Dark Suits for Spring and Summer

Though spring and summer are synonymous with light colored suits, the dark suit can be worn year round.

When we think spring and summer we think seersucker, or light cotton suits, Dark suits are generally made in wool which can make anyone suffocate at the mere thought of wearing a dark wool suit during the hot months of the year.  

Right? Wrong! 

This is just an old idea that needs to be replaced with a new and fresh one and I can help you with that.

This new idea is that wool is the most comfortable fabric in both hot and cold weather since it is the fabric that most easily regulates body temperature. During the hotter months I suggest the Super 100's - measure of the fabric fineness - which is the thinnest of the wool fabrics. Fine wool drapes beautifully and because of the natural elasticity of the fabric it stretches and breathes easily. Also with wool any creases from  normal wear can fall out easily by simply hanging properly overnight.

It is also worth mentioning that wearing a dark suit during the spring summer season does not mean a solemn or boring look. Not at all. Taking  my cue from the Italian men - who continue to be the final word when it comes to men's fashion - you can spice up your dark suit with vibrant colors and patterns.  

 

Bring a touch of fun and color to your navy suit by mixing it with a gingham shirt and pattern tie. Use the four in hand tie knot to keep it less formal.

Suit : Canali

Shirt; Sy Devore Private Label

Tie: Etro

You can still have fun without using pattern fabrics by combining colors and adding a third contrasting one to your ensemble. 
The half Windsor tie knot is featured here for a slightly more formal affair. Also the addition of the pocket square in a simple square fold adds a touch of traditional elegance.

Suit: Jack Victor for Sy Devore

Shirt: Eton

Tie: Etro

Keeping within the idea of dark color suits, I give you a black and white houndstooth sport coat which I have paired with a round collar white shirt with tie bar and black knit tie for that special occasion like a wedding or an awards dinner. 

Again you can be formal and elegant and still have fun by adding a color pocket square.

Sport Coat: Canali

Shirt: Eton

Tie: Paul Smith

Pocket Square: Etro

All items available at: 

Sy Devore

12930 Ventura Blvd

Studio City CA 91604

818-783-2700

American Idol Style

The improvements on this season's American Idol are many, not least of which is style.

The jury was out on American Idol for this new season after all the drama that preceded it. Simon Cowell leaves Idol and starts production on a very similar show. Ellen DeGeneres is not coming back, Kara DioGuardi is not asked back and last years winner is nowhere to be seen or worst yet, heard. The only survivor of the Idol curse from last year is the daug himself, Randy Jackson.

In comes Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez and I'm sure you all heard the rumors and speculations. What can these two bring to Idol? They are stars looking to re-connect with TV audiences. There's no American Idol without Simon Cowell! On and on and on and on. Endless negative anticipation.

And all those doubters and naysayers were wrong. American Idol is back and as far as I can see, the best season ever. I know this is what most fans say every year, however this year is true.

Steven Tyler brings an honest, firm, knowledgeable and yet kind perspective to these contestants that may actually help them.

Jennifer Lopez is the absolute godmother to all of these kids bringing a much needed support and creating a safe environment for the idols to shine. Getting emotional when dispensing bad news is the kindest and most caring demonstration from someone who I believe really cares and wants the best for these contestants, many of which are barely 17 years old.

Randy Jackson is Randy Jackson.

This year Interscope Records head honcho Jimmy Iovine has joined the show and with his team of top notch producers will be producing all the songs for the contestants week after week. What a smart move. This way the idols can focus on the genre that best suit them and we the audience get to hear what they can potentially sound like if they win and get a record deal. Brilliant!

But the most significant improvement for me, is the styling.
These idols have never looked better and more appropriate. Both the ladies and the guys are being styled beautifully.  Their look seems to fit the image they are wanting to portray and still allowing them to feel comfortable enough to perform. With the expert eye of Miles Siggins - men's fashion consultant - the guys are setting trends for a younger generation.

