CLOSET STAPLE: WORKWEAR FOR CREATIVES

It has been almost 13 years since graduating from university and joining the workforce and I still see a lot of men who do not dress appropriately at work.

I know!  For freelancers, chances are, you will find yourself employed at some point in your life, and dressing the part can be a tricky water to navigate (well, for some).

I have always believed that how you dress is a direct reflection of what you hope to achieve on that particular day. It really is all about self-respect and a way of saying, “I care.”

Finding my sweet spot for style and sort of knowing how to do that was really a function of the time I grew up. In the early 90s, my parents required us to wear collared shirts even at socials at home or birthday parties, to be taken seriously (Yes, I think I was 8 or 9!).

I work in a creative environment and as stated above, how you dress is a direct reflection of what you are going to get out of your day. By which I mean, if you make the effort, people notice and you'll feel better and those around you feel better (unless you want to look like a hobo all day in front of your laptop, I’m definitely not stopping you).

Like a perfect shift dress and a pair of Jimmy Choos, for us men, a great pair of trousers is probably the foundation of any guy’s wardrobe from evening to daytime to business occasion and yes, invest in a really great jacket.  And if you have those two things, you will be able to go to any situation, anytime.

Here are a few key pieces, I believe every man should have in his closet:

Perfectly tailored navy and grey 100% wool suit. (I have a couple from my tailor in Hong Kong and Manila - The fits are just perfect.)

Slim fitted semi spread collar button down shirt in white, pale blue and baby pink

 

Pocket Squares

 

T: Brown or cordovan cap toe oxford shoes and B: shirts in plaid and gingham from Aware & Present

Slim straight selvedge jeans from SOSO

 

Soft constructed navy sport coat and accessorize with the perfect watch and a sturdy and classic bag from Filson

 

Trust me, these items will get you into almost anywhere for almost any situation.

OLD FAITHFUL

After rummaging my closet over the weekend, I have discovered a few that deserved a second chance hence, out of the charity bin. 

Aside from a couple of old bespoke shirts from Bowen Co., I’ve also discovered a few lace-ups like these old pair of oxfords in burgundy from Calzoleria Toscana. ‘Lavorate a mano’ or hand made to a degree, these pair never hurt my feet and yes, they smell buttery great! 

GRENSON: THE GENTLEMAN’S CHOICE

England – arguably the home of gentlemanly conduct and chivalry and also home of the only hand-crafted shoe maker worth talking about right now – Grenson. They’ve been painstakingly making each individual shoe by hand since 1866 and their process has changed little since then – if it works, why change it?

They’ve became the shoe of choice for celebrities and well-dressed men the world over giving them a freshness and current appeal that is exactly what heritage brands need to be doing in order to survive. It certainly helps when you see your wares gracing the feet of fashion taste maker Nick Wooster or on the red carpet of the latest box office big hitter.

Maybe it’s because they’re made in England’s shoe making capital Northamptonshire, or because there’s just something about Englishmen and brogues that’s extremely trustworthy, either way Grenson have built a global fan base. Here we’ve picked out the best examples of stylish men in Grenson shoes that the internet has to offer and why we should be getting a few pointers from them.

(Wooster definitely knows how to dress up these sweet pair of boots from Grenson!)

Nick Wooster is that guy – the one you see plastered over everyone’s blog and street style photos. You may not know his name, but now you do. People are labelling him as the most stylish guy around right now and they could be right. He certainly knows how to pair up his Grenson shoes with a well-tailored suit.

(David Arquette in Grenson boots - not bad!)

Okay, so David Arquette might not be the coolest guy in the world but by wearing these Grenson boots he deserves to go up in people’s estimation. He’s the man whose character in Scream spawned Scary Movie’s Dewey but now he’s the man who spawned a whole load of new Grenson wearers.

(Spot those sweet brogues - yes, they are from Grenson!)

Here’s one guy – not sure who he is – but who cares when he looks this good? Now this is how to wear Grenson shoes – take note gentlemen. It’s difficult to look this effortlessly cool while waiting for a cab.

(Daniel Radcliffe in a sleek pair of black Grenson)

Not sure if you plan on gracing a red carpet any time soon but if you do then take note that a sleek pair of black Grenson can (and will) stand you in good stead. They’ve managed to transform a geeky boy wizard into a bona fide gent.

This was a guest post written by the guys over at Northern Threads; check them out.

Spotted any of your own that are worth a bit of attention? Post a link in the comments below. 

BROGUING IT LIKE YEAH!

