Pick of the Week - Solid Color T-Shirts

It may seem boring, but solid color t-shirts are a staple in my closet.  They are must-haves for me, and they should be for you, too.  Graphic tees are cool, sometimes.  I can remember the exact moment in my life when I realized I needed better t-shirts.  I was moving out of my apartment I shared with my brother into my apartment I would share with my wife.  I was putting my clothes into my dresser and noticed all my tees were Billabong, Rip Curl, RVCA, and Quiksilver.  I had a ton of Quiksilver shirts because my sister works there, and I get a lot of free clothes from her.  I looked at my collection of shirts and thought, "At what age do I stop wearing these tees? At the very least I should have other shirts besides these?"  I got rid of most of the shirts with some sort of design or logo.  I kept a few I really loved.  It does not hurt to have a few graphic tees, but get rid of the "I'm with Stupid," "F.B.I. Female Body Inspector," and those kinds of shirts.  I went on a hunt for colored, plain t-shirts.

To be honest, I thought they looked a bit boring online, and they very well may.  What I realized when I purchased a few was the versatility and ease that comes with them.  They go with anything; jeans, shorts, pair a shirt with some slacks and a sports jacket.  Anywhere, anytime you can wear one.  My older tees I use for the beach.  Mrs. Straight guy actually sleeps in one of my Banana Republic tees that unfortunately shrank in the dryer.  The best part is the cost.  I can get a t-shirt from American Apparel, Banana Republic, or J. Crew for under $25.  Some designers have plain t-shirts from $50 and up.  I am looking at you William Rast.  I like designer clothes, but I refuse to spend $50 on a plain t-shirt.  If you have common sense, you would, too.  I doubt there is a significant difference between a $25 tee and a $50 one.  Step up your wardrobe.  Get some solid colored shirts.  They are far from plain.  One more thing, get rid of that Sex Pistols t-shirt.  Yes, they were good, but they were broken up long before you were born.

Pick of the Week - Jack's Threads

I am a little hesitant to tell people about this Pick of the Week.  It's like a secret beach or restaurant that you don't want to get crowded, so you don't tell anyone about it.  I guess I will let a secret out.  That secret is Jack's Threads (jacksthreads.com).  If you do not know about this website, it is okay, not a lot of people do.  I had heard about it awhile ago, but I did not check it out.  Shame on me.  Jack's Threads is a members-only website that has incredible deals on clothes.  Creative Recs for $40.  John Varvatos duffel bag for $150.  Selvedge denim for under $80.  Madness, pure madness.

Don't be scared away by the "members-only" tag.  You can sign up with your Facebook account or request an invite.  It is really easy to become a member.  You will not be disappointed.  I don't know how Jack's Threads are able to sell these clothes, shoes, and accessories at such a crazy discount.  Frankly, I don't care.  I'll take it.  So reluctantly I say, spread the word.

Is "trying too hard" bad?

I have been lagging, and I do apologize to all two of my followers.  I am changing things up a bit.  I will try to get a "Pick of the Week" post every week. As for the "Good or Bad," this will be a little less consistent.  I will do it organically, as a trend comes to my attention. I do not want to force that post every week. I will try to post twice a week.  The topic today is trying too hard.

Mrs. Straight Guy has a very good friend from high school that we will call Hope.  Hope was dating this guy, Stu (not his real name).  We loved them as a couple.  They were fun, and we went on weekend getaways and had the best times.  One thing about Stu that I used to point out to Mrs. Straight Guy was his fashion sense.  He tried to be fashionable, but in my opinion, he mixed too many styles or didn't wear them right.  For example, one time we went out for Hope's birthday, and Stu got dressed up.  He wore a white button up, grey pants, and a vest.  That, in theory, sounds nice.  It was not.  The pants and vest did not match, they were different hues of grey, and his shirt was not plain white.  I believe it was pinstriped and too big.  It didn't look good, but Hope thought he looked good, and more importantly Stu thought he looked good.

I use Stu as an example because I felt like he tried too hard.  He was trying to cram as many fashion trends as he could in each outfit.  When we were in Vegas, he wore jeans, a plain white t-shirt tucked in   to the jeans, and a sports jacket that was way too big.  I thought it was bad, and I pointed it out to Mrs. Straight Guy.

