With my boy (and fellow French Canadian) Max, 7’1”.

So that takes care of “tall guys” – now if I could only find a “heavy guy” with great style…

Coming soon. 

Cheers,

SB

This look – the lightweight cardigan on skin – which was just an aside on the Featured Readers post, has been getting a lot of attention – almost on the level of the fur collar.

People either LOVE or HATE risk-taking in menswear. The variance of opinion in the emails I’ve received over the last 2 days has been beyond bipolar.

The truth is, I’m a stylist. I make a living off my ideas and taste. Therefore, I take pride in understanding what styling decisions work best for different people, and therefore also understand what the “majority” will “accept”. I could easily put together “safe look” after “safe look” that everyone would agree is ”well dressed”. That’s novice, where’s the fun in that?

As a reader, you must understand that for this site to be exciting, new, fresh, fun to read etc. (and for me to not get completely bored with it) I must push the limits a little, and try to be innovative/different. It’s fun, exciting and makes this “job” worth it.

Truthfully, the negative comments are more motivating than the positive ones (just like when I was a hoops player, I loved when people told me I wasn’t good enough, or that I couldn’t do something…”you can’t dunk on that 6’8” center”…oh yea?).

If everyone jumped on the bandwagon, it wouldn’t be worth pulling.

So do I recommend a shirtless cardigan? To 99% of people, no (hence, it’s not in the “tips”). But will I rock it to the park, hungover on a sunny Spring Friday after celebrating the launch of my new clothing line? Hell yeah.

It’s just a shame that I have to “dumb down” my style so that readers aren’t emailing me to make sure I’m “okay”. C’mon guys, really? I think we’re taking this a little too serious sometimes.

Do YOU.

Thanks to all for reading.

Yours in style,

SB

Was feelin the retro “WASP” today… Had to go with a knit tie

-Townsend

The other day I did a short piece for a magazine (can’t say the name yet) about first time bespoke clothing orders, and the pitfalls to avoid. 

Here, 5 tips to keep in mind before you go custom for the first time…

1. Start with the basics. Just because it’s custom-made and there are hundreds of options doesn’t necessarily mean you want all the bells and whistles. Start by investing in a classic staple suit that is practical and versatile so that you can get the most use out of it. Solid navy or medium grey are best for a “go-to” suit and can both easily double as blazers or separate trousers. 

2. Take advantage of the stylists. It’s good to have an idea as to what you want/need for your wardrobe, but it’s also important to be open minded and take advantage of the stylists who will help you with your order. They’re clothiers, it’s their job to understand and assist with things like styling details that will be most flattering for your specific body type, color combinations best suited for your skin tone, practical clothing for your individual lifestyle, etc. At MAB, I do some style consulting with their sales team. 

3. Resist the urge to over-design (at least at first). Things like contrast fabrics, distinctive buttons and colored stitching are great if your looking for a garment that makes a “statement”, but are not as practical for for everyday use. Therefore, start simple and graduate to more fun and creative clothing as you build out your wardrobe. 

4. Invest in quality fabric. Not all cloth is the same, and in the world of fabrics, you get what you pay for. Most shops with a strong reputation (like MAB, for example) carry thousands of fabrics, each of which performs differently. A higher quality cloth is typically softer to the hand, more durable, has better wrinkle-releasing properties, less stretch so that it will keep it’s shape over time, greater luster making it appear more luxurious, etc. 

5. Do your research. There are numerous places that offer “custom clothing”, whether it be full “bespoke” or “made to measure”. The quality of the garments from these places, however, can vary greatly from one business to the next. Therefore, it’s important to shop around (most places, like ours, offer free consultations), ask informative questions, read online reviews, etc. before deciding where to invest. 


Thanks for reading. 

Yours in style,SB

Brown and Blue! (Part 2)

-SB

Brown on blue! (Part One)

-SB

Alex on scene, doing his best military inspired.

-Townsend

USE your lapel hole!

Here, silk knot “cufflinks” detail.

Post on lapel furnishings coming soon.

-SB