Winter at 26 Degrees North: Warm Winter Styling

As a Floridian, I can't complain too much about living in a climate that rarely dips into the 30's; we skip the not-so-pleasant seasons down here. But starting in October, the menswear scope focuses in on winter styling and come December through to mid-February, everyone is clad in their warmest gear. In a place where it can be difficult to even don a sport coat, it's easy to feel a little left out of the loop. But with a little creativity and clever styling, you can play the part of cold-weather warrior without enduring the chill.

Lightweight Alternatives

One misconception that I had with winter styling was the need to be wearing these heavily insulated, incredibly wooly items that are built to keep the frigid air out and your body heat in. Initially, I wasn't far off as most designers relied heavily on the seasonal fashion model, but as fast fashion edged its way into the picture, buyers seemed to discover the need for lighter options for warmer areas of the country. That meant that heavy tweeds lightened up, dense cashmere thinned out, scratchy wool was replaced with corded cotton, and down filling was all but removed from the line up.

This new wave of thinking allowed for some of the classic pieces of winter to be reimagined in ways that would suit a tropical climate. Take for instance the turtleneck sweater. A piece normally thought to be overkill until the weather dipped below 50 was transformed from its woolen roots to an almost t-shirt like weight. I have two such turtlenecks and I still receive my fair share of criticism, but they are no wafer than a long sleeve tee , but with loads more style value.

Implied Texture

A trademark feature of most winter styles is the texture, inherent of most of the traditional fabrics you see during these months. However, these fabrics tend to make things a little steamy in the lower latitudes, and yes, there's a hint of double entendre in there somewhere. Two ways to combat this issue are to use lighter weight fabrics as mentioned above and to also utilize pattern and color to imply texture within an outfit. That means delving into some pattern play and adding in some color differentiation to establish defined boundaries between each piece to build depth and dimension.

Chambray and denim are by far my favorite way to utilize this trick, as it's natural imperfections add the needed dimension to establish texture without the unnecessary weight. In most cases, a lighter wash will mean lighter materials, but designers have started playing with inkier items to make them airy and breathable. With that said, I have rued the night of bowling where I tore my favorite pair of light-wash jeans that were truly a cornerstone to my wardrobe.

Smart Layering

The previous topics set the foundation for this warm winter style trick, utilizing both implied texture and alternative materials to create the facade of layering. It's one thing to be able to wear a lighter sweater or to have contrasting patterns and colors in an outfit, but this takes things a step further in focusing in on the construction of the pieces. That same sweater I just mentioned will be all for not if the jacket you wear over it is fully lined, insulated, shearling, you name it; you'll be sweating before you know it. Instead vie for the minimalist options that take all the stuffing out of your layers, making for winter look without all warmth.

Two of my favorite jackets happen to be unlined, a dark grey herringbone jacket (seen above) and a similarly shaded cotton bomber. Both are lighter than they appear, allowing me to add an extra layer to my look, maintaining a fashionable look, helping me to fake my way through winter down south. Do this with jackets, sweaters, shirts, anything in your fashion arsenal to avoid being left out in the cold (or lack there of).

Winter Whites

For anyone who lives below the bible belt or at least vacationed here during the winter months, you'd know that the conventional style rules really don't apply. Seersucker shorts, linen shirts, and sandals? Yep, those are all fair game 12 months out of the year, rain or shine, hot or cold. This makes things a bit odd when you see someone clad in the traditionally drab colors of winter in the mix of all of these spring and summer vibes. This year has seen a relaxing of even the most strict style stoics, allowing for the incorporation of pieces of a lighter completion into the cold-weather wardrobe. White denim, cream cashmere, and all other forms of milky items that add some much needs air to all that stuffiness have been added to the lineup to lighten the mood.

I like to color block my whites together for the most impact, pairing white leather sneaks and distressed white denim or a white trucker with a creamy turtleneck underneath. With that said, making white the base or top layer of any outfit is a sure fire move, I just tend to avoid the mid-layer options since it's usually not cold enough to warrant one, not to mention that part of my closet is a bit lacking.

