The Versatile Burgundy Suit

As for those of you who don't know, I’m a huge fan of the color burgundy. It looks regal, confident, mature and flatters just about any skin tone.

Lately it’s also one of the most popular colors in menswear, so I couldn’t resist putting together a burgundy suit.

It’s more versatile than you might think – here’s three ways to wear it.

1. Formal Event

Burgundy is a terrific color for evening wear. It’s subtle and looks especially regal in a dimly lit room.

It also looks very sleek against black accessories.

2. Date Night

The best outfits, in my opinion, come down to simple pieces in solid colors that compliment each other.

No gimicks, no pattern matching, just the simple use of colors that flatter each other and don’t distract from the subject. Simple, mature, rakish.

3. Office Chic

Trying to be the most dapper guy at the office? The dark burgundy jacket will work with all your other suit trousers – navy, grey, khaki, brown, etc.

Thanks for reading.





Credit: Dan Trepanier

The Best Sneakers to Wear with Suits

The keys to pulling off the suit + sneakers look:

1. The fit of the suit is everything, especially the trousers which should tapered with little-to-no break
2. The suit needs to be unstructured. Shoulder pads with sneakers will have you looking like Jerry Seinfeld.
3. The fabric should be textured and seasonal. This gives the suit an appropriate, leisurely, non-corporate vibe.
4. The right sneakers, or course. Think low-top, no-frills, classics.

We tapped downtown NYC legend, and former backcourt mate, Niko Scott to show us a few kicks that are designed to be well-suited. 

Lanvin Captoe Trainers

The quality of the sneaker goes a long way in keeping up with a good suit.

Vans Authentic Low

If you’re planning to sharpen-up a pair Vans, make it a pair in a unique fabric that is slightly more luxe than the traditional cotton canvas – like these genuine suede versions, for example.

Common Projects Achilles

Readers often ask if Common Projects are worth the $400 price tag. As anyone who has owned a pair will tell you, yes, they are. There’s something about the leather and construction of these – they last incredibly well and actually build a patina over time, similar to pair of benchmade lace-ups.

This pair is more than four years old and have been worn through the worst of NYC winters. The “serial number” is completely rubbed off, but they are still kicking – a fresh shine would probably go a long way as well.

Adidas Stan Smiths

If the $400 price tag is too steep, you really can’t go wrong with low-top classics in all white, like Stan Smiths.

Scoring a rare release (like these “whole-cut unstructured” versions) will elevate the selection for the sneaker connoisseurs, too.

 

Thank you for reading.

Credit: Dan & Niko

Top 5 Bag Styles for Men

Choosing men bags can be confusing and intimidating.

As with any element of style, the bag you carry should be functional and appropriate for your lifestyle and fit comfortably and naturally within your personal style.

Here, I broke down my five favorite styles of bags for men, in no particular order.

1. The Briefcase

If your lifestyle calls for you to carry a computer and/or documents, this is your best friend.

For a casual business outfit I like a more rugged canvas briefcase. It looks just as good with a shirt and tie as it does with a sweater and jeans. The alternative is a messenger bag, which in my opinion is less convenient and looks more feminine.

If your day-to-day is a little more corporate, go with a sharp leather briefcase that can keep up with your power suits. Like this one:

2. The Medium-Sized Duffle

For the gym-gooers to keep their gear.

For the light packers who only carry-on.

For anyone, like me, who lives in a big city and gets around all day without a car. It’s the trunk for us on the subway.

 

3. The Tote

For those who are hauling supplies – books, notepads, art stuff, camera equipment, ipods, lunch, etc.

This style looks the most feminine of the bunch (especially in a smaller size) so I recommend sticking with a rugged fabric and wearing it in.

I find myself grabbing this tote often because it’s so easy – I can throw anything and everything in one big compartment but keep items that need easy-access separate in the front pockets.

It’s also nice that the handles are long enough to wear over the shoulder, as shown here:

4. The Backpack

For the casual guys, for the students, for the bike riders.

Hands free, no fuss.

5. The Carry-On

For the travelers.

There is plenty of variety here. As with any style selection, you should find what works best for you.

We are men. We are practicality-oriented and have specific preferences, especially when we travel.

The most practical (and durable) luggage is a wheeled hardcase (like a classic Globe-Trotter, for example). It protects the shape of your merchandise and lightens the burden of carrying.

I don’t know what it is, but I’ve never been a wheeled luggage guy. Maybe it’s because I’m a notoriously light packer (believe it or not), or maybe it’s from hauling so many bails of hay on the farm as a kid, or maybe it’s because I studied psychology… There is something much more optimistic and satisfying about packing only what I need and carrying it with me rather than packing everything I want and dragging it behind me.

Nevertheless, this is about the biggest big I carry. I could pack for 2 weeks in this thing (it’s all about versatility), and any longer than that I would find a laundromat.

Thanks, as always, for reading.

Credit: Dan Trepanier

How to Fold a Suit & Shirt in a Suitcase

Here's a quick guide on how to fold a suit and shirt to avoid wrinkling in your suitcase.

The Suit

First, lay the jacket flat:

The key is that all four panels are laying perfectly flat (front and back, including the vents). The pin is optional (I wouldn’t use it on cottons or fragile fabrics):

Flip the perfectly-flat jacket over:

Fold the side of the jacket, lined-up with the center back seam:

Flatten and smoothen the sleeve along the fold line:

 Repeat on the other side:

Now to the trousers. Fold them in half, keeping the front crease in tact by inverting the front waistband (fly open):

One more fold to get the trousers into quarters:

Place the trousers on the top half of the jacket, waistband along the sleeve edge:

Fold the jacket in half over the trousers:

Flip it over. Boom.

The Shirt

Fully button the shirt and lay it on its front. Fold the right sleeve straight back at the shoulder:

Fold the sleeve upward over the center of the collar:

Fold the cuff (buttoned) downward:

Repeat with the left sleeve, on top of the right:

Fold the right side of the shirt over the folded sleeves, creating a straight fold roughly one inch from the edge of the collar:

Repeat with the left side over the right side:

Fold the bottom third of the shirt upward:

Fold one more time from where the hem landed. The first folded edge should land just below the collar:

Flip it over. Boom.

Finally, to really avoid wrinkling, place the garments in extra-large ziplock bags and seal them with a little air so that the garments do not get squashed by other items in your suitcase (the pressure creates wrinkles). For a video tutorial check out this guy – he really gets it.

Another trick to avoid being a wrinkled mess while traveling is removing all of the garments from your suitcase and hanging them on proper hangers ASAP upon arrival. If needed, most hotels have irons, too. If not, you could always get away with the old shower steamer trick.

Thanks for reading and safe travels!

Credit: Dan Trepanier