Tastehunter

Spring has not quite sprung yet here in NYC, but I’ve already been hitting the pavement and interwebs with my styling clients’ needs in mind. Even if you aren’t planning on a complete wardrobe overhaul this Spring, transitional periods like now are great times to take a look at what you own and consider strategically adding a few items that will help you get the most out of what you have. With that in mind, below is my roundup of Spring 2012′s menswear trends, along with corresponding suggestions.

Trend #1 Old Hollywood

Clean, crisp and confident, the Old Hollywood trend is timeless. In many ways, it’s a nod to style icon Cary Grant, known for his simple block colors and classic style. Think white pants, double breasted tailored jackets or sportcoats. For both, make sure the fit is slim, and for the latter, also have it cut on the short side, just covering your seat. Look for white pants from designers like Simon Spurr, Hermes, DSquared2, and Ralph Lauren Black Label ($295) below.

Trend #2 Suburbia

Spring runways abounded with checks and plaids, frequently in silhouettes that had a 1950′s suburban feel. Think of it as what you might wear to a summer barbecue: gingham, camp shirts, polos and blazers. This blue and green check shirt below ($185) from Billy Reid is an easy example of how to rock this trend.

Trend #3 Urban Safari

Safari jackets were introduced as part of the British military’s tropical uniform. They’re lightweight for easy mobility and typically contain expandable front pockets. I like the safari jacket because with it, fashion goes hand-in-hand with function, as it can come in many materials and colors (usually neutral) and have additional details like contrast stitching and an attached waist belt. The gorgeous leather one below from Bottega Veneta ($8100) is a luxe example of this look — let’s hope those safari pockets are loaded with cash though because this jam does not come cheap! Of course, there are plenty of other styles out there that are friendlier on the wallet (see here and here). Other ways to incorporate safari style into your wardrobe are via linen fabrics and silk-blend shirts.

A word of caution: when choosing neutral jackets, try to choose a shade that’s flattering on our skin tone. Most of us look better in either cool tones (blue-based, like grey) or warm tones (yellow-based, like tan or olive).

Trend #4 Naval Academy

Brands like J. Crew and H&M presented collections with a maritime aesthetic, as seen in details like stripes, ribbed knits, blue/red/white color palettes, nautical prints, Bermuda shorts and Fisherman’s sweaters. This pocket square ($65) from Richard James is a peppy way to work the trend into dressier outfits.

I hope you found this trend report helpful and inspiring as you get your wardrobe in gear for Spring. As always, I welcome your comments and questions. And if any of these trends resonate with you, but you’re still not sure how to implement them, please contact me for more tailored help.

Runway photos courtesy of Fashion Snoops.

December is here, and you know what that means: ’tis the season for presents up the ying yang! Below is my top-ten list for holiday gifting. I hope you’re able to find something on here for whoever is on your list (including yourself), and if you’d like shopping help tailored specifically to you, please contact me.

1.// Lanvin rhodium cufflinks ($335) – Manly in an edgy yet subtle way, these cufflinks will match just about anything in your closet.

2.// Microphone speaker ($24) – This quirky little speaker from MollaSpace comes in gold or silver tone. Perfect for the guy who likes a little extra attention.

3.// Wool hats – It takes a certain who-gives-a-damn attitude to wear a pom-pom hat. I like this one from Gant by Michael Bastian (above left; $85) because it has an old school feel, like something a Royal Tenenbaums character would wear. For a less statement-y but still stylish option, try the Christopher Kane hat (above right; $375). The houndstooth pattern is a nice upgrade from the standard solid skully.

4.// Astrakan ambassador hat ($385) – If the giftee in question is more traditional and appreciates old-world style, I would recommend this luxurious Astrakhan hat from the A Suitable Wardrobe store. It’s great for travel because it packs flat.

5.// Viktor & Rolf patchwork scarf ($388) – A scarf is an easy holiday gift because you don’t have to worry about fit. I’m a big fan of this patchwork number from Viktor and Rolf. All of the different patterns and textures give it a rich and interesting feel.

6.// Hugo pocket square ($8) – There’s no need to sacrifice style if your gift budget is modest. Snap up this gingham flannel pocket square from The Tie Bar. Its blue and black color combo is sharp in an unexpected way.

