An interest in personal dress and menswear, in general, can sometimes make you feel as though you’ve got to have a different outfit every single day. Another unintended consequence of that feeling is that you may end up with a closet full of “one-hit wonder” pieces—things that you wore once and couldn’t find a way to work into your wardrobe more frequently. While it’s okay to have certain items that you only break out for special occasions, building a menswear collection—at least, initially—should be about acquiring pieces that can be combined many ways. Sometimes the differences between looks are just simple changes, but the overall effect can be completely different. All it takes is a little creativity.
This look is a companion to one I posted recently, featuring a silk scarf as a dapper accent. I wanted to demonstrate how taking the same basic framework—in this case, the same blazer and similarly colored pants—and making a few simple tweaks can completely transform the look from stylishly chic to work or business appropriate.
The major change was swapping out the silk scarf for a tie. The rest was very minor. A dressier wool pant in place of black denim, a slightly different shirt, and a pair of eyeglasses and a briefcase as accessories. Same pocket square, just folded and placed a little differently.
This Look: Burgundy houndstooth blazer by Uniqlo (similar here, now 50% off) – White dress shirt by J.Crew – Charcoal wool pants c/o Banana Republic – Plaid tie by Brooks Brothers Black Fleece (not available, similar here and here) – Black pocket square with white border by Brooks Brothers – Watch with black leather strap by Timex – Eyeglasses c/o Persol (PO3051V) – Black leather plaque belt by J.Crew – Black and navy plaid briefcase c/o Banana Republic – Black wingtip dress shoes c/o Allen Edmonds (McAllister)
Thanks for reading.
Stylishly Yours,
Brian
He Spoke Style
Photography by Rob McIver Photo.
