Todays Outfit

            To celebrate the early arrival of spring for my hometown I decided to wear my absolute favorite pants, a pair of 1930's extreme high-rise pants.

            These are hands-down one of the coolest pair of trousers I own. These are a pair of 1930's or 40's high-rise trousers, i'm guessing they were custom made swing slacks. Everything about these slacks are fantastic, from the construction to the fabric. The cut is amazing, the front of the pants comes up to the bottom of my ribcage and the fishtail back (named due to the shape the notch creates) comes to almost the base of my shoulder blades. While people might think pants that high have got to be uncomfortable, they are actually way more comfortable than hip rise pants because there is no pressure around you're body, they are held up by the way the fabric cut hugs your waist while the suspenders keep the majority of the weight off your hips. The buttons for the braces (suspenders) are on the outside of the waistline, but one button on the front is on the inside as a clasp on the front would have interfered with its position, rather ingenious in my opinion.

 

            Now this picture is not the most flattering, the angle and shadows show a very inaccurate view of how the pants hang, and it doesn't help with my hands in my pockets. However, this photo does show the fishtail back really well. Unfortunately you can't see in the first photo, but I wore the tie that I discussed a couple posts back. 

            Along with the pants I wore braces, a vintage detachable collar, a 1920's J.C. Penney "Solar Straw" Boater, and these badass shoes. I bought these spectator shoes off of eBay a couple years back, I can't remember how much exactly these cost but i'm guessing $100-150 range. I'm not sure when these are from either, i'm guessing 40's or 50's but it's hard to pinpoint, they are a tad big on me but not to an uncomfortable degree. These shoes are absolutely perfect for spring and summer due to the leather mesh that makes up the white portion of the shoe. As well, these shoes are actually blue and white, not black as it may appear in the photo. They are a dark navy blue that really shines through in the sun. On a sunny day with a light breeze the wind travels right through the mesh and can be really soothing on a hot day. So get out and enjoy the sun when you have the chance, and search for other cooler possiblities that look good, instead of resorting to shorts and a t-shirt, and dare I say it... flip-flops DUN DUN DUUUUUN! While t-shirts and shorts are not my first choice, they do have a place and a time, kicking it in the summer, that's where, not every day of the year for goodness sakes!

Cheers,

Mr.Speakeasy

Purchases of the Day

            After a long week of learning, I like to do some "retail therapy" and take a trip downtown, and to my regular second-hand haunts. One of my favorite stores is a warehouse of vintage clothing called Value Village. More than often I manage to find some great items at killer prices. I can recall finding a 1900's Morning coat selling beside an ugly 80's double breasted suit, the suit was $60 and the coat was $10. Finding amazing bargains like this are part of the thrill of vintage shopping, I think i'm becoming addicted to it actually. I found some interesting items today; a bowtie, sweatervest, some groovy 60's jeans, and a very interesting overcoat. The bow-tie is nothing special, silk, adjustable, and self-tie (the way to wear a bow-tie) with a blue geometrical design on the fabric. Now usually I am not one for a busy pattern on ties, like the dots and checkers on modern ties. With that said though, there are always acceptions, while I find that the things that I dislike most in mens fashions can sometimes work in the right circumstance. Anyways, back to spoils of the day!

 

            In these two pictures im wearing all of my purchases together (sans 60's jeans), regarless if they work or not.

                                                 

           In the photos I put on just a plain pair of grey slacks and some boring oxford shoes, if I didn't feel so lazy or was actually going out, I would have put on my pair of 30's tweed trousers, some brown high lace-up boots (or button-up in a perfect world), and a brown flatcap/ fedora/ bowler. The sweatervest is a fairly new Eddie Bower product, so nothing special, it's the topcoat that is the main attraction! I fell in love with this coat the moment I saw its color, then I grabbed it and I fell in love with the fabric, then I saw the raglan shoulder construction ( that is just where the connection on the body to the sleeves points towards the collar instead of being a strait up-and-down cut like we see on the majority of modern coats) as well as the cuff. Finally I opened it up and saw that not only was it Harris Tweed, but an early W&J Wilson product! W&J Wilson is a very well known quality clothiers in the area that I live in, that has been in business for over 137 years. I sometimes venture in to the store and like what I see, but unfortunately their prices are a little out of my 

comfort zone.

