Dressing the Part.

I was in New York City for work last week and I kept noticing something. It was freezing out, the garbage bags strewn across the street were elevated quite a bit by the mountains of snow and ice... and yet everyone still looked as though they were part of a fashion shoot. What I noticed more than anything was that the guys, on average more than the girls were well dressed all the way down to their practical and yet incredibly stylish boots. If people recommend dressing for the job you want, it seems that in that respect New Yorkers have come to play. 


As someone who lives for fashion, and has been called a prep more than a couple hundred times,  I spent my childhood collar popped and in madras pants color coordinated to match with those of my siblings. What I've realized is that while I no longer feel the need to put a little extra starch in my collar, a solid car coat should have some in its, and while madras and lilly Pulitzer floral prints can itch just a bit, a classic tweed pant hemmed and cropped to the perfect length above a pair of well shined eagle toed shoes is well worth the effort. You don't however have to look stiff or overly formal to be well dressed. The best fashion forward men I see take what is traditional and make it their own by infusing a bit of color, an off beat print or a belt buckle that says, "hey I'm serious... but sorry, I party." 


I first saw it with my grandfather who always wore a suit on a plane and a button down (with his monogram on the sleeve) under a cashmere sweater and then again with my father who even though his company isn't business attire, wears cufflinks and a tie every single day. These were men, who other than being admirable for the people they were/are are inspirational for the way they dress the part for the life they want. 

And not shockingly I'm not the only one who feels this way. There are boutiques, online stores and stylists alike who have completely dedicated themselves to helping men dress the part for who they want to be. 


Ralph Lauren may be the current king of dressing for the American Dream but J Crew, Banana Republic and even Vineyard Vines offer fun, and often times more affordable spins on how to look the part. Noting that I wore the same outfit on both my first day of kindergarten and my first day of college (green Lacoste polo, white shorts and light brown sperry topsiders) I can't help but wonder if the classic stays relevant, why do we so often veer so far off course.

Enter the Haberdash Men's Shop recently opened in Chicago, an effort to bring back the haberdashery – the traditional men’s store of yesteryear. A local, one-stop shop tailored for men and only men. Adam Beltzman, who opened his doors this past fall, said that his goal was to create a safe place for men to come and spend some time talking, shopping and enjoying themselves. "Haberdash is modern tradition, a blend of cool classic style paired with Old School philosophy."

And then there's one of me personal favorites, the revival of the bow tie. Once relegated to men of a certain age, proms and red carpets, the bow tie, and the vest are now found under cardigans and hoodies in addition to blazers and jackets. People may look but it's worth the stares. 

George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Jake Gyllenhaal and Justin Timberlake are established Hollywood heavyweights who do it right; a testament to taking classic style and making it young and making it your own. 

When it comes to getting dressed every day, sometimes it's easier to pick some jeans, a t-shirt and a pair of kicks and get out the door. What I like to think, though is that even with these essential pieces being utilized in the right way, your wardrobe could be so much more than you may think. A solid colored tee in the right size over a pair of well tailored jeans and a pair of aviators can look polished and put together. 

Take a cue from the men of New York City and take the time. Be proud of how you look as much as who you are. Create a closet with staple pieces that can be pieced together in a variety of ways and you'll never run out of things to choose from. If confidence comes from looking the way you feel, and being proud of who you are, here's hoping classic is the new black.