Hold on to Your Hat

During this changing of the seasons, and with the elements at their roughest, we’ve all fallen victim to crazy, wind-combed coifs. A simple solution to this that’ll last you until the sun is brightly shining again ala spring runway shows? A hat! Pretty obvious, huh? Well you’d be surprised as to how many people overlook this fabulous accessory that can actually assist in various hair dilemmas, like when you’re between appointments with your hairstylist, but your roots are already starting to show (this usually happens that one week of the year you actually do need to look your very best).

Since I’m not the biggest fan of straw hats, (excluding straw fedoras on freshly tanned beach bodies, very cute) the chunky knit options, menswear materials, and classic wool styles of fall and winter are what really send me into hat heaven. Beanies with either heavy ribbing, cable knits, or even a pompom are perfect for your casual outfits with a pair of over sized sunnies. Hats that resemble more of a fedora, such as anything with a 360˚ brim, are a little more polished and of course, ever so classic. And just like with the beanie, they can be paired with an over sized tank and jeans seamlessly. On the other hand, caps and berets, I think, hold a little more presence and therefore should be styled with a bit more care. Not to worry you, it doesn’t take much more, but caps look great with jackets and trenches. Personally I’ve found that they don’t usually hold their own with just a tee shirt, in most cases. Although as a general guideline, most hats look best with your hair down, unless your hair is short, of course. But bunching up your golden locks into a little black cap can look a little too much like you’ll be competing the Hampton classic after lunch, instead of heading back to the office.

Keep in mind, hats are perfect pretty much all year around. Some of my favorite milliners include Eugenia Kim (who also has a lower-end line at Urban Outfitters, “EEK! By Eugenia Kim”) and Victor Osborne. Barney’s has a great selection of Kim hats, and LaGarconne.com carries an assortment of Osborne creations. Even Anthropologie and Banana Republic are making some impressive options that are very wearable and reasonable priced. Who could ask for more? So now that you’ve all been brought into the hat club, make your own fashion statements and don’t discriminate against any part of your outfit, even the very top.

Back-to-School Blues, Blacks, and Grays

When it comes to clothing, there is almost nothing more universal than a good pair of jeans. Just about everyone has them, wears them and everyone is always looking for the perfect pair. Whether you’re four or forty, they’re one of the biggest staples and defining pieces in the American wardrobe. I know people who will be totally set on not making any purchases during a mall or shopping trip, but that rule gets thrown right out of the window once they try on a amazing pair of jeans. At first it can seem overwhelming with all the options of bootcut instead straight leg, skinny jeans versus wide leg, high-rise opposed to low-rise… And that doesn’t even begin to include all the washes, colors, materials, and embellishments being used today. On the other end of the spectrum, people who wear and buy jeans often can start to feel repeated styles in the stores and get into a bit of a rut. Lucky for both kinds of denim lovers, and everyone in between, I’m going to guide you into the right direction for the denim trends of fall 2009.

This fall, with a few continued concepts, innovative techniques, and surprises that make you Ooh-La-La all over them, jeans are anything but boring. First, it’s all about the right silhouettes. Skinny jeans are still going strong and if you’re like me, we pray they never go away. An even fresher take on denim can be seen with what retailers are referring to as boyfriend jeans. They’re slouchy, loose, and usually a lighter wash with holes in them. And they look great rolled up a few times with gladiator sandals or wedges for evening. These last two are very big for this upcoming season and that is motorcycle inspired denim, and denim-legging crossovers. Moto-denim is fun and edgy, and with knee patches, harnesses, or whatever else, they work flawlessly with boots, leather bags, and all the studded jewelry we’re seeing everywhere. As for the cross over denim: Can you say comfort? Ladies, if you steer clear of skinny jeans because the extra snugness just isn’t worth it to you, these fake out jeans give you look of denim, but with all the comfort of leggings. Rock and Republic and Elizabeth and James both have versions available at Nordstrom and even Forever 21 is carrying interpretations at very affordable prices.

