More on Suspenders

Over the summer I did a post about wearing suspenders that has surely become my most popular post and I've received quite a bit of feedback/questions in response.  It appears that there isn't as much information out there on how to wear suspenders correctly as I had previously expected, so I'm back again with more tips for this continually growing trend.  All the suspenders shown in this post come from Steve & Co.  Their products are all high quality and Italian made, so if you are looking to invest in a good pair of suspenders, they are a great option.

Casual Clothing:

When I say casual, I do not mean business casual here.  I'm talking about t-shirt and jeans or shorts casual.  If there is a situation to break out the clip-on suspenders, this is it.  You don't need specifically tailored pants for them and they don't need to be expensive to look good.  There are just a couple of rules you need to know for casual clip-on suspenders.  First, keep them a narrow to medium width.  You don't want to look like you are wearing Gordon Gekko suspenders over a t-shirt.  They will be overbearing.  Second (and this isn't even really a rule) is experiment.  Yes, narrow black suspenders will look good casually, but they are almost too comfortable of an option.  If you have never worn suspenders before and are cautious about breaking them out in front of the harshest of fashion critics (friends and family), it is easier to start with a plain, neutral color.  However, because it is a casual look, you should experiment with colors and patterns.  Don't wear suspenders that are the same exact color as your shirt and avoid clashing bad color pairs like navy and black and take it from there.  

Steve & Co. - Red Thin Bracers €25 ($33)

Business/Business Casual:

Wearing suspenders with business or business casual clothing becomes a bit more tricky.  At this point, some suspender aficionados will insist that you can't wear clip-on suspenders.  I disagree just a little.  Clip-on suspenders are still ok with business or business casual dress, but I would stick to wider versions that look a little dressier.  Avoid the super narrow pairs that look more casual and go for a pair that is around an inch wide.  This will have a more sophisticated look and work well in a business or business casual setting.  You can still experiment with patterned or striped suspenders, just be careful they don't clash with your shirt.  Absolutely avoid striped suspenders against a striped shirt in all circumstances.  They will clash and you will look like you got dressed in the dark.  Because of the nature of a business casual setting, I would recommend more muted or darker colors.  You want to stand out with the way you dress, but not in a bad way, so avoid any bright or flashy colors.  If you really want to commit to wearing suspenders in a business casual type of setting, I would still recommend going the way of the aficionados and invest in pants meant for suspenders and a few nice pairs of button-on suspenders.  This is truly the classic suspender style and harps back to the sophistication of another era.  When you are trying to pair suspenders with ties, look to match the suspenders with a prominent color in the tie.  Once again, be careful of patterns and stripes clashing.  While I won't say you can't mix patterned or striped suspenders with patterned or striped ties, it is a risky move.  It is easiest to stick with solid colored suspenders that match with your tie or your suit.  Last, but possibly most important, do NOT wear suspenders with a polo shirt in a business casual setting. Ever.  I would avoid it in any setting, but if you really think you can pull off suspenders with a polo shirt, try it as a casual look.

Steve & Co. - Blue Braces Stripe €35 ($47)

This pair will look great in a business casual setting

Steve & Co. - Black Plain Bracers €40 ($54)

This pair allows you to either use a clip-ons or button-ons.  Go with the button-ons if you are considering on becoming a regular suspenders wearer

Steve & Co. - Black Plain Bracers €40 ($54)

The double clasp option is another way to wear clip-on but get the styling of a button-on pair 

Formal:

This is the easiest and probably the least exciting time to try out suspenders.  In formal settings, button-ons are your only option.  Unless it's a cheesy school dance, always stick with a pair that is the same color as your suit.  You want to look sharp, not like a clown at a nice event.  Your suit needs to be made for button-on suspenders if you want to wear them in a formal setting.  They will be tailored differently than normal pants to account for the suspenders and will look and fit much better than a pair of pants that had buttons sewn on the waist 5 minutes before you walked out the door.  No patterns, no fancy designs, simple and elegant is the way to go.

Please keep the feedback coming!  I know I still haven't addressed every single aspect of suspenders, so if you have more questions, leave a comment and I will either answer it there, or do yet another post on suspenders.  If you have any other fashion topics you would like me to cover, leave a comment or email me at: YoungGentsGuide@gmail.com. 

And Another New York Fashion Week Has Passed

Sadly, New York Fashion Week has come to an end.  So I am here to share a few last looks that I really enjoyed from the week.  If you think there were any looks that should have made my list, but didn't, leave a comment and link up a photo and I will add it to the post!

    Lacoste:

I just really liked how comfortable and cool the look above is.  The photo below I included because I just really like the shirt design exploding from the Lacoste logo.  It's a unique look for a Lacoste item and it was nice to see something truly different than their more preppy standards.

     Mik Cire:

The jackets in both of these styles from Mik Cire look incredible.

Of course, everyone knows New York Fashion Week is all about the parties and there was no shortage of those.  Take it from these guys that there is no better place in the world to be than New York during Fashion Week.

The two biggest fashion icons of the rap industry enjoying a night out during fashion week and as always, looking sharp and cool.

NYFW: Michael Kors, G-Star, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Michael Bastian

Here are my highlights from the last couple of days of New York Fashion Week.  So far it's clear what some of the big trends are: colored trench coats, plaid suits, casual suits, and neutral/beige toned clothing with a splash of color mixed in.


