Casual Fridays #2: The Rolling Stones

Working to look sharp for a rare evening out on the town can actually be easy. The tough job is trying to look sharp on a daily, casual basis. Yeah, you might have your Friday night suit at your beck and call, but what does it matter if you spend the rest of your time in target t-shirts and jeans? Every Friday, I'd like to offer up some style inspiration for tightening up your casual look, because let's face it... sometimes you just don't feel like wearing a tie, but still want to keep it sharp.

Ah yes... finally, the clouds have come back to San Francisco after a week's worth of too much sun! In honor of this, let's get into some nice casual stylings for a cool, crisp day. Check out this great shot of The Rolling Stones, skirting a fine line between casual and formal:

From Time Is On Our Side.

This is my type of casual Friday wear! With the exception of Charlie Watts, looking dapped-out in long coat and tie, everyone else is playing it mellow with no neck wear. But, look at those tab-collar shirts all done up!

(Okay, side note: I made a total Mod fashion faux-pas a couple of weeks back. I wore a tab-collar shirt to dinner but thanks to the heavy San Diego humidity, I left the tab and top button undone. Didn't want to get that collar all dirty before putting on a tie for the evening, y'know? Well, I saw the photos afterwards and learned something valuable: TAB-COLLARS SHOULD ALWAYS BEEN DONE UP, EVEN WITHOUT A TIE! Otherwise, you're just looking sloppy.)

Anyways, what this photo shows is that you can totally rock a suit jacket, slim trousers, and a nice dress shirt and still look good without going the extra distance with a tie, pocket square, etc. No athletic wear here... no polo shirts... no desert boots, but still a relaxed casual cool look, especially during cool weather.

Of course, the final touch on their clothing choices: the leather coats... especially Brian Jones's 3/4-length! Today's Mod enthusiasts should take note: leather coats trump parkas every time!

Okay, let's end the post and start the weekend off with another great photo from this session:

From The Worley Gig.

Casual Fridays #1: Fred Perry Knit Polo

Working to look sharp for a rare evening out on the town can actually be easy. The tough job is trying to look sharp on a daily, casual basis. Yeah, you might have your Friday night suit at your beck and call, but what does it matter if you spend the rest of your time in target t-shirts and jeans? Every Friday, I'd like to offer up some style inspiration for tightening up your casual look, because let's face it... sometimes you just don't feel like wearing a tie, but still want to keep it sharp.
 
Okay, based on an email from a friend, I realized that I wasn't focusing much on casual wear. Honestly, I'm much more interested in the suit-and-tie look which is the original image of Mods that inspired me to get into this in the first place. Plus, we live in a world where everyone does casual because it's easy and takes no real effort.

As much as I love the detailed suited outfits of 1960s Mods, the flip side is that they also helped popularize t-shirts, sneakers, jeans, etc. And now, that's the predominant look the vast majority of people wear. (Only trade sneakers for flip-flops.) Yawn....

That said, you don't have to sacrifice style in an effort to be more casual and comfortable. Well, after little more than a year of Sharp Stylings, let's switch gears and dig on some Casual Fridays!

Let's start off by getting this out of the way now... Fred Perry. Too many times guys fall back on Fred Perry as the one casual look to sport other than a Who or Jam t-shirt. I know it's iconic, I know Mods in the 1960s brought it to the forefront of this culture, but fellas... it's a tennis shirt.

Oh sure, early on in high school, I coveted Fred Perrys. I was lucky enough to find a couple in thrift shops and I wore them. I once tried buying a new one at my local Puente Hills Mall, but walked out after seeing the $40 price tag. And that's when it hit me... why spend so much on a shirt that has no real style. Plus, the Fred Perrys I did have faded after a couple of washings. Why should I be concerned with this label?

During my first year of college, my buddy Jon B. convinced me that I was on the right track. He admitted to me that he was more of a (Munsingwear) Penguin shirt fan because of the detailing on the collars, the contrasting piping, and the more 'vintage' look. Although I never bought Penguin, I did have to admit that they looked way cooler than Fred Perry tennis shirts.

