WDIWT...5/19/14 Black Watch Edition!

Bold patterns aren't usually my thing, especially in regards to jackets. The Black Watch pattern has always been intriguing but I never made that leap to try it until now.

I found this blazer at JC Penney of all places for $10 and as it fit well off-the-rack with the exception of needing the sleeves shortened it was too good of a deal to pass up and give this pattern a run. The alterations ran me $35, so all in all, $45 for an incredibly well fitting jacket, was worth it to me. I would have paid that if it fit well OTR and no alterations needed.

Details:
Jacket: Stafford Black Watch Wool via JC Penney-$10+$35 in alterations=$45
Shirt: Indochino MTM White Essential L/S Dress Shirt via Indochino-$79
Tie: The Knottery Navy Grenadine via The Knottery-$40
Pocket Square: Merona White Cotton via Target-$5 for a pack of 5
Trousers: Michael Andrews Bespoke Gray Wool via Michael Andrews Bespoke part of a suit
Socks: (not pictured) Black/White #@$%!-Gift
Shoes: Allen Edmonds Black Neumora Double Monks via Allen Edmonds Factory-$125

WDIWT...4/29/14 Layered Up Again

Mother Nature hasn't figured out that its the end of April so temperatures dipped again. Layered up today as I didn't want to wear a coat for today. The shoe choice could have been better but considering that the forecast called for plenty of rain I went with my suede rubber soled beaters.

Side note: I've finally figured out; I think, the leg opening on my trousers, at 8". This is my first set of trousers exactly at 8".

Details
Jacket: Michael Andrews Bespoke Brown Donegal Tweed Holland & Sherry Fabric via Michael Andrews Bespoke-$$$ (part of a 3 piece suit) *this jacket has gotten so much play*
Sweater: Old Navy Navy Cotton V-Neck via Old Navy-$12 or $15
Shirt: JCP Brand Navy/White Polka L/S Button Down Shirt via JC Penney-$10
Trousers: J. Crew Bowery Fit Khaki Cotton via J. Crew Factory Store-$20 plus alterations (hem and taper)
Shoes: Cole Haan Brown Suede Balmorals via Cole Haan-$70

WDIWT...4/24/14 Olive and Brown

A departure from my typical shades of navy, gray, or gray bottoms for today. Olive trousers are underrated, including by me. The versatility of this color can have it combined from a brown blazer to a navy blazer. If you're ever confused about what goes with a shade of green, always think earth tones as mother nature has already doing the color matching for you.

Details:

Blazer: Lauren by Ralph Lauren Brown Herringbone Tweed via Unique-$20

Sweater: Old Navy Light Brown Marbled V-Neck via Old Navy-$10 or Gift (don't remember)

Shirt: Merona White Oxford L/S Dress Shirt via Target-$22

Trousers: JCP Brand Olive Cotton Chinos via JC Penney-$7

Socks: Merona Air Force Blue/Orange Dinosaurs via Target-$4

Shoes: Cole Haan Air Aiden Penny Loafers via Nordstrom Rack-$90

WDIWT...4/12/14

Wearing a donegal tweed jacket seems kind of silly today as it hit 71 by 2pm today but considering when I left home it was about 53 and windy, it was appropriate for the weather. 

This is probably one of my favorite go to outfits when dressing down or casually and I still want to throw on a jacket/blazer. It's a simple look, navy casual shirt with white polka dots, navy v-neck sweater and a brown tweed jacket paired with navy blue bottoms. I've worn a variation of this with navy corduroy's here and a lighter brown jacket here with a dark sweater. 

Details:

Jacket: Michael Andrews Bespoke Brown Donegal Tweed Holland & Sherry Fabric via Michael Andrews Bespoke-$$$ (part of a 3 piece suit)

Shirt: JCP Brand Navy/White Polka Dots L/S Casual Shirt via JC Penney-$10

Sweater: Old Navy Navy V-Neck Cotton via Old Navy-$12 or $15

Jeans: Old Navy "Slim Fit" via Old Navy-$2.50

Socks: Merona Postal Blue/Dinosaur Novelty Socks via Target-$3

Shoes: Church's Custom Grade Walnut/Light Brown Tassel Loafers via Adrian-$75

WDIWT...4/8/14 Layered Pinstripe

I haven't worn this suit since the first time I wore it here but I decided to bust it out today. The suit is from SuitSupply, is quarter lined and half-canvassed. I got a few compliments on the suit today.

