I mostly talk about style from the female perspective, since that’s my client base and…well…I am one. But I love to delve into male style from time to time because, in my view, it seems that male style is so very interesting these days. Admittedly we don’t always see great examples in our every days lives – living here in California we see a lot of the very casual, hoodie style. However, whenever I jump on Pinterest or on blogs I follow, like The Sartorialist, there are lots of wonderful examples of contemporary, stylish men, ones who would be useful for the guy who is looking to up his style quotient. A few examples…

Men wearing scarves, berets, dogs (l0l)…layering shirts and sweaters under jackets…blazers with jeans, and so on. One style element that seems to be universally contemporary is the slim-cut pant leg – anything loose or baggy (outside of athletic wear) feels dated.

I recently did a figurative slap to my head, saying “Wait a minute – what am I thinking?” There are two very stylish men in my own life I can draw on as excellent examples of the stylish male – my husband and his son. They invariably look pulled together whenever they step out the door. One example from this New Year’s…

Adam demonstrates a subtle pattern-mixing with his blazer and shirt (what you can’t see is the coordinating pocket square, for the third pattern. Yes, he’s an expert at mixing patterns!) Tony paired his Fedora with a vest and white shirt (and a peek at the inner lining of his shirt).  In my view, a hat adds instant flair to any outfit. What you also can’t see in this picture is the back of the vest – the surprise element. Since I didn’t take any more pictures of their outfits that night (after all, it was New Year’s Eve and there was music to listen to), I’ve taken a shot of the back of the vest since, so you can see what I’m talking about. They both wore dark wash, slim-cut jeans and were two of the best dressed guys at the event.

For men, just as for women, it’s all in the details. A little extra attention makes all the difference – add that hat and pocket square, try a vest, mix 2 or 3 patterns, get those slim cut pants (properly hemmed of course.)

If the man in your life is a little hesitant you may have to provide a little encouragement – start with one element and let him build some confidence, then try adding in others. I’d love to hear how it goes, or is already working for you!

Thanks for reading!

Adena