Another main reason why I abandoned the FP look was that during my first year of college I was able to find affordable 1960s polo shirts at vintage shops! Knitted 3-button collars, varying stripes and designs down the front... these shirts blew away Fred Perry AND Penguin for me! Plus, these shirts set you apart from the other 5 guys wearing the same-styled Fred Perry shirts. Vintage polos were the way to go... until you stopped finding them in shops and the ones you did wear stopped fitting as well (thanks Freshman 15).

Well, guess what? All these years later and I'm coming back into the Fred Perry fold. You know why? Long-sleeve polos like this:

This is sharp! This is my kind of casual! No tennis shirt here, just a well-done knitted 3-button long-sleeve polo with contrasting piping down the chest and around the cuffs and bottom. Let's zoom in on that collar:

This is the type of collar I used to find on those vintage polos I mentioned above! John Smedley has the monopoly on this style, but Fred Perry's a strong contender with this take on it. A simple, subtle look that works for those days when you want to be mellow but still keep it stylin'.

Unfortunately, I don't know how easy these are to find anymore and I couldn't find a link that wasn't sold out of them. But if you're able to find one, snatch it up!

Or, if commercialized cliché Mod is more your thing, then there's always something like this:

Really?

Sharp Stylings #53: Batik Suit Jacket (Tiki Oasis 2012)

We can learn so much from yesterday’s fashion icons.  And living in a post-Mad Men world means we can even enjoy aspects of current male fashions! Every Friday, I’d like to start your weekend off right with a little style inspiration from either then or now. Hopefully, my fellow Mod enthusiasts will find the whole or some detail of the whole to appreciate and maybe even adopt.

A quick one today, folks, as I'm packin' up for Tiki Oasis 12 happening this weekend in San Diego, CA.

Gonna be straight with you, I'm NOT a tiki guy. I'm pretty ignorant of that whole scene, but I do like the tiki-esque art (Shag, Derek Yaniger, etc.), the drinks, and some of the wood-carved pieces. I'm mainly heading down to have a good time with friends, listen to some good music, and dig on something new to me.

So, in honor of the event, dig on this nice batik suit jacket in the image below:

Image from the Film Noir Buff forums.

Pretty appropriate for a weekend of tiki, I think! I'll be packing up my green batik jacket for the trip, but that's probably about as festive as I'll get.

Maybe I'll see you there!

Mod Gone Wrong? (Olympics Edition)

On one hand, there's this:

... and this:

But on the other hand, there's this:

This guy's pure, exuberant joy while riding on the back of that scooter as part of the Closing Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games reflects the pride I'm sure most Londoners must have been feeling during the ceremonies, and that's enough to melt any sarcasm left in my heart.

So, I'll let Willy Wonka take it away:

2nd MOD MALE Contest Winner and Weekly Blog Roundup: 8/13/2012

First off, thanks to all of you who shared your awesome stories about getting into the Mod thing or whatever it was you are obsessed with. I love reading those stories, especially when they vary so much in how we reached those discoveries.

Well, yesterday, right before Mods were brought to the attention of world-wide mainstream audiences thanks to their Olympic debut, I put all the names of the contest contestants into a bowl and had my friend Sarah B. blindly reach into the bowl and pick a winner. This was witnessed by me, my wife, and our friend Andy P. to make sure no shenanigans were involved.

AND THE WINNER IS:

ALLEN BELL!!

Allen, you win a copy of Robert O'Byrne's 'The Perfectly Dressed Gentleman,' illustrated by Lord Dunsby. I will reach out to you later today to get your mailing address. Use this book wisely and take in some great tips!

For the rest of you, I have runner-up prizes of fantastic blog posts to read! YAY! Enjoy your winnings!

• The Parka Avenue discusses the love of Sta-Prest trousers. 
• Derek's Daily 45 offers a nice tribute to recently-passed away Carl Davis, Chi-Town soul man.
• Sweet Jane's Pop Boutique delves into some Biba for you.
• Ivy Style offers a great piece on Chet Baker. 
• The Trad shares memories of first getting into Fred Perry.
• An inside look into the rare Mods monthly magazine of the 1960s!
• As mentioned before, Fred Eagle showcases his love of current Mod happenings.
• The Anorak Thing digs into and on some Donovan.  
• Oh man... I might be part of only a handful of Mod enthusiasts who actually enjoys Southern rock. Let Voices of East Anglia show you the way too.
• The Jab showcases another great Bay Area classic restaurant, Casa Orinda. 
• Geez, the Parka Avenue's been busy lately. Get inspired with some double-breasted suit action.
• A Modernist gets into some more good design with this piece on Alvin Lustig. 
• And finally, start your week off with this great musical selection from DJ Soft Shoe, one of L.A's 50 Most Stylish Men!

