3 WAYS TO LEVEL UP YOUR STYLE
Ok yes, it’s been a minute hasn’t it.
I was back, then I wasn’t and now I’m back again. What a whirlwind!
Life has changed shape a bit for me recently and as part of this new chapter, I’ve been reflecting on the many things that give me joy and fulfilment. One of these things is this mini platform where I get to express who I am through my sense of style. It has constantly been a space I’m drawn back to.
So with newfound freedom and time, I’m back on the fashion horse. Still with the same mission to help inspire you gents to style up, give things a go and be true to your authentic self.
For my second comeback (LOL), it made perfect sense to round up a couple of familiar faces and friends of mine to collaborate with. None other than the style master himself Vlad, and the magician on the camera who makes us look far better than we actually are, Annu.
My brief for this shoot was simple. I wanted to demonstrate my maturing taste and explore some new elevated styles. As such you’ll see me showcasing three levels to ‘elevated’ looks, starting more basic and then ending with a more sophisticated look. I was careful to ensure that each was accessible to anyone wanting to give the fit a try.
That my friends is all fashion really is - it’s an experiment - it’s about giving it a go. There is rarely a wrong way to go about it, and at the heart of it all, it’s about showing the world a little bit about who you are through your sense of style.
LOOK ONE // STREET SMART
This look is inspired by the trusty old matching tracksuit. But the twist here is wearing a more tailored and considered pant and top - otherwise you can’t really label this ‘elevated’ right!
What you’ll probably find super surprising though (as it has been for those seeing me wear this outfit) is that the jacket, top and pant are all from…Lululemon!
Lululemon in my mind are leading the technical apparel category and I’m continuing to build out a space in my wardrobe for their gear which spans many settings, from being appropriate for the street to evenings out.
Jacket - Lululemon
Pant - Lululemon
Tee - Lululemon
Sneakers - Salomons from HypeDC
Eyewear - Tommy Jeans
Ring - Tom Wood
LOOK TWO // SIMPLY SOPHISTICATED
Knitted polos have made a splash this past season, and I’ve never owned one. So I was keen to find one I liked that wasn’t bland and importantly had a bit of pizzazz to it. I think I did good with the coloured stripes, and then also had a classic bone-coloured polo in the mix too.
You may spot that in one variation of the look I’ve paired a knit polo with the same Lulu pants from the first look. More wear for your buck. Then the black pant are some pleated pants I got in from All Saints. They’re my new favourite pair of pants.
Then throw on some killer new season shades to take your entire look up to the next level. You’re welcome.
Top - Topman and Zara
Pants - Lululemon and All Saints
Footwear - Salomons from HypeDC and loafers from Overland
Eyewear - Prada and Tommy Jeans
LOOK THREE // SHARP AND SUAVE
A couple of months ago I was scrolling social and came across a celeb who was getting papped wearing a black double-breasted blazer, and instantly I knew I had to get myself one. I’m no stranger to a double-breasted blazer, but don’t have a full suit set up. But finding a DB suit proved to be quite a challenge, so much so that I had to look to the UK to find one that matched my taste and hit my price point ($400 NZD).
Another trend that’s increasingly gaining momentum is men wearing pearls. Now I must admit, I didn’t think I’d be one of them, but I do talk a great deal about giving things a go, and so I took some of my own advice and grabbed some. In this look I’ve worn them both subtly under the black collared shirt and over the shirt too. What do you reckon?
While it was tempting to put on a dressier pair of footwear, I opted to show how the Salomon sneakers could traverse a few different styles, they don’t just fit the street. Wherever you wear them, they’ll add a dose of swag. Nice!
Suit - Moss Bros
Shirt - Calvin Klein
Pearls - Saar Co
Sneakers - Salomons from HypeDC
Eyewear - Prada
Rings - Tom Wood and Stolen Girlfriends
So there you have it. 3 ways to elevate your style that cover nearly all the occasions and are easier to follow than a Hello Fresh food bag recipe.
Hit me up in the comments below with your thoughts on the looks and if you’ve got any ideas you’d like to share. Always keen to hear how you take your personal style to the next level and where you draw inspiration from.
Until next time fellas,
jb