Two of my favorite things about fall and winter style are patterns and layering. Here’s a simple, everyday sharp casual look that puts both of those elements front and center.
Remember that when it comes to pattern mixing, there are some general rules to follow. Vary the size, vary the weight, vary the type of pattern. Here, I’m not concerned about the kind of pattern. We’re working with four different check-types – two plaids, gingham and a medallion print. Each is similar, but also couldn’t be more different.
The waistcoat is menswear’s unsung hero. And it works great with dark denim. Less formal than a blazer and the perfect way to add an extra layer of depth to an outfit.
A stylish selection of holiday gifts for him, her or your elegant host or hostess
We’re not in last-minute Holiday shopping panic mode quite yet, but we’d would like to remind you that Christmas Day is actually next weekend. Yes, that’s right, next weekend. And it’s going to creep up on you faster than a cheetah that just drank a Red Bull.
So to help you avoid the pitfalls of last-minute shopping and the possibility of not receiving your purchases in time – if you’re like us, you do most of your shopping online these days – we’ve put together this gift guide well in advance of the deadline.
Here are our picks whether you’re shopping for him, her or that host or hostess with the most-est.
Gifts For Him
For the more fashionable man in your life, things like cologne or a watch may feel a bit personal and are definitely more of a challenge to do successfully. But there are simple touches that can show him you “get it” while avoiding being gimmicky.
– Something from The Real Real. I am on this site way more than Brian (and too much, in general) for myself, but the pre-owned menswear options are fantastic. Where else can you find items like a Goyard wallet in almost mint condition at a discount?
Gifts For Her
If you know her size, and are comfortable going into that territory, more power to you! If you’re not clear and want to avoid an awkward conversation, let us help guide you (pun not intended).
– Statement earrings. She’ll love a pair of ear bling, and you’ll have something fun to look at.
– Cashmere scarf. A scarf may be expected, but cashmere says “I Love You”.
– Diptyque Holiday Set. Every year Diptyque comes out with a few new versions for the holiday season. If you can’t pick between just one, this trio is perfect.
– Lat & Lo Necklace. If you remember your first date location, consider giving her a necklace that has the coordinates of your first meeting and a personal message on the back.
Gifts for the Host or Hostess
Whether you are gifting a couple, or need to arrive to a party with gift in hand, these options are never miss.
No pattern has the ability to evoke the festive holiday season quite like Black Watch tartan plaid. And no pattern can create a styling conundrum quite like Black Watch tartan plaid either. But don’t let that be a deterrant.
Here’s some advice on how to integrate a pair of tartan plaid pants into your repertoire of Holiday outfits.
| WEARING | Apolis jacket, Uniqlo cardigan, Al Bazar shirt, Pants c/o Tommy Hilfiger, Breuer tie, Rolex watch, Carmina loafers | PHOTOGRAPHY | by Rob McIver Photo
Although the black, green and blue of Black Watch plaid is rather subdued in terms of color, it’s still a plaid, which makes it stand out. As such, treat it as you would any other “statement” piece. In other words, let it be the focal point by keeping the rest of the outfit simple.
What colors pair well with a Black Watch tartan plaid? As in all menswear scenarios, you can never go wrong with grey and navy. A solid heather grey cardigan and slightly darker grey tie, creates a nice contrast.
I’m a big fan of quilted garments during the wintertime. A quilted navy blazer adds the right amount of texture. While it can be worn indoors, it works best as outerwear. A layered cardigan ensures you’ll still look put together when you take the blazer off at your destination.
In the case of shoe color, you should default to the classic menswear palate again. Dark brown penny loafers are a no-brainer.
It took no less than 10 years for me to cultivate an appreciation for Islay scotch. Loved by some and avoided by many, this type of scotch has an unmistakable smell and taste. Dried cuts of peat bog from Scotland’s island of Islay are used to roast the malt giving the whisky its unique characteristics.
Typical words used to describe an Islay scotch are campfire, brine, salt, and iodine. When a bottle first came my way, it became a curiosity that sat in my bar for a long time as something to pour for entertaining reactions.
Somehow it grew on me – albeit very slowly – and I began to understand its secrets.
Some of my favorite Islay scotch is by Lagavulin. All of their offerings are bold expressions of peated scotch. They are alluring in all aspects and exude quality. Let’s compare two of their best offerings, Lagavulin 12 and 16 year.
Lagavulin 16 Year Old Scotch
Complex from the very first sip. Peat takes the foreground but is balanced with sea salt and oak. While you can taste the peat bogs decaying vegetal sea and salty matter, but it comes off very clean.
The body is a solid “medium” with some oiliness, though generally very dry. For the age of this whisky and its relatively lower proof, there is a touch of heat to it. The saltiness eventually dies away into a peppery bite.
A medium-to-long finish ends with a sweetness coming through as an earthy fig jam that had a touch of sweet lemon added to it. The pepper hangs out all the way through a medium length finish.
