Espadrilles - The perfect summer shoe

Espadrilles, as they are called, are one of the best lounging around summer shoes. They are classic, dating back decades, they are comfortable, they are stylish and they are not trendy, all perfect reasons to pick up a pair. Also, they are cheap (check out Asos.com).

Tom's has the best in the world. They are not super authentic from Tom's but they will last and they come in great colors. Tom's Shoes also donates one pair of shoes to the needy in third world countries when you buy a pair, so you at least you know you've put shoes on someone's feet. The crunchy granola liberal in me likes companies that help out others.

I prefer white, navy or red, but some of the bright color combination are great. Espadrilles are a perfect alternative to Converse Chuck Taylors or Jack Purcells. As good as the mainstays are, we need alternatives or else life would be way too boring.

No Socks Kinda

A great look that you will see in all of the fashion magazines, blogs, runways and anywhere else in the city is the absence of socks. As Thom Browne says "ankles are the male cleavage". Wearing no socks with properly tailored shoes and a nice pair of well polished Oxfords is a great look, especially for summer, late spring and early fall. In Los Angeles and other fair weathered cities, it could almost be done year around.

One problem with the look is comfort. Its really uncomfortable to wear no socks with a nice pair of dress shoes, plus your feet sweat more and slip around in the shoe leaving blisters. But finally the answer is here: ankle socks. Goodhew makes a pair of the no show ankle socks as does Johnston & Murphy. The picture above I am wearing the no show sock (Johnston & Murphy), which gives me the comfort I need to deliver the look I want.

Essential Summer Fashion Must Haves - Gingham & Linen

I found this perfect pairing of gingham and linen. Great job on the outfit. I had to share it.

Essential Summer Fashion Must Haves - Summer Suit

Summer suits are completely under estimated... they are stately, sophisticated, gentlemanly and just downright cool (in the hip sort of way... not the heat way). When I put on a great summer suit I feel like a proper southern gentleman about to step out on to my porch for a mint julep before heading to a late afternoon wedding at the chapel. It makes me feel like the distinguished gentlemen of the 50's, but more updated.

Summer suits must not be your standard dark wool suit, too hot and too conservative. A good suit for July and August comes in three main fabrics and the variations on those fabrics: Chino, Silk, Linen and Cotton. Cotton suits come in a few different varieties but my favorite for many reasons is seersucker, another cotton option is cordlane (as we discussed earlier in this blog). Chino is technically a cotton too, but I see as different type of suit. For the purposes of this blog we will focus on my two favorites... Seersucker & Linen.

Seersucker is straight out of the south. It is old school, it can only be worn in the summer, it needs to have a modern cut. If the seersucker is not a slim fit... it will look like you are wearing your grandpa's suit (because he has one... I guarantee it). Seersuckers come in many different colors the most common and featured prominently on DF is the blue and white variety. They also come in red and white, brown/tan and white, pink and white and most other shades. (If you can find a cream and white seersucker, buy it immediately. They are amazingly gorgeous and hard to find.) I love the brown/tan and white (pictured below is the J.Crew version of this suit) as a starter seersucker, getting you used to the fabric and the suit. The blue and white is the prettiest with the right tie and pocket square (as demonstrated to perfection at the top of the page). Always wear a pocket square with your seersucker to help dress it up. It can be properly worn with a tie or without. If you are going with the blue and white seersucker and no tie stick with a pink or light blue shirt. One great advantage of seersucker is that it will not wrinkle and what an advantage it is!

The most elegant and classy versions of the summer suit is linen. Linen is often paired with cotton, wool or silk in a blended suit. I like the blended suit because of the beautiful look that comes from the mix of fabrics. Linen suits can be all colors but I would stick with the brown/tan, cream or navy. A grey linen suit can be beautiful as well, but I like it more for nighttime occassions. Remeber that linen wrinkles. This is how the suit is supposed to look, it is supposed to be rumpled and look like you actually wear it. That is part and parcile of the look. For a perfect example of a rumpled linen jacket check out A Suitable Wardrobe.

The rest of the suits featured (that are not seersucker) are linen suits. The first picture below is stolen (hope you don't mind) from the Satorialist. It is the epitomy of the perfect summer suit worn perfectly with the perfect fit. Kudos!

Essential Summer Fashion Must Haves - Gingham

If you don't have a gingham shirt, go get one right now. It's okay, I'll wait...

Gingham is great. It is classic, it is fashionable and it is the ultimate summer look. (just don't wear a red gingham shirt or else you will look like a picnic table). My favorites are the blues, the purples and the pinks. J.Crew has a great selection of gingham including a cream and white pattern in a wide square that is fantastic. Did you get one yet? I'll wait...

