Tastehunter

Happy (almost) Spring! Of course, one day’s sunny and sixty-five could be another day’s stormy and forty, so don’t forget to dress strategically. The key to successful Spring dressing is layers. Below are five tips on how to layer for everything from lion to lamb, along with my top picks for Spring layering pieces.

1) Wear thin combinations of layers, like a fine cashmere sweater, a Spring jacket, or a lightweight t-shirt. The more thin layers you wear, the more you can adjust to your comfort.

2) Consider the vest. From down to leather to suiting fabric, there’s a vest for every occasion. And remember, with a down vest, you can wear it over or under your suit/blazer.

3) Just because you’re not wearing your puffer doesn’t mean you can’t wear gloves and a scarf. I love the cool, nonchalant look of winter accessories on their own, without a heavy winter jacket.

4) For days where it’s too cold to wear your lightweight jacket but too warm to wear your heavy one, wear two lightweight jackets. Try a denim jacket beneath a one that’s cotton-twill or nylon.

5) This is pretty intuitive, but typically the easiest and most visually pleasing way to layer is to wear the lightest weight layer closest to your body, going thicker as you move away from it.

And here are just a few of my Spring layering picks…

Lightweight Jacket

Belstaff Gangster Waxed Cotton Jacket ($645): I admit, one of the main reasons this jacket caught my eye is its name (but let’s be real, can anything from Mr Porter truly be categorized as “gangster”?). Name aside, it has a great trim fit, and waxed cotton is a good way to get the look of leather without the pricetag.

Vest

Rag & Bone Milano Waistcoat ($255): This vest is is a nice piece because even though it’s a sweater, it doesn’t fall into the trap of looking frumpy (which sometimes can happen with open sweaters like cardigans and vests). The buttons, pockets and triangle-opening at the bottom give it a pulled-together, suiting feel.

Lightweight Scarf

Yigal Azrouel Tonal Colorblock Scarf ($135): Throwing on a lightweight scarf like this one is an easy way to cut the chill without risk of overheating once you go inside.

For more specific Spring outfit ideas, click here. And if you’d like more tailored help with your Spring wardrobe, contact me.

I can’t believe it’s already been three weeks since my trip to Paris. I had a spectacular time wandering the city and checking out all the shops on my list. When it comes to how the men over there style themselves, I will say this — French men wear scarves like nobody’s business. Even once indoors, the jacket comes off, but the scarf stays on. It’s clearly an integral part of the outfit. Below are a couple mannequin shots I took outside Eglé Bespoke demonstrating different ways to incorporate a scarf into your look.

dressy

casual

Note in both images how the scarf doesn’t cover up the other detail at the neckline — tie knot or collars. It actually adds visual interest and dimension to the look, making it more sophisticated. Another nice thing about adding neckline detail is that it draws the eye upward making you look taller and flattering your chest. On top of that, the vertical lines created by the downward drape of the scarf are slimming…scarves for the win!

Below are a few more images from the trip:

Doorway on Rue du Mont Thabor

These button cufflinks are an easy way to add color to your wardrobe -- and a nice change from the silk knot.

Looking out the window of the Musée Carnavalet in the Marais

Surprisingly, this taxidermy ceiling at Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature did not give me bad dreams.

Patterned socks are a small detail that pack a lot of style punch (remember, only a sliver of the pattern is visible to others)

Snowy night on Pont des Arts

Caught myself in this one

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!

Growing up, whenever a new school year rolled around, the only thing that made me not want to hide in the Indian Burial Ground near my house was the prospect of getting new clothes, particularly that all-important first day outfit. At this point in my life, I don’t really have an excuse to get a new Fall wardrobe every year but the idea persists. For Back to School 2010, I’m making my selections from a male perspective. So here you have what I would choose for back to school if I were a guy…

As you may have heard before, you are way TOO COOL to be still wearing a backpack. A messenger bag, on the other hand, is the perfect fit for one’s manly carrying needs. I’ve been lusting over this Moore & Giles beauty ($485) in Nubuck Bison for some time. It would house my laptop perfectly (I measured – I’m good like that). I love the texture on both the bag and the shoulder strap. This bag crush is not going away anytime soon.

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Next up on my hit list is a pair of jeans from Billy Reid’s collection for Levi’s. The designer’s prize for winning GQ’s Best New Designer Award was to collaborate with Levi’s and create a collection of tailored workwear denim. The results go on sale September 10, at 12:01 AM Eastern Time.

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You can never have too many well-fitting shirts, so here again I’m hitting up Billy Reid and his “dressy-casual whiskey-soaked style.” The John T. shirt ($195) in blue & green strikes me as a nice way to incorporate some darker Fall colors without looking drab. Very cool how they’ve matched up the seams in back to create diagonals in the pattern (see below) — a little extra Southern flavor on that flavor. I like it with these brown pants, but I’d also like to see it with charcoal grey, either on bottom or as a sweater or jacket.

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It’s a little out there, but I could so rock this Barney’s printed wool bow tie ($75). The patterned shirt actually tones down the loudness of this piece’s message.

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If you’re boot-obsessed like me, then you too hold the belief that no Fall shopping trip would be complete without a new pair of boots. Right now, I’m definitely vibing with the Diemme Roccia Vet boot (€280), which come from a collaboration between Diemme and Japanese retailer Beauty & Youth United Arrows. With the contrast stitching and colored laces and soles, they strike the perfect balance between stylish and masculine. They come in a couple different colorways — my pick for myself would be the brown with blue laces above. You can get them here.

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My final picks are this cotton trench coat ($160) and lightweight denim scarf ( $24), both from Topman. Budget-friendly and machine-washable: doesn’t get much better than that.

…school’s back in session!

I came across these fantastic silk scarves at Bryce & Co.‘s very cool holiday pop up store (92 Perry St, NYC).  Regularly $95, they’re on sale for $47.50. They’re a great way to add a bit of color to an otherwise drab winter palette. The store is only open for another week, so hurry in! Check out the images below for more detail.