http://moderndistinctiononline.com/

As always, thank you all for your amazing support!

~P

I have an Uncle who loves to iron clothes. I swear, the man is a machine. His shirts look like they were pressed at the cleaners. Personally, I don’t have the skills to create the perfect ironed masterpiece that he does, nor do I have the patience. Most of the time I defer to my Dry Cleaner for this service, but that gets expensive.

In this blog I talk about style, fashion, and other things, but one of the main facets is looking your best. Having clothing that looks like you slept in it  simply doesn’t complement a person’s effort to present themselves at their best. After reading several books a few months back, I noticed that in their list of essential items for a gentleman to own, they all mentioned a steamer. This is the tool that will make your clothes look great, even if you haven’t ironed them to an insane degree!

I have seen steamers all my life. My grandmother was a seamstress so there was a steam machine in the shop she worked at. Whenever I went to buy a shirt at a quality store, they always steamed it before handing it to me. It never occurred to me that this simple industrial tool could find a happy place in my home, and it never occurred to me that it could also make my wardrobe perfect all of the time.

Here is a perfect example of where a steamer can save your wardrobe. It is a fact that you should not get a suit cleaned more than twice a year, at most. The same could be said for a sport coat. Excessive dry cleaning can destroy a garment such as this. One of my close friends follows this doctrine strictly, however to his detriment his jacket looks like it has been stomped on by elephants. This is to say that as he wears the jacket more and more the back become more wrinkled from sitting down.

To combat this in my own life, the steamer has become the magic bullet. When I come home, I hang my jacket up, and steam it. Automatically the steam relaxes the fabric of my jacket and removes all of the wrinkles. By doing this, even though I don’t bring the jacket to the cleaner, it looks like I just got it home from being pressed. This is true for all of my clothes.

Think of a steamer as the tool that will keep you clothes perfect between trips to the cleaners. Its not a substitute for an iron, but in many cases it is the perfect tool to use for your garment. I believe every modern gentleman needs one. So go out and find one, and let’s see what happens!

~P

Up until recently, I didn’t think it was possible for someone to create a book that encapsulated all of the aspects that go into achieving balance as a person. I toyed with the idea of writing a book myself, but the task just seemed so faceted that there was no conceivable way for me to even begin.

Enitan Bereola II has created what I believe to be the only true and masterfully well written book that addresses all facets of what a balanced man needs to know. Bereola’s book, titled Bereolaesque, is a modern masterpiece that examines aspects of being a man that somehow have become more and more absent in the world we live in today.

Enitan, who is described as rurally raised but metropolitan minded may be one of the last great gentleman left in the world. The good news though is his book is so well written, and is so easy to understand that I feel like any person’s life can be enhanced by it. With a little luck, we can add more gentleman to the world through the knowledge acquired from this piece.

With a book like this, it would be easy for the author to fall into one of two pitfalls. The first is a “molly manners” approach that is conservative and has no teeth. Men do not want this, simply put, information presented in this way is forgettable. The other pitfall is on the opposite side of the extreme, the book could be a raving mad piece of directives and mantras like a bad Tony Little commercial (you know the guy who sold the Gazelle). Bereola avoids both of these and creates a book of balanced advice, and also a book that is rooted in practical approaches.

When I received the book, I expected a volume of items that I already knew. I was raised in the kind of house that truly enforced the basic concepts of manners. I just read Bentley’s book of Swagger, I have been devouring books on all kinds of things for weeks; despite all of the assimilated knowledge I possessed, I was pleasantly surprised as there was a lot of information that I had never considered or digested before.

Aside from the wonderful chapters that deal with etiquette, style, swagger, eating right, presenting yourself, and countless other topics, Bereola weaves into his tapestry a refreshing and important component on faith. He discusses the role of faith in a balanced life. With all of the swagger and confidence that the book helps the reader to attain, it also brings in the necessity of humility. Bereola notes the value of humility and how confidence tempered with humility allows a person to truly be at their best all of the time.

I have been fortunate enough to read many books on the multiple topics covered in Bereolaesque, but in truth this book to me stands alone. If you purchase only one book to help you become a better person, this is the one to go for. It covers all the necessities in a man’s life to bring about the realization of becoming a balanced man. I recommend you go out and buy a copy for yourself, a loved one, a friend, or any gentleman that you need to have a gift for. It can change a person’s perspective, enrich their life, and is simply a great read. Give it a try be Bereolaesque, and let’s see what happens!

