Out and About

A great relaxed look befitting a day around town. I love the simple color palette and the constrast of the turtle neck and sneakers. What does it for me is the red piping and lining of his jacket, and the pinstripe denim.

Knits

I love the warmth of the colors and textures in her look.

Pop of Color on Grey Day

In Defense of Ties and Socks

I heard on the radio this morning a playful ad making reference to a disappointed man who had just received another tie for the holidays. This reminded me of an equally playful birthday card I received some years back where a cartoon showed Godzilla's disappointment with a gift of socks as he was expecting Tokyo.

I am sure sartorial souls would react differently, especially given the wonderful array of ties and socks out there, and what one can do with them.


Seven fold tie: Hand cut, folded and sewn from a single piece of silk jacquard; un-lined and limited to 40 pieces per design.

Cotton sock: Manufactured by small-scale, family-owned factory in Italy; limited to less than 312 pieces per style or color; delivered with hand-written note.

Godzilla could only be so lucky.

An Eye for Style...

... both for herself and those who grace her lense.

In Her Element

I love her look. What stands out for me is the simplicity of the color story and the sense of volume created by her dress and bag. She was holding a beautiful bouquet of flowers when I asked to take her picture. She asked, "with or without the flowers?" to which I replied, "without" as it was clear to me that the flowers did not come from her closet when she prepared for the evening. Instead, they were a gift from family in celebration of a show of her designs. With or without flowers, her style, elegance and above all, passion shows.

A Touch of Red

Head to Toe

A great look for a casual day at the market.

Fine Details - Part 2

There is often more to someone's look than what first meets the eye. A closer look may reveal the lustrous sheen of a tie, or the fine pattern in a man's shirt. Still, a pointed question from an observer may unearth a tattoo under a shirt sleeve, or a whimsical splash of color from a pair of socks. The finer details are often for our - the wearer - own enjoyment, and those lucky enough to share in it.


I have walked by this lamp many times before noticing that it is adorned from top to bottom with buttons. I consider myself lucky to have noticed.

Something Blue

Hatted Gent

Fine Details

Man About Town

Readers will recognize this gentleman from an earlier post. I saw him again, this time on a window, and was rewarded with his perfectly fitting gloves and one shirt sleeve left unbuttoned.

Hats - Part 2

Seeing artwork like this only serves to remind me how beautiful clothes can be.

Man in a Hat

I find it rare to see a well-dressed man in a hat. Supposedly that only exists on lamp posts according to a recent post of mine. Hats can be very becoming and add a touch of interest to one's look. Very much like how a scarf or tie adds interest to one's collar, a hat rounds out a look. The saying is, "from head to toe."


This black bowler is very much at home with a grey coat and brown attache.

As a hat enthusiast once related to me, "You have to wear the hat. Do not let the hat wear you."

Warm Smile on Cold Day

A Mirage

I walked by this gentleman during an outing. He is so well put together - top hat, fur-trimmed coat, jacket, vest - that I did not even notice the pistol. For all intents and purposes a stylish man.

Budding Sartorialist

I saw this young lady and proceeded to ask her parents, then her if I could take her picture. I love her sense of style - mature beyond her age, and probably that of mine as well.

Black Dress

I love the contrast of the red jacket and blue tartan shirt against the background of her dress and accessories.

Vintage Bag

A fellow Scott Schuman fan.

Panache

In Good Hands - Part 2

This is Hunter from the Ermenegildo Zegna Vancouver store. He comes to us from New York and is a fine sartorial addition to Vancouver. I love his passion for fine menswear. On this occasion, a combination of beautiful pieces from head to toe for an impeccable look.

In Good Hands

Behind every well-dressed man is a stylish woman. Here, Angela and her team at the Dunhill Vancouver store.

His and Hers

Perfect Gentleman

Blair Shapera

There is that smile again. Blair just really enjoys clothes and putting together a polished look. A great mix of patterns in brown tones, with the paisley tie adding contrast. I love the detail on his jacket and shirt sleeves, respectively. I would not have seen it if he had not pointed it out to me. Thanks Blair.

Wendy Chic

Wendy's look goes hand-in-hand with her confidence and love of life. I was surprised to find her uneasy when I asked to take her picture, but then she gave me this:

Enough said.

Knit Tie

His knit tie was to die for - both the tie itself, and the way he wore it. The tie is distinct in its size and design, and his look is so effortless with his unbuttoned shirt collar and half zipped up vest.

Double-wow if his tie is actually a scarf worn as a tie.

Always Graceful

This is Mrs. Betty Lee. I have known her for over thirty years now. She really enjoys dressing and is a queen when it somes to coordinating layers, accessories, patterns and colors. On this occasion, a nicely patterned sweater bridging a scarf and skirt.

Rain and Shine

Flash of Color

A splash of color in a look never hurts, especially when well done. For reserved souls, accessories offer myriad ways to add color to a wardrobe. A fine example is how Blair in my previous post offers a flash of yellow to go with an otherwise reserved color palette. He actually made my day when he drew my attention to his socks, as I did not notice beforehand. Accessories for men (and women) abound: socks, ties, pocket squares, umbrellas, hats, gloves, watches, jewellery and bags come readily to mind.


These five pairs of socks definitely make my day, and maybe the day of whoever is lucky enough to catch a glimpse of them on a day out.

Go ahead, flash somebody!

Wonderful Smile

This is Mr. Blair Shapera, tailor and proprietor of Blair Shapera Custom Clothing. I have known Blair for about a year now, and during that time two things have stood out for me: his sense of style, and his smile. The picture above gives a hint of both.

He is always nicely presented whenever I happen to see him. On this occasion, his shirt, pants and socks pay homage to a matching corduroy vest and jacket. It takes style to tame those bold colors and patterns. A great smile does not hurt either.

Confidently Awkward

I find her style very distinct. She has a kind of awkward look to her - part nerd, part cool. I love how her glasses compliment the volume of her hair and lips, and play to the color of her jacket. You can not see it in the picture, but she is wearing a shoulder bag which accesorizes nicely with her pants. Awkward? Maybe. Confident? Definitely.

Vintage Charm

I love her look - fresh, with a nod to the past.

Eternal Elegance

This picture was taken the morning after Halloween, and there happened to be an associated window display when we met. Neither the timing nor my choice of background for the picture do her justice. There is nothing costume-y about her look. It is her style and she carries it off with aplomb.