A New Year. A New You. ⚡️

Greetings Gentlemen,

As the New Year approaches, and we all embark on another calendar year of our lives, what better time than to reflect, take inventory of our blessings, and be thankful for every single thing that we have? It’s also a great time to rewire our mindset and learn from some of the obstacles we’ve faced. A time to set goals we are yet to accomplish. I’ve always believed that dressing well is a powerful means of communication. You won’t get to speak to everyone you see, or pass by on a daily basis. But whatever memory you happen to leave them with, is something within your control.

And this is exactly why mastering the art of the weekday dress is of high importance. It could be the difference maker in how others perceive you, who you connect with, and what they think you’re capable of. All of this usually takes place, without getting an opportunity to persuade, upsell, or clarify any nuances about your character or integrity. As the saying goes, perception is reality, and anyone who disagrees, is simply unaware of the political, business & social environments we all eventually find ourselves in…one way or another. Nonetheless, practice makes perfect, and the winter season affords us the luxury, of having a wealth of options to consider, when it comes to office attire.

By now, I trust many of us own an overcoat. It’s the perfect opening garment for the start of the week, simply because it always commands respect while providing a strong sense of manliness for the wearer. Treating your overcoat like a Blazer is one of the best ways to wear it to the office, and you can easily accomplish this by pairing it with the same color of trousers, or any neutral colors for that matter. I particularly enjoy including a vest as an under layer for two simple reasons. The first is that it keeps the rest of the outfit neat and intact at all times, and the second is that it provides some breathability by reducing the number of sleeves in the layering process. Unless you find yourself in freezing temperatures, the pairing of an overcoat, suit blazer and dress shirt, isn’t quite necessary and could result in an uncomfortable amount of underarm sweat.

I’ll never pass up an excuse to sport a good tie, and there’s no substitute for what a great tie can do for any professional outfit. Yes, that’s right. No substitute! This one is a striped shantung tie, with a distinctive texture from its raw silk fibers. Good ties aren’t cheap, and it may take some time to get used to their hefty price tag, but it’s the type of thing that can really make or break a professional outfit, and also suggests “This guy knows what he is doing, and is intentional about everything he does.” It’s not about being loud or boastful, but instead it’s about the elegant display of character in a subtle but effective manner. Overall, when it comes to ties, the truth is, you don’t need that many. Invest in a couple solids, and a couple of patterns like large stripes and polka dots, and you’re all set to pull off a multitude of combinations.

Besides how easy they are to wear, there’s something dependable about double monkstraps, so I’m always sure to keep a pair on hand. But what’s of even more importance than our choice of dress shoes, is remembering to keep them properly polished and shined, from the leather uppers down to the soles. This simple practice helps hide a ton of scuffs and scratch marks, and will have your dress shoes looking like new for years to come.

Although headgear will come off soon after arriving at the office, my favorite part of the outfit is this burnt orange knitted fisherman beanie to add a nice complimentary color to the traditional navy pairings, and show a bit of personality. Because dressing up for the workplace, shouldn’t mean behaving like a drone in a factory.

Disclaimer: Our Burnt Orange beanie isn’t yet available due to production challenges…or maybe I’m just holding out.🤭 But I promise, we’ll have them in an array of tonal colors like this, just in time for the next Fall Winter season. 

And that’s it for this style guide. Simple colors, mixed with traditional patterns and paired with classic garments. Remember that having fun with your personal style, is a great way to exercise some autonomy over your own life….something that sometimes feels to be slipping away from most of us. Ask yourself what you need to improve on, to look and feel your best. Is it tailoring? Better Garments? Overall style education or just effort?

If you’re reading this, then chances are, you have big goals, big dreams, and many wonderful opportunities that lie ahead, impatiently waiting for your arrival. But in our quest for success, we must constantly remind ourselves, that enjoying the process and being fully present in each moment, is the most gratifying aspect of this whole human experience. So dress well, and do your best work, but remember to have fun doing it. Now let’s get out there and make shit happen!

Until next time .. 🫡

Sincerely,

Fola,
Creative Director.

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