A little holiday swag | Monks, Bags, Watches

Christmas may be a time for families to come together, and celebrate the birth of...alright I already got bored and distracted. It's a time for family and swag. There isn't a better time to bust out your wildest get-up and see what the fam has to say - as we all know, it's

Christmas, and at Christmas you tell the truth. If you look like a fool, there's probably an aunt or uncle that is going to let you know. But around here we swag, and swag brings compliments and good tidings to all. Let's bring it down for this year's Holiday wish list.

The Invicta 2770 Military Chrono Lefty ($130, Amazon)

I love a good genuine leather watch strap with an oversized bezel. It's an easy way to make a statement for someone getting into the accessory game. Invicta is a great watch that has been going through some rough times lately, so you can pick these up all over the GILT and Rue La La websites for cheap. Do I like tacking advantage of quality? No. Do I know it's not easy to drop $500 on a risk accessory? Yes I do. So jump online and pick one up. I rock my watches under my wrist bone on my left hand so I buy left-handed watched so the crown won't dig into my wrist. Swag is about fit, no matter which hand is dominant.

Mercanti Fiorentini Double Monks ($140, DSW)

Looking to step your dress shoe game up? Look no further than a set of clean double monks from Mercanti Fiorentini. They fit true, look clean, and go with jeans as easily as they go with dress pants. Show these bad boys off and look like you are wearing Prada's for the price of Air Force Ones. Rock the 5cm cuff with these bad boys, they are built for looks, not for speed.

Terre D' Hermes Colgone ($76, Amazon)

This is some grown man shit. You know how you have been wearing the same cheap cologne your whole life (or you are like me and have a few different ones you switch up so no one catches on)? Well it's time to upgrade. A blend of atlas cedar, citrus, patchouli and bay rose means you will be smelling like a grown-ass man for days. Use lightly, 1-2 sprays will last you the day.

As for the bag, dont' bother looking for it. Been sold out for dayyys. But I will send some suggestions your way soon because if you live in a city you need some swag in your bag. And you don't live in a city, move here. It's worth it.

Happy Holidays from Swag On, 2012 is looking unbelievably steezy already.

Winter Steez | We Be Steady Bloggin'

It's been too long friends. These shorter and colder days are not only bad for morale but also our swag, as we revert to the one good winter jacket we own and the same hoodie we have been rockin' since grade school.

So let's boost morale and bring back the swag in the first post of the winter and bring our steez a few winter essentials.

Wolverine 1000 Mile Boots:

($340, Nordstrom but you can find them for less)

These boots are unreal. Warm. Built well. Waterproof. 1.5" lift and that stiching? That's the type of thread women faint over. A friend introduced me to a quote "He was beautiful, until I saw his shoes." Well that won't happen to you rocking these swagtacular boots during the winter months. Oh, and cuff your jeans with these. Trust me.

The Pea Coat:

Grey or Black, always clean over complicated.
I wear one from Sterlingwear of Boston (tailored)

I don't know how it happened but some of us made it past 2010 without owning one, I apologize for not bringing this up sooner but if you don't have a pea coat, buy one. Today. It the cleanest, warmest, easier way to bump up your swag and they will never go out of style. Buy one that is fitted like a suit (i.e. don't buy a large peacoat, but a 42R) and make sure it covers up all of the clothing on your upper body. Best way to rock it? mid length. Short is for fall and long is for, well honestly people who know what they are doing so lets not get ahead of ourselves.

Overused but underdone: Cardigan-over-the-oxford look

This, is Nickelson Wooster. Stalk him. Look at him. Be like him. He has more swag than most of the world combined and while you probably can't rock his boots, you can throw a nice shallow v-neck sweater over your regular oxford for a clean, work or bar appropriate look for the winter.

Bump up game. Texture, and layers

Simple is Better.

So this is not what you would call an accident. Simple. Effective. Layering. Pictured above you will find someone that has a watch, a tie, a pocket square, a vest, a ring, a textured belt, and a striped oxford on and he doesn't look overdone. Now here's the disclaimer: if you own all of these things (which I do) it does not mean you can just put them all on think you will look like this (I have tried, it doesn't work). But you can take elements from this, and also learn when you are out shopping to look for things that you know will go together and not just look good standalone. Some of my plainest shirts look best alone, and some of my most complex look best layered.

Winter is  the best time to test out your layer game, mostly because if you mess it up you can hide it pretty easily. I am not a huge fan of wearing blazers in the winter, but a decent textured sport coat is still a good go-to when you feel like making a scene. Winter, however, is about channeling sweaters and textures.There will be a post coming soon on perfecting this but for now, study, learn, and swag on.