Lagavulin 16 Year Old Scotch: 43% ABV, $80
Lagavulin 12 Year Old Scotch
The nose of this whisky comes off exceptionally well for cask-strength and does not give the impression as such with an interplay of softer peat and meyer lemon with a touch of creaminess.
With sipping, an intense salty and oceanic blast hits right away with the peat coming in as a strong second. Candied citrus sweetness comes through after the initial salt and peat blast. In the background, I taste a bright pepperiness accompanying the sweetness along with a walnut tang.
The finish is one of the longest I have ever experienced and dies away slowly to leave only a touch of peat smoke. With the higher proof comes a full-bodied and noticeably more intense flavor profile with an oilier mouth feel than the 16 year offering.
Lagavulin 12 Year Old Scotch: 57.5% ABV, $120
Conclusion
Both Lagavulin 12 and 16 Year are classy well-done scotches backed with 200 years of history. In other words, they won’t disappoint.
Lagavulin 16 year is fantastic and is continually stocked in my bar. However the 12 year expression has that certain “it” factor. As a matter of fact, I was shocked at how good it was when I first tasted it.
You should also know, interestingly, that Lagavulin 12 Year is much harder to find and, as a result, can have large markups on pricing sometimes on a shelf for for upwards of $200 a bottle. So if you can find it for around $120, then you’d best snag it!
Let’s face it, it’s often the case that finding the best and most desirable whiskies out there can become something of a treasure hunt. And Lagavulin 12 Year is certainly no exception.
Or how to be the classiest looking guy at the office Christmas party
All Christmas parties are not created equal and require different types of dress and levels of formality. You’ve got casual get-togethers with friends, dinner with the family and, of course, the office Christmas party.
In a world where you’ll generally see a simple shirt, tie, blazer and slacks combination or the ever- (and very played out) ironic ugly Christmas sweater, there’s ample room to make a classy statement.
Here’s an outfit that’s an elegant and sophisticated take on Christmas party attire.
| WEARING | Z Zegna suit, Uniqlo turtleneck, Vintage silk scarf, Cartier watch, Shoes c/o Paul Evans | PHOTOGRAPHY | by Rob McIver Photo
Add a lightweight silk scarf for added interest and the perfect seasonal accent. Remember, as always, that scarves can be both aesthetic and practical. You’re going for the former here with our best friend this winter, the “indoor scarf”.
The holidays are a great time to trot out the oxblood shoes. Another great way to add a subtle, seasonal sartorial touch to anchor your outfit.
The best fragrances for when the temperature drops
As we’ve said many times in the past, the final detail to any outfit is the perfect fragrance. And since fragrances are very much seasonal, now that it’s wintertime, you’re going to need to change up your game.
Here are our five favorite winter colognes.
A quick word on pricing
Before continuing, just one note. You will notice that the majority of these colognes are on the expensive side – i.e. significantly more than you’d pay at the regular big mall department store. There’s a reason for that. They’re generally from smaller houses and produced at not nearly the scale as many other big-name fragrances.
In some cases, you may also wonder how a 1-ounce bottle could be so prohibitively expensive. In at least one case, it’s because the fragrance is extremely concentrate. One spray will last 24 hours. No joke. And if you do wear them seasonally, one bottle will last for well over a year.
A seasonal favorite. We’ve included this before in a round-up of fall fragrances. In my opinion, Frederic Malle Bigarade Concentree is a true transitional fragrance. It is dominated by bitter orange – a sort of aged take on a classic eau de cologne – which makes it a great fall to winter scent. It’s also a good day to night fragrance. If you have a date after work, this would be one to wear.
Very much a classic oud from a great brand. This is what you expect to smell in a pure oud fragrance. Loaded with Agarwood, but with undertones of cedar, patchouli and black pepper. Don’t let those descriptors fool you, however – this has a lighter quality despite being unmistakable. Best for daytime wear.
If Le Labo Oud 27 is very much a classic oud, Creed’s Royal Oud is very much the opposite. In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to identify any oud at all here. Though as you’d expect from the house of Creed, this is an absolutely stunning fragrance. Words that come to mind are elegant, refined and singular. Royal Oud is on the sweeter side and, in my opinion, is a perfect scent for an elegant evening affair.
New from Acqua di Parma, Colonia Club is a sporty, woodsy take on the classic ADP fragrance. Rather than try to describe the scent, I think it more apropos to describe what it evokes. Think, wood paneled rooms adorned with portraits of great men and dog runs painted in oil. Tufted leather chairs surrounded by first edition leather-bound tomes adjacent to a bar cart stocked with the finest whiskies. This is your classy weekend daytime cologne.
Nasomatto’s Black Afgano is also frequently on our lists of best fragrances. And its deep, rich scent makes it perfect for the cold and frigid winter. Supposedly, it smells like an opium den, but since we have no idea what an opium den smells like, we can neither confirm nor deny those suggestions. However, if sexy had a smell, this would be it. Hands down.
