SAG Awards Red Carpet wrap-up

The red carpet at the SAG awards was filled with a lot of misses and very few hits. Being the middle child of the award shows after the Golden Globes and just before the Oscars, the SAG awards seem to confuse a lot of actors - and the stylists who dress them - tremendously.

The trend of the night for the men, was black on black with LL Cool-J, Mathew Morrison and Christian Bale leading the pack.

Mathew Morrison also shared something which I find odd. If you desire a more relaxed and comfortable look and choose to opt out of the tie option, then I suggest you follow through with your idea and wear a black suit and not a tuxedo. A tuxedo with an open collar shirt gives the impression that your look is unfinished. I am sure Mr. Morrison did not forget his necktie or bow tie at home, however it looks as if he did. I wonder if perhaps that is the look he was going for. I do have to admit that Mathew Morrison looked great even with his fashion faux-pas.

I would also like to point out that my pet-peeve was quite the trend as well. I will call it the oops-I-forgot-to-pull-my-tie-all-the-way-up-to-the-top-of-my-collar trend therefore, I will expose the button on my collar.

The other eyesore we enjoyed on the SAG red carpet was the loose tie-knot with the unbuttoned collar. With a tuxedo? Seriously? Seriously?

The list was endless in this category Jesse Eisenberg, Josh Hutcherson from The "Kids Are Alright"- who otherwise was very well tailored -, James Franco and the most tragic of all Chris Colfer to name a few.

But the top honors for the

what-were-you-thinking-did-you-look-at-yourself-in-the-mirror-before-you-left-the-house goes to, Jesse Tyler Ferguson

Jesse, I would like to say to you that I am available to assist you with all your styling needs since I know that you will be firing your current stylist after you view these photos.

Now for some good news.

There were some beatifully tailored and groomed gentlemen as well like, the always well dressed Jon Hamm, Dennis Haysbert, Steve Carell, John Krasinsky - stunning in navy on navy Prada -, Josh Duhamel and the best dressed man of the evening Colin Firth

It is worth taking a moment to mention Justin Timberlake who looked hip and true to his personality and was almost my favorite guy of the night. The problem for me was that my eye kept going to those two white lines across his tie and kept me from taking in the entire look. I wonder if the tie was completely striped or if instead of stripes he would have opted for a tie pin, if that would of made more sense and bring in some cohesiveness to the outfit?

It's easy to fall in love with individual pieces, the challenge is putting it all together in a way that makes sense as one outfit. This is where the expert eye is needed. It is at this time when a stylist can come in and make it work by having the overall picture in mind and knowing how to bring it to life.

But all was not lost at the SAG awards red carpet after all. Men's fashion has a future in Hollywood because Nolan Gould - from the hit ABC show "Modern Family" - has shown us that he is quite the fashionista and great personal style will live on!

Congratulations Nolan and thank you for keeping men's fashion alive!

Tying the knot

There are three standard ways to tie a  necktie and every man should know at least one. After you finish reading this article you will too!

How to tie a knot, is a topic of conversation with about 90% of the men I style. Some share with me their story of when their father taught them how to do the Four-in-Hand, some claim their wives always "do that kind of stuff", some are very confused between the Half Windsor and the Full Windsor and some just give up and use their old clip-on ties. Do they even make those anymore?

My father was quite the dresser and I have the good fortune to have been taught the Full Windsor - the most complicated of all tie knots - at a very young age. My gift to you on this day is to show you how to do the three basic tie knots..

The Four-in-Hand

The simplest and most common tie knot gets its name after a gentlemens' club in England during the 1850's. Legend has it that members began wearing their neckties this way, thus making it fashionable.

The 4 in hand is most practical when using thin ties or knit ties. Also if you are dealing with a thick cashmere tie, the Four-in-Hand allows for a less bulky knot, which can be helpful if the shirt collar is  round or short. 

The Full Windsor

The Full Windsor knot is the thickest one of all. Named after the Duke of Windsor - King Edward the VII - though he did not invent it, he did favor the thicker, bulkier knot. The Full Windsor knot is most commonly used for the more formal occasions and is best suited with spread or cutaway collars. The Full Windsor is also erroneously called the Double Windsor.

