MEN'S STYLE

For this fifth post about men’s style I chose some items for the cold weather that, at least here in Italy, seems to be coming.

I immediately liked this Kent & Curwen sweater. It has a vintage vibe that makes it look like a timeless piece, a sweater worn by students of an elite college. The appliquéd rose refers to the year the brand was established, 1926.

This cardigan is 100% synthetic but I love it. It’s Zara and it looks so cozy.

I’ve always liked men who wear hooded sweatshirts in neutral, solid colors. They look so cool under a leather jacket and add a casual touch to an outfit, when worn under a jacket/coat. This one is by Uniqlo.

As I was writing I realized Keanu Reeves wears a sweatshirt and a biker jacket in “My Own Private Idaho”, a 1991 film directed by Gus Van Sant also starring the late River Phoenix. I’ve always had a crush on Reeves and I love many of his films, like “Speed”, “The Matrix” trilogy, “The Devil’s Advocate” and most of all, “Point Break”.

Accessories are so important, they’re useful (of course) and they can elevate a basic outfit. A warm scarf is an essential winter must-have. This one, in silk and cashmere, is by Marina D’Este, a historic Italian brand, famous for the use of silk. It’s available in two colors and it’s on sale. The fact that high quality clothes and accessories cost much less than those by cool brands often amaze me.

These boots by The Rail because I think Chelsea boots are some of the most beautiful and flattering shoes for men. I’m not into dad sneakers, furry mules, slides and other trendy but unflattering footwear. Shoes say a lot about a person. Oscar Isaac said that “for me, with a character, you start with the shoes”. It’s the same with style.

If you want to spend a lot of money to buy those ugly, unflattering dad sneakers (I prefer to call them “things”) brands are making millions with, I can’t prevent it. But if you prefer to buy classy sneakers that will make you look actually good, go for one of these I chose for you. You’d also same a lot of money! How great.

Are you looking for corduroy pants but you’re not sure if you actually want to wear them? Go for these affordable ones by H&M, available in dark blue, rust and Burgundy.

If you think that men in (faux) fur don’t look good it’s time to change idea. Look how beautiful this faux fur double breasted coat by Guild Prime is. It’s such a perfect evening coat and it’s available also in dark green (even if the site says it’s black) and in white, which is sooo beautiful.

I hope you liked the items I chose for you, let me know in the comments! And if you missed the previous posts about men’s style check them here.

Let’s start this post about men’s fashion and style talking about wedding and how to dress for it when you’re a guest. I never met a man who was glad to attend a wedding. As far as I know, when it comes to a wedding ceremony almost every man thinks “oh no, what am I going to wear?” or “oh no, I have to wear a tie”. Is this a cliché? And when the wedding is set in the hottest months of the year, it’s even worse. It’s understandable. Male elegance is still associated with being very dressed, while women can look well put together even with a light frock and the right accessories.

Since writing a post about wedding dress code would have been pretty complicated, I decided to keep it simple and give you some fundamental advice. I asked some experts in etiquette so what you’re going to read is sure as hell.

You can never go wrong wearing a blue suit and a white shirt. The hue of blue depends on your age and the location and the type of wedding. Socks are not particularly popular now but, unless you will attend a wedding on a beach, wear socks. Knee high and ribbed socks in blue or in black are considered a perfect choice. I have a thing for silk socks. And since silk is a thermoregulator fabric, your feet and calves won’t be too hot. A discreet tie is a must but it’s better not to wear it at all, instead of wearing it loose. Lace-up shoes are another must. These are the main rules when it comes to dressing for a wedding.

Alexander McQueen said that “you’ve got to know the rules to break them”.

I love men elegantly dressed but I think a man can find his own elegance, regardless of blue suits and white shirts. Being true to oneself is important and being respectful towards other people is important, as well. Some people think that clothes are merely pieces of fabrics we use to cover ourselves and that they don’t count but going to a ceremony dressed like you’re going to the supermarket only proves you think the event you’re attending doesn’t require an effort. A stylish, polite man can always find the perfect balance between personal style and etiquette.

If you can afford (and want) to buy Tom Ford clothes and accessories, you basically can’t go wrong with Mr Ford when it comes to class and elegance.

MUST-HAVE ACCESSORIES

I read an article on GQ about why we need to wear sunglasses (not for stylish reasons, but health reasons). Besides the fact that I don’t know how people can go without sunglasses, I’ve always thought that men with the right sunglasses are so handsome.

Need I say more?

Un post condiviso da 🎬🎥 Klassics are King 🎼👑 (@klassicsareking) in data: Lug 26, 2018 at 3:28 PDT

CINEMA AND STYLE INSPIRATION

If you haven’t seen “American Gigolo” you must watch it. The film, directed by Paul Schrader, is not particularly good but it’s famous and still celebrated for the clothes of its male protagonist, Richard Gere. If I think about “American Gigolo”, three things come to my mind. Richard Gere exercising upside down, Richard Gere matching jackets, shirts, and ties and “Call Me” by Blondie (the score is by Giorgio Moroder) . The wardrobe of Gere, who plays Julian Kaye, an escort who lives and works in Los Angeles, was mainly designed by Giorgio Armani, whose career skyrocketed after the release of the film (in 1980).

