TC Street Style: John

Fuck Yeah Menswear

I'm going to promote something that can only be described by any random lyric from any random 2 Chainz song ever created. But for example purposes we will simply go with:

"TRU!"
-2 Chainz

It's called Fuck Yeah Menswear and its a book about menswear. If you guessed it was a book about kittens, you were half right. Kidding. It's all about menswear. I'm sorry.


Now onto another quote directly from this book's description to better explain exactly what it is about:

"In your hands is an Amazonian blowgun full of deadly knowledge darts ready to be delivered straight to your cranium.

You’re about to begin a journey that will end in only one way—with you standing naked in an abandoned ravine watching as your old wardrobe slowly burns. Let this be your illustrated Iliad for dressing better.

Don’t sleep. Read Fuck Yeah Menswear. Refer to it. Cite it in your dissertation. Owning this book sends a very clear message to your peers, coworkers, and loved ones: “I’m trill as fuck.”

If that using enough there is a promotional video that is sure to seal your decision to buy this book with a big wet kiss.

Buy here!

Good Look #8

Professor Ben Fletcher and Professor Karen Pine

Good Look #6

Deep In The Trenches

The trench coat; "was developed as an alternative to the heavy serge greatcoats worn by British and French soldiers in the First World War. Invention of the trench coat is claimed by both Burberry and Aquascutum, with Aquascutum's claim dating back to the 1850s. Thomas Burberry, the inventor of gabardine fabric, submitted a design for an army officer's raincoat to the United Kingdom War Office in 1901."

Nowadays it is becoming an essential in a man's wardrobe.
Be it Navy, Beige, or black, it can be worn casual or dressy and can be a deconstructed simple trench or a classic styling.

On a rainy or slightly chilly day it is perfect to throw on as a completion piece to an east sweater and jeans look.

Stick your neck out.

How often do you wear a button down/dress shirt open, showing off a little chest?
It is THE essential for men. One in blue, one in white. Those are key.
It's just as easy to throw on as a tee, but chances are you will get more comments about how nice you look if you wear a collard shirt. Hands down.

Now onto the subject at hand.
When you're wearing a collard shirt and you don't want to go too formal, but you do want to dress it up a bit then try a neckerchief. Not an ascot. Don't get those two confused. An ascot can be very formal, a neckerchief on the other hand can go either way.
Tied simply and worn tucked or falling out of the shirt, Silk or cotton, it is a great addition to a simple outfit and you can go wild with patterns.
I use a classic blue and white bandanna pattern neckerchief more than anything.

What does it all mean?

Men, how do you feel about jewelry?
It's a touchy subject for men.
I think if a man wants to wear jewelry then it has to hold some significance to him.
For example; I wear a necklace that has 2 charms on it that remind me of times from my younger years, and a ring that my grandfather made from a tarnished piece he found on a shoreline that I came across in an old jewelry case of his.
These things have stories behind them. They are conversation pieces that could serve useful for first encounters or breaking down your style if asked.
Of course watches are a completely different thing. You should have a metal daytime watch, not too flashy or bulky. Something sophisticated. You should also have an evening leather band watch. Be it Black or brown leather. It depends on which color you wear more often.
Whatever accessories you choose to wear make sure it has a purpose.

How Paul Bunyan would do it.

Every man needs a red flannel in his arsenal.
It can be vintage or brand new, but it is an essential. It works for summer nights around a fire and, you guessed it, as part of a suit.
Yes, lately you have been seeing plaid in suiting. On suit jacket, shirts, contrast lapels, but I want to take it a step further.
Maybe it's because of where I'm from and that you have to find creative ways to be fashionable during winter weather advisories or maybe it's because I just love flannel dammit. Whatever the case may be, if it's cold then use warmer materials. Plaid is a very popular pattern all year round, but plaid and flannel are the perfect marriage. Like Tom and Katie. Oh wait...(too soon?)
Wear the classic red and black check flannel with a black suit, wear your red and forest green with blue contrast flannel with your grey suit. The choice is yours to make, but it will be a choice well made regardless because you're warm and stylish.

In–vest

So I was remembering an outfit I threw on last year. It was a typical winter day in Northern Michigan and I wanted to class up my usual quilted down Patagonia vest, so I put my grey wool blazer over top. I really liked the way it looked. So I go into the shop I worked at and one of the customers said to me "Doesn't the the blazer go underneath?"
I laughed it off and walked away.
It wasn't really until lately that I had been seeing such a look on multiple street style sites which gives me a little smirk if satisfaction.
Yeah it's cold during the winter months, but that doesn't mean that all you are able to wear is are insulated, down, waterproof, wind proof... You get the idea. Things can be altered. If you have a cardigan and a pullover sweater that you like then wear them together. Winter gives you the opportunity to experiment with a ridiculous amount of layering.
At least that's the case in Michigan.

...

You know what.

I'm not even going to break it down.

Just do this.

Ode to Nick

My friend Nick made a comment to me earlier this afternoon about being on the lookout of a nice cheap turtleneck. It got me thinking.

The steady reemergence of the turtleneck in mainstream fashion is exciting to me. Seeing as men's fashion has been taking a turn to the past with vintage bomber jackets, slimmer fitting pants that have a higher rise one the hip, and shirts that are tailored to your body type perfectly, it is only right that we bring back a classic such as this as well. And let's face it, who doesn't want to be Steve McQueen?

Styling the turtleneck can be a difficult task sometimes. Best way I have found with my J.Crew Hemmingway style wool turtleneck is to not over think it.

It doesn't require much layering because the focal point will be the turtleneck wether you like it or not.

