Here’s the deal boys. I wrote this article about plaid that is pretty Seattle – centric. I am sure all of it can be sent to you. However, check in with Tommy & Roy at Alter for Men, they have some great plaid alternations as does Opening Ceremony in Soho/Nolita. There, be prepared spend a pretty penny. Fabulous store. They have a ton of the new and improved Woolrich styles. RL
Call us if you want help sourcing or finding the right thing to hit the right trend.
Its spring and you guys need color too. If you don’t want to do a colored easter egg suit ~ Cheap Monday has a great one ~ you can get color is in your kicks. Nike, Vans and Converse all have great options. Goods (Pike St & Bellevue) has a great selection of sneaks for spring. By the way, the gals will love them. You can also check out the Vans store (Northgate & Southcenter). Other stores to check: Urban Outfitters (Seattle, Capitol Hill, University Ave), and Zebra Club (First Avenue). RL
Photo Credit: Nike dunk style in a low top.
For more about men’s style in seattle from Rebecca Luke, go to The Examiner.
I always get asked, so what are the colors for the season, and I usually know the answer right away. This spring, there is not quick and easy answer. I have seen everything from shades of orange ~ ranging from a traffic cone orange to a curry orange ~ to combos of lavender, blue, teal, hot pink, citrine green. I think the point this season is to just to wear color. We have our lovely first lady to look to for the inspiration that way. I love that Michelle Obama is not afraid of color.
If you are like many folks I know and just a bit uncomfortable wearing color. One way to approach is to wear accessories with color. You can wear all black and throw a bunch of color bangles on your wrist or mix a bunch of big color beads around your neck. Or rock a shoe with color while wearing all black. That is a statement move for sure.
If you go the color direction, balance the color with shades of grey and taupe. This is lovely and easy to do. You can find many grey/taupe accessories out there these days.
Boys, you can get your color with you kicks. Every shoe line from Nike to Converse and even Doc Martins have major color going. If you are ready to go for it, wear a full suit in a color. Cheap Monday has a blue suit styled for a mod fit…hot.
My homage to color this season is a dress designed by my dear friend Andrew Dyrdahl out of pima cotton and it is orange and I mean orange. You will definitely see me coming. Side note: The design of my dress is perfect for most all body types and Andrew was recognized for formal version of the dress by the cotton folks…I loved it so much and convinced him to make a daytime dress out of it. Contact me if you want more details. RL
Photo Credit: Nathan Jenden and Ossie Clark Spring 2009 via Style.com in Vogue UK and Pantone’s Color pick of the season, “Mimosa”.
This spring prepared to have your gal crawl out of her skinny’s and pull on a pair of loose fitting distressed jean ~ The boyfriend jean…or as some lines are calling it, the “exboyfriend” jean. So where does it leave you boys?
For spring, guys are doing a similar look. A “work jean”; A little looser, a bit more distressed and rolled up is the height of style for guys. Pair the look with a nice fitting shirt or add a bow tie, a rocking fedora hat or a thick pair of black Tom Ford glasses. The above look with Ernest Sewn founder is a great example. Guys…I know the shirt is questionable, but this just gives you license to have fun with a shirt.
In Seattle, Diesel (5th Avenue) should have a great option with the Zatiny styles. As of now, you may have to go in and order it. Mario’s (6th Avenue) and Oslo (Queen Anne Ave) will have a version of this look with the Ernest Sewn brand. If you want to go old school, go to the Original Levi’s Store (6th Avenue) and make this look happen with a pair of 501’s. RL
photo credit: Refinery 29, ID Magazine August 08
It’s a new day and that is so for menswear, baby. The runways for SP 09 didn’t have rock and roll tees with jacket look …the looks are optimistic and the boys, like us gals, are feeling better when they get a bit more dressed up. We have an elegant prez in the office and it is time to bring the elegance back to daily dressing. Did already say, no t–shirts with logos?… we are done with that for now…lovely linen and cotton tees layered with a pajama pant and topped with a shorter linen blazer and a softer shoulder will look lovely on a hot day in the city. [photo above - Bottega Veneta SP 09, Marcio Madeira]
Play with color. Etro has always been a favorite of mine when it comes to color and the color combinations…Orange mixed with lavender, purple, browns and grey will be a favorite combo of mine for both women and men this season. Put a smile on your face and wear some color and pattern this season. Boys, you can accomplish this with a killer pattern shirt in a luxury fabric over a pair of jeans… [photo above - Etro SP 09, Marcio Madeira]
I was recently cocktailing with some dapper attorneys…they asked me, as everyone tends to do, so what’s the new trend? I quickly answered, “bow ties and suit jackets/blazers that are short”…as usual, the response was…”really?”. I am telling you boys and telling you now, figure out how to tie a bow tie [ GQ's tips on how to do it on You Tube], get a fabulous fitting white shirt and a great pair of jeans and you will feel fab. [photo above - Band of Outsiders SP 09]
Shorter hemlines on jackets and blazers are following the women’s hemlines. I, being a closet Gossip Girls lover ~ closeted GG lover being not quite the age demographic but truly addicted as a fashionista ~ think GG costume designer, Eric Daman, has influenced men’s style (not to mention gals) immensely. Fab. [Photos above ~ Ed Westwick from Gossip Girl, images from Buddy TV Photo Gallery]
Jackets should graze just above the hip. If you can pull it off in a mod/Beatlesque manner, then keep it slim. For spring/summer, balance it out with a baggier pair pants. [photos above - Gucci SP09, Marcio Madeira/Bottega Veneta SP 09, Marcio Madeira]
Nothing is more gorgeous on men and women than a combo of neutrals. Spring always encourages this fresh look and I love it. [photo above - Giorgio Armani SP 09, Marcio Madeira]
So, really, boys, time to relive the glory days of dressing. Think old Hollywood or how your grandfather dressed in the late 50’s…RL
I have been searching for easy and economical ways to dress for all the special occasions through the holiday season. Since ours was cut short in the Northwest due to the weather, the next holiday party is obviously New Year’s Eve. I know many who are “staying in”. I have been staying in a lot over the last couple of weeks, but still have been dressing up for dinner, drinks, etc…that’s because I’m well, me…but if you feel it, go for it. I am sure your date for the evening will appreciate the effort.
