I was twelve when the Robert Redford, Mia Farrow, Gatsby came out.  I can still remember how much that movie influenced my wardrobe, even then.

I bought my first pair of white bucks, my first seersucker suit;  Yes I was styling at twelve.  Between The American Gigolo and this movie my desires for elegant and dandi menswear was set in stone.

I recently rewatched the 1974 Gatsby to prepare for this years remake and I have to say, at twelve I did not truly get the impact of how sad the whole thing is (hope I’m not giving this away.)

The clothes are amazing, the parties to die for and the cars…(this movie also helped discover my latent car fedish.)

But all that said, a very sad tale indeed.  Anyhoo, there is a new Gatsby in town, in 3-D no less, and though I haven’t seen it yet (hopefully this weekend), I will reserve judgment.  The reviews haven’t been kind but my reviews will be more about the clothes than the acting in this one.

There have been several Great Gatsby’s in the movie world and I hear Fitzgerald was a dapper man.  I thank him for the influence his novel had on men’s fashion.  And unlike in my youth, where you had to go it on your own, there are many designers and fashion brands that have begun to put these looks, with modern lines, on the shelves.  I look forward to seeing how this new movie inspires men’s fashion in the coming 2013/2014 seasons.

PB

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• 5 Fashion Trends from The Great Gatsby (fashionplaytes.com)
• Fashion Crazed: The Great Gatsby (bigdreamsinnyc.wordpress.com)
• Past and Present Truths: The Great Gatsby (theshamelessgeisha.wordpress.com)
• Baz Luhrmann’s Great Gatsby film an over-the-top ‘must-see’ (theweek.co.uk)
• ‘Gatsby’ already setting trends (goerie.com)
• Thoughts on The Great Gatsby (1974) (maahinandfilms.wordpress.com)

There is a fashion revolution happening in menswear right now and Saint Harridan is at the cutting edge of this movement.  They are the only company that has dared create a ready-to-wear suit for the Dandi who likes to be their dapper best in menswear tailored suiting.

My Saint Harridan t-shirt, dog tags and patch arrived today and I wear them with pride, not only as their fashion advisor but as a huge fan.

This is just the beginning! So get on board.  If you love to look dapper and love menswear as much as I do check out their website.

Many of you all have already ordered suits, pants, shirts, hoodies and vests. And there will plenty more to come as soon as these Kickstarter orders are filled.

Be a part of the fashion revolution.  Become a Saint today!

PB

Ah, the Brits.  Some of my favorite dapper Dandy’s in all the land.  They just really know how to pull it all together in such a refined and often very colorful way.

Okay true, this look is not that colorful but gosh darn if it isn’t still wonderful.  And who is this designer I am referring to?  Daks, of London.

Very low key, very elegant.  This collection was inspired by formalwear (if you couldn’t tell)…

It really modernizes the look and makes it approachable for everyday.

Gotta love all of the top hats.  I do say that the idea of a single pop of color used with the top hat and (maybe) gloves ( if wearing a black tux on your wedding day) can be a very memorable and signature approach to making it your day as well.

Now I know spring is approaching so the last thing anyone is thinking about is going out to buy leather.  But the key word here is spring.  And in many climates a sweet new lightweight leather jacket or pair of pants might just be the ticket.  Certainly this collection is for F/W 2013 but I say take your inspirations from everywhere.

I love everything about this look.  Chic, minimal and striking.  Done!

Talk about bringing the formal into the everyday.  I think this does it beautifuly.  Those stylsh Brits do it again!

PB

Tie The Knot.  What a perfect name for the season.  And as more and more couples are looking to actually tie the knot, here is an opportunity for the Dandi to (k)not only look stylish (see what I did there!?!), but to also benefit a number of LGBT organizations.

Jesse and Justin

Jess Tyler Ferguson and his fiance Justin Mikita have created this wonderful line of bow-ties for the dapper Dandi in all of us.  Their mission is to help LGBT causes as well as use their visibility as a couple to support gay marriage.

Stylish and very Jesse…

…and they just released their spring collection last week at Avenue in New York with a plan to add cufflinks for the summer collection.

They are also looking to team up with a stationary store and create wedding invitations with the proceeds going on to benefit marraige equality.

Creative ways to raise money and raise awareness.  Got to love it!

Tie The Knot ties are available exclusively at The Tie Bar!

Related articles

• Jesse Tyler Ferguson Planning Summer Wedding (celebnmusic247.com)
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• Jesse Tyler Ferguson’s special bow-tie for Emmys (marquee.blogs.cnn.com)
• Jesse Tyler Ferguson & Justin Mikita: Tie the Knot Spring Collection Launch! (justjared.com)

Thorocraft

So the dog days of winter are upon us and it’s time to not only start thinking spring but start shopping for spring.

Superdry

So I too must follow suit and check out what’s in the stores to my liking.

Robert Graham

And of course I found tons of things but all Dandi’s are on a budget of some kind so I did have to pull back and make smart choices.

Cole Haan

Always take into account what you already have in your closet that you are excited to give a fresh look to for the new season.

