It's Getting Hot, So Take Off Your Clothes

It’s spring, though it feels like summer. As the temperature rises, try taking off some clothes. You’ll cool down (temperature) while becoming more cool (like the football players and cheerleaders in high school) at the same time. So try going sockless. It’s a chic look that does well on just about anybody. Plus when it’s summer and you’re rocking shorts, you don’t want your feet to be looking like this:

Penny Loafers by Sperry Topsider

And especially not this:

Sandals by J.Crew

If you just can’t fight the feeling and you need some cotton to keep your toes in check, try some no-show socks like this to still achieve the look:

Available at J.Crew

Calves by my gym and I

Your feet will thank you (just make sure to use shoe trees so your shoes can thank you too).


PS- check out this very informative article by Derek from Put This On for more. Put This On is a great site if you're at all menswear oriented, but especially if you're into classical menswear or the process of tailoring/manufacturing.

More news as it develops,

MD

The Gent's Place

After all the blogging and impeccable dressing, at the end of the day I’m still a guy. And like most guys, I really don’t like getting my hair cut. It’s a hassle we all seem to want to avoid, and if you’re anything like me your cycle goes something like buzz, wait 6 months, repeat. 

It seems all of that may have changed with my visit to The Gent’s Place, south of Kansas City in Leawood. The Gent’s Place is head-to-toe legit. Branded as a “men’s spa,” it’s really anything but.  There’s TVs with sports, a lounge area, and a pool table. It’s how I imagine a haircut felt if you were Frank Sinatra or Steve McQueen.

The Gent's Place

I walked in and was immediately greeted by a friendly staff, offering drinks ranging from water to whiskey. I got a Johnny Walker because I’m high class and I come to party, but there’s beer too if you’re a lightweight (and water if you really hate fun).

Next up was arguably one of the best haircuts I’ve ever had. That might not be saying much considering I just told you I usually just buzz it all off, but I’m really happy with how it looks (and I've had compliments already). 

The Gent's Place

A warm towel and a shampoo followed by a quick styling, and I was out the door in time to finish my drink at the rate of a responsible adult. Salon treatment, but I didn’t have to make a day out of it. The total cost was $35, which really isn’t that bad considering you probably pay close to that for a mediocre hair cut already. Not to mention the drink helped ease that What do I talk to this person about for 20 minutes? feeling I get when I normally go in for a trim.

At the end, it was well worth it. I felt Don Draper good-looking. I immediately went home, threw on a blazer and lit up a Lucky Strike so the rest of my body would look as good as my hair. The type of good looking that says not, “I’m going to get laid,” but rather, “I already did.”

More news as it develops,

MD

Reader Question: Dinner & a Movie?

 Reader question:

“I saw your ad here. I’m not a redhead (brunette actually), but I like your site. Email me back!”

Kudos to this girl. It’s always nice to see someone stand up and make a move. That being said, sorry for posting your email on the Internet for the world to read. I promise I’ll make it up to you. Do you like Red Lobster?

Affectionately yours,

MD

What A Girl Wants

As a return favor for my guest post at The Bizi Bee, but mostly to cover my ass because I've been so busy (lazy?), my friend Bizi has offered her take on some tips and tricks for what guys should wear, from a girl's perspective. And isn't that whose opinion we care about most? Read on and enjoy:

Since Mr. Midwest-Dressed did a guest blog for me, I accepted when he asked me to do one for him.  I am going to attempt to tell you what girls like guys to wear and what they don’t, but believe it or not, this is a pretty tough topic.  So bear with me as I ramble. 

When prepping for a date, it’s always necessary to dress appropriately for the occasion or venue. If you are taking a girl out for dinner, make sure she knows if it’s a fancy restaurant or if it’s casual.  A girl is going to feel extremely awkward if you are dressed nicer or more casual than she is.  Trust me it’s happened to me before!  Make sure that you look put together and masculine.  One of the biggest turn offs to a girl is when a guy dresses femininely (I’ll explain later in the post).

Girls tend to think it’s tacky when guys wear sweats and basketball shorts all the time.  This does not mean that you can’t ever wear them, because obviously you need to be comfortable sometimes (so do we).  Just make sure that the sweats don’t overtake your life and that you save those for when you are actually lounging around. 

When you go out at night with the bros, you guys usually keep each other in check.  No one wants to look stupid.  It’s rare that I see a guy out at a bar and think, “What the hell is he wearing?”  That thought is usually saved for other girls.  We don’t really think about your outfits as much as you would think we do, but if you look out of place, then yes, we will probably talk about you.  So just check with what your friends think too.

As I started to explain before, we always like a guy to look masculine and that means don’t wear things that we would wear, like tight jeans or frilly scarves.  We want a man that is going to be manly and be a protector of sorts, whether we like to admit it or not, and we don’t need you to be the pansy of the two of us.  Maybe you are, I have no idea, but at least don’t appear to be that way and you’ll have a better chance of getting her number.  Also, don’t use man purses or anything like that.  It’s odd.  You don’t need a purse or satchel.  We carry the purse.  If you have stuff to be carried, put it in our bag or suck it up and leave it at home. 

Don’t wear graphic t’s.  The Ed Hardy and flat-bill look is just terrible.  Most of us don’t want a guy that looks like Kevin Federline (I mean, I guess I can’t speak for everyone. Britney wanted him at some point.). 

If you own one, burn it. Don't even donate it, because no homeless person in their right mind will take it.

