Moody Vintage: March 2011

Giorgio Armani (my favorite designer)

I have decided to let you in on what my style is all about. I have given a bit of me in each post. It's been more about the other designers and helpful tips to the rest of you. I am not, by any means, a designer. The only designs from me are locked in a very deep vault in the back offices of my super clandestine fantasy. I am a personal stylist. This is obvious. What is style to me?
Earlier today, I was given "part 1" of a short documentary of British designer Ozwald Boateng from a cousin of mine (a shout out to Yasin for this one). The entire film - in six parts - was about his own style and what fashion meant to him. This inspired me to let everyone know what drives me in fashion. I have to be upfront, fashion to me wasn't that important until I started doing design. At first, the hobby for me was messing around with Adobe's Photoshop. Version after version, my fooling around evolved into something more of a creative craft. I found myself rightfully lost in a world of infinite possibilities. In the real world, I struggled to understand what my purpose was. On one side, I had my love for films, music, sports, and pretty much anything that had to do with the entertainment industry.
Better late than never. I guess you can call me a late bloomer. I soon realized, after spending my early to mid 20s in a not so desirable place, that I had a love for anything that had to do with design. Sure, it took me nearly two decades to pull those once confusing puzzle pieces together. I was the creative type. I am the creative type. For years, I never put any serious thought to what I wanted to be or do when I got older. I was never one of those kids in school saying, "I'm going to be a doctor when I grow up," or anything at all. I was (still am) a very laid back youngster. I subconsciously went on with my days as I do now - go with the flow. One thing was very clear. I love this world. In design, everyone has their own way of being inspired. The world was my inspiration. It doesn't matter if you are a fashion designer or an architect, everything around you can be inspiration. That's the beauty of design. That would be my personal experience and appreciation to design.

Tom Ford (my 2nd favorite designer)

That's not who I am completely. Design is one thing, style is another. As I have said, my inspiration comes from the world itself; I have a passion for life. Not too long ago, I gathered my thoughts and put those puzzle pieces together. I put one and one together. I loved to see people smile. Ever since I was a child, my joy came from seeing others happy. I was good at being the 'listener', I was the one that people came to for advise (not just fashion). My opinion, from a very young age, mattered. I couldn't grasp this concept, this power, until I was in my mid 20s. I'm still in my mid 20s and I am still a student of fashion, a student of design. I hope that I can always learn just as the current leaders of this world have from historic events of this young planet. History has a lot to do with what we all do now. Don't dwell on the past, though, it's a waste of time. You make mistakes, you learn from them and move on. Hold on to only the good memories and create new ones. This has been the way I have lived my life for a very long time.

Moi

Identity is very important for a person. Nowadays, it's more than just your name or family name. Now, it's more about what you are doing to make a difference in the world. What I do best is making people feel good about themselves. I have always been 'that person' people have ran to, to seek shelter from a broken or deluded emotion or thought. This is what I do now. I show everyone that, yes, you can be sexy too! You can look classy and sophisticated without breaking bank. It is possible for you to look attractive. But it goes farther than that. I make it very clear to each individual that it is not about the labels. Before anything, you have to feel sexy or attractive before you can paint that pretty picture for the rest of the world to see. We all are not Hollywood movie stars so we have a clear border line of what is possible and what is fantasy. Yet we all have the ability to make those fantasies become reality. Everyone has a style, some better than others, let's not kid ourselves.
Not only do I instill that belief in each person I come in contact with, I give them the honest and blunt truth. I am no style icon, nor do I wish for all of you to follow what I do or say. I can only show you...you, the better you. I, like many others, are here to give you the necessary knowledge and tools to better yourself and your image. I cannot speak for others, but I do what I do because I can. It is because I love seeing others being genuinely happy and feeling better about themselves. It is because I have a passion for it, it's never been about my ego or wanting to achieve fame and or a lavish lifestyle. Those are bonuses.
My style is freedom. It's my "3S Effect": Sexy, sophisticated, and suave. The style I bring is old school Hollywood (don't have to wonder why Giorgio Armani is my favorite designer) mixed in with the modern day homage to vintage. The laid back California style fused with Western European. I have a sweet tooth for Italian design. A style that turns heads, creates smiles, and conjures up whispers of envy. No, it's not arrogance. It's pure confidence. It's confidence within myself, which in turn is my style.