J. Lindeberg

And don’t forget to take into account any new activities that you want to start up or have over the winter.  Like these white shorts for me, since over the winter I took up tennis again.  These will be great to hit the courts in.

Ben Sherman

And so many of us are somehow still showing up at the gym since our New Year’s resolutions.  If you are feeling the need for a little incentive try buying yourself a new groovy bag to put your things in, that should keep you going for at least another month.

And though I truly have no more room in my closet for new shoes, they are a must.  If your budget will not allow for a lot of new things, I always find a great new pair of shoes will draw the eye off of the clothes you may be recycling from last year and make everything fresher.

Sometimes all we need is a little pick me up to accentuate our wardrobe but don’t know quite what it is.  Well if you can’t use another bow-tie or pocket square you can never go wrong with another pair of colorful, conversation starting socks.

PB

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• J.Lindeberg Fall Winter 2013 Collection (selectism.com)
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Best known for their “Fancy’ Black Bar of soap (you know I love that name), Hudson Made New York is an online retailer that sells wonderfully curated artisanal products to the likes of you and me from the Hudson Valley, North Country and Brooklyn.

Their packaging makes me weak in the knees.  I do love detail and I especially love products that are presented with such love and care.

But I would be remiss if all I talked about was their individually boxed and hand packed and wrapped soaps and products.

Their philosophy is all about quality, craftsmanship and craft.  The products look good, feel good and work well.  They support their local communities by making an effort to resource within 100 miles of Hudson Valley and 100% American made.  They are what the heart Americana is all about.

Hudson Made NY

ferragamo.com

‘Tis the season when wedding bells ring, flowers are made into corsages and boutonniere‘s, and the blood pressure of many a lesbian bride and groom rises in anticipation of the most beautiful day of their lives together.  Now when it comes to that special day there are a lot of factors to take into account for the groom.

lanvin.com

Certainly the groom Dandi should go forth and get a well-fitted suit, if in the budget perhaps even one tailored uniquely to them.  But as I’ve pointed out often in my blog many a time.  I like shoes, a lot.  So it stands to reason that I believe when you are getting dressed up, whether it be for the one time (hopefully!) special event of your wedding or some other more formal occasion…

christianlouboutin.com

…one should start with their shoes.

louisvuitton.com

I have noticed that a good pair of shoes can make you feel like a million bucks.  I think it’s mainly because it’s one of the few things that we can see constantly on our own person, unless we spend a lot of time passing a mirror for quick admiring glances.

paulsmith.com

That said, of course fit, matching your loved one in a complementary versus matchy- matchy way (unless you like that sort of thing) should be utmost in mind,

louisvuitton.com

but a proper pair of shoes will take you a very long way.  Now as you’ve noticed with this last picture of fancy shoes I’ve put up it’s not as formal as the rest.   If dressing like you’re a cast member of Downton Abbey isn’t your style then definitely have fun with your footwear choice.  (It may be the only say you have in the matter.

Allen Edmonds Fifth Avenue – vtamour.com

Not wearing a traditional black tux?  Then black shoes are probably not going to be your thing either unless you are working with grays or blues.

pedroshoes.com

And even then don’t be afraid to have fun (but do avoid looking like you are on your way to the prom.  Remember there will be pictures permanently reminding you of your choices.)

rafsimons.com

Not a formal kind of Dandi?  That’s okay too (of course it is!)  Even if you’ve been rangled into a tux you can still pull off some personality by adding an elegant kick to the mix instead of a patent shoe (which I assure you will increase your will to dance in the wee hours of the night.)

PB

Reblogged from Style & Design:

Okay, maybe I do over use the word fabulous, but really, it’s such a great word to describe so many things…and people, and well Esther Quek deserves this word more than most.

This woman can rock some menswear and…

she knows how to help Dandi’s of all kinds do the same, in fact it’s her job.

She is the group fashion director of the classic menswear magazine The Rake (gotta love it!)

This fabulesta is not afraid to mix patterns (a very preppy approach to dressing) and she really does capture the masculinity of menswear dressing while still making it distinctly her own.

I encourage my readers to think outside the box of the sometimes boring American menswear magazine aesthetic.

It’s a good place to start and get ideas but I find European, Asian and other style influences to be beneficial and necessary to stand out as a Dapper Dandi.

Don’t be afraid to try new things, mix colors, patterns and textures.  This can be done simply with a scarf or tie, or with a colorful pair of pants or signature jacket. Whatever you do remember to have fun and that all-in-all fashion is a reflection of your greatest image of self.

PB

four-pins.com

citizencouture.com

cocokelley.com

guerreisms.blogspot.com

One of my favorite places to shop, because I know I can always find something I love, and their menswear fits my body without alterations (which is fantastic)  is Banana Republic (not big on the name, but what can you do). One of the other reasons I like to shop here  is because they really try to do new things and bring new ideas and design to what really is a preppy aesthetic and their sales staff is very helpful, even with a Dandi picking out clothes for herself on the men’s side.

As we fade out of winter into spring there are  some very good looks here, and when I was in our local store doing a little shopping myself here are some of my favorites.

PB

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