try and get one that is long enough to stay in your trousers but still short enough to look good when untucked.

2. Slim Dark Jeans

The reason they should be slim (but not skinny) is so they can be worn with a blazer but still look great with a pair of loafers or lace ups. They can be dressed up or down and will go with anything you get your hands on.

But you must remember to do your homework! Try on as many pairs as you can and then get the best pair tailored to perfection.

If you can afford it, opt for a selvedge pair – the quality of the denim is generally much better and will help them last years.

3.  A Dark Solid Tie

Should be simple and neutral enough to go with all the suits, jumpers and shirts you can throw at it. Navy, grey or black are ideal. Again, keep it slim but not skinny, and try not to go more than 3″ at its widest point.

If you can, opt for one with a bit of texture (like wool or a silk knit) in order to add a bit of detail to an otherwise very simple and versatile piece.

• DRAKES SLIM GRENADINE SILK TIE
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

4. A Navy Blazer

Normally I would suggest you purchase a navy suit as it will work just as well separated as a whole piece. However, I appreciate not everyone has the budget for a whole suit and I would rather you spent the money on a quality blazer than an average suit.

Try to make sure the fabric is dark enough that it can be worn in the evenings to clubs, bars or semi-formal events and throw it over anything to instantly smarten up your look.

5. A pair Of Grown Up Trainers

Something I cannot stress enough. Upgrade to something like Adidas Stan Smith’s, Chuck Taylors or Vans, buy them leather, keep them clean and you won’t go wrong.

 6. Grey Crew Neck T-shirt

I really shouldn’t have to explain this one. Works great as a layering piece, because grey goes with every other color under the sun. A crew neck also flatters nearly every face shape.

This item will never look better than when it’s paired with the dark jeans and grown up trainers on a lazy Sunday morning. 

7. A Black V-neck Jumper

Again, another classic.One of the easiest and most elegant looks for a man to pull off is a pair of formal trousers, a white shirt and black v-neck jumper combination. It works well as a layering piece under a suit and even looks great with just a pair of jeans in those summer evenings.

8. Slim Neutral Chinos

Same rules as the jeans here guys. Go for something in beige, camel or olive for maximum versatility but grey or brown will work just as well.Try to make sure they are of the traditional formal variety rather than the denim wash versions that are out right now – it’s much easier to dress a smart pair of chinos down than it is to dress up a more casual trouser.

 

9. A Pair Of Black Lace-up Shoes

Your go-to elegant dress up shoes right here. That is not to say they can’t be dressed down with a pair of jeans and a tee, but when you have a pair that are clean toed (so no seams or brogue detailing) they could be worn with a tuxedo and would still look appropriate.

• TOPMAN WALTEROOT BLACK LEATHER SHOES

• ALLSAINTS DEBUT SHOE

• H BY HUDSON BRAUN BLACK SHOES

10. A Medium Grey Suit

If there’s one thing you should spend some money on, it should be this one.

It’s the most versatile suit you can own and you can use the jacket as another blazer and the trousers as another pair of formal trousers with the chinos. It can take you from your first interview all the way to your final address to the board – including all those weddings, funerals and clubs in between.

The Top 10 Look book

As I said, with only these ten essentials in your wardrobe you should be able to get dressed in the dark and still look as stylish as ever. The beauty of menswear is that once you have these items, all you have to do is start expanding your color palette in order to add even more interchangeable pieces. So why not pick up some shirts in blues, pinks and greys? Or another blazer but this time in black? A few more different neutral chinos and jumpers won’t hurt either.

Stick to this format and you will have a great foundation wardrobe that will soon be ready for you to start introducing on-trend pieces and accessories that will individualize your look.

But as always, it’s not all about what I think – we want to hear from you guys too. Do you agree with my top ten list? Have I missed a key ‘essential’ piece off? And if I have, are you prepared to say why it should be deemed as essential? Let me know guys!

'Short' it out

You all might have guessed it from the title what I'm going to write about today. It’s one my favorite thing, Shorts.

Today we will see what different kinds of shorts are there, when you should wear them, how to wear them and lots of other things that you should not do.

Gone are the days when shorts were considered just as beach wear or resort wear. It’s much more then beach wear nowadays. I was born into 'Shorts-not-beachwear' era.

I wear shorts at every possible place, going out with friends, shopping, to the mall, at house parties or just on a stroll.

Shorts are a key component of the male wardrobe, especially as we venture into warmer climes. They offer a break from the heat as well as comfort during it. Shorts are also a very good option when it’s raining and wearing normal pants or jeans is not a very good idea.