The Half Windsor

The Half Windsor is the son of the Full Windsor and it is only slightly less bulky yet producing a very similar triangular knot. The only real difference being that it is brought up and around the loop just on one side instead of both sides - see diagram. This type of knot works best with medium to light fabric shirts.

If you have read this far, by now you should have a little history, a diagram to follow and a better idea of when to implement the various knots, so my job here is almost done. I just need to share a small pet-peeve of mine regarding the positioning of the tie on the collar.

The tie - regardless of the tie knot - should always be pulled all the way up on the collar. Never showing the collar button. In the case of loosening the tie knot, be sure to unbutton the collar button. This creates a more relaxed look that makes sense. Other wise you look at the very best, silly!

On-line shopping

With the Internet as the all-encompassing way of life, we don't need to leave our homes for almost anything anymore; including shopping. However shopping for clothing is a tactile experience and should not be done via the Internet.

We live in an age where we can find anything in the Internet, even love - and I use the term loosely - without ever leaving our home. With Match.com or E-Harmony.com the search for the perfect mate has become very convenient. Think of it as a casting process of sorts. The only people you will meet are the ones that will pass the preliminary rounds of photos, videos, video chats, etc.

You can book your travel and find a vacation home on-line. You can shop for groceries on-line. You can do almost anything on-line these days - and I do - however, I draw the line at clothing and shoe shopping.

Shopping for shoes or clothing is an in-person, tactile experience.
How does it feel on your skin? 

Is this the right color for my complexion? 

Is this wool too thick or not thick enough?

Is it the proper length?

How does it fit?

But most importantly, how do I feel with it on? 

I can never experience that on-line. Yes there are perceived benefits to on-line shopping at sites like Gilt Group or Dino Direct. You will save time, you can shop anytime of day or night and you can save money. But do you really save time and money? 

Play along with me for a minute.

You found that perfect cotton navy Marc Jacobs shirt at Gilt Group for $195 from its original $325 store price and they have it in your size. Great! This is exactly the shirt you need to complete your outfit for that date -  Match.com is your new cupid - you are going to in a week. If you buy it now - 2:30 in the afternoon as you are shopping from your desk when you should be working - you will receive free shipping. 

OMG! How can you not buy this right now? It is a no-brainer! But is it?

A couple of days later the garment arrives. You realize, that beautiful navy you saw on your 17" laptop screen, is really a very odd and muted dark blue. The size Large you ordered barely fits and this cotton is so thick, there's no way you can wear it until next Fall at which point t will be out of style. So now what? OK no problem, you can send it back and start all over again.

So! Did you really save time and or money? Let's see.

You now have to take the time to re-package and mail back the garment. Wait for your Credit Card to be reimbursed. Hope that there are no hidden fees, oh and yes, your date is tomorrow and you still don't have that perfect navy shirt.

I wish that I was just making this up but unfortunately this happens all the time. This is a true story from a guy who walked in to my store in a panic some time ago. Luckily for him, he found me and I was able to put him in the perfect shirt. I was also able to give him pointers on his overall look and improve it by helping him find the perfect fit for his body. Making him look his best and improving his chances at love with his Match.com date.

I love the Internet - hellooooooooooo I have my own blog - I shop for books and music at Amazon.com all the time and I still book my reservations on-line as well. But when it comes to shopping, I like to keep it old school. Shopping is an experience that should be enjoyed and not rushed. Get out of your house and go shopping in person you will save time and money in the long run and you will definitely look better on your date!

Gingham then, now and forever!

Gingham shirts are not a thing of the past, they are the hottest shirt on the runways of Milan, Paris and New York this year.

The name gingham originates from an adjective in the Malay language, ging-gang, meaning striped and when it was originally imported into Europe in the 17th century it was a striped fabric. It wasn't until the 18th century when it started being produced in the mills of Manchester England that it was woven into checked or plaid patterns, which we recognized as gingham today.