Wear it with a pair of chinos or jeans for a nice date look. Or go with the lilac gingham and a dark blue tie for work. Ralph Lauren even has some nice small check aqua blue gingham, the exact color we discussed earlier in the Essentials of Summer section.

Did you get your gingham yet? What are you waiting for?

Essential Summer Fashion Must Haves - Web Belt

Another Essential Summer fashion accessory to add to the wardrobe this year is the web belt. It is a great way to add a little personal style to your wardrobe, not to mention a splash of color. The top picture is a collection of belts from Robert Talbott. I really dig the blue and white belt above from J.Crew. I bought mine on sale for under $10. The two belts below are also great options, the top one is from Ralph Lauren. The bottom one is a plaid option from Macy's.

The web belt comes in a wide variety of colors and options. Bright colors are my favorite, but a more muted gray and black option can look fantastic with the right outfit. Also, solid web belts are available, but I would steer clear of them as they look quite ordinary. Please make sure to only buy a web belt with a D ring on it. No solid silver clasps, the belt will look like a thugs accessory for the early 90's, not a very dandy look.

The best advice I can give you with the web belt is the play with colors and avoid matching too much. A dark blue belt looks good with a light blue button down. Find a orange and green belt and match it with khaki shorts and solid neutral colored button down (white or gray look best). Wear a pink polo and a madras web belt and neutral shorts.

This a very versatile and fun addition to any wardrobe. Just don't wear it to work.

Essential Summer Fashion Must Haves

Here is the kind of outfit that I feel really shows off your summer cool, while looking dandy, sprezzatura and quite different from the crowd (without looking like an ass). It is truly a fashionable and trendy outfit with a classic kick. I couldn't decide on which belt option I liked more... so I gave two different options. This would also look great with a distressed brown leather belt.

A few quick keys to this outfit. Keep the shirt washed don't over due on the ironing. The jacket needs to perfectly tailored. I would recommend a blue linen jacket like this one. Don't be afraid to embrace the wrinkles that the linen jacket will acquire. Make sure the jeans are dark wash and free of holes and other signs of bad trends. I recommend sticking to a slim fit selvedge cotton, like the jeans shown. The red shoes tie the outfit together. They go with the outfit without matching. It is key that you don't wear a red belt as that will look to thought out and perfect. Artful dishevelment is the key to make this outfit look fashionable.

Try this outfit out and tell me later how many numbers girls will give you. If you don't believe me, try it.

Essential Summer Fashion Must Haves - Driving Shoes

My favorite accessory this summer is the driving shoe. These extremely comfortable suede slip on shoes available in all colors are great additions to any summer wardrobe. I love pairing the blue driving shoe with a pair of light chinos and a pink button down. Mismatched colors are a great and simple sprezzatura style element. I also like dressing up jeans with these shoes as they help an outfit pop with sophistication without sacrificing comfort.

Wearing red driving shoes with jeans and a blue button down is a simple style piece that anyone can pull off. It will turn heads, make you feel great and will help you look like a dandy summer style maven.

If you can't afford Tod's driving shoes (the Aston Martin) of driving shoe, then I highly recommend Aldo. Aldo has great versions of the driving shoe at very reason prices. I get my driving shoes at Aldo (don't tell anyone... hopefully they will think I buy Tod's).

Essential Summer Fashion Must Haves - Cotton Tie

You must break out the lighter fabrics in summer. Linen, seersucker, chino and of course cotton. Summer is the time to put away fabrics that look so good in December and try something new and lighter.

A great way to try something new and light is with cotton. We all know about the cotton shirts and shorts. But another great use of cotton is with ties and jackets. (Gap has a great navy cotton jacket that is great for cool nights in the summer and fall. My favorite use of cotton is with ties. They allow you to dress up without looking pretentious or like you belong at Thanksgiving dinner.

J Crew this year have some of the best ties. I love the gingham tie and the madras tie, both great must have ties. The ties below are also a great way to wear cotton. They come in a cool plaid design but they are still cotton.

My favorite tie, is the one featured at the top of the page. Its color scheme is impeccably summer and the raw silk it is made from is also very summer. Okay, okay that tie is not cotton, but you can't go wrong with it. From what I can gather this is a J Press tie. I just wish they weren't out of stock... I want one. Random gift anyone?

Essential Summer Fashion Must Haves - Khakis

Wear chinos!  Guys typically call them Khakis, but Khaki is the color the pants are known as chinos (which is the material).  Wear them as you would jeans.  They give you the summer vibe, they are easy to take care of and they help you stand out among the sea of jeans that most guys wear year around.