James Durbin with his Adam Ant meets Bruce Springstein look stays true to his style but notice how his original over the top clownish out of control styling he was sporting before they selected the top 13, is gone. Also notice his faux-hawk has been toned down as well.

Casey Abrams  maintains his semi-hobo look with the one-size-too-big pants that are a bit too long but now he's mixing it with a more tapered black waxed cotton jacket over a t-shirt. Still unshaven and grungy but sexier. Not so dirty anymore!

Paul McDonald could be the lost Beatle with his fitted and very snug style, reminiscent of 60's London. Now he's introducing some interesting pieces like this short tails jacket.

Let's take it to the church! Amen my brethren!

Jacob Lusk is the new Luther VanDross and they have cleaned him up and given him a more crooner-esque look with a suit, tie and pocket square. A definite improvement from the I'm-still-a-kid-and-I-need-to-dress-like-one look he was sporting before. 

Not much has has changed when it comes to Scotty Mccreery and Stefano Langone styling except that they too have been toned down brought to a more current look.







 

12 outfits in 3 hours on Live TV? Sure!

12 different outfits in 3 hours is not as difficult as it sounds when you have a savvy team in charge.

Here is what happened. 

Supervising producer of Good Day LA - and five time Emmy winner - Lisa Bernstein calls in to Sy Devore - my place of work - around 6:15 PM on Tuesday. Danny Marsh - the owner of Sy Devore and one of my best friends - answered and the call and a challenge was presented.  

The Challenge

The male host of Good Day LA has been harassed by his two co-hosts, Jillian Barberie and Dorothy Lucey about his look. They were bored with the fact that he was always wearing the same bland look of shirt and ties over and over again.

Our challenge was to create 12 looks that we would put on Steve during the 3 hour telecast the following morning. And by morning I mean, we had to be at the studio ready to go at 6:00 AM. Now we have less than 12 hours to make this happen.

Important to know that we had never met Steve Edwards in person, so he was never measured for sizes. Lisa gave us sizes to the best of her knowledge but anybody in the fashion business can tell you that unless you have the person in front of you sizing can be quite a gamble.

Call to Action

Danny picks up the phone and calls me right away. I was driving on the 101 on my way to the gym - leaving on a one-week cruise on Sunday and plan on wearing a Speedo by the pool so I NEED the gym. However, I love a challenge, I love what I do - styling men - and I love Danny Marsh so I turned my little VW around and headed back to Sy Devore.

Once I got there we started to pull outfits together. We were told to not create more than one shirt and tie outfit and to focus mostly on fun and more current looks, so that gave us an idea of how to navigate through this. By 9:00 PM we had pulled 15 different looks and had a couple of bags of extra pieces in case we needed to make changes on the spot once we got there.

So, looks are pulled, Danny's car is loaded, we have crossed our t's and dotted our i's, now all we need to do is sleep quickly cause we have an early call tomorrow.

Moment of Truth

We arrived early at Good Day LA so by the time Steve Edwards got there at 6:00 AM we were all ready for him. Lisa introduced us to Steve and share some of the looks we had selected for him to wear on camera in the next 3 hours. He smiled and was totally into it.  We were relieved and grateful, cause at least now we know two very important things. 

1. Steve Edwards is a really nice guy with a great sense of humor

2. He's into it and he likes the various looks.

The only question now was. Did we pull the right sizes?

The answer was yes we did. The stars aligned and it all fit him him like a glove.

I have added some of the looks throughout for you to see what we did.

It is worth noting how you can have fun with clothes at any age. Though some of the outfits we pulled for Steve were just silly and funny, the majority of them are current looks that can be made age appropriate with the proper styling. Perfect fit and proper styling is what makes the look come together. Confidence in what you are wearing is what make you stand out. 

Feel free to contact me at vincentspov@gmail.com for any advice or guidance you may need in the areas of fashion and lifestyle. A little help goes a long way and I am here to help!

Some of the looks

Leather jackets in two very distinct styles

Weekend morning casual

Weeknights dinner and a movie!

Daytime anchorman, nighttime hipster!

For the last look, Steve wanted to wear my outfit and so we switched. Luckily we wear the same size!

