"Style-list" 4 Pt 1: Suit Shorts

"How to where them shorts.."

I was asked by a reader if I could demonstrate different ways in which shorts could be styled. Thinking it was a great topic; I took on the task. However, I decided to push it a bit further by taking the time to also categorize the different types of shorts. This way, I thought, it would be beneficial for men (and women who shop for their men) to better understand what they are shopping for along with the different ways to style them. Therefore, with the summer approaching, I will be taking the course of the next 4 weeks of May to post the 5 different categories of shorts and how I personally would style them.…

Week 1

SUIT SHORTS

DESCRIPTION:

Suit shorts would be the most formal of all shorts. They simply look like business dress suit pants that were cut and cuffed. I like to describe them as “business shorts”, basically what businessmen would wear to the office if the corporate world allowed shorts. I prefer to wear these when I feel like suiting up in the warmer months but may be a bit too warm to wear long dress pants.

FABRICS:

They can be found in the same conventional polyester or wool of business suit pants. But considering that they are shorts to be worn in the warmer climate they more commonly come in light-weight wool blends along with more non-conventional dress suit fabrics such as: linen, light-weight cotton/chambray and as of recent even denim.

INSEAM:

Preferably worn with a 5-7 inch inseam which is typically the inseam range to achieve a formal look.

FOOTWEAR:

Keeping with the consistency of the suit short’s formal appeal;

I would recommend they be worn with:

Slender and sleek round toe designed lace up shoes,

Penny or horsebit buckled loafers,

Moccasins

Or even velvet slipper-loafers.

All aforementioned footwear options would be worn without socks of course. But if you are not yet comfortable with not wearing socks then non visible super low cut socks would give you the same effect. While high argyle socks are also preferable for a more classic yet daring look.

And to “casual-ize” suit shorts, you can pair them off with leather thong sandals or low top canvas sneakers (i.e.: Vans, Converse or Polo). Since these shorts are to be worn with 5-7 inches inseam (which is relatively high) then I would not recommend bulky footwear for the sake of looking disproportional (unless that is the look you are trying to achieve).

Hope this read was informative while still enjoyable. Feel free to comment below or contact me for anything you may like for me to discuss or explained on here. Until next week, when I will be presenting the Chino shorts and what once and for all “Chino” actually means…. Blessings to you all.

"Style-List" 4 Pt 2: Chinos shorts

I like to present to you all the second installment to the 5-part series that was to start and end in May. But before I do, I would like to offer my sincerest apologies to all the readers that let me know that they enjoyed the 1st installment: "Week 1 Suit Shorts" and were anxiously awaiting the rest of the series. However, as some of you may or may not know I have been working on my own fashion line for the past couple of years and was recently given a last minute offer, that I could not refuse (sans Don Corleone), to fly and check out a few overseas manufacturing factories. So I am thankful for you all understanding, your support and patience. Therefore, without further ado, I present to you the second installment of the "Shorts" series:

"How to wear them shorts"

Week 2

CHINOS

::Side Note:: Many of you may have come across the adjective “Chinos” when shopping for pants online or in-store but may not have known exactly what that meant. And so before I get into Chinos shorts it is important I explain what Chinos pants are.

When it comes to dress pants (non suit pants; there’s a difference, blog post for another time.)

there are “Khaki” pants and “Chinos”. Where Khakis pants are made one size fit all this gives them a boxy and wide kind of look. Chinos, on the other hand, are the modern version Khaki; the Khaki for the man with a subpar fashion sense. Chinos are a bit slimmer (less boxy) and tapered giving it a more tailored fit. ::End of Side Note::

DESCRIPTION:

Chinos would be considered a couple steps down on the “casual” latter in comparison to the suit shorts. These are popular due to their overall versatility and contemporary appeal. They are more of a relaxed-tailored fit, offered in a variety of fabrics, vibrant and fun pastel colors. Therefore these are the shorts that can be seen worn by a corporate businessman on his family weekend get-away to the Hamptons but also be seen on an urbanite with his cohorts in Soho.

FABRICS:

Usually cotton or any blend of it which is also an integral component of what makes Chinos, well….Chinos.

INSEAM:

“Inseam to footwear ratio”

Whether we realize it or not, in dressing one is always subconsciously considerate of proportions. If you are not then your outfit will appear “off” or “awkward”. So with this in mind, I devised a formula for my readers which I coin the “inseam to footwear ratio”.

The “inseam to footwear ratio” pertains to when wearing shorts and simply means that: Shorts with longer inseams are visually more proportional with higher or bulkier footwear. On the flip side; the shorter the inseam then the lower and sleeker the footwear, the better.

So in the case of the Chinos:

7-9 inch inseam shorts should do the trick if you are going for higher or bulkier footwear. Depending on your height, the inseam should land at about the knees or a half inch past them.

