Mens; Wear Did It Go?

After having had my boyfriend, male friends & clients [who not only appreciate style, but are interested in learning the ins & outs of it] each come to me on separate occasions relaying their frustrations with the menswear community & department stores…I’ve decided that this subject needs to be dissected & fleshed out. It may get weird…

I can’t even count on my hands how many times I’ve gone into a department store to find that the men’s section has been downgraded, yet again, to accomodate more womenswear. NOW DON’T GET ME WRONG, I’m never going to be mad that us women have more options when shopping, however, I don’t find it fair or gratifying that our gain comes from a mans loss & a potentially fashionable man at that. Not to mention, these tiny cubical corners of the store only offer [manhood-killing] chino shorts, awful graphic tees & about a zillion flannel button-ups. When did flannels & Levi’s become the only item in a mans wardrobe that they were allowed to wear? I would imagine that some men don’t want to wear 100% wool in 100 degree heat…shocking! & more importantly, when did the fashion industry decide that men have to suddenly become carbon copies of one another? What happened to originality?

If you’re anything like my boyfriend & the 15 or so other men who have asked me to write this particular post then you’re more fashion forward & conscience than most & you want to maintain your own personal style without compromising or settling. You may not necessarily want to opt for the chino shorts, but retailers have limited your section so intensely that you’re making choices reluctant to what you truly want or like. Well stop. You deserve just as much a slice of the fashion industry as us women do & I’m here to help you navigate through some of the most unique & inspiring menswear designers on the market right now.

Although most of the following are not department stores [or if so, they’re predominantly on the East Coast], the designers & buyers behind these brands understand that menswear is still a viable line in the fashion industry & that having unique pieces in a man’s wardrobe is not a dying art.

Style Source: Let’s start with my personal favorite Gentleman’s Gazette. This is your one stop shop for all things menswear. Need advice? They’ll help. Want fashion inspiration? Theirs is unreal. It’s all fashion, all menswear, all the time. Be sure to pay them a quick visit prior to shopping to wet your appetite.

The Classics: Brooks Brother’s is another major favorite, particularly their new Red Fleece line. The styles behind these geniuses are timeless, chic & perfect for Summer. Yes, there are a few seersucker shorts thrown in, but overall their pieces are effortless & still respect the true shape & masculinity of a man’s body.

High-Ender: MR PORTER is your store. With amazing accessories, unique home-decor, fine watches & superior clothing, this shop is for the true fashionisto. Keep in mind their aestethic is more preppy chic, so my motorcycle men may find themselves steering clear of this one.

Motorcycle Madness: my fashion-forward, edgier guys deserve some references too, & Iron & Resin, as well as Need Supply Co. are two of the best. Iron & Resin became my boyfriends favorite brand this time last year & let me tell you, he looks GOOOOOOD in their pieces. Their brand represents an era that is still very much alive today in our 20-30 somethings, but way more importantly they respect the authenticity of a gear-head without compromising their style. Not to mention, they have mega babe models & super rad home goods.

 

Whereas Need Supply Co. is more of your rock-surfer style; lots of prints & colors, but great slim cuts & shapes. Think Americana meets Rockabilly in Venice Beach circa 1950. Who can’t get into that?

Tie Me Up: & last we have Alexander Olch for my tie-loving dudes. If I could ever dream up a menswear website, this is exactly what it would look like. Their style is clean, crisp & so unbelievably chic. They have neckties, bow-ties, pocket rounds & scarves in every single color & print, for literally any occasion you could possibly think of. It’s unreal.

If you take nothing else from today’s posting, I hope it’s that you feel inspired to find pieces that suit YOU & make you feel sexier than ever. The fashion industry has honed in on their major market [women] & have sadly left men behind in the process. But men are deserving of the same attention & sex appeal that is allotted to women, so I hope that this post inspires you, your wife, girlfriend, mother &/or friends to allow you to showcase your own personal style. This world is filled with too many replica’s- be original. It’s your time…

Xx.