Summer will eventually come... be ready for it.

    As spring and summer move into the Midwest and we all rush outside to soak up as much of that rare, short lasting sun as we possibly can, we need to be sure to take action to be properly groomed in the summer.  Here are some tips you can use to look (and feel) your best throughout the warm months ahead, and the products that will keep your from looking like it's your first time ever seeing the sun.

Your face is number 1.  If you are bright  red not only do you look ridiculous, you feel even worse.  You can pick up this SPF face lotion from L'Oreal pretty much anywhere.  While it is technically after shave, I use it all the time in the summer, the added SPF is just enough, while still allowing you to get some color.

Now that the face is covered, you need to take care of everything else.  While I don't like to use too high of an SPF on my face, I recommend going a little stronger on the body.  You can still get tan with a 30, and you won't be that guy who can't even lay down due to the sun burn.  This spray by Nivea is inexpensive, and quick to use, and best of all it won't get your hands all oily.

Make sure not to skip the lips.  Men often forget about their lips once the cold weather and dry air has moved on, but sun burnt lips are just as irritating.  Grab this lip balm with SPF 4 from Kiehl's and still have comfortable lips without looking like a woman while applying a it.

Lastly, the hair.  Go with something light, with low hold and low shine in the summer.  High hold and high shine will run down your face if you get stuck out outside in the sun longer than planned and break a sweat.  You're already miserable if you're sweating down your face-- don't add to the miserableness by having gel in your eyes.  My favorite is defining paste by American Crew.  You can find it absolutely anywhere, and it's a good deal for the quality.



Enjoy the start of summer, and don't be the douche in the office who has sunglasses tan lines.




@MWMensFashion

A real man's shoe.

What is a real man's shoe?  It's classic, it's stylish, it's timeless and elegant while still being fashion forward and trendy.  A good shoe can be worn with a tailored suit, or the perfect pair of jeans.  Here are some of my suggestions if you're looking for the perfect shoe.

Right now brown is in.  Leave your black shoes in the closet for the time being, it's all about the classic caramel color.  If you're even thinking about picking up a new pair of shoes, you want to spend all your time and money on some great wingtips or monk straps.  They're stylish, they can be worn with a suit or dress up a pair of jeans.  If you had something else in mind.  Fucking stop, and look this way.



@MWMensFashion

Spring has finally descended on the Midwest.

As I look outside this morning, I saw something I haven’t seen in a long time here in Minneapolis—no new snow.  While the current temperature outside is still a whopping 30 degrees, it does claim to actually feel like spring come the weekend. 

 Spring has a lot of different fashion pluses, some we have already discussed, like spring coats; but two more huge pluses in my opinion, Sperry’s and colors.  Here are some of my recommendations on what you should grab this spring to look your best:

               

Fresh, crisp and perfect for summer (spring if you can manage to actually keep them clean)

Awesome grey, 2 eye wool Sperry's.  They can get a little warm, but they look great, and the foot sweat is nothing a little Gold Bond won't fix.

The classic, the original, this shoe needs to introduction-- perfect for throwing on some shorts, jeans, or chinos.

As for color:  My new favorite is the colored Emerson chinos from Banana Republic.  They come in  a ton of colors, fit great and are extremely comfortable.  While I do not necessarily like how this gent wears them, I promise you it can be done very stylishly, and less dad who wants to look cool.




@MWMensFashion

My favorite new sock line

I was out the other day getting a haircut, and decided to stop into Macy's and grab some new socks.  I was delightfully surprised-  their new socks from the Alfani line are great.  Soft, good length, and some awesome colors and patterns.  Only problem is the lack of elastic on one of the pairs I purchased.

I don't have a ton to say today, but I needed to get that one out there.  Check out these new socks, you'll love 'em.

@MWMensFashion

Suits to keep you looking good, whether it's at the office or out on the town.

   What is the perfect suit? Is it something versatile, something that can be worn out casually as well as to the office? Does it just mean it’s perfectly tailored, or does it have to be expensive too? Here are some examples of the perfect suit, from versatility, to fit, to fabric and cost.    My favorite suits are blue, the easiest to quickly dress up or down depending on the occasion. You can go for blue in basically any situation, go with only the jacket and some chinos or jeans, for the perfect casual outfit. Lose the tie after work and you’re ready for drinks, or keep it buttoned up and put together and you can look killer in the office.

The perfect suit for any season.  While I like the way it's shown above, I say switch out the black shoes with some nice caramel brown ones and you're set for whatever the day throws at you.  Brioni. $5,631  

A perfect summery suit.  Looking rather casual here without the tie, but could easily be dressed up and  worn to any office or event.  Paul Smith. $1,550.

For the high-powered , pin-stripe-loving, bad ass.  The double breasted , dark navy suit.  Not always as versatile as the rest (unless you want the sailor look), but keeps you looking pretty damn bad ass in the office.  Brooks Brothers. $1,098.

