Kinda Blue

So I did a little shopping over the weekend and it is true.  Blue shoes are everywear.  And not just the gators you see in Detroit or in church on Easter Sunday, but blue shoes that you can actually wear to work or with a smart weekend look.  From Wingtips to Loafers, designers from Johnston & Murphy to 1901 have some nice options.  Get a pair and get the blues.

It's Spring Again! - Part Two

Despite yesterday's snow, Spring is finally here and the color specialists at Pantone have decided that the following are the Spring 2011 colors for men.

Don't bother to remember the names.  However, you will see a lot of pants, shirts and shorts in the brighter colors in retail stores this year.  We've seen these colors before albeit brighter (think Cross Colours circa 1990) but unlike their last 15 minutes of fame, they aren't to be worn together.  This time around, pick one item from this color list and pair it with navy blue or dark blue.  Let the bright colored item do all of the work.  If that sounds a little dull, add a belt, necktie or watchband in a complimentary color.

"It's Spring Again. Everybody Knows It's Spring Again." - Biz Markie

What better time is there than this to have Biz Markie's "It's Spring Again" on my playlist. 

After a beast of a Winter I'm happy to finally be able to peel off a few layers.  Problem is though, it's still cold outside.  Not freezing of course but not time to break out the windbreaker either.  So how do I transition into Spring?  Lighten up.

You've covered youself up with wool coats since Thanksgiving.  Now is the time to rest the toggle coat or wool cashmere top coat you bought for yourself at Christmas and let your all weather coat see the light of day.  Despite the name the all weather coat is best for this time of the year and if you have one with a zip out lining you can fight off the lingering chill in the air.  A 3/4 length nylon or cotton jacket in a dark neutral color is good for work too and you can finally wear your butter soft leather jacket on the weekends.  Just make sure it's current.  If you bought it when Biz Markie was on celebrity fit club you might need to get a new one.

Lighten up on the accessories too.  Swap out your wool hat for a cotton or linen one and your wool scarves for a versatile silk or linen one that you'll wear a lot.  Silk scarves can get pricey but I found some reasonably priced at http://www.cheap-neckties.com/.  And if you still want to wear gloves there are plenty of leather options however, I recommend a cotton glove.  I have a heather grey pair by Ralph Lauren that are great for a rainy Spring morning.  The fingertips of the thumb and index fingers slide back as well so I can use play my favorite Biz Markie joints on my iPhone.

Finally, don't forget to acquire a good umbrella.  There are thousands of black umbrellas to pick from but I say use your umbrella to make a statement.  Spend a little extra and get one with a wooden handle, muted pattern and a metal tip.  I had a great umbrella once.  It had a burnt orange and tan pattern and on a rainy night I had it with me at a bar.  I put it away for safekeeping but when I came back to get it, it was gone.  To this day, I have no idea who took it.  If you see Biz Markie with an umbrella. . . . .

Hats - There Is One Out There For You

The men's hat is one of the most curious of men's accessories.  It was once as common a component of a man's wardrobe as socks.  Nowadays, some would have you think the hat has gone the way of a New York Knicks win streak - practically non-existent.  And if you wear a hat, some have would you think people will respond like they would to a New York Knicks win streak - What?  The Knicks won again?

But I find that the hat is alive and well.  I went to the Barney's Warehouse Sale the other night and there were a couple of bins of great hats.  Wool.  Cotton.  Patterns.  Brims/No Brims.  Then the next morning I saw a guy on his way to work rocking his fitted Mets cap with a suit and a tie.  (Tip - If you try this play it safe and wear a black fitted.  Save your green and orange Miami hat for the weekend.  Or maybe just keep it in the closet.)  Guys still wear hats.  And in addition to adding style, hats protect in the Summer and help retain warmth in the Winter. 

Any man can look good in a hat.  It's just a matter of knowing the shape of your face and the subtle differences in hats when selecting one.

Check out Black Thought of The Roots (Government name Tariq Trotter).  This dude wears hats often and always looks good in them.  Why?  Because the hats he wears balance his strong jaw line and chin.  This Fedora looks good on him because the crown is slightly tapered and it's not too high.  The slight tilt is on point too. 

So don't be worried about standing out when wearing a hat.  Once you find the right one, you'll enjoy all of the attention you'll get.  Sort of like the Knicks finding Amare and Melo.