~P

To purchase Bereolaesque check out this website: http://bereolaesque.com

There is something very different about the night, as compared to day time. The general feel is something unique unto itself. I have always felt that the fragrances I wear during the day have an identity of their own, and that identity may not work well with the tone of night time. As such, I want to take a moment to talk about a night fragrance, the new Yves Saint Laurent fragrance, La Nuit De L’Homme Yves Saint Laurent.

This is a fragrance that was made with the night in mind. Aside from the name, which translated roughly announces that this basically is YSL’s “Night” version of their men’s fragrance of the same name, care has been taken to ensure that this is a masculine and dark fragrance. For lack of a better word, it is a mysterious Oriental based fragrance. It does not have the overpowering bright fragrance spectrum of say a Citrus family scent.

Thought, YSL clearly describes it in their campaign literature as an Oriental, I think that moniker may be a bit obtuse for the product they have created. The fragrance spectrum on this is actually quite dynamic. The entire structure is an essay on contrasting ideas.

It is comprised of a Top Note made from Cardamom and Bergamot. This creates a spicy yet citrusy quality. The Middle Note is Cedar and Lavender. This again is an interesting combination as it is a polarized set of scents. The cedar has a dry woody quality to it. I could go on about cedar, but we know what cedar smells like, and the lavender gives off floral scents. Finally the Base Note is comprised of Coumarin and Vetiver. Coumarin is basically a concentrated compound found in Tonka Beans. This is a vanilla-esque fragrance. The Vetiver provides a woody amber/balsam like smell.

With all of these polarized scents, the fragrance is very alluring, and makes you take notice. I would have never thought such different fragrance spectrums could be combined together to make something this amazing. It really is a flowing masterpiece of extremes.

After testing this the other day, I had to have it for my “Night Fragrance Wardrobe”. Bottom line, with this on, and a black suit and tie, I feel like some kind of continental playboy. I know that sounds silly, but you have to smell this stuff, and you’ll see what I mean. Right now it is only available at Bloomingdale’s. It will be distributed at other venues in the upcoming months, but I like to be ahead of the curve!

So, go out and smell this. Give it a whirl. Throw on some night gear, go out to some elegant spots, and see how the world reacts. You never know what a night fragrance like this can do for your cool factor. Take the plunge, and let’s see what happens!

~P

Dressing well, having style, and being your best all of the time is not an easy task. It seems as time goes on that there are less and less models of how to put all of these things together. Finding inspiration is sometimes a difficult thing, but once in a while we are fortunate enough to find people that can put all of these elements together.  These rare people are great models who we all can learn from.

One person who has become a great source of inspiration for me is Kenyatte Nelson. Mr. Nelson is the winner of Esquire Magazine’s Best Dressed Man in America award. Not only is he a great model of fashion sense and style, but he truly is a wonderful person who is willing to give of his time and talent to others.

Modern Distinction, which owes a great deal to Mr. Nelson’s blog, Tweed and Velvet, had the great pleasure of conducting a Q&A session with him. Below is a wealth of information from America’s Best Dressed Man, Mr. Kenyatte Nelson.

•

Modern Distinction:

Kenyatte, many people think that fashion and style are the same thing, but there is a difference. What does fashion mean to you, and how would you define style? How are they linked?

Kenyatte

Style, in the context of clothing, is simply personality in the form of fabric.  It is, in its simplest terms an outward expression of that personality.  Fashion, on the other hand, is social agreement, fashion is consensus, fashion is meant to become unfashionable and when it does you are no long “in fashion”.  Fashion can be bought, style is without price.

Modern Distinction:

For someone to be stylish what do you believe are the most important components of their personal presentation?

Kenyatte

Confidence.  Dogs can smell fear…men and women can see it.  The most stylish men to ever walk this planet had one thing in common….fearlessness.

Modern Distinction:

Considering the importance of fearlessness, what is some advice you can give to our readers about experimenting with fashion?

Kenyatte

My advice would be to experiment in a way that will allow you to find out what works best for you.  Don’t ever feel like you need to dress like a guy in a magazine.  If you see something you think you might like to try, give it a shot.  One condition – a man should look comfortable in his clothing.  Have your “fits” in the fitting room.

