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Gentlemen, chill in style
‘Ugly Betty’ star Eric Mabius gets dressed (but not overdressed) for the season
SOFT POWER: “Statement sweaters are huge,’’ says Emmi Sorokin, a men’s image consultant from It’s a Man’s World in Boston. “They’re almost like the new sports coat. Particularly sweaters with hardware or toggles.’’
She advises gents to steer clear from bulky knits. Instead, try soft, thin sweaters that are more body conscious. First and foremost, however, men should stay away from holiday novelty sweaters of any kind.
“The biggest mistake guys tend to make around the holidays is that they choose hokey rather than creative, elegant, or luxurious attire. There’s nothing worse than a guy wearing a tie that plays Christmas music.’’
Above: Zip sweater by Prada, $1,355, shirt by Zegna, $325, shoes by Hugo Boss, $125, at Saks Fifth Avenue, 786 Boylston St., Boston, 617-262-8500, www.saksfifthavenue.com. Casual pant by Transit, $350, at Louis Boston. Tie, $150, at Burberry, 2 Newbury St., Boston, 617-236-1000, www.burberry.com
RELAXED ATTITUDE: (left) Sweater, $900, print shirt, $400, light gray slack, $385, tie, $160, green lace-up shoe, $850. At Salvatore Ferragamo, 100 Huntington Ave., Copley Place, 617-859-4924, www.ferragamo.com
Shot on location at the Campus Center, Smith College. Styled by Christopher Muther. Hair and makeup by Courtney Fappiano, Salon Herdis, Northampton.
PLAID TO MEET YOU: Image consultant Sorokin says almost any men’s fashion mistake can be overlooked (remember she said “almost’’ not “all’’) as long as the fit of the clothing is well-tailored.
“Fit, fit, fit,’’ she says. “I can’t emphasize that enough. Everything else can be overlooked. . . . But if you’ve messed up the fit, you’ve messed up the whole look.’’
Nick Sullivan, fashion director of Esquire, agreed that tailoring is essential. He added that refined, subtle plaids are ideal this holiday, and the tartan is best left out of your holiday ensembles.
Gray plaid suit by Belvest, $2,195. Black cashmere turtleneck by Transit, $495. Both at Louis Boston, 234 Berkeley St., Boston, 617-262-6100, www.louisboston.com
PREP-ARATION: “There will be a lot of American, preppy looks this winter,’’ says Sullivan of Esquire. “Not the flashy ‘I’ve got a big watch’ preppy, but more simple and homespun. We’re seeing a lot of knitwear. Certainly not the reindeer knits. But you’re finding these more conservative looks to clothes.’’
Cardigan, $148, and shirt, $98, by Modern Amusement. Jeans by Penguin, $125, sneakers by Gola, $79. At Uniform, 511 Tremont St., Boston, 617-247-2360, www.uniformboston.com
CLASS OVER FLASH: Men are dressing up this holiday season, but doing it in a more reserved, pared down manner, says Sullivan. Gone are the pocket squares, French cuffs, cuff links and other extraneous garnishes. The look has less to do with the holiday season and everything to do with the economic climate. Dress up, Sullivan says, but do it in a way that is more classy than flashy.
“They used to have these sumptuary laws in 16th-century Europe where people were forbidden from wearing clothes made of more than a certain yardage of silk because it was excessive consumption,’’ says Sullivan. “Now people are imposing it on themselves.’’
Right: shirt, $69.50, vest, $99, tie, $49.50, pants, $129, and shoes, $179, (jacket on piano bench, $249). At Ben Sherman, 154 Newbury St., Boston, 617-236-1165, www.benshermanusa.com
© Copyright 2009 Globe Newspaper Company.
