VERITAS | Men's Style Blog

3 Manly Ways to Wear Floral Prints

Floral prints are a top menswear trend this spring, popping up in full bloom in a wide range of graphics, sizes and colors. The challenge for the average man is to incorporate this romantic trend in masculine ways that sets him apart for the right reasons, while avoiding any risk of looking like an unfortunate—and clueless—fashion amateur. I’ll share 3 simple, reliable ways for any man to look sensational in this season's freshest trend, and emerge victorious with his manliness fully intact.

 

Easy Does It

Let the other dudes plaster themselves silly in fanciful bouquets while you remain ever smart and relaxed in a simple, small-scale printed shirt within a limited color range. The floral print itself speaks volumes, so no need to exaggerate the scale or overdo it with too many colors. Ground the rest of your outfit in a solid, neutral base color such as grey, beige, navy or dark denim, and top it off with a handsome cardigan or lightweight jacket for those chilly springtime mornings and evenings. Add a pair of cool kicks from this season's mix of unexpected colors and materials and you're the man. 

 

Seriously Speaking

For a dressier, hushed evening look, consider a shirt or sport jacket in a dark 2-tone pattern that’s more shadow-like over one that pops. The idea is to utilize the print more as a texture while the dark color adds depth and drama—it’s about tasteful discretion, not flash. For a printed shirt, top it with a solid dark jacket. For a printed jacket, pair it with either a solid shirt that picks up a tone on the jacket, or a white one. If you want to add a tie, make it solid and dark—a knit tie will quietly add another layer of texture, which is always a good thing. Again, the rule is to keep the rest of your outfit lean and clean, preferably with a pair of trim trousers worn beltless, and as a bonus, with an extended tab closure. Garnish with a well-polished pair of your best shoes.

 

A Little Goes a Long Way

This is a prime example of accessories as king. No need to invest in a big ticket item like a full shirt with a front, back and sleeves in order to enjoy spring’s hottest trend, which, like all trends, is eventually destined to be a flash in the pan. All that most guys really want is a little taste of what’s current, right?

Well, that’s where a small piece of cloth in the form of a pocket square, tie or socks will get you that kick of floral rush while fully insuring you from any fashion calamity. Add just one well-appointed floral accent to your otherwise monotonous uniform, and presto! You’ve just locked in a mad dose of personality without having to wallpaper yourself full of petals. This is also a winsome, non-invasive way to wear prints on the sly to earn points at the office... and impress that gorgeous date later tonight.

Now that you see how easy it is to wear floral prints without putting your manliness in suspect, why not give this top spring trend a go? As long as you have a solid foundational wardrobe, all you need is to invest in one item—a shirt, jacket or accessory—and work it into the everyday pieces that you already have in your daily rotation. It will work wonders to add fresh charm to your spring wardrobe without having to overhaul your closet, and make your style sense spring forth and blossom to a whole new level.

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7 Wardrobe Essentials for Every Man

 

Here are my picks for the 7 must-have menswear essentials, guaranteed to equip you with a solid foundation in which to build the rest of your wardrobe. Think of them as primary building blocks that click together to form countless varieties of new looks, or a blank canvas that offers the ideal backdrop for expressing your personal style. These pieces will work well in most semi-dressy/business casual situations that call for something a bit more polished, but not too strict or fussy – kind of like the Goldilocks Zone of modern-day dressing.

All you need are two tops, two bottoms, two jackets, and a great pair of shoes. Let’s go:

1.) White Button-Front Shirt: Whether it's a dress shirt or sport shirt, a white, collared, button-front shirt is never an option. This shirt is the carte blanche of all shirts. Make sure they’re always at the ready, spotless, crisp and well-pressed. Whenever you're in doubt, put one on and you're money.

2.) Lightweight Crewneck Pullover: A finely-knit top is like a luxurious t-shirt. Trade it in place of your normal everyday t-shirt and you instantly amp up your style quotient. Wear it alone or over that white button-front shirt. This is also where a little color goes a long way – choose one that shows some personality (like this pink one), and it’ll take you so much farther.

3.) Dark Straight-Leg Jeans: These should have none-to-minimal washing/distressing with simple stitching. It's a versatile staple that grounds pretty much any casual/semi-casual look, and has become as essential as the ubiquitous chino. Wear it whenever you usually grab for your chinos, but when you need the dark color and a little more kick to your style.

