Monday, July 29, 2013

A Nautical Adventure

While still in Puerto Rico my family decided to go out into the older parts of the island and explore some of the more reputable historic and cultural areas of Old San Juan. It was an overall amazing time and it was great to explore and actually see a different side of the world that I would have otherwise never known about. Another great thing about the district is how ornate it is. Everything from the color of the buildings to the cobblestone roads was so beautiful. 

Since the trip was going to take such a large amount of walking and meant a lot of exposure to the humidity, I had to make sure that I was comfortable and in breathable fabrics. My bottoms are (again) chino shorts that I made from a pair of pants I found in my closet. The navy in the shorts are very complimenting to the light blue cotton my button-down is made of. The shirt has a contrasting navy & stripe detailing along the collar and the cuff, making for a perfect match with the shorts. As for the shoes, they proved to work well for the occasion. The navy and white detail in my canvas boat shoes (by ASOS) for a very nautical look, appropriate for the beachside environment throughout the entire island. Long story short, I'm embracing the nautical feel of this entire trip.

 
Shirt by H&M, Chino shorts by Kohl's, Canvas shoes by ASOS

Friday, July 26, 2013

Keeping it Cool in Puerto Rico

My family and I decided to take a trip to La Concha Resort in San Juan, Puerto Rico as a post-wedding treat for my mother. The second I stepped foot out of the airport, the sun beat down on the back of my neck as the moisture caused my clothing to stick. Once I got back to the hotel I immediately changed from my charcoal skinny jeans and thick white / navy gingham button-down into the combination you'll find below. 

The beige chino shorts I'm wearing are very comfortable, light, and airy. As a mater of fact, they used to be pants before I got a little crazy with my best friend (a pair of scissors) and did away with all the extra fabric. What I like most about the shorts, at least for this occasion, is that they mimic the soft colors of the sand you find on the beaches; moreover, my powder blue +American Apparel shirt matches that of the Puerto Rican sky. I topped off the entire outfit with a contrasting chestnut leather belt my uncle owned in the 80's and a pair of navy +Sperry Top-Sider boat shoes which match the various shades of the ocean quite well. Over all, I decided to keep the look very simple, understated, and natural - even leaving out some of the black accessories I never seem to take off. An overwhelming amount of layering and dark coloring would be silly under these weather conditions as well. However, something that might work and that I may attempt later is utilizing neons and brighter colors as many of the residents in the area do. Perhaps a tangerine similar to that of the backdrop in my photos. What do you all think? 



Tuesday, July 23, 2013

A Modern Day Peter Pan

Something that my friends have always given me grief for is how similar I look to the classic Disney character Peter Pan. I've never found any offense in it and actually find myself making light of it quite often. So, going with that, I decided to embrace my inner Disney and tried to embody the character with a more modern, edgier twist. How did I do this? Well I started off with the green pants I was fortunate enough to find when I was bargain shopping last summer. They were very cheap, only costing me around $13 total. Although the green pants are should generally be reserved for the fall months, I stepped out of the general rules of fashion for the sake of attempting this look. Next, I switched out the lighter green tunic you would normally find the actual Peter Pan wearing for a distressed tank top I made myself about a week ago. The tank top was a basic shirt I found rummaging through my closet and found to be too simple for my taste. What I love most about the top is that it looks almost careless and a sort of 'I don't care' attitude courses through me when I put it on. Lastly, since I don't have a pair brown boots accessible today, I threw on the +Justin Boots I can't seem to take off. The Justins add that last little touch of edge that I enjoy finishing off my outfits with. Overall, I love the look and find that it would work for a lazy day out in the city (at least for me). I'd love to know what you think about it. Feel free to share!



Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Just a Casual Evening

Some of you might be saying, "Casual? What's casual about what he's wearing?"... But what you really might not notice is just how casual I actually am. I agree, the blazer can be interpreted as an attempt to dress up a bit, and it is, but I've also paired the blazer with some casual touches. For example, my skinny jeans are relatively informal for certain occasions, meaning if I were to go to a business casual dinner, these jeans wouldn't cut it. The all-black does seem rather dressy, though; but the all-black look isn't any more formal than a waiter in an upscale (or low-scale) restaurant. It's very simple and easily put together, but that's what I find greatest about this outfit. It looks like it took a lot of work to think up, but really it took almost no effort at all to piece it together. And, if you notice, my boots are the most informal of it all. Beat up, torn, and faded, these boots are a far cry from formal. They're nice, but not dressy to any degree. The funny thing is, when you throw it all together, it looks completely formal to some people (as I've been told) and makes for the easiest casually informal outfit I've ever worn. It's clean cut, edgy, and leaves you looking ready for any (in)formal evening. What do you think about it? What's your taking on dressing down dressy pieces? 










