Beach Look with J Crew, Parke and Ronen, and Topman

     On a random weekend, I decided to take a road trip to Santa Cruz for the day.  Weather.com said 76 degrees and sunny, well that was a lie because it was 66 degrees and cloudy.  Luckily there was no wind so at least it was comfortable and I made the best of it.

     I would be at the beach every single day if it weren't for the fact that I live in valley.  There's nothing more relaxing than laying on the beach and taking a nice swim in the waves.  Whenever I hit the beach, it is all about bright colors and relaxed gear.

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 ::Wardrobe::
Swim shorts: Parke and Ronen
Shirt:Shorts:: J Crew
Hat: Ben Sherman
Bag: Topman
Sandals: Alfani

Electric Blues and Florals

     I try to play with different patterns and prints, but even for me, floral can be difficult to wear.  It is such a bold pattern that it is difficult to wear without making it look like I am trying to draw attention to myself.  I have previously used florals as an accent in a shirt or as an accessory such as a pocket square or scarf, but this is the first time I have used it as the primary piece in an outfit.  In the "Spring Rain" shoot, I did use a floral print sweater, but because it was a washed out print, it wasn't as in your face as this shirt.

     The floral shirt did not have bright colors so it was okay that I paired it with an electric-blue corduroy sport coat.  It sounds weird, but the inspiration for getting this color of sport coat was the women's Celine Electric Blue Mini Luggage that I have seen a couple bloggers and women wear.

     To finish off the outfit, I paired it with a super dark denim to help tone down the busy and bright tops and accessorized the outfit with a large plaid-print handkerchief.   

::Wardrobe::

Shirt: Zara

Jacket: Scotch & Soda

Jeans: J Crew

Pocket Square: Clapham

::Street Style::

     My looks generally revolve around the classics, but it is nice to change it up and experiment with other styles.  In my previous posts, the theme was vintage and Southern, so I wanted to completely change it up and go with a modern street style.  

     San Francisco is my go to city when I need a quick and close getaway.  It is strange that no matter how many times I visit this city, I am still finding something new.  Instead of visiting the typical tourist spots or heading to my normal hang-outs, I jumped on the BART and headed to the Mission district.  Also instead of doing a shoot at one location, I simply took random shots throughout the day in order to capture different aspects of San Francisco and to utilize different types of lighting.

Thank you for reading.

::Wardrobe::
Jacket: John Varvatos Star USA
Jeans: 7 For All Mankind
Shirt: J Crew
Shoes: JD Fisk
Bag: John Varvatos Star USA

::Basics of The Shirt::

     Happy Saturday everyone.  It has been awhile since I have written an article, but I have been busy posting outfits rather than writing.  The guys over at Art of Style and Hucklebury asked me to write an article about essential shirts that men need in their wardrobe.

Please go check out the article Essential Shirts For The Wardrobe – V’s, Tee’s, and Henleys Oh My. 

::Southern Gent::

     Trends will come and go, and the double-breasted (DB) blazer is no exception.  The large bulky jackets of yesteryear have given way to cleaner lines and a modern fit.  It has been extremely difficult finding the perfect double-breasted blazer.  They have been either terrible quality or way more than I would like to spend.  

     If money were not an issue, then the Ovadia & Sons jacket would be my top choice, but I have 99 problems and money is every single one of them.  J Crew was also another option, but I have been trying to steer away from that brand.  J Crew is a great brand for staples and classic pieces, but I have made a conscious effort to expand beyond my go-to brands.
     
     In this post, I played off the look of Southern men with a little mix of prep that I have seen in such places as Atlanta and Houston.  Their look is a mix of classic American with a little bit of hipster peppered in.

     The modern fit DB blazer is cropped, and the sleeves are cut higher against the arm to create a cleaner look and eliminate excess material.

     It may be a little difficult to see, but the khakis have an internal print that can be seen on the cuffs.  The internal print creates an illusion that they are subtly patterned khakis.

     For Spring and Summer, I pretty much ditch socks unless I am at work.  The sock-less look just screams the casual feel of the two seasons.

::Wardrobe::
Jacket: Zara
Pants: Scotch & Soda
Shirt: J Crew
Shoes: Cole Haan
Bag: Wood & Faulk
Accessories: You Are Pretty and Handsome, J Crew