IT MAY BE FRIDAY, and I may be wandering around the streets of New York City plotting and shooting some amazing new things for North & Kedzie, but that doesnβt mean Iβm going to leave you hanging on the Chicago street-style front.
So let me introduce you to Michael. Michael is a dapper fellow who also happens to be starting his own suiting business out of the Flatiron building in Wicker Park. Heβs also the kind of guy that can pull together a mishmash of fabrics, textures, and patterns that shouldnβt work together but somehow do.
I know a lot of people who try to pull off a sort of hipster-bookworm-philosopher type of lookβ¦and donβt exactly succeed. Thatβs what makes Michaelβs prowess all the more impressive. He knows exactly how to balance each element in his look so as to avoid the βjust came out of a thrift storeβ look. The blazer stays within the earth-tone brown color family thatβs so trendy right now. It also tones down the patterns on both his shirt and his tie.
Speaking of ties, the pop of red between Michaelβs collar balances nicely with his red pocket square. Had Michael not included the pocket square, all of your attention would go immediately to his tie and, by proximity, to the diverse patterns on both that tie and his shirt. That, of course, would feel unbalanced. Instead, the two pops of color allow the eye to focus only on the red. The patterns in both of the garments recede. It may seem subtle, but this little detail is probably the biggest take-away from Michaelβs look. If youβre going to include a mix of patterns, choose a single accent color and put it in at least two places in your outfit to keep the attention where it belongs.
STYLE TIP CHALLENGE: Layering with vintage garments and/or styles can be a lot of fun (and rather cost-effective). But it can also go wrong quickly. So when youβre putting together an outfit that incorporates multiple textures and patterns, make sure to choose a framing layer (here, the blazer) that feels more current. Then, use an accent color in a couple of subtle places to draw the eye away from any strong patterns. Follow these suggestions, and youβll be looking dapper AF at your next Friendsgiving party.