 

The Perfect light blue suit for summer.  Wear it to the office, add some Sperry's and lose the jacket and you have a great summer pant.  Or lose the tie and add some salmon color chinos and you're ready for the evening.  LARUSMIANI, $4,435. 

The cheaper version, get it fitted to you and it's still possible to look like a million bucks. Ultra versatile,  great hue of blue, and won't kill your wallet. (But please change out the tennis shoes for some nice brown leather)  H&M.  $105.




@MWMensFashion

Spring time: Rooftop Happy Hours, Miniskirts and Spring Jackets

When it comes to spring, besides the melting snow, the outdoor happy hours and women in miniskirts there is one thing I truly love: Spring jackets.  Spring is a time where men’s fashion can flourish.  You have the option of dressing however you feel that day; jeans, a sweater and a scarf, maybe a perfectly tailored suit, or maybe those chinos you've kept hidden away most of the winter and a nice light spring jacket.  I have a closet full of jackets, and my girlfriend has to keep constantly reminding me to stop buying more.  But why?  They are the perfect piece, and can one ever have too much of a perfect thing? 

                I've showed you a couple of my favorite spring jackets before (leather Diesel and navy rain coat from Banana Republic), but that is only the tip of the iceberg.  But what makes a good spring jacket you ask?  Here is one tip I tend to lean towards:  Simple.  You don’t need some gaudy, obnoxious floral print windbreaker for it to be a spring coat.  Keep it classy, keep it timeless, and keep it multi-functional.  To me that means simple, one of my favorites is a classic black Members Only jacket (figure 1).  They work perfectly with jeans, grey or khaki chinos, or even some navy suit pants—I get enough use out of mine in the first couple weeks of spring to have it pay for itself a few times over, and I've had more than one friend try and “borrow” it since I got it a few years back.  Honestly a perfect jacket.  Another key jacket to have in your closet for spring is a lightweight trench, if you don’t have the money to splurge on a classic Burberry, there are plenty of other options out there.  I have an excellent grey trench I picked up from H&M (figure 2) a couple years back that I still love and get tons of use out of and it was only around $100. 

                Are there more options out there?  Of course there are, thousands of them I’m sure.  I gave you a couple of my favorite spring looks—Have any suggestions of your own?

Figure 1

Figure 2

@MWMensFashion

Don't let the frigid months take a toll on your everyday appearance.... please.

There is something to be said about the fashion that comes from the two coasts of this great country; whether it be the hipster getting off the train from Brooklyn, or the surfer heading to the beach with his board sticking out of the back of his yellow 1997 Jeep Wrangler, both the West Coast, and the East Coast deliver such style trends in America that they are hard to miss.  I love this, who doesn't?  But my problem is, what about the Midwest? 

            I have lived in the Midwest my entire life, and aside from Chicago, there is a lacking of fashion that is only paralleled to that of a third world country.  I have asked why this is so many times I lost count somewhere in the 2000’s, but a regular answer I seem to receive is that the weather simply does not permit this region to be a fashion forward, trend setting, hip place like New York or LA.  Well, men of the Midwest, I beg to differ.  When it comes to fashion a big piece is layering, and what better place to layer than the frigid air of Minneapolis, Madison, or Milwaukee in the morning?  Why can’t we find scarves and jackets that are not only warm, but trendy at the same time? 

            I take the bus each morning and besides the (very) few skillfully dressed individuals I see, that I assume have unluckily landed here from one of the coasts due to a job replacement, the majority of what I see are old worn out jackets, suits that are so baggy they look like they have been tailored to fit Shaq, and an unsettling amount of acid-washed-dad- jeans, and all white New Balance “walking shoes”. 

            I want to know what happened, why did fashion stop after hitting a certain spot towards the middle of the country and just decide it didn't belong there?  Why must the middle of our country look like we are stuck in the 90’s and be so afraid of clothes that fit us?  

            So please, Midwest gents, take your suit to the tailor (one inch or less break in the pants and take the sleeves up a notch), and invest in some jeans that weren't $14.99 at the JC Penny’s sale.  Take notes from your New York and Chicago counterparts, just because you can see your breath outside, doesn't mean you should be seen outside in sweatpants.  

 VS 

@MWMensFashion

Five things I see way too often.

Throughout my morning, while taking public transportation across town and walking around the University of Minnesota campus, I have seen several things that drive me crazy, and in my opinion, no man should do.


1.  Just because you're a college student, does not mean you need to wear sweatpants everywhere you go.  Take that extra 15 minutes in the morning to look presentable.  You never know who you might meet today.

2.  Men wearing gym shorts and winter jackets.  Unless you are planning on going to the gym, you should not wear gym shorts in public, and even then, you can change into them when you get to your final destination.  You look ridiculous.  If it's cold enough for a winter jacket, it is NOT warm enough for shorts.

3. Black pants and brown shoes.  I am currently looking at someone wearing camel colored slip-on dress shoes with over-sized black (what I'm assuming this gent calls) dress pants.