But when planning to wear 5-7 inch inseam shorts then you should wear them with low tops to sleeker footwear. Depending on your height, this inseam translates to about 2-3 inches above your knees.

Hope this read was informative while enjoyable. Feel free to comment below or contact me for anything you may like for me to discuss or further explained on here. Until next week, when I will be presenting the.....well you'll have to wait and see ;o)…. Blessings to you all.

"Style-List" 4 Pt 5: Jean shorts

Week 5

Jean shorts:

DESCRIPTION:

Jeans are the most versatile and casual of shorts. These are categorized as one's typical 5 pocket (2 frontal, 2 back and coin pocket) jeans but simply cut off at or above the knee to compliment the warmer climate. What makes Jeans very specific is their design. Therefore, aside from the pockets, they usually come with rivets to reinforce the change pocket and first left and right belt loop closest to the button closure.

FABRICS:

They come in different washes, colors and weights of denim. Although they may come in other fabrics they must be true to the Jean design described above in order to be considered "Jeans" style or cut.

INSEAM:

Can range anywhere from 6-9 inches depending on the look you are trying to achieve; considering the “inseam to footwear ratio” explain in Week 2 Chinos Shorts.

FOOTWEAR:

They can practically be worn with any pair of footwear imaginable. However, depending on the fit and cut of the jean shorts one should consider the “inseam to footwear ratio”.  

Disclaimer:

This has been my interpretation of the different categories of shorts and the different ways that I would style them. Of course fashion is like any other form of art and a matter of self-expression so none of these recommendations are by any means set in stone and presented to limit you but rather to serve as guidelines.

As always thank you for stopping by. Hope you enjoyed…. Until next time….God Bless.

"Style-List" 4 Pt 4: Cargo shorts

Week 4

CARGO SHORTS: 

DESCRIPTION:

Cargo shorts are categorized as any shorts having more than the conventional 4 pants pockets (or 5^th change pocket if you consider the jean design). Cargos are usually recognized by their baggy side pockets which are great for placing your belongings and needs on your person while camping or going for long treks. As of recent, I have also seen cargos made in a slim-fit which come with non baggy but rather flat and pressed cargo side pockets; which are great for if you want to dress up a pair of cargos.

FABRIC:

These can come in all kind of fabrics from cotton, linen to denim and different design prints as well; most commonly camouflage print.

INSEAM:

Can range anywhere from 5-9 inches depending on the look you are trying to achieve (formal or casual).

FOOTWEAR:

They are usually baggy so they would not proportionate with slender shoes unless you are wearing a slim-fitted pair. These go great with ankle or high boots for a scavenger-explorer look. But can also be seen commonly sported with thong rubber sandals and different types of sneakers.

Next week is the last installment of this 5 part series. So until then, as always thank you for visiting and I invite you to come again next week as this series comes to an end.... Can you guess the last type of shorts??

"Style-List" 4 Pt 3: Bermuda & Capri shorts

Week 3

BERMUDAS and CAPRIS

DESCRIPTION:

I have categorized Bermudas and Capris together because they are highly similar with only one subtle difference; their lengths. Bermudas are categorized as any shorts that go past the casual 8-9 inches inseam (whereas a formal inseam is usually 5-7 inches). And Capris also known as “cropped pants”, “three-quarter pants” or “clam diggers”, usually rest at either above, mid or below the calf muscle (not to be confused with high waters although you can probably play high waters off as Capris). They both have a real casual beach wear appeal about them. However, there is a big misconception that Capris are only for females. Although they might have first been sported by women in the U.S. they have recently become popular amongst more open minded and highly fashionable men (which are pretty correlated).

FABRICS:

Bermudas and Capris usually come in all kinds of fabrics such as linen, light-weight cotton and denim. They usually also come with either an elastic waistband, drawstring or buckle closure aside from the usual button closure with belt loops.

INSEAM:

They measure from above-mid-lower calf muscle and the choice is a matter of preference.

*These also serve well for men who may be bit self-conscious about their legs.

FOOTWEAR:

When I think of Bermudas and Capris I think of the beach so I recommend wearing them with:

Thong or leather strap sandals,

Low top casual sneakers; bulky or slender (if you are wearing them on “off-beach” terrain).

I would not really suggest wearing boots with these since their pant legs are long enough to touch the top of the boots therefore defeating the purpose of these shorts (might as well be wearing long pants).

Hope you all enjoyed. Stay tune next week for the last installment of the "Shorts" segment…. 

Next Wave 7: Summer Kicks Pt. 2: Adidas ZX800

Week 2:

Adidas ZX series

Growing up in an urban community it was difficult not to be attracted to the Adidas Superstars; Adidas has RUN DMC to thank for that. Although I enjoyed their look they ran small and therefore one would have to buy a bigger size on top of the fact that they are a bit bulky; in turn making them difficult to wear with shorts considering my skinny legs. Hence why I was never really a fan of low top sneakers when I was younger until I became acquainted with Adidas other sleek and slender designs. 