Modern Distinction:

Is there such thing as a fashion no no?

Kenyatte

There are things that I don’t particularly like to see men in (e.g. jeans that sag off of the waist – there’s a reason they call it “underwear”) but I don’t know that there are ever “no-no’s”.  I think the rules are less specific.  The keys for the well dressed man are to pay attention to 1) Scale, 2) Fit, 3) Appropriateness and 4) Detail.

Modern Distinction:

Of all of these components that go into a wardrobe, what do you believe is the most important?

Kenyatte

Fit.  Men who ignore fit do so at their peril.  A man in an ill-fitting Canali suit will never look as good as a man in a smartly tailored suit from a bargain store.  Look for deals on quality garments and then spend a little of your savings at the tailor.  By the way, when you get to the tailor, you job is to listen.  He doesn’t tell you how to fill out your spreadsheet at work, so don’t tell him how to nip and tuck a suit.

Modern Distinction:

It seems that so often when we are talking about dressing well, the general dress format centers around suits, ties, and sport jackets, but what are some tips you can offer that would help to translate the beauty of dressing to the nines to the casual wardrobe?

Kenyatte

I think we have to be honest with ourselves with this one.  There is no such thing as “dressing to the nines” while dressing casually.  It’s an oxymoron…. “casual dressing” is, by definition, very different.  The mistake I see a lot of men make is to think that casual dressing is synonymous with “sloppy” dressing.  I think a man can look great in jeans and a white shirt (t-shirt or button up) as long as the fit is right and the pieces are simple.  David Beckham does this beautifully.

Modern Distinction:

Summer is almost here, and that means often times less layers, what are some things that someone could wear in this season that are more relaxed without sacrificing style and without having some kind of jacket involved?

Kenyatte

I think there are a few things that a man should keep within arms reach during the warmer seasons.  First a great pair of light weight denim - white is a great denim color this season, second a straight leg khaki chino pant. Recently, Kanye has done more for the khaki pant than those old school Gap ads.

I would make sure I also had a thin cotton or linen military style shirt and several slim fit polo shits.  I would round out the essentials with two pair of shorts (one in khaki and one, more colorful pair) and a stack of Hanes V-Neck T’s in white and gray.  You can find my complete list of Summer Essentials Here.

Modern Distinction:

How did you go about developing your personal style?

Kenyatte

I don’t think it was that intentional.  I have always loved beautifully designed things (clothing, shoes, watches, cars, homes, furniture, art etc.) so I think that’s where it began.  I think I’ve always seen  the pieces in my wardrobe as tools that allow me to create a look.

Modern Distinction:

So much of personal presentation is based in interaction, what is one thing someone could do to boost their social interactions with others so as to complement their style?

Kenyatte

Smile.  It sounds silly but you will be surprised what will happen when you smile while you talk to people.  People will think you have found the secret to life long happiness.  There will be a positive energy that people will not be able to ignore.  People will want to be around you.  Think of it this way most every actor/entertainer has, at one point or another, looked great in a suit, but stylish clothing is not the reason why people like Will Smith.  The guy has an infectious personality.  He comes across as kind, charming and attentive.  Try it….it will win you major points.

Modern Distinction:

If you could cite three people that have influenced your personal fashion style who would they be, and why are they so important to you.

Kenyatte

My father is my biggest influence.  For him, dressing well was about displaying confidence in oneself.  He used to say “dress like you’re about something”.  It’s something I will never forget.  Other than that, I tend to draw inspiration from just about anyone and anything.  I see looks that I like when I walk the streets or flip through magazines.  I see amazing color combinations in nature.

Modern Distinction:

If you could offer one piece advice to someone who is just starting to take an interest in the way they dress, what would that be?

Kenyatte

Have fun, take risks, make your wardrobe “your own”.  A great piece of clothing will not only make you look great, it can make you feel great, it can lift your spirits and put your confidence on display.  That’s the reason why they call it dressing “up”.

I love suits as much as the next guy, but Sport Coats, this is where its at! Colors usually take a back seat in the world of men’s clothing. Certainly designers make lots of color options, but we tend not to take them. I for one refuse to subscribe to the monochrome doctrine anymore. As such, I am in the process of livening up my collection of sport coats to include as much color as I can. After all, variety is a good thing. Sport Coats do not need to be Navy. There are tons of color options for Sport Coats, and in summer time they go great with white pants. So, that means now is a good time to get on this train.