            Anyways on a more playful note, here are the groovy 60's jeans that found. Usually I walk right past the polyester, denim, and corderoy, but i'm a sucker for stripes. The light and playful stripes in these funky flair jeans made me chuckle and smile (quickly making the man next to me uncomfortable). I knew I could find a chance to wear them.

            This coat has alot of potential, it can be dressy and casual, as well as good for both townwear or countrywear. The coat's rusty brown color is also good for all seasons, but since its only partially lined I don't believe it would be the warmest coat for the winter. And finally I will leave with more proof that good fashion isn't expensive, the tie was $2.99, the jeans were $9.99, and finally the coat was $5.99!!

Until next time,

Cheers, 

Mr.Speakeasy

Three Terrific Ties

            In a previous post of mine I talked about the importance of a nice tie, as well as my love of 30's and 40's ties, so I pulled out my favorite tie as well as two new purchases that I made while shopping with Bee this past weekend. The first is from the early-to-mid 1940's and is made of either rayon or a silk-cotton blend, and the tag on the back says, "Quality necktie, styled by Brophey". It has a very fun design that reminds me of the youth jazz culture of the time. I saw this tie for the first time a couple months before actually purchasing it, this tie always caught my eye and I found it to be fun and playful, yet I didn't commit to buying it until I went shopping with Bee and felt like I should at least buy a tie (as she had already bought 3 bags worth of treasures).

            Though after sifting through the ties on the rack in one of my regular vintage haunts, I found another tie that caught my fancy. This one I would hazard to guess is from the mid-to-late 1940's, and is made of a very nice silk with a painted pattern on it. As well as a brilliant luster and an interwoven pattern that really stands out when the light catches it. This one is "Styled By Gentry".

            Lastly on this post I would like to share my favorite tie of my collection. This tie has similar contruction qualities of the previous one, yet I would say this one is from the late 1930's - early 40's. This tie is in mint condition and shows no wear at all. It is made of extraordinarily nice silk.

 

            The reasons I love this tie is its simple yet extremely attractive geometric design on the front, its wonderful color, and how it has a separate hand painted series of lines that goes where the knot is tied. This tie is absolutely gorgeous, I love how the knot has a separate design than the face, I love the interwoven diamonds in the fabric, I love the luster of the silk, and I love how it makes any outfit pop. The only thing that is a minor frustration for me is that there is no point in wearing a vest with this tie, and I love wearing vests. Wearing a vest with this tie is like putting a tarp over the Mona Lisa, pointless, this tie is meant to be seen.

          This tie is made by the "Washington Shirt co." and is hand painted, you can see the horizontal lines of the knot in this picture. "But how much did these ties cost?" you may ask, well, less than a new tie today. Some moderately attractive ties today can cost up to $65 or more. The first two ties cost $5 each, and my favorite tie cost a mere $15! This is just another piece of evidence that supports my philosophy of "You don't need to spend a lot to look like you did".

Two Two-Toned Shoes

            While I have varied taste in shoes I have always had a soft spot for certain designs, one of them being two-toned or "spectator" shoes. The first pair are from around the mid 1940's. I got them off eBay along with the second pair of boots. I love these shoes due to their classic 1940's styling, as well as a beautiful shade of brown. The brown wingtip portion of the shoe is regular leather, while the white is a very soft suede, and you can still feel the chalk in the original coloring! You can date shoes like this by looking at some unique styling that can help pinpoint an era. The dramatic shape of the sole is called a "Spade" leather sole, it is called this because of the triangular shape. Also, almost all shoes of that era and earlier had only half leather lining, the rest towards the toe of the shoe is lined with canvas (another structural change in shoe construction), with the canvas the shoe kept better shape, and I find it helps keep your foot from sliding around the inside if the shoe is a bit too big, which these are on me.

