IYAAJAY // MENS STYLE BLOG: November 2014

VERSATILI-TEE - DIRTY VELVET STYLING // IYAAJAY

November 28, 2014

Theres nothing more a guy likes then a incredibly versatile tee which will take them from early morning to late night without looking out of place. A hell of a lot of work for a tee right?

Well, with thanks to Dirty Velvet, Im going to show you how to transform this tee into 4 different looks. Dirty Velvet is a design collective focused on producing high quality clothing with designs that offer a creatively different perspective to the mainstream.

Using 100% organic cotton, Dirty Velvet designs are realised using both ecologically and socially sustainable methods. They produce original graphics that combine strong and thought provoking imagery to reflect their slightly twisted view of the world. With fans ranging from Usain Bolt, Rudimental, Russell Howard, Tim Minchin and Radio 1’s Matt Edmondson, Dirty Velvet have something for every guy.

Tee- Dirty Velvet

All Saints Boots

Jack Wills Jeans

Ralph Lauren Shirt

⎯⎯⎯⎯

This is the perfect winter style for the guy who wants to pay a nod to the trends but keep it classic. The tee pops contrasting against the colour and pattern of the plaid but doesn't look overly dressy and more relaxed. Teamed with classic staple blue jeans (every guy needs a staple style and pair) paired with the rugged boots gives it edge too. The tee is a perfect layering piece as the cotton is of a good weight so is perfect for layering or wearing by itself when the weather gets hotter.

Tee- Dirty Velvet

Topman Ripped Jeans

Vans Classic Plimsoles

French Connection Shirt

⎯⎯⎯⎯

Now this outfit may look similar to the one before, but you'd be oh so wrong. Dirty Velvet is about being rebellious so grab that shirt and go 90's with it by tying it round your waist for the perfect fashion rebel look. Teamed with shredded jeans and the ever faithful plimsoles gives it a real grunge edge which also ties with the slogan on the tee which gives off the 90s vibe for slogan tees. If the tee isn't the look for you, push the sleeves up for a tough looking vest or roll the sleeves as far as they go for that 'pulled together but pulled apart' look.

Tee- Dirty Velvet

River Island Jeans

Topman Neoprene Bomber

ASOS Pork Pie Hat

⎯⎯⎯⎯

Taking inspiration from the Dirty Velvet mascot, I pulled together a more dressy outfit with that casual edge, perfect for the Christmas social season. Teaming a statement tee with this neoprene bomber makes it look smarter, then when topped off with the pork pie hat, it takes this outfit to another level. Id also team this with the darkest jeans possible with chelsea boots, perfect for Dirty Velvet rebellious gentleman!

Tee- Dirty Velvet

River Island Jeans

Nike International Trainers

Jack Wills Sherpa Parka

The Blogger Programme Tote (kindly sent to me by the lovely Blogger Programme team)

⎯⎯⎯⎯

This outfit is definitely something I will be gravitating towards in the winter as the weather changes. The thickness of the tee is perfect under a heavier coat as its thin enough to not get too bulky, but is thick enough without everything plus your dinner being on show (anyone else hate that when tees are so transparent?). Teamed with the trusty jeans and trainers combo which ties in with the colour scheme on top still allows the print to demand attention and command to be looked at.

So there you go guys, how to track down that ever elusive versatile tee with huge thanks going to Dirty Velvet for providing me with this example to show you guys!

Got a favourite style, or an idea of how you'd style it? Let me know on Twitter at @iyaajayblog and make sure to follow my Instagram for other styling tips too! Also make sure to give Dirty Velvet some love over on their Twitter and Facebook

Until next time guys!

Jay

*Dirty Velvet provided me with this tee and their AW14 press release, every other item have been bought by me or has been provided by another company, such as the Blogger Programme tote and all ideas and styling is my own*

cotton jelly

COTTON JELLY WISHLIST // IYAAJAY

November 20, 2014

Cotton Jelly offer some of the most amazing tees and also allow you to create personalised ones from pre set patterns to your own photographs! These tees aren't just for guys though, they also offer a wide range of womens tees too ranging from crew, crop and boyfriend, so there really is something for everyone here.