As I look back on Stu, I try to figure out what was wrong.  I think he missed the fashion mark, but he was trying.  Doesn't trying count for something?  There is a negative connotation with the term "trying too hard."  Why?  At least that person is trying.  Some girl or guy dressed up, with their hair done perfectly, make-up on, heels on, Supras or Creative Recs on, should not be ridiculed.  I will admit I am the worst culprit.  I make fun of girls that wear wedges to Trader Joe's or make-up to the gym.  I call guys that do their hair before they go to the gym "douche nozzles."

All that changed when I saw the documentary Mansome by Morgan Spurlock.  There was a part in there about a guy who was a self proclaimed metrosexual.  He gets his eyebrows threaded, fake tans, his hair and outfit are perfect before he walks out the door.  At first, I thought he was such a jerk.  He showed a picture of him in high school, a skinny Arab kid that wore a turban everyday.  As you can imagine, he was teased, and as he got older he didn't want to be teased for the way he looked anymore.  Everyday this guy puts a great deal of effort into the way he looks.  He tries very, very hard.  I am not saying Stu has self-esteem issues.  All I am saying is that part changed the way I looked at Stu and other people.  Someone may be trying very hard to look good so he or she does not get made fun of, but in a vicious and ironic twist, are being made fun of because they try too hard.

I did not mean to drop a moral issue in this blog.  I don't think it is.  It is just something to think about next time, for me at least.  Is there something really wrong with someone trying hard to look good?  Can he or she try too hard?  What if that person needs to try hard?  Her amount of makeup or his outfit may not be for me or you, but it may be because of me or you.

Pick of the Week - Royal Elastics

These shoes are weird, just plain weird. That is a compliment. I like weird. They're a cross between a slip-on and an athletic shoe. There are also boot-esque shoes. I can't explain what Royal Elastics (www.royalelastics.com) is going for with their shoes, but I love whatever it is. There are no laces, and obviously everything is elastic, hence the name.

These shoes are versatile, too. Wear them when going out to dinner with your friends while you discuss the economic crisis in Europe. Wear them to a party with your friends while you discuss who is taking a shot with you. Either situation, these shoes will go with whatever you are wearing. Royal Elastics shoes are so different and weird that they look good no matter what location or occasion. Buy some. Add some weirdness to your feet. Is that a slip-on? A skate shoe? Boots? Who cares.

Own it.

I missed last week's Good or Bad. Sorry, but I will write one this week. On to other things, specifically "owning it." Mrs. Straight Guy and I just saw a Morgan Spurlock documentary called Mansome. It focuses on the modern man's need to groom, what it means to be a man, and hair, lots of hair. One part stood out to me in Mansome. Spurlock is talking about his handlebar mustache and different styles of facial hair and he said, "You have to own it." I thought that statement is so true when it comes to fashion. You have to own it.

One person's style may not be another's style. Fashion can be very subjective, to an extent. The important part is "owning it." By "owning it," I mean be comfortable, confident, and make it yours. Rock whatever look you are going for. It may be Silverlake Hipster or East Coast Preppy. Go for it. Own it because you like it. Do not wear or try to fit in a style just because someone says it is cool and trendy. Colored pants for guys are becoming a trend. I don't think it's a good trend. You will not see me wearing green or red pants. However, I saw a guy in Vegas not long ago wearing red pants, a blue jacket, and a red bow tie. I thought he looked awesome, but I would not feel comfortable wearing that outfit. He did, and he looked good because he owned it. He was confident and made it his.

I know I sound contradictory. Here I am writing about what is good and bad, picking clothes I think are good, and sounding like I pretend to be some sort of official on fashion guidelines. I say baggy shorts do not look good, nor do sandals and pants. Yet here I am saying as long as you are "owning it", you will look good. Let me clear this up by saying I am a fashion hater. I will admit it. I will see, what I consider, bad fashion and point it out. Like I said, fashion is subjective. I may be walking down the street wearing my modern-fit chambray shorts and my V-neck shirt, and someone may think I look like a tool. They are wrong, of course, but everyone is entitled to their opinion. Own it. Forget the haters.

Pick of the Week - Kane and Unke

I don't know much about Kane and Unke (kaneandunke.com). I stumbled upon them because I saw one of their jackets on Swell's website. It did not take me long to find things I like. Kane and Unke clothing is very muted in terms of color; black, white, gray, navy, and that is it. The clothes are very clean and not flashy. I think the jackets are the standout pieces. My favorite is the Milk Mad Pocket Bomber jacket, but you can't go wrong with any. They are sophisticated, yet have a youthful, modern vibe.