Around the holidays, we tend to put a lot of emphasis on getting dressed up. And for good reason. You certainly always want to look your best at whatever party you are attending. That’s not to say you can’t do holiday style without getting decked out.
Here’s one way to dress festively this holiday season, without all the fuss – a simple tartan blazer with jeans outfit.
Consider a black watch tartan plaid blazer your “holiday navy blazer”. It’s just as versatile as a navy blazer, but a lot more festive. It pairs just as well with a slim dark denim and a sweater as it does with charcoal grey wool pants, a button-up shirt and knit tie.
This is a look to wear on a casual pre-holiday date, out with buddies after work or to the office if you happen to have to work this Friday.
The holidays are about indulging and that goes for your accessories as well. You’ll never go wrong with a short-cropped “indoor scarf” under a blazer for a touch of refinement.
And don’t forget that winter is boot season. If you’ve been coveting a nice pair of wingtip dress boots, I think there’s still time to have a pair shipped for underneath the tree.
As I’ve gotten deeper and more serious into developing my watch collection over the past two years, I have become something of a “go-to guy” amongst my friends getting passionate about it as well.
While there are those “grail” watches that we may all covet, chances are when you’re just getting into developing a respectable watch collection, many of those are way out of your price range. (Mine as well.)
The good news is that there are some high-quality watches that are still very affordable. And the Tissot Carson Powermatic 80 is one of them.
There’s a lot to like about this particular Tissot timepiece. First, let’s talk about the case size. At 40mm wide and a thickness of 9.6mm, this is a very wearable watch. Not too large, while still being sizeable enough to satisfy someone for whom 36mm might feel a touch too small.
| WEARING | Reiss blazer, Uniqlo cardigan, Brooks Brothers shirt, Banana Republic pants, Drake’s pocket square, Tissot watch, Carmina loafers | PHOTOGRAPHY | by Rob McIver Photo
Now, I have worn a few 40mm watches in the past and they have felt like 40mm on my smallish wrist. The Carson Powermatic 80, on the other hand, somehow wears a bit smaller. Maybe it’s an optical illusion, but the point is that if you generally consider your taste to be in the “less than 40mm only” category, this is fine option.
Next, let’s talk about looks. Simply put, this is a very, very nice looking watch. A round, stainless steel case with PVD coating, white dial with Roman numeral hour indices, brown leather strap, automatic with an 80-hour power reserve and see through caseback make this a handsome and versatile watch, which is very easily dressed up, down or in-between.
One thing I left out of the features in the previous paragraph is the date window at three o’clock. Different people can have very differeing opinions on date windows. Some people absolutely loathe them, as they can really jack up a dial’s harmony, while some are more accepting.
I single out the date window here because, in my opinion, it works quite well on this dial. It’s small and unobtrusive and even though it covers part of the Roman numeral three, it’s not distracting in the least.
Let’s get to the price, which I think you’re going to like. A lot of discussions I’ve had with friends just getting into the watch game revolves around the amount of money they’re willing to spend on their first timepiece (or money that they believe their spouse would be willing to spend in the case of it being a holiday gift). And that number is usually in the $1,000 or less range.
The Tissot Carson Powermatic 80 retails for $725, which plants it squarely in that “comfort zone”. So, for those interested in a watch under the Christmas tree, this is a solid choice.
Getting socks for Christmas won’t suck if they’re socks like these
Among cliché holiday gifts for men, socks rank pretty high up there. With competition like bad ties, whiskey stones and half-zip sweaters, I’d actually wager they’re right on top of that list.
It’s not that socks are necessarily a bad gift, but rather that people tend to gift bad socks. If there’s a sock-giver in your family, direct them to any of the pairs of socks below – i.e. a collection you won’t have to feign gratitude for because you’d be thrilled to receive any of them.
What to wear when you’ve put off Christmas shopping until the last minute
If you’ve got to run around to get some last minute shopping done, chances are you don’t have a lot of time to spare to think about what to wear. That’s when you just keep it simple.
Here’s a casual, last-minute holiday errands, kind of look.
The best thing to do in any situation where you have limited time to get dressed, is to go with something you already know. In my case, that was pretty much what I wore on Monday, but with a few alterations. Same sweater, same jeans. Different coat, different shoes.
It’s always nice to have a seasonal statement coat in the closet. I was lucky to snag this black watch tartan jacket last year and, unfortunately, it’s now sold out. There’s a lesson there. If you see something unique and it fits your personal style, pull the trigger. You likely won’t see it again.
I’m not much of a beanie guy, but there’s something stylish about a beanie from Drake’s.
Excuse the brevity today. I’ve got some errands to run before the HSS Team party tonight!
We choose the best bourbon (and one scotch) to be had under $20
Ed. note: As a companion to our list of whiskies to splurge on for the holidays, we thought it apropos to present a polar opposite guide as well. Because you don’t necessarily have to spend a lot to taste a great whiskey.