Here are a few options that I think are pretty great for blazers.

There is the Pink:

The Green:

The Orange:

Finally, my favorite, Purple:

Look around, find a colorful blazer and throw it into the mix. Turn in your bland clothing card and dare to stand out in a crowd this summer. I guarantee you will get compliments. Being bold has its rewards, so try it, and let’s see what happens!

~P

Now, the shrunken suit is in style right now, but this fellow was not wearing a shrunken suit. Actually he was sporting what I call the David Byrne special. You remember the The Talking Heads, right? The lead singer used to wear a jacket that was huge on him. I can’t recall why, perhaps comedic effect, or just artistic tom-foolery. For my wife’s friend, the jacket was at least two sizes too large, and the pants were about an inch to an inch and a half too long.

The quickest way to ruin an amazing suit is to not fit into it properly. Let’s talk about what that means, because a lot of people do not know how a suit should fit. First, the shoulders of the jacket need to fit properly on the wearer’s shoulders. If there is a ledge of an inch worth of fabric that extends from your shoulders out into space before it becomes the jacket’s sleeve, it is too big. The shoulders of the jacket need to sit on the shoulder of the wearer. If it puckers in the shoulders, has dents, or sags it is the wrong size. When buttoned the jacket needs to rest flatly and evenly. It should not pucker, if it does the jacket is too small. If a Subway Teriyaki Chicken Sandwich can be slipped into your buttoned jacket, it is too big. You want the jacket to contour you body and flatter it. Tom Ford notes in a recent article that a good jacket will complement the wearers attributes and create a slimming appearance when buttoned.

Sleeves on suit jackets are really important pieces to be aware of. Whenever I buy a jacket, it never fails, even if it fits the shoulders perfectly and buttons in the correct manner the sleeves are always too long. The sleeves on the jacket should be no longer than the crux of where you thumb meets your hand. This however is subject to some discussion. I think a good suit allows you to see some of the wearer’s shirt sleeve. I like to have my jackets altered so that at least an inch of my shirt’s cuff is visible. This is up to the wearer, but if you are wearing cuff links, you might as well let them be seen!

On to your pants. Really your suit pants need to do two things. They need to fit properly in the waist. If you have “muffin top” or your pants are falling down, you need to get that fixed. The other key thing with pants is the length. They need to be long enough to touch the shoe when standing. To what degree is the preference of the wearer. If the pant leg touches the ground and or puffs up like a balloon, the pants are too long.

Bottom line, if you are going to invest in a suit, do some research. Determine what kind you want, and what looks good on you. Do you want a navy one, or a gray one? Two button, or three button? The goal here is to get something that flatters you. Once this is done, look at the advice above, but more importantly, find a good tailor or seamstress. They can make sure that all of these rules mentioned above are honored in the garment you are wearing.

I have an amazing seamstress, who can take anything, and make it flattering on me. This is the magic of tailoring. We all have different bodies and different shapes, so even if you buy off the rack, it still can be customized to fit your unique body. Pegah, who does all of my alterations knows what works when I bring my clothes in to her. She knows how I want to look, and she knows how to get me there. Build a relationship with a tailor or seamstress. This is one of the best things you can do to improve your personal style. They know how to make things look great on people.

So, in summary, don’t be like the average guy out there, wearing a suit that might cost a bunch but doesn’t fit, instead find a suit that fits, and look extraordinary. Enlist help from a tailor, and make your personal style sky rocket.Go out there, and let’s see what happens

~P

I spent a long time being afraid of color. I’m a guy, so as is with most men the art of color matching sometimes comes off like modern alchemy. We for some reason change the art of bringing color to outfits into something a million times more complicated than it is. Truth though, a little color can make an outfit go from ordinary to extraordinary. 

Prior to this post I have talked about color in my article on pocket squares, and of course UNIQLO is mentioned as a haven for colors. In this post though I want to spotlight a must have essential that to me is the perfect bridge for those of us that are colorphobic. This item will easily take those afflicted with monochrome syndrome to the promised land of vivid visual beauty. This item is the classic Lacoste tennis shirt.