Moments in Monochrome

When all else fails, fall back on the menswear trend of the year. Pick a color, vary up the shades and textures, build up your outfit, and relish in your monochromatic success. It is important to not try to match the pieces too closely, that would look deliberate and tacky; texture isn't as important, but in the spirit of winter styling, adding some texture can't hurt the look. Again, being in the south brings with it a certain environment that would make an otherwise on point all black or forest green look seem out of place. I'm all for following the day's trends and fitting in with the rest of the style community, but not at the expense of sticking out like a sore thumb. The only caveats to this are grey and navy, but otherwise, find comfort in the light shades of olive and blue to maximize your monochromatic look.

Winter styling is tough all on its own. The slightest oversight in execution can be disastrous to any outfit, so when you add in a temperature floor of 35 degrees, things can get dicey. When in doubt, start from the ground up and have a base that can be a look all its own, so that when it gets too hot or you realize you've made mistake, the layers can be shed away to save the day. This winter hasn't exactly been kind to our friends to the north, but just follow the light at the end of the tunnel because March is right around the corner, and these same style tricks will be pertinent to you as you start the transition to spring. As for us southern folk, utilize the sparse days after a cold front to take full advantage of your winter style before things become unbearably hot in April. Just always remember, when you look in the mirror before you head out the door,  Be Dapper, Be Different.

Memoirs of a Man Bun: A Short Story of Change and 2016

Prelude

During thanksgiving weekend of 2015, I had been moving in with a group of close friends into a new apartment. Nothing too impressive, just four walls between me, all of my clothes, and the outside world. I had a full head of hair at that point and wasn't exactly thrilled with the prospects of growing it out, having barely made it to the point where it could be tucked past my ear. I was already on the hunt for a new do when one of those friends suggested a radical change. I was never one for trends, especially when it came to my hair; I had kept it short all my life as to avoid any maintenance, I hadn't even thought about changing the color. But later that week in mid-December, I decided to do away with the man mane in lieu of something fresher and more inspired, and so started the year of the man bun.

And so begins the journey of my man bun.

Adjustment

Prior to adopting my modern top knot, I had dedicated myself to the journey of growing out long, flowy locks. I had maintained a rather vanilla approach to my non-apparel styling, which included most of my grooming standards. When the decision to do away with the traditional cut came, you might imagine that it was quite a drastic change, something that took sometime to get used to. The adaptation was relatively smooth, as my hair was short enough to just push back without looking ridiculous but still long enough to be put up. Not long thereafter, the length got to be too much and thus began the permanence of my man bun. It was almost scary at first, but after a few weeks it became second nature to bundle everything up into a neat little nub; I was hooked on the change.

Equal parts classic and contemporary as I take a break to enjoy the view on Worth Ave.

Discovery

My comfortability with the newness and differentiation gave me confidence in thinking outside the box in other aspects of my style. Again, vanilla was my flavor, and a rather mainstream and singular appearance as a refined gentleman was my comfort zone. A suit and tie was common place, jeans and a sport coat were my casual staple, and shorts and a polo as my typical day off/weekend fare. After going with the man bun though, I gradually found myself experimenting with new combinations of pieces, patterns, colors, and motifs that only months before I would have shied away from, even balked at. In retrospect, this might have been my favorite outcome of the whole experience, it really helped open my eyes (or at least get my hair out of the way) to much more of the fashion spectrum. And although I still had reservations towards certain trends, long-line shirts or wide-leg trousers to name a few, utilizing new layering techniques and adopting alternative outerwear options that had emerged early in the year laid the foundations for my stylistic approach from then, now, and the foreseeable future.

Metamorphosis

A week or so before my departure to The Big Apple for New York Men's Fashion Week, I received some unfortunate news from a now former employer (I will not mention any names, but the whole situation was LifSHITz-y). At the time a very traumatic and life-altering moment, but looking back now, I can faithfully say that it created opportunity for me. Freedom to find new fields and time to discover what my passions were, allowed me to focus on what mattered most to me, and gave me a chance to take stock of my own traits and abilities.

Reflecting on success is great, but here I look back on the lessons I had learned along the way.