            The next shoes date to the early 1900's, and are a classic example of button-up boots. These were also an eBay purchase of mine, but unfortunatly they do not fit in the least. They too have the two-toned look, where the bottom portion is black and the top is brown. They have an even more pronounced "Spade" sole, as well as the canvas lining. These shoes are an early product of the Florsheim Shoe co. which was founded in 1892 and still makes good quality shoes to this day.


            Unfortunately the first shoes I displayed have also fallen victim to the "Gangster" label, but that is no reason not to wear them! They still make for a dynamite pair of shoes for a sunny summers stroll.

Cheers,
Mr. Speakeasy

My favorite things

My top five favorite items I own

1) Jose Saenz two-toned wing tipped ankle boots

2) GAP over-sized men's dress shirt

3) BDG Floral print leggings

4) PURE cosmetics matte lipstick in Fire Red

5) American Apparel low back leotard in black

Five things you can find in my bag

1) Red Lipstick/Gloss

2) Betsey Johnson hot pink Houndstooth, treasure chest wallet 

3) My LG Shine

4) IPod Touch

5) Teen Vogue Handbook

Also, on a side note
I was looking through pictures of my friend's recent trip to London, England to visit her friends and I came to a conclusion based on what I was viewing (it wasn't even hard to tell). English girls wear SO much makeup. It looked as if I could take a shovel to their faces and they wouldn't feel it due to all the padding their foundation offers. Be it said, they were all gorgeous, gorgeous women but still... it's not THAT cold in London, you don't need to make up as insulation. Wear a coat or something...

Cheers,

Bee

Valentino Spring 2010 Collection

Just going to throw it out there, I am OBSESSED with the Spring '10 Couture Collection from Valentino. Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli nailed it! The soft, matalic greys and peach hues are hindering the cold winter and eluding to a gorgeous spring.

  

    Inspiration drawn from Avatar? I think so! 

Cheers,

Bee

Images from Style.com

Response to Comment

Blogger DJ Nicholson asked us for advice about middle-aged women's fashion. Seeing as I am not a middle aged woman I had to consult my fashion go-to girl, my mom. She is definatly one of the most stylish middle aged women I know. After listening to her rant for a while, I absorbed this information: 

Shopping for middle aged women is hard because you don't want to wear clothes that are made for a 19 year old but you also don't want to look like a grandma. My mom said to"keep it modern, but discrete". An example would be pleated-front Bermuda shorts, an embellished front blouse that drapes just past the top of your hips,pick a bright color or patter to bring the attention upwards. a v neck cut is nice. a cropped fitted blazer draws the whole outfit together. Throw on some cork heeled pumps and you're good to go! Just experiment by mixing classic lines, colors and textures with bold tops, chunky accessories and funky shoes.

In conclusion stick to cuts that will flatter your shape, pair classic colors and lines with modern pieces and patterns. 

      

Shorts: See by Chloe              
Blazer: Top Shop                                                       
Top: Kirna Zabete.

