There is a basic list of brands that make up the higher end of men's casual fashion. I've already mentioned a couple of the brands in True Religion jeans and Monarchy in reference to shirts. Today I am merely going to list some of these brands. The lists that I am giving are going to be be divided into jeans, T-shirts (long and short sleeve), and button-ups. These lists are by no means exhaustive or comprehensive but are meant to be a good starting point for a fashionable look. In the future I will go into more detail on the specific brands that I mention.
Let me start with jeans. Obviously True Religion, but some others are 7 For All Mankind, Five Four, Taverniti, and William Rast to name a few.
For t-shirts a good place to start is Monarchy, but also brands such as Salvage, Affliction, Sanctify, Amari Avera, Black Hearts Brigade, Division E, Request, and more.
Button-ups often overlap t-shirts as far as brands go, but some unmentioned ones so far Roar, Artine, AT Collins, and 7 Diamonds.
This list is far from comprehensive and doesn't even begin to cover things like hats that can add a personal touch. What this list is though is a good jumping off point when trying to find some items to add to your look that have a distinctness and a style to them.
On a side note, sorry for the long delay between postings I hope to avoid such lengthy layoffs in the future. As always feedback is appreciated.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Quality
Whenever attempting to make a purchase, be it something small like a movie or album, or a large purchase such as a home or car, value is important to everyone. The weight given to certain attributes is where values can change. When buying a car some people might want the best gas mileage possible, others may want safety or speed. The point is that there are many different ways to assign value to something. For myself when I think value I think of the quality of the product I am buying.
Clothing is no different. You get what you pay for. Buying an expensive pair of jeans has a very different feel to it than buying a cheaper pair. For my money the best value out there for jeans lies in True Religion. They are a brand that focuses much attention on style, fit and comfort. Wearing a pair of their jeans is vastly different than putting on a pair of Levi's. The look of True Religion is so different and recognizable that they will never be mistaken for a cheap pair; they fit differently and look distinctive.
The comfort, however, may be the biggest difference. When putting on a pair of regular $25 or $30 jeans they feel like denim. When puttingon a $60 to $80 pair they fell good and comfortable. But when wearing on a pair of $200 True Religion or another brand such as Coogi, they feel like a comfortable pair of pajamas more than a pair of denim jeans. Then there is the wear and tear. Many times jeans will fray and wear thin, but that is not the case with the upper end styles. They will last for as long as owned. The costs end up being much closer when factoring this in. Over a 10-year period purchasing a pair of $30 Levi's every two years would cost $120 dollars, and oftentimes those Levi's won't even last that long in good, wearable condition, costing even more. For a slightly larger price tag, the bother of having to make multiple purchases is avoided, there is a greater level of comfort and most certainly a noticeably better look.
The same ideas persist throughout the higher end brands. In shirts the look is even more noticeable than the jeans: Monarchy, Roar, Affliction and Ed Hardy amongst others are all instantly recognizable styles. They are all of the highest design and best looking pieces of clothing that a look can make use of. These clothes fit incredibly well. The look of these brands are distinctive and will stand out in a positive way. The price tag associated with them is a reflection of the work required to create them and the higher quality of the material.
And isn't that the goal. Getting noticed in a positive manner is what everyone is looking for when getting dressed to go out. When going out to the club or for a night out with friends, the first obstacle to getting attention is being noticed. And getting noticed is much easier when looking good than when looking average. And while spending less may seem appealing, the quality and look cannot be matched by bargain brands. And in the long run the higher initial investment pays for itself.
Clothing is no different. You get what you pay for. Buying an expensive pair of jeans has a very different feel to it than buying a cheaper pair. For my money the best value out there for jeans lies in True Religion. They are a brand that focuses much attention on style, fit and comfort. Wearing a pair of their jeans is vastly different than putting on a pair of Levi's. The look of True Religion is so different and recognizable that they will never be mistaken for a cheap pair; they fit differently and look distinctive.
The comfort, however, may be the biggest difference. When putting on a pair of regular $25 or $30 jeans they feel like denim. When puttingon a $60 to $80 pair they fell good and comfortable. But when wearing on a pair of $200 True Religion or another brand such as Coogi, they feel like a comfortable pair of pajamas more than a pair of denim jeans. Then there is the wear and tear. Many times jeans will fray and wear thin, but that is not the case with the upper end styles. They will last for as long as owned. The costs end up being much closer when factoring this in. Over a 10-year period purchasing a pair of $30 Levi's every two years would cost $120 dollars, and oftentimes those Levi's won't even last that long in good, wearable condition, costing even more. For a slightly larger price tag, the bother of having to make multiple purchases is avoided, there is a greater level of comfort and most certainly a noticeably better look.
The same ideas persist throughout the higher end brands. In shirts the look is even more noticeable than the jeans: Monarchy, Roar, Affliction and Ed Hardy amongst others are all instantly recognizable styles. They are all of the highest design and best looking pieces of clothing that a look can make use of. These clothes fit incredibly well. The look of these brands are distinctive and will stand out in a positive way. The price tag associated with them is a reflection of the work required to create them and the higher quality of the material.
And isn't that the goal. Getting noticed in a positive manner is what everyone is looking for when getting dressed to go out. When going out to the club or for a night out with friends, the first obstacle to getting attention is being noticed. And getting noticed is much easier when looking good than when looking average. And while spending less may seem appealing, the quality and look cannot be matched by bargain brands. And in the long run the higher initial investment pays for itself.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Beginning
In this blog I hope to help give an overview of the styles and trends and that are shaping the world of men's fashion today. While there are numerous styles and designers out there my focus will be on upper end, more casual clothing.
There is some truth in the statement that you feel how you look. Looking good and feeling good are oftentimes related, one of the reasons that so many people spend so much time at the gym, or worrying about what they eat, is that everyone want to feel good about themselves. The way that we dress is an extension of this mindset. In my experience one of the major obstacles to looking good is time. Hopefully the information and advice that I give can help lower the time spent to create that look that makes you feel good about yourself.
I will be going over different looks and different designers throughout the course of my writings. Some of what I say will be based on my experiences and opinions, and some of what I say will be based on numbers. All of it will be done with the mindset of helping and making you more aware of your options when it comes to what to wear.
Over the next couple of postings I hope to go over some brands that are keys to a fashionable look, as well as what the differences are between higher end items and lower end. There is some reason to all of this beyond pure profit and I hope to explain in detail what the difference is in my next posting.
I will try to post once a week, scheduling permitted and always welcome comments and feedback. Thanks for all your time and attention.
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