And since I love quotes…

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WHAT WOMEN WANT

Pool floats. Let’s keep this topic light, this time! It’s summer, it’s hot (at least where most of the readers of this blog live) and people are in the mood for having good and relaxing time, possibly by the sea or by a swimming pool. Women particularly like pool floats, they’re so cute and comfortable. And Instagram-friendly.

Unicorn and flamingos are lovely but a bit hackneyed, so what about something more different? I found a French brand that makes beautiful and chic inflatable accessories. It’s called the nice fleet.

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I realized I love to write about menswear and male style. I find it a bit more challenging. So, let’s start this third post with these words by Charles Hix, the author of “Looking Good: A Guide for Men” and other best selling books about men’s style and self-care. In the ’70s and the ’80s, Hix also provided style advice on the pages of GQ. We live in a world where appearance counts. It always did and probably will always do. Taking care of ourselves, which includes the way we look, is a form of self-love and self-respect. And dressing well is a form of good manners.

CINEMA AND STYLE INSPIRATION

“A Single Man” is a must-watch film. Every framing, outfit, interior is so refined. What else could we expect from a film directed by Tom Ford? Colin Firth and Julianne Moore both look great but my favorite fashion moment is the scene with Aline Weber and Nicholas Hoult laid down on the lawn. They both look so beautiful and stylish.

MEN AND STRIPES

Vertical stripes are among the main trends of summer 2018. I love stripes and I think vertical stripes particularly flatter men while horizontal stripes look better on women (it’s a bit of a cliché but they lend us a Parisian look). I know there’s already plenty of choice when it comes to classic striped shirts, but this summer men can indulge in something a bit different. Play a bit with colors and the size of the stripes and you’ll look stylish and cool.

I love unbuttoned shirts worn with white tees.

Un post condiviso da 진격의 J (@19wang88) in data: Lug 30, 2016 at 2:35 PDT

And worn without tee but not so unbuttoned. Instagram is not reality. SalvaSalva

Un post condiviso da Giaro Giarratana (@giarogiarratana) in data: Giu 18, 2018 at 7:46 PDT

WHAT WOMEN WANT

Good manners. Because they make a difference. Ralph Waldo Emerson said that “life is short but there’s always time for courtesy”. I know we’re living in times where chivalry may be mistaken for sexism. I know women who would consider a man who holds the door for them a male chauvinist. But there’re women who deeply appreciate what they simply consider a kind gesture. If you do a kind, chivalrous gesture and it turns out not to be appreciated, just think that it’s not you, it’s the other person who is not civil enough to be grateful. But, of course, don’t overdo. If you see a woman (or a man) who is easily carrying a suitcase, don’t think she (or he) is waiting for somebody who will do it for her (or him). Don’t offer your help and insist. That’s not chivalry, that’s intrusiveness.

As writer Joyce Rochelle said “what a loss it would be if feminism killed chivalry”.

Personally, I particularly love these gestures:

It’s considered pretty outdated now, but I love when a man pulls out a woman’s chair to make her sit. There’s a scene, in the third season of Fargo, where Ewan McGregor/Ray Stussy pulls out Mary-Elizabeth Winstead/Nikki Swango’s chair when they arrive at a bridge tournament. I find it so gentlemanly! But very few men do it, nowadays, and they’re often waiters in restaurants of a certain level.

When a man walks outside of a sidewalk/street, letting you walk on the inside and safer side. The origin of this gesture is ancient (and disgusting). If a man walked on the outside part of the street he prevented the contents of a chamber pot from being emptied on a woman. With the passing years (and the invention of toilet), walking on the outer side of the street has been considered a kind gesture because it prevents the theft of a woman’s bag. I also appreciate when a man walk behind me while we climb a staircase and walk in front of me while we descend it. 

When a man holds the door. To every human being, no matter the sex and the age. It happened to me, a few times, that a man saw I was behind him, in a store, and not only he didn’t hold the door for me, but he even pulled it to shut it in front of my face, as if I shouldn’t benefit of his effort. That was beyond rude.

Be sure that a woman gets home safe, waiting for her to enter her house is not only a kind gesture but a sign that you are a human being.

I consider myself a feminist, even if this term is often misused, and I appreciate chivalry. It’s not about gender equality, it’s about being kind and show a woman (a partner, a friend, a colleague, or a complete stranger) that, in a way or another, you care. For the record, I hold the door for other people and it shows that men appreciate it, too. I like to pour water or wine when I eat with someone and I do many other things. I appreciate kindness and I am kind. Believing in gender equality means that, as a woman, I wish to be treated equally, not that I want to be treated unkindly. Being kind and chivalrous with a woman doesn’t mean you consider her a lesser human being, that would extremely sexist.

