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Five Easy Pieces -- Fall 2008 |
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It is beginning to be that part of the year again. Summer will be hanging on to its last few warm weeks before it yields to a cooler Autumn. Cooler weather requires material and fabric that will keep the gentleman protected from the elements. Be Better Guys would like to make your seasonal transition a stylish transition. Heavier fabric should add warmth without adding too much bulk to your frame. Supplement your wardrobe these five pieces that will easily carry you through the upcoming cooler seasons. Not only will you add to your style quotient, the beautiful textures just about guarantees a woman's hands won't resist feeling the material...and you!
 Corduroy Sport Coat: Not just for your grandfather anymore, we want you to throw out all your preconceived notions about corduroy. Corduroy usually gets a bad rap because we associate it with old men, those ugly wide wales on the leg, and that horrible sound that emits from the groin when we walk. Don't worry, corduroy just isn't for trousers anymore. Smarten up your sartorial appearance with a lightweight navy corduroy sport coat like the one offered at Brooks Brothers for $159.20. An immediate forgotten cousin of velvet, corduroy made with a medium to narrow wale can be pleasing to the eye and touch like the Lauren Corduroy Sport Coat on sale at Sierra Trading Post for $129.95. The corduroy sport coat can easily be dressed with great denim jeans or paired with wool trousers. While the corduroy sport coat may not be worn in the professional environment, it is however perfectly at home in the business casual environment. Lands End offers a great affordable choice to add to your closet in colors in black, navy, camel, and ivy. Save the darker shades for when the sun goes down and you are ready to hit the city night.
 Merino Wool Sweater: One of the best things about Autumn is you can begin to start layering your clothes and showcasing your stylish repertoire. A great alternative to the more expensive cashmere, merino wool sweaters can arrive in your basic vest, v neck, or crewneck versions. J Crew offers extra fine merino wool v neck sweaters in a variety of colors to compliment with other garments for a cool $59.50. The sweater can be worn alone and dressed up a little by layering over a shirt and tie. If you are in a work environment that calls for business casual, but wrinkled khakis and polos are the norm; try this type of layering to kick it up a notch. Brooks Brothers really jazzes things up with their extrafine Italian merino argyle vest for $98.50. Looking to stock up on some crewnecks, Robert Talbott merino wool sweaters are on sale at Bluefly for $99.99. Originally $220.00, you shouldn't waste anymore time or conjure up more excuses not to have one. These fine sweaters can also be layered over sport shirts in combination with jeans or wool slacks.
Suede Shoe: Let us be honest, we don't give the type of attention we need to our feet like we should. Of the money that should be allocated towards our wardrobe, the bulk of it should go towards our shoes. No more excuses. That cool flat screen television with the Playstation 3 and Madden 2009 says your feet needs some extra tender loving care. When that alluring woman looks down at your feet to assess what type of gentleman you are; surprise her with a handsome pair of suede wingtips like the ones from Brooks Brothers for $199.99. Brooks Brothers also offers a stylish pair of suede boots that can find a home in your closet for a nifty $199.99 also. Often ignored in favor of regular calfskin leather footwear, suede has the unfortunate reputation of being considered delicate. This could not be further from the truth, these Charles Tyrwhitt suede full brogue shoes require the same attention you would give to your other leather shoes. You are are taking care of your shoes right? Your wise investment can be protected with some suede protector found at Johnston & Murphy. Also at Johnston & Murphy you can pick up a suede & nubuck cleaning kit to assist with your shoe care.
Wool Cashmere Pants: Looking to add a new element to your trouser wardrobe? You might want to look into adding some wool cashmere trousers like some offered by Hart Schaffner Marx into your rotation. Cashmere alone is far too delicate to handle the wear and tear that our slacks endure. However, wool trousers manufactured with a slight touch of cashmere gives these Landsend trousers a reason to be touched. The cashmere gives the wool trousers a soft and luxurious feel to them. Not only will they feel better, but they will present the type of texture that looks better. Sierra Trading Post has Riviera flannel wool cashmere pants on sale right now for $139.95 looking for a home in your closet. Go ahead and give her a reason to touch your knee, purchase a pair from Jos A Bank for $105.00 and reap the benefits.
 Cashmere Sweater: A serious word of caution, wear a quality cashmere sweater and prepare to be caressed. I am not joking in the least bit. Nothing looks more inviting than a soft cashmere sweater draped across the shoulders of a stylish gentleman. Serious. Cashmere sweaters should be heavenly soft like the sweaters made by J Crew for $188.00. Trust me, a great quality sweater will last you a lifetime when cared for properly. That means dry cleaning or hand washing your Hickey Freeman cashmere cable sweater to ensure longevity. Cashmere sweaters like the Ted Baker black turtleneck at Bluefly can be matched with a dark pair of denim jeans for an extremely sophisticated look. I understand that there may be some sticker shock when it comes to purchasing a cashmere sweater. However, the gentleman must realize that this is a classic staple that belongs in every man's closet. Just one J Press sweater will provide years of devoted service.
As always, these Five Easy Pieces when added to your current clothes, should give you a well-balanced wardrobe ready for most occasions. And with this group of welcoming-to-the-touch items, you shouldn’t want for places to wear it. Glen Antoine Palmer is redefining the sartorial nature of the urban landscape. Originally from Detroit, Michigan; Glen currently blogs about style and lifestyle perspectives at The Gentlemen's Standard. |
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