Gingham shirt - A must have for spring

After the spring decided to take a break from us last week, it's back and I can now get into SPRING MODE once again!..... next to check on my spring wardrobe's list is....a GINGHAM shirt! Gingham is a classic pattern that looks like plaid and universally recognizable, although.... not always in clothing. You all saw it before as the table cloth in your favorite little Italian restaurant or used it as the romantic mode setter cloth in a picnic.... like the one you planed for you and your sweetheart on your second date....I always liked the look of gingham  and actually today while browsing at Mood for some fabric findings i found this navy and cream canvas fabric that soon enough will form into a nice summer pants....I'll post it up once its done.....In the meantime i made this purple gingham shirt on top to cover my spring cravings.....
Generally gingham associated with a masculine, casual look such as in western shirts, or as the shirts Mods (British teenagers in the 1960s) wore (like the Ben Sherman shirt below), but if used right gingham can also add depth and sophistication to your wardrobe. The gingham shirting fabric is very comfortable to wear and due to the way its weaved is generally easy to clean (also because of the pattern being busy little spots are not as noticeable). 

Above: Paul Smith, Ben Sherman

Gingham shirts are fun...whatever your personal style is, you can find a gingham shirt to match it! The variety of colors and pattern sizes are wide and you can be as adventures or conservative as your heart desires.  As always keep in mind that

The power of the vest!

The vest (or the waistcoat as its being referred to in the UK) is the single, most versatile and smartest clothing item a guy can have. Mostly known for its role as the unappreciated member of the three-piece suit family, the vest made a move and over the years declared its independence, separated from it's family and developed its own life. Adding grandeur and sophistication to almost any outfit, from making the casual jeans and T look stylish and unique or when paired with a suit adding sharpness and a twist making it dressier and even more powerful.
For me it all started with my father (RIP). He loved three-piece suits and had a few custom made for him. One in particular, a gray wool pinstriped was my absolute favorite. I had been eying it for a while when sometime in my early 20's the suit got too small for him and I inherited it....the jacket was too big, the pants needed to be taking in but the vest....well, the vest was

My Style journal - week two. Let's Rock!

Last night my wife and i went to see Elefant, an indie rock band from New York city. So in the spirit of that my look of this week is a Rock N Roll suicide.... (the suicide part just makes it sound more edgy and glamorous, so no need to call 911). What is more Rockish feeling than BLACK, SKINNY, and VINTAGE??? OK ,maybe long hair, not shaving and looking drugged and dirty are some others but I'll stay with the first 3 for now.
On my first visit to London (to any of you who are reading this and never been there, DROP everything that you are doing right now and GO.... don't think, don't pack just go....) about 15 years ago while visiting in Camden Market (back than it was still raw and not as polished as now days) in the vintage market I spotted about 20 feet away from me this black leather coat hanging in one of the booths, i zoomed on it and started running towards it (I'm really not exaggerating, i was worried that someone else will spot it before me so i had no choice but running there). This beautiful piece of art had served me since than, i had to change the entire lining that was ripped and found my self freezing in some cold weather days just cause it was cooler to wear it instead of a really warm coat but it was all worth it... this item made everything i wore look cooler, i had so many people over the years complimenting it. The shrunk jeans jacket is another vintage find (some store on 23rd st in the city) for $20 about 8 years ago while looking for inspiration items. I always loved how these 2 jackets complimented each other (actually so much that i wore them on my first date with my wife hoping it will impress her as well.....hey, it worked and besides....everyone is entitled to some vanity and shallowness...). Let's Rock!!!

This week I'm wearing:

Black skinny jeans - BOAZ
Black shirt - Ben Sherman
Black scarf - H&M
Jeans jacket - Vintage

Black leather coat - Vintage

Boots - Paul Smith