Depp+Pharrell+You

So... This is when the world went... *pause for anticipation*...stupid...

It's obscure and vaguely cool. But what can we learn from this?

So, long story short, acclaimed designer and punkstress(<-made that one up) Vivienne Westwood has been making this exact hat since the 80's when it first appeared in her Fall/Winter collection. Cool. It then hit the mainstream in a Rock Steady Crew video called "Buffalo Gals". Beast, right? Right. But I'm not a celeb, and you may or may not be, so there is very few who can pull off this enormous hat at WalMart or even Benihana without ridicule.Cause those are the only two places non-celebs can go. Everyone felt pretty silly after making fun of Pharrell when they found out it was a Westwood. I didn't, for the record.

Now, for us mere mortals, we need reasonability and versatility. Take a look at how Johnny Depp wears a similar one. He has been wearing them for years and they look awesome to me.  The moral: Pharrell wasn't the first.

See, now that's more reasonable, with a hint of high-brow fashion. Tear drop crown with a 2 7/8" flanged brim. Doesn't get much cooler for me.

Here's what I have:

Pure class. It's a medium brown Bigali with around a 2' brim. It is nothing fancy but it gets the job done. The hardest part of owning this hat is maintaining a flat brim. Some hats like these have wire in the edge for molding into a deliberate rough edge. Note: deliberate rough look. When hats without wiring get bent they just look silly and frumpy. Did I just.... yeah why not, frumpy. It has a very tame and conservative dark brown leather band around it. It cost around $45 big ones at a local vintage store.

Note: YOU WILL NOT FIND THESE AT GOODWILL
Just won't happen. Really, it won't.

I despise the commercialization and mass production of those putrid fedoras everyone thinks make them instantly SoHo chic. So they buy 'em on Canal and continue up Broadway. Burn them, burn them all.
If you're a mobster or still in the Mafia, fine, wear it. But I don't think you should be reading Men's Fashion Blog's all day. What would the other Mobsters think?

The Moral:

Pharrell wasn't the first. Don't buy a hat you have to take off when walking through a doorway. Try a ton of them on to see what you like. When you buy, buy small business. And if you hate the hat you purchase, maybe you'll at least learn the circumference of your noggin. 

-from the inside of My Father's Closet

The Punctual Gentleman

What do you look for in watches?

Brand:

There are plenty of well known brands that have phenomenal pedigree and history. And that doesn't mean they have to be expensive. Brands like Timex, Rolex, Seiko, Casio, Citizen and Swatch.All of these brand's offer both high-end affordable watches (less than $500 US). However you can easily find fantastic watches from companies with a superb family history and great consumer review. I personally don't condone spending an exorbitant amount on a daily-wear watches. You don't want to expose a fine watch to the elements and forget you're wearing it. 

Shape:

If you're going to have multiple, go for versatility in shape and size. There is no point in having multiple watches that look alike. I find that circular faced watches blend well with any outfit depending on band style. However, it's easy to catch eyes staring at your wrist when things get a bit more unique. If I were looking for a unique face shape I would spend less, as they can't be worn 24/7. Square and rectangular faced watches look great in more dressy situations. Not only will it look great but it could be a fine ice breaker. Small or Big? There is no right answer, just make sure it is proportional to your wrist and body size. Bigger gentleman look better with over sized or larger faced watches, and vice versa for our smaller gentleman. 

Band Style:

There are many times you will pay more for a band than the watch itself. The first watch mistake I ever made was buying a faux leather band. It's just not worth it. The band broke in two weeks. Fork out the $70-$100 and get a nice croc leather or cow hide watch band. Go for great colors, but make sure your shoes aren't all black. I like for my band to coincide with my belt and my shoes. It doesn't have to be exact but make sure there is a common thread that ties everything together. Make sure if you only have one watch, the band is conservative i.e. Black, Brown, Gold, Silver. Dress your watches to the occasion. There is no need for a gold band to putz around in. People will still say,"Wow, I really like your watch!" And they'll mean it but what they're really saying is,"Wow, cool watch bro, you know we're camping right?" Don't be the guy who can't collect firewood for everyone because he's too worried about scratching his watch or band.

GET A WATCH BOX!