When I was growing up in Havana Cuba in the 1960's my mom - who has been a seamstress since the very young age of 15 - would make me short sleeve gingham shirts. I remember I had yellow, red, green and my favorite one; navy. She would often pair the shirts with short pants, knee high socks and lace up shoes. For the more formal occasions - like my cousin's birthday parties - the gingham shirt would show up with a bow-tie under a suit with short pants. Yes my loyal bog followers, this is way before the Thom Browne short pant suit revolution. So I guess it would be fair to say that my mom and I were ahead of the times!

When I migrated to Miami, and I started to get familiar with the American way of life - watching color TV -  I associated gingham with something the hillbillies wore. Gingham shirts was what most of the cast of Hee Haw was wearing, Maryanne from Gilligan's Island wore a gingham shirt. I grew to abhor the gingham shirt. It was tacky, declasse.  Ugghh!!!

Well I have since changed my mind radically and my love for the gingham shirt has returned. Besides, gingham is what is hot today. Gingham is here to stay and it has become a year round fabric. The Milan and Paris men shows for both Spring/Summer and Fall//Winter 2011 have featured gingham shirts in a multitude of ways.

Commonly used as a very casual shirt, you can it dress it down tucked into a pair of khakis or even a pair of rolled up jeans with a casual shoe and no socks. You can also wear it  un-tucked over a pair of shorts with sandals or sneakers.

During the summer months you can dress it up with a light fabric pastel colored suit with or without a tie.

As a more formal business look during the week, you can feature the gingham shirt with a navy suit and tie.

Wear it under a thick knit sweater or under a cardigan and cashmere sport coat during the winter months. You can also feature the gingham shirt with three piece fall/winter suit.

Most importantly, feel free to wear gingham shirts any time of the year. Buy gingham shirts and make them a part of your wardrobe, they will be here for a long time. Designers from Eton to J.Crew all have a version of the gingham shirt so price points vary making it affordable to all budgets. 

As always, I encourage you to be adventurous when creating your look and always be true to who you are. Have fun with your new - or old - gingham shirt!

Golden Globes Men's Fashion Wrap Up

Talking primarily about the men; the Golden Globes red carpet display of celebrities was not quite the fashion excitement and inspiration I was expecting, instead it was more a sea of predictability with a touch of retro.
The Men

The shawl collar made quite the comeback this year with celebrities like Colin Firth,  Matt Bomer, Ryan Gosling and Chris Hensworth leading the way. The fit on these gentlemen tuxedos was impeccable and their grooming was top rate with the slight exception of Chris Hensworth's hair which could have been just a bit more groomed.

The peak lapel was also a top contender at this year's awards. Celebrities like Jim Parsons, Alex Pettyfer, Idris Elba and Robert Pattinson did justice to this style. The standard notch lapel was featured on actors like Jake Gyllenhal, Michael Douglas, Mathew Morrison, Brad Pitt, Andrew Garfield and Jeff Bridges. Tom Hanks was dapper in a thin lapel double breasted tuxedo. All the above mentioned gentleman wore properly tailored tuxedos and were well groomed. Kudos to you gentlemen!

What impressed me the most this year is that the best dressed category is filled by the new young Hollywood. This is especially exciting because it tells me that new kids on the block know how to do glamour and will hopefully keep it alive in years to come.

I must also give a nod to Bruce Willis and Silvester Stallone who proved the old Hollywood guard can still be dapper and appropriate.

However there were also some disasters in regards to fit and grooming. The unfortunate list includes, Kevin Bacon, Matt Damon, Jesse Eisinberg, Al Pacino, Steve Buscemi and Justin Bieber who just looked so uncomfortable and out of place I wish someone would have taken him home. And why was Eric Stonestreet wearing a Santa Claus pin on his lapel? Oh and Robert Downy Jr. Did anyone tell him he was going to the Golden Globes and not the MTV Movie Awards? Lastly, why was Blair Underwood wearing a leather tuxedo? Maybe he thought it was uniform night at the Eagle Bar in Silverlake.