Here at HSS, we stock our bars with just about everything. Even the less-than-premium stuff. Hey, everyone needs a daily sipper or a great spirit to mix a cocktail with, right?
These days the “bottom shelf” is a crowded place and it can be hard to pick something that will meet the standard. So we’re going to let you in on our favorite inexpensive (a.k.a. cheap) whiskies. $20 bucks or less. Here you go.
Very Old Barton Bourbon
I remember paying $8 for a bottle of this at their distillery right outside Bardstown, KY. That makes this the lowest price point spirit on the list. However, I’m sorry to say that “Very Old Barton” isn’t all that old. Meaning, it’s still an easy bourbon. A softer body at a lower proof makes it very approachable. Taste-wise, it’s decently balanced with a medium body and finish. It’s got everything it needs and nothing it doesn’t.
This bourbon is another great value if you like your whiskey as strong as we do. 101 proof and seven years of aging makes this a great, full-flavored bourbon. Pepper, citrus, and vanilla really sparkle on the palate. Charcoal filtering also gives it a great smokey flavor that makes this bourbon unique. If you’re a fan of Jack Daniel’s but need something with more kick, Old Ezra 101 is a great choice.
Johnnie Walker Red Blended Scotch
For just about $20 you can sip on the world’s best selling blended scotch. Sip neat, over ice, mix, you just can’t go wrong with this scotch. At 80 proof, Johnnie Red is on the lighter side with notes of fruit, nuts and a hint of peat. Medium body with a slight dryness and a smokey finish.
Jim Beam Black Extra Aged Bourbon
2016 Wine and International Spirit Competition winner of the bourbon trophy. For $20 get a bottle right now to sip on. Extra aging over standard Jim Beam makes this bourbon distinctively caramel and impressively smooth. Sip this one neat and let us know how you like it!
How to wear a black watch plaid blazer, pants and jacket – just not together
It’s the holiday season, which means there’s no better time to wear black watch plaid than the present. Here are three festive looks to try out this weekend for any type of gathering you may attend.
Black Watch Plaid Blazer: No Fuss Festive
| WEARING | Blazer c/o Tommy Hilfiger, Sweater c/o Reiss, J.Crew jeans, Drake’s scarf and pocket square, A. Lange & Söhne watch, Allen Edmonds boots
Show your holiday spirit without getting completely decked out. Consider a black watch tartan plaid blazer your “holiday navy blazer” and substitute at will. And remember that simple is always stylish. A tartan blazer, sweater and jeans is a great look for a casual get together with old friends for drinks.
Never forget the power of a few items being able to completely transform an outfit. Here, we’ve got the same base as above – cable knit sweater and jeans. Swap the boots for sneakers, the blazer for a seasonal statement coat and top it off with a beanie for a casual look that’s perfect for last-minute shopping and errand-running.
Black Watch Plaid Pants: Dinner With Family
| WEARING | Apolis jacket, Uniqlo cardigan, Al Bazar shirt, Pants c/o Tommy Hilfiger, Breuer tie, Rolex watch, Carmina loafers
You can apply the same rules to a pair of black watch plaid trousers as you can to a black watch plaid blazer – consider it a navy substitute. However, wearing any type of plaid pants – especially black watch plaid – is going to make a statement. Keep the rest of the outfit simple and stick with classic menswear colors like blue and grey. This is a timeless and classic holiday look and would look great at a nice restaurant for a family meal.
Just prior to everyone scattering for the holidays, we threw a team party at the studio. It was a fantastic way to cap off another amazing year. And although we did miss dynamite contributor Adam Lehman and his new bride as well as our resident Italian guy, a merry time was had by all. Click through the slideshow for evidence of that as well as some holiday team member portraits!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from us to you.
When you want your home to smell like a real man, not just a man
Just as we’re fond of saying that the perfect cologne is the final detail when putting together any outfit, the right fragrance can also completely transform your living space.
At HSS Studios, we’ve got a few favorite candles – Feus de Bois and Oud by Diptyque – that we’ve always got lit to help our space feel elegant, sophisticated and, yes, manly.
Here, we’ve rounded up a handful of our favorites. Scroll through the slideshow above to check them out.
If there was ever a piece to encapsulate that iconic ‘prep’ style, it may be the penny loafer. Appropriately, it’s a shoe with a quirky and interesting background as well.
Perhaps the best way to approach the history of the penny loafer is to dissect the name of the gold standard – the Bass Weejun Penny Loafer. So let’s take it one word at a time.
First, let’s take a look at the ‘loafer’ part, which is pretty simple. Penny loafers are, well, loafers, which is to say that they are a slip-on shoe, rather than a laced shoe such as a brogue or an Oxford. This kind of shoe has been around for ages, whether you’re looking at the moccasins of native americans or the slip-on dress shoes of European aristocracy.
