Reader Question

Happy New Year, everyone! I am so excited for 2011- I feel like this year truly has some good things in store, not just for me, but for my family, friends, coworkers, etc. As I reflect back on 2010, I realize I definitely made the right decision to pack up and move out of PA and back to NH. Even though it has made the blog more difficult to maintain, I realize it was the right thing to do for my career, my personal life and even for my mental health. If you are the type to make New Year's resolutions (I'm SO not), then I encourage you to resolve to make change in your life where you need to. It is not always an easy decision to make a major change, but I promise you will not regret it. Whatever it is in your life that is causing you grief or pain, take steps to resolve the issues- it is the only way you will move forward in your life.

Ok, I'm stepping off my soap box now! I don't mean to get too preach-y here on the blog, but sometimes I really feel compelled to say what is on my mind, even if it is not fashion related. But speaking of fashion-related things, I received the following message from reader Miguel a few days ago and I wanted to take a moment to respond:

Hello from the internet! I just want to say I enjoy your blog, and that I appreciate some of the guy tips you have thrown out there. Especially the holiday outfit suggestions... so that brings me to a question I have... :-) What's the rule for wearing black dress pants with a not matching black jacket? It looks like a no-no to me, but is there a time when that would makes sense? Should you ever wear a blazer with anything other than light colored slacks or jeans? Thanks! Miguel :)


First of all, I want to thank Miguel for writing to me- I LOVE to hear from the people who read my blog and I truly want to know what questions you have about fashion, style, sewing, or anything else. I always encourage you to leave a comment and I hope you feel as though I respond to them when appropriate. Additionally, I try to avoid badgering people into "following" or "subscribing" to my blog- I don't want you to feel as though you have to be a follower in order to be appreciated. 


And now to address Miguel's question: Can you wear black slacks with a non-matching black blazer? My opinion is this: if you are choosing to wear two non-matching black items, make sure they are decidedly different. For example, wear a solid black jacket with a pair of black pin-stripe trousers or vice-versa. If you pair two very similar, but ever-so-slightly different pieces, you run the risk of looking as though you simply mis-matched your black suits at the dry cleaner. Other distinctions can be fabric/textile choices: a pair of woolen dress pants with a cotton sateen jacket- the contrast in texture will distinguish the two from each other, but it will still look put-together and polished as opposed to looking like a mistake. 


Here are some great combinations of black pants and black blazers: 

 Both items available at Banana Republic (jacket, pants). 

You can find the blazer at Gap and the pants at Express. 

You all know how much I love dark jeans with a nice, tailored jacket, right? Let's not exclude that option OR its opposite- a denim blazer with trousers: 

The jacket is from Zara and the jeans can be found at Neiman Marcus. 

Zappos sells the jacket and the pants are the same ones from Express that are pictured above. 

While this post is geared specifically towards men because of Miguel's request, it also has applications for women. Check back in a day or two for the womens edition of monochromatic black outfits. 

In conclusion, I want to address Miguel's last question about only wearing blazers with light-colored pants or jeans. The answer is no- you can wear a blazer with any pair of pants that work- dark, light, cotton, wool, heavy, light- if it looks good, you can wear it- ignore the rules of your grandfather's generation. I personally love black blazers with charcoal or even light grey pants- it's a polished look without being a matching suit. Pair a navy jacket with chocolate brown pants for a twist on the more classic khaki/navy combination. And don't be fooled into thinking white or blue button-front shirts are the only options, either. But that's another post for another day. 

Miguel, I hope this has answered your question! Feel free to submit any other fashion/style questions you may have and I'll do my best to answer them! Happy New Year! 

Renee's Guide to the Holidays- Part 3: Menswear

It's December 1st, which means that the countdown to Christmas has officially begun. And what better way to spend it than to feature another Renee's Guide to the Holidays? This post is focused on: Menswear.

Gentlemen, it has been quite a while since I posted anything specific for you. I know that's how this blog tends to operate and I'm sorry if you feel neglected. I think I ought to write a standard apology to all of you that I can just copy and paste into the start of each of my menswear posts and then I could save myself a few minutes and a few hundred key strokes.

Anyway, I'm sure you've noticed that I've been writing my sartorial guide to the holidays over the last couple of weeks. So far we've covered Thanksgiving and the office holiday party, but both posts were geared specifically towards women. While navigating the holidays is usually a lot simpler for men- at least in terms of selecting your clothes- it's still something I think we should talk about.

