The Winter Cabin Weekend

There's something about subdued style that makes others show respect. At TCG, we suspect that it's appeal comes from humble affluence. As a man, success in one's various endeavors is a vital component of his character. To show this tastefully is priceless. Your outfit doesn't have to be flashy to make a statement, it just has to be in line with your character, and not too far above or below reality.

To achieve this understated appeal, pastel colors are an ideal choice. For this look, starting with khaki pants demanded brown tints and tones. To contrast the browns, blue was chosen. Light blue is very, very versatile, and looks really good next to browns and khakis. The conservative, wintery feel to this look draws from golf and polo garb. So take a walk with it, add a leather band watch, quirky socks, and some classic loafers.

So you're going to the cabin for the weekend? Be the sharpest fella there with a fitted, rust colored jacket and a tie clip.

The socks are a navy blue color, and match the tie. This is a great way to let people know who notice your socks that you are aware of the subtleties that make great style.

The watch, which has been featured on TCG before is a cream leather banded Emporio Armani. It matches the khaki, as well as picks up the blue found in the tie and on the socks. These inconspicuous attributes are noticed more as people read into your look.

This outfit happens to be a very comfortable one, and is therefore more versatile than formal clothing. The khakis are soft, and fit loosely, and the white and blue striped button up is cotton, making it a pleasure to wear. Also, loafers are generally very comfortable once they're broken in. Put these together and you have a vintage feel, that is very breathable and mobile.

This rust colored jacket is from H&M, and is a slim fit, made out of 97% cotton. One can imagine, it's easy to wear in all types of circumstances. It also looks really good with dark, tailored jeans. 

The tie is vintage, and the tie stay is silver with a little rock in it. Vintage ties are great because they've usually gone way out of style, come back 20 years later, and now look really original.

The shirt is a Lucky Brand blue and white striped button up. 

Although this out seems like it'd be very warm, it's actually really well ventilated because it's almost all cotton garments, and is therefore porous and flexible. So even if you're in warmer climates, the cotton button up below a cotton jacket is still a great choice.

In this case, since the occasion is less formal than general business attire, it is OK to wear the jacket open, especially if what's below is interesting, like a vintage tie and a classic shirt.

The shoes are original loafers. They are a red-brown, and pick up the belt. In this case, wearing black leather would be discouraged, because it can look out of place next to large browns.

So whether you're going to the Lodge at the bottom of the mountain, or spending the weekend at the cabin, you can count on classic browns and blues.

Sorry this post took a little longer to do. A little injury on the slopes last weekend threw a wrench into TCG's scheduling.

Stay fresh - TCG

Blue/white button up by Lucky Brand.
Brown/rust cotton jacket by H&M.
Tie: vintage.
Pants: basic khaki from Banana Republic.
Tie stay is from the TieBar.

NYE Suiting Up Part 3

Aright! Here is the final entry to the NYE series. This is the last suit option we're going to show you all in this series. It's a European-inspired look with gloves and a scarf, but it is nonetheless very useable.

Sometimes a tie isn't necessary. Many designers and influencers would argue me on that. But, like I said in the last post (Part 1 of this series), less is more. And if you're not the type to tighten up a tie around your neck everyday- this outfit is likely to be more appropriate for your style. 

So start the night with a scarf, jacket and shirt- and as you warm up, remove the scarf. If you're really moving a lot, take off the jacket too. But as you'll see in the pictures, the complete suit looks a lot better than slacks and a shirt. 

Suit is a 2-piece, 2 button, slim fit by Elle Tahari. Shirt is a french cuffed DKNY white striped button-up. Shoes are classic red-brown loafers by the Bostonian (which I find myself wearing very often). Grey/white scarf is by H&M. Red-brown gloves are by Kenneth Cole. Pocket square is a basic, pure white silk handkerchief.

Button the top button for most circumstances. 

Also, use a white pocket square if you're feeling cornered on which is going to match your shirt. 

It's really cold outside- so the scarf helps keep one warm, while replacing the sometimes constricting tie. This basic drape works very well with sports coats.

Because the outfit is mostly grays and whites, I added a little color with some red leather driving gloves and loafer shoes of similar hue. 