There is a new generation of shorts out there that are shorter, slimmer, and cooler than the baggy ill-fitting khaki/Beige numbers you probably own. These shorts have a little more heft and detailing and make for a more substantial look.

I think shorts are probably one of the hardest items to put a decent outfit together with and this is even more obvious when you see other people “trying” to rock them. 

With jeans there are so many shapes, cuts and washes and you know where you stand with them. You can wear anything on the top half (formal or casual) and still easily pull it off. Shorts however are slightly different. Many men do not know how to wear shorts correctly, and do not know what items will look good with them.

Style of shorts is important. Cargo shorts will always have that relaxed casual vibe to them and so should be treated accordingly. Don’t wear a smart short sleeve shirt with them, or wearing boat shoes, it doesn't look right.

Likewise with graphic print shorts or heavy colored board shorts; keep the top and accessories quite plain/neutral colors otherwise it will be too much. You don’t need everything to scream “look at me I’m fashionable” – it comes off quite the opposite and contrived.

You can use shorts in an outfit just like you would with trousers or jeans. However, the type of shorts you wear should be very much dependent on your body shape. 

If you have long/skinny legs, then you need a longer cut in order to give your skinny legs some proportion. Do not wear shorts that are too baggy, because it will just further enhance the fact that they cannot fill them and they will look lost. A pair of hi-tops or sandals would be a good idea as well in order to decrease the length of leg shown.

If you have chunky or short legs, the opposite applies; you can go for a more relaxed fit and shorter length (or simply roll the shorts up a couple of times) in order to enhance your leg shape and length.

If you are lucky enough to have muscular footballers’ legs then really you can get away with anything and the women will still love you. 

Pale legs look much better in neutral tones like navy, beige or chocolate as it does not contrast so hard and make those lily whites stand out. As your legs become more tanned, crank up the colors because anything will look amazing – think bright summer blues, pinks, yellow, and of course the standard monochrome white, black and grey.

Be different with a pair of brightly patterned or unconventionally colored ones. But whether you chose checkered basics or cotton-twill shorts with folded cuffs ensure you buy them trim—they should fit like dress pants, not like frayed frat boy bulky cargo’s. Your pockets aren't meant for carrying melons. Go for a more old-world Tennis length that ends a little above your knees. Don’t be afraid to experiment with bright electric colors. This season it’s cool to look like you stuck your finger in a socket.

If you’re not at the beach, or even if you are put away your flip flops and opt for something smarter. There are much better options of shoes to pair up with your shorts, like boat shoes, espadrilles, slip-ons etc.

Other than chino shorts and formal, tailored shorts you can wear denim shorts. I personally love denim shorts. They don't look as dressy as chino shorts or tailored shorts but a ripped pair of denim short looks really cool. I somewhere feel that denim just accentuate your sex appeal.  

You can experiment more with stripped or printed shorts .this summer stripped and printed shorts are making a huge come back.

Stripes can be integrated into your existing looks far easier than other, statement options. Avoid teaming with other stripes, especially those of a similar width. Too many and you risk resembling a convict, and an unflattering outfit. 

The simplest option is – as with any look incorporating print – to pair your stripes with a neutral anchor, in this case the top half. A white shirt and complementary sweatshirt (either worn or draped over the shoulders) work perfectly with striped shorts to create a look that can adapt to changeable weather and temperatures.

 Camouflage, or ‘camo’, has been an unexpectedly dominant print for a number of years now. Experiment with this military print rather than wearing it the traditional way. Style them in manner far detached from football jerseys and shapeless shoes.

Floral designs on legwear may summon the images of awfully bulky board shorts, but keep the silhouette slim and the length just above the knee for a piece that offers a positive style statement. Tone down the rest of the look with a timeless approach – double floral isn't going to win you any points.

Always remember “Fit Is the KEY”. It’s acceptable if you go wrong with the colors but you should never wear wrong fit. A pair of short which fit perfectly will do the magic.

Hope I did sort out the confusions and problems you had about shorts.

Do let me know what you think about my post by posting your comments and queries.