There will be more posts coming soon, I just had to get you all started as I have missed you and hopefully you have missed me.

If you are fiending some extra swag, run on over to my Tumblr, We Were Making Good Time

-Swag On

7 Pieces You Should Swaggerjack From My Summer Wardrobe

We all love Summer, but we can all use a little help on keepin it clean and upgrading from beach-bum to summer sheek. Lined up I have 7 basic items that will bring your summer wardrobe to another level, without changing your basic style and look. Let the swaggerjacking begin:

Brass Collar Stays

One of my favorite summer looks is the khaki or dress short with an un-tucked slim fit oxford. It can be worn anywhere and really steps up your every day look without being awkwardly overdressed. However, the one thing that I see all too often (in winter too) is a poor collar line. Grab a set of brass collar stays, iron your collar (wrinkles at the bottom of your shirt are forgivable, on the collar is not), and stand out from the crowd.

This case is unreal, but you can get stays at Men's Warehouse for $10

Sperry Cloud Series Oxfords
I picked up a pair of these about 3 months ago now and they are unbelievable. They fit and walk like a boat shoe, with the upscale look of an oxford. Where them with or without socks, fabric pant, or my favorite, shorts (trust me on this, you will get a lot of compliments and will really stand out from the 50 people on the street still wearing Chuck Taylor's everyday.

Start simple with Brown or danger to my favorite Grey | $90, Sperry

Cognac or Walnut Dress Shoes

Summer means it's time to break out the Khaki pants and polo's, or if you are like me the Grey dress pants and brown oxfords. Walnut dress shoes will set you apart from every other Joe-Schmo in a set of dress pants and can be worn with almost any color pant (although a grey suit with cognac brogues is, in my mind, perfection). Check these brogued cap-toe oxfords from Allen-Edmonds

Allen-Edmonds Strand in Walnut Calf | $325 Allen-Edmonds

A Weekender Watch
Cheap. Easy to wear. Usually bright colors which gives you a bit of pop in your outfit without getting that dreadful "look at me" appearance. That and come winter, you really can't sport these. This Timex can be had for $40 and is the perfect addition to your watch collection.

Timex Fabric Weekender | $40. City Sports

A Weekender Bag

Summer hopefully means you are out and about, either enjoying the sun or traveling around the world. Somewhere between a back pack and airplane luggage sits what we sartorialists call  the weekender. It fits enough to pack for the beach, the club, and the morning after - without looking like you are going away for a month.

Fossil Max Duffle | $288, fossil.com

White Jeans

In case you spend all your time looking at the ground, let me be the first to tell you that white jeans (or yeans really if you are in my inner circle of friends) are in. Check out a few different ways to rock them here.

Many Looks. Same White Jeans. | $60, Zara

Boat Shoes.

While I am always happy to make a new friend, Colton J. Bozigian's most valuable addition to my life was introducing me to my new favorite time of year - Boat Shoe Season. Previous to meeting Colton, my mind was blurred in the spring by the arrival of not on Sun Dress Season, but also Cork Wedge Season (OK sometimes they are espadrilles, I don't care, chicks look amazing in them). Little did I know that come spring time men everywhere throw out all there socks and rock boats shoes like we are all meeting someplace secret to throw the world's greatest party on Richard Bramson's Yacht. I love the movement, and love the season, so get yourself a set of Sperry's and join the elite group known only, as men.

Sperry Topsider's | $75, Sperry

Still plenty of Summer to be had, get out there and let's bring Boston out of that top seed for "Worst dressed cities in America" (Clearly, they didn't interview myself and the other Sartorial Generals of Swag that call Boston home).

Swag On Summer Amigo's. Swag On.

Let's Talk Dress Shirts.

Alright lads, it's time we started knowing what we are buying instead of guessing.

1. The Collar Stripe: Fabric inside of the collar that determines the height.

2. The Collar: Pay attention to size here. If you're a small guy, avoid a large collar. Also plan your tie accordingly. A skinny tie won't look good with a large collar and vice versa. 

3 & 4. The Collar Point and Spread: Three basic styles: Point - the collar points are heading downward, typically more formal and Spread - the collar points or heading more towards the outside the first. Both of these types use collar stays - I recommend getting a bunch of copper ones - but the last time is a button point which has a smaller button to keep the collar down. 

5. The Front Center Placket: Standard dress shirts will just double up fabric here to firmly hold the buttons, better dress shirt it will be a separate piece of fabric with individual stitching throughout. 

