HIPSTER OF THE MONTH

KANYE, KANYE, KANYE.

I'm more of a lyric and melody man myself, so Hip-Hop generally doesn't hit it for me on a musical level. However, years ago when I lived in London I would listen to Kanye West's more pop-friendly music. He was different from his peers, that much was for sure. And he was here to own it- not only in music but as a business man he even became the number 5 black artist/business man of our generation. I think Jay-Z got the top spot.

Then later on he started showing up at Fashion shows, seated right up front near the Olsen Twins and Anna Wintour. And his dress sense became a lot more tailored and refined. Now years later he's easily taken the best-dressed Hip-Hop artist from Diddy whose a little Ovah right now.

This months Hipster nod, goes to Kanye West!

The Long and Short of it...

Depending on your climate, shorts can be included into your wardrobe all year round. In Cape Town the weather is more hot than it is cold so in the mid-winter we have many opportunities to wear shorts. But we have also started styling them up instead of, dare I say it- just wearing a t-shirt and slip-slops.



DSQUARED as designers are big fans of the short short, and of course they look incredible on the physique of their impeccably sculpted models, like Chad White. But one must be sure they are going to look good in them above the knee if they are adequately built below the knee.




Two weeks ago I was frustrated with a pair of chino-styled trousers because of the fit of the leg, so I cut them below the knee and folded them up three times. I did the same with an old pair of guess jeans to a similar effect. You don't always have to spend to get the look you want. But you can be creative and dress them more smartly with shirts and casual loafers or Boat shoes.

Have you met my new shoes?

I had these pictures up on my screen saver for a couple months and by chance I was able to get them from London! Unfortunately I could only get them in black but I still love them! The blue lace-ups make them that more London.
A friend of mine (a girl) got them in both the black and brown in the girls version, but without the heal. I was concerned the heal would bother me but you don't even notice them! I love Paul Smith's Shoes!

Paul Smith Travel Shoe - "Certain - Glace Nero"

They're here!

I await these magazines like it was the rising of Christ or something. There is so little out there for men with regards to fashion but these magazines satisfy every time! Full of fantastic editorials and fashion-y tidbits. Unfortunately GQ Style only comes out every 6 months! I can't think why, because it's the best magazine out there for men! Of-course there is GQ and Mens Vogue but they're more focused on Lifestyle topics than fashion. And while it's all well and entertaining to look at the pictures they have some interesting articles too, Will Self in particular is one of their great writers. I want his job. In fact I make it a goal of mine to write for them one day soon!

PERSONAL STYLE PART DEUX

Like many of my fashionisto peers I keep a very large folder on my laptop containing thousands upon thousands of fashion-related images. I have accumulated my own hyper-space-heaven where I draw my inspiration from. In fact I made the folder my screensaver so that it refreshes each image for me. What I like about style is that it can change and refresh too. I went through a hair phase this year where it changed five or six times.











But it was my fashion-style that changed once I left Diesel for a smarter-dressed British label. Now, Cape Town is no suit-culture I assure you, so in the heat of summer we were wearing soft shirts and raw denims to work, while our wardrobes started to swell from the fantastic staff perks! Again I was in need of a list of basics to complete my new wardrobe.

- Slim fit raw denims (from the company of course)
- Smart brown leather belt
- Gorgeous brown leather loafers (not the awful suade square ones)
- Black leather shoes
- Smart Black belt
- Slim-fit shirts in various fun colours
- Slim blue suit

Once acquired and teamed up with my already existing wardrobe it was easy to dress well for work. Shirt + V Neck sweater + Brown belt + Raw Denims + Brown Brogue shoes or perhaps... White shirt + Blue Blazer, Black leather shoes to MATCH Black leather Belt and Raw denims. Easy as pie. If you replace existing pieces of your wardrobe for quality pieces, you will find a big difference in your style. It takes a long time for some of us but it's worth it in the end.

I love to see someone dressing out of the box. I tried a lot of looks when I was working for Diesel because I had the platform for it but since moving to my current employment I had to refine my style and ditch the jeans look altogether. But those out-of-the-boxers inspire me greatly, it's something fun and different and often I slap my head and wonder how I didn't think of that myself. Here are a few of my favorite looks of personal style:











Photo's are from the Sartorialist and pulled from various Street style websites.

PERSONAL STYLE

I bet sometime this week you walked past someone who seemed to dress a little differently. Maybe they had on a particularly nice pair of shoes, or perhaps they were so badly put together it almost bordered on fashionable. We can't control what everyone else wears but we can certainly make an effort on our own style.

I live in Cape Town where the people are so eclectic. It's the city where the world meets! We have a culture so influenced by personal travel that the mix is just incredible and varied. It made it a sort of pre-requisite when I moved here four years ago from my own travels to London and the U.S. But I guess what changed in me was this need to have a personal style. It started with...wait for it- Abercrombie and Fitch tee's that we don't get here, which later progressed to the distressed bootleg denims and trendy shirts. Bootleg turned to skinny leg which moved to slim and before you know it I was more versatile in my dress than before. Working for Diesel for two years helped in that department!

But like any fashionisto I pursued fashion relentlessly. I studied the looks, the fits and the colours. I paid special attention to the details and I saved up to buy the items I really wanted. But before I had the money I made a list of basics to buy... consider I was 22 years old the time so it may vary for you:

- Crew neck undershirts in white to wear under V neck sweaters, or cardigans.
- V-neck sweaters in every colour!
- Decent underwear CK, Diesel, Armani, Paul Smith. If you can't buy labels buy plain coloured briefs without a label on the band.
- Fitted white shirt, fitted black shirt
- One decent black leather belt
- One Brown leather belt formal
- One Brown distressed casual leather belt
- Slim fit chino-styled trousers
- Basic blue casual denim
- Raw denim (Majorly versatile- best denim to own)
- Leather jacket in Black
- Fitted Blazer Jacket, to be worn over t-shirts of white shirt in versatile colour.
- Casual everyday jacket (I bought my khaki jacket at H&M)
- Haviana mens sandals in Black.
- Good quality shorts (I couldn't find any at one point so I cut an old pair of denims and khaki pants above the knee)
- One pair white All Star sneakers and one black

I believe this allowed me to branch out with several different looks once I had defined the basic needs of my wardrobe. But above all I think the cut of your clothing makes all the difference-- I'm a lean guy! I've seen some thin men wear classic cut shirts that drown them and it ruins the look completely.

Things to stay away from:

CROCS - Dear God, Don't even get me started on these!! No matter what you think they feel/look like, I assure you they are the ugliest shoes ever made! There are websites dedicated to the anti-crocs movement.

AFGHAN SCARF TIES - Over-done! Justin Timberlakes stylist should have known better. This look is way outdated and tired if you ask me! Stay away from things that are "trends".




SANDALS WITH SOCKS - You're not a German tourist. Need I say more?

SHORT JEANS WHEN YOU'RE TALL Diesel caters for tall men and you can find 35 length jeans at Paul Smith.

BE COLOUR CONCIOUS Avoid a mish-mash of colours in one outift, and do stay away from colours that wash you out! Shoot for strength i.e Olive tones for Olive skin!

I will be getting into each style out there for men in the next few posts. It might give you an idea of where you want to be! And wherever that is-- make sure you let it express YOU!