Spring 2011 Must have - Chambray shirt

American eagle

Spring is almost here (i can almost feel it...) and one of my highly recommended must haves for the season is a chambray shirt. The lightens of the chambray and its content (100% cotton) makes it a perfect material for spring/summer and with the recent revival of American style it became a fabric of chioce in almost every men's collections out there, mostly in the form of a chambray shirt but often also as a light blazer or shorts..
The Chambray material was invented in the French city Cambrai during the 16th century and is a plain weave, light cotton fabric with a slight sheen that combines colored warp with white filling yarns. Although the fabric is mainly known in it's indigo blue color (which is also why it's often being mistaken for denim), it is actually available in a variety of other colors such as grays and khaki shades and even in patterns of stripes and checks.
The classic chambray shirt was originally made for the workmen (hence the term "blue collar") and prisoners and is usually detailed with utility details such as front pockets and  top-stitching (usually in white).
Casual - Chambray shirt goes well with just about anything casual and easy, with white linen pants, khaki chinos and even jeans as long as its not the same denim color. Rolled up sleeves and converse sneakers or even some other fun shoes like these Viktor & Rolf  will complete your look.

BOAZ military shirt

Business/dressed - casual is not the only way to sport a chambray shirt. With the right style and fit you can make it work for your business casual as well. The main point to look for is the fit - look for a well fitted shirt (read here for tips on finding a fitted shirt) like this BOAZ chambray military style shirt in the left picture from my new shirts line and you already completed half of the battle, pair it with a fitted flat front chinos or dark fitted jeans and to complete the look tuck in the shirt, add a belt and maybe even a fun tie (cotton in polka dot or gingham will add a sophisticated flair, stay away from silky shiny ties). A casual blazer can be a nice addition and with brogue or oxford shoes you will indeed be A man of style!

Spring 2011 NY Fashion week - Rag & Bone

"Nomads of the North African deserts" was the inspiration for Rag & Bone's Spring 2011 men's collection....looking at the show i think they took the inspiration very seriously resulting in quite a literal interpretation of the subject. I will admit that although Rag & Bone always had somewhat of a British tailoring  touch to their line (which i love), i was never really a fan of their product....as a matter of fact I don't even own any of their item, it was just never my style, and this season i think its even harder for me to relate...the look is very denim and American work wear driven and although its done in their own sophisticated way it just not my cup of tea. The look is casual and the silhouettes are looser and on the baggy side with wide leg pants and long shirts and jackets/coats (a bit too Nomads and desert style for me), with a fabric story that revolves around denim, canvas and chambray. My favorite pieces were the Chambray trench coat and some of the pants that had cool utility pockets and a fun mix of colors/fabrics and looked very comfy.
Generally the inspiration was executed very well in the collection and i would think that the Rag & Bone customer will find a lot of solid pieces in it, which is all that matters after all.

My style journal - week eight.... casual city cowboy!

Earlier i shared with you my obsession for a denim shirt for spring...so here we go..... i got this shirt at the Gap for $54.50 and as i said before I'm impressed! I really like the fit, the hand is pretty soft as well,  the color could have been a little darker but the fading and the wash make up for it.
Although Casual is not usually my go to style i

The DENIM SHIRT - A Must have for spring!

Spring is finally here, which i LOVE! And it is a great opportunity to refresh and update your wardrobe. So in the next few weeks i will share with you some of the items that i have on my "must have" list for the season (a list that btw is increasing as fast as the temperature out there....).
The first item on the list is the Denim shirt! .....generally, an unusual item for me to want since my personal style (and if you followed my blog before you would notice it by now) is inspired by a dressier look rather than casual, therefore the urge for a casual staple such as a washed, vintage looking denim shirt in my spring wardrobe caught me by surprise ..... but since dressing and styling is all about fun and reinventing i followed my heart and went for some online shopping... and here is what i found....