Big thank you to Lisa Bernstein for making the call to Sy Devore. 

Thank you to Danny Marsh for continuing to believe in me. 

Thank you to Dorothy Lucey and Jillian Barberie who were so welcoming and excited to participate in these shenanigans.

A depth of gratitude to Steve Edwards for being such a sport and allowing us to manhandle him for 3 hours. 

And thank you all for supporting my fashion and lifestyle endeavors!

Oscars Best Dressed Men 2011

Of all the awards shows this year, it was the Oscars that truly got the stars - and their stylists - to pay attention and step up their fashion game.

However............Oscar awards and red carpet fashions were upstaged in the media the very next morning by Charlie Sheen's drug addiction rantings.

Yes it is true, we have arrive at a time in life where reality TV has taken over the magic of make believe. Charlie Sheen and his drug induced - allegedly -  TV interviews have upstaged the Oscars. GMA, the Today Show and the Morning Show have all given the Oscars relatively minimal coverage and Charlie Sheen has taken control of the airwaves with his insane rantings about his life.

Unbelievable! And at the end of the day, who cares?

Well; millions of people are watching so they must. And I do cause I'm watching it too. I'm watching because it is comical and because I really don't feel any empathy for Sheen at this point.
I too had my romance with drugs and alcohol and know what is like to feel that way. I know what is like to feel like you got all the answers and you are better than everyone. I know what is like to feel you are special and no one understands you.

I also know that nothing can happen until he is absolutely done. Right now drugs and alcohol are still working and Sheen is still getting off on them, so why stop?
Once Sheen reaches that place where no matter how much drugs he takes or how much alcohol he drinks, he is unable to feel that exhilarating high again, then there will be a profound and undeniable shift. The drugs stop working and he's out of plans and ideas.  Then he'll be ready to get help. Good news is, eventually he will get there. Not so good news...........a lot of people die before they do.

So if I can relate, why am I not empathetic?

I guess I was angry about two paragraphs ago and what I really am feeling now is pity.
I pity Charlie Sheen. I'm sorry he's not done. I'm sorry he may never be done. I'm sorry he may die.

I'm most sorry and truly feel badly for his family and all the lives he's touched that are affected by his actions.  His children - especially the older ones - his parents and siblings, some of which are celebrities themselves and have to suffer the humiliation in the public eye.

Perhaps I'm following Sheen's spiral into the abyss so closely because I have not seen the affects of addiction in the body and the mind up-close, for over 16 years and it feels a little bit like a trip down memory lane. Perhaps I'm angry that this has to happen to anyone. Perhaps I'm saddened that there isn't anything anyone can do for Sheen right now. Or perhaps - like GMA, the Today Show and the Morning Show - I am more interested and seduced by real life high drama than art or fashion. 

In any case, having said all that, I feel better now so I am ready to return to my original topic:

Oscar's red carpet fashion for men.

Nostalgia was a big trend at the red carpet this year for men. We saw a big return to the bow tie and the wide lapel and even a couple of white dinner jackets. 
I will start off with the best dressed couple of the evening, Armie Hammer and his wife Elizabeth Chambers. Not only are these too styled impeccably, they seem so happy and comfortable it is beautiful to watch. Totally effortless!

Here we can see how both Jake Gyllenhal and Jeremy Renner opted for the more traditional bow tie. Jake Gyllenhall prefers a very current high double breasted tuxedo while Jeremy Renner goes for the more conservative shawl collar and both create a retro look that is timeless and elegant.

I will not take time to talk about the men who should fire their stylist after Oscar night, I will simply share this photo with you and allow you to compare for yourselves instead. 

You tell me who got it right and who missed the mark between Robert Downry Jr. and Jude Law.

 

And once again the best dressed man of the night and the best dressed man for all of this year's award shows is Colin Firth. Always well groomed, exceptionally tailored and elegantly formal as the perfect gentleman should be for any black tie affair. Once again Tom Ford dresses Colin Firth and it is a match made in fashion heaven.