vintage men

i know, most of you will be blasting me for how little coverage i am giving when it comes to vintage styles for men. well, don't blame me. i wish that i was a trendsetter back then too but in the past, men's fashion was a tad bland hence the less attention given.

One Direction goes vintage?

however, once you understand that fashion is a never-ending cycle that always takes on a modern-day twist, the possibilities for style become endless. vintage clothing has always been a popular phenomenon, but knowing where to find it, how to wear it and which era is 'in' is the ultimate challenge.

from the '50s to the '80s (and soon the '90s), everything from saddle shoes and spandex to big collars and big hair eventually sees a reemergence on the fashion scene. every era has a comeback, as today's designers simply update the styles from other time periods. so basically, it's the concepts from different decades that return, rather than the actual article of clothing. 

here are some items that one can include in their closet to achieve that retro-look!

1) dirty denim 

Denim by Diesel

otherwise known as 'washed-out' or 'distressed', this denim is treated to give jeans and jean jackets a second-hand look.

2) button-down shirts 

Charlie Sheen

popular vintage-looking collared shirts include 'utility' shirts; a button-down with a small chest pocket on one side and a patch or insignia that reads 'joe's gas station', for instance. you can also find shirts, in either brown, blue or green, with some stripes on the shirt, usually in another shade of the shirt's base color. another popular vintage detail is a shirt collar made from a different fabric, usually a knit.

3) converse and nike

the '80s have returned in full force, especially in the world of sports apparel. you can find old-school white nikes with the original nike 'swoosh' in most sporting goods stores. even '80-style converse all-stars (low or high-top) have made a huge comeback.

4) sunglasses

oversized shades are super popular for men and they're reminiscent of the good old '60s and '70s. even '80s-style aviators are flying high on the fashion scale.

fash'on... BAM!

men and pants

in preparing this post, there were a list of lame jokes and titles that i came up with. of course, all of them did not meet the final cut (geddit, geddit? final cut!). so some of those titles include 'start panting', 'pant-demonium' and 'penning about pants'. anyway, pants are another article of clothing common to men. a pant in general is a piece of clothing used to cover legs. pants can be made of any material but mostly they are made of cotton, nylon, denim, wool, spandex or polyester.

who moved my shirts? (Abercrombie models - Black Friday tease)

today there is a great variety of different types of pants for men. for men pants are the most important article of clothing as unlike women who can wear dresses and skirts, men only have the option of wearing pants with shirts. still, men’s pants are simpler and fewer in types then women. here are some types of pants used by men:

1) trousers

trousers are straight pants made of cotton, linen, polyester, wool or nylon. usually trousers are made for formal purposes and are worn below dress shirts. trousers have their pockets stitched inwards and can vary with the width of the legs. trousers are widely classified into two categories: pleated and flat front. 

Paul Smith

pleated trousers: these pants are one of the classiest type of pants. these pants have pleats in front and are highly sophisticated, elegant and trendy. pleated trousers can be worn on any occasion whether it’s a dinner, a wedding or a job interview. the best thing about pleated pants is that they have never gone out of fashion. These simple pants go along any dress shirt.

flat front trousers: as the name suggests, flat front trousers are flat from the front. these pants were very popular once, particularly in the 1970s. these pants are made for those who have a slimmer body shape. shirts are usually tucked under the pants when wearing these pants. while buying a flat front pant one must be sure that it fits him perfectly.

2) jeans and denims

jeans and denim

jeans and denims are, by far, the most popular types of pants for men. these are casual pants worn under polo shirts and t-shirts. there is a large variety of jeans and denims available in markets. apart from formal occasions jeans can be worn anywhere, in fact jeans has become dress code for informal occasions.

3) cargo pants

cargo pants are the most comfortable of all the types of pants. these pants are loose and baggy boasting an extremely comfortable and cool look. they are perfect for outdoor activities such as trekking and hiking. cargo pants are made of a hardwearing fabric which is stitched via hard stitching allowing free movements. mostly cargo pants are worn with polo shirts and t-shirts.

hope you are not panting over your pants!

fash'on... BAM!

comfort is key

hands up, those of you who seen a young girl in the last seven days walk around town in four-inch heels! or you've seen a young boy moving around singapore in a thick wool pullover. as we grow older, we learn about colours, patterns, prints, styles and seasons... but for children, there is only one thing that they know when it comes to fashion... COMFORT!

courtesy of smartys

if children could run around all day butt naked, they probably would. confession time, how many of you, growing up, would run around the house in the buff while your parents chased after to put on you some clothes? yes, good times eh!

anyway, for our love for dolling up children to make them look 'oh-so-cute', let's keep their comfort at the back of our minds...

image from minihipster.com

for the absolutely clueless... start by looking at your fabric / textile selections...

1) cotton: cool, soft and comfortable... it absorbs and releases perspiration quickly, thus allowing the fabric to breathe. 

2) denim: this is made from tightly woven cotton... it's breathable, very absorbent like cotton but heavier and more durable.

3) polyester: strong, stretchable and durable... does not wrinkle, dries easily but it does not absorb moisture, making it hot and clammy when worn in hot temperatures.

4) linen: has twice the strength of cotton... it is one of the most breathable fabrics, making it especially cool and comfortable to wear in the heat. lightweight and absorbent, not stretchy and wrinkles easily...

more details here!

so the next time that you shop for children (or yourself) and all you want is a comfortable outfit, do keep the choice of fabric in mind... 

anne geddes

fash'on... BAM!

Sodium Hypochlorite

sodium hypochlorite, also known as household bleach, is one of the unspoken treasures around the home. if you are interesting in the full details, you can refer to my dear old friend, WIkipedia!

but i must say that, if you have old jeans / denim that you don't wear anymore and are at a loss with them, reach for the bleach... i recall years ago when i was bored and i took a pair of old jeans... laid it on the bathroom floor and pour bleach over it... yes, you would get a new design and print but it was also like a wildfire that could not be stopped...

so in case, you are inspired by me to bleach all your jeans or clothes... couple of points to note...

1) bleach is a liquid... clothes absorb liquid... so the second time round, i wet the jeans to control the amount of bleach that the jeans take in... 

2) use tools... an old toothbrush, a piece of twine, straws... the word is CONTROL... if you want your ideas to be translated on the material, go slow...

3) after you bleach your clothes, soak them, wash them (separately from your other clothes, of course), use softener... the smell will linger... you want the focus to be on your clothes, not how you smell like bleach...

anyway, here's more help...

have fun with your bleaching adventure... BAM!