I was in Express the other day and I was so happy to see these outfits on the mannequins:

I smiled when I saw these outfits because they are bright and festive and colorful and yet just about any guy I know would look good in these outfits and could pull these looks off easily. I have never been a fan of holiday-themed clothing in the traditional sense, especially for men. In other words, the last thing I want to see is a necktie with Christmas trees on it or a sweater with a Santa hat pattern in the weave. Male school teachers are especially guilty when it comes to the holiday-themed neck ties. My high school band director always wore those cheesy ties. I hated them then and I hate them still now. Unlike the in-your-face tackiness of the Grinch grimacing up at me from your button placket, the outfits pictured above are classy, sophisticated examples of how menswear can be festive and full of the holiday spirit without being a bit tacky.

Give it a try this holiday season- buy a nice forest green or burgundy shirt instead of your standard white or blue that all you men seem to be so fond of. If you're adventurous, go for the bright green or holiday red shirt instead of the more muted versions of the Christmas colors. Pair it with a pair of nice trousers- charcoal grey, black, tan- these are all acceptable choices- and finish it with a bold tie and an accompanying jacket. For a less formal look, lose the tie and add a light-weight sweater on top instead of a jacket. For a more formal event (where a tuxedo may be involved), try a brightly colored pocket silk. It's a small splash of color that will be merry, festive and bright, but you'll still be as sophisticated looking as James Bond in your tux. A colored vest/tie or cummerbund/tie would not be quite so sophisticated, so beware. Also, if you're a guest, you don't want to look like the wait staff, right? Right.

Fortunately, Express has many shirts and sweaters in bold colors (and even some prints) besides the green pictured above, so here are some great shirt choices to get you through the holidays in style. (More on the specific styling after the photos.)

First up- Thanksgiving (a little late, I know- save this idea for next year):

Modern Fit Stretch Cotton Shirt, Express, $39.90-49.90

Next, Christmas dinner with the family:

Cashmere V-neck Sweater, Express, $96.60

The office holiday party: 

Concealed Button-down Collar Fitted Shirt, Express, $54.90

New Year's Eve (informal): 

Striped Fitted Shirt, Express, $59.90

These are pretty bold colors, I know, but wouldn't that yellow "Thanksgiving" shirt be great underneath a dark brown sweater? A pair of khakis finish it off for a casual and comfortable day of eating and socializing with family and friends. And the red sweater below it is ideal for Christmas dinner! Layer it over a black button-front shirt and wear black or charcoal grey trousers. Add a necktie to dress it up a little more, or roll the shirt sleeves up over the sweater sleeves for a cool, casual vibe. The office holiday party doesn't have to be spent in a suit a tie or whatever you would normally wear to work. Instead, try a shirt with a bit of sheen, like the pale green one pictured above. If you're really adventurous (and it suits your personality and personal style), try wearing a button-front vest and necktie instead of a more traditional look like a suit jacket. Dark-wash jeans on bottom keep it cool and casual, perfect for a party vibe, but still in the realm of "professional" attire. Finally, go for a subtle print along with the extra bit of sheen for a particularly festive New Year's Eve look. Again, dark trousers or dark wash jeans are both good choices and it's up to you to decide the level of formality, which of course depends upon the event itself. I'm a fan of more casual holiday parties, but I do enjoy dressing up for the fancy ones on occasion. 

Now, just in case you're having trouble visualizing these outfits, I've put together some examples for you. I couldn't find the exact items pictured above when I was doing these polyvore sets, but the concepts are all the same. Feel free to leave a comment and tell me what you think of these looks. Would you wear them? Do you know guys who dress like this? Do you WISH your boyfriend/husband dressed like this or do you think I'm crazy for suggesting them? No matter what you have to say, I want to hear it! 

Menswear- Thanksgiving by Rtboo on Polyvore.com

Menswear- Christmas Dinner by Rtboo featuring chinos pants

Menswear- Office Holiday Party by Rtboo on Polyvore.com

Menswear- New Year's Eve by Rtboo on Polyvore.com

Happy Holidays, gentlemen! 

Fall Fashion Trends

It has been requested by some readers that I talk about fall fashion trends. With NYFW just around the corner, I think that is certainly appropriate. I am looking forward to seeing what comes down the runway, but until then, there are a few trends we already know will be hot this fall.

For both men and women, military-inspired clothes are everywhere. This trend may not feel really new and that's because it's not- it was hot last fall as well, but the thing about fashion is that some trends stick around longer than others. They often start solely in the high-end, designer collections, and then they gradually trickle down to more affordable places and eventually you start seeing them on the discount rack. Right now, the military trend is about in the middle- you can find it everywhere- from ultra expensive, high-end, all the way down to bargain versions from Forever 21 and H&M. When we start seeing it in the clearance bin (and nowhere else), you know it's on the way out.