You can follow me on twitter @Ivan_WLopez and on Instagram @Unique_Ivan

The Look Book-Denim Shirts

What's up everyone,
Today in our look book we will take a look at Denim shirts.
Denimn shirts are making a huge come back with a trendy touch.
Check out the pictures and links i have put together for you all.

http://www.asos.com/Men-Shirts-Denim-Shirts/x7bu0/?cid=13024&r=1&mk=VOID

http://www.zara.com/in/en/man/shirts-c358053.html

http://www.gasjeans.com/en/man/clothing-accessories/denim-shirts.html

http://www.myntra.com/denim-shirts?f=gender:men

http://www.koovs.com/denim-shirts#gender=men&from=0

http://shop.diesel.com/mens/shirts/

http://us.levi.com/home/index.jsp

http://leviscollections.in/levis-mens-clothing/all-mens-categories/shirts.html

http://www.gap.com/browse/category.do?cid=15043#style=1010112

Summertime Sadness

It’s been a while that summer has already started in India and I might be little late to write about summer trends but it’s never too late to write about it because there will always be another summer and it will always be hotter than ever.

I would have finished this article may be two days back ,but the heat was just killing me and if you are living in a humid city like Bombay then nothing worse than that!!

And trust me writing is not easy, I have a whole new respect for writers and literature people.

One thing we guys want in this hot and sweaty weather, is to be comfortable. And perfect summer friendly clothes are very important.

Talking about summer friendly clothes, the most important thing is the fabric or the material. The best fabrics for summer are natural, authentic fabrics like cotton, linen, jute, khadi etc. Cotton is one of the best-known natural fabrics. These natural materials might cost you a little more than the synthetic fabrics but trust me you don’t want to wear synthetic fabric and sweat like a pig!!

Cotton and jute will give you a simple and relaxed look and linen is more luxurious and comfortable.

You can definitely wear cotton or linen shirts at work .short sleeved shirts are better option than wearing a long sleeved shirt and folding it later on to look clumsy. You can also wear cotton trousers and to be honest they look better than any other trousers if they fit perfectly. Lighter colors are better to reflect sunlight you will feel less heat in lighter colors then the brighter ones. Texture and patterns, like checks and stripes, will help disguise the sweat marks.

Avoid taking a bag pack to work, it will leave a huge sweat mark on your back. Instead you can carry a formal messenger bag which will look trendier as well

                                                  

If you are going for a casual outing, shorts are the best. My personal favorites .If I could, I would have worn shorts everywhere .One thing you should mind is the fit and the length of the shorts.  The best lengths for the shorts are exactly on your knee level, 1 or 2 inch long or short is fine but never go beyond that. It will look bad, just bad. And I know you guys won’t do it but don’t wear skin tight shorts it doesn't always look good.

That reminds me, just avoid wearing skin fit cloths. They will make you feel and look uncomfortable.To pair up with your shorts you can always wear simple plain V-neck or round neck T-shirts. But you can wear a casual shirt with it to just dress it up a little. Pair it up with some slip-ons or boat shoes,that would look good.you can always wear this attire for a movie or for a coffee or hanging out with friends. You can also wear colorful, funky men’s tank tops with shorts for shopping or on the beach, it looks really cool.

Wearing right shoes during summer is very important. You don’t want your feet to swat and smell bad. Avoid wearing tight shoes .if you are not wearing socks i.e. when you wear loafers,make sure your loafers are made of such material that absorbs moist. And if you are wearing socks then wear a CLEAN pair of socks guys!!

I don’t feel the need to tell you guys but wear a pair of sunglasses to protect your eyes (Which one you should wear….. coming up soon in next post).

And don’t hesitate to use sunscreen, it’s your skin and you gotta protect it. There is nothing feminine or less manly about protecting your skin.

You can use trendy caps or hats to cover your head to protect it from the sun.For a casual outfit you can use bandanas ,tie it up around your head in different ways.

Avoid over accessorizing .wear what is necessary, like a watch. Don’t overdo it, you will just feel hot and itchy at unnecessary places.Wear only if you are comfortable with it. 

Carry a bottle of deodorant use it whenever necessary.If you smell bad and you look sweaty and uncomfortable and what could be worse than that??

Be confident about yourself and don't be insecure.Your confidence adds extra plus points to your personality and the whole outfit 

Keep it natural and keep it clean. Don’t let the summer actually be sad.

Do let me know what you think about my post by posting your comments and queries.

You can follow me on twitter @Ivan_WLopez and  on Instagram @Unique_Ivan

I have given few links where you can browse and buy all this stuff,have a look. 

• http://www.riverisland.com/men/holiday-shopicid=mhp/prm7/img/mholidayshopcat
• http://fashionfinder.asos.com/mens-outfits/summer-party
• http://www.myntra.com/shop/summer-shop

I’ll be back with more next week, till then Adios!!