Saturday, January 26, 2013

Weekly Blog Roundup: 1/26/2013

Alright, a little late in the day, but when you get back in from weekend frolicking, check out these sweet finds:
Whew! No wonder I haven't been out yet... them's a lotta links!

Friday, January 25, 2013

Sharp Stylings #60: The Older Man

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.

What's that you say? You're in your, say, mid-40s and have reached a point in your life where comfort trumps all. You're happy hanging out in your Levis 501s, Adidas sneakers, and a Jam t-shirt because, after all, Mod is 'in your heart' and just a 'state of mind' anyways.

Well, SNAP! This dude down here says, "TYA because I'm off to TCB."
Photo from the Mode Parade blog.
That's right, this is how you gear yourself up when you're out makin' the scene. Hell, this dude's sharper than most 20-something Mod dudes I see walking around in sneakers and a parka. And he ain't following the path of guys his age who've just given up, happy to be 'comfortable' in their t-shirts and jeans. As an older fellow, this is how you command attention without saying a word.

And check out that forest green suit! See what I'm talking about when I say you can work within the framework of the 3-button suit and not look like every other Mod guy at the club? Check out the detailing here. First off the shade of that green is magnificent. (What would you say, forest green or hunter green? A reader suggested 'ivy green' and I like it!) Secondly, look at how that red lining just contrasts so beautifully with the outer color. This is why the color of a suit lining is so important... adds in that bit of detail just in case the jacket opens up slightly. Now, look at the cuffs... hard for me to tell, but those don't look like buttons, they look like white loops. Never seen a detail like that before! And lastly, look at the way the 3-button front is arranged. The buttons are tight in the center of the suit so that the jacket flares out a little nicer at the bottom. The wider lapel also helps contrast against the look of the narrow button field. The stance of the buttons is neither too high or too low, just dead center.

At this point, do we even need to go into the tight fit of the trousers, the silver cufflinks on the French cuff shirt, the puffed-out pocket square, or the pale pink tie which pushes a focus on the color of the suit?

Yeah, I didn't think so. Men, you always hear that you have it easy because, supposedly, you age more gracefully than women (not my personal opinion, by the way). Well, don't take that for granted. Earn the grace you supposedly have!

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Saturday, January 19, 2013

Weekly Blog Roundup: 1/19/2013

Alright guys, another set of great things to read about this weekend. Some really cool stuff this week, too! Prepare to get nothing done for the next hour or so.
Weather's nice out here... time to hit the road and enjoy it!

Friday, January 11, 2013

Weekly Blog Roundup: 1/11/2013

Before you get ready for the weekend, delve into these great reads first!
Aw phooey. I can't concentrate anymore, so please go out and have a great weekend!

Sharp Stylings #59: Claudio De Rossi

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.

Here's a piece of advice: If you're dressed up in your finest Mod gear, ready to hit the town, get your dance on at a soul club, and bird-dog the chicas, do NOT look at what Claudio De Rossi is wearing. It will make you feel like a stone-cold ticket.

Many of you probably know Claudio from his amazing clothing brand, DNA Groove, which features a line of clothing that combines colorful fabrics, Mod detailing, a dandy aesthetic, all with a modern, contemporary flair. (Oh, and just wait until you see the shoes he offers!)

Claudio De Rossi is one of the few who took their love of Mod stylings to the extreme. And by that I mean he wasn't just happy buying clothes from other designers... naw, he became his own designer! And from there, he made a great business out of it, supplying stylish men with a good source of clobber based on his own ideas. Claudio's like someone with a sweet tooth who's opened his own chocolate factory.

And trust me, this guy's got a good eye for detailing, color matching, and fittings. Here he is in a simple outfit that outshines most pattern-heavy outfits I've seen:

Light pink shirt, charcoal trousers with a slight flair, and an off-white suit jacket with a high gorge, lapels that look to angle downward, and sharp side vents. Very muted colors are used with a pocket square that ties the trousers and shirt together. And, again, wait until you see the shoes! Beautiful off-white loafers with  burgundy detailing.

Not only is this all kinds of dapper, but it's versatile too. You can wear something like this during the day as casual wear or during the evening for a social outing (tie optional). Heck, based on the hose in the background, this is how Claudio dresses when he's gardening! Dang... makes me think twice about what I wear the next time I'm at the laundromat.

Seriously, though, Claudio De Rossi is pure inspiration when it comes to clothing ideas. He's extremely creative in his color choices and how he matches certain pieces. He's put out a great clothing label that has reached beyond a Mod base and has gotten the attention of the male fashion world in general.  And, he's a good guy on top of all that.

Personally, though, I'm just glad he doesn't live in my city. Imagine having to keep up with this guy all the time?

For more on Claudio and DNA Groove, check out this ModCulture interview along with this College No. 9 interview. And, if you're on the Facebook and want to keep up with DNA Groove updates, then check out the Facebook group here.

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Saturday, January 5, 2013

Weekly Blog Roundup: 1/5/2013

Oky, I'm going to try to get better with the weekly blog selections this year. I've let myself get way too lazy lately, but time for that to end! I'm easing back into the blog world out there, so only a few selections this week:
Alright, now go out and have a great weekend!

Friday, January 4, 2013

Sharp Stylings #58: Dave Pike

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.

First off, HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE! Hope you had a great time! Unfortunately, I spent it downing a magnum of Dayquil while we watched fireworks on Channel 4.

Now, in case you are wondering, my biggest MOD MALE resolution this year: POST MORE SUBSTANTIAL POSTS, not just Friday musings on sharp and casual styles. My other personal resolution: try to wear ties on a more daily basis. (For some reason, my wife rolled her eyes at that one.)

But let's start the new year off with a look at one of my favorite jazz figures, Dave Pike. A couple of weeks ago, there was a discussion on double-breasted suits on the We Are The Mods Facebook page. Me, I'm a huge fan of the double-breasted look and, here, on the back of his Doors of Perception LP, Dave Pike shows how to rock the look:

Sure, it's a much later style, circa 1970, but dig on how well this looks. Four-button jacket with a high button stance and a high gorge, so that only a bit of the tie and shirt are revealed. (Remember, less is more!) I know many of you are fans of thin lapels, but on a double-breasted jacket, I tend to prefer some width. Pike's lapels hit the mark here. The pattern of his suit is just icing on the cake. And in order to ensure the pattern stands out, he's using a white shirt (with long collar) and a lightly-colored tie so that all your attention is focused on the double-breasted action.

Oh yeah, I'm sure most of you think I'm going to end this post with Dave Pike's Mathar, which should be a staple in any Mod DJ's collection, but instead let's stick that that period right before he fell in with the sitar crowd. From Doors of Perception, here's a funky slice of free-flowing jazz for you: The Drifter.

[UPDATE: And check out this live footage of Dave Pike, along with guitarist Volker Kriegel, in action!]


Enjoy the weekend and spread some good vibes!

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