WE DON’T LIKE FACIAL HAIR!!!!!! WE HATE NO-SHAVE NOVEMBER!  Sorry, someone had to say it.  Shave it off.  You’re hotter that way.  I promise. 

If you think about the celebrities that we find attractive in today’s society, you can probably take some fashion advice from them: Ryan Gosling, Josh Duhamel, Bradley Cooper, David Beckham, Zac Efron, Channing Tatum, Robert Pattinson, Ashton Kutcher (with SHORT hair), etc., etc., the list goes on.

Overall, we really don’t think about your fashion choices as much as we think about our own.  We all have certain things we may like or dislike, but what will actually attract us to you is how you carry yourself.  We always like confident guys, but not cocky (that’s a turn off).  We are always attracted to a guy who is comfortable in his own skin and can hold a normal conversation.  We will comment on whether you are cool, cute, funny, (or not) more than we will comment on your wardrobe.  

So in order to attract the ladies, dress masculine, appropriate for the venue, but most importantly be confident in yourself and who you are and we will flock to you!

A Girl's Gotta Shine

No time for a full post today, but I am thoroughly annoyed about the amount of glitter in my parent's basement. It looks like they hosted a cheap stripper orgy. 

Today's fashion tip: stay away from glitter. That shit never really comes out, and yes, your wife will find it at some point.

More news as it develops, have a good weekend,

MD

Blue Spring Blues

A hot trend in a cool color this spring is blue. It’s gone viral, and it’s hard not to. Blue is a color that’s easy to throw on and comes in a variety of shades to go well with any skin tone, and whatever else you may (or may not) be wearing. 

I own more blue shirts than Eiffel 65 and the Blue Man Group combined, so I thought it appropos to offer advice on having the blues this spring. I also like blue clothes because I only drink Hypnotiq, so it doesn’t stain when I inevitably spill on myself.

What does this say about me emotionally?

The first thing to consider when wearing blue is how it will fit in with the rest of your outfit. As blue is the common color of most denim, it’s important to mix up shades to achieve a balance (how many times have I said that before?). 

Three pairs of jeans (straight-leg, of course) in three different shades

Darker wash jeans can work with a pale or pastel blue shirt, like here.

Of course, you can skip the mixing and matching by throwing on pair of chinos, which works just as well in this warm winter we’re still enjoying.

Blue shirts are also great to throw under a V-neck to get a dressy-casual look.

The shirt is very pale, and when paired with the green sweater it can work with nearly any shade of jeans.

PS- good menswear is all about the classics. Just because blue is hot this spring doesn’t mean you need to rush out and buy a blue shirt so you can fit in. We’re not girls, and not every guy at the bar will be sporting something in blue (unless you count jeans, then they all probably will). Expect blue to be featured heavily in stores though, so if you do find something you like, go with quality, go with versatility, and you’ll go with style. If blue isn’t your color, I don’t know what to tell you. Wait until summer I guess, you weirdo. 

More news as it develops, 

MD 

Wood iPhone Covers from Everlane

It seems like Everlane is always dropping something new and fresh that stands to impress, and again they haven’t failed to disappoint. 

Wood iPhone covers, made from real wood and only $15. How can you complain? I don’t have an iPhone, I’m too poor, but I know that if I do get one, I’d opt for one of these. 

Padauk

Bubinga

Purpleheart

They’re a damn sight cooler than the rubber prophylactic you’d normally see on an iPhone and they’re the same price, if not cheaper. They’re also substantially cheaper than comparable wood covers, like the >$100 ones here and here.

Everlane is also planning to release some backpacks which look pretty awesome. I’m legitimately interested in upgrading from the geeky backpack I’m currently schlepping to class, so I’ll profile these and let you know more at the end of this week. 

More news as it develops,

MD

Menswear Mantras

First, I apologize for the lull in posts. Class has been hectic, and I've been working on IT stuff to upgrade the blog and hopefully energize your experience. I don't know what that means but it sounded good in my head.

Anyways, here's some stuff to keep you busy until I'm back running at full speed. First, something from Put This On that I’m excited about because it captures exactly the essence of how I feel, and it has a shout out to KC (What up 816?)

You think The Sartorialist or Tommy Ton are planning to shoot in Kansas City any time soon? How about Philly? Williamsburg, Virgina?* Bloomington, Indiana?

The revolution isn’t over. We just shifted the battlefield.We’re not waiting for you to take our picture. We’re doing it ourselves. And remarkably, you’re still paying attention. 

“Happy to see this. Personally, I’m tired of “street style” that’s about photographs of fashion industry insiders at runway shows and trade shows. That’s just inside-baseball costume shots, and it’s disingenuous to present it as anything else. 

My respect goes to the people who dress well outside the fashion industry, and the photographers who are *actually* on the street, looking for real people who really dress well, not just whoever’s taking a smoke break from the Cucinelli show.” 

And another from Esquire titled "How Street Style is Ruining Your Style." 

"Back when designers claimed to be inspired by the city, there was a different kind of look that caught the eye. Mean Street Style. This man doesn't wear anything conspicuous because he doesn't want to be bothered. Mean Street Style has a no-bullshit utility. Its adherents do not own tweed vests or porkpie hats. Instead: a tough bag, good sunglasses, and solid footwear that helps you dodge the various slow and crazy people in the way. They may not smoke, but look like they are smoking, as effortlessly cool as Debbie Harry in the morning."

As you're taking a cautious step towards entering the menswear world, don't turn it into a goose-stepping stomp behind the fashion dictators of NY. Your style should ultimately be YOUR style. But it should still be good too.

More news as it develops, and some exciting stuff coming,

MD