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. 

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)

Can We Go Thrift Shopping?

Sometimes your best friend isn't the department store. More often than not, when I go shopping with something in mind, I go to a store like American Apparel, H&M, or some other popular place to look for styles which I recently discovered are trending. BUT! There's one problem with all of these places: they're going to charge you higher amounts for clothes that are in season and in style. So, what's your alternative? Well, instead of paying the high prices at the mall, sometimes I find that going to your local thrift shops is the best alternative. Now, some people might not like the idea of wearing previously worn clothes, but if they're in great condition (some still with tags on them) and are nearly identical to what you almost bought at Store X, then why not buy it at the consignment or thrift stores around you?
On your right is an example of a shirt that I found at a thrift store, Goodwill to be exact. It still had all of its tags on it and was unworn, so I purchased it, cut it up a bit, and made it my own. As a matter of fact, the boots that I am wearing - I found those at a vintage shop, too! Sometimes you can find pure gold when you're really trying. Now, you won't always have luck, but it's always worth a shot. So, today I'm going to ask you to try something different and go out and try to find something that resembles one of the trends I've told you about these past weeks. Think about the trending colors of blues, pinks, and orange; or maybe the ethnic styles, such as aztec, tribal, Native American; or how about the yesterday's topic of the "Urban Safari" uprising with it's olive green, khakis, and clay-like colors? Give it a shot! You never know what you'll find. And while I ask you all to try it, I'm going to test me luck here in San Francisco and see what I find. I'll be sure to let you guys know if I have any luck. Until then, thanks for reading!

Clean Cut with Some Edge

The one thing that I loved most about my spontaneous trip to Chico state was the weather. With unexpected rain, I was able to get away with wearing darker colors, as well as my favorite tobacco blazer from +H&M. I've always loved more classic, refined styles but I personally like to add a bit of an edge to them. I feel the blazer keeps the look crisp, but wearing all black and bringing it all together with some eclectic boots is what I like most about this outfit. These boots are also another thing that I seemingly love more than anything else in my closet. Having had the luck to find them at a thrift shop, I scooped them up before anyone else could notice them and I essentially ran out of the store throwing my money at the cashier on my way out. The lighting here really allows you to notice just how well the colors complement each other. The cherry color of the boots is great with the pop of color from the blazer. Oh, and did I mention the blazer has a navy lining on the inside? It's fantastic! One thing I'm most looking forward to adding into my wardrobe in the fall is more blazers. But for now, I need to worry about adding a spring / summer statement blazer to my closet. What do you think of this outfit? Any suggestions for future use? Feel free to share! :)

Loafers Leap into Spring Fashion

Loafers are making their appearance in this year's Spring and Summer fashion and I have absolutely no problems with it. I personally love a classic pair of loafers and they are actually go-to shoes for almost any occasion. Although you can wear them out easily and sometimes it's hard to find the right outfits to wear with them, loafers can be versatile if you have the right clothes to work with. Suits, shorts, jeans, you name it and you can probably find an outfit to pair them with. My personal favorites are the boldly colored velvet loafers, such as the mint green pair pictured above. (You can find cheaper alternatives to the pair on the American Apparel or ASOS websites.) Don't forget that you can play around with different styles, such as the more summer-themed woven loafers also pictured above. Style is something you should invest in every now and then, treating yourself to something nice and worthwhile. Although the styles change from year to year, the concept stays the same. With that, I would advise maybe investing in a nice pair of loafers, not just for this season, but for many others to come.