The military look is ideal for just about any body type because it is so structured and tailored that it looks good on everyone. Some of my favorite military-inspired pieces are dirt cheap at Forever 21:

Denim Naval Blazer, $32.80

Brushed Button Woven Vest, $24.80

Theater Box Jacket, $27.80

Structural Military Jacket, $27.80

Each and every one of these affordable jackets would make an excellent fall/winter layering piece. Pair any of them with a structured trouser or pencil skirt for the office. If you have a suit, pair one of these jackets with the bottom half of the suit and you'll give it an instant update. Or pull out those short shorts you've been sporting all summer, layer them over a pair of opaque tights and finish the look with a military jacket, oxfords and finally some fun accessories:

Military Inspired by Rtboo featuring wool blend jacket

For men, the military look can be even easier to achieve. There are so many military styles available in shirts, blazers, jackets and all varieties of outerwear. For starters, I love the laid-back vibe of this jacket:

Fleece Military Jacket, Banana Republic, $79.50

So many shirts out there have interesting military details like flap pockets and epaulettes. I especially like this one:

Linen-blend Pilot's Shirt, Old Navy, $10

There are plenty of both light and heavy weight outerwear options for the gentlemen, too:

French Connection Cavalry Cotton Jacket, Zappos, $104.50

For men, you can often find great actual military pieces at thrift shops, vintage stores, even Ebay. A touch of authenticity adds a nice punch of character to an outfit and you can often find vintage and second hand pieces for a lot less than you can if they are new in stores. Sometimes they require a trip to the dry cleaner or a spin through the wash before you can wear them, but it's worth it.

Cropped Wool Military Jacket, Ebay, $49.99

And many of you may already own a military-inspired jacket- a pea coat! Pea Coats never go out of style and are also flattering on many body types. Ladies, look for ones that have flattering seams and aren't too boxy. Men, look for solid construction and good tailoring, too.

Insulated Wool Pea Coat, Land's End, $149.50

I think this Land's End coat is gorgeous. And it's available in three colors (black, navy and grey) as well as regular, petite and plus size!

Wool Blend Pea Coat, Express, $228

I love this pea coat from Express because it not only has the military-style buttons, it also has epaulettes on the shoulders for an extra military detail.

For military style on-the-cheap, just buy a handful of metallic buttons and sew them onto a plain jacket. Or go military with your accessories:

Stainless Steel Braided Cable Dog Tag Necklace, Overstock, $32.99

Aqua Military-Inspired Cap, Bloomingdale's $34

Steampunk Military Inspired Brooch, Etsy, $45

WCM Military Inspired Belt, Bloomingdale's $68

Men's Graphic Cadet Hat, Old Navy, $10

The possibilities are endless, so just take a look around and see what you like. Look for pieces that are versatile and you can't go wrong. Happy Wednesday, everyone!

It's a Big & Tall, not a Big OR Tall!

"It's a Big & Tall, not a Big OR Tall." I once said that to my boss when he complained about shopping at Casual Male XL. My boss is really tall, but he doesn't necessarily fall into the big category. Finding clothes that fit well is tough for him, but he does ok. I tease him most days because his wardrobe consists mainly of khaki pants and blue oxford shirts. So if you're reading, this one's for you, Andy!

For starters, all you men out there should know that King Size Direct offers Big OR Tall as well as Big AND Tall clothing. Now on to the style advice.

For anyone not blessed with the body of a supermodel, the key to looking good is FIT. I'll say it again- FIT. I'm using all caps when I say that FIT IS IMPORTANT because I can't stress it enough. The proper FIT will take 10 lbs off your frame instantly. I know a guy who lost over 100 lbs. When he got down to a certain size, the pieces I'd selected for him felt "tight." He wanted all the seams let out and the garments loosened up. I told him "No." Because, you see, he'd spent his days as a larger man wearing baggy clothes, because that's what most large people do. When he trimmed down, he wanted to continue doing the same thing, but what he didn't understand is that when he wore baggy clothes, no one could tell he'd lost all that weight. Fit makes a difference. Every. Single. Time. There is no exception to this rule. Have I beat this dead horse enough? Can we move on to a new subject? Or better yet, how about we move on to my recommendations.