Cheers,
Bee

The Misconceptions of Mens Fashion

            There are many elements to male attire that the majority of people do not fully understand. I will begin my maiden post by first clarifying some misconceptions that men have on getting "dressed up". First I must stress to men that it is not hard to get dressed up! All that you need to do is expand your knowledge of fashion history. This will not be like history class, the usefull thing about past fashion is that pretty much every man looked good and comfortable in their clothes. Today we see a huge variety of clothing styles, personally I love diversity, but to those men who dress just plain slovenly, this is for you. I hope that this can help those who want to be helped and maybe encourage those with a passion to dress well to keep to it!
            Personally I have run into alot of interesting situations by the way I dress, it seems that putting on a nice pair of shoes, suit, bow-tie and fedora is more questionable in modern mindset than somebody dressed as Darth Vader playing the Viola. More times than I can count I have been asked by a complete stranger why I was dressed like a "Gangster" (I assumed it was my hat). Honestly I am tired of this connection people have with dressing nice. I am not particularly insulted when told I look like a gangster because in all honesty those guys were very well dressed, not to mention badasss to boot!
            Many people also do now know what a 3-piece suit is, quite simply it is a suit that has 3 parts; a Jacket, Vest and Trousers. A 2-piece has just the Jacket and Trousers, and a 4-piece is the same as a 3-piece but with an extra pair of Trousers ( it was common practice to sell an extra pair with a suit in and around 1900-1940
            The next concern that I have is that most men say they don't know how to dress up, and therefor do not. It is actually very simple, but take it in steps, it is best not to immediately jump from skate shoes, jeans and a hoodie to a full blown Morning Suit, including spats, cane and top hat. First I would recommend you look through some past decades in time at their fashion and see which one you like best, try adding some elements of that era to your attire, doesn't have to be big, maybe a hat, tie or jacket. Gradually you can add more and more elements in whatever way you see fit,  get creative!
             I highly recommend men open their minds to past fashion, be it 80's, Victorian, or Renaissance, whatever interests you the most.  

Cheers,
Mr. Speakeasy




http://www.revelinnewyork.com/sites/default/files/capone6.jpg

Elizabeth & James Blade Runner Blazer

           

I love Ashley and Mary-Kate Olson's male-inspired line. It's got a lot of really strong, structured, simple staple items that every woman MUST have! I just love the simplicity and the cut of this jacket. Too bad it's 500 bones...

• H&M Faux-Fur Vest

• Jannuzzi Tutu skirt

• Miu Miu gloves

• H&M Sunglasses

This is a great example of a Faux-Fur vest and a skirt with sexy volume. I used to be a ballerina so I have a soft spot for leotards, white tights and tutus. I thought that the gloves and glasses added a cute touch to this out-there look. Now all this outfit needs is a pair of McQueen's haute lobster heels.

Cheers,
Bee

Top Ten, Bottom Ten

We have composed a list of the Top Five and Bottom Five Female trends, and the Top Five and Bottom Five male trends

Female Fashion DO's

1. Fitted Blazers- A fitted blazer or Tuxedo jacket can add structure to a flimsy outfit 
2. Skirts with Volume- Volume can give you curves where you need it and hid unwanted extras. Be careful to not over do it though. The key is balance. If you have volume on the bottom, keep it sleek on the top. 
3. Faux-Fur vests- Spice up an average cocktail dress with a faux-fur vest. Belt it for shape
4. Strong Shoulders- They're back! A jacket with structured shoulders is a revamp on the classic 80's look. Strong angles and cuts are really flattering. 
5. Bows- It you're having a bad hair day, throw your hair into a high bun and add a big satin bow. Instantly your hair revised. 

Female Fashion DON'TS 

1. Ugg Boots- They were never stylish and they never will be. They were created as Australian house booties and should stay in the confines of Australian houses. Not street appropriate! 
2. Over-sized, fake prescription glasses- If you don't need glasses, don't wear them. It's not like they're protecting you from the sun! 
3. Athletic pants- If you are going to yoga or sitting on your couch, all the power to you. If you are out shopping or going to dinner, please leave the spandex at the gym and put on some real pants! They are unflattering to the majority of the public and cling to places you really don't want to be drawing attention to. 
4. T-shirts with sayings on them- Nobody cares about your "Attitude Problem" or how much you think "Boys Suck". Frankly, I'm on "Team Let's Not Look Ridiculous" and not "Team Edward"
5. Short Jean Skirts- They reveal too much and leave little to the imagination. Not sexy. I'm a firm believer that tight, short skirts MUST be paired with tights or leggings.