Have a great week, all!

Sharp Stylings #52: New Faces

Okay, the Mod Male giveaway drawing for Robert O'Byrne's The Perfectly Dressed Gentleman has ended. However, I will NOT be announcing the winner today. I got caught up in other things last night! But I will announce the winner on Monday. Suspense! Now, on to today's post.
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We can learn so much from yesterday’s fashion icons.  And living in a post-Mad Men world means we can even enjoy aspects of current male fashions! Every Friday, I’d like to start your weekend off right with a little style inspiration from either then or now. Hopefully, my fellow Mod enthusiasts will find the whole or some detail of the whole to appreciate and maybe even adopt.

Wow, 52 Sharp Stylings posts... that's a whole year! (Well, there've been 53, really, since I miscounted at 39... doh!)

Over the year, I've spent too much time getting down on Mod stuff I don't care for (as in yesterday's post). But my intention was always to balance those posts out with these Sharp Stylings posts that just focused on good style for us to get inspired by. I never wanted these to be limited to straight-up 'Mod' looks, either. Heck, I even featured one of the guys from True Blood, early on, along with a Gossip Girl guy. But the point of those was to notice the detailing in their outfits and take ideas to incorporate into your own look.

On the Mod Male Facebook page, reader Jose D. made a great comment: "The church of Mod is a broad one..." I know it's been said before, but this comment resonated with me because it's important to keep in mind that many people approach this thing in different ways.

Some people out there are still content with walking around in jeans, desert boots, and a Jam t-shirt, saying things like, "we are, we are, we are the Mods," and, well, that's their thing. Others are more interested in casual Fred Perrys and a pair of Adidas, and that's their thing. Others are way more interested in decorating their scooters with lights and mirrors than investing in their own wardrobes, and that's their thing. Not mine, but to each his own.

Then, you see an image like the one below and it gives you hope that there are younger people getting into the Mod thing and pushing forward the fashion/style aspect of it. Check this image out from Dean Chalkey's The New Faces documentary:

So much of this works for me and what's even more important is that these guys each have their own individual identity within the 'look.' Different hair styles, different cuts of suits, different shoes, different detailing. Each person seems really invested in the look he or she has put together. And, at least in my eyes, they don't necessarily look like stereotypes. There's just a great mix'n'match feel with this photo.

That, to me, is one of the most fun things about the Mod thing. I'd be so bored walking into a club and seeing people in the same parkas, the same Merc suits, or the same desert boots. But if I walked into a club and saw people like in the photo above, I'd be checking out the individual detailing of what they had going on. "Aw man, check out that guy's striped jacket. Sweet! Oh wait, I'm digging on that dude's 3-piece suit. But look at how well that guy contrasted his tie and pocket square!" And so on and so on. (And yes, I know you'd probably be checking out the Mod gals. But hey, I'm happily married so I don't need to!)

Years ago, we used to check out the websites for various German, Italian, and Spanish Mod clubs. My buddies and I would take notes on the different colors, patterns, and cuts of clothing the Mod guys wore in those photos. This was the stuff we obsessed over! Unfortunately, 10 years later many of those sites seem to be defunct so I can't link to them. But the Mod guys over there really put a lot of effort into looking slick in his own way.

Sure, there are a lot of guys out there happy in their target t-shirts. And that is what most not-in-the-know people think of when it comes to the Mod thing. But, there are so many others out there who also get more excited over a tailoring detail done on a shirt, the type of fabric used in the making of a jacket, or the simple touches of Ivy stylings. I see these guys going back and forth on internet forums, appreciating the finer aspects of attention-to-detailing.

These are my people!

Mod Gone Wrong: A Study in Wrong Supplemental

Y'know, I just didn't feel right committing an entire post to picking apart Fred Eagle's photo in that last post. I was worried that others might pile on with negative comments, but luckily, the Facebook comments showed that people appreciated Fred's sportsmanship above all else.