There are two options once you're inside and comfortable. Remove the jacket, or remove the scarf. Both look good. I prefer to remove the scarf, but I thought we'd display both.

 I noticed someone wearing just a white shirt and pocket square with their suit and realized how easy a sharp look can be. The look is bold in contrasts, but as a whole is still understated.

 Here's the option 2 for indoor settings. No tie, just a shirt and pocket square. 

 Here are the loafers I was ranting about before. They're reddish-brown, and very comfortable. And, they are an essential in the young man's aesthetic arsenal.

Wear your suit with pride. A Slouchy posture is the antonym of masculinity.

 I see myself wearing this outfit often in the future - mainly because it is such an easy one, but also because it carries an air of formality, and is therefore fit for various occasions, ranging from weddings to NYE.

I'll post links for these past 2 posts tomorrow. But for now- it's time to get some champagne flowing. 2012 has been an exciting and dynamic year for TCG, myself, and many of my friends. We propose 2013 will be even better. Stay fresh- TCG

Suit here - This is a great deal for those who are searching for a first suit.
Shirt here
Shoes - vintage
Scarf here
Gloves here
Pocket Square here

NYE Suiting Up Part 2 Ft. Z. Gross

Welcome back!
Hope your holidays have been great, they certainly have in the DC area.

This outfit is a great NYE outfit for a high-profile evening at a nightclub, lounge, or dinner party. Grey suits are very versatile, and are known for being the staple item in a businessman's wardrobe. They offer formality, as well as a modern feel. And they can be worn with various colors and textures, without clashing. Start with a white shirt, and almost any tie works a gray suit. Finish it off with subtle details like a traditional stainless watch, a stainless belt buckle, and polished cuff links.

Grey pinstripe-suit by Joseph Abboud, french-cuffed white shirt by Nordstrom, narrow purple tie by Calvin Klein, cufflinks by Kenneth Cole, and watch by Seiko.

When you arrive to the NYE party, keep your jacket on, at least until you've met most of the people there, or started dancing. 

 French cuffs and cufflinks are timeless. They help one jump the chasm between workwear and elegance. 

 Every man loves pinstripes- they make one look taller, they're associated with millionaire Wall Street Bankers, and they're good looking with so many different garments. Just don't let them compete with other aspects of your look- such as the tie.

A basic tie knot, such as this Windsor knot is a safe choice for not-so-formal occasions. It shouldn't draw much attention, because NYE is more about looking sharp than it is about being formal.

 Since this outfit as a whole is a little more traditional in color, a classic stainless watch is appropriate. Notice the match between the cufflinks, belt buckle, and watch.

 The grey suit can pick up a peacoat very easily. So if you're walking in the cold- don't be afraid to bring it along.

 Thanks again for reading. We're getting pretty excited for NYE, have a great time and don't drive (cabs are free in most cities on NYE). Stay Fresh- TCG

See the suit Here

See the shirt here

See the tie here

See the watch here

Cufflinks here

NYE Suiting Up Part 1

Happy Holidays and New Years from the TCG team. A great year is in the making.

This post is 1/3 of the package. I'm going to show you all a few ways you can make the most of one suit. This particular post will have 3 parts, and 3 different ways of wearing your most prized item: The new Suit.

If you don't have one, get a suit. I can explain why, but I don't think I need to.
Every man should spend a few weeks (at least) researching suits. Spend another 2 days or more shopping for them, trying them on, getting advice, and examining looks. And then spend a few hours finding the perfectly fit suit and purchasing it. It doesn't have to be custom-many designers make menswear adapted to fit an array of sizes, not just a boxy 44L-sized guy. Just make sure the shoulders are snug, the breast area wraps your chest well, and the waist area does not hang wide. The jacket should have a small portion of slack when buttoned, but only enough to make yourself mobile. Any wider, you're likely to look boxy.
A few things to note, three-button is dress/black tie-formal, two-button is business-formal, or semiformal, and one button is usually fit on tuxedos and specialty jackets. For your first suit, stick with a two button, which is versatile and creates a defined triangle with the man's torso.

