Jessiyah Lighten for Men

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Photography: Human Fashion Editor: Jessica Tillman, Copy Editor: Catherine Chen

We’re dead in the middle of winter and you are probably layering up with heavy sweaters and vests. In fashion, we’ve gotten used to mixing and matching the old with the new since the recession. The fact that we began to buy less and borrow more from our closets has served us well. We’ve made the vintage pieces more formal, and the elegant one-timers more casual—and better yet more acceptable for any occasion. Therefore, I challenge you to jump on your bandwagon with a shocking yet intriguing look.

Historically, sweatshirts are worn to the gym, on college campuses, and while washing your car or taking your dog out for a walk around block. But let’s dare to be different! How about wear a sweatshirt over a button-down shirt? It exudes comfort and uniqueness yet it also screams that you are in charge. Furthermore, it says that you are confident but down-to-earth.

One busy afternoon in SoHo, I spotted an attractive guy in one of the best places to find inexpensive, trendy apparel: H&M. We chatted about his attire and I complimented him on his pin. His style was mesmerizing because his personal style clearly told me who he was and what his priorities are in life.

Who are you?

I am a fashion designer from Brooklyn. My instagram is @arjonacollection. Follow me. 

Describe your personal style.

Urban, classy, and different. I dream about my outfits. The fact that I’m wearing a sweatshirt, especially with a blazer, makes it look more elegant, calm, and cool. 

Have you seen people wearing a sweatshirt this way? 

I’ve seen older men in their 60s and 70s wearing the look and it’s trending now.

Who’s your style icon?

I’d have to say its my ex-boss Shin, a store coordinator at Zara in SoHo. He’d always come with some crazy-looking outfits that I found interesting when others thought they were weird. He was never afriad to go all out. He’s a fashion guy. I get most of my ideas from him.

This is a trend that will quickly catch on, and catch up to celebrities and hunks that we admire and adore for fall/winter seasons to come. Be the first to be spotted and complimented wearing the new look of the season. The sweatshirt as the new sweater!

Mr.Porter.com sells a very basic navy sweatshirt designed by the JEAN.MACHINE for $110.  For a touch of color, the site also hosts a semi-striped sweatshirt designed by SATURDAYS SURF NYC for $98. These two options are totally affordable item that can be quickly shipped to your home.

storyboard:

The Creators of NYC: Menswear Icon Nick Wooster

Josh Wool spent a decade as an executive chef, opening restaurants across the south. But all that changed in 2010, when the carpal tunnel in his hands meant he could no longer work. To keep from going stir crazy, he picked up a camera and found his next calling. Two years, thousands of portraits, and a move to New York later, Wool is documenting the people who inspire him on a daily basis. Welcome to Creators of NYC.

Nickelson Wooster

Nickelson Wooster is a veritable master of all things sartorial. He’s been called the “alpha male of American street style” by GQ and has redefined the norm for modern masculine fashion through his work at Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Calvin Klein — and now JC Penney. His personal brand, a kind of of rugged style meets elegance, has shaped the way men dress all over the world. We caught up with the Kansas native at Bobo, one of his favorite West Village restaurants.

Can you describe what inspires your style?

Getting dressed for me is like a window to my soul. I grew up in the 60s and 70s when men were required to wear a suit, shirt, and tie every day to be taken seriously. I was at the tail end of that generation, and it had a significant impact on me. I always favor being overdressed –- if I’m not wearing a suit, I’m wearing a jacket.

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Fashion Director: Jessica Tillman, Photography: Human, Copy Editor: Catherine Chen, Model: Gregg Bailey

New York evenings in the Lower East Side, surrounded by Arabic-inspired decor has always proved to be such an enchanting experience. Finally, I shared it with Gregg Bailey, one of the most handsome young men I’ve met since moving to the city 4 years ago. Mr. Bailey hails from the Bronx via the island of Jamaica. After a long day of shooting and running into his cousin, we ended up at Aziza and chatted about his style, and mostly importantly what makes him a gentleman. 

What’s your favorite thing to wear at the moment?

A V-neck, G-Star jeans, red Nikes, and a bomber vest or bomber jacket (olive green/black). Mustard will be my new color. I plan to experiment with more colors. Everybody feels that black is in fashion, but I feel that colors are more fashionable. Black is too safe. Color gives life. 

What is your usual style?

I usually dress how I feel, but it’s a mix of comfortable urban and vintage. 

Who is your style icon?

Nick Wooster. I like his originality. His ability to make casual the new dressy. He takes risks, which in fashion always generates difference and originality presenting the world with something new. 

Do you consider yourself a gentleman? 

Yes. I am an Aries. I am a gentleman because of my respect for women. It has evolved. My transformation happened after having my own daughter. The things that I once did, I didn’t want it done to her. Before her, I was always a nice guy. I’m a lover. I felt like at times girls took it for granted. I thought, “I’m not going to keep putting myself out there.” And it was working in my favor.  But my mom didn’t raise me that way. My mom taught me chivalry. I learned certain things from my sister’s relationship with men. So I learned to not be too nice. You need a good balance.

Do you surround yourself with gentlemen?

