Everyday we hear about a new fashion or style trend for women. Female celebrities get asked about their red carpet looks on the regular. The amount of fashion magazines that are intended for women outweigh those that focus on men. Men’s fashion does not get the attention it deserves. There are so many male fashion icons in the world, but you don’t hear as much about them. The Fashionistos of the world need inspiration too, and I’m here to help.
Combining formalwear with casual attributes is the perfect way to get the best of both worlds for a business casual ensemble. Dressing to impress has never been more freeing. Neglecting fashion rules of the past is trending, so be rebellious. No more buttoning your jacket because the draped look is in—just be sure your shoulders look sharp. Free your feet and leave the socks behind (or just give the illusion with a pair of no-show socks). Mankles are totally getting all the girls going this season, so show the world your delicate ankle bones with a pair of cuffed jeans or subtly tailored trousers. There were mankles killing the game left and right on the 2016 spring/summer runways of Antonio Marras, Matthew Miller, Dolce&Gabbana and Neil Barrett, just to name a few. Gucci’s Alessandro Michele mentioned that there are many ways to style men’s formalwear, including the preppy street version found on college campuses.
The risky mix of business casual didn’t stop this Fashionisto from making a statement on Rider University’s campus. He totally nailed all of his fashion rule-breaking and I am so proud of this rule-breaker. This H&M blazer adorns his torso effortlessly, unbuttoned and all and paired well with a complementary J.Crew tie. On the bottom half, he has a perfect amount of ankle action going on. These cuffed Calvin Klein trousers paired with the casual Sperry Top-Siders form an entirely new level of business casual. He ties this look together with a gold Shore Projects watch—perfect for almost any college-related occasion. This Fashionisto is officially a fashion icon himself.
What is your STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK? “My style comes from being adaptable to the environment I’m in. I draw a lot of inspiration from traditional, preppy, college attire, but I don’t let the guidelines restrict how I want to dress. I try to dress up and look nice, but I also want to be comfortable. I don’t allow traditional rules to prevent me from rolling up the sleeves of my jacket, not wearing a belt, or wearing boat shoes. My overall advice is: draw inspiration from the environment that you’re in, but don’t let that restrict you from being a little creative with expressing yourself.”