fashion - 1:14 AM

The Style of Me

Giorgio Armani (my favorite designer) I have decided to let you in on what my style is all about. I have given a bit of me in each post...

coke bottle - 10:25 PM

Body Like a Coke Bottle

S traight up, I am not a Coca-Cola fan. With that said, I am a Pepsi fan and a bit envious the way the brand markets their iconic bottles....

fashion - 9:31 PM

Tap That Bootie

O ne thing that turns me on more than men's suits, are the countless styles of different types of women's shoes. I mean, I love shoe...

Let's keep this Spring flavor rolling with the important "Dos & Don'ts" of this season's fashion. This is, rightfully, for the gentlemen. I do not want the ladies to feel left out simply because you all have a better fashion sense than most men. There will be something for you as well, ladies. Have I ever failed to deliver?
Anyway, let's keep this going. Here are the ways to do Spring in the correct manner, gentlemen.

DO

Armani Spring/Summer 11

Lighten the load. This has to be the most obvious one of all. Winter is over, and there is more time with the sun. All that wool, corduroy, cashmere, etc. should be forgotten for now, at least in the more warmer climates. Go for the lighter fabrics, such as, linen and cotton. There are even super soft fabrics like bamboo and hemp (which also happens to be eco friendly).
Wrinkle your clothes. The wrinkle-ready fabrics are the more sensible style to sport this Spring. Do keep in mind, there is a difference between creasing your clothes and have it wrinkle. Wrinkle also doesn't mean you can be lazy about what you wear. The effect is to simply slightly crinkle it and not crease it. You want to look relaxed, not beat-up.
Layer...but in a lean fashion. Just because the winter is over doesn't mean you have to take all of it off. You can still layer but remember the lighter the fabric, the better. Cardigans in cotton and jackets in nylon are the pieces you can layer with.
Change your cologne. If you don't already know (from my other posts), the fragrances you were sporting back in winter will not be acceptable in Spring. It's simple, the cologne you had back in winter is much too strong for the temperature you are basking in now. You want a lighter smell on you so it doesn't battle with your sweat. Try to choose fragrances with a mix of citrus and light musk.

DON'T

Opt to settle for saggy slacks. When you think about pants/slacks, the first thought should be sporting a nice pair of chinos. These are perfect for the warmer weather. Let's face it, we can't wear jeans all the time. It's good to feel that cooler and comfortable fabric around us. Just stay away from the sagging and actually give an effort to the loose fitting clothes you buy.
Bring out the "mandals". Yes, it's true. Spring is the time to bust out your sandals. The only issue here is most men fall short when it comes to what style of sandals they should be wearing. What not to do is to put on a pair where both the sole and straps are so sturdy that you can use it on a hike in the mountains or hills. Stick to lean-lined sneakers on a regular basis and flip-flops for the beach. And for the love of God, never wear socks with your sandals (if you do end up wearing sandals).
Bust out the boardshorts. Now, if you are still in college, it is somewhat acceptable. You know the shorts that are knee length and they are so big that people may confuse it for a skirt. Let's be a little grown-up, in fact, it's about time. Buy swimsuits that sits right below the hip and goes as far as your mid-thigh region. As for colors and patters, try to stay away from that Hawaiian floral designs you are used to. Go for solids and subtle prints.
Dawn the wraparounds. Gentlemen, I'm sorry, but this is no longer the late 90s. Nor are you Lance Armstrong trying to win another Tour De France. If you want to sport shades, let's get a little vintage flavor in your style. What is in at the moment are sunglasses like the Ray-Ban Wayfarers along with wire-rim aviators.

Do sport the wayfarer!