Well, if I'm going to get down on Fred Eagle's photo, it's only fair I offer up a personal photo for balance. Here's one that goes beyond Mod Gone Wrong. And yes, this was probably how I dressed at age 18.

 MOD GONE WAY WRONG.

Mod Gone Wrong: A Study in Wrong

You all know how much I love this Mod thing already, but there's also a lot I don't like.

I don't like the clichés, the stereotypes, the overall bunkness of Mod 101. Why? Because there's so much more to the Mod thing than that.  Yes, I started out engaging in those types of stereotypes as I'm sure most people into this did. But you stick with something long enough and, hopefully, you get better with it, growing and improving over time. After all, why stand around looking like you're part of the parka-clad, desert boot, Merc suit-wearing army, when you could be developing your own particular look and style, similar yet separate from the rest?

Well, today, in honor of a year of criticizing the weaker aspects of Mod looks, my pal Fred Eagle has offered his services as a guineau pig to demonstrate the typical ways in which Mod has Gone Wrong. I know it was tough for him to put himself on the line like this, but I thank him greatly. Here he is after committing Mod Stereotype #17: attending a scooter rally for a screening of Quadrophenia.

Now, before I get into this, let me tell you some positives. Fred Eagle really is a great guy and a fantastic photographer. He's got a great energy that spreads to all around him. And, if you meet him on one of his Paris trips, he can help you navigate the Metro with ease. Recently, he shared a great post demonstrating his excitement over recent Mod happenings. Then, he gave me permission to let loose on the photo above.

So, let's get to dissecting his look! Here are 10 ways in which Mod has gone wrong:

1. Sunglasses At Night - Hey, despite all the doom and gloom out there, I still think our future's pretty bright, but not so bright you need shades on in the evening. Or indoors at a club. Sunglasses should only be worn on sunny days, otherwise, you'll look like you're trying WAY too hard. Mods, take note... you ain't foolin' no one by wearing sunglasses in the dark.
2. Parka - If you've read this blog before, you know my opinion on parkas. Why wear a grubby ol' army coat, when you could be bustin' out the style with a slick overcoat? Okay, San Francisco evenings can get pretty chilly, so MAYBE I can see wearing a parka in weather like this or if you're out in snowy conditions. But if you're in a sunny climate, no need for a parka!
3. Patches On The Parka - Hmm... looks to me like this may be a Who shirt cut out and made into a patch. Yes, in my youth I used to wear a ton of pins and patches on my parka (when I wore one). I even cut up my old Jam t-shirt and sewed it to the back. But these days, parkas are bad enough without plastering them with all your favorite bands. Personally, I don't need to display all that information to strangers. What ever happened to sublety? And besides, bands like The Who have made a pretty good living off of what they do. Why give them the free advertising? Now, if they bought ad space on your parka, that's a whole different matter.
4. Dog As Accessory. I think Paris Hilton has the monopoly on dogs as accessories. If you really need to walk around holding something, try shooting for a walking cane or a curve-handled umbrella. But if you really need to walk around with a dog under your arm, French Bulldogs are way more cool-looking. 
5. Wrinkled Trousers - Sharp lines, my man, sharp, clean lines. Them trousers need a nice, ironed crease right down the center of the legs. Sta-prest are the way to go in most cases.
6. Desert Boots (Especially As Evening Wear) - I know, I know... I'm in the minority on this, but desert boots just don't do it for me, especially if you're out for the evening. For one thing, they contrast too much with the black trousers. What's needed here is a nice pair of polished loafers or dress shoes.
7. Clenched Fist - Hey man, what's with the aggro? There aren't any Rockers around and even if there were, there's no need for fighting. Sharp Mods don't go in for violence. Loosen up that fist and hang mellow. We're all friends here.
8. Parka Covering Up Your Clothes - Another problem with the parka here... it's buttoned up, hiding all the clothes underneath. For all we know, that's a pretty sweet sweater being worn. Unfortunately, the parka just covers everything up. If you insist on wearing a parka (ugh), take it off as soon as you're off your scooter. We don't want to see you in the same jacket worn by all your buddies surrounding you; we want to see what great clothes you're wearing underneath!
9. Aggressive Attitude. Again, man, why do you look like you want to steal our lunch money? You didn't just get out of an oi show. Throw a smile up on that mug! Too often Mods have gotten the 'snob' label tossed out at them, but they can be a welcoming lot for the most part. (Just please don't quote lines from Quadrophenia to try and win them over.)
10. Hair Style - Nothing really wrong with the hair, but since I see a nice hairline with no missing sections, I say go for a Marriott cut. Or grow out some bangs with slightly longer sides (but not TOO long!) and you got a nice Mod cut there! Still, his hair looks fine here. (Although, I must ask... is it dyed à la 1986 Style Council?)