You are not going to find a lot of info on their website. I think Kane and Unke are fairly new, so their collection is not complete. If their current stuff is a clue of what's to come, I am excited for their future. Get a jacket or shirt for yourself, your man, your brother, or whoever. Jump on the Kane and Unke train before you miss it.

My Style Icon

Just look at them. Can it get any cooler? Above are my maternal grandparents. My grandpa died when I was 5, so I really didn't know him. I am one of the younger grandkids, number 15 out of 19, so I don't have any stories or memories of him. My grandma just celebrated her 85th birthday. She lets me and my sister go through our grandpa's closet and take things, probably because we are her favorites. His style was amazing. My sister has a lot of pictures of him. We say that we get our fashion sense from him. In every picture he looks so cool, and yet his style looks so effortless. In this picture, all he is wearing is a button-up and pants, but look at the sunglasses and the hair. I think it is the little touches that he put into every outfit that make him stand out in my mind.

My favorite and most prized fashion piece is a Yves St. Laurent tie of his. It is a solid, dark grey tie with the YSL monogram on the bottom. I don't know how expensive YSL was back in his days, but it is expensive now. Maybe he treated himself, or maybe YSL wasn't popular enough yet to be expensive. I like to think he treated himself for all his hard work being a carpenter and raising 7 kids. He did not have a big house or fancy cars, but he had excellent clothes. My grandpa is my style icon, my fashion idol. I try to look as good and cool as he did, but with that same effortless feel. And my grandma, she does not look bad either. She, too, had an amazing style. They look like the latin JFK and Jackie O. Amazing and effortless.

Good or Bad? - The Fedora

Francis Albert Sinatra wore fedoras all the time, and he looked damn good. Humphrey Bogart wears one throughout Casa Blanca. Don Draper on Mad Men can pull it off. So we can wear them now, right? Justin Timberlake wears fedoras, so it's cool now. Wrong, wrong, completely wrong. I know Justin Timberlake wears them occasionally, but I am going to confess something. I don't think he can pull it off. It is too hard to wear a fedora without looking like you are trying too hard to look cool or trying to look like you are off the set of Mad Men. Let's face the fact that we will never look as sharp as our grandpas did. The fashion back then was so effortless, and that is what made it so good.

Fedoras were a part of our grandpas' everyday fashion, but no more. They will forever be associated with the beginning and early 20th century. For this reason, they are not timeless. Let our grandpas have this look. You don't know what the Depression was like. You didn't fight in World War I or II. You have never had bootlegged alcohol during Prohibition. You should not wear a fedora. What do you think when you see a man or woman wearing something not age appropriate, like a 46 year-old mom wearing a pink tube top, glittery jeans, and pink wedges? What about a 53 year-old guy wearing torn jeans, Chuck Taylor shoes, and a t shirt with an ironic or funny quote? It is comical and kind of pathetic. Young man, leave the fedora to Sinatra, Draper, and Grandpa. We are not them.

Pick of the Week - Chino Shorts

You cannot, I repeat, you cannot go wrong wearing chino shorts. They are designed in a way that no man will look bad. Some people will hate on you though, depending on the length of them. I was wearing a pair that are about two inches above my knees. My uncle gave me a wedgie (yes, I am 28 and still get wedgies from my uncles), and told me my, now high, boxers match my high shorts. I told him they are chino shorts, and they are not meant to be long and baggy. I found his ridicule of my shorts odd seeing as back in his days no one wore long shorts. Everything was way above the knees. So I am just giving you a friendly heads up; depending on the length you or your boyfriend may be teased a bit. Wear them confidently, and it will not matter. "Haters gonna hate," as the cool kids say.

Chino shorts are very clean looking and can be worn with anything. When Mrs. Straight Guy and I were on our honeymoon in St. Lucia, I did not pack a single pair of pants. I brought my chino shorts and wore them everywhere, whether it was exploring the island paired with a t shirt or going out to dinner with a button-up. Like I said, you can't go wrong. Your or your man's closet should be filled with chino shorts. They will not break you bank account, either. You can get a pair from swell.com or jcrew.com for under $50, some for under $40.

I know cargo shorts are making an unfortunate comeback. To me, cargo shorts look messy. Guys, if all you are carrying is your wallet, cell phone, and keys you do not need that many pockets. Honestly, that is all you should be carrying, also some Burt's Bees Lip Balm. If you are traveling abroad and need to carry a bit more stuff, cargo shorts are acceptable, but you will definitely stand out as a tourist. Get some chino shorts, you will not regret it. However, consider this a warning my friends. Do some lunges and squats or suggest to your man that he should join you on a run. There is no where for your butt to hide in a pair of chino shorts.