4.  Black/ brown shoes with white athletic socks.  Another huge no.  One of the tackiest things you can do in my opinion.  Pick yourself up some cheap socks with some color, or if they are all dirty, don't let anyone see your ankles.

5. Over-sized everything.  People here seem to hate clothing that fits.  Whether it be jackets, pants, shirts or sweaters, everywhere I look I see people whose clothing is far too big for them.  Find yourself a tailor, or realize that if you're 5'9" and 165 lbs your pants should not be a 33/34.





@MWMensFashion

The Cure for Cold Weather

    Living in the Midwest can be a huge pain in the ass.  It's below freezing for half of the year, which seems to cause a huge problem when it comes to fashion-- I look around and it appears to me that everyone leaves style at home and wants nothing more than an over-sized jacket that belongs in Antarctica and boots they got at an Eskimo garage sale.  This is unacceptable.  

     Style can be year round, and can accommodate all weathers.  It's 5 degrees outside?  That's fine.  Grab a nice topcoat (perhaps like the one I showed you in my last post), grab some warm, stylish leather gloves to match-- I have a dark brown pair with cashmere inside, keeps my hands warm in even the worst winter days Minneapolis has to offer-- get yourself a nice scarf, it doesn't need to be super expensive, just know what colors you're looking for, and how to wear it. ( 7 ways for a man to wear a scarf ).  Get some good leather boots.  This doesn't mean they have to be some half rubber, half fur thing, unless you plan on walking through nothing but snow banks on your way to work, leave them at home.  Find some fashionable boots that don't look silly with the rest of your outfit before you leave the house (remember, you can always judge a man by his shoes).  Unless you are planning to go sledding with your kids, you should be absolutely fine wearing an outfit similar to that outside on any winter day, and you can always throw on a chunky sweater underneath if you need that little bit of added warmth.

@MWMensFashion

Some of my personal favorite pieces.

I wanted to show you guys a few of my personal favorites from my own wardrobe.  Nothing fancy, just my go-to's for a casual day.  

Navy, double-breasted rain jacket, Banana Republic

Tan, City-zip Timberland Earth Keepers.  Awesome casual boot.  (Sorry for the picture quality)

Camel Top Coat, Banana Republic.  Not too long, but long enough to wear with a suit.  Great find, I would recommend if anyone sees something similar out there to grab one.

Leather moto jacket, Diesel.  No chest pockets, simple, perfect fit, amazing quality of leather, easily my favorite jacket I own.  (all black Ray Bans on top)

Black leather strapped, rectangular-faced watch.  Hugo Boss.  Nothing fancy,  works with casual or business wear.  If I could find one like it with a brown strap they'd be the only two watches I need.

Dark Wash, Bowery Jean by John Varvatos.  Most comfortable pair of jeans I have ever owned.  Awesome fit, awesome wash, just a great pair of jeans.  I was actually lucky enough to find them at a Nordstrom's Rack for a great deal.

My favorite pair of boots I have ever owned.  Color works great with jeans, blue suit pants, grey chinos, khakis, almost anything.  Magnanni

@MWMensFashion

Blog #1... a little bit about me and my take on men's fashion

    There are three quotes that I heard over the years regarding fashion that I have never let go of, "You can't buy style", "If you can only afford one or the other, go for the expensive tailor, not the expensive suit"  and "one piece of your outfit should make a statement, and that statement should be "Fuck you"."  I do my best to remember and live by all three of these tidbits whenever possible.
     Style isn't something that is defined by a label on your clothing, Ed Hardy is a globally recognized label, but if you're wearing it in 2013 I'm putting my money on the fact that you have no style, and just look like an idiot in a colorful tiger t-shirt.  When it comes to my style I like to keep it timeless, classic-- yet modern at the same time.  Grays, blacks, blues and whites with a small pop of color for that added "fuck you".  Where do I like to add the color?  My socks  or a belt.
    Since this is my first post I will go a little off topic and give you a brief blurb about me (not something I plan to do often, but you should know where this is coming from, to an extent.)  My name is Mike, I am 25 years old and I live in Minneapolis, MN.  The fashion scene is not strong in this city, while there are individuals with taste sprinkled around this snowy, blustery city I live in, most of Minneapolis (well, really the Midwest in general) seems to have something strong against being fashion forward.  There is still an overload of acid-washed jeans and boring polos everywhere I look.  I would blame this as being away from the coasts, but I lived in Chicago at one point and there are still droves of people who have an excellent sense of fashion.  Just not here.  I sit back daily and dream about the day I move back to Chicago, or better yet, on to NYC... but for now I will just sit back and hope to help at least one person update their wardrobe.
    Now onto what matters, and what I will talk about from now on, on this blog-- anything from fitted leather jackets to trim fit suits, to boots and watches and socks, all the things I love the most.
 
 

My favorite socks, Hugo Boss

One of my go-to belts, Diesel

@MWMensFashion