Why I Stopped: I'll be upfront with you about Kevin's ensemble - it's runway-worthy. Like not even a question that this look would show up somewhere in one of the major men's fall fashion weeks. From the Burberry trench with gold hardware on top to the details in his stunning boots, this ensemble makes a statement wherever Kevin wears it. There's a lot to talk about here, but I'm going to focus on one particular aspect of Kevin's look: the incredible mix of a very formal trench with very informal drop-crotch pants.
Trench coats are one of my weaknesses. I love their versatility. This particular trench coat is (some pun intended) the gold-standard of trenches, coming from the king of the trench hill: Burberry. The gold hardware on Kevin's trench gives it a more formal feel, and you'd think it would be tough to dress it down. In fact, Kevin compliments the formal feel on top with a button-up dress shirt that includes stunning gold details.
But that's where the look takes a turn for the unexpected. Drop-crotch pants have been popular on the runway for awhile now, but on the streets, I tend to only see them in extremely casual looks. That's why I'm loving what Kevin has done here. Is it a risk? Of course. Will it work for everyone? Probably not. But it works for him. A pair of black slacks and oxfords would have only reinforced the "high-end business" feel of the ensemble. Instead, I feel like I'm getting a window into Kevin's aesthetic and personal style. He may be a stock trader by day, but you'll probably catch him at the center of the dance floor or grabbing boozy cocktails with other young change-makers once he's out of the office. Kudos to Kevin for taking this style risk. To me, it completely paid off.
Style Tip Challenge: Like the oxford button-up and tank-top combo we talked about last week, this is another example of dressing down a formal garment with something very informal. If you want to try pairing drop-crotch pants with a trench, it can definitely be cool. But there are other ways to accomplish the same thing. Style a graphic tee over the top of an extra-long plain tee, then throw on a formal winter coat (or even a nice blazer). Finish it off with some skinny jeans and boots, and you'll have a great fall look that blurs the border between formal and informal.