‘Weejun’ is actually short for Norwegian
Moving on, let’s hit ‘Weejun’ next. Surprisingly enough, ‘weejun’ is actually short for ‘Norwegian,’ and is actually the first tie-in for the shoe with the academic, ‘Ivy’ crowd.
Word has it is that students traveling to Scandinavia in the early 1900s spotted Norwegian fishermen wearing a simple, comfortable style of loafer constructed like a moccasin – almost the penny loafer. They brought the style back to North America, where it gained a cult following.
G.H. Bass and the Bass Weejun Penny Loafer
Bass is next. G.H. Bass founded his namesake company in 1876, but it wasn’t until 1936 that they really made their imprint on men’s style as they became the first company to mass market the ‘Weejun’ loafer style (trademarking the name as they went).
Rather than introduce just a simple loafer, they decided to add a decorative, fashion-oriented touch by including a strap running horizontally across the vamp of the loafer.
Which brings us to the final element, the penny! This above named strap happened to be cut in what can only be described as a ‘lip-like’ shape, with a small opening at the center that happened to be the perfect size and shape for a small, round object like a penny.
Serendipitously, this was also back when a phone call cost just that – a penny. This was perfect for students who were drawn to the look as the subtly flashy – that’s a thing, right? – embellishment carried a handy, practical application for that just-in-case emergency call home.
Penny loafer then and now
The shoe has come a long way from its fisherman roots. As mentioned, it was eagerly adopted by Ivy Leaguers and became firmly ensconced in the canon ‘preppy’ men’s style but it traveled even farther than that. These days, the style has been covered by every high fashion designer out there, and has been paired with suits, shorts, jeans, trousers, you name it.
If you want to pay homage to those preppy roots, rock a pair with kahkis, a navy blazer, an OCBD and a knit tie and be as preppy as preppy can be. Or follow James Dean’s lead and go mid-century rebel with dark denim and white t-shirt. The options are copious.
There’s a sort of fictional and slightly atavistic version of New Year’s Eve – and New Year’s Eve style – that’s perpetuated every year around this time. I’m sure you’re familiar.
In this romanticized version, everyone’s wearing tuxedos, white dinner jackets, velvet slippers and the like. I don’t know about you, but I’ve never attended a black tie New Year’s Eve party. Maybe I’m hanging out with the wrong crowd!
Last year for New Year’s Eve, Robin and I decided to go to one of our favorite local French restaurants not only to have an amazing meal, but also for the opportunity to dress up and make ringing in the New Year together an elegant and classy affair.
It was an amazing evening – we had a 10 o’clock seating so we were still at the restaurant for the ball drop – and completely lacking in fussiness. And that’s the point. There’s never any fuss when it comes to classic anything. Clothing. Footwear. Fragrance. Hairstyles.
| WEARING | Ermengildo Zegna suit, Edward Sexton shirt, Breuer tie, Rolex watch | PHOTOGRAPHY | by Rob McIver Photo
Let’s talk about a classic hairstyle – the side part. As you know, this is the way I wear my hair every day. It’s a simple hairstyle to achieve. All you need is a good haircut from a good barber. However, there are a couple of styling variations to consider depending on what situation you plan on finding yourself in.
For the day to day grind, I usually keep it styled a bit more casually with a little more lift and volume. However, when I’m planning to dress up more elegantly, whether that’s in an off-white dinner jacket and bow tie or a classic navy suit, the hairstyle needs to match. And that’s where the right hair product comes in.
We teamed up with Old Spice for this post to show you how to get a classic hairstyle using their Pomade and Putty. I tried both products and determined that the Old Spice Pomade was best suited for achieving a side part hairstyle that would make my grandfather proud. (As a matter of fact, this is exactly how he wore his hair.)
Now let’s talk about the process of styling your hair this way. The most important thing to understand is that your hair must be slightly wet. Not just out of the shower wet – like, you toweled it off really well and let it air dry for 15-20 minutes wet. That will help you to achieve those crisp and clean lines created by your comb as well as that old school clean cut look that oozes masculinity and confidence.
Work a dime to quarter-sized amount of pomade into your hair, comb over sideways from the part and then sweep the front up and over. Simple and no nonsense. It’s that easy.
The results of the unofficial year-long readers’ choice are in!
For some, poring over year-end statistics may seem like a tedious and pedantic activity. But for us, it’s fun and extremely insightful. Though we certainly have our own editorial agenda, HSS is a site that is written for you. And knowing what our audience responds to is of paramount importance.
After doing my research for this post, I can’t say that I’m terribly surprised about the content that registered and resonated most. The majority of our most popular posts are what you might expect. Simple, no nonsense advice and solutions to problems. In fact, most of HSS’s greatest hits from 2016 are filed under Required Reading.
No surprise there as we have always positioned ourselves as a website dedicated to creating honest, approachable and relatable content about men’s style.