7.// David Family Wines 2007 Pinot Noir ($62) – Act fast: David Family Wines is about to end sales on their 2007 Pinot Noir, at which point it will go back into the cellar for additional aging (to be re-released in 2 years for $85/bottle). This gift is perfect for the discerning wine-lover: not only is it unbelievably delicious stuff, it also features a smart-looking leather label.

8.// Up Your Manhattan Game - In other booze news, after giving us the right ingredients for a solid Manhattan in last year’s gift guide, this year whiskey enthusiast Josh Wortman shows us what tools to get. He recommends a Japanese glass mixing cup ($53), a bar spoon ($18), and a julep strainer ($11). Josh also likes these very small batch bitters ($18) made by soon-to-open Dutch’s Spirits Distillery in upstate New York. And if you need recipes, grab PDT’s new cocktail book ($16).

9.// Miansai tie bar ($66) – Adding a tie bar is an easy way to take your steez to the next level. Don’t be afraid of the pattern on this one from Miansai. It would work well paired with a solid grey wool or cashmere tie and the blue and black pocket square in #6 above.

10.// Travelteq X Tenue de Nîmes laptop bag (€395) - Time is of the essence if you’re into this handsome limited edition Tenue bag: only 50 pieces were made. The mashup of two traditional materials - Florentine Vacchetta leather and Japanese selvage chambray - gives it a classic-meets-modern style.

There you have Rath & Co.’s 2011 Holiday Gift Guide! Hopefully there is something on here that nails it for you/your guy, or at the very least it inspires you to come up with your own thoughtful surprises. Happy gifting!

In our search for dashing rehearsal dinner options for grooms, Brian Leahy (founder of The Groom Says blog) and I start the day at Kmart and end up at Michael Andrews Bespoke. Part I of the interview (at Kmart) can be read on Brian’s blog here, and Part II (at MAB) here.

Clip-on ties: a must-miss

Doesn't get any cooler than this...

...or this.

Special thanks to our gorgeous models, Alex and Adam, and to Michael Andrews Bespoke.

Images courtesy of Joanna Wilson Photography.

When creating a solid going out look, it’s important to choose items that are distinct from your everyday office wear. That doesn’t mean you can’t wear a work suit out on the town, but rather if you do, you must distinguish it using your accessories. This was my intention when styling a client for a big charity event last week. He has some beautiful new suits and sport coats on order from Michael Andrews Bespoke, and those wouldn’t be ready in time for the event. So I worked with what he already had, deciding that for him, it would be all about the ties and pocket squares. Lucky for me, the Saks and Barney’s men’s departments (mainly) were ripe for the picking of such fancy and festive pieces. And picked I did. See above for the final selection.

Pretty much all of these ties and pocket squares work with one another, with the exception of the middle tie and bottom left square. This combo looks like you tried to create your own matching tie and pocket square set — something you neeever want to wear — but didn’t quite make it happen. As far as matching goes, most of these ties and squares are the perfect “mismatch” for one another. This in fact is what you should be looking for when choosing playful combos that work for going out. If you’re the sort of fellow who likes things more coordinated, then you should use the colors in your pocket square to pull out a minor color from your tie. The tie on the far right combined with the pocket square on the middle left is a good example of this.

In the end, we went with the lavender tie on the left and the navy and silver striped pocket square on the top left. I like the mix of the smooth surface of the tie with the more textured square. And the stripes work with the stripes because they are of different widths and go in different directions (read more on mixing stripes here). This was an especially cool choice because depending on how you insert the pocket square, the stripes can run either vertical or horizontal, resulting in two very different looks. The horizontal is a bit straight-laced, while the vertical is more unexpected. Versatility warms my little heart.

Ties l-r: Canali $140 from Saks, Armani $145 from Saks, Brioni $195 from Saks.
Pocket squares left column top-bottom: Armani $95 from Barneys, Charvet $75 from Saks, Simonnot-Godard $60 from Bergdorf; right column top-bottom: Brioni $80 from Saks, Simonnot-Godard $60 from Barneys, Bloomingdales $28 from Bloomingdales.

Check out my latest Profiles in Awesomeness interview with the well-heeled and always entertaining Tony Martignetti, Founder of Martignetti Planned Giving Advisors and Host of Tony Martignetti Nonprofit Radio. Tony and I talk Garanimals, the Blockbuster Uniform, and why he can sometimes be found in women’s pants. We shot this video at the beautiful Michael Andrews Bespoke studio (Note how Tony’s tie and pocket square coordinate with MAB’s wallpaper. The man is a pattern-matching fool.).  Click the image above to play.