+H&M Tobacco Blazer (Out of season), H&M Button-down Shirt (Available any time), Black RSQ Skinny Jeans, & Vintage +Justin Boots

Sunday, July 14, 2013

The Mad Scientist

My look took a little turn when I decided to wear these Tevin Vincent GEMINI sunnies today. They're a little different from most sunglasses that you'd find in-store, but that's exactly why I love them. They have a sort of uniqueness that, as you may have noticed, I try to incorporate in my style. Overall, this look is very laid back, but has it's quirks that make it come together. Paired with the sunglasses, I also am wearing the Tevin Vincent beaded skull & cross bracelets that I've grown to obsess over. Their simplicity is nice, but again, they have a boldness to them that sets them apart from the rest through the skull & cross details. 

The rest of my outfit consists of what was once a button-down shirt (now DIY vest), my powder blue American Apparel tee, black skinny jeans, and +Converse high-tops. A very casual look for a simple day of running errands around the city and lounging about with some of my friends. I'm always wearing black skinny jeans because they're able to go with anything. You can dress them up or down and still be able to squeeze a seemingly endless number of outfits out of them. Paired with the powder blue shirt and the blindingly white vest and high-tops, I was able to dress down the jeans quite a bit and actually brighten up a look that could have otherwise been very dark , almost grunge, like some of the other looks I've worn (See my look Powder Blue & Polka Dots for an edgier combination). Overall, I love the look and how well it just meshes together. The sunglasses give me that sort of "Mad Scientist" edge, while the canvas shoes and basic denim balance it out with casualness. 

To see more Tevin Vincent products, check out his website at www.tevin-vincent.com.


DIY Vest, American Apparel T-Shirt (Here), Black RSQ Skinny Jeans (Similar), White Converse High-tops (Here)

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Getting Lost in Fashion

Something you may have noticed is that I have been using this set of pictures for quite some time. One as a display picture, another as a contact image, and I'm sure there are countless other uses of them around my blog. However, I've never really explained WHY I use them as often as I do. There's something about this scenery that just gets me. Something that I love about it, as if I could build a cabin in the center of the field and openly call it my home. But, there's something else that I love.

When I was standing in the center of this field surrounded by trees, grass, and an overall openness of nature, it made me feel playful and almost like I wanted to frolic through it all. It was like the natural embodiment of my idea of fashion. When I wake up every morning, I just want to get lost in my wardrobe and really play around with everything I own. The polka dots, the yellow denim, the grey suede oxfords, sure they all make for a very eclectic outfit, but they reflect my attitude and just how playful I can or want to be at times. To me, style is a reflection of how you feel and who you are. Patterns are bold or playful for the days you feel the same. Sometimes you wear black to reflect your mood, even if it's unknowingly. Overall, there's a lot more that goes into what you wear than just what does or doesn't match. It's all how you see things and if you allow your outlook of fashion and style to go beyond those limitations. What's your take on it all?

Friday, July 5, 2013

4th of July

While in Vegas for the weekend I can't help but soak in the heat, hectic environment, and endless patriotism in the air. I'm in love with the entire atmosphere! So while I was poolside today, I decided to go with the flow and be as patriotic as everyone else here. Very simple shirt, shorts, and shoes. The shirt is an American flag graphic tee my mom happened to purchase me for about $4. The shorts are simple swim trunks that I bought about two years go at H&M. They're navy blue, comfortable, and can be passed off as just regular shorts. My shoes are just the simple canvas Lacoste shoes I've worn in a few previous posts and I'm loving them more than ever as of recently. I can't wait to cut up this shirt and make it my own, though. What do you guys think of the look? Am I patriotic enough? 



Tuesday, July 2, 2013

The Incredible Hulk

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love summer. The best part about it is that the weather here in California is warm enough for a tee shirt and cool enough to wear black all at the same time. Today's outfit is a little more laid-back than I normally go for. I've been really into graphic tees lately, so I decided to go for one today. I threw out the waisted shirts and combat boots, threw on the tee shirt, cuffed my pants, and left for the day. For many reasons, I love the simplicity of the outfit, but I also love the Tevin Vincent bracelets that are the same as those recently featured in my post "Skulls & Crosses." They're always adding the touch of edge or individuality that I'm always looking to incorporate. They're simple, but a statement all at the same time. Again, the glasses, jeans, and t-shirt are all simple touches. The only thing about my outfit that may seem a bit different is my bowling shoes by Generic Surplus. I'm in love with the shape of them and how nice they look sockless. They're definitely a keeper for me, too. What do you guys think about the bracelets and shoes?