Helping the XY chromosome

First question: what's the most important thing when dressing/styling men?


THE answer: It's all about the fit.


I grew up watching my mom arrange a visual and color-coordinated display of garments for my dad EVERY single morning... and she's still doing it to this day. It might seem like mechanical routine, but the more I think about it it's the evidence of styling at its best. 


With this in mind I have been thinking on how to give men some useful and simple advice on the matter of deciding what to wear and how.


That moment in the morning when you're standing confused, staring into your closets can be definitely puzzling for most of you guys. 


Ok, honest moment ahead: I know that those of you who go around saying they don't care about what to wear...are lying, yes, lying. Even the least interested man invests a couple of minutes picking clothes and shoes (whether they fit or match) and that is a small form of caring. So, for all of you, here it goes:


For me fashion is all about self expression. I will not give you an unbreakable set of rules. Some men are more fashion oriented than others, just like women. The one thing I believe to be unbreakable and mandatory for all is FIT.


It doesn't really matter if you are more of a sporty kind of guy, preppy, rock star or classic as long as you know what fits you well and suits your frame. 


Some examples:

Sweaters do not need to be too tight and you can all wear them. Remember you will use them over another piece of clothing, so it's best for them to be a bit roomy and have them sitting above your hips. If they're too short they will look borrowed, and if they're too long they will make you look shorter. Make sure the shoulders fit good, the seam should not fall over your shoulders.


Whether you're tall, average or have a Tom Cruise kind of frame (usually smaller than most ladies) your pants (jeans too!) should always be perfectly hemmed. 


The idea is for the boot to gracefully fall under your ankles, not your heels! Pants that are too long will shorten your legs and create hideous bags at the end of them, making the pants look like a pair your taller cousin used to wear... (watch and learn from Mr. Cruise)

Basics will never fail you. When in a rut I will recommend to stick to the basics: great khakis/pants, dependable jeans, crisp white/black shirt, soft cotton t shirt, collarless sweater...


You can give all these a twist by adding  a quirky cool pair of shoes (boots, loafers, tennis shoes).


Let's repeat and watch Jamie Foxx: It's all about the FIT!

So you sporty men out there make sure your sweatshirts and jeans are the right size and length. 


Mr. Classics, keep in mind shirts and suits are meant to fall gracefully and not look like they're borrowed or made of lycra! (I've seen some of you do this and it breaks my heart every single time). 


And the ones in between, Mr. Casuals, go ahead and enjoy experimenting with shirts, jeans, t shirts, khakis, pants, cool shoes and jackets, but never forget to look twice at the mirror with objective eyes.


And ALL of this goes to the XX chromosomes reading... use this with the men around you when possible.

The Ruby slippers theory

A couple of years ago I decided to embrace my love for fashion, bought a couple of books and subscribed to Vogue and ELLE, not the Latin american issues (they are always a month behind), but the US versions, despite the costs. 


About 3 months ago I was flipping my way through the November issue of ELLE and in a little corner on page 201 something shiny and red popped: the embellished suede pump by Dolce & Gabbana:

As the fashion junkie I am, I gasped the second I saw it: red, shiny and classic. Suddenly I could hear this song in my head: "follow the yellow brick road, follow the yellow brick road, follow, follow, follow, follow, follow the yellow brick road"...hmmm! 

So this is my theory: Oz, Dorothy and the Ruby slippers started it all and I am guessing that not only for me but for many women out there (maybe you don't know it yet), that can't seem to understand their fascination with shoes.

These shoes were not only gorgeous but they had magical powers. Who would not want them!? I am sure many shoe addicts (myself included) grew up watching this movie a million times over and over again.

Black, suede, patent, blue, green, red, you name it. A beautifully crafted and designed shoe (boots too of course!) has the power to make or break an outfit and sometimes our mood. 

So choose your drug according to your budget (Dolce & Gabbana pumps price: US $1.225). I strongly suggest to browse websites like Aldo, Steve Madden, Nine West if you can't easily afford expensive shoes. Zara will always be a great option, where you can find an inspiring and fashion forward collection of shoes in their racks for a reasonable price.

                    

 Aldo Schanno pump (US $100)                                   

Steve Madden Tristano pump (US $99.95)

If you live in Colombia, I suggest to visit places like 11:11 diseño and Zapatos 2. In 11:11 you can actually design your own pair (I did!) choose the materials, heel height, etc.

Clicking the heels of our shoes 3 times will not take us to Kansas, but finding the perfect pair will make us feel at home every time we wear them. 

Olivia we adore...

Yes, Olivia Palermo might seem bitchy and cold, but the girl CAN dress and we can learn a thing or two from her.

It is refreshing to find someone  on tv and magazines that apparently does dress herself and does not depend 24/7 on a talented stylist to look good, comfortable and chic. She is perfectly polished every single time she steps out her house...either she styles herself or has a stylist/slave living with her.

What I find refreshing and inspiring is how she reminds us of how classics never fail (when worn in the right proportion for your body type). Example: she can pull off striped tees (classic), summer shorts (classic) and flat  silver oxfords (mix between classic and modern) because of her petite frame. Sadly, that's not the case for most of us.

This look here will suit most of us -oh not so petite- women out there:

A very feminine dress either above or below the knee will flatter most body types, not too tight not too loose...the look we're aiming for is feminine not pregnant. The classic, perfectly tailored black blazer does the trick. It balances the romanticism of the dress and reduces the volume of the overall look. 

Finish it with a killer pair of heels  (ok... ballet flats will do too, but they will look best if you're small and petite, or not too petite but a bit tall) and voilá! Throw a gorgeous statement necklace and a cocktail ring OR an amazing pair of earrings and a bracelet and you're ready.

:-)

The Snack

Every now and then there's that annoying time frame, say, 4pm, in the office...fighting emails, tasks and deadlines... where I find a small (healthy) snack refreshing and the "just right" energy boost I was subconsciously hoping for.

I hope this humble fashion blog will serve exactly as that for all you fashion lovers, junkies, addicts, out there.

You might find useful advice, a nice new trend, or discover you're not the only one going through a fashion rut, stuck dressing in black from head to toe (me right now).

Feel free to ask as much questions about how to, when to, the best way to... I'll be glad to help.

Welcome!