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THAT'S NICE!: THE LAST MINUTE MAN

THIS WEEK ON GQ.CO.ZA: THE LAST MINUTE MAN

"It’s bad enough you’ve had a long day. All you wanted to do was go home and have a few beers in front of the television, relax, kick-back, unwind. And it’s shot down with one simple message from your girlfriend. ‘Don’t forget tonight!’. Your heart stops. You break into a sweat. In less than an hour you have to go to some event and you don’t have enough time to get properly ready..."

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THAT'S NICE! ON GQ.CO.ZA

Ever feel a little lost when it comes to your wardrobe? Do you need a little insight on what the fashion world is talking about? Don't know the difference between a weave belt and a hair weave? Once a week you can catch all those necessary tips on mens fashion straight from my new column on GQ's website. Last week I started off with an introduction to fashion and this week you can find out the very important things you should know before you go for that exciting new job interview!

Run along now, plenty to learn!

What to wear to a wedding

There are some tasks in life that are easy, like ordering chicken over fish on a menu or choosing a gift from a registry. It’s all fine and good when all you have to do is point. When it comes to wedding season however, it isn’t always so simple. Woman know this and therefore prepare well in advance for the occasion. There are themes and rules and sometimes stipulations on colour. Daunting I know, but completely achievable, I promise.

Lucky for you, all eyes will be on the bride and groom. Just don’t think you can slack off because nobody wants to be the weird guy in the mustard coloured suit at a black tie wedding.

Firstly, you may want to read the invitation. If you are unsure about the dress-code the invitation will be your first clue. Assuming it doesn’t tell you what to wear, look at the invite. Is it engraved and fancy, held at a swanky hotel or on a wine farm? Understandably the dress-code differs from location to location as well as the time of day.

Day Wedding: Semi-Formal/Formal

A day wedding can be divided into two obvious dress-codes; semi formal and formal. Let’s look at the latter first. A dark suit is most appropriate and works well with a beautiful pastel coloured shirt. Wearing a tie to a formal day wedding is imperative (alternatively yes, a bow-tie is fine too) but it’s colour/style depends on the shirt and your own preference and by softening the look, or rather adapting the suit to a day wedding through colour.

As for semi-formal, the rules are somewhat relaxed but I advise you to stay on a similar path to that of a formal dress-code. Linen suiting, light coloured suits, open collared shirts with dress pants and blazers and even more colourful shirts are all appropriate. Adding a pocket square may be the perfect replacement to a tie while keeping your look appropriate and trendy. 

Evening Wedding

Your best bet would be to wear a dark suit to an evening wedding. If it’s a warm weather wedding try avoid a heavy woolen suit. You may even want to warm up the colours you wear to an evening wedding. The fancier the invite the chances are leaning towards a tuxedo, just never before 5 p.m! If need be make a quick call to the bride or groom to make sure.

Beach Wedding

Your sartorial tastes are more than likely going to thrive at a beach wedding over any other. The rules are relaxed and the options to look good are just about endless. A linen suit is most favored by the male beach wedding guest and for obvious reasons. Breathability. As for colour, you should avoid white because of simple wedding etiquette. This may however be the theme in which case, white it is. 

Wearing a light blazer and shirt and paired with loafers is a good standard look. The tie is generally up to you but open collar works nicely with an added detail, a pocket square or tasteful flower buttonhole for example. To keep looking fashionable and suave you may even want to go for a preppy look or include the smallest nautical influence for flair. Getting cute is a bad move; I once attended a beach wedding and a guest wore a bow-tie, t-shirt and board shorts. He was soon after escorted out. 

Black Tie/Optional Wedding

South African weddings are not commonly a part of this theme. In Cape Town even less so, I assure you. But you may be invited to a very formal wedding where going ‘Black tie’ is required. This will include a dinner jacket, dress shirt, cummerbund, highly polished or patent leather shoes (in black) and of course a bow-tie that matches the lapel facings. Thankfully, designers and suit-makers have caught onto the need for such occasions and slim fit/updated versions of that old penguin suit are available in higher-end stores.