A BRAND TO KNOW

Holiday Boileau is a French brand I recently discovered. I like men with white pants and these, with the blue piping, are perfect to put together a cool summer look. The brand takes its name from Holiday magazine, a famous American magazine published from the ’40s to the ’70s and recently revived.

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Let’s start this post about male fashion with a piece of clothing that has quite a bad reputation but that can be cool and stylish, the Aloha shirt, also known as Hawaiian shirt. Maybe it’s because Leonardo DiCaprio wore one in “Romeo+Juliet” (even if not printed in a typical Hawaiian pattern), but I’ve always liked them.

If a man has the physique du rôle, the Hawaiian shirt is sooo sexy. Take a look at Alexander Skarsgård and Rami Malek, don’t they look so stylish and manly?

Un post condiviso da Alexander Skarsgård Online (@alexanderskarsgardonline) in data: Apr 17, 2018 at 11:29 PDT

A friend of mine swears by KY’s, a brand that sells original Hawaiian shirts. You can buy them on eBay, too.

Take a look at this video to get some inspiration.

The Hawaiian shirt seems to be appreciated by many costume designers. You may remember Brad Pitt in “Fight Club”, Al Pacino in “Scarface”, Christian Slater in “True Romance”, Johnny Depp in “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas”, the King himself, Elvis Presley, in “Blue Hawaii”, just to mention a few man who looked great wearing it.

CINEMA AND STYLE INSPIRATION

A great film to watch for some style inspiration, both for men and women, is “The Talented Mr. Ripley”. Directed by Anthony Minghella, starring Matt Damon, Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow (and Philip Seymour Hoffman and Cate Blanchett), the film is a psychological thriller adapted by a novel written by Patricia Highsmith (which I read and liked very much) that will easily put you in the mood for a stylish holiday in Italy.

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And since I like quotes…

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WHAT WOMEN WANT

Men with manicured hands (and feet). No one like dirty or jagged nails and rough hands and feet and you don’t need to go to a salon to get your nails done. You only need a nail clipper, a nail file and a scrub and a good moisturizer. Hands are such an important part of our body and I don’t know a woman who doesn’t pay attention to men’s hands.

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I’ve been thinking about starting a series dedicated to male fashion and lifestyle for a lot of time but something always restrained me because I didn’t exactly know how to approach this subject.

Then, leafing through a magazine I had a kind of “blogging epiphany” and I realized what I wanted to do.

For the title of the series, which means “the style is the man” in French, I chose the words of Georges-Louis Leclerc, earl of Buffon. Clearly, I have a tendency to be inspired by the words of noble men. I even have a Pinterest board about men’s fashion named the same way. While many people think that fashion doesn’t offer so much to men, I quite disagree. But one thing is sure, male style has a lot to do with good fabrics, cut and fit. While a woman can look great in a polyester dress, you can’t say the same for a man wearing a polyester suit.

It’s not a prerogative of women to get inspiration from style icons and great films. Men have plenty of choice when it comes to find style inspiration from cinema.

One great film to watch is “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”. Brad Pitt sports a lot of outfits from different decades. He wears elegant suits and casual clothes. My favorite look from Benjamin is probably the one shawled cardigan worn with a tee and a pair of jeans. Timeless. I have a thing for chunky knitwear.

Real men wear pink. 

Did you know the habit of identify pink as a girly color was born in the 20th century and that, until then, pink was considered a male color? Pink is a light shade of red, a color associated with power, and even with war. A man shouldn’t wear pink only if he doesn’t like it. It’s a color available in many hues and it flatters every complexion.

Because style is in the details.

If you still think pink is not for men, remember Robert Redford as Jay Gatsby, with a beautiful pink suit. By the way, “The Great Gatsby” is another must-see film.

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And since I like quotes…

What women want 

Candles. As a woman writing about male fashion and lifestyle, I thought it was a nice idea to share my opinion (but also other womens’ opinion) about a subject. So, let’s talk about candles. They’re like pink. Some men consider them for women only, some like them but may feel uncomfortable about it.

Candles are a great way to make your house smell good and create atmosphere and they are available in “manly” scent. Some may find the word manly annoying but as a woman, I’m aware that men can find cutesy cotton candy scented candles way too girly. I don’t like sweet scents either and I prefer fresh or warm scents, it depends on my mood.

Unfortunately, many candles are made from paraffin, a derived from petroleum which makes breathing a candle’s smoke as unhealthy as smoking a cigarette. If you smoke or you don’t care, just think that unhealthy smoke can also give you headache. So consider buying candles made from natural wax and with cotton wicks. I know, they can be expensive but quality candles last longer than cheap ones. And keeping candles in the fridge for a few hours before lightening them will make them burn more slowly.

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That’s all for my very first post about male fashion and style. I hope you liked it. Let me know in the comments!

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