6. The Pocket: Also a place where quality can be scene. Check the stitching, size, and placement. 

7. The Sleeve: Shirt sleeves should be longer than your jacket, about to the thumb. 

8. The Gauntlet Button: Makes it easier to roll your sleeves up. Don't buy shirts without them, and keep this button buttoned if your sleeves are down. 

9. The Cuff: Pay attention to size here as well, and keep it in relation to your body size. If you are new to the game and want to step up your style, get some French cuffs - which actually only determines they way the cuffs button, standard is on top of each other and french is against each other. You'll need cufflinks for this which on a side note, should match your tie and pocket square - French cuffed shirts are typically made with a white cuff and collar regardless of shirt color.

  10. The Yoke: Finer quality shirts will be in two-pieces so a tailor can adjust the shirt perfectly to your back and shoulders. More commonly this will be one piece. 

11. The Pleat: Just like pants, the pleat in the back of your shirt gives you more room for flexibility. Common on dress shirts of any caliber, but finer shirts won't have this. 

12. The Shirttail: Makes sure this is long enough to secure your tuck for the day. This is a key area to separate your formal shirts from casual ones - you shouldn't be able to wear your dress shirts untucked, and you should barely be able to tuck your casual shirts.

Other things you should look for is the blend of fabrics and button quality. Most common blends are: 35% cotton, 65% polyester = worst | 50% cotton, 50% polyster = average | 65% cotton, 35% polyester = better | 100% cotton = best. High quality shirts will also have Mother of Pearl buttons instead of plastic.

Knowledge is power. Pay attention to the details and Swag On.

The Perfect Dress Shoe: Band of Outsiders Classic Oxford

There's all kinds of winning going on here. But first a lesson. You see how the laces comes together instead of a V? That's what makes this shoe an Oxford and not a Derby. Secondly the brogue pattern is nothing shy of brilliant. Brogueing is the small holes around the shoe used to embellish the different pieces of the shoe; the mix of large and small pattern here really sets this shoe apart.

Note: If a shoe is brogued it is considered less formal and can be worn with various levels of business casual to jeans and a dress shirt to suits.

Now notice the construction. Clear separation of the top line, heel cap, upper, toe cap, and throat. This screams high quality. Lesser shoes with fake these lines.

Finally the toe cap and lift. The toe cap, if you don't know, is the line running horizontal across the front of the shoe. This one is brogued, perfectly, and just the right amount of size variation and pattern. The lift will give you a solid inch on your height, and give you a smoother stride.

These shoes are damn near perfect. They are $763 at oki-ni which I know, sounds like a lot if you are just starting out in your career. But shoes like these are rare and well worth the investment. Well cared for they will last 10-15 years ( a bargain at about $100 year with maintenance).

Don't go buying every $700 pair of oxfords you see, but if there are two places you should be spending your money to bump that swag up a few thousand points, one is at the tailor, and the other is on your feet.

Invest and Swag On.

What makes a shoe cost $375, and is it worth it.

Apologies for the long drought, a new job has had me working long hours but to get back in the swing of things I thought I would break down a question a lot of people have: "Why would I pay $300+ for dress shoes?"

Lets start from the beginning:

1. The Shape | If you look at a high quality dress shoe you will notice that it has a lot more curves than a cheap one. Cheap dress shoes are the same with (more or less) from front to back. A quality shoe will have a thinner & taller heel, hug the arches of your feet, spread back out to support the ball of your foot and come together at the toe in whatever form you are looking for. Standard oxford's are cap toe (extra piece of leather going across the shoe over your knuckle area).

2. Expensive dress shoes tend to be Oxfords if they have laces. Derby style (meaning the laces are attached to a separate piece on the shoe and do not come fully together) are less and less common in this middle range shoe. Double monk straps (two leather straps where laces should be) are also VERY popular right now and a solid way to set yourself apart.

Sid Mashburn Double Monks

3. Good shoe's are full grain leather, no synthetics or corrected grain leather. This also means they can last you a long time (6-10 years if cared for properly).

4. Look to the Shank (the piece runs the length of the shoe between the sole and the fabric). High quality shoes usually have wood here.

5. Check the sole. Rubber soles are great if you walk a lot but high quality shoes will have a separate leather sole so they can be cobbled multiple times as the years pass. (cheap shoes typically can't be cobbled and if you get them, the cobbler with use a cheap piece of plastic instead of leather.

