July 26, 2012 - Cufflinks Blog

Archive for July 26th, 2012

The Best of CLM Endorses

Thursday, July 26th, 2012

 

 

Want the best of CLM endorses? We’ve sprawled through the hottest trends and styles on GQ and picked out our favorites for the season. In order for an item to make the “favorites” list, it has to be fashion forward, affordable, and ultra wear-able. (No avant-garde, couture for men kind of thing. Let’s be real, we’re not all starring in a runway show). So here are our No-Frills Five Favorites for men. Starting with a classic summer essential….The White Suit.

1. White Suit for Summer. Just because it’s hot as [insert choice of cliché] out there, doesn’t mean you have to substitute your style. Investing in one or two white suits for the summer will be one of the best decisions you make in a while—you can dress it down while having dinner at the beach with a tee shirt, wear it with a rockstar summer-y shirt to happy hour with friends, a light cotton collared shirt for summer weddings and casual affairs. The best part is you can pair it with (yes!) shorts! So long as they’re tailored, slim cut, and go with the fabric/style of your suit jacket. Also pair it with jeans for a stylish, JFK summer look.

White Suit for Summer, Anyone? White Suit for Summer, Anyone?

Rectangular Art Deco CufflinksPair this suit with these Rectangular Art Deco Cufflinks. Click here for more info.

The white summer suit also so happens to work beautifully with all the following CLM “Picks.”

2. So, tucked away in GQ’s Style favorites was this little gem of advice: Plaid-as-Hell Scottish Ties. “The pattern that the Scottish call tartan and Americans call plaid originated a few thousand years ago and became globally cool by the nineteenth century. That was a long time ago. Today this most classic of menswear looks is getting a twenty-first-century jolt, thanks to a handful of creative tie designers. The color combinations are edgier and the tie width has shrunk, so you can feel meaner and leaner. The wool fabric stands up to your sturdier fall looks. Match one with a white oxford shirt and a flannel suit to get the boardroom buzzing, or team it with a chambray work shirt and a tweed jacket to get buzzed on the weekend. Either way, you’ll be a little more rad in plaid.”

Plaid TiesTry these Plaid Ties from various designer brands. Prices range from $75 to $150. Or simply run to the closest Goodwill and score a vintage version.

England Farthing hand painted Coin Tie ClipPair any of the above ties with these ultra-hip England Farthing hand painted Coin Tie Clips.

 

3. You simply can’t go the entire summer without donning the perfect pair of shorts. The newest trend is not baggy, oversized, over-the-knee shorts. Unless you’re planning on starring in a 90s inspired hip hop video, please gentlemen, drop those dated shorts (and we mean ditch them…). The new look is a tailored, tapered silhouette with a classier vibe.

Unis,  Harrison - Navy  $ 111.00Unis,  Harrison – Navy  $ 111.00

These shorts tend to be slightly shorter than the ones you wore 10 years ago, sit right on your hip bone, and show off your slimmed down summer figure. (Men have those too, right?)  The Perfect Summer Shorts work perfectly with slimmed down shirts, tucked in collared shirts, plaid ties, boat shoes, and more. Unis has some styles worthy enough to check out, a style called Emmett, which comes in five shades, ranging from grass green to pool blue. $198, by Unis. Available at shop.unisnewyork.com

 

4. The Boating Sweater. GQ worded it so well, we’ll just feature it again here: “We Americans might be crazy for our heritage brands, but the French have heritage we can’t touch. Take the Breton fisherman’s sweater, which has been keeping the French navy warm since 1858. It eventually caught on among the unenlisted (Jean Seberg wore one in the indie classic Breathless) and even among the un-French (Picasso and Warhol favored them, too). The Breton is marked by graphic stripes, fitted sleeves, and a boatneck and comes in a range of weights, from thick sweaters to this heavy tee. Saint James has been making them since the 1950s and always cuts them trim for easy layering—which in turn gives you a modern fit. Perfect for a more stylish spring, on land or at sea.”

Boating Sweater, jcrew. Photo by Ben Watts. Boating Sweater, jcrew. Photo by Ben Watts.

This boating sweater can be yours for a mere $85. Just truck your summer dazed-self to Jcrew and grab one. 

Ocean Stripe Cufflinks

Ocean Stripe Cufflinks

5. The boat shoe is a classic example of shoe worthiness. It evokes memories of being top deck, with a bottle of champagne, and a classic white shirt stained with shrimp cocktail sauce. (Or maybe that’s just our memories with the shoes…) Either way, these shoes have made a serious come-back.

Boat Shoes for Summer 2012

Aymara Yellow Flash Butterfly CufflinksAymara Yellow Flash Butterfly Cufflinks

GQ says,  “We’re talking tri-tone colorways, neon yellow soles, and jailhouse stripes. Sure, you can wear them with anything from khakis to seersucker for a shot of adrenaline. But think outside the prep and wear them with camo shorts, gray jeans, Supreme gear—in short, anything that would give the country-club set fever dreams.” The bright/interesting array of colors adds a modern flair to the classic shoe scheme and brings a touch of comfort back to your wardrobe. Kinda like chocolate syrup on your sundae…it just, works.
Read More http://www.gq.com/style/wear-it-now/201204/best-boat-shoes-colors#ixzz21kEsPM6j