Keep the chinos slim and straight legged.  No bootcut!  I really love the urban slim cut at J Crew.  I also found that Calvin Klein is selling lightweight chinos in gray, light khaki and black for less than $25.  If you shop around you can get a nice pair of chinos for under $70, so much less expensive than jeans.

I like wearing them with chucks and a lightweight shirt.  The other option is to dress them up with some driving shoes.  They are as versatile as jeans... so you can wear them with anything.  They even look great with flip flops... probably better than jeans.  And if you are at the beach, wear the flip flops and roll the khakis once or twice (it is a great look).  

Once again, it is summer... so have fun with your khakis.

Essential Summer Fashion Must Haves - chino shorts

He looks like summer!

Its too damn hot to always wear pants so in the summer it is time to break out the shorts.  The great thing about shorts is they can be crazy colors, designs and patterns and still be stylish.  They are shorts, they already are silly, so you might as well embrace it and really make the most of them.  In the Essential Summer Fashion list you must have one pair of chino shorts that will raise an eyebrow.  In my collection I have a light yellow chino short from J Crew (the color is "Butter") and I bought them for $20.  What a great deal!

There are a couple things to keep in mind with the chino shorts.  The crazier the color, the simpler the shirt.  Wear a plain gray shirt or light blue polo with your crazy shorts... simple on top, devilish on the bottom.  

Also, buy shorts... not capris.  This means the short should stop before your knee.  If you are around 6' that means that you should have the 9" inseam.  The longer shorts that go past your knee makes you look shorter and like you are still living in the 90s.  Even if you don't like showing your knees off, women think it looks good.  So just trust me and find a pair of shorts that don't look like they are three sizes too big.  

Don't match the colors!  Don't wear blue shorts with a blue shirt, YUCK!  Wear yellow shorts with a light blue shirt.  Wear pink shorts with a gray shirt.  Wear red shorts with a white button-down.  Simple is the key.

Most of all... have fun with your shorts.  Wear something that you feel comfortable in and makes you smile.  If it makes you smile, it will make women smile.

Essential Summer Fashion Must Haves - Lightweight Shirts

The Essential Summer Fashion items - Lightweight shirts

Summer is hot, but you still want to look fashionable.  The best way to pull off both is with the lightweight shirt.  They are sold by everyone right now: Gap, Calvin Klein, Banana Republic & J Crew.  My favorite are from J Crew, they are well cut and typically can be found on sale for about $30.  Get a couple, I recommend white, pink and light blue, the essential colors.  

These shirts are lightweight, so you won't get hot from too much fabric.  And as an added bonus there is no need to iron them!  They look better rumbled then they do freshly pressed.  I wash and dry them as usual and then pull them out of the dryer, while they are still hot.  Shake it a couple of times and you got the perfect summer fashion statement.  It will look like you wore all day at the beach.  It is a great representation of summer, plus its way too hot to iron.  Trust me, the ladies will love your "careless" attitude about your look.  

It is the ultimate sprezzatura (Artful Deshelvement) to not even iron the shirt.  You may do it on purpose as part of your style, yet it doesn't ever come off as try-hard.  A perfect summer look and a great reason to add the lightweight shirt to the Essential Summer Fashion list.  

Essential Summer Fashion Must Haves - Blue

Summer brings out the best in all of us.  It brings out women wearing sun dresses (an absolute pleasure), time spent at the beach, days off work spent on great vacations and color.  Add color to your wardrobe, especially in the summer is an essential.  There is no point in being scared of color, the summer is too fun to not wear a bright color and really flaunt it.  This summer, my favorite color is blue, as represented above as aqua.  This color is fantastic, it is masculine, it is bright, it puts a smile on your face and women around you, it represents all that is wonderful about summer.  

Throw on a simple aqua polo or shirt and some chino shorts and you will be ready for summer.  My favorite look with these color shirts is to wear it with light gray chinos and white chucks.  You will be dressed down (perfect for summer), but every woman at the bar will notice you.

These two shirts above come from the Gap, the t-shirt is only $14.99.  Target also had the same color polo for less than $20.  At those prices how can you go wrong with adding color to your summer essentials?

Uniqlo - We need more

I recently found Uniqlo and I want more.  After spending too much time on the website, I have created a resentment that there is only one Uniqlo store in the US, in Manhattan.  I want Uniqlo in Los Angeles and I want it now.  From what I could tell by the website, it is a even less expensive version of H&M.  Who doesn't need quality clothes for less money?  I know you don't have your hands up.

I love the slim fit suit jackets, especially the blue cordlane jacket.  To think this jacket is only $79.95!  I might need to fly to NYC, just for this jacket.  The matching trousers are only $39.50.  Less than $120 for a great summer suit, even if you only wear it a few times this summer it is worth the investment.

I will be visiting Uniqlo soon.  That is for sure!