6. Nails not glue. The sole of a truly great shoe will have nails.

Here's a pair that I plan on getting ASAP:

Allen Edmonds MacNeil Wingtip Brogues($315-$575):

Notice the shape, color (walnut, a personal favorite), the brogueing (perferations around the shoe), the well seperated and shaped sole, one piece leather upper (where the laces go) and of course the classic wingtip (V shape line) as the toe cap.

Shoe's should be an investment. There will be a blog coming up about the right price shoes for the occasion but a man can never have enough options on classic dress shoes. By far they are the most overlooked opportunity by men and is a very easy way to set yourself apart. They are also more likely than any other part of your wardrobe to withstand the test of time.

Sorry for the wait, more to come soon. Save your money. Buy some Oxfords. Swag On.

Pitti Uomo for This week in Swag

Pitti Uomo, a bi-annual mens trade show held in Florence, Italy this past week has been displaying nothing but fire. Here's some Swag from the streets.

The canvas back pack. In my opinion a must have.

Classic Khaki blazer, with the murderous combo of matching
tie and pocket square. White on red polka dots, definition of steez.
Oh yeah, light blues (dress shirt) are in this spring/summer too.

Huge fan of the everyday-blazer look over the v-neck.
Notice the pocket square? Plus 1,000 Swag points.

All-blue steez. The cuff is essential here. Coupled with a light belt
and a pop of colour in that pocket square. Plus 100 swag points for the pin.

Pictures were brought to you by Tommy Ton, a fashion photographer for GQ.

Swag On

Trends for the Everyday Man: The 5cm Cuff

So you're looking to step up your swag, and I've got just the thing. Almost every post so far I have stressed the importance of FIT, so if you don't have a tailor by now...get one. That doesn't mean you want to go slimming and hemming every piece in your wardrobe though. 

The 5cm cuff is not only fashionable but efficient. It breaks up the typically boring line between pant and shoe a lot like a belt breaks up pant and shirt. This example from a man I know solely as Antonksi is absolutely textbook.

His Tumblr is pretty steezy 

Things to be noted:

• He is wearing a dark wash jean with a light inner, always a solid choice for the 5cm cuff.
• The jeans are quality, you can tell by the stitching.
• The boots are also quality (again, the stitching as well as the layers in the heel.
• Wear the cuff falls is wear pants are supposed to fall on your shoes. Without the cuff these jeans would bunch and lose many swag points.
• The cuffs are very tight to the jean (here's a hint, he ironed them).
• The copper stitching in the pant is picked up in the lighter sole of the boots.

Now Antonski is no stranger to Swag, but you can easily pull this look off with what you have in your wardrobe. I'm not saying you have to bust out a ruler, but 5cm is a great rule of thumb and as you can see in the picture a great look.

Ingredients for success; Dark jeans, decent boot, dash of Swag, and a rough understanding of the metric system.

We'll have you swaggin' in no time.

Swag On

Nike SB P-Rod ver. IV Hi's || Casual Day

I pseudo-swore off buying shoes like these last year. I went through a hightop phase a few years back (didn't we all?) and just, well, got over them. But now Nike is making a solid effort with the classic SB line. Found these on the HypeBeast.

Nike SB Paul Rodriguez IV's in Curry | Nike Casual Division

There is hope for Nike's casual division yet finding the fine line between too simple and too wild.

Looks like a solid shoe for the few days I don't feeling like wearing a blazer and button up.

Rock these with:

• Clean dark-wash jean 
• Light colored graphic-T
• Watch of your choice (preferaby one with a pop of yellow)

You'll gain a couple steez points in my book.

Swag On.

That Red Carpet || MTV Movie Awards Hits and Misses

So in case you missed the MTV Movie Awards, Justin Bieber and Robert Pattinson won. Alright now that you know everything that happened, lets talk about that red-red-red that red carpet.

Ryan Reynolds:

The man received a lot of guff for this outfit. Honestly, I really like it and you should learn from it because he looks good. The problem was he wasn't taking a stroll around the Boston Commons, he was on the red carpet and standing next to female celebrities wearing underwear that cost more than this outfit, I can see how the critics didn't appreciate Reynold's natural swag. Regardless, The rolled cardigan and button down combo with a grey pant and light wash oxfords (all of which I own, #win) is a great look.

What critics call under dressed I call DANGER

Ashton Kutcher:

Really Ashton? You're gonna do this to me after naming literally my favorite personal outfit of all time after you? Alright, let's put 20 seconds on the clock and see how many bullet-points we can crank out.

• Your hair is too long.
• Your bow-tie sags
• Your shirt looks is cheap
• Your blazer is too big
• Shave.
• Your belt is too thin

Ashton looking homeless and umm, Nicki Minaj....