Blazer from TIBI, Skirt from ACNE, Boot from UGG


Male Fashion DO'S

1.  Fitted Clothing- The difference between a well fitted suit and an ill fitted one is almost immediately identifiable. A well fitted suit also helps the silhouette of the clothes and makes the outfit much more flattering. 
2.  Nice Hats- The addition of a nice hat can in the majority of cases, make or break the outfit. As well, one should experiment with different hats, as different cuts and shapes are better suited for certain face shapes. Not-nice hats: Baseball, Beanie, "Hot Hat", or dunce cap. 
3. Ties- Modern ties are of simple design and often don't add anything to the overall look. personally my favorite era for ties is the 1940's, where hand painted pictures turned an often rudimentary item into a work of art (as well as a great conversation starter).
4. Vests- Rarely do I leave the house without some form of waistcoat (vest). A nice vest can add a fantastic snap to complete a good suit, it can add either color, or in colder weather a well needed layer of warmth. 
5. Boots- A good pair of mens dress boots are an essential article for the well dressed man. While the popularity of good quality lace up, or button boots have lost their appeal as they take a little while longer to put on, they retain their original class.

Male Fashion DON'TS

1. Improper Trouser Placement- Today's men wear their pants in a way that often leaves passers by wondering either if the pants will rip if they bend over, or if they will fall down any second. Pants should do up and stay at the waist, not halfway down ones rear! Skinny Jeans also have somehow found their way back from the dead and back in male popular culture, but while skinny jeans are considered "Hip", they should stay on women.
2. Shapeless Clothing- Many of today's popular clothing is mass produced and therefor made large and bulky, it only looks like it fits if you were to weigh 400 pounds. I can see that it is comfortable to have such loose baggy hoodies and pants but if you have that much space between the fabric and your skin you might as well wear a robe.
3. Sideways/Backwards Hat- Whats the point in even wearing a hat if you point the brim away from being useful? One can only pull off a jaunty angle of a hat if it is in good taste, men of the roaring 20's were often seen with their straw boaters as a slight angle, as this could either help deflect the sun more or to show a youthful playfulness. But with that said, it does not have the same effect when worn with baggy jeans and a hoodie... which brings me back to my previous DON'T.
4. Spiked Hair- Why? That is my first question to those with spiked hair. Is it Rebellious? Fashionable? Or was it some sort of accident? A man with nice hair has timeless class, spiked hair will quickly date you, and when it goes out of style you are left with having to change your whole look.
5. Square-toed Elongated Shoes- Having such long shoes with such an unflattering cut to the toe leaves the wearer looking like a semi-styled bigfoot. However, I do not completely discourage men to wear these shoes, it is certainly a step forward from wearing skate shoes. But there are a few more steps to take after that, I will elaborate on this at a later post.
 

http://upscalemenswear.com/images/Zota/Zota%2010088%20Black%20Bone%20Square%20Toe%20Leopard%20Hair%20Shoes.JPG

 

Who are Mr.Speakeasy and Bee?

We are two concerned citizens living in a dress-down town, just north of the American Dream. This world is in a dismal state where society has become more in tuned with comfort than style. The Saturday streets are laden with sweatpants and crocs. What this world needs is an education, a lesson in couture. So slip out of your track suits and into a three-piece suit. Settle down and listen up. 


Who are these two fashion vigilantes, you may ask? Let me introduce ourselves, I am Bee and my partner in crime, battling against low riding pants, is Mr.Speakeasy. Although our sense of styles venture on opposite sides of the spectrum, we both agree on the fact that 90% of styles these days, well frankly they suck. 


Mr.Speakeasy believes that there is no such thing as "Over-dressed", but there is certainly under-dressed. Rarely does he leave his abode without a vest, hat and tie. His favorite color is green and his entire wardrobe is second-hand. His taste in fashion dates from the mid fifties backwards through to the beginning of the Victorian era.


Bee rarely leaves her room without a pair of tights on. She loves voluminous skirts and floral dresses. She thinks at least and inch heel are a must on all shoes. Her style dates from the 1950's onwards until the end of the Universe. Her favorite color is turquoise and she loves bows. 


Our mission begins now and will end when message is sufficiently spread. 

Cheers,
Mr.Speakeasy and Bee