4.) Slim Plain-Front Chinos: The chino can either be the most boring item in your wardrobe, or the most perfect basic you can ever own. You obviously want to aim for the latter, and that all depends on the style and fit. Slim means exactly what it means. Plain-front means no pleats – ever – please.

5.) Navy Blazer:  An absolute essential in order to dress up any outfit in a pinch. You could be in a t-shirt and old jeans, but the minute the blazer gets added to the mix, you'll manage to look respectable, even if you're in a hurry. For maximum mileage, go for the two-button, with dark buttons that match the jacket.

6.) Grey Blazer: The addition of an alternate grey blazer to the navy one packs a powerful one-two punch for any occasion that calls for a jacket. You’ll be fine with having just one (either one will do, but start with the navy), but you’ll never regret having both. The two options together will exponentially increase your wardrobe possibilities.

7.) Lace-up Oxfords: No matter your shoe situation, you’ve got to have one really good pair. Make it a lace-up oxford in either plain or cap toe. Dark brown gives you lots of versatility and is more interesting than black, especially in context to the rest of the 6 pieces we’re focusing on today.

Put it all together: Not only are these 7 items integral to every man's wardrobe, the beauty of these timeless basics is that, when combined together, it's an absolute fail-proof ensemble that will take very good care of you, season after season. Add extra flair with accessories, like punchy pocket squares or handsome belts, and you’re big time.

Lastly, about that white shirt... tuck the damn thing in!

Office Shirt Battle: UK vs US

Here's something fresh from my friends at UK-based menswear retailer, TM Lewin. Called "Men at Work," this entertaining infographic provides interesting facts on office shirt style preferences between English and American men.

Regardless of your nationality, which side are you on? See below to find out.

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Tuxedo Dos and Don’ts

Let’s finish up our 3-part formal wear analysis with a look at some black tie dos and don’ts.

 

The Long Tie

Wearing a long tie in place of a bow tie is perfectly acceptable, but as this option can look less formal, it’s important to make sure all the other elements are in perfect order.

Paul N. J. Ottosson would have been in better shape for his Academy Award photo op had his attire looked more polished and evening-worthy. Although the notch lapel jacket is a non-traditional style that’s now popularly accepted for formal occasions, I find that it looks more like a fancy business suit than a tux. The big tie with the big knot (Ack! No dimple!) and big stripes – coupled with a big, boxy jacket all made him look a tad clownish. But then again, he’s a sound engineer (with an impressive 3 Oscars and 4 nominations track record) and not a fashion plate, so I’ll cut him some slack.

In contrast, Lieve Schreiber (in Calvin Klein Collection) and Jean Dujardin (in Lanvin) did the long tie right with a shot of minimalist solid black sliver, tied tight in a simple-yet-always-elegant four-in-hand knot. And of course, with everything else done with precise, sharp tailoring, these guys did not mess around.

 

The Vest

Ben Affleck (in Gucci) didn’t look too shabby, but nonetheless missed the mark with just a couple of details. Because the high V shape cut out from the lines of the vest tends to create a stumpy torso under a jacket, he needed to balance it out with a jacket of a lower button stance. For some reason, his jacket appeared to have an unusually high button stance for a single-button, adding to the illusion of a thicker middle. Also, the extra fabric bunched around his ankles did more disservice to chop up his figure.

Meanwhile, Bradley Cooper (in Tom Ford) and Channing Tatum (in Gucci) perfected the formula by balancing the height of the vest’s neckline with a jacket of lower button stance, creating a more harmonious proportion that leaned out the torso. Their trousers were cut trim without excess fabric, further elongating the body. 

 

The Double-Breasted

Although I use Hugh Jackman (in Tom Ford) as an example of what to avoid, notice that I didn’t make him a don’t either. That’s because he actually looked great in his tux and I had no reason to take jabs at him. But that’s Hugh Jackman, not you. I’m using his example as a caution to the rest of the male population who aren’t as toweringly statuesque and solidly built as him. For the average guy without a chiseled body, and especially those who are vertically challenged and/or on the portly side, do stay away from the DB, as it will only accentuate those features.

The double-breasted tux is just as acceptable as the single-breasted, but pairing it with a shawl collar can be risky business in its possible association with the bathrobe. If you’re going for the DB, I recommend that you go for the peak lapel with a high gorge for a more formal, sharp, slimming and modern look. The gorge is the seam on the jacket where the collar meets the lapel.