Good or Bad? - V Neck T-Shirts

There is a line between a good V-neck and a bad V-neck. A good v-neck goes a little below your clavicle bone. I think those types of V-necks look good on any man of any shape. I own several, and they are my go-to shirt when it comes to going out on a casual date with Mrs. Straight Guy or  going to a bar. A V-neck can dress up a pair of jeans when paired with the right jacket. V-necks, usually, are good.

However, when the line is crossed into a bad V-neck, the results are scary. Watch Andy Samberg's Digital Short "V-Necks" with Ben Stiller, and you will see the line from good to bad crossed many times. Ladies can get away with plunging necklines because they are the far prettier sex. Men, when we wear deep v-necks we look like creepers, with a slight touch of attention whore. I do not care how buff and tan your chest looks, no one wants to see it out. I don't think anyone finds the hair sweater on your chest sexy, so please cover it up. The verdict is V-necks are good, but use common sense gentlemen.

This screams "Look at me!"

Pick of the Week - The Tie Bar (the online shop)

Two Chicago attorneys got tired of paying for expensive ties, so in 2004 they started The Tie Bar. They design and create their own products ranging from ties to cuff links. The best part is the price, $15. That's right. For $30, plus shipping and tax, you can get a great tie and tie bar to add that extra bit of class and sophistication to your outfit. The Tie Bar has helped many men accomplish any look they are going for, from Don Draper-esque to summertime hipster wedding, at a fraction of the cost.

Go on The Tie Bar website (thetiebar.com), and you will be blown away by all the options available at your fingertips. Click on the celebrity section and check out the many actors using their products. You can wear the same tie as Michael Fassbender or the same tie bar as Jake Gyllenhaal, and not have to pay hundreds of dollars. They even have a section to show you how to tie a tie, but seriously, if you do not know how to tie a tie you should not be shopping for them. Wedding season is in full swing. I have already been to one, and I am attending two more this year, possibly three. Catch the eye of that hot bridesmaid on the dance floor or the hot groomsman at the bar. Let The Tie Bar help you step up your wardrobe and game without diminishing your bank account.

Summer is here.

Summer is upon us! And everyone knows that summertime equals swimsuit time. Board shorts and trunks are, of course, the staple for men. Fellas, jean shorts are not an acceptable form of swimwear. If you plan on going to the beach dress accordingly. The only situation I can think of where jeans can be worn in the ocean is if your boat has sunk, you are a castaway, or some sort of refugee. In those cases, entering and exiting the ocean in jeans is ok. If you are going to a pool party, why wouldn't you wear board shorts? However, there is a fine line between board shorts looking good and looking bad.

Board shorts can be too big. Shorts an inch or two past the bottom of the knees are too big. It makes a guy look like a kid, and he borrowed some of his big brother's shorts. Also, no one wants to see ass crack. As a lean guy, wearing baggy board shorts does not make sense. Why would I want to look skinnier than I already am by wearing big shorts? Shorter guys should not wear board shorts past their knees. It makes them look shorter and stubby. On the flip side, board shorts can be too short. The "too short" argument is a little more subjective. One man's too short is another man's perfect length. A good guideline to go by is no one wants to see your meat and potatoes. One more thing, do not wear underwear under your board shorts. If you do, you will be mocked and made fun of by every sensible man at the pool party or beach. There is a perfect length of board short for every guy, and it lies somewhere between your mid knee and your mid thigh. Find it my friend, find it.

Good or Bad? - Sandals and Pants

At the end of every week, I am going to put up a "Good or Bad" post and weigh in on some sort of trend or topic. I'll give my opinion and reach a verdict at the end. If you agree or disagree with my call, let me know. This week, it is sandals with pants. Good or Bad? My fashion nemesis/counterpart Blanche sees this trend differently than I do. Let me go on the record by saying I think this is a bad look. Blanche thinks it's acceptable. There could be a regional difference behind our opposing opinions. He lives in Miami, where men go out in sandals paired with white pants, capris, or jeans. I get it. It is incredibly hot and humid there, but that still is not an acceptable reason to think this look is good.

