VERITAS | Men's Style Blog

Holiday Gear: Tux Deluxe

As the art of dressing makes a comeback in menswear, the tuxedo is back in the limelight. So for this holiday season — as well as for any special formal occasion — consider wearing the tuxedo as not so much a begrudging sartorial obligation, but rather, a rare opportunity to shine as the distinctive, dashing, debonair man that you are.

Today's tux is modern, minimal, molds perfectly to your body, with meticulous attention to detail that provides lots of options to leave your personal mark — qualities that you can never dream to have in an abominable rental. So invest in your own tux and never be mistaken for a groomsman again. A man of genuine style owns himself — and his tux.

A classic tuxedo jacket has a single button, but the 2-button is a popular option. The peak lapel or shawl collar is the standard, but the notch collar has come to be commonly accepted. Although black is the most widely worn color, midnight blue is also a classic tux color that offers a dose of sophistication yet "something different." Remember: no more than 2 buttons, ever, and most importantly, make sure you're wearing a jacket, not a box.

Although the stand-up wing collar (below left) is the traditional tuxedo shirt style, the most current collar style is the turndown collar, which is basically the collar style you see on your normal dress shirt (below, right). Please: no vest, no cummerbund, and no clip-on bow ties, although if you prefer a cummerbund, keep it sleek and subtle. Don't get too fussy with the shape of the pocket square either, i.e., no origami.

Daniel Craig gets my vote for the best dressed tux man in the world. I just about die every time I see him in a tux (or suit ... or anything ... or almost nothing). Here, he sports a midnight blue classic shawl collar with silk cuffs by Tom Ford. Two words: Freakin' Sublime.

Classic Done Right: Single button peak lapel. Polished. Natty. Gracious. Charming. Turner Classic Movies ... but 2010.

Bringing Sexy Back: Midnight blue over black says "evening." Modern, masculine, dark and sensual. Shows that black-and-blue can be a really good thing.

So Luxe: The velvet jacket is opulent and sumptuous. Plush, ritzy, and swanky, it's perfect for the festive, glitzy holiday season. Don't worry, you won't come across as self-indulgent if you pair it with more basic, modest underpinnings throughout.

The Skinny: Not for the Average Joe, but works splendidly for the man who knows he's the hippest man in town.

Winter White: The white dinner jacket will get you noticed in a sea of black. Traditionally worn only in the domain of balmy, summery evenings, this is a sharp option when you're inviting in the new year in style from somewhere warm, preferably south of the equator.

[Above 5 Photos by Paola Kudacki for GQ.]

Holiday Gear: Jingle Bell Rock

Here's a getup for an edgy but refined downtown holiday soirée. The black-and-white color palette and the velvet-and-satin dinner jacket keep you sophisticated and luxe, while rock-and-roll details — like a vintage-inspired striped tee, talon necklace and leather-and-metal bracelet — make it patently clear that this ain't no stuffy uptown scene. Go for the kill with a pair of super sleek Chelsea boots.

[Hover over image for product info.]

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.

[Hover over images for product info.]

Full Metal Jacket

The holidays are upon us, and for many of you, that means traveling back to the place where you were spawned. Or something like that.

Well, whether you're a frequent flyer or just making your yearly pilgrimage to visit the fam back in the 'burbs, airport security is a total drag at this time of year. I myself just flew out of JFK this morning at an ungodly hour, and the place was already totally bumpin'. Let's just say I'm glad I won't be there tomorrow. Or Friday. I'll stay put here in the sunny 'burbs of Los Angeles, listening to lawn mowers (like right now) for the first time in a decade, thank you very much.

As you know, the best thing to do while flying these days is to pack lightly, with the least number of bags as possible.

Enter the Scottevest SevFleece 5.0 Jacket.

From the exterior, it looks like any other sporty fleece jacket comparable to styles by Patagonia, Columbia, and the like. But don't let the unassuming outer appearance fool you: The SevFleece 5.0 comes with 24 specially designed interior pockets to keep everything with you ON you (even magazines!), possibly eliminating the need for a carry-on.

Imagine blowing through airport security simply by sending the jacket through the x-ray, then putting it back on. No more emptying anything — just take off the jacket, put it on the tray, and you're done. For your cell phone and/or iPod, there are 2 clear-touch interior chest pockets for not only screening calls or seeing what's on your playlist, but for actually operating the gadgets directly through the cloth. And for added convenience and efficiency, there's the patented Personal Area Network (PAN) that allows you to thread your earbud wires so they stay put and tangle-free.