Sorry to throw you under the bus like that friend but you messed this one up bad. It doesn't matter what role you are growing your hair out for, put on a proper suit and a bow tie that fits and PLEASE throw every part of this outfit away.

Josh Duhamel:

That all-black MayBach. Overused? Can't really argue that it isn't. But it's Josh Duhamel and he really doesn't have to care. I dig the commitment to simplicity. Didn't need to blow anyone away, wore a classic watch (and yeah OK a colorful bracelet, nothing to wild) and went on with the night. He's not a child, he's there to get drunk with Fergie and make Justin Bieber jokes. Perfect outfit for that.

Transformers 5? Yeah I'll be in that. Stacking. Paper.

Jim Carrey:

This pains me. Ace Ventura was FUNNY, I don't care who you are. But he is coming up on 50 and should be dressing like one. It would also help if the jacket fit like a military coat (above the wrists) and not an overcoat (below the wrists). This one takes little explaining, you know it's just wrong.

Should have worn that suit from The Mask

And just to end it on a positive note, Kristen Stewart murdering the red carpet in the red with safety pins drippin'.

Sorry if Bella isn't your thing, but I'm still pretty pale
from winter and she's making it look like
everything will be just fine.

There you have it, how to (and not to) rock the red carpet like a champion.

Swag On future celebs, swag on.

Three Fashion Trends You Should Avoid

Alright, I've been very optimistic with this blog and have mostly posted what to do without acknowledging a few things not to do. Now I'm a huge fan of A: keeping a good attitude and B: knowing that certain items or styles you wear regularly may not be up to date fashion wise, but can still look good on you. What I find some people doing when they venture into the world of swag is going for the latest and greatest, and not everyone can rock the latest trends. Let's Begin.

The Oversized Military Boot

Surprisingly I have some female readers, so here you go

Sorry to break it you, but you don't look like this. Even if you did look like this, there's about a million better ways to dress than this one. How this became an acceptable trend I have no idea but it's already on it's way out that god. Know how a cork wedge just makes a woman's legs look 10 miles long? I know you do and it's pretty amazing. Combat boots are the anti-wedge. You'll look shorter, less put together, and unless your getting paid some serious Benjamin's on a photo shoot, you'll like like an idiot. Avoid at all costs and instead check out this man's danger for inspiration.

Nick Wooster | The Steeziest Man Alive

Men's Flared Jeans

You probably aren't aware of it, but as a rebuttal to the skinny jean the fashion industry decided that, can't believe I'm saying this, men's flare jeans are now in style. I don' think I need to explain to you how wrong this is. You probably aren't ready for a wardrobe full of skinnies, but wear straight cut or if you really need to boot cut jeans and pants, make sure the crotch falls wear your crotch is and not wear your knees are, and we will get along just fine.

Keep the flare where it belongs, over the
heels of a long-legged woman.

The Biker Look

Before you go judging, let me just say that James Dean will always be a fashion icon of mine. That being said, you should probably avoid trying to look like him because most of us simply don't. Even if you do ride a motorcycle (which, ahem, I do ladies) you probably don't rock it with the same swagger Dean did. My issue with the motorcycle look is that it requires commitment from your wardrobe that few have. As a result you end up wearing whatever you would normally wear, with a leather jacket you found on sale somewhere thinking, "Well, this is a cool coat, I will by default look cool in it." The truth is you don't. You probably look younger than you actually are, and unless that coat was on sale from $3000 down to $800, that jacket probably looks cheap. Save yourself the trouble, buy a framed quality print of the Rebel Without a Cause and buy a motorcycle to fulfill your dreams, just forget the chains and leather.

 

On or off the bike, the man gets the job done.

Hopefully this helped some of you that walk into All Saints on Newbury St. and think, "Hey this is cool!" It might be, but don't wear something just because it is "in" or even worse because it looks good on the rack. Adapt fashion to fit you, not the other way around.

As guys we tend to buy things straight from the rack instead of going to the fitting room. Don't be afraid to rock up to that cute girl at the counter and say, "Yeah, I have about 12 things to try on is that OK with you sweets? I'm looking for a new outfit so you might have to help me out." She doesn't care that the limit is 5, she'll let you right on in with 12 and get your Swag On.

Err on the side of danger, learn from those with steez, and remember it's Springtime...that means if you want to catch the attention of a girl in a fine cork wedge, you better expand your wardrobe to some light colors and linens.

Swag On people, Swag On.