For now, take a look at the images below. New Years is just around the corner and looking elegant is essential. This outfit uses the 2-piece suit to the most of its potential-which is formal, and minimal. And, the bow-tie explains that this is a rare occasion. (The bowtie can easily be switched out for another medium-width long tie to fit more laid-back situations.) The fitted white shirt helps create a strong contrast between tie, jacket and shirt. Black shoes keep the whole look cohesive with the dark tones, and convey a sense of formality and class.

 Although this is a 3-button suit, I only buttoned the middle toggle, so that the chest can open up a little, and not look so stuffy. If you're attending a more formal situation, which is less alcohol-centric than New Years, button the top two. But for clubs, cocktail parties and dinner meet-ups, stick with just the middle button.

The white pocket square is another men's essential. In this case, it captures the bold white shirt, and contrasts the charcoal suit well. The pocket square adds a lot personality to a suit. I, in most cases, recommend one that matches another piece of the outfit like a tie, shirt, or scarf.

Without the jacket, the outfit looks more friendly and approachable. Generally, you should take off your jacket once you've been introduced to the new faces at an event.

Also, note the shoes. They capture one's attention, but do it tastefully. They don't look "out there." That's because the focal point of this outfit is in the chest and face- where the color and contrast are. 

 Looking a little closer, the suit is a textured charcoal finish. Pure black can seem flat, and inherently, less interesting than a suit with texture or pin-striping. So when choosing your first suit, make sure that it's got personality, and it's not just fulfilling the "formal" necessity that's pressing you.

 These Calvin Klein low-top, square-toe leather shoes complete the look without adding another dynamic object. They won't distract from the more-important upper half, but they still look nice and have a metal bar accent to add image.

When you're outside entertaining the new guests, you're guaranteed to be the sharpest man present, with your your fitted suit and colored bowtie.

Sometimes less is more. No watch, no tie clip, no vest or cummerbund, and minimal color. 

 Get ready for NYE. Looking 100 is essential. It's the biggest party of the year, in the most powerful nation in the world's capital city. Stay American, stay fresh. -TCG


Suit- 2 Piece suit I bought in Italy. The tailor was called Springfield. This is a similar American suit.

Shirt: White cutaway collar fitted cotton and polyester shirt made by Viscardi, a Maltese menswear shop. Here is the American equivalent.

Shoes: black leather square-toe Calvin Klein shoes can be seen here.

Bowtie: purple, grey, white, and green silk. Can be found here.

Pocket Square: pure white silk, plain square fold. See it here.

Belt by Kenneth Cole. Polished steel buckle with black leather. See it here.

Coffee Date

Part of one's individual style manifests from bending the rules, and what you think is "OK" to do. All menswear "rules" are based on your perception of them, and even if someone has told you that you can't wear stripes and plaid together, they only say that because that's what they, and most likely you, have been told by the commercialized influencers of today.

Well I don't really care what the influencer's say. If you like it, you'll feel good in it, and that will emanate from your personality. So wear a hoodie under your sports coat, because creating style is about feeling and knowing your own form of expression, and not about appeasing your critics. 

Slim fitted 2 button jacket with hints of blue, brown, and red in the 60% wool, 38% polyester fabric, is part of a suit by Branoff (It's Turkish, but the style is common). Pants are light grey slim fitted chinos by H&M. Navy and white striped zip up hoodie by H&M. Shoes are Italian white leather Vans. Sunglasses are black/red checkered wayfarer style VonZippers.

At the end of this post, you can follow some links to explore each garment used in this style.

Socks capture the dark seen in the jacket, the shoes pick up the white handkerchief and the stripes.

When in doubt, start with blues, It's really easy to get a good look going with dark blues. They match whites, yellows, reds with similar bases, blacks, and almost every tint and tone of grey.

Striped is not the only kind of hoodie that looks good under a jacket. And a sports coat isn't the only kind of jacket that looks sharp atop a hoodie. Think leather.

Meet your female friend for coffee, and she'll feel underdressed. But at no point will you look overdressed. It's just a hoodie and chinos, right? The shoes are about as simple as one can go, yet they seem to stand out.

A leather band watch accentuates the tamed approach to the overall look.

As mentioned prior, blue is versatile. Look at the striped sleeve compared to the colors around it, does it look out of place?

Every man should own a pair of Vans Authentics. The can be worn with anything but a tux. They disappear when you want them to, and show off when instructed.

