How To Update the Little Black Dress

By now, you should be aware the little black dress is a staple in your closet even if you only wear it once a year.  While pearls are the obvious choice to accessorize, your dress, here are a few more options to update this dress.

Mix in metallics for a 21st century kick.  Whether you want chose a coat, heels or a belt, these will update you dress with a modern aesthetic.

Cover your little black dress with a Chanel inspired jacket. Because these jackets are generally cut shorter, they will not distract from the dress itself.

Wear boots instead of heels. This look is tough but feminine at the same time.

Wear rap over the shoulder in houndstooth or a plaid. This will appear elegant and keep you warm at the same time.

Long black gloves are always a good option no matter what else you chose to do.

Hats are always in fashion. Whether you choose a Bolero, a Beret or a Fedora you will appear to own a vintage style.

For the fashion forward, consider a black motorcycle jacket to wear over your little black dress.

Tissot

Watches do much more than keep time; they speak volumes about who you are and where you are in life.  The right timepiece can signify power, affluence and prestige. Swiss made watches personify all of these and more.  If you are wanting to start a collection, Tissot would be a fine place to start.  

Founded in 1853 by Charles-Fèlicien Tissot along with his son, Charles Emile, Tissot was the first to mass produce pocket watches and also pioneered the two time zone watch. With a rich history, these timepieces have been the official timekeeper for many world champion sporting events for decades. Based in Le Locle, Switzerland, the company has been a member of the Swatch Group Ltd. since 1983.  

Brand Ambassadors have included such notable personalities as Swiss motorcycle star Thomas Lûthi, NASCAR driver Danica Patrick and French basketball player Tony Parker. In addition, they have been worn by Elvis Presley, Grace Kelly, Angelina Jolie and Nelson Mandela.

With models ranging in price from $499 to over $5,000, Tissot has a watch for any budget. The only problem is deciding which one to buy. If you are on a tight budget, consider the Bridgeport. With a black face and black leather strap, this piece has a classic feel to it. Whether you're in a high powered meeting or at an elegant dinner party, this watch will fit right in. Priced at $395, it will go easy on your wallet. If you have money to burn, take a look at the Carson. With an18k rose gold housing and Roman numerals, it almost appears vintage. Priced at $3,250 this impressive timepiece will serve as the only dress watch you will ever need.

Winter Coats

Nothing cures the winter blues like purchasing a new coat. Whether you are updating, replacing or just need some retail therapy, allow me to guide you through some options for every budget.

If you are a label snob with money burning a hole in your pocket, consider the Salvatore Ferragamo Trim Fit Plaid Wool Topcoat with Leather Trim. This Italian made coat is fashion forward enough to be worn at the trendiest night spots, yet conservative enough to be worn to the office. Available at Nordstrom for a cool $2,650.

 If you want to look tough yet elegant, check out the Narvey Lambskin Leather Jacket by Hugo Boss.​ The updated biker jacket features quilting throughout for a modern feel and the standup collar would certainly impress Fonzi. Available at hugoboss.com for $1,495.

Simply cannot justify spending one month’s rent on a new jacket? Don't worry, there are alternatives. Case in point. Joseph Abboud offers a Sable Peak Lapel Modern fit Topcoat. The peak lapels adds to the overall mod aesthetic and in a very trendy vicuña, this coat encapsulates a contemporary feel. Available at the Men’s Wearhouse for $499.

 Military inspired coats have become a staple in men’s wear and the chances from fading from the limelight are slim to none. This season Ralph Lauren offers up a Double Breasted Peacoat with silver buttons at the shoulder and on the front. Available in military olive or black, this wool blended coat will serve several seasons. Available at Macy's for $495.

 Written for Foxtail Magazine

Style Returns To the White House

Not since the Kennedy’s occupied the White House have fashion and politics merged once the Obama’s came to Washington. John F. Kennedy had a young, hip yet conservative style as he fancied pin stripe tailored suits from Brooks Brothers. When vacationing, he could often be spotted in khaki slacks, a basic white cotton button and those iconic Ray Ban Wayfarer sunglasses. Jackie Kennedy was the most elegant first lady in history up until the early 1960s and her status as such remained untouched for decades. Wearing designer gowns by Oleg Cassini, she was the embodiment of style and sophistication. Her trendsetting pillbox hat was designed by Halston while her jackets were Chanel inspired. In April of 2001, the Metropolitan Museum featured the ultimate first lady of style’s most famous outfits in an exhibit called Jacqueline Kennedy: The White House Years.

The Obama’s parallel the Kennedy’s in many ways. Not only are they are both Democrats and both brought small children into the White House, but there is an aura of elegance which surrounds the couple. President Barack Obama doesn’t just walk into a room; rather, he swaggers in with an unapologetic confidence. First Lady, Michelle Obama has a style that is uniquely her own and appears comfortable in her role.

Barack Obama is untouchably the sharpest dressed President the United States has ever had in the both the 20th and 21st centuries. Unlike Carter, Regan, HW Bush, Clinton or GW, he rocks the two piece suit with an undeniable coolness. Maybe it is because he prefers slim cut suits from legendary clothier, Burberry. While still Senator Obama and candidate Obama, he purchased his suits “off the rack”, but after he wrapped up the nomination he wore a custom made $1500 Hartmarx suit in navy blue made of 97% merino wool and 3% cashmere to the acceptance speech. Still not ready to embrace flat front slacks, his pants were pleated and cuffed – hey, he had to appeal to conservatives as well as liberals. The President also shops at Barneys of NY.
Attention to detail is important to the President and his wrist watch is evidence of this. No, it’s not a $20,000 Rolex or even a Movado, but rather it is a classic Jorg Gray known as the Series 6500 chronograph which is a sophisticated, but not flashy choice. As for ties, Obama sticks with classic solids and the occasional diagonal stripe for that “presidential” look. Like JFK, his choice in sunglasses is Ray Ban.