Cotton Jelly asked me to pick out some of my favourite pieces and say how I would style them, so I've decided to pick 4 of my current choices and style them for different seasons and scenarios to make an incredibly stylish upcoming year!

Christmas collection print

This incredibly seasonal print gives off a very regal edge so I would be tempted to team this bold, baroque tee with a blazer and jeans with a pair of monk strap shoes for a more put together affair for Christmas drinks. The bold print offers an interesting edge to a smarter outfit and also creates the perfect conversation starter, perfect for mingling with drinks at Christmas. I love the kaleidoscopic element of the tee as you notice different details each time you look at the tee which means its also sure to grab attention too!

Landscapes on Acid collection print

This tee is perfect for the beginning of the new year where days are still crisp and bright, but lend themselves to a more stripped back, almost bare colour palette. This would look great under a olive green parka and true blue jeans for a colder spring morning outfit, then teamed with black jeans and biker jacket when the weather warms up. The sectional pattern repeat is eye-catching without being too migranal and bold (Am I the only one who gets that if they look at too bolder bright pattern?) and is perfect teamed with paired down outfits. This could also be transitional when paired with chino shorts and deck shoes for the Summer for a laid back look.

Floral collection print

This tee would be perfect for the Summer festival season. The bolder tropical print gives the outfit an edge especially when teamed with shredded denim, the trusty plaid shirt round the waist and sturdy boots (Dr Martens or any rugged boots would be perfect). The tropical print would also be incredible for the summer holiday abroad, paired with camel shorts, a pair of killer classic sunglasses and also a more bronzed appearance to stand out against the darker background of the tee.

Don't Even Look at Me Now tee

This is part of their pre-designed tee collection and I think this would be perfect for any fashion week event in London, especially FNO or a more individual designer showcase. Teamed with jeans, chelsea boots in a tougher leather, a pork pie style or wider brim hat and the obligatory plaid for the perfect casual, almost rocker style outfit. I love the very seasonal floral design which is eye catching in its distinctive black and white colour way but is totally transformed with the bold messaging on the back.

I hope you liked this post guys, if you did make sure to follow Cotton Jelly on Instagram and Twitter for more exciting styles and tees!

Until next time guys,

Jay

Twitter // Instagram

best eyeglasses for men

KINGS OF PAST WISHLIST // IYAAJAY

November 15, 2014

Its no secret that I love a good pair of sunglasses or glasses and I can always be found with one or the other, but when Kings of Past contacted me to do a wish list for their website, it was the perfect scenario to see which ones I hope to add to my shopping list.

Now, Kings of Past, for those not in the know, offer the most coverted selection of vintage Designer sunglasses and glasses that have never been worn and are all genuinely 100% authentic, which adds to the serious appeal of this web based eyewear heaven. The company travel the world to bring you the best unused vintage and loved designs (think Dior to Dunhill, Rayban to Ralph Lauren) and have boutique locations in Canada, the US, France, Japan, Italy, Portugal, the UK, Israel, Hong Kong, China, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. Ive whittled down my choices to 4 key pairs no well dressed guy should ever be without.

Persol 4 BRN

If you wear glasses, you know the struggle to find the perfect frame shape and colour for your face (Too darker frames and it shortens the face, but too thinner frames and you risk looking a little strange) so I discovered the perfect pair that'll suit a multitude of face shapes and colouring. I swapped to a pair of Tortoise shell glasses this year and found it really lifts the face and is a perfect colouring if you have a stronger brow bone and eyebrows as a darker pair hits you at a higher point, making your face appear heavier and larger. These would be great styled with a warm winter knit and white shirt, teamed with skinny dark wash jeans and a pair of suede brogues or desert boots for that off beat classic British style.

