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.

Sharp Stylings #48: Andrew Loog Oldham

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.

Everyone on Facebook is talkin' about the 50th anniversary of the Rolling Stones' first show. Listen, after enduring celebrity birthdays and celebrity deaths on Facebook, I don't think I can handle anniversaries of shows on there. (I can barely keep up with birthdays and anniversaries of real-life friends!) When a celebrity starts wishing ME happy birthday or happy anniversary on Facebook, than I'll get more excited about wishing him/her one on Facebook!

That said, in honor of the 50th anniversary, let's take a look at a stylish shot of early Rolling Stones manager, Andrew Loog Oldham:

Although I'm not into the general shape of Oldham's jacket, I still find it pretty interesting. For me, the lapels are a tad too wide, especially for a 2-button front. Growing up in the 1980s really turned me off to this look. But why does it work on Oldham? Is it due to the ticket pocket? Is it due to the pattern? Or does Loog just carry it off because of the confident swagger?

The details of the jacket aside, Andrew Loog Oldham just owns this look! The black button-down shirt, unbuttoned on top... that wide belt with the HUGE round buckle... the slim-fitting (but not 'skinny') pants... and a pair of sharp, narrow shoes. Damn!

Again, a great way to carry off a casual, yet swank, look. Think about this image next time you're trying decide on what t-shirt will go better with your jeans, the target t-shirt or the Jam t-shirt.

Sharp Stylings #38: Keith Richards

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.

Friends, sorry about lack of posting this week. Hard time recuperating from a weekend in Palm Springs and a weekday DJ gig. (I don't bounce back as easily from fun nights as I used to!)

But enough of my complaining about my rickity ol' bones. Let's move on to some slick stylin'!

Found this photo from a recent Mirror article. Now before I move forward, the article pegs this as a photo from 1962, which I would have to dispute. The hair, lapels, and tie width and pattern seem way past 1962! But that's neither here nor there. What's important is that photographer Philip Townsend captured a fantastic shot here. (And please, please, please, visit Townend's site for more amazing 1960s shots and a chance to purchase prints!)

I know, I know, Richards was a good lookin' guy. Get over it already and let's move on to his hip threads. I'm sure many Mod types veer away from wide, paisley ties, seeing that it's a later 1960s look. But this tie is right up my alley, personally. In fact, I have a few similar styles like this: wide and colorful. Trust me, they look great contrasted up against a dark jacket!

And speaking of jackets, man, that is some wild detailing going on there! First off, the jacket's button stance is nice and high, the way I like it. Secondly, the lapels are thin with a high notch. Actually, they could be peaked lapels... hard to tell, though, in this photo. And third, that bric-a-brac edging along the lapel! Now where have I seen this look before?  Hmm... oh yeah, that's right:

Ronnie Lane rockin' the bric-a-brac!

Sure, this is probably a hard look to pull off these days on a regular daily basis. But, it could work well for evening club attire!

That's it for today... have a stylish weekend!

Sharp Stylings #12: Charlie Watts

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.

[Mod Male is on vacation at this time so won't be able to respond to any comments.]  

In the British Style Genius video I linked to on Monday, Charlie Watts (y'know, Rolling Stones drummer and all) was featured in some of the interviews, which I thought was a good choice. Having not read up much on his life (which I plan to remedy in the future), I wasn't sure what his involvement was with early Mods. That said, this guy had impeccable style back then:

Taken from the Relais Madeleine Paris site, filled with great photos and autographs of '60s figures.

Great hair, nice button-down shirt, thin tie, with a form-fitting suit, Watts is looking stone-cold hip here as he takes some time for a fan.

But even more importantly, this guy has not let up on the style well into his older age! While most 'rock stars' are out there trying desperately to hold on to their youth, Charlie Watts is usually seen in a tailored suit and tie. No, he's not walking around in Mod-stye suits or anything, but he is always looking dapper and well put-together. Again, a lesson for all us aging guys... we don't have to give in to casual simply because it's comfortable. Think about it... while Paul Weller is walking around in tank tops singlets*, Charlie Watts is straight-loungin' like this:

And y'know what? He probably dresses this nice just to do his backyard gardening! Dang!

*Yes, I know there are photos of Charlie in tank tops in the 1970s... but that decade was messed up for almost EVERYONE style-wise. I'll give the guy a pass.