Fashion Week

Cue the summer. Mid-July rolled around and I was fully in swing with the man bun life, with enough length and volume for something that actually had some substance to it. Just in time for the journey to New York City for the 2nd annual New York Men's Fashion Week. Thankfully I had enough time behind the wheel of some new styles so i could bring my "A" game to the big stage. People I had met with from the year prior were amazed at the transformation, how it completely changed my whole look. New friends applauded my juxtaposition of new wave hair and sartorial swagger, creating that much sought after contrast between trendy and traditional. Much to my delight, many notable publications(read: Vogue, GQ, Esquire, etc.) decided that me and my hairdo needed to be featured on their pages (Check the Press Page for more on that).

It's hard to sum up the experience in whole, but to try and use one word, gratifying was the best way to describe it; I felt a sense of belonging and welcome in a city that can seem very exclusive and shuttered, and forged relationships that I continue to nurture to this day. As usual, the trip to the city reinvigorated my passion and fueled my drive beyond belief, and if we're being honest, gave me some much needed sense of purpose after having such a rough experience prior to the trip.

By far one of my favorite moments from the year, attending the Suit Supply SS17 show.

The Hunt

For the lucky few, the words joband hunt haven't come up together since you first started applying to jobs out of school. For the rest of us who haven't had as smooth a path know how trying it is to go through the arduous, almost archaic process of courting potential employers. I will say that it gave me the occasional opportunity to elevate my style for interviews, but I was left wondering if my hair had any impact on hiring decisions. Was it a lasting impression that would help them recall who I was or did have a negative affect on their decision to hire me?

Truthfully, it didn't matter in the end. One of the most important aspects of self-confidence is having comfort in your own skin, and when in troubling times, that fact was was even more pivotal. Knowing that my man bun might not have been reserved or traditional didn't outweigh the fact that I found comfort in it's differentiation. No matter which position I was looking for (and believe me, there were many), hesitation and self-doubt were absent from the equation. A word on the job hunt: when you find something interesting out there, apply and then network the hell out of it until something comes of it.

A New Chapter

In the home stretch of 2016, a great thing happened, I finally landed a job after months of part-time retail and inconsistent gigs as a handyman. Not just any job either, I got The Job, the one I had been looking for since I graduated for Notre Dame. Retail professional turned engineer, the doors of aerospace had finally opened up to me and I couldn't have been more eager to join the party. Was I nervous? Yes, but I plunged headfirst and haven't looked back since, but just before the New Year arrived, one more change needed to be made. On December 30th, I did away with the man bun, a marker to the end of a year that was riddled with trials and tribulations, with the hope for better things to come.

January 1st, 2017 couldn't have been a better day!

I may not be handling chinos and polo shirts on a daily basis anymore, but I still have an intense passion for the world of menswear. Maybe I'll even find a way to love the genre even more now that I'm away from the front lines of retail. Either way,  I look forward to releasing more quality content this year as I begin to settle down in the new position and bringing a new energy to Sparry Stylings! As we turn the page and start to write the story of 2017, it's important to look back at the progress we all have made this year and bring those successes and lessons into this year. Only time will tell where this one will lead us, so get yours started on the right foot. This is a clean slate, a fresh start. Happy New Year everyone, let's make it the most stylish one yet and as always, Be Dapper, Be Different.

Best Of: Corduroy Suits

We're going to get fairly specific with this clothing classification, the corduroy suit, the beautifully clashy contrast between the formality of your board room armor with the ruggedness of the waled cotton fabric. Whether it's thin or wide, something about the fabric seems to make colors that much more impactful; not to mention the added textural interest that it inherently adds to any garment. An otherwise dull black suit is given a refined preppy edge while an otherwise overbearing teal gains depth and dimensional interest. While on my hunt for corduroy suiting, I came to two realizations: 

  1. Most of the options to choose from are actually suit separates, which is great for matching to your preferred sizing without much alterations, but could also lead to a full suit not being available later i the season.
  2. Not very many designers came out with their own iteration of the style, making variety hard to come by, again making the availability later in the season unlikely.

Notice how both of those points ended on the availibility note? It's to emphasize that this suit isn't going to make it to the sale rack and to take advantage of this style swerve, you need to act fast. Check out some of the best options out there and be on the lookout for other corded treasures, you never know what you'll find.