The popularity of these articles also tells us that you continue to look to us as a trusted source for some of the most basic style-related questions. And that makes us feel great.
There were a couple of interesting surprises from our point of view, which goes to show us that the feedback we “think” we are getting on certain types of posts doesn’t necessarily reflect the reality of how an article actually performs.
So without further ado, here are He Spoke Style’s top 10 most popular posts of 2016.
10. 5 Pairs of Loafers To Wear This Summer
When we redesigned the website a little over a year ago, we also reevaluated and took very seriously the relevance and urgency of the type of content we were publishing and when it was being published. It was also brought to our attention during that time, that we possessed a sizable portfolio of original artwork that could be repackaged to illustrate something completely different. Foolishly, I didn’t think this would work at first. However, the popularity of this post (and many others like it) has welcomely proved me very wrong.
Though we regret never having been able to cover Pitti on the ground in Florence, we always enjoy perusing the photos from the biannual menswear trade show and meet up. In many respects, after seeing what street style has become, we’ll gladly continue to sit it out. And like watching sports on television, you often see more than if you were actually there, making trend-spotting a touch easier.
Like the summer loafers post above, this was a republished article that made use of content spanning the entirety of the site’s existence. This delights us in many ways. However, most importantly is that we are able to mine the style archives all the way back to the beginning and present something – an outfit – that doesn’t look dated and is still something you’d put on today. Classic is always in style.
Seeing this post in the top 10 makes us feel really good. It tells us that not only are you interested in getting your clothes tailored, but that you’re actually searching out how much it costs to do so, which is the final step before the follow through. Maybe we’re getting close to being able to say, “Our work here is done!”
2016 was the year that marked the creation of a series of important reference pieces for us. We felt strongly that the time had come to have these articles in our catalog for your benefit. In a way, it came about as a result of our New Year’s resolutions to keep it classic and basic. From a reader standpoint, we love how this article presents a solid and digestible overview while still allowing you to drill down deeper into each different collar type by clicking through to read each’s dedicated, in-depth piece.
The popularity of this article didn’t surprise us in the least. It’s timeless information that anyone deciding to take the time to develop their personal style will want to read. This shows us that while we certainly know we have the style adroit as readers, we’ve also got quite a few aspiring as well. And again, if approachable and relatable is one of our editorial goals, we’re doing it right.
No surprise here either. Our yearly “Trends We Hope Die” articles always seem to charm. I think there are two reasons for that. First, they’re practical guides. Who doesn’t want to know what to steer clear of in the New Year? Second, our presentation. People tend to think of fashion as serious. And, yes, it sometimes is. But there’s also something to be said for being able to laugh at something so serious and we’re glad that our mildly tongue-in-cheek voice in these posts continues to resonate.
This was the shocker. Our fashion-specific and Fashion Week coverage always underperforms our expectations. Why? Well, people simply don’t care enough and there is often a huge disconnect between the “fashion world” and real life. Any time we choose to publish something fashion-related, our goal is to pull back the curtain and make it more approachable, yet that’s not been successful. But what do you guys want to know about when it comes to the shows? Trends!
These simple tutorials on folding clothes for travel were as fun to make as they were apparently useful. And a note to ourselves: while you should continue to strive to make perfect images for every post, images needn’t be perfect for a post to perform like a boss.
I have to say that while knowing how to fold a shirt or a pair of pants to pack in a suitcase or duffle is good to know, knowing how to fold a blazer is perhaps most important which is why we’re not surprised this is our best performing post of 2016. Coming up in 2017, look for all of these in video form on the YouTube channel!
What to wear when you’re hosting a dinner party at home
‘Tis the season for throwing dinner parties. And with all the time and energy you have to put into preparing for them – selecting the menu, buying the food and drinks, creating a playlist, cleaning the apartment – deciding what do wear is probably pretty far down on that list.
But looking good at a dinner party, especially one that you are throwing in your own home, is just as important as all the rest of that. Here are a few things to consider.
| WEARING | Cardigan c/o Tommy Hilfiger, Brooks Brothers shirt, Banana Republic pants, Gitman Bros. tie, A. Lange & Sohne watch, Tod’s loafers | PHOTOGRAPHY | by Rob McIver Photo
Wear a tie. A tie at home? Yes. While your apartment or house is generally the space you reserve to not wear a tie, when you’re throwing a dinner party it is apropos. Not only do you look like you should be hosting a dinner party, but it shows your guests that you respect them.
Break out the shawl collar cardigan. While a tie isn’t too formal for a dinner party at home, a blazer is. A chunky, shawl collar cardigan, on the other hand, is the perfect substitute in this situation. It serves a similar aesthetic function, but looks a lot more relaxed.
Choose the right shirt. Speaking of appearing relaxed and less formal, make sure your shirt fits the bill too. This isn’t the time for a cutaway collar. A button-down with a seasonally-colored pattern will hit all the right notes.