The most exciting trends happening for jeans has to be involving the washes and colors. For general solid colors, stick with your blues, blacks, and grays. Light blue washes seem to be taking a beating these days, since most of the lighter denim is being torn apart with perfectly placed holes that add a touch flirtatiousness right where you need it. And as hard as some of you will fight me on this, acid wash is hitting the mainstream once again. With the more modern tie-dye affects and smarter usage of color, they’re actually starting to look….cool. For those of you who are little less daring, try a pair of faded black skinny jeans for that super chic, effortless look. You’ll still be on trend, but still be in your comfort zone. Like with most things, go find what works for you, and your confidence will help you rock out any pair of jeans this season, or the next.

Watch Your Wrists

Being a guy, and trying to dress with a decent amount of individuality can be quite difficult, even for the most fashion affluent men. Not only are there far less options in clothing styles and shoes styles, but the styles that are available to us usually get an “M” tacked onto the front such as “Mandals” (sandals) or a “Murse” (messenger bag/man purse) implying that unless a male is wearing them, they were totally intended for the opposite sex to begin with. Well this just is not the case. Men have been wearing sandals since ancient times and even went to battle with their toes exposed. Moreover, men are just as likely to have a bunch of tedious objects to carry around and nothing makes better sense than a functional messenger bag or backpack. These days, even the post-college crowd is still toting their belongs around in backpacks, and rightfully so. Everyone deserves to keep their hands open and free, especially in an fashionable way.

So with all this confusion, now clearly explained, about what should be expected of guys to pull off, I don’t expect every male on the UofA campus to run down to the nearest haberdashery to load up on accessories. But I do think that all of us guys should be more cognizant of the wonderful outfit-finishing effect they can possess. In any case, here are a few rules to keep you on the straight and narrow while shopping. First, look for thicker straps. Whether it is on sandals, or a bag you want to tote around, a thicker strap gives off a much more of a masculine vibe. If the strap is going to be going across your chest, as is the case with most messenger bags or sling backpacks, try to find ones with straps no thinner than one and half inches. Anything less than that can lend a certain handbag feel…not my idea of stylish. Second, accessories should be bold. Bracelets, necklaces, and rings are typically bolder when designed for men, and this helps create a distinction between your jewelry and the jewelry your grandmother is shopping for. Lastly, whether it’s a belt, shoes, or hat, stick with rich or neutral colors. Steel, military green, black, chocolate, and khaki (plus many others) exemplify masculinity and their very name, so what better way to lend a masculine touch when you’re rocking a fedora with your swim trunks. Now use these tools, skip the mundane uniform of a tee shirt and flip-flops, and start coaching on the trendy guy in all you to come out and play.

Print and Press

To say that prints, patterns, and all kinds of designs and motifs are right on trend for spring would be like saying that dresses are “in.” It just doesn’t make sense because neither patterns nor dresses are ever exactly “out.” The reason is, prints and patterns are never a trend. Neither are jeans, dresses, trousers, etc. What they are though, are tools. And it’s how we use the tools that create a trend. Such as a certain fit in jeans or style of a dress. With that being said, for this season designers like Marc Jacobs are enjoying a combination of multiple prints that has in the past been seen as somewhat of a faux-pas.

The old rules used to be to have one large print in your outfit and everything else solid. Or, to only use the same print if it was going to appear on the same outfit twice. But we’ve all come across multiple prints we die for and having to choose one seems way too monogamous for something as fun as fashion. So this season, don’t choose…USE!!! Use as many as your heart desires. With the ever changing world of fashion, we’re lucky enough to say goodbye to playing it safe, and really stretch out our fashion wings!

To mix multiple and different patterns in your outfit, the simplest way is to use one larger pattern, and one smaller pattern, both within the same color scheme. Such as a thick striped piece, and a daintier floral piece. Not only will this work, but it won’t look overdone either. Because keep in mind, at the end of day, it has to look effortless. Another option is to use two patterns in contrasting color schemes, but one pattern being bolder and one being softer, regardless of size. Perhaps leopard print with pink tie-dye? This is slightly more daring but it will definitely pay-off if done right. Lastly, this where we separate the followers from the leaders: Try blending three or more patterns all in different motifs and colors, but that still work together. You will stand out in the most forward looking trend of this spring. Just remember, it doesn’t have to match, it just has to make sense.