Memorial Day Weekend

When I began packing for a trip to New York City this past Memorial Day weekend and saw that the weather would be 80 and sunny two things crossed my mind. First was how can I fit 3 days of clothes into this new all-white duffle from H&M, second was that when we made it down to SoHo there are just going to be cork wedges floating all around these streets and I needed an outfit that, dare I say it, rivaled the cork wedge.

In case you've been living under a rock for the last decade, this is a cork wedge.

I know, tough to beat. However here's what I threw together to give these Women who know that men cannot resist these porous variation of the high heel.

Hat | Straw Fedora, $8.95 H&M

Shirt | Short-sleeve Linen button-up, Uniqlo $24.95

Shorts | White Linen Chino, H&M $24.95

Shoes | Boat Oxfords, Sperry $90

Accessories | Leather watch, Copper necklace, and oversized wayfarers (not pictured)

Everything is very light and airy because I wanted to look like a spring morning and also because we all know that Cork Wedge Season is also Sundress season, so light and airy is a must. The straw fedora is a mean look and if you open your eyes in NYC you will find that many people agree. Boston is coming around to the Spring fedora but you might get a look or two if you are outside the Newbury St. or Downtown Crossing areas.

When I wore this outfit down to SoHo on Memorial Day I didn't own this shirt, so I coupled it with a Lilac V-neck from Zara that worked out very nicely as well. Like any good outfit it's about commitment and in my opinion the Sperry Boat Oxfords just tie the whole outfit together. If you aren't ready for these shoes, a simple white canvas sneaker would suffice as well, but you should give these bad boys a look. The Cloud Series from Sperry is just amazing and possibly the most comfortable shoe I've ever put on, here's the same series in Brown and definitely my next purchase.

If you don't get a little tingly looking at these bad boys, you need to check your pulse.

So that's how to rock Memorial Day Weekend, or any spring afternoon where a walk is the activity of choice like a champion. So buy a pastel colored linen, wear a leather watch/bracelet to break it up, don't wear black, Swag the hell out of Spring and give every woman in a cork wedge that walks by something to look at.

Swag On

Committing to your outfit

In Boston I am seldom one-upped as far as attire goes. I am not even being arrogant here, its just not a very fashion forward city we live in, but progress is being made. That being said I clearly brought in the Silver medal at Foxwoods when I wore my new favorite look (the Ashton, thanks GabbyD) and my good friend/other half of the two-man-DJ team that is going to take over the world Jason Sifre rocked this.

On the off-chance you don't know him, he's the one in Pink

So there I am on the right, I know you are sick of looking at this outfit I apologize but I am literally obsessed with it. Jason, is the one in the Pink...with the bow-tie...a proper bow-tie I might add because like me, he dangers. See the commitment here? Just wearing a bow-tie to a wild occasion like Foxwoods with 1200+ classmates and you will probably look like a fool. But when you rock a dinner blazer with taped edges, simple pink shirt, and spend maybe 15 minutes on YouTube making sure you get that bow-tie perfect and you can make one hell of a scene.

Can you wear this outfit? Probably not. But the picture alone gives you 4 good examples of different dressed up looks.

1. Suit coat over fitted dress shirt and black pants

2. Simple pastel coloured button up and black pants

3. Dinner blazer with taped edges, bow-tie, and hot pink button up

4. Suit coat over untucked button up and dark wash jeans

From these 4 looks, all of which I consider a success on various levels, you should be able to look at what you wore and figure a thing or two out. My outfit? could have used a pop of color or accent with a pocket square Don Draper style.

Don Draper swag via Madison Avenue

Committing is an important part of any outfit. Pay attention to your details and don't be afraid to try small but wild accessories that set you so far apart from the crowd you can't help but get noticed.

"No one wears clothes for modesty, I'm all for breakin' necks"

Next time Foxwoods, because I will be back.

As we graduate and move forward, don't forget your Swag.

Swag On friends, Swag On.

You've invested in your education, now invest in a tailor

Waiting on pictures from a recent Foxwoods excursion, I am going to start it off with some mistakes I saw, that could be improved very easily. At the BU Senior event most of us decided to dress up. The girls looked amazing in high heels and dresses (yes, a pic will make it on here of that) and a lot of the guys wore suits.

Black, or navy blue, two-button suits with white shirts and a tie. While this is an essential albeit boring outfit for every man, the way to wear it properly is to make sure it fits.

Apolo Ohno, it can happen to anyone

Do you know why dress socks go so far up your leg? Because dress pants are supposed to stop at your shoes. Dress socks are designed so when you sit down and your dress pants naturally rise up your leg you don't show any skin. It's been this way forever, and won't change. The young persons solution to this dress-pants-sitting-down-dilemma is to buy them the same way they buy jeans: too big.