Themed Wedding

Brace yourself, it happens. If you have been invited to a masquerade themed wedding or something equally ridiculous consider how you can apply the theme to your own attire. If it’s a strict costume ball then just go with it and have a good time. Just remember, there is almost always a bar!

RULES FOR THE WEDDING GUEST

1. Absolutely no denim should be worn to a wedding. Of course, if you’re foolish enough to wear jeans to a Summer wedding then you will have both the sun and the bride to deal with. This rule includes cargo pants, sneakers (I shudder to imagine) and anything distressed or with holes. 
2. No white suits after 5p.m and no Tuxedo’s before 5p.m.
3. A wedding is a joyous occasion and should be enjoyed by all. Taking special care to respect the bride and groom on their big day is very important. If you are at all uncertain about what is appropriate, make that phone-call. 

So, you want to grow a beard

All best ones had them. Beards! What more can epitomize manliness other than a face full o’ hair? You know what I mean, standing opposite your mirror shouting out ‘SPARTA!’ when no one is around.

Lucky for you ‘The beard ‘ has returned as one of the hottest looks for 2010. Snapped outside the Fashion Week shows, in editorials, on Brad Pitt… and now you want one, despite threats from your girlfriend who vows to shave it off in your sleep.

If done correctly you will be glad you persevered...

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Stylescoop Article: How to tie a scarf

Men have been ill-informed. Scarves, unlike cartoon ties and Crocs are actually both socially acceptable and fashionable for the modern man. Just look at European men and you should see that not only are they adorned in various styles, but they wear it with such ease.

What started out as a sweat-cloth in ancient Rome later evolved to an item of fashion by merely swapping the fabric to wool, silk and pashimina. By women, no less.

With Winter officially at our doorstep it’s just plain silly to be cold. So allow yourself the joy of warmth and style...

For starters choose a scarf that will suit most of your wardrobe and your general colouring. It should suit your personality and compliment your current wardrobe. Once you have chosen the perfect scarf there are a few classic ways to tie it, (too many to mention) so here are the best...

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Stylescoop Article: Winter Essentials

The single gentleman may need some help warming up when Winter finally arrives. It’s not easy, nor is it any fun but we have a few items that could at least make your Winter season a more stylish one.

Consider a cold and rainy day. If you are wise you will be well layered from head to foot. This is the perfect time of the year to stretch your sartorial desires to the limit.

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PART 3 - Robert Downey Jr's style

Hero comes in a new shade! He's quirky yet handsome and seems to fall into all the wrong places in comical scenarios of every kind. So as the borders are stretched on what kind of actors we place in action movies it comes as no surprise that Robert Downey Jr is still a valid member of modern cinema.

His style is non-conformity. Or rather classic with a twist. A t-shirt under a blazer, quirky glasses and his goatee (interesting how all three Top Billing candidates have goatee's?), even double-breasted suits with high-top sneakers.



His sunglass choices are even posted online for you to buy for yourself.

So if you want to duplicate the Robert Downey Jr. style, then get the following:

1) Cartoon tee's to wear under a fitted blazer with jeans
2) Purple tinted sunglasses
3) A mustache or goatee
4) Cardigans/shirts and fun striped ties
5) Neckerchiefs
5) Sherlock Holmes attire with top hat and cane!

PART 2 - Leonardo DiCaprio's style

I wouldn't exaclty call Leonardo DiCaprio, trendy. But what he manages to exude, wether owed to a stylist or not is style and attitude. He is quite simple in his dress sense and I think that's what works. However when it gets to his casual wear it leaves a little to the imagination. With his baseball caps that never seem to leave his head except for premieres, Leo (according to a specific study of all the many photo's taken of him) wears a different cap to every baseball game he attends.



With the red carpet, Leo keeps it classic! And barely ever moves far from his black and white standard. Slick back hair and a 5 o' clock goatee is all you need. And a tan of course.

If you want to look like Leonardo DiCaprio, this is what you need:

1) Basic fitted black suit
2) Slick back hair
3) Baggy jeans and high-tops
4) Day old scruff shaved into a simple goatee
5) A collection of State Baseball caps
6) Nonchalance