My argument against this look is very logical. If it is too hot to wear shoes, why would you wear pants? If it is too cold to wear shorts, why would you wear sandals? This is the male equivalent to girls wearing Uggs and skirts. We all remember that look. I am from Southern California, the birthplace of this trend. I'll admit I liked it at first, but then I saw the flawed logic in it. The two just don't go together. Ladies, your feet say Autumn/Winter, but your ass and legs say Spring/Summer. Flip that, but apply it to sandals and pants. Gentlemen, your feet say Spring/Summer, but your legs and ass say Autumn/Winter. 

To counter Blanche's regional reason, I don't care how hot it is, if you are going out to a club or bar put some shoes on hippie. Sometimes looking good does not equal feeling good. Do you think girls wearing their heels or stilettos are feeling good? Probably not, but damn it they probably look good. Join with me in putting a stop to this trend. Ladies, tell your  man or friend it is a bad look. Men, tell your man or friend it is a bad look. Do not attempt this look, you will feel weird and uncomfortable, like something does not feel right. Sandals and pants, good or bad? Bad, in every way possible.

Pick of the Week

Accessories are just as much a part of fashion as clothing.  Today, I am talking bags, but please don't call this a murse (man purse).  It is nothing of the sort.  Murses are very common in Europe, but there they are called satchels or bags.  These awesome pieces of art and function fall under the "bag" category.  They are made by Jump From Paper (http://jumpfrompaper.com/), and they are visually crazy.  When I first saw their line, I thought "No way are those real."  Indeed, they are, and they provide a bit of fun to your daily life.

I take the train and ride my bike on a daily basis to work and home.  I pack a lunch everyday (side note: this saves a lot of money a month), and obviously need a place to put it.  I am not going to be sitting on the train or riding my bike with a ziplock bag filled with my PB&J, trail mix, and other food.  Enter the messenger bag.  I could go the route of using a backpack, but I grew out of backpacks when I got out of high school, and frankly, you should have, too.  Messenger bags come in various styles; from very manly, leather ones to the cartoony ones here.  The bags have enough room to store my lunch, a good book for reading during lunch and the train ride, and my ipod.  Some can even fit your laptop, while others are big enough that they can be used as overnight bags for those nights that turn into mornings. 

Some of you may be thinking these are a bit too childish for you.  I understand that viewpoint.  Many of us may work at places that are more on the professional side, so a leather bag or suitcase seems more appropriate.  I agree with this.  Some of us need to check the creativity and fun at the door when we go to work.  However, if you are still in college and can afford these bags ($99) why not stand out a bit with a Jump From Paper bag?  If you are out of college and still using a backpack, do yourself a favor and get one of these bags.  You don't have a big Chemistry test in third period tomorrow.  Ditch the backpack.

My first time, be gentle.

Hello there.  First off, I do not claim to be a "fashionisto" or some big authority on the fashion world.  My last name is not Ferragamo or Jacobs, nor am I in a Band of Outsiders.  I am not a son of Ovadia.  What I am is a guy trying to look my best on a daily occasion, well almost daily occasion.  Some days I just don't give a shit.  Looking good is something very primal and caveman-esque.  This wanting to look your best goes back to our ancestors, who tried to appear more desirable than other men to get a mate.  We have evolved since then, but not that much.  We still want to look better, or at least as good, as the guy next to us at the bar, ball game, club, or anywhere out in public.  If and when you settle down and find the love of your life, or the love of right now at least, you want to look good for her or him.  There is a Mrs. Straight Guy, and I try to look as good as she does when we are out in public.  I don't want to be the guy that gets the "how the hell did he get her" look.

With all this being said, I am in my late 20s.  I am far from rich, and cannot afford a closet filled with designer labels.  When I peruse magazines like GQ, Complex, and Esquire I constantly think "That is a nice (piece of clothing) but it is (Designer name) so there is no way I can afford it."  My good friend, pseudo-brother, and fashion counterpart/nemesis Blanche (not his real name) always says "We have to fake it til we make it."  This is what I try to do; look as good as possible without spending a lot of money. So this blog is for the guy's guy because I like to consider myself one of them.  I love sports, love red meat, like cars, but I also love fashion.  And to clarify the title of the blog, yes I am straight, but this blog is not solely for straight men.  Gay men are just as much guy's guys as straight men.  Why can't a gay man know as much about the NFL as he does about Zegna? And why can't a straight man wear a William Rast jacket to the ballpark? So join me if you like.  All are welcome; gay, straight, bi, men, women, and give me your input.  I am no expert, I am simply trying my best.