VERITAS | Men's Style Blog

Holiday Gear: Call of the Wild

Perhaps your year-end ritual is to follow the beat of your own drum, and your idea of recharging for the new year is to retreat quietly for a few days of simplicity, solitude and contemplation. So you check out from the frenetic pace of the concrete jungle for a trek to where the wild things hibernate. Forgetting the bright city lights and central heating, you find solace in your cozy forest cabin, where, as you make fire, you quietly stoke your inner fire and resolve for the year ahead.

All you need for this inner pilgrimage is an outdoorsy lumberjack-patterned shirt, a chunky woodsman-worthy cardigan sweater, and a pair of your favorite broken-in jeans. While you're out chopping wood, protect your dome from the elements with a trapper hat and lace on some sturdy boots. A rugged waxed canvas duffel is all you need to throw in a few essentials, like a classic book to induce some deep thoughts and a bottle of good ol' Kentucky hooch to keep you warm, set you straight, and offer some company — in that order.

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Holiday Gear: In Good Company

Holiday season is officially on, and that means you're going to end up in a number of quasi-social gatherings where your attendance is underscored with a subtext of obligation. I'm talking about the likes of the annual company holiday party, the schmooze fest at the big boss's suburban McMansion, or meeting your sweetheart's family for the first time at her parents' home.

Of course, those events can be delightful, but scratch just below the surface and there's often a sense of slight uneasiness in that you know that this isn't the type of party that you can let it all loose. Unlike the parties that you voluntarily prefer swinging in, this is no place for faux pas of any kind. In fact, this is an occasion to put yourself in the best possible light in the eyes of your colleagues, superiors, and possible future in-laws. So while I can't help you from making an ass of yourself, at least I can attempt to help you avoid looking like one.

Let's start with an example of how not to dress. In all honestly, there's exactly nothing devastatingly wrong about this look. He's rocking a pop of festive color and pattern on his tie, and the windowpane blazer adds another element of textural interest — even the fit isn't all that bad. It's not that anything's blatantly wrong with him, it's just that he's just so-so, boring, standard, and exhibits no style or personality. Although not offensive, he's surely not impressive. This is not the way to go if you want to leave a memorable mark.

To amp his style, he can start by switching up the fat silk tie to a colorful knitted or woven wool one that's slightly more narrow than the one he has on — about 3" at the widest point (2 3/4" for a bit slimmer). Another easy fix is to take up the jacket sleeve so that he has about 1/2" of cuff showing when his arm is hanging straight down. Those details alone should help.

Alternatively, he can pair a solid or subtly patterned wool tie with a cheerfully colored shirt in a pattern, topped with a navy blazer (shown above). Since these occasions are a bit more relaxed, you can optionally wear a button-down collar for a more casual vibe. And if you really want to leave an impression, do like Mad Men and embellish with a simple tie bar and flash a sliver of white pocket square. A clean, super dark pair of slim straight leg jeans offer a more modern and sophisticated option to chinos, although chinos or grey wool pants that are well tailored, cut slim and with a short-to-no break will elevate you just as well. Lastly, polish off your look with a pair of brown leather-soled wingtips — they add much more smarts and interest to your look than plain black shoes.

This is a type of function where you want to stand apart from the cubicle drones, or, for that matter, loser ex-boyfriends your lady friend has brought home in past years. While it's imperative to leave a distinctively confident mark, you also need to make sure you don't come across as a dandy. Keeping all of your wardrobe components simple and classic while maintaining a modern fit and sensibility is a surefire way to make a stylish, respectable, and memorable impression.

And for the season, a distinctive but subtle conversational accessory like a pair of holiday-themed cuff links will add just the right dose of holiday flair that's sure to be appreciated with cheer.

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Put This On: Denim

Finally, a well-made — and entertaining — web video series for dudes "dressing like a grownup." I hear these guys are looking for some dough/sponsorship to continue the series. I hope they get some dinero por mas videos 'cause this pilot episode is promising....

In the Navy

In menswear, countless sartorial inspirations have come directly from the military's rich history. And when the temperature starts to dip, we see that evident in the ubiquitous presence of trench coats and peacoats. Of course, these classic styles never get old. But every once in a while, there's proof that the wheel can be reinvented to striking results.

Case in point: This denim peacoat by Mister Freedom, a label that specializes in vintage-inspired designs, and available at J.Crew in exchange for $590. This handsome jacket is a "faithfully reproduced" denim version of a merchant Navy sailor's jacket from back in 1910, and "finished with historically-accurate details such as chain-stitched embroidery." Even the Japanese "'sc301 okinawa' denim - a dark indigo selvedge that's woven on old-school shuttle looms" - is just as vintage and authentic, making this jacket a perfect amalgam of traditional and modern, east and west, utility and total fashion statement - without losing anything in-between.

A jacket like this will blast you into the style stratosphere and set you far apart from all the other blokes hittin' the streets with their alright, but ho-hum gear. Anyone who beholds you in this wondrous jacket will have a hard time hiding their admiration, and women especially will be drawn to its magical powers, allowing you to personally benefit from its charms. This is a kind of jacket you wish you never have to take off, so try hanging out in places where there's a constant chill (except, perhaps, a meat locker) so you have every excuse not to take it off.