If you are going out and don’t want to spend a bundle on your outfit, then here are a few accessories to help glam up even a t-shirt and jeans….I’ll start with the gals.
Necklaces |
Drape and layer them, Chanel Style. I have been obsessed with this Cameo that I found at Rue on Stewart in Seattle. ($200) I have picked up several for clients and for styling projects and finally got mine. I have been layering with long chain necklaces over dresses, as well as, turtlenecks and a colored skinny jean with high heels.
Cocktail Gloves |
We have come a long way from the era of wearing gloves, I do love it. In the eighties we saw Madonna’s influence on this look with the lace fingerless gloves…don’t go there. DO try Madina Vadache’s sheer fingerless glove ($50) with a lovely simple black dress and killer heels…I guarantee you will feel glamorous…If you do the gloves, then focus on your heels and a wonderful black beaded pair of earrings.
Headbands |
We have seen a lot this season with feather headbands. I love wearing them with my tees as well as when I dress up. My friend Lydia has perfected the craft by not using any glue and hand sewing all the feathers and lace. You can layer or just wear one with a big flower or feather. At $30, this is an easy update. I love the glamour of the sequin band and if you are sporting a posh short bob, then wear it flapper style. These and more headbands are available at Killer Looks Salon and through us at les Egoistes in Seattle.
For the Guys |
An easy and economical way to dress up is to take a vintage suit and get it fit perfectly. Now, you probably have waited till the last minute, so this may not work.
Add a killer hat or a bow tie to your outfit~ you can probably run out quickly and find them both at Barney’s. Check out these looks from Insight.
Hi there. I know I have been really bad about updating…however, I have been slammed. I will post a few blogs all at once to catch up. Stand by. First, want to share a bit of my summer music experiences so far. When, not working, we are trying to catch more shows and we kicked of the season by checking out Air Traffic (who opened for Elbow)~ a great young brit band that reminds me of how I felt when I heard Coldplay the first time. Amazing lead singer and fabulous lyrics. They don’t really have a site that I could find, but I have linked you to their facebook page.Last week we went to another check out another brit band, you will see a theme as I talk about music, called the Foals; so fun. Checked this show out in Seattle and of course, the crowd doesn’t dance, but we found a pocket of fun people who danced their @#$ with us. It was the bands last show on their first tour and things like the drum set falling over and the encore set ending with the amps being pushed off stage made it for me. Super fun band.So I also went to see a “folk rock” performer by the name of Jerry Joseph. His current album sounds a bit Nashville inspired, but I have been told he is a bit more rock than that. It was fun to check him out. I usually don’t go for that kind of groove, but he was awesome. Danced there too…sense a theme? I am glad I did check him out because it was great to compare him to Hayden who I saw on Friday in Brooklyn. Pretty cool. I could add this genre to music I don’t mind…umm…dance there too.Going back to music I know and dig. I am super excited to check out a show being sponsored by Nylon Mag with bands, She Wants Revenge, The Virgins, Be Your Own Pet, Swite…I will try to tell you about it. In the meantime, I am in NYC for two more nights and there is guaranteed to be at least one more music story….stand by.Style notes from the music scene ~ for the fellas…Keep going to the gym, your trend is still fitted. Gals, the looser looks are in, but staying in shape is key for these looks too.photo credit: The Foals from their site
I was out to dinner with a friend a couple weeks ago and she looked me right in the eye and very seriously asked me, “What is your official position on the white jean trend?”…
I have been a fan of white denim for several years. It is a perfect answer to springing up your wardrobe while keeping your look casual yet chic. Yes, the myth persists that white is not slimming, however I believe as with all clothing, when you have the right cut and the fit is great, white can look fabulous regardless.
I have been doing a great skinny white jean for clients from Uniqlo both for men and women that has a perfect stretch to it. (Yes boys, white denim is important for you too) I also love a wide leg white denim and almost every line has a version. Pine IV is a great fit if you can find them. Remember to think of your white jeans like your blue denim…a neutral and have fun with it.
The best thing about white jeans is that you can wear them most of the year and just change your shoes and tops for the season that is most appropriate…the same does not apply to white shoes. I am still old school about that. I don’t want to see white on your feet till after Memorial Day. RL
Its super busy and while I would love to blog every day to keep you posted…it is a bit challenging with all running around. A quick update on the shopping. I spent a couple of days mid-town and got some great basics done for clients. Yesterday, I shopped in Greenpoint and Williamsburg…really love it there. It is chill and I feel like I can find some unique pieces…I also feel like I am supporting a local biz and that feels good. Style notes? Gals, it is all about the loose shift dresses. if you are uncomfortable with that look, think twice. It is comfortable and can look terrific if you accessorize. Boys, continue to rock the blazer….more about that soon.
Last night I went to an Ernest Sewn fashion event (photo coming soon) that was in conjunction with the Cotton folks. The event was all for this cool campaign…check it out…recycling your jeans and creating a new product out of it…you know what I am thinking here of course…you got it…so “sustainable”. Here is the info ~ Cotton from Blue to Green” campaign and fashion show sponsored by Ernest Sewn and National Jean Company
More soon. RL