Now let’s talk about the latest style icon, Mrs. Barack Obama. From the get go, Michelle has been the most glamorous First Lady since Jackie O. Starting at the inauguration ceremony, she wore a stunning canary yellow dress and jacket by designer Isabel Toledo. Hours after the ceremony, The Dress barn and Bluefly.com were flooded with calls from women wanting a similar look for less. Since then, she has proven her style to be chic and sophisticated, but has never been pretentious. Rather than wearing established designer’s clothing, she leans towards up and coming designers such as Wu, Toledo, Narciso Rodriguez and Thakoon Panichgul which is ushering a new crop of talented clothing designers and giving them a platform from which they can establish themselves. For casual wear, often her choices are from the very affordable J. Crew.



In January of 2011, she made headlines when she wore a flaming red dress by Alexander McQueen to greet the People Republic of China. While she was criticized by legendary designer Oscar de la Renta for wearing a European designer’s gown while trying to encourage trade relations between the US and China, she still looked breathtaking. Besides, she wouldn’t wear Oscar anyway.
At the State of the Union address on January 25th, she redeemed herself by wearing a putty colored sheath dress by American designer by Rachel Roy. Her black and white ribbon was to honor the recent shooting victim Representative Gabrielle Giffords.







As appeared in Icongraphy the Magazine Spring 2011

Fabrics

Even though a suit made of manmade materials might cost less, don’t make this mistake – trust me, I’ve done it. Fibers such as Viscose, rayon and polyester do not breathe as well as natural fibers. Besides, these fibers break down and end up looking worn and cheap.

When choosing a suit, you should stick with wool. There are many reasons for picking wool. Wool is water resistant, it is moisture wicking, is a fantastic insulator, it regulates temperature, is breathable and it blends well with other fabrics.

Wool comes in many weights.

For Spring/Summer, choose tropical wool.
Tropical weight wool is two-ply, plain weave worsted wool which is sturdy yet lightweight. Often referred to as summer wool, it is used for the production warm weather suits.

For the colder month, choose worsted wool.
Worsted wool is manufactured in Worsted, England and has been since the 18th century. The wool fibers are spun into compact and smoothly twisted yarn prior to weaving. Worsted wool goes through a second process in which unwanted shorter fibers are removed causing the longer fibers to lay flat. Besides being breathable, worsted wool is wrinkle and crease resistant thus is a great choice when purchasing a suit.
Now you must decide which grade of wool you want in a suit, Super 100's, Super 110's, Super 120's, or Super 150's. The differences are measured by fiber microns. An example would be Super 100 wool contains fibers which are finer than 18 microns, whereas Super 150 contains fibers which are finer than 15 microns. In laymen’s terms, the higher the number, the softer the fabric is. In fact, Super wool 150 is finer than cashmere. Personally, I like wools between 120 and 150.



Written for the Miles David - Mens Custom Clothier website.

Pant Cuffs

Stylish men face a critical choice when purchasing slacks; to cuff or not to cuff. Cuffing or not cuffing slacks comes down to personal choice and there is no right or wrong answer. While the current trend is flat front slacks without cuffs, some men still prefer pleated slacks with cuffs. Cuffs look best on tall men, while shorter men will appear taller without cuffs. Slacks which are made of heavier material such as flannel look best if cuffed because they add weight. Cuffs are not necessary with flat front slacks, but add to the overall aesthetic to pleated slacks. Pants with cuffs are considered to be dressier while pants without cuffs are considered to be more European and fashion forward. The proper width of a cuff should only be 1 ¼ inch – no more, no less.

Cuffs will always be in style no matter what the fashion rags say. They have a rich heritage dating back to King Edward the VII in the 1890s and crossed the Atlantic in the early 20th century to become the standard in stylish menswear. Cuff or no cuff; it is really up to you.

Written for the Miles David - Mens Custom Clothier website.

Choosing a Tie

In the business world a tie is a must because it’s an indication of trust, but choosing the right one can be a challenge for some men. The tie says more about your personal style as well as your personality than anything else in your wardrobe.

The first rule of thumb when picking a tie, always choose silk or wool, no polyester. While there are many patterns to choose from, some should be avoided no matter if your wife thinks it’s cute or not. Novelty ties, such as Christmas or cartoon ties, are a no-no, even at the company’s party. Stick will diagonal stripes, subtle paisley, dots, repp stripes or solid patterns. Solids are striking especially when made of high quality woven silk. A solid tie is black, navy, burgundy or gray with a crisp white dress shirt demands respect.

The width of a tie is just as important as the pattern you choose. The standard width of a tie is around 3 inches. However, slim ties measuring 2 inches are back in vogue as are wider ties measuring 4 inches. Anything skinnier or wider is not recommended.

Matching a tie with a shirt and suit is not as tricky as it might sound. Blue suits are most versatile as you can wear almost every tie and shirt combination. Examples would be blue and yellow or burgundy and blue. Another striking color combination is monochrome. Black on black and grey on grey are two great examples.
Tying a tie properly is a must. There are four basic knots.
• The Four in Hand knot is an asymmetrical knot which is best for button down shirts.
• The Pratt knot is fairly wide and is suited for most dress shirts.
• The Half Windsor is a symmetrical knot that can go with any shirt collar.
• The Windsor knot is wide and triangular knot which is a great option for the spread collar shirt.

Depending on the weight of the tie and the collar of your shirt, every man should master all four.



Written for the Miles David - Mens Custom Clothier website.