Anchor with appropriate footwear. While I like my slippers around the house, they’re really not appropriate for this type of outfit. Loafers are a good choice and I find that my suede driving loafers make great around the house shoes as well.
It wouldn’t be the first link round-up of the year without looking back at the year that was and looking ahead to a hopefully more positive 2017.
This year has been hard. We have lost music icons that helped define us, true “Old Hollywood” stars we genuinely admired and bona fide pioneers who shaped the fashion industry. But, as with everything, we always find a way to move forward positively.
And what better way to do that – especially today, the first work day of the year! – than with your weekly round up of links from your friends at HSS.
Most of the trends this year weren’t actually trends, per se. Casual t-shirts, old Hollywood glamour, merch madness and so on. Aren’t all of these things in every year for the most part?
Also, try to avoid listening to “what women want” articles when they have been written by men. Good intentions, but maybe not your best source.
“Don’t view success as anything other than happiness.” While he’s usually never serious, Ricky Gervais’s look back on what he’s learned is perfect for making some resolutions.
Our favorite posts aren’t the most popular – does that mean we have bad taste?!
While we enjoy writing each and every post on the site, there are always some posts that are simply more enjoyable to write for one reason or another.
A subject that scratches a creative itch or allows us to dig deeper into a bigger editorial idea. A scope of work that challenges us to go above and beyond in both our written and visual storytelling. Or a newfound passion that reignites the flame of curiosity.
These are the things that keep us energized because we don’t write because we have to, but because we want to.
We don’t write because we have to, but because we want to
If there was ever any doubt about that statement, I would respectfully ask you to take note of the fact that none of the posts included on our “favorites” list appear on our list of most popular posts of 2016. Do we wish some of our favorites would be your favorites too? Sure. But that’s not what it’s all about.
To that end, we’re thankful to have an audience that indulges our more creative and long form side from time to time. You are known by the company you keep. And we’ve got some amazing readers.
So here are our 10 favorite He Spoke Style posts of 2016 – in no particular order – and the stories behind the stories.
1. Speaking Style With Edward Sexton
A huge highlight. It’s not every day that you get to sit down with – and get measured by – a living legend. And Edward Sexton is about as legendary as they come in British tailoring. In addition to hearing all of Edward’s amazing stories and meeting the house’s exceptionally astute Creative Director, Dominic Sebag-Montefiore, this was a big moment for us in terms of content creation.
As a bunch of perfectionists dedicated to producing the highest quality product all the time, we can sometimes paint ourselves into a corner and induce paralysis when it comes to the actual execution of a high-level project.
The fact that we shot this on two cameras in the span of about three hours and produced an immersive, image-rich post along with an insightful video interview that generated a ton of positive feedback, gave us an immense amount of confidence in our ability to be light on our feet, mobile and create exceptional content even when time and resources are less than ideal.
We’ve made very clear our position on transparency when it comes to our brand partnerships. As I know you’ve heard me say before, we are fortunate to be in a position where we can be selective with the brands we choose to partner with. We’ve worked with brands in the very distant past who have been incredibly prescriptive. And we’ve learned from those experiences that those arrangements never turn out positively for anyone – especially for you, our readers.
We want to work with brands who respect our editorial voice and vision, who know that we know our readers and brands that we are honestly very passionate about. In other words, brands who get it.
IWC is one of those brands. As part of a three-part content series centered around the release of a limited edition Portugieser (see below), we were turned loose and allowed the freedom to dig into a bigger cultural idea. I can tell you from experience that being given that sort of latitude by a brand is exceptional and is one of the reasons why we truly love working with IWC.
Via the medium of Instagram, I’ve been able to discover and connect with like-minded and passionate people all over the world. And also via Instagram, one day in NYC I saw that one of those people, Fabio Attanasio, was in town as well. Though we were members of a mutual admiration society and had engaged online a bit, I’d not met Fabio in person. Until this day.
Our meeting was short – much too short, honestly – as Fabio had to catch a plane back to Italy later in the day after a successful trunk show in the city. But it was great to finally make a real life connection. Most important, however, was learning that Fabio IRL was the same Fabio I “knew” from Instagram. That’s not always the case these days and it was refreshing to know that there are some truly genuine folks out there.
This was a big one for me. Did everyone like it? I don’t think so. I ruffled more than a few feathers – which I honestly intended to do in a free advice/teachable moment kind of way – and got called out for swearing. Do I regret it? Absolutely not. Why? Because it started a conversation.
In the past I’ve seen some of my favorite websites have some serious head-eating-the-tail moments so being self-reflective – even if it happened to be in a public forum – and honest about the space we work in was important. It allowed me to be up front with all of you and to reinforce to you and ourselves by laying it all out there, why it is that we believe we do it “right”.