Faconnable Boget 567

Staying on the Tortoise shell trend, these Faconnable sunglasses which scream luxury, would look incredible teamed with a tan and classic nautical stripes. I love the key hole style bridge and thinner arms which add a touch of classic French Riviera style with a twist of the unexpected with the bold tortoise frames with darker tinted arms. These would also be an incredible investment piece as this style of frames (a hybrid between the Wayfarer and Clubmaster styles) mean that these would look great for years to come and would suit everyone from the hipster in the cafe next door, to the sophisticated business man on the go.

Ray Ban Wayfarer Olympic Series

No wish list for glasses would be complete without a lust worthy pair of Ray Bans and these are no different. The classic Wayfarer style gets reinvented with a 80's patchwork style design and USA arm detailing which represent the 1980's USA Olympics. I love the bold colour way of these glasses and would be perfect for summer festivals and travelling as they offer the UV protection of the classic Wayfarer, but with a more summery colour way. I also love the fact that I have never seen a pair of these before so have an air of exclusivity about them which is sure to be a excellent conversation starter.

Oakley Frogskins

Now I know these aren't very vintage, but this style is well on its way to becoming iconic in its own right. I love the transparent frames which add a modern edge to what is a very classic style. I also love the contrast between the dark lenses and the lightness of the frames which means it would work with many different styles and colours without looking too much. I would style these with a very 90's inspired outfit consisting of bold plaid and band tees, teamed with the rocker essential skinny jeans and chelsea boots.

Make sure to check out Kings of Past and see which ones take your fancy!

Now....wheres my wallet?

Until next time guys!

Jay

**These images were provided by Kings of Past who contacted me to ask if I would like to do a post for them. Each of the styling and opinions are mine and I have not been paid for this sponsored post**

neoprene

THE MATERIAL: NEOPRENE // IYAAJAY

November 01, 2014

I have only just discovered the reason why people have gone mad for neoprene. Gucci to Christopher Kane, Givenchy to Proenza Schouler et all have all plumped for this futuristic fabric this season so I decided to see what the big hype is.

Neoprene rubber is usually used to make diving equipment and only really used in fashion a couple of years ago when the future was the focus. Now, only a handful of high street shops brave to tackle this material (ASOS, Topman, Topshop, and COS are the best for this material) and its becoming hard to track down as as soon as a new piece hits the shelves, it clears automatically.

I plumped for two Topman pieces in the form of a extreme longline tee and a bomber. I originally wanted to get the longline tee but when I set eyes on the jacket, I knew that had to come home with me too.

Topman Black Scuba Bomber

I love the very traditional style of this bomber, especially with the functioning pocket on the sleeve. The weight of the material is a mid weight meaning its perfect for layering without being too bulky or heavy. I did find this quite warm as it doesn't have any vent holes or sections which means it could potentially be pretty warm but its perfect for the winter. Top tip: Make sure to keep the rest of the outfit simple to keep the clean lines minimal and fuss free for a more relaxed outfit. (Make sure to check out my instagram @iyaajay to see how I style this piece)

Topman Black Scuba Crew Tee

This was the original piece that drew my attention to neoprene and knew I had to track it down. I originally saw it at the new Brighton flagship but they didn't have sizes over a medium which I thought was going to be too small for me. After contacting Topman, I found out that it wasn't going to be restocked and I tried desperately to get my size in this tee but to no avail. Luckily when I went back to the Brighton store, I decided to try a medium which incredibly, fitted perfectly. Due to being an extreme length, oversized tee, the medium fitted my shoulders perfectly and the extra length made it come to about 2-3 inches above my knees (Im 5ft10) and raises on the side for a sports inspired style. I kept this simple the first time I wore it teaming it with trusty black jeans, rolled up and paired with a pair of patterned Vans slip ons for a Givenchy inspired take on minimal dressing.

I can't wait to style these pieces during the winter as they offer more warmth then the traditional cotton tee, but keep things interesting with the thicker, matte finished material which is sure to gain attention.

Until next time guys.

Jay

Twitter // Instagram