And even with an entire bag's worth of stuff, this jacket is crafted with NoBulge™ engineering, which means that you won't be mistaken for a suicide bomber or a drug mule. And if you do get pulled aside for something weird you did (or stupid, like leaving your 'lil stash in one of the special pockets), you'll be able to easily and quickly comply with the authorities by providing your ID, passport and boarding pass straight from the Secure Travel Documents Pocket.

The SevFleece 5.0 Jacket ($140) is also built with removable sleeves so you can wear it as a vest. If you're not a fleece guy, the company also makes a cotton/nylon blend vest ($100) that comes with 2 less pockets and all the features of the fleece version.

Now, is this a fashionable jacket? No, not really. But having said that, it's also not bad looking either. It's just a regular, generic-looking no-nonsense fleece jacket with super efficient interior design — which is actually pretty damn cool for times when the need for functionality trumps aesthetics.

One last travel tip: While the Scottevest gear does a lot for you, you're still gonna need to take off your shoes at security point. So make sure you wear a decent pair of socks, or at least ones without any holes. I've seen countless otherwise respectable-looking, respectably dressed guys humiliating themselves with their naked big toe peeping out. As this tricked out jacket shows, it's not always about how exceptional you look on the outside, but rather, how well you're engineered on the inside. So come correct and wear some decent socks, will ya? That's just the right — and stylish — thing to do.

Classics, with a Twist

Two American old-time brands of two diverse pedigrees reinvent themselves this fall: Gant, with it's preppy heritage, and Woolrich, representing the great American outdoors. Both companies dug deep into their fabric and design archives to cook up new interpretations of their unique traditions and aesthetics.

Gant 60th Anniversary Collection

Last night I was at the Gant flagship store on Fifth Avenue for the company's 60th anniversary party. At first I wasn't all that excited about it, but I decided to go investigate their heavily pumped "60th Anniversary Collection," a line of 6 limited edition collector's item shirts sold exclusively at said flagship store here in New York and at Barneys New York, Beverly Hills, and Chicago. Heck, I might as well go while cocktails are served, right?

Honestly, despite the fact that Gant had much to contribute to the birth of the American man's shirt—introducing the button-down oxford shirt across the U.S, inventing the locker loop, the box pleat, and the button on the back collar (it keeps the tie in place)—I was pretty bored with their merch for a long long time...possibly always.

But to commemorate their 60th, Gant came up with these newly-rendered versions of their 6 vintage shirt styles. I inspected every single one of those shirts—and maybe it was the cocktail talking—but I actually really dug them.

I appreciated the luxe tweaks, like turning a woolly flannel shirt into a soft cotton-cashmere blend ("The Cashmere"), or transforming a casual Ivy League professorial button-down into a slim fit, übersleek Sea Island cotton number ("The Sea Island"). Then there are the unusual permutations of the classic oxford button-down: "The Rugger," a fusion between an oxford button-down and a rugby shirt, and "The Pullover," an oxford button-down-turned-leisure shirt (both pictured above). (Check out all the shirts here.)

These shirts would look mighty nice on ye old chaps with a pair of dark or subtly broken-in jeans, topped with a tweed or flannel sportcoat, or even a chunky cardigan. Finish with boots, lace-ups, sneakers, or one of those cool Sperry Top-Sider Chukkas.

Woolrich Woolen Mills

If the Gant shirts seem a little too affected and precious for a straight-shootin' man like yourself, there's the more rugged Woolrich Woolen Mills, a high-concept label for Woolrich—the company famous for its lumberjack-style woolly outdoor gear. As such, it's an outerwear/jacket-heavy collection that makes good use of the company's signature plaids and woolen fabrics, mixed in with some rustic knits.

Now I tried to digest what the website was saying about the collection, but it was so garbled with meaningless jargon that I gave up. I mean, I'm no novice in bullshit fashion-speak, but this one took it to another level. Excerpt: "It is a synergy between textile tradition and modern forms, where structural details have a fundamental role in terms of functionality." ... Say wha??? Bitch pu-leez.

But to sum up the 11-paragraph gibberish in one sentence, I think it was basically saying this: "Woolrich Woolen Mills is a design concept that honors the rich heritage and tradition of the Woolrich brand, reinterpreting it in modern ways that mirror its history and authenticity." Done. And done.

While a few individual pieces of the collection are alright, I find that the line as a whole is too heavy. I can't imagine a man wearing a wool shirt with a wool bow tie with a wool sportcoat and pants under a thick wool sweater under a wool peacoat. Verdict: Don't believe the hype. If you'd like to try it, pick one piece and de-woolify the rest of the look. (View the collection here.)