Details:

Suit: SuitSupply Gray/White Wide Pinstripe via SuitSupply Outlet-$259 plus $80 in alterations

Sweater: Gap Light Gray Cardigan via Gap Factory Store-$15

Shirt: Van Huesen White/Light Blue Micro-Check L/S Dress Shirt via JCPenney-$10

Shoes: Brooks Brothers by Allen Edmonds Newmok/Neumok Snuff Suede Wingtip via Allen Edmonds Factory Store-$135

WDIWT...4/1/14

Details: 

Sweater: Gap Midnight Navy Shawl Merino Wool Sweater via Gap-$12 (Clearance)

Shirt: American Living Purple Micro-Check L/S Dress Shirt via JC Penney-$5

Trousers: Gap Tailored Fit Navy Cotton via Gap-$15 plus alteration cost

Socks: Old Navy Gray/Blue Dog Socks via Gift

Shoes: Cole Haan Air Aiden Walnut Penny Loafers via Nordstrom Rack-$90

WDIWT…3/18/14-Navy Suit

Day #2 of wearing a suit this week, tieless once again as well. I was planning to wear a tie but the top button on the shirt came loose in the morning so I just removed the button and placed it on the dresser so I wouldn't misplace it later reattach it. I still liked how it looked without a tie and it seems that being tieless with a suit at work seems to not be as imposing as with a tie. It's helped that I haven't been in a tie wearing mood but I plan to add the tie to the suit repertoire in the next few days.

Details:

Suit: Indochino Navy Essential Suit (part of a 3 piece suit) via Indochino-$449

Shirt: Stafford White/Brown Gingham L/S Dress Shirt via JC Penney-$10

Pocket Square: Merona White Cotton via Target-$5 for a pack 5

Shoes: Aston Grey Brown Suede Wingtips via eBay-$35

WDIW…Thursday 3/13/14 (Tweed, Violet and a Cow-lick)

Mother-nature decided to throw us a curve-ball on Thursday and drop the temperature from 55 on Wednesday to about 25 on Thursday, layering was necessary. My nephews were also in town from LA so I went and met them at the National History museum in the city. I had a hat on before this picture hence the hair…sorry.

Details:

Jacket: Michael Andrews Bespoke Brown Donegal Holland & Sherry Tweed via Michael Andrews Bespoke part of a 3-piece suit-$$$

Sweater: J. Crew Violet V-Neck via J. Crew Factory Store-$10

Shirt: Stafford White/Pink/Violet L/S Dress Shirt via JC Penney-$10

Pocket Square: Merona White Cotton via Target-$5 for pack of 5

Denim: Old Navy "Slim Fit" via Old Navy-$2.50

Shoes: Joseph Abboud Gray Suede Chukkas via Nordstrom Rack-$50

WDIW…Wednesday 2/26/14

A custom made double breasted overcoat for this incredibly frosty day. I actually found this while thrifting with my good friend Adrian back in October. The coat was custom made for someone else by a tailoring house in Seoul South Korea. The wool is incredibly soft and frankly I don't think it was ever worn until I bought it. It still had the basted stitching on those awesome lapels. The coat isn't a perfect fit as the shoulders could be a little smaller but the rest of the coat fits perfectly especially when worn over a blazer. This likely ran near a grand to whoever had it made for themselves, I picked it up for pennies on the dollar.

Details:

Overcoat: Custom Made Double Breasted Overcoat by Alpha Custom Tailors via Unique-$15 (no alterations needed)

Blazer: Lauren by Ralph Lauren Brown Herringbone Tweed via Unique-$20

Sweater: Banana Republic Purple Merino Wool via Banana Republic-Gift

Shirt: Stafford White/Brown Gingham via JC Penney-$8

Jeans: Old Navy "Slim Fit" via Old Navy-$2.50

Shoes: Ralph Lauren "Sanderson" Made in America by Allen Edmonds Collection via Allen Edmonds Factory Store-$86.50

WDIW…2/25/14

Keept it simple on Tuesday with chalkstripe flannel trousers, a light khaki marbled v-neck and a camel topcoat.

Details:

Shirt: Perry Ellis White Cotton L/S Dress Shirt via Macy's-$10

Sweater: Old Navy Khaki Marbled via Old Navy-$10

Coat: J. Crew Factory Thompson Topcoat via J. Crew Factory-$112

Trousers: Claiborne Charcoal chalkstripe flannel via JC Penny-$10

Shoes: Stafford Camlin Brown Wingtips via JC Penney-$40

WDIWT…2/10/14 Staple Item: Flannel Trousers

The challenge for this week on dressing better on NikeTalk is to wear staple items and demonstrate how we wear them. During Fall/Winter one of my staple items are flannel trousers; whether in light gray or charcoal. These colors are incredibly versatile and can be pair up with essentially anything on top and black or brown shoes.