5. The IWC Portugierser Tourbillon Edition “D.H. Craig USA”
I enjoyed writing and creative directing this post immensely. It was something completely new for us. Styling and shooting watches is not easy. It’s tedious. It requires excellent light. And it’s time consuming – no way around it. You shoot with a macro lens on a tripod and hold your breath while you’re making video files to turn into cinemagraphs. But it’s all worth it when you know you’re delivering a finished product of a quality that few others will actually take the time to produce.
Here’s an extremely interesting tidbit. If you’ve read the post – or just happen to be a watch nerd and/or IWC fanboy – you know that there were only 27 of these $57,000 pieces made. However, what we discovered after the fact was that the particular watch that we had been given to shoot and play around with was actually one-of-a-kind.
When we submitted our post to IWC for review, someone in the company noticed a small, but important, detail on the dial. Recently, IWC updated the font used for “Schaffhausen” from one with a serif to a sans serif font. Our watch, which was actually a prototype, had the serifed font. The watches available to the public used the new font. Don’t believe me? Check out the actual dial on the watches that were sold!
When Bill Cunningham passed away on June 25, 2016, Instagram was awash with people posting photos of themselves that had been taken by Mr. Cunningham adorned by captions expressing how “honored” they felt to have been photographed by him.
Within this sea of ambulance chasing narcissism, our own Robin West penned a heartfelt, respectful and very sincere personal remembrance of a man – the progenitor of modern street style photography – who inspired her (and countless others) to express herself through the medium of fashion and to pursue a career in the industry.
This is the kind of relevant and affecting content so in line with our “don’t look at me, listen to me” ethos that we wish was possible to post three times a day.
One of the pillars of advice from our guide to drinking whiskey like a gentleman is “friends first”. So when the opportunity arose to partner with The Macallan to highlight their Rare Cask offering, inviting my buddy (and HSS whiskey editor) Chris Sarangoulis to experience it one afternoon was a no-brainer.
As someone who has pretty much tasted it all, Chris can be something of a skeptic when it comes to trying something new. And since up until that point, scotch hadn’t piqued his interest the same way that bourbon and rye had, he was doubly dubious of this NAS offering. While the food and the company were fantastic that afternoon, my favorite part of the experience was Chris saying, “Wow, that’s really awesome scotch!” And now he’s really into scotch…
This was a personal post. But one that turned out to be very useful to more people than I thought. Luxury watches are not cheap. In fact, they’re extremely expensive. And buying one is not an activity to be taken lightly. It’s a big deal. As I note in the post itself, it took me the better part of a year to research and decide which exact Rolex I was going purchase as my first. I thought by sharing my personal journey – both the good and the bad – that others in the same situation could benefit from that experience.
We have a set of three questions written on our white board in the studio designed to guide everything we do and every decision we make. We revisit them constantly. The first of those questions is, “What is truly unique about He Spoke Style?” And one of the answers to that question is the personal connection we’ve created with our readers.
We are not just another mostly voiceless editorial publication that is beholden to advertisers and the perpetual fashion calendar cycle, publishing boilerplate editorial because we have to. Over time we’ve nurtured a relationship with our readers to where you want to know what I – what we – think about this, that or the other thing.
I’m extremely proud that this particular article took nearly an entire year of actual, real-life research to write. I think it shows. And it is what, in my opinion, makes it stand out amongst the many similarly styled pieces – many from larger, “big league” publications – that exist out there on the interwebs. I wrote this because I had something I was passionate about and wanted to share with others who may share that passion, not because we needed this piece of content in our portfolio.
Amidst a slew of posts focused on higher-level editorial ideas and personal and team achievements, a single outfit post might appear to be something of an interloper. But for a very simple reason, I like this one. A lot. For many guys, especially those just beginning their personal style journey, Italian style can seem a little advanced and very flamboyant. In keeping with our idea of approachability, the aim of this post was to demonstrate that this is not always the case. With a few simple tweaks, we showed you how to transform a classic preppy look into something a little more European – no excessive flair necessary.
This was a favorite (and absolutely amazing) for obvious reasons. Driving a Ferrari up the PCH on a pristine late-spring day is the type of once-in-a-lifetime experience that will never be forgotten. It was also a whirlwind. In less than 48 hours, I was on the east coast, in Big Sur and then back on the east coast after an overnight flight.
Aside from the apparent, there were two other personal highlights I’d like to note from this trip. First, connecting with a select few on the trip who I deeply respect and admire for their work. Second, having the opportunity to work with the photographer Michael Shaffer.
I rarely – hardly ever, actually – work with anyone other than Rob. In fact, it gives me great anxiety to step in front of someone else’s lens, especially for a high-profile project. Are they going to get it? Do they know how we regularly shoot? It’s scary when you’re required to create something without the person you create with 99.9% of the time.
But on this trip I had Mike. Lucky me. You’ve likely seen his photos gracing the pages of magazines like Motor Trend and for big advertising campaigns by luxury auto manufacturers all over the world. So it should be pretty easy to understand why I feel very fortunate to have had the chance to work with him.
