NBA Style

NBA All Star Weekend - LA Style!  All Star Studded!  It's been non-stop in LA for the last week starting with The Grammys, The Grammy parties, NBA parties, Slam Dunk Contest and the All Star Game.  And then more parties!

Thanks in part to the NBA Dress Code, there were a lot of suits on display in LA this past weekend.  Lebron, D Wade and Chris Bosh got it right as usual.  Their suits fit great, the colors are complimentary and the styling is current.  (I could do without the diamond studs but hey, they do play in the NBA.) 

To get it right, the Big Men have to be cautious about patterns, scale and proportions.  (Did anyone notice Dwight Howard's skinny tie on Saturday?  Wearing a tie is great.  Wearing a skinny tie when you're 6'9" and 265 lbs.?  Not great.)  And with that, a few style tips for current and future NBA players and the guys built like them.

Don't go too small on the patterns.  Select one that compliments your build.  Pick a shirt with a collar that will sit properly on your frame.  Make sure your jacket and lapel are appropriate for your shoulder width.  And of course, make sure your tie is long enough and wide enough.  It shouldn't look like a chest protector  but it shouldn't look like you've tied your laces around your neck either.

The shoes. The shoes? It's gotta be the shoes.

A pair of polished shoes can make almost any men's suit look better and a dull scratched up pair can diminish the impact of even the best fitting suit.  Despite knowing this, I've never sat and gotten my shoes polished. 

Painting by Gerald Boersma

That all changed this afternoon at John Allan's.  After getting a haircut and massage, I got a great shoe shine and picked up some tips.  If your shoes are new, don't worry about matching the color of the polish to the leather.  Use a neutral creme on the shoe and polish as you would normally.  If your shoes are older and creased, you'll definitely want to use a colored polish.  The goal here is to bring the shoes back to life by conditioning the leather and restoring the color.  You'll need to buff and re-apply a few times to get the shine you want.  Once they're dry use cedar shoe trees to restore the shape and your footwear will be like new.

Whose Clothes Are These Anyway?

I saw the King's Speech the other night.  Great movie and a great story.  The acting was superb.  But I was also struck by how well the clothes fit the characters.  Now I know this was a movie and they had stylists and all that but it got me thinking about how important it is to have a good tailor.  I've been to a number of tailors over the years and all some could do is hem pants.  Needless to say they didn't get much of my business.  Recently I found a guy close to where I live that makes men's suits so he is great at altering my clothes.  He's expensive but worth it because he knows how clothes should fit. 

Here are some tips for selecting a good tailor.  Make the effort to find one you're comfortable with and who you'll use again.  Trust me.  It's worth it.

From a 2008 posting on customtailor.wordpress.com

* Find out how much experience the tailor has in providing the kind of alteration services you are looking for.
* Make sure to ask the tailor to show the sample of the work he has been doing in the past.
* Look for referrals from friends and testimonials from other customers.
* Always choose a less busy time of the day for giving your tailor measurements and explaining the job.
* Be very clear about the alterations you are looking for. Explain what you need to the tailor in clear specific terms and check if the tailor has understood your ideas clearly. If the tailor makes the alterations without understanding what you have in mind, you can very well end up with a damaged piece of clothing.
* And of course, remember to check the alteration price list or get a cost estimate before handing over your job.

Punxsutawney Phil Didn't See His Shadow but He Also Doesn't Commute to Work

So until Spring arrives (hopefully by Cinco de Mayo) you'll need to stay layered up for warmth.  Start with the layer closest to the skin, the base layer, and purchase a set of lightweight silk thermals.  I can vouch for the Lands' End men's thermals.  These come in three colors and in tall sizes to protect those wrists and ankles.

Speaking of ankles, switch out those cotton socks (they hold moisture thus keeping your feet cold) for wool socks (they repel moisture).  I've been adding pairs of Ralph Lauren lambswool socks when I can find them.  They are affordable and come in a great variety of colors so they're also an easy way to make things interesting.  And women notice socks so this is a win-win situation!

The next layer is the insulating layer.  This one protects you against the cold by trapping air close to your body.  Again, stick with wool.  If you wear suits to work, hopefully you've purchased worsted wool suits so you're good.  If you're work attire is more casual, swap those khaki pants for wool pants and add a thin merino wool sweater over your button-up.  You'll look professional and stay warm during the day without the bulk.

The top layer is the shell.  This one protects you from the elements - wind, rain or snow.  An outer shell is an important piece in bad weather, because if wind and water are allowed to penetrate to your inner layers, you begin to cool off.  Furthermore, without proper ventilation, perspiration can't evaporate but instead condenses on the inside of your shell.  You'll need two coats to be covered in this category.  Wool for the windy and dry days and a water resistant shell for the rain and snow.

As always, don't forget about fit. Your shell layer should be roomy enough to fit easily over other layers and not restrict your movement because you know, you may need to take those layers off quickly.