 

 

 

 

A few of my favorites became the Gazelles, the Rod Laver's and Stan Smith's. All three of those options serve as versatile preppy skippies which one could dress up or down. However, in my opinion, it was not until I encountered the ZX series that I realized that many of those other sneakers lacked comfort and were mainly about aesthetic appeal. I will be honest in saying that I purchased ZX800 on a whim simply because I was fond of the colors but it was not until I wore them that I realized that I had been doing something wrong all these years. I had realized that I did not know true comfort. 

The ZX800 are SUPER light weight, the inner sole supports the contours of your feet whereas the previously mentioned styles tend to be more flat and therefore become uncomfortable throughout the wear. The outer soles make walking seem effortless and long treks not such of a drag. Get your own ZX series pair here.

Outfit Details:

Old Navy Coral and cream striped A-shirt.

Gap Coral chino shorts.

Uniqlo Coral and Heather grey striped socks.

Adidas ZX800

Thank you to all that take the time to read through my posts and comment or make mention of them when they see me.

Hope you enjoyed.... see you back next week.

Style-List 5: Summer Pants Pt 1: White Denim

“Summer Pants“

As the Spring begins to slowly, very slowly, unravel, some of us begin to partake in Spring cleaning; Storing away any apparel that got us through the winter. We put away coats, wool sweaters and other heavyweight-dark color garments in exchange for the apparel with the colors and fabrics which help us stay cool.

Last year I wrote a five part article regarding the various types of shorts, fits and how to style them (See here). I received great feedback on those articles and although shorts are a way to keep cool, we may not always want or be able to wear them. Therefore, as a follow up I created a new four part article on the various stylish yet temperature appropriate pants options for the upcoming warmer months.

Week 1

White Denim:

By now many of us have heard, or experience, that black and other dark colors heavily attract the sun’s rays and heat. Therefore, one of the ways to keeping cool in the warmer months is by wearing lighter colors and lightweight fabrics. 

Hence, my first recommendation is white lightweight denim. Denim usually comes in different weights measured by ounces (oz). And so it is important to wear a weight of 7oz or less. Keeping them at a lighter weight means that the weave of the fabric is not as thick or tight and therefore allows for better air circulation.

Styling Details:

 "The White Rule" of fashion is that white should not be worn until after Memorial Day and the locked away on Labor Day. However, this is a fashion rule I do not really abide by since it never really made much sense to me. I like white, because like black, it is a neutral color that can match with anything. When used as a base color for any outfit, it has the ability to create a stark contrast to whatever color with which we decide to pair it off (giving each color their respective "pop") .

In my recent trip to the Caribbean, I wore a pair of Polo Ralph Lauren white denim coupled with a yellow rind pinpoint cotton Polo Ralph Lauren oxford shirt. And then I finished off the look with a pair of ALDO black velvet slippers and favorite vintage Versace shades.

Stay tune for the next installment in this four part series.

For styling or fashion editorial services, advertisement, collaborations, or even if just to simply suggest a blog post topic please refer to the contact form on the upper right hand corner. Thank you.

Next Wave 7: Summer Kicks Pt. 4: Nike Blazers

Nike Blazers:

The Nike Blazer were first made in 1973 and initially designed as basketball sneakers. They were debuted by pro-hoop star George "The Iceman" Gervin. Eventually the sneakers sturdy grip caught the attention of skaters and became a staple in the 1980’s emerging skateboard frenzy.

The embracement of the Nike Blazers by the skater community gave way to the launch of Nike Skateboarding aka Nike SB. Irrespective of its hefty sole, the Blazers are an overall lightweight and comfortable sneaker. They come equipped with inner padding which is responsible for the light weight “walking on air” feel. Since its transition into a skater sneaker they now are manufactured with double stitching and more durable materials in order to meet the high wear and tear of skateboarding sneakers. Despite the current addition Nike has found the balance in order not to compromise the weight of the sneaker. The Blazers come in Hi, Mid, and Low-top designs which often carry a price tag of $54.99* or if you don’t mind paying a little extra to design your own here.

(*Price may range between female, male and children sizes as well as for the more expensive Nike SB and Nike’s “Premium” designs)

 Outfit Details:

Polo Ralph Lauren blue pinpoint oxford shirt

Gap Khaki shorts

Polo Ralph Lauren high tube socks

White Nike Blazers with black accents.

For a styling session, visual consultation or even a blog topic suggestion of something you would like to learn more about please feel free to utilize the contact form on the top right hand corner.

Thank you to all my avid and new readers. Until next time, Blessings.