Christian Bale and Johnny Depp were true to their bad-boy character and yet managed to pull off a good look without compromising their individuality.
The Ladies

Just a couple of remarks about the women, because I have to. I cannot not say something.

Helen Bonham Carter, Julianne Moore, Halle Berry, January Jones, Katie Segall, Sofia Vergara, Gabourey Sidibe, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Tilda Swinton, what were you thinking? Big horror points to the otherwise beautiful Natalie Portman who was reminiscent of Bjork and her famous swan dress many years ago. 

Jennifer Lopez looked beautiful but in a matronly not-sexy-at-all way.  Has Jenny From The Block become one of the Housewives Of Beverly Hills?

It is now that time, but before I share my picks for best dressed of the night it is absolutely worth mentioning Joseph Gordon Levitt whose tuxedo fit slightly tight, however he was dapper, classic and yet current. Kudos to JGL! 

Winners
My pick for best dressed man is a tie between Jim Parsons and Matt Bomer.
A close second goes to Michael Douglas who along with his wife Katherine Zeta Jones get my vote best dressed couple.
My vote for most glamorous, beautifully and perfectly style women go to Anne Hathaway, Emma Stone, Olivia Wilde and Scarlett Johansson.

Overall a lukewarm evening for fashion with no new fashion trends being set and no real stand-outs. I will keep my fingers closed and hope that my fellow stylists in Hollywood step it up for the upcoming Oscars.

Getting ready for a big event

Waiting for the last minute to get ready for a big event can be disastrous. The day of your main event should be utilized to pamper yourself and be as relaxed as possible.
Take the time to try on your outfit at least a day or two prior to the event. Make sure all the garment pieces fit perfectly and they are in mint condition. Make sure all your accessories are in order and your shoes are shined. By doing this you can take care of any last minute glitches that may pop up with plenty of time and not have to panic at the last minute.
Chances are if you are attending a big event, that it is a special occasion for you, so why not treat yourself on that day.
Start off by getting in a good cardio work-out to get your blood flowing and set off the endorphins responsible for feeling good. Follow this by getting a body scrub and oil body massage. Take time to have a light lunch before going off to your favorite shaving bar for that perfect facial grooming.
If times allows take a nap or if you are so inclined, indulge in a  20 to 30 minute meditation. It's always so beneficial to you - and the people around you - to be centered and in a state of gratitude.
By now you should be ready to start getting dressed. I guarantee you that if you are able o follow these simple steps you will absolutely look your best and feel fantastic. You will have a great time!

And the winner is............

It’s awards season here in Hollywood again and that means…..red carpet time! Millions of people are glued to their TVs way before the actual shows during the red carpet coverage just to catch a glimpse at what everybody is wearing. So if you are lucky enough to be walking the red carpet yourself, here are some pointers on how to give your formal wear the most fashionable and traditionally dapper look.

Choosing a Tuxedo

The standard for formal wear is tuxedo and the standard for tuxedo is black. When shopping for a tuxedo, look for something that is classic and timeless.

A timeless classic tuxedo jacket will come in one or two button style. Avoid the three button or double breast jacket. The notch lapel tuxedo seem to be the industry standard, though a peak lapel can also qualify if the lapel is not too wide or too skinny. For the most adventurous fashionista, the shawl collar tuxedo has a retro feel and can help you stand out in a  crowd.

The most important consideration should be the fit. Make sure that when buying or even renting a tuxedo, to work with an expert tailor that really knows his trade. Make sure the jacket length is right for your height and that the frame and waist of the jacket feels like a gentle hug. The sleeves should be just long enough to allow your shirt cuff to peek through.

The tuxedo pants should make a timeless statement as well. Choose flat front tuxedo slacks. I happen to hate pleats on pants and I really hate them on tuxedos, so stay away from those.  The pants should hug your body, without being tight and should fall beautifully without any excess material or folds. Make sure the pockets are not flaring out like wings on a plane. The standard rise (from the crotch to the waistline) should be about 9 to 10 1/4 inches in length. A belt is never worn with tuxedo pants. Instead opt for suspenders or the more classic cummerbund. And finally tuxedo pants should never have cuffs.