Literally anything but throwing it on your bedside table. You've spent good money on them, keep them looking sharp. 

Dos and Do Nots:

• Do buy watches that you can wear forever
• Do think about you watch or it's band's versatility
• Do share your affordable findings with friends
• Don't tell people you have a Rolex if they never ask. (Trust me, they'll ask. And then stare at you thinking"How'd he do it? Inheritance? Promotion? Thief?")
• Don't think the price of your watch has anything to do with it's medial quality. 
• Do have fun learning about your watch

-from the inside of My Father's Closet

SHOES IN THE HOUSE!

We need to talk. I've, uh noticed uh some things.....and we just, uh, need to talk.

Fellas, get your shoe game right! Ladies, make sure your man gets his shoes game right!

Now, I'm going to show you some photos of some shoes and your going to silently nod if you currently wear any of these. Ok?

Ok, so the last one was a joke, I hope. But seriously, the above are flagrant foot fouls. Now, I'm all for some kick back beaters to grab the mail in, but that's as far as they should go.

There are a couple staple shoe styles that you may or may not be aware of  that are important to your wardrobe.
Let's begin:

The Basic Casual:

 Lace-up low-tops are quite possibly the most versatile shoe on the market. I like to buy more creative and unique colors. These shoes also can be kept clean or roughed up a bit from use. Both will suit some trimmed jeans with rolled cuffs on the bottom. These also offer an opportunity to sport some awesome tap socks. Feel free to go with patterned sock as they will only enhance the overall unique styling. As you can tell, I wear my shoes until the day they die. But you should take care of yours by resoling and priorly giving them a brush off. Simplicity in ornamentation on the shoe is key for versatility with these types of shoes. ASOS.com is a great place to start for these shoes. P.S. Go leather, every time. 

 The Boot:

These are by far my favorite boot. These are motorcycle styled mid calf boots. FRYE makes an incredible product and is well worth the hefty investment. I have only had to oil these once in the past four years. I love a good worn look, as you can probably tell. These boots are extremely comfortable yet a tad bit cumbersome. Think about what sort of environment you'll be going before throwing these on. Whether you go cowboy or motorcycle, make sure they are quality. It will really count a year down the road.

The Loafer/Slip-On:

Skip the socks and throw these on. These are some of the easiest shoes to find and look great with everything, literally everything. Sport them with a suit (black socks obviously), shorts, khakis or jeans. By far the most comfortable in your closet. I snagged these at a local vintage store for $24. Again, so easy to find. They are also easy to look past. Next, time you see a pair just try 'em. The only con is that the weaving can come undone after a lot of use. This is irreparable. They also make tassel savers to keep everything tight, if that's what your into. It will allow you to wear these at nicer occasions if you keep them clean. Watch your foot odor if you often sport these. Nobody will talk to you. Gold Bond foot powder? Who knew you could actually use that stuff for what it says on the bottle. 

The Dress Shoe:

It doesn't matter what brand or how much you pay, dress shoes are a must. I'd stick to black and cordovan with these shoes. No need for any fancy wing-tip stuff, keep it simple. Usually when you're wearing these, you're flying under the radar. These are by far the cleanest shoe in your closet. Shine them after every use, as they should only be worn sparingly. I prefer a hard bottom sole rather than a rubber. It just looks nice. These shoes also may clean up your posture. It could just be a by product of the rest of the outfit with these but I see men walking more upright and with a bit more confidence in dress shoes.

The Low-Cut Boot:

Now this is where you can get fancy. Wing-tips galore! These boot feel phenomenal on your feet and garner a lot of respect from onlookers. These will be much lighter and far less cumbersome than your cowboy or motorcycle boots. I've seen plenty of people who wear these far differently than I do. Some people love to keep these guys all shiny and clean which I think can add a unique spin on your style. 

Quick Recap:

Stick to these styles: Boot, loafer, dress shoe, casual low-top, boat shoe, ankle-cut boot.

• Keep it simple on designs and patterns.
• Make sure you have your black, brown, and cordovan before you get crazy with color.
• Invest in your feet.
• Wear them how you like them.
• Buy shoes versatile enough to suit different environments

However you wear 'em, just make sure to keep it simple. Swag on, my friends.

-from the inside of My Father's Closet