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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The Classic Tux Redux

[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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A Beginner’s Guide to Buying Luxury Watches

Hey Guys – I’ve got a treat for you. I’m handing today’s post over to a guest blogger and new friend, Leo Parker, who’s a luxury watch expert. He’ll take you through the fundamentals of selecting a quality timepiece, broken down by budget. Enjoy.

 

Luxury watches are, unquestionably, one of the ultimate status symbols for any man. It’s an industry of exceptional craftsmanship, with many prestigious brands vying for the attention of style-conscious men the world over. Needless to say, if you’re new to the world of high-end timepieces, it can be quite daunting to know where to begin. So let me be your Sherpa on your journey to find the perfect luxury timepiece for you.

The main thing that you’ll need to consider when it comes to purchasing a luxury watch will be how much you’re looking to spend and, fortunately, there’s a watch out there to suit different budgets. Let’s take a look at some examples of entry-level, mid-level and top-of-the-range luxury watches to showcase the various timepieces that are available on the market.

 

Entry-Level Luxury Watches

An excellent example of an entry-level luxury watch would be 88 Rue Du Rhone. The Swiss brand offers an exceptional array of timepieces for an astounding price, given the quality of craftsmanship that goes into their creations. Although 88 Rue Du Rhone watches are newcomers to the luxury timepiece scene, they come from industry pedigree, for they were developed by the grandsons to the founder of another established Swiss brand, Raymond Weil.

88 Rue Du Rhone watches, such as the breathtaking 42mm chronograph timepiece above, typically retail between $750 - $1,500, which, for a luxury timepiece, sits at the entry-level end of the spectrum. Other notable brands that fall under this category of accessible luxury timepieces include the likes of Bulova, Accutron, Longines and Raymond Weil.

 

Mid-Level Luxury Watches

The mid-level bracket of luxury watches is more comprehensive, and most watchmakers will have timepieces that fall within this category. These beauties will typically set you back between $2,000 - $5,000, and the Montblanc, TAG Heuer and Bell & Ross shown above retail in that range. Other notable brands in this category include: Bremont, Baume & Mercier and IWC.

As you can see, there are some spectacular timepieces which can be picked up in the mid-tier bracket of luxury watches. If your finances allow, you should always try to stretch your budget as far as possible, as the craftsmanship of high-end timepieces become more exemplary as prices increase.

Luxurious and flawlessly manufactured, all the watches that fall in the mid-level bracket will definitely score you plenty of points in the style stakes, serving as an excellent status symbol for those looking to ramp up their sartorial standing.

 

High-End Luxury Watches

For those in the enviable position of money being no object, there is a spectacular array of high-end timepieces on the market which is, quite frankly, jaw-dropping. An impressive showcase would include the phenomenal watches above from Audemars Piguet, Cartier and Zenith, which will set you back in excess of $30,000. 

The design and craftsmanship of this bracket of timepiece truly is a cut above – you’ll definitely witness a difference in quality for such a purchase. They’ll invariably boast features not typically found on watches lower down the spectrum, such as precious metals, jewels, more intricate mechanisms and eye-catching tourbillons, to name but a few.

So, if you’re planning to purchase a luxury watch this year, this should hopefully give you a little insight into the types of watches to adorn your wrist according to your budget. Luxury timepieces really are a fantastic status symbol, and it’s a good idea to do some research into the different brands and their backstory to find the ideal timepiece to suit your personal style and sensibility.

 

*Guest contributor Leo is a luxury lifestyle blogger who has a love of the finer things in life. He has a particular affinity for fine timepieces from the likes of Breitling, IWC and TAG Heuer even though, lamentably, he can’t afford the watches he so often writes about. He regularly writes on behalf of a number of men's lifestyle and luxury blogs and magazines.

[All images used with permission from The Watch Gallery.]

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: 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.

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