Test and try new garments and combinations regularly, and they will begin to come more easily and more often. -TCG

See the jacket (as part of the suit): http://www.gilt.com/sale/men/jack-victor-studio-9172/product/148993181-jack-victor-studio-wool-suit

See the hoodie: http://www.express.com/striped-waffle-knit-shawl-collar-sweater-52294-60/control/page/49/show/3/index.pro

Sorry, I can't find that actual hoodie because H&M changes their stock so often.

See the pants: http://www.hm.com/us/product/92068?article=92068-K#article=92068-K

See the shoes: http://www.zappos.com/vans-authentic-lo-pro-true-white-true-white

Socks: http://www.hm.com/us/product/05236?article=05236-A#cm_vc=SIMILAR_TO_PD"

Pocket Square: http://www.amazon.com/Solid-Pocket-Square-Jacob-Alexander/dp/B0043G0KJ8/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1355190242&sr=8-5&keywords=white+pocket+square

Sunglasses: http://www.amazon.com/VonZipper-Sunglasses-FROSTEEZ-LIMITED-EDITION/dp/B006HF6TPM/ref=sr_1_1?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1355190385&sr=1-1&keywords=von+zipper+sunglasses+men

UPDATE: TCG

Hey guys, I'm going to fill you in on what's going on behind the scenes.

I'm glad to know we're in this together, your feedback is great. I've gotten a few suggestions thus far.

-Specific outfits with corresponding names, such as dinner date, job interview, or cocktailing.
-More everyday wear, such as dress clothes for work, and casual, affordable outfits that aren't so "out there."
-How to wear suits.
-Where to get the articles displayed in posts and how much one should expect to spend.
-Men's wardrobe essentials.
-Multiple ways to wear one piece and the best way to get the most of a garment.

You guys can expect to see these coming up in the near future. As always, the TCG team is having a lot of fun with this and we hope you all are too. Stay fresh.

Menswear Classic

Vintage garments have a way of pervading the styles of today. A yesteryear piece, like a plaid suit can look modern with just a few unique touches added, while still paying due respect to the culture that bred it. It may have been 40 years ago that the wall street bankers wore this type of suit, but the associated success and affluence never dies.

I'll do a few more outfits with this suit so you guys can get a better idea of how it can be worn without looking like you fingered through your Grandpa's closet in desperation.

The suit is a classic brown, grey and maroon plaid 2 piece by Evan Picone. The shirt is by Sisley, with turquoise paisleys, on a bright white base. The tie is a deep blue, with gold emblems, and is made by Pierre Cardin.

Only buttoning the top button is my favorite way of wearing a 2 button suit. Buttoning both causes the jacket to get stuck in a boxy shape, and can play down your triangular posture.

Also note, the pants are hemmed high enough to prevent them from dragging, or ruffling excessively.

During these rainy days, wear something that can absorb rain and not look dirty or battered, especially if you have to walk in the dense city, where puddles and cars make it hard to stay dry.

There really is not a need to wear a jacket unbuttoned unless you're at your desk. The jacket's drape is correct when it's buttoned, so it will always looks its best in that way.

 Wearing 4 textures next to eachother seems questionable, but when done properly, it flows seamlessly. The white handkerchief picks up the white in the shirt, while the gold tie stay captures the pattern of the tie, and the shirt's light green complements the brown in the jacket.

 The benefit from a suit that has a mellow pattern is that as one gets closer, the suit gains more and more depth. Up close, the 3 colors are intriguing.

When wearing a tie stay, match it to your other accessories, such as your watch or your belt buckle. Pull the tie up a little from the stay to make it puff out a bit at the top, and wear at the bottom of the breastbone. The location can vary though, depending on the width of your tie. A tie stay is a great way to complete a shirt and slacks, for a variety of reasons, of which I think you can figure out.

 I love these leather cap-toe shoes. They are made by the Bostonian, and have leather soles, which makes them feel sturdy. The are also a very rich color of brown, which works well with various garment combinations.

 Without looking overstated, the brown suit looks complete and confident, and in touch with the seasons.

Thanks, as always, for reading. And if you have a certain style, garment, or occasion you'd like to see done, post a comment below, and I'll get you covered. -TCG