For starters, gentlemen, please invest in a good pair of dark wash jeans. Dark wash is ALWAYS more flattering and slimming. Banana Republic offers Big & Tall sizing (up to 44W and up to 36L) in this fabulous jean:

And of course, there's always the world leader in jeans, Levi's offers the 514 in Big & Tall sizing (up to 46W and up to 38L). The 514's are a slim fit. Key word: SLIM. Please note I did not say "Skinny." I'm not asking you to wear skinny jeans. (In fact, the only people who can really pull of skinny jeans are the people whose thighs don't touch. More on that another day.) Back the term "Slim." It's what all you Big & Tall and Big or Tall guys should be looking for. Slim also means streamlined, fitted, sleek. Add these adjectives to your fashion vocabulary. And while we're up in your vocab business, remove these words: Baggy & Relaxed.

While the 507 and 527 do not come in an inseam measurement longer than 34, I am still going to recommend them because their cut (a.k.a. FIT) is exactly what you should emulate when shopping for jeans AND pants.

The 507 and the 527: 

Do you see how the shape of the jeans actually hugs the shape of the leg? In other words, the thighs are wider, then they taper in at the knee,widen back out directly below the knee and then fall straight down. This is what you should look for when shopping for jeans and pants. However, keep in mind that jeans should always be a little more snug than pants. And as for length, ALL pants of this cut (FIT) should have a break at the ankle. In other words, they are long enough to have a bit of extra fabric at the TOP of your foot, but not the back. The back of your jeans (and pants) legs should be about 1/2 inch from the ground. This will allow for enough fabric to create the "break" in front. Any more and you look sloppy, any less and you look like Urkel. Well, not quite, but you get the picture.

Now that we've covered jeans, let's move on to shirts & jackets. Obviously, finding the right length is what can be most difficult for you guys out there, but I also want you to consider- you guessed it- FIT!!! Look for a slim fit when shopping and you'll always be a tad more streamlined that you were before you discovered the wonderful world of slim fit. Most men's button-front shirts have a box pleat in the center back. Alternatively, they may have two side pleats rather than one center box pleat. In either case, the pleats are there to help the fabric drape more evenly and fit a man's back. Unfortunately, the end result often means good fit across the shoulders, but the rest of the shirt hangs away from the body from the chest down, resulting in a boxy, oversized look. This is NOT good. A slim fit shirt compensates for the pleats and tapers in from the chest down. Believe it or not, you don't have to spend a fortune for a fine looking, fitted shirt. Target offers a line called Red Level Nine with this exact fit and the shirts run in the $20-30 range. They also come in nice prints like these:

I want you gentlemen to pay particular attention to the first picture. Notice how the shirt is tucked in, yet it does NOT "blouse" out of the pants. This is due to the slim fit.

Express for Him also offers well-fitted button-front shirts, but they don't have a Big & Tall line. The largest shirt size they offer is XL, which will help some of you, but not all of you. They do offer an inseam up to 36 in their jeans, though, which is a nice surprise to some of you, I'm sure.

Gentlemen, if by reading this post, you take anything away from it, I pray it's that you understand the importance of FIT. It may feel awkward and uncomfortable at first, but it won't take long to grow accustomed to the new feeling and trust me when I say it will make a huge difference in how you present yourself to the world. Leave me a comment to tell me about your shopping experiences and what frustrates you. I'll be happy to help you solve your dilemma. 

Prints for Men

I realized after finishing my last post that I haven't written much for guys lately. So I'm going to continue the post about wearing prints, but it's all for the boys this time! I love it when a guy can pull off a nice print, but I understand why so few men try. It's no easy task! So many guys I know are stuck in a polo shirt/khaki pants rut. You know what I mean- it seems like there is a uniform that was distributed for all the men out there. Admittedly, menswear is not nearly as varied as womenswear, but still, you guys can do better. And I'm here to help you! For starters, get yourself a striped oxford (button-down shirts)- these are so much more visually interesting than just your basic solid oxford, not to mention really slimming! (And who doesn't want to wear clothes that are slimming?) Target has a couple of lines of fitted mens shirts that come in a handful of colors, including a striped version. Express For Him is chock full of nice, fitted button-downs for men in literally every color of the rainbow as well as some prints including this striped number:

Or this plaid one:

Unlike my advice for women, men should avoid too large or busy a print. You may wonder if it's okay to wear a print to work and the answer is: Absolutely! Keep your shirt tucked in and pair it with a nice, sleek pair of trousers in a solid color and you can go even more bold than you ever thought possible. If you are going to choose a very complicated print in eye-catching colors, keep the suit and tie solid and understated so as to balance out the look. And whatever you do, don't wear this shirt unless you're on stage doing a Tom Jones cover:

I hope this has been helpful for all you gents. Feel free to email me if you have any questions, or leave a comment with your question. Enjoy the rest of the weekend, everyone!