I think everyone that I affiliate myself with are gentlemen in their own way. The way they greet women. Like my cousin, his voice changes and his mannerisms. Being a gentleman means waving cabs and opening doors. But if I’m at the bus stop, I let women take the lead … or go first. Yield to women and then other men notice. IT’S YOUR ACTIONS. Also, being a gentleman means taking care of myself. LOVING YOURSELF FIRST. It’s not about money. Buying a female lunch. It’s having that subconscious awareness of what makes you a gentleman.

What are you working on?

I’m working on self-development. I’m a charming young man, full of life, and carefree. I’m always dancing. And I’m a comedian, friendly, and loving. I want people to see more than the humorous side of me. There’s a serious side to me. I want people to feel like they got to be around me and that in doing so, it elevates them. I want to be an inspiration for anyone who knows where I came from, to never give up hope. I want to be an icon.

Gregg is someone who is determined, strong, and steadfast in his faith to accomplish his dreams. Not only is he able to stay focused and fashionable despite his environment, he continues to serve as an inspiration to his peers and be the perfect example of a stylish young gentleman in the 21st century.

What the model wearing:

Ralph Lauren Denim shirt $89.50, Ralph Lauren Chino Pant $52.49, Ralph Lauren Quilted Bomber $187.49, and Ralph Lauren Leather Boots  $104.99



nprfreshair:

From a book of photographs and essays about London by Chicago-based writer and photographer Brian Leli. Explaining the project on his website, Leli says:


From the end of one strange summer to the next, I walked around London looking for the closest thing I could find to the truth in any given moment. It didn’t feel great a lot of the time. But it feels a little better now.


via yatzer

nprfreshair:

From a book of photographs and essays about London by Chicago-based writer and photographer Brian Leli. Explaining the project on his website, Leli says:

From the end of one strange summer to the next, I walked around London looking for the closest thing I could find to the truth in any given moment. It didn’t feel great a lot of the time. But it feels a little better now.

via yatzer

fabatos:

Now on the blog: A conversation with… Simone Righi 

Who: My name is Simone Righi, 50 years old, born a bred in Florence, the city that taught me the importance of observing the details and gave me the will to undertake a journey of pursuit of aesthetic. […]


Chi: Simone Righi, 50 anni, nato e cresciuto a Firenze, città che mi ha insegnato ad osservare e a dare importanza ai dettagli ed ad avere voglia di intraprendere un percorso di ricerca estetica. […]


(via thebespokedudes)

Fashion Editor: Jessica Tillman
justinchungphotography:

Model, Marcus Allen.
This photo is classic.
The models brown leather gloves brings sophistication to his look. The fitted hat makes the look classic yet urban. Wearing denim-on-denim gives the look nostalgic edge of the 80s coupled with our modern love affair of today. Again, I encourage you to incorporate a mid-length wool coat into your wardrobe, as noted in the previous write-up on skinny jeans. It can be worn more ways than one.
Thumbs up to Justin Chung, who captured a perfect moment in time. 

Fashion Editor: Jessica Tillman

justinchungphotography:

Model, Marcus Allen.

This photo is classic.

The models brown leather gloves brings sophistication to his look. The fitted hat makes the look classic yet urban. Wearing denim-on-denim gives the look nostalgic edge of the 80s coupled with our modern love affair of today. Again, I encourage you to incorporate a mid-length wool coat into your wardrobe, as noted in the previous write-up on skinny jeans. It can be worn more ways than one.

Thumbs up to Justin Chung, who captured a perfect moment in time. 

 Fashion Director: Jessica Tillman Fashion Assistant: Romy Chenet Photography: Ayla Elmoussa Copy Editor: Catherine Chen

On a rainy and chilly evening in New York, I sat down with Jeremy Bentivegna for sushi and drinks. As a personal shopper from Chicago, he brings his Midwest style to the city. We discussed what inspires his wardrobe and creative ways to combine pieces that can take you from day to night. Most importantly, he shared his love for the skinny jean. A fashion trend that has been popularized by musicians and hipsters around the globe, it has crossed age and gender barriers. He describes how the most modest guy can incorporate the skinny jean into his everyday look. 

Describe your style:

Its a mix of urban and classic. The outfit I’m wearing is a perfect blend of both. I can easily go to a restaurant or any formal event, then go to a bar or a club afterward while being comfortable. Dark denim gives the illusion of a trouser or a slim fit pant. It’s really important to focus on the denim. H&M is perfect because it’s so affordable. As a consumer, I have found that the $200 ACNE raw denim has almost the same quality as the $40 H&M raw denim.

How can a man easily transition from wearing straight-leg baggy jeans to slim fit?

Wear a mid-length overcoat with skinny jeans and hightop sneakers. Visually it’s more appealing to show the structure of a man’s body. If you go into any Levi’s store, you will find that they mostly offer slim fit or skinny fit jeans. What’s great is that extravagant footwear is becoming fashionable among men. Exposing the entire shoe is dope now. In the past, it was common to buy jeans that cover the shoe. This is no longer the case. I’m thrilled to see how menswear is evolving into something more interesting and unique.

What the model is wearing: Button-up shirt: Uniqlo $29.99, Camo Sweater: Allsaints $180.00, Denim pants: H&M $39.99, Watch: Swatch $100.00, Shoes: Gamme Bleu $660.00