FAVORITE THINGS: a good navy blazer

Everybody, listen up. I am not usually a preachy kind of person. Well actually, I am. But anyways. I think that one of the most essential things you need for your wardrobe is a solid, well-fiting navy blazer. It literally goes with anything. Pair it with a graphic tee and jeans for a casual look to wear out to the bar, or pair it with a sweater for a collegiate, cool weather look. You can roll up the sleeves if you want to edge it up a bit (but always be sure to steam afterwards to avoid permanent creasing!) A good blazer will go with jeans, slacks, and a big trend that's been on the runways, shorts.

Here's my latest blazer. I picked it up for next to nothing at a secondhand store. Word of caution... typically I would not advocate buying such an important wardrobe staple secondhand. I ONLY picked this one because it's Brooks Brothers (so you know it's solid construction and made from high quality materials) and it was in nearly perfect condition. The lining is this beautiful shiny navy blue which goes nicely (I think) with the deeper navy blue of the outside of the jacket. It didn't smell, it was HARDLY worn and was such a steal I couldn't resist. It didn't fit quite the way I wanted so I took it to my tailor and had it shortened and brought in around the torso, not too much, of course, because a roomier fit is in right now. I still think I am going to have the shoulder pads reduced/taken out (less architectural, looser jackets were all over the Spring2010 runways like white on rice).  ANYWAYS here I am. And please don't think I am coked out or trying to look edgy... my friend took it before I was ready.

[Brooks Brothers vintage blazer. Seven For All Mankind denim. TShirt made by myself]

This is what I wore to my friend's going away party (note all of her crap behind me ready to be moved out) Black and blue paired together is one of my favorite looks to wear for casual nights out. I rolled up the sleeves and wore my bluest jeans to add some more layers of color to contrast with the black. I love love love blazers paired with a pair of washedout jeans. The TShirt is of my own design/craftsmanship. I originally made it to go see the Monster Ball a couple weeks ago.

The moral of the story, kiddies, is that there is nothing a well-fitting navy blazer can't do. They are available in literally every price point, but I would reccomend going a bit up-market because once you slip into it, you won't want to take it off.

FAVORITE THINGS: Jack Spade Messengers

Jack Spade Messenger bags. Love em. Simple, chic, come in a great variety of colors and styles. Part of the proud "Spade" tradition of really solid, fashionable craftsmanship. Need I say more?

I want this one for Christmas! Love the maroon color with the contrasting label. Also comes in a great chocolate color.

FAVORITE THINGS: Ludlow Suiting at (you guessed it) JCrew

And alas, faithful gentlemen blog readers, we arrive upon yet another reason for you to love JCrew. Ludlow suiting. Classic JCrew cuts and styling meets a trimmer, more contemporary fit. And in true JCrew fashion, stalk the website for long enough and you'll certainly find a good steal. Go out and get yours today.

FAVORITE THINGS: JCrew Sweaters for Fall

As the weather starts to get colder, we need to start worrying about layering. My favorite way to transform any look into autumn-appropriate attire is to just toss on a sweater from JCrew. They really make a great product; their sweaters are really high quality, and when you slip into one it feels like an old friend you've been wearing for years. They come in all sorts of colors, cables, patterns, designs, and fabric blends. Here is one of my favorites for fall-weather layering:

This cotton-cashmere blend sweater is so versatile. It goes with everything and is such an easy way to add some warmth to your look. It's pretty reasonably priced at about $59.50, and some colors are on sale right now for just $39.99!

FAVORITE THINGS: exploded check burberry scarf

Ok ok ok I totally understand all of you who think that the Burberry scarf is cliche and JAPpy and over, but I am totally a die-hard fan of the giant check scarf. The regular sized check one is pretty vanilla now that so many people have it. And you could totally make the argument that people wear Burberry scarves because they want to promote a certain aesthetic or project a certain look/image etc. But at the end of the day, you can NOT dispute the fact that Burberry is historically one of the most important fashion houses in the world. They made the trench an ICON. The Burberry scarf, probably used at first to stave off the freezing UK weather, is a great product. Their cashmere is so soft and well produced.

I am a huge proponent of the "when you look good you feel good" ideology, and I sincerely believe that a camel cashmere scarf with the signature Burberry plaid looks damn good. I could wear just a plain black Tshirt and jeans, toss on my Burberry scarf and feel like a million bucks. They are soft, they are warm, and they are part of a proud tradition of English craftsmanship.  On that note, I do believe that the traditional Burberry check scarf is slightly overdone. That is why I'm posting the exploded check scarf as one of my "favorite things" because it is still a way of supporting and believing in Burberry in a slightly different way that says "hey, I like Burberry because of what it is and not because all the JAPs are wearing them!"

(and for future reference, JAP refers to jewish american princess and NOT a slur against Japanese persons. just sayin. not that i have anything against the jews. i love the jews. but, you know what i mean)

So please, the weather outside is frightful, so go get yourself a Burberry exploded check scarf and cozy up with a cuppa tea.

FAVORITE THINGS: naked and famous denim

I never really understood most of the 'designer denim' trend. Seven For All Mankind makes a pretty good pair of jeans, so does J Brand, just to name a few. But labels like True Religion really do not impress me... what self respecting, truly stylish man is going to walk around in a pair of flared out bluejeans with bright white stitching... that twists around the leg? I have yet to see a man pull of True Religions 'signature look' without looking out of proportion and like they just came from a western/tranny/burlesque show.

ANYWAYS I'm not here to trash certain denim labels. We'll leave that for another blog post. What I want all of you to know right now is that I have found denim nirvana.

NAKED AND FAMOUS DENIM. Here's how they describe the product on their website:

"Naked & Famous Denim uses only the most unique and rare denim fabrics from Japan. The prestigious mill in Japan, from which we import all our fabric, is committed to producing only the best (and most expensive) denim in the world. Throughout each step in denim production (weaving, dyeing, finishing…) the mill uses a combination of old school and modern methods and practices. So much culture and history is poured into the fabric so that it can be appreciated by the denim purist.
We keep all our jeans raw and simple. No washes, no embroidery, no gimmicks… just the best fabric in the world combined with modern fits. We have eliminated these costly (and in our opinion unnecessary) after-effects, and have stripped down our jeans to the core essentials. Now true denimheads and newcomers alike can enjoy these special fabrics at a reasonable price."

In short, it's literally the best frigging denim in the world. Super comfortable, and super affordable (for what you're getting). I have been know to splurge on jeans, spending as much as $300 for one pair. But my new Naked and Famous jeans were just under $150 (canadian!) and I wear them all the time. Since they're selvedge denim, they've begun to break in gently, and they have begun to mold to my body and how I move, so it feels like I'm putting on a custom piece of couture when I slip into them. And they transition so well from day into night. I could go on forever about how much I love these!

So, ladies and gents, for Naked and Famous Denim, the Kingston Project verdict is: YES. Go out and buy your pair today, I know you'll fall in love!