Continue to wear skinny jeans. I know you saw the slim fitting jeans I posted up earlier, but I'm sure you also realized there was nowhere in that post that told you to wear them on a regular. At least for the ones that would be considered as "skinny jeans". Even then, none of those jeans are actually labeled as "skinny jeans". They are more of a slim and straight leg fit. Skinny jeans literally fit on you like a pair of tights. Use some common sense, your family jewels will suffocate in this type of weather if you chose to wear skinny jeans. They are out and so it should be out of your mind completely. Remember to go with the darker washed jeans as well, it seems to be favored this time around than the lighter washed. This doesn't mean all you have to is dark but most likely, you're better off getting more of dark than light.

For a list of the jeans I was talking about, read the post before this on the main page.

dos and don'ts - 2:44 PM

Get It Right

L et's keep this Spring flavor rolling with the important "Dos & Don'ts" of this season's fashion. This is, rightf...

With the obvious unfortunate disasters that are currently happening in the world, I decided to hold back on this post up until now. My heart and prayers goes out to all of the victims and those who have been effected by this disaster in Japan. But as the saying goes, the show must go on. Let's try to be positive and take it one day at a time, go with the flow.
Gentlemen, it's Spring. And in every season the tides of the denim change so here is a gathered few that I thought were worth mentioning and even purchasing next time you want to update your jeans. I know not all of you can fit into a slim fit or even a regular fit, straight leg/skinny leg, and so on. The chosen few are basically intended for those with an average figure or athletic figure. Since we are on the topic of denim, the best denim in the world are Japanese. Keep that in mind. It's very expensive but that's because it's the best. The high-end designers of this world always choose Japanese denim first. Here are the list of jeans you should look out for this season.

Naked & Famous Denim WeirdGuy, black selvage ($135 USD)

GQ.com

Dior Homme Powder blue jeans ($670 USD)

GQ.com

7 For All Mankind Slimmy in Chester Row ($169 USD)

GQ.com

CK One Slim Slouchy ($69.50 USD)

GQ.com

H&M Jeans Sliq Jeans ($29.95 USD)

GQ.com

Spurr Slim fit 1-year wash jean ($255 USD)

GQ.com

You've seen 'the what' and now for the 'why' (from top to bottom):

The Naked & Famous Denim are beautiful. Personally, I prefer to have these around in my closet. Although, these are more of the skinny jeans type. They are obviously not for everyone but they are perfect for evening wear as well. Wrap yourself around with a fitted blazer and a dress shirt, you'll be set. These are slim enough to have it called skinny but not tight enough to ruin your chances of having kids the future.
The classic powder blue jeans by Dior Homme. This is for the lighter purpose, something you will feel unbelievably comfortable in. It screams casual and it will last you a very long time, way past the Spring season. It comes from the brand that really launched the whole pricey-denim trend but it does not fail the asking price. It's worth it.
Little bit of California around your tush. This comes from the pioneers of the L.A.-denim, 7 For All Mankind. Another one of those jeans that you can sport at a more semi-formal setting. The Slimmy is also the brand's skinniest fit.
The CK One jeans has to be leaning towards a bit more on the artsy side. You know guys you see at the local artistic coffeehouses? If you aren't that type, there's no reason to be looking for these. Not unless you appreciate the good design of some dependable jeans.
I'll tell you why I like H&M so much. It's actually affordable and mimics most high end designs. Like I have said, these denims do not come cheap. But at this price, these jeans are a definite buy. They nearly indistinguishable with those very pricey jeans out there in the market right now. The treatment and the fit of these jeans are remarkable and could rival those of jeans 20x the price.
I am a fan of Simon Spurr so I was pleasantly surprised when I saw these. Surprised in a way that I could still appreciate his detailing not only in suits but in denim as well. I mean these jeans are tailored to near perfection, which Mr. Spurr is famous for. The wash, the design, the fit and well, the whole darn thing is just perfect.

You can find the rest of the selected jeans here: GQ Spring Jeans

Remember gentleman, regardless of your fit, there is a pair perfect for you. And yes, the best quality denim will always have a high price tag so invest wisely.

fashion - 12:44 PM

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