Chris Pine (in Ermenegildo Zegna) was impressive in his very trim DB number, with everything cut and fitted to his body with scientific precision. The high-gorge peak lapel and minimalist design was very of-the-moment, fashion forward and advanced, making him truly stand apart as an original.

 

The Mature Gentleman

Again, as with Hugh Jackman, I’m not necessarily making Steven Spielberg (in Dior Homme) a don’t.  Actually, I was a bit torn on this choice. 40% of me wanted to give him mega props for a mature gentleman to rock such a fashionable tux in that razor-blade lapel. But then again, the majority naysayer in me screamed out to the TV while watching him, “Dress your age, papa!” So this was a toss-up, with a bias toward don’t.

Michael Douglas (in Canali), on the other hand, managed to show off a bit of older-guy fashion edge in just the right way. He did this by wearing a tux that was age-appropriately slim enough to say that he was cool and current, added just the right touch of novel cut-out detail on the lapel, then went for the kill with an injection of the ever-sophisticated midnight blue color with black accents.

 

So Close, Yet So Far Away

Finally, here is Christoph Waltz (in Prada) and George Clooney (in Georgio Armani). I leave you with these two very talented and charismatic gentlemen because they were so close to perfection had it not been for a couple of obvious misses. The devil is indeed in the details, and the details that bedeviled both of them were the same two issues that could have been easily averted:

1) Raise the jacket sleeve to show some cuff.

2) Slim down the trousers and shorten the break at the hem – just a little more for Mr. Waltz and a good extra yard for Mr. Clooney.

... And then there’s Daniel Radcliffe (in Prada) as a shining example of what could have been.

That’s it for formal wear, until next time. Hope you enjoyed the posts and that you found the information useful.

[Getty Images]

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[Catch up on the previous post: “Wear a Tux Like a Leading Man”]

 

Continuing our formal wear coverage....

When it comes to black tie events, the classic tuxedo reigns supreme.

First of all, it’s a uniform. Uniforms are meant to be goof proof – the whole thing is already perfected for you. As long as you assemble yourself faithfully to proper point-by-point guidelines, there’s no way you can make a wrong turn. Plus there’s no denying that a man looks smashing in a uniform.

Another reason to go for the classic is that it exudes good manners. Like all uniforms, a properly worn tuxedo, as much as it sets you apart, is also meant for blending in. In this case, why? Why to gracefully allow your date – and all the ladies in attendance – to showcase their exquisite dresses. See any photos of these stars taken with their dates and you’ll see exactly what I’m talking about. A gentleman never attempts to one-up his date by fighting for fashion attention.

If you really must strut your stuff, it’s allowed, within tasteful reason – just make sure you own your shit 100% without a single shred of doubt (fine examples here). But for the rest of you who want a sure shot at looking pitch-perfect with zero risk, you can achieve so much with the classic tuxedo. Oh, and trust me: no one will mistake you for boring – ever.

A few notables who hit it perfectly at this year’s Oscars are Bradley Cooper (in Tom Ford), Eddie Redmayne (in Alexander McQueen), and Justin Theroux (in Salvatore Ferragamo). They kept it as classic as can be in a single-button peaked lapel style, but couldn’t have been more dashing.

This, however, doesn’t mean you can go to a local rent-a-tux and get any classic number and think it’s okay, because that will prove to be a disaster. Primarily, rentals will most often be too boxy (in order to accommodate more body types). Please – wear a tux, not a box. Not only is the boxy style awful-looking, it’s also very dated (see what I mean here). What you need is a classic tuxedo that says modern, contemporary, and for that, the proper fit is key.

Watch especially that the jacket’s shoulders don’t extend past the natural shoulder line, the sleeve length is cropped enough to show some shirt cuff, and the body is immaculately tailored to hug the figure. The trousers are sleek and slender with sharp creases, with minimal break at the hem so that it flows neatly onto the shoes. The plain-front turndown collar shirt is clean and simple, taking over the old-school winged version as the new modern classic. 

There’s always room for variations in keeping with the classic style. Bradley Cooper chose a trim vest and simple black studs for a graceful multi-dimensional look. Eddie Redmayne wore velvet slippers for a dose of sole-ful English propriety rarely seen on this side of the Atlantic. Justin Theroux wrapped on a cummerbund, a classic formal wear furnishing that’s fast becoming a rarity.

That’s it. Nothing more, nothing less. Stick with the classics for an effortless, sure-fire way to guarantee your spot as man of the hour – every time.

Next up, to round out our three-part tuxedo examination: “Tuxedo Dos and Don’ts”

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