Having extra fabric so your inseams never pass your ankle sounds fine until you stand up and realize how frumpy you look. Get to a tailor and take those pants in. More than likely the 34/34 jeans you buy are the wrong size, same goes for dress pants. Buy a waist that fits because it is much more costly to take in a waste then simply hem a pant-leg.

The All-Black Maybach

See the pant lines? They fit close to the leg, and don't bunch at the bottom. See the suit coat? Bottom button is undone so when you sit/walk with a proper stride your jacket doesn't bunch or tug.

While I find this particular look a bit boring, it's still a great example of something that fits. Even the most expensive suits don't come off the rack fitted to your specific body so no matter what you dropped on that suit, spend the extra $50 and get it fitted. A good suit never goes out of style and you'll find many uses for it by changing a few small things. The all black look? Hope your going to a swanky restaurant ready to spend a bit of money because that's what this look says.

There's going to be a lottt of dress attire do's and don'ts coming up, so be ready and we'll get you looking like danger Formal this week.

Swag on grads, Swag on.

Sorority Formal Season

I will admit I am new to this one, but what a lucky S.O.B. I am to walk away from my first formal with this picture. There was a lot of pressure going to a formal with a good friend; needed to look good while keeping my title of, "that friend we have who is really into fashion."

I try not to panic, but I admit I did a little trying to figure out what to wear. Thankfully my date for the night had a request, a white shirt. ALRIGHT, that I can work with. However she didn't really say she wanted a white shirt, she sent me a picture of Ashton Kutcher and said "umm, look like this."

After trying on every combination of tie, suit, vest, blazer I own and Google imaging till my eyes bled, I pulled this outfit together. Here's a breakdown:

Shoes | Aldo black ankle boots - $115

Pants | Black Volcom dress pants (tailored skinny) - $75

Belt | Express - $35

Shirt | Express MX2 (love a good MX2 shirt) - $30 to $55

Coat | J. Ferrar suit coat - $120

Watch | Nameless, refer to this swag on post of everyday swagger

Big risk rocking up tie-less to a sorority formal where everyone (nearly anyway) is in full suit and tie. I knew my date was going to wear bright colors (God I love Spring and sundress season) and look like a million bucks. My job, don't draw to much attention to yourself and wear colors that look good and will almost never clash with your date's dress; black on white on light grey pinstripes.

Not sure how I pulled it off honestly. It doesn't hurt to have a picture with absolute stunners in it to distract you but A: Men don't crop out people from photos and B: They rocked totally different style dresses; one light and springy, the other dark and classy. Both looked amazing, neither clashed with what I had on. #bi-winning

I got lucky this round, so lets learn, look forward to sundress season, and swagg on

White Pants and Springtime nubucks

It's beautiful outside, and that means it's time to start looking like danger. Had a great experience shopping with Max Esposito and fellow fashionista Leah Garvin on Newbury Wednesday, and we went wild.

Here's my outfit for today, inspired by that afternoon on Newbury, lets break it down.

Shoes | English Laundry Oxford's in Grey Nubuck, $80

Pants | Zara Coloured Jeans in White, $40

Belt | Arbitrary brown belt that I didn't pay enough for and looks cheap, need to replace.

Shirt | Express Men's 1MX fitted in Light Grey | $40

Accessories | H&M

Sunglasses | Ray Ban New WayFarer RB2132 Black/Black, $120

So I wanted to look spring-ish without going overboard. The shoes, you can't really see but look a lot like this.

Simple oxford in nubuck, classy, but a little dangerous. The pants, woo, I took a leap of faith on this one. Max and Leah gave me the okay to purchase them and I'm really glad I did. The top is what gave me the most trouble, I wore the grey button-up because I didn't have a v-neck that was either white, black, or grey. I panicked and wore the button up, which was my first time wearing it because I consider it rather dull. But when you are wearing white jeans you can't just swag out with what ever the hell you want, you have to be careful. The line between "that idiot is wearing white jeans" and "wow, he looks good today" is a fine one.

Don't go overboard, but try new things always.

It's a beautiful day, walk down to Newbury and if you don't have the money, try some things on that are straight danger and find a new Spring look.

Never stop, and Swag On

Everyday watch, everyday hair, and Desert Boot season

So I decided to put up what I wore today, despite not having a complete pic of my outfit (but it is similar to my outfit fit from the first party bus, white button down and jeans)

Although I am excited for Boat Shoe Season, for those who danger it's also Desert Boot season, and that's something to get tingly about too.