For today, I went with my charcoal pair with a dark chambray like shirt and a rich midnight navy merino wool shawl neck sweater. The sweater appears black from afar, however, the blue in the shirt brings out the true color.

Details:
Sweater: Gap Midnight Navy Shawl Pullover via Gap-$13
Shirt: Club Room Dark Chambray via Macy's-$10
Trousers: IZOD Charcoal Flannel via JC Penney-$5
Bag: Coach Bleeker Commuter Brown Calf via Coach-Gift
Shoes: Cole Haan Black Wingtip Calf 7" via Cole Haan-$130

WDIWT…2/4/14

Went to a Proper Cloth Sample Sale today and picked up the shirt in the pictures below. The first two pictures show the color and pattern on the shirt better than the other pictures. Proper Cloth is a custom shirtmaker which can be ordered both online or in their brick and mortar store in Manhattan. Their shirts are usually anywhere from $150-200; depending on fabric. The sample sale had them for a lot less as long as you found your size or something close. 

Details:

Shirt: Proper Cloth White/Navy Mini Windowpane via Proper Cloth Sample Sale-$20

Sweater: Old Navy Light Brown Marbled via Old Navy-$15

Ties: No Brand Navy Knit via eBay-$5

Trousers: IZOD Light Gray Flannel via JC Penney-$5

Shoes: Cole Haan Brown Suede Balmoral Captoe via Cole Haan-$70

Watch: Coach Stainless Steel Watch via Nordstrom Rack-Gift

WDIW…Yesterday 2/3/14 Burple & Brown

I found this cotton/cashmere blend cardigan in a blueish-purple color on sale at Gap and decided to pick up. I liked the color as it was not your typical blue but still very practical. I like the way that the lighting plays with the color as it can look dark purple in bright light and blue in darker spaces.

These boots have taken a beating this winter but have paid for themselves and then some. I call it the best $40 I've spent. I forgot to take my snow-boots with me yesterday so these were my line of defense between 5 inches of snow and my feet. They did well.

Details:

Sweater: Gap Blue/Purple Cardigan via Gap-$13

Shirt: Lauren by Ralph Lauren White/Blue Bengal Stripe L/S Shirt via Adrian-$7.50

Trousers: Merona Herringbone via Target-$7.50

Shoes: Stafford Camlin Brown Wingtip Boot via JC Penney-$40

WDIWT…1/30/14 (Merino Wool & Tweed)

Playing with layers and the color combinations has become somewhat fun. I've been trying to pair colors that contrast that of the jacket instead of doing what I usually do, pairing 2 similar colors. I received a merino wool sweater for christmas and have wondered since then how I've went this long without one. Merino wool is exceptionally soft, making it exceptionally warm as well, only my cashmere sweater is warmer. At around half the price of cashmere; if not even less, it's a great investment piece to add to your wardrobe.

Tip: Check Gap's sale sections, I found 2 merino wool sweaters for $12 and $13. Banana Factory Store had some for about $25 as well.

Details:
Jacket: Stafford Light Brown Donegal Tweed via SA
Sweater: Banana Republic Eggplant 100% Merino Wool V-neck via Banana Republic Factory Store-$25 (gift)
Shirt: Alfani White/Black Micro-check L/S Dress Shirt via Macy's-$12
Trousers: Gap 1969 Dark Denim Wash via Gap-$45
Shoes: Stafford Camlin Brown Wingtip via JC Penney-$40
Watch: Kenneth Cole Quartz with Brown Leather Band via Nordstrom Rack-$40 or $45
Pocket Square: Merona White Cotton via Target-4 for $5

WDIWT…1/29/14 (Navy Tweed & Gray Flannel)

Another attempt at layering and staying warm. This blazer gets complimented every single time that I wear it. I'm usually not a fan of elbow patches but when I saw it in combination on this blazer, I had to have it. I'm usually not someone who buys something at this price point ($100+) impulsively but it was a great piece to add to my wardrobe.

The sweater is one of my new additions as well, I wore it here, but the color didn't come out well. The Camlin boots may not be the best quality boot out there but for $40 they have more than paid for themselves trekking through these salt laced streets.

Details:
Jacket: J. Crew Factory Thompson Navy Tweed via J. Crew Factory-$108
Sweater: J. Crew Factory Light Blue V-Neck via J. Crew Factory-$20
Shirt: Merona White L/S Dress Shirt via Target-$22 plus alterations
Trousers: IZOD Gray Flannel via JC Penney-$5
Shoes: Stafford Camlin Brown Wingtips via JC Penney-$40