So top it with a (who'd have though?) vintage leather bomber jacket, or wear a blue dress shirt underneath for some shirt tail contrast coming out of the bottom. Once you put on a turtleneck the only thing you should have to worry about is your pants and shoes. You're good out the door. That's the beauty of it I think.

For some men it will be a daring choice, but a good one nonetheless.

(You can also do this. This works too.)

Essentials of a Man

It's photo's like this that I love coming across as I scroll through feeds and Tumblr pages.

These are essential:

• A perfect pair of casual dress pants.
Preferably a color that goes with all looks.

• A worn in beige cardigan.
If you're fortunate enough to have a well dressed grandfather at your disposal, go through his closet on your next visit. Chances are he has a few from his younger years that he would be happy to share.

• A pack of fresh white tees.
You can never have enough.
Try a few brands to figure out which you like most/what fits your body type the best.

• A pair of versatile white trainers.
Don't worry about getting them a little scuffed up, they can be cleaned up nicely with a wet rag. Plus a little dirt adds character at can give you the perfect amount of ruggedness.

• Throw your favorite pair of sunglasses on and you're out the door.

Sometimes it's just that easy.
Style doesn't always have to be carefully thought out. It can be as easy as popping the shawl on the cardigan that give you that extra edge.

Oh, the simplicity!

This is look is so simple yet impressive. It's a throw together look out of the suit category of ASOS.
Plainly put together to show what it would look like on a person.
A clean look with a twist. Everything is a little shorter, a little more fitted and that's what's great about it. It's a perfect suit for a night on the town that can have things added to it to fit your exact style like a pocket square or a different colored pair of shoes.
Every man should have a classic black suit in his closet, but for the suit enthusiasts like myself it is always nice to have more than one option.
This can easily be that option.

-Spencer

Color(care)ful

As I was flipping through the channels earlier today I came across a commercial that stated: "Add color. It will zest up your wardrobe and add some excitement to your life."
Now, to a certain extent I agree. A little color is nice. As for most of it, I say shut the hell up and get off the bandwagon.
These day you can find a grown man wearing brightly colored skinny jeans on any given sidewalk. I understand personal style and the right to modify and make things your own, of course. That's what this blog is about. But, what this blog is also about is influencing the right kinda of wardrobes and showing them to you while worn by "any given sidewalk" men.
You don't need neon colors to stand out. That's standing out in the wrong way.
Like that time you accidentally wore your sisters blouse to school.
Simplicity is what stands out the most in my opinion. Don't go for trends.
If you have a certain look you really enjoy, be it simply a white tee and jeans or a full suit, refine it. Make it your own. Look through this blog and blogs elsewhere to give you suggestions and ideas.
Don't wear what looked cool for the EDM kids 3 years ago.
You're a grown up now.

The Man with the Great Layering

                          

Seeing as the cold weather is getting closer and closer I wanted to talk about something a bit more casual for a change and how to apply it to your wardrobe for the coming months.
Now, I know later has always been a key staple in fall/winter fashion, but what I have yet to see make it's way to the light style wise is the layering of multiple sweaters, scarves, shirts, and vests as much as I would like.
This topic is a frequent one with my good friend Nick and I.
If you're looking for an example of what I'm talking about then go out and rent the American version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Daniel Craig's character Mikael Blomkvist has what the costume designer for the movie, Rooney Mara, describes as "Very chic, but also very natural and very comfortable. He has a very casual elegance about himself."
As I have stated in articles prior, it is something to strive for that your style looks effortless, but so very well put together to fit your personality.
Modification to already created styles to fit how you feel comfortable is, of course, a style all it's own and that's what RUDESUIT is all about.
For this season I will be applying this look to my own quite often. Using some of my favorite cardigans and cable knit sweaters from J. Crew and some classic blue or crisp white Oxford button downs

A little side note for fall fashion: Don't iron your button downs.
Let Michael Bastian Explain.

You get a text, right?

This is just really great.

An excellent transition from Summer to Fall look.

Just slightly less dressy than a button down, but give a subtle sense of ease to a suit. Can easily be worn tucked or untucked.

The simplicity of this whole outfit makes it stand out because the details are in the right places. The houndstooth suit jacket isn't in your face, but makes you look twice. The handkerchief is nothing special, but put with that suit jacket gives a nice contrast.

And of course the plain white polo. 

It is a sure fire must in a mans wardrobe because of its versatility. 

You're at the office, right?

You're rocking this outfit. You get a text that there is a boat party tonight and you don't have time to go home and change. That's no problem. Lose the suit jacket, roll your pants up a few and whip your socks off (if you're wearing any). Boat attire.

Versatility and "any time" wearability are key thing to think about these days and this look is both.

Trainer + Suit

So lately I've been talking a lot about dressing suits down.

I'm going to continue this because I feel as though there is a lot to be said about making a suit your own with aspects from the casual side of your closet.

If t shirts, no pleats, no ties, or jersey fabric blazers aren't enough, why not wear a sneaker with your suit.

What I'm not talking about is that all white sneaker that your mom wears during the graveyard shift at the hospital. White is cool, but you don't need corrective or butt firming sneaks when you're trying to look sharp.

What I am talking about is a fresh black sneaker (or at least dark), preferably low top, maybe with a contrasted white or other colored sole. Classic New Balance trainers are making a comeback as well. This will add a bout of leisure to a suit that is going to be worn more as a hobby than a job. Finding a classic trainer for cheap isn't an issue either. If you're on a budget you can find them for under $30 on sites like ASOS or ZARA.

All this is at your transgression of course. If you want to throw some Air Yeezys on, then by all means. He did it. But he's Kanye West. I'm sorry, but you are not.

Bottom line philosophy is: If you are aware of your style and how you want to look then you don't have to put much effort in to look good. Thus your outfit looks effortless.