I have a number of desert boots, but if this is your first time around the block, go with Clark's (the Original) like I did today

Now I decided to rock a solid cuff on my jeans, just because it's spring, it's finals, and I'm the only guy who is not going to be in sweatpants around BU, I though I would draw attention to myself.

Alright next up, my watch. I have maybe 5 because I like a variety and they don't bury you with your money so I continue to buy things I technically don't need. I love watches. A good picture of a watch is like porn, only to read on and find that a lot like Marisa Miller I can't afford the $xx,xxx price tag to have it in my life. So I started disecting what makes a watch look good. I found this nameless piece in NH and wear it more than my $300 and up watches.

This watch is clean, leather strap is key, strong bezel and even has a little weight to it which surprised me.

The last bit is something I have been fighting with for awhile. So I spike/flop my hair into some kind of BS fauxhawk, that I think looks decent. Now I don't suggest copying my hairstyle, but odds are you need some kind of paste/pomade/gel to get your hair to look the way you want.

I had been using CREW FIBER for awhile, but I prefer to do my hair every day and at $20 for 2oz, it was starting to cut into my shoe fund, which is unacceptable. I tried Garnier, Axe, Big Sexy Hair (also pricey) and finally came across THIS:

Suave Styling Paste | $3 (target)

Three dollars...When I saw the price tag I thought for sure it had to be a lie, or a terrible product. But I owed it to every guy out there who buys different kinds of gels every week and stays frustrated. This stuff is great, it might be as much as $4.50 at a CVS or Walgreens, but I would have gladly paid $10 for this. You need very little, and at sub-$5 you can look better everyday.

While writing this I cuffed my jeans above my ankles, just to try it out. We Danger.

Swag the fuck on people, happy warm weather days

$50 Oxfords and $85 Converse worth buying

So there's this unspoken rule that I'm about to break. More or less, you shouldn't buy sub-$100 shoes after college. This goes for all forms of shoe, running, dress shoes, casual shoes, $100 will get you a decent pair of kicks in any category. There is always the Chuck Taylor exception to this rule, where you think it's acceptable to drop $40 on a pair of classic chucks...Don't. Upgrade to Jack Purcell's for an extra $20 OR danger like I do and get something like this.

Jack Purcell Brogue Leather | $85

Broguing is just such a money-look on a good set of shoes, but I digress. So I was kicking around looking at shoes as usual and came across a pair of $70 marked down to $50 Docker Oxford's that I think are worth it. They are at Macy's and they are a classic, simple, brown oxford that may not last you as long a a $100 pair, but a go to pair of shoes you don't have to worry about, that also match 99% of your wardrobe seems like a decent idea to me.

Dockers Gordon Cap Toe Oxford | $50 (macys.com)

A brown cap toe oxford will never go out of style, matches nearly every set of pants you own, and can be dressed up or down for work or a night out. $50? That's 5 Long-Island Iced Tea's at best. Man up, and drop that half-century note on a timeless look from a quality company.

Keep it simple, keep it classy, and swag on.

So you need a blazer...

A good friend of mind who is becoming more and more fashionable as time passes, decided he wanted a blazer. He went out and looked for one, and got overwhelmed and decided, "blazers aren't for him."

Maybe you are unsure how to wear a blazer, but for $50 make your way to Newbury St. H&M and take a chance.

I have two of these. One that's darker grey and one that's lighter. $50 you can take a chance on all around looking better. Here are some quick tips for how and when to wear:

The Workplace:

Ok so maybe you don't have a job that requires you to wear a suit and tie, doesn't mean you should default to the same button-up and khaki's everyday. Add a blazer, light-colored patternd shirt, if you really danger a tie, and just to keep you in your comfort zone you can stick with khaki or slate colored pants

The Newbury st. Coffee date:

You probably like this chick, but somehow you got suckered into getting coffee at 2pm. Worse things have happened though, and it's a perfect time to swag on. Dark wash jeans, boat shoes, V-neck shirt (no patterns or stripes today) and a dark blazer. Casual. Sleek. Danger.

The Everyday:

I like to mix it up between collared shirts and deep-v's under my blazers. If you are wearing a collared shirt be sure to tuck it in, and also know where you are going because you are going to run the risk of looking overdressed (which doesn't exist, but if you are new to this "being fashionable" thing you might feel uncomfortable). If this is your first blazer keep it simple. Don't go wild with colors or stripes or accessories. Wear a decent watch, a simple shirt, clean pants and because it's spring a pair of Sperry's or if you're not there yet a classic white tennis shoe.

Make the blazer yours, own it, rock it, and swag on.