Just like dad and mi abuelito, I have always been a fan of leather-soled lace-ups.

Yes, I have plunked down a wad of cash for these sweet pair of brogue lace-ups from Salvatore Ferragamo (Just like my Alden’s, Opening Ceremony, Dries Van Noten, Paul Smith and bespoke lace-ups from my trusted cobbler, it’s worth every penny!) I got a few years back but after years of constant usage, I need to get back its thunder.


(sun’s finally out just for a few hours – fingers crossed it does not rain again!)

It doesn’t bother me whether I slip or slide but damnit, what to do when it rains?

Shoe leather is tough and getting them resoled is part of the deal though I try my best to avoid wearing my pair on rainy days but this bi-polar weather is just unavoidable.


(My pretty much well-scuffed 3 year old brogues)

The availability of overshoes in this part of the pond is zero (I have checked almost all shoe stores even Besa and Mr. Quickie – no luck!) and there’s no way I’m replacing them with rubber soles! Finding a handsome pair with rubber soles is just plain stressful and the idea of wearing one with a suit give me nightmares.


(Having heels fixed this weekend - Part of the logo engraved on the leather sole still shows)

And oh, you ( Yes! You in triple pleated trousers and boxy floral shirts), here are a couple of things for you to remember:

1. The slickest Italian lace-up (please see photo above) won’t look like much without a polish
2. When in doubt, keep the shoes simple. Sturdy black lace-ups go with any suit and on casual days, jeans. Trust me!
3. Round toe not extra pointy nor square. End of story.
4. Black, like brown goes with gray
5. Black suit, black shoes. No need to complicate matters. I mean, seriously!?
6. When buying local and value for money, Bristol’s the way to go
7. Other brands to consider if you are NOT willing to spend extra: Zara, Massimo Dutti, Aldo, Pedro, Bass and Cole Haan

BLACK AND BLUE AND A BAD SORE THROAT

It has been two weeks since I lost my voice due to a bad sore throat and probably too much alcohol but that didn’t stop me from looking like I just schlepped out of bed today.


Yes, I came in today wearing my blue blazer, classic black brogues from Alden, my favorite blue denim trousers from A.P.C., happy anchor socks and my blue dress shirt from Brooks Brothers that took me 3 months to fit in (laughs).

Ok, shouldn’t I be two floor up? (winks)

Currently playing on my playlist: Tahiti 80, Bob Dylan, Empire of the Sun and The Whitest Boy Alive.

MY DAD'S VINTAGE BROGUES

The heart of every gentleman’s great wardrobe is an old pair of brogues in black or brown. I always wear mine with love – in fact, I just had my 7 year old black brogues resoled during my recent trip down south.



I had the chance to borrow my dad’s favorite pair of brown brogues for a couple of days during my trip - too bad he caught me secretly packing them haha.

GOING BESPOKE: BROGUES OR WEEJUNS?

I have been wanting to update my footwear for the holidays and I haven’t found the right pair of conservative brogues that I'll be wearing on my feet the next couple of month.

Church's - English made shoes from Très Bien Shop on Vimeo.

The process of having a pair of shoes made hasn't changed in decades so I thought of having a pair or two made from the cobbler my friend introduced me to over the weekend. Brogues are my favorite and I have two pairs in brown and boring black from way back.

I may have had a couple of shirts and trousers made by side street tailors but having a pair of shoes made is an entirely different thing. I am excited and scared at the same time. Maybe I should just try it out and yes, I’m definitely pairing them with red socks.

BASIC MATTER 20: BROWN BROGUES AND VEJA

I’m flying over down south next month to attend a conference which happens to be my dad’s hometown and I cannot wait to rummage his shoe closet for vintage brogues and moccasins. Like me, he has never been a fan of anything too tacky which has developed into my personal style. He is the type who wouldn’t spend more than $100 on a pair of brogues on me but will be more than willing to spend more than $500 on a pair of lace-ups on himself. I remember dad would always tell me that shoes are always a part of evolution into being well dressed.

(Photo taken from Mister Mort)

To add flare with the brown brogues, match it with the perfect organic leather bag dyed in acacia extract from the North-East of Brazil. For five years now, the bags from Veja has worked in Brazil on an innovative and progressive project creating new agricultural channels and raising crafting standards whilst respecting both the environment and human rights. Not bad huh! Even the lining and canvas are made from organic cotton grown by a co-operative of producers also from the same province.


Like a crisp white shirt paired with raw blue jeans and the perfect bag, the classics is where it's really at.