Two Guys' Bowtie

The Two Guys' Bowtie

          Originality can be difficult to find in the world of fashion.  A designer may bring back a forgotten trend or put their own twist on a current style but true original concepts are rare.  African Zeebrawood, Peruvian Walnut, and South American Bocote.  No I'm not talking furniture but rather about two guys out of Oklahoma producing wood apparel.

 

          Wool, cotton, and silk.  Sure we've all heard of these classic clothing materials, but wood?  That's right, wood as in hard and non-pliable, the opposite of what we normally hear characterize clothing.  Developed in Oklahoma, it took two guys out of middle America with the love for fine craftsmanship and menswear to come up with the concept of combining exotic woods with old timeless classics such as the bowtie and lapel pins.  In a relative short time span, Two Guys'Bowtie has already received national attention from E!, James Wolpert of The Voice, and multiple members of the NBA (most famously Mike Conley's hat during 2014 NBA Playoffs).

 

          Not for the everyday chap, but if you're ready to venture into the original, then check out Two Guys' Bowtie.  Whether it's a simple lapel flower, a bowtie, or even a custom design piece, think wood next time you reach for an accessory.

 Wardrobe
Bowtie: c/o The Two Guys' Bowtie
Shirt: Express
Suit: Alfani
Shoes: Too Boot New York
Pocket Square: J Crew
Watch: Panerai
Clutch: Etro

Gentlemen Traveler

     Traveling is like speed dating or a job interview.  Whether you're at the airport bar or waiting at the terminal for the flight, you or someone else is bound to strike up a conversation.  It's  these spontaneous conversations that make me wonder why some people think it's okay to travel in the same outfit that they went to bed in the previous night.  There’s no doubt that traveling can be arduous: TSA screenings, long flights, or uncomfortable seats.  But if you wouldn't wear the outfit on a day out or even to work, then traveling shouldn’t be a green light for wearing PJs out of the house.

     A travel outfit doesn't mean you need to sacrifice comfort.  Instead, it should be more of a compromise between style and functionality, as you certainly don’t want to deal with taking off several layers of clothing at the TSA line.  On the next red-eye or road trip, ditch the slim jeans for chinos, replace the lace-ups with loafers, and whenever possible, pack everything in a weekender.  On trips lasting less than a week, a weekender is my only bag—not only am I able to avoid check-in lines, but a bag adds a little bit of GQ to my outfit. 

Wardrobe

Suit: John Varvatos

Shirt: Thanks Deo Veritas

Tie: J Crew

Shoes: Gucci

Bag: Tommy Hilfiger 

Accessories: Etro, Tateossian 

Summer Colors with Lucky Brand, Original Penguin, and J Crew

     Summer is a great time to show off pastels and prints, so don't be afraid to go bold on bold.  

Wardrobe
Jacket: Lucky Brand Jeans
Shirt: Original Penguin
Pants: J Crew
Shoes: Converse
Folio: Etro

Urban Style featuring Gant, Scotch & Soda, and Etro

     One of the keys to great style is having a diversified portfolio.  It's easy to stay within your comfort zone, but this can pigeon-hole you into a specific style.  You don't have to to buy an entire wardrobe for specific styles such as urban, street, American classic, or hipster, but core items in your wardrobe can be remixed into different styles.

     For example, the Gant plaid shirt below was used previously in a casual American classic style (Casual Weekend).  But in my recent shoot, the Gant shirt was used in an urban style outfit.  Instead of clean lines and heavy materials as above, I paired the shirt with slightly baggy-distressed jeans and boots.

     The emphasis of this urban style was to look a little disheveled.   It has a tough "I don't care" feel to it.

     The small-clean accessories that I typically use were replaced with heavy pieces such as the bulky belt and heavy leather boots.

Wardrobe

Shirt: Gant by Michael Bastian
Jeans: Scotch & Soda
Shoes: JD Fisk
Belt: John Varvatos Star USA
Zip Folio: Etro