Despite all these points, there is one very important thing to keep in mind. No matter what, you should not judge a person by the clothes he or she wears. (Yeh, yeh, something I need to learn to do more often...) The dude in this photo is a great guy who wouldn't hurt a fly. And this just goes to show that even when Mod Goes Wrong, sometimes the person underneath is a Man Gone Solid. And they don't come much more solid than this fellow.

Seriously, a round of applause for Fred Eagle for allowing me to harrass this photo of him! Next time I see this guy, I owe him a can of Budweiser!
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And don't forget, today is the last day to enter the Mod Male drawing for a chance to win 'The Perfectly Dressed Gentleman' by Robert O'Byrn and Lord Dunsby! For full details, visit the Mod Male blog post, The Mod Male Blog Is One Year Old Today. But for the short version, all you have to do is one of two things:

1. Become a follower of this blog, if you're not already, and leave a comment on the blog telling me how you got into the Mod thing OR how you got into whatever it is you're obsessed with (i.e., goth music, a baseball team, your favorite author). Doesn't have to be Mod-related. Or,
   
2. 'Like' the MOD MALE Facebook page and leave a comment on the page, telling me how you got into the Mod thing OR how you got into whatever it is you're obsessed with (i.e., goth music, a baseball team, your favorite author). Doesn't have to be Mod-related.

Contest ends tonight, at 6:00pm PST! Good luck!

Sharp Stylings #51: Steve McQueen

Before we begin with this week's post, don't forget to enter the Mod Male drawing I posted about last week for a chance to win 'The Perfectly Dressed Gentleman' by Robert O'Byrn and Lord Dunsby! For full details, visit the Mod Male blog post, The Mod Male Blog Is One Year Old Today. But for the short version, all you have to do is one of two things:

1. Become a follower of this blog, if you're not already, and leave a comment on the blog telling me how you got into the Mod thing OR how you got into whatever it is you're obsessed with (i.e., goth music, a baseball team, your favorite author). Doesn't have to be Mod-related. Or,
   
2. 'Like' the MOD MALE Facebook page and leave a comment on the page, telling me how you got into the Mod thing OR how you got into whatever it is you're obsessed with (i.e., goth music, a baseball team, your favorite author). Doesn't have to be Mod-related.

Contest ends August 9th, at 6:00pm PST! Good luck!

Now, let's move on with this week's post...
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We can learn so much from yesterday’s fashion icons.  And living in a post-Mad Men world means we can even enjoy aspects of current male fashions! Every Friday, I’d like to start your weekend off right with a little style inspiration from either then or now. Hopefully, my fellow Mod enthusiasts will find the whole or some detail of the whole to appreciate and maybe even adopt. 

Recently, the Parka Avenue blog ran a post on double-breasted suits, so in honor of that, here's a snappy shot of Steve McQueen, rockin' the DB with his wife, Neile Adams:

McQueen's double-breasted jacket has a nice 3-button front with the bottom button, unbuttoned. Peaked labels, seen on this jacket, do look best on double-breasted jackets. Really adds a nice angle coming off the top far left (or is that right?) button. A nice dark pocket square, dark tie, and white shirt just add to the overall classic look Steve McQueen is sporting here.

The only thing I can't really get behind are McQueen's shoes. Maybe they're obscured by the grass, but am I the only one that thinks they're a tad too bulky?

I'm traveling for work this week so don't have a lot more to add today. Just take a moment to dig on a well-done double-breasted suit. Then, take another moment to dig on his wife's even better get-up, down to her go-go boots! Yowza!