It’s all in the look…

I don’t know about you, but lately I have noticed that young Vancouver males are dressing more and more stylish as the seasons go by. With the addition of new and contemporary men’s fashion boutiques in Gastown, Kitsilano, and Victoria, there is no reason why any man should dress to un-impress nowadays.

For those who are in need of a little more direction, I have devised a Men’s “how-to” guide for dressing well and looking confident. As some of you may know, I write a fashion blog called BC Boutiques (www.bcboutiques.wordpress.com) and write for an online Men’s Lifestyle and Fashion Magazine called Knew Daily (www.knewdaily.com). I was asked by Jonathan to contribute to The Mustache and figured that it would be a great opportunity to write a piece on Men’s fashion.

Step #1: Back to Basics

Every man should have at least 3-4 staple items in their closet. These are basic go-to pieces that always look great and can be worn any time. If you are ever unsure of what to wear, just pull one or two of these articles of clothing out of your closet and presto! A simple, comfortable, and stylish outfit magically appears.

Basic Must-Have’s:

a) A good t-shirt. My favorite Men’s t-shirt is by Rxmance, a Men’s brand available at Roden Gray in Gastown, Vancouver. This t-shirt comes in a variety of colors and in v-neck or crew neck styles.

www.rodengray.com

b) A standard pair of everyday shoes. My pick? Slip-on’s. I highly recommend the Converse by John Varvatos vintage slip-on. Available at Chrome Yellow in Gastown (see below).

Or, classic boat shoes. Especially, the Sperry Top-Siders. These shoes pair well with a plain tee and summer shorts.

c) Go slim. A Slim fit long sleeve shirt will do style wonders with a good pair of fitted jeans, and those slip-on shoes this Spring. Give the Ben Sherman plaid Tartan shirt from Lloyds of Gastown a try.

d) Fitted jeans. Not “falling-off-your-ass” jeans, or “so-tight-I-can-see-what-you’re-packing” jeans. FITTED jeans. Two words: Dutil Denim. This Vancouver Boutique specializes in denim and is sure to have the right pair for you.

www.dutildenim.com

Step #2: Accessorizing – not just for Women

What’s hot for summer? Hats. More specifically, Panama hats for Men. Forget the fedora, baseball cap, or beret. Panama hats are definitely in this upcoming season.

I don’t know what it is about men and long necklaces, but I’m into it. And guys, I’m not the only girl who thinks this is sexy. Local Vancouver brand Lisbeth carries the perfect piece. This mixed Naija 22 inch pendant and chain tucked under a crisp white t-shirt adds a little something spicy to your look. www.lisbethjewelry.com

Step #3: Cover it up

Lastly, an item you will wear almost every day is a light jacket or sweater. The Obakki Biltmore jacket is my pick. Not only is it a functional style and color (also available in Black), but it looks great AND it's on sale! From $420 to $105, you can't go wrong.

www.obakki.com

Hope this helps, and good luck guys!

-Jessica