The Perfect White Shirt

The tuxedo shirt should be crisp white and the standard classic design. Choose shirts in either cotton or linen with a semi-spread or standard collar. A club collar (round collar) could also be worn when creating a more sophisticated and retro look. Avoid wing tip collar shirts unless you graduated high school in the 70's and feel the need to re-live your prom. Also avoid button down collars and wide spread collars

Make sure the shirt fits snugly so as to avoid excess fabric bulging through or creating wrinkles through the jacket. Pleated front shirts are a matter of taste.

A tuxedo shirt should always have French cuffs.

To Bow Tie or Not

The bow tie and necktie are both acceptable choices with today’s contemporary tuxedo. It is truly a personal choice, and comes down to a matter of physique. For the slightly overweight or vertically challenged man, the bow tie is not the best way to go. In the same way the extremely tall and slim gentleman should avoid the neck tie and choose a bow tie instead. When using a necktie the full or double Windsor knots are recommended.

Black is the standard color for ties, though navy, gray and white are also acceptable choices today.

Shoes Me

Patent leather shoes are usually frowned upon these days by the culture vultures that will take those red carpet walkers apart on Monday, however; I truly feel strongly about them, especially when wearing a fitted more contemporary tuxedo. I believe they serve as the equivalent to Fred Leighton diamonds on a woman. It just adds the right amount of male bling! Wear patent leather shoes with gusto and pride.

Accessories Accessories

Here is where it all comes together. The accessories put the finishing touches to your look.

When choosing a shirt that require studs keep it simple. Use silver, white or black studs unless you want to make a statement - in which case add jewel studs to your look.

For cuff links, make sure they are sophisticated and simple (silver, gold, diamond. pearl, precious jewels) and not whimsical and colorful - unless of course you are a teenager in which case have fun with it.

Pocket Squares should be white unless you are wearing a color tie and feel the need to match it. The pocket square should have a simple square fold and peek through about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch.

Formal wear traditionally demands dark socks but this is where you can have the most fun even if you wearing a traditional look. Colored socks give you that individuality that can make you a swash of brilliance in a sea of black and white penguins.

The perfect watch is slim and understated. Stay away from flashy timepieces or multi bracelets around your wrist

Of course this is just a very basic overview of how to dress formal and traditional. I encourage you to have fun and exercise your individuality.  Make sure to look in the mirror when you are getting ready and before leaving the house like what you see. You will never please everyone all the time but you can definitely feel good about your choices everyday.

Feel free to contact me at with any questions or feedback. I can also be available to dress and style you anytime of year and for any and all occasions.

I'll be back with my own fashion wrap up after each of the awards shows this year. Maybe I will be blogging about you! Have fun on the red carpet!

First time out!

Hi there!.... whomever you are, if even anyone is out there since I have not even told anyone about the Blog yet. I figure I greet you in case you eventually show up and read this. 
So: 
HI, Welcome to Vincen't's POV!!!

That's me on the side there. That was taken in St. Barths last Easter. My hair is longer now and I've grown a beard, but you can get the idea.

This is a very exciting evening (sarcastic smile) as I try to navigate through this Blog set-up thing which is like landing in China and wanting to speak the language upon arrival. Aggghhhhh!!!!!

It definitely is a generational thing. Trying to figure this out is definitely making me aware of my age which is something I started having an issue with this year so thanks a lot, Blogspot for contributing to my dilemma.

So this will be just a test to see if I can even post on my own Blog.

Oh by the way, my Blog is going to be amazing and very informative; once I figure this out and I urge you to follow me. I will be blogging about fashion, grooming, lifestyle, entertainment, socially relevant and current issues all from my perspective and sharing my point of view of everything I experience in life today and through the years. 
Though the Blog is mostly focused on men, I think women can have a lot of fun following it and get lots of necessary information to have a better relationship with the men in your life.

OK I'm posting now.

'Wish me luck! Agggghhhhh!