I understand that $590 can be a chunk of change. But do consider that this is a collector's item that will offer you pure wearing enjoyment and the admiration of both men and women, forever. In fact, come every fall, you'd be so psyched to get yet another chance to unleash your stilo, when all the other fellas are busy just trying to get by. Now that's what I call a healthy ROI.

The Fall Guy

To prepare for your glory this fall, the last couple of posts were about grooming and getting your body back in check. Yes, those are important topics, but you're probably wondering when I'm going to start talking fashion again. Guys, the time starts now, and I plan to deliver!

Always thinking of you, I did a walk-through of some major retailers to see what their first men's offerings were for fall. This is the time when you can spot right away the top trends that are going to make a big splash for the season. And as to be expected, there were a few hits as well as some serious misses.

So let's start with the flops...

Just Say No to the Giant Croc: Lacoste's latest polo comes in an oversized crocodile chest patch. The first time I saw it, I couldn't help but notice how out of proportion the gigantic croc looked on the shirt. And to make matters worse, upon closer examination, the blown-up croc looked just plain dopey. I cross-referenced the logo artwork with the regular small version and saw that they were basically the same. It's understandable that the original logo is too small to add much detail, but I would think that if they're going to blow up the thing, they'd want to fill up the extra space with some more stitch details.

My beef, however, wasn't even so much a matter of aesthetics, but rather the sad feeling that Lacoste completely missed the mark as a late adopter of the giant-logo-on-the-polo-shirt phenomenon that started a few years back when Polo Ralph Lauren came out with a monstrous pony logo emblazoned on their polo shirts. I think that conspicuous displays of designer logos are really tacky, so when I saw this dumb-looking croc in 12 different colorways, I just got tired. Lacoste gets zero points for originality, and it's really lame for them to shamelessly copy another label's (tasteless) idea ... and a few years too late at that. I normally like Lacoste for being a bit more refined than its American polo shirt makers (they're French, ya see), but this one's a total dud in my opinion. Guys, go ahead and get Lacoste polo shirts, but please stick to the original ones with the small logo if you don't want to risk looking ridiculous.

Flashy Jeans: I've never liked loud jeans on men (or women), but I'm so glad I'm still seeing lots of them around because that only means they're on their way out - for good. There's not much to say about these jeans except that they're tacky and makes you look like a bona fide fashion victim. The most current jean to wear now is a simpler style with a cleaner wash, dark rinse or raw denim, so stock up on those and ditch this bad idea once and for all.

Skull Overload: Don't get me wrong. I love skulls. I revere the profound iconographic influence they've had in culture, art, religion and life since the beginning of humankind. In fact, I dutifully wear a bracelet made from a row of silver skulls (designed by Jade Jagger, Mick's daughter) every day as a reminder of the impermanence of life, which helps me remember to appreciate the preciousness of every moment. That said, I feel that the skull motif has been so overused and abused, especially on t-shirts, that it's become just a nauseating trend. At this point, wearing graphics dripping with skulls doesn't make you edgy - it makes you look like every other dude who's trying to look cool, and failing miserably. And guys, if you're older than 25, please ... give up the dream. Like the skulls themselves, this is a trend that's totally dead. R.I.P.

And now, unto the good stuff...

Tartan Plaid: Remember the madras from summer? If certain schools of thought speculate that madras is a descendant, or at least a distant cousin, of the tartan, then this fall, we're going back to the roots. Think of tartans as patterns you see on a kilt, and you can picture exactly what I'm talking about. If there's one patterned shirt to buy this season, make it a tartan. It goes well with your favorite pair of jeans and look fantastic with another great piece you should look into - the cardigan. Go casual with rolled-up sleeves, a broken-in pair of jeans and sturdy shoes for an Americana vibe. Or dress it up with pristine dark jeans, dark cardigan and lace-ups. Make sure the shirt is slim cut so that you get the most modern look ... and no one mistakes you for a Christmas blanket.

Cardigans are hot this season, especially around now when it's not exactly cold enough to wear a coat. This is a great light-jacket alternative, as well as a more interesting way to layer under a jacket than your typical pullover sweater. I know a lot of you associate the cardigan with gramps, but the latest cardigans are anything but octogenarian. Get ones that fit close to your body in a refined, lightweight wool or cashmere, and you're money. Start with a solid color like grey or navy first, and once you get the hang of it, go for some bold stripes or at least some color-blocking. Wear it over a t-shirt or buttoned shirt, and don't button it up all the way - you want the look to be easy and relaxed, not Mr. Rogers.

Vests have been coming down the fashion pipeline for a few seasons now, but this fall, it's reached its tipping point. This is definitely a trendy piece, so if you want your vest to last for years, get one in a timeless fabric like wool or cotton, and with classic tailoring details - almost as if they would belong as part of a three-piece suit. Stay away from vests with graphic prints or embroidery - that's totally cheesy, and as my friend Chris would say, "That's Douche a la Ruche." Also, you're looking for a versatile everyday vest, so avoid anything too fancy, like silk brocade or ones with a shiny back - you know, the kind you're forced to wear when you're a part of a wedding party. Think of a vest like a blazer without sleeves, and wear it the way you would a blazer. Just like a blazer, you'll see that a vest is a great way to add a bit of polish and structure to your look ... without actually having to wear a blazer.

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