This easily recognizable fashion staple has been in production by Lacoste since 1933. It was designed by Tennis star Rene’ Lacoste. He created the shirt as an alternative to the standard tennis shirts of the day. He thought that a short sleeved looser fitting shirt would be more comfortable. In addition to these changes in the tennis shirt style, Lacoste also outfitted it with a softer, flat collar that could be worn down, or popped up to prevent sunburn.

Lacoste shirts are easily one of the most recognizable shirts out there. They are the ones that have the cool little crocodile on them. They have been a symbol of style and good taste for years. In the 80’s if you were a “prep” you had to own these things and in the 50′s a sporting gentleman had to have one. The real great thing about these shirts, other than the unreal fit, is that they come in over 30 colors. If you are afraid of color, buy a few of these and try them out, you will get over any colorphobia instantly as you stare in awe at the color options.

A Lacoste shirt can be worn with jeans, khakis, shorts, dress pants. Truly they are versatile in ways that other articles of clothing are not. They can also be paired with one another. What I mean is you can wear a Lacoste over a contrasting colored Lacoste and create visually stunning outfits. Not sure what color would look good on you? No problem! Lacoste now has a site that will match colors to your personality. This is at: http://www.lacostecolourdna.com/ 

If you don’t have one of these, you need to get one. I love them and the varieties available are endless. I’ve been wearing them since 1977, so its a staple to your wardrobe that won’t be going anywhere! Get some and let’s see what happens!

~P

Maybe I’m weird, but in the past I have wondered what would happen if American Apparel and H&M mated and gave birth to a child. What would it look like? I have always wanted to find a company that sells stylish and basic clothing, but offers a range of garment options at a reasonable price. My question it seems was already answered by Japanese based clothing company UNIQLO.

UNIQLO is a company that has been around in one form or another since 1949. They started out as a Men’s shop and in time evolved to become a retail chain that thrived off of a model based on The Gap. They evolved from carrying other people’s items to becoming solely an in house label boutique.

With stores in Europe, Asia and a flagship in SoHo they have become a force to be reckoned with. They offer a vast color palette for their clothing that I have never seen before. If this were not enough, their prices are ridiculously low.

They offer everything from suits to t-shirts, and compared to other competitors it seems like you are spending pennies. If you want a lilac V-Neck, they got it. If you want a wine colored scarf they got it. As a matter of fact, it seems very difficult to not find an item in any solid color imaginable. By the way rumor has it that Jil Sanders will be taking the helm as creative director, so that’s got to be pretty good!

Getting the product is not too difficult either. Though I am not in SoHo as often as I would like, the wonderful thing is I can look at their vast website (http://www.uniqlo.com/us/) and add items to a list. Then all I have to do is call in my order, and it arrives here in Tampa rapidly.

When I need to stock up on pieces in multiple colors, find a sport jacket in an unusual shade, these guys are my go to! You might be

 surprised. I know I was! Take some time and check it out, and let’s

 see what happens!

~P

Alan Flusser is an award winning designer whose work you may have noticed in films such as American Psycho more importantly Wall Street. The classic look of the power broker of the 80’s that was inspired by the style of Michael Douglas’ character Gordon Gekko is completely due to the design and vision of Alan Flusser. From the sharp lines to the bold shirts, all items on Douglas in this film were created by Mr. Flusser.

Flusser, a highly decorated designer (winner of the 1983 Coty awards as Top Menswear Designer and the 1987 Cutty Sark award) established his company Alan Flusser Designes in 1979. His suits have been described as the perfect blend between American and classical English Tailoring.The range of his product goes from off the rack to bespoke items.

In addition to creating pieces that rely on elements such as rope shoulders and perfectly tailored lines, Mr. Flusser is an accomplished author. His most recent piece Dressing the Man is a comprehensive masterpiece that every well dressed man should possess.This book dissects all aspects of the modern male wardrobe, and does so in simple easy to understand terms. Heck, he even explores color scheme and how certain colors are more suited for complexion and time of day. Truly his book provides a structure that can turn any man into a well dressed bastion of style.

If you have not tried any of his pieces, I implore you to take a look. They are worth trying on and truly are worth purchasing. I was cynical at first, but I have yet to find a piece of clothing he has designed that just doesn’t look incredible on me, or anyone else for that matter. Take a look and be ready to be in awe. Find some and let’s see what happens!

~P