     Marc by Marc Jacobs:

The bold orange striped sweater looks amazing paired with the dark jacket and pants.

Another bold colored trench for the season.  This is one trend I'm really enjoying.  This coat absolutely pops out without being obnoxiously bright.

Both above and below were two beautiful suits from the Marc by Marc Jacobs line.  While worn more casually here with a messy collar and loosened tie, they could easily look amazing in a more formal setting as well.  The shirt and tie combinations for each suit were incredibly creative, yet still subtle.

The plaid suit made a showing in many lines for the Spring/Summer 2011 season.  This one is probably the most serious and sophisticated one so far this week.  Unlike most that look more casual and fun, this one is much dressier.

     G-Star:

Passing over the space-suit inspired looks that is typical of G-Star, there were some seriously cool looks for the Spring/Summer 2011 line.

     Michael Kors:

These were all of my favorites from Michael Kors' line.  I really liked the color coordination of the sandals and belts in many of the mens looks.  As in many lines this week, neutral tones and beiges were big.  The oversized knit cardigan above seems to be a popular look for the season that will carry over from Fall/Winter 2010.  The casual suit has been another popular look this week and Michael Kors pulled it off impeccably.

     Michael Bastian:

This was another plaid blazer that debuted this week and it was one of my favorites.  Paired with the shorts and a dress shirt with the tie tucked in is a great way to add a bit of attitude to a casual look.

Finally, I really liked how dressed up the denim became with this sleek white blazer and bow tie.  It looks sophisticated, yet cool.

What do you think about NYFW Spring/Summer 2011?  Are there any standout looks I've missed that you think need to be included?  Check back Friday for my last post covering New York Fashion Week to see my favorite looks from the lines that finished off the week.

NYFW: Simon Spurr, Band of Outsiders, Robert Geller, Edun

Here are some of my favorite looks from the last day of shows at New York Fashion Week.

     Simon Spurr:

The Simon Spurr S/S 2011 line was full of neutral and beige tones with touches of color that were repeated for several looks each, as you can see by the burnt yellow touches repeated in the first three photos.

The coat in the above photo is reminiscent of the colored trench coats from the Burberry Prorsum show earlier this Summer that I loved.  While the idea might not be unique, the execution and overall look is excellent.

This was another repeated color in the show, but turned into an entire suit.  The tailoring and fit is fantastic and for a colored suit, it doesn't look like it is trying too hard.

     Band of Outsiders:

The boots in the above photo were a hit at the show.  They were shown in a variety of leather types with different colors in the canvas strap throughout the show.

     Robert Geller:

     Edun:

You can see much more extensive coverage on men's lines from NYFW at GQ.com under Style.

For all the lines shown organized by day of show, including women's lines, check out the New York Times' Fashion & Style section online. 

New York Fashion Week: Sept 9th-16th

It's that time of the year again, where everything fashion makes its way to this side of the pond in the biggest way possible. 

Thats right. It's New York Fashion Week.  In this coming week, I will be discussing the best looks of the week and which designers really hit it big.  Stay tuned...

Nick Wooster on NYFW - Day 1:

Showing that he clearly doesn't give a shit if you don't like his shoes.

Stylish AND Useful? It's the Tie Bar

It's time to talk about the one tie accessory you need.  You may have read my post on how to wear ties correctly, but this post is about wearing them with that something extra.  

The popularity of the tie bar has grown in recent years and has become somewhat of a fashion favorite for both dressed up and casual situations where a tie is being worn.  Tie bars are great for a number of reasons.  First, they can be incredibly understated and simple so it won't make you appear flashy when you are trying to look respectable.  Second, there are plenty available, vintage and modern, that will never go out of style and always add a unique touch to an outfit.  Third and most importantly, they actually serve a purpose and can be incredibly useful anytime you step outside in a tie.

TheTieBar.com - All regular and skinny ties and tie bars are only $15.  You can't beat that deal.

You can't go wrong with something basic like the one above.  You can wear it with almost any tie and shirt and it will always look just fine.  Also, at $15, it definitely won't break the bank.  It is available in gold as well, but I'm always hesitant about gold accessories these days, unless it's paired with a nice navy suit/blazer.  Silver is always a safe choice and will go with pretty much anything.

A patterned tie bar done right from Burberry.

Patterns and different designs on tie bars can be tricky.  Some, like the Burberry one above look very elegant, while others look like absolute garbage.  You will have to judge for yourself what looks ridiculous and what doesn't, but it shouldn't be hard.  

Wearing a tie bar is pretty simple too.  Just place it somewhere near the middle of the tie and make sure it's clipped onto the shirt in between buttons.  As for styling and tie pairing, absolutely make sure it is not wider than the tie itself.  At most it should be as wide as the tie, but being shorter is perfectly ok too.

Jake Gyllenhaal showing you how it's done.

If you are the kind of person who likes to have something totally unique, there are plenty of easy options to get your hands on a super unique looking tie bar.  Ebay.com is the easiest route, but I highly suggest Etsy.com where people sell homemade art, jewelry, etc.  They have quite a few very unique looking tie bars that will make you stand out in a crowd.