Your New Career Starts Here
So you’ve been into men’s fashion and style for a couple of years now and like to think that you know a thing or two about how guys should dress themselves. You’ve read every article on FashionBeans, Put This On and US GQ and even stay up late/get up early to watch the runway shows as they happen in New York, Paris and Milan.
People have started looking at you funny, because when they ask you where your ideal holiday destination is you always reply, “Pitti Uomo, bitches”. Your Christmas list is a blur of wooden hangers, cedar shoe trees, polish and outrageously expensive clothes that no one will ever buy you.
Everyone says write about what you know, and at this stage any knowledge that is even remotely useful for life has been replaced with Rick Owens, Maison Martin Margiela and Alexander Wang catalogues, so you might as well become a menswear blogger, right? Wrong!
Sitting in your pants all day writing about men’s clothing isn’t as simple as it seems, kid. Sure, it may sound easy… a little too easy… but like putting a dimple in your tie, it’s much harder than it looks.
You have to be prepared to get up at the crack of noon – every day – and risk carpal tunnel syndrome from constantly clicking refresh on websites with sales or trawling the web for discount codes. You even have to make sure that you remember to put some trousers on before you leave your flat – because you’ll be surprised how quickly blogging in your pants can turn into plain old naked blogging.
If you’re up to the task, you need to be realistic and prepared. You’re going to want to get hold of a thesaurus, because there are only so many ways you can say ‘essential’, ‘timeless’, ‘a fresh take’ and ‘Bass Weejun penny loafers you look so beautiful’. And don’t make the mistake of thinking free clothes can pay your bills because, trust me, they don’t. So like any make-believe job – actor, musician, politician – ensure you have a solid Plan B to fall back on.
Looking The Part
Perhaps most importantly, you’re going to have to look the part. After all, what’s the point of being a menswear blogger if no one knows about it?
Allow me to give you a rundown of the top five items you’ll need to kick start your new professional lifestyle…
1. Dad Jeans
As some sort of rebellion against raw selvedge indigo denim, bloggers around the world have started wearing the sort of jeans only Samuel L Jackson or The Hoff would be seen in.
xI’m talking the kind of super light blue, washed out and faded denim that your dad wears, hence the term ‘Dad Jeans’. Sure, we’ve updated the fit and are pairing them with slightly more formal, tailored items like blazers and waistcoats – in exactly the same way we did with cargos and cords – but it doesn’t change the fact that you’re still making a statement and going against years of sage menswear advice.
In other words: ideal fashion blogger attire.
Lookbook Inspiration
Get The Look
- Asos Loose Jean In Light Wash
- Indigo & Maine Jimmy Slim Jeans In Light Blue
- Asos Slim Jean In Light Wash
- Topman Mid Wash Stretch Slim Jeans
- Farah Straight Leg Lightwash Jeans
- Topman Mid Wash Straight Jeans
- He By Mango Slim-fit Light Wash Bob Jeans
- Farah Stretch Fit Midwash Jeans
- J.crew Wallace & Barnes Regular-fit Washed Denim Jeans
2. Something Old Made New
Fashion and style are cyclical, but any blogger worth his weight in free swag knows that you need to take something old-fashioned and make it relevant today.
Whether it’s a collar pin/tab, tie bar, lapel flower, braces, or whatever else you find while mining through old photos from the 1950s and 1960s, ensure you find a way of incorporating into your look and pulling it off.
Even if you don’t manage to and people are like “Mate, what’s that on your jacket?”, just shake your head, mutter the word “amateur” and walk away into your stylish sunset.
Lookbook Inspiration
Get The Look
- River Island Triangle Collar Tips In 2 Pack
- River Island Grey Soft Fabric Flower Lapel Pin
- Topman Stone Lapel Pins
- Topman Burgundy And Navy Check Braces
- River Island Gunmetal Tone Spike Collar Pin
- Topman Striped Elastic Braces
- Lanvin Engraved Metal Tie Clip
- Asos Skull Collar Bar
- Asos Collar Tips With Compass
3. Black Chinos
The artistic, creative but slightly morbidly poetic runt of the chino litter, black chinos are coming back as the stylish man’s new essential item. Why? Who the hell knows.
All I know is they look awesome in the winter paired with t-shirts and leather jackets for a full-on hardcore biker aesthetic. Awesome.
Lookbook Inspiration
Get The Look
- Farah Vintage Drake Black Five Pocket Trousers
- Allsaints Charge Chino
- Asos Slim Chino
- Black Chino
- Slowear Incotex Four Season Slim-fit Cotton-blend Chinos
- River Island Black Skinny Stretch Chinos
- He By Mango Slim-fit Cotton Chinos
- He By Mango Slim-fit Premium Cotton Chinos
- Topman Washed Black Skinny Chinos
4. Anything In Blogger Blue
By blogger blue, I obviously mean Saint Laurent blue. And by Saint Laurent blue, I obviously mean French blue. And by French blue, I obviously mean a blue that is somewhere in between navy and baby blue, alright! Jeez, it’s not my fault you don’t know the blue family that well, dummy.
And when I say ‘Anything in Blogger Blue’, I obviously mean EVERYTHING – get every item you can in this colour and wear them all together as many times as you can. Even in bed. Especially in bed.
Lookbook Inspiration
Get The Look
- Reiss Felix Salt And Pepper T-shirt Blue
- Ps Paul Smith Roll Neck Jumper
- A Question Of Jumper In Cable Knit
- He By Mango Notched Lapel Wool-blend Cardigan
- River Island Blue Formal Blazer
- Etro Paisley Silk Pocket Square
- He By Mango Slim-fit 5 Pocket Corduroy Trousers
- Etro Slim-fit Brushed Cotton-blend Trousers
- Reiss Earl Zig Zag Pattern Socks Island Blue
5. A Piece Of Grail Status Clothing
A Michael Bastian double-breasted blazer from his AW09 collection. Belgian loafers actually from Belgium. Mark McNairy Sand Suede/Red Brick Sole Double-Monks. The list goes on and on – see Four Pins for all the pieces that should be on your radar:
Whatever you opt for, it needs to have been ridiculously expensive when it came out, completely exclusive and not really that wearable in everyday life. But you’ll be damned if that’s going to stop you – you’re going to be wearing that Supreme Leopard Print Camo M-51 Field Jacket to Sainsbury’s whenever you need milk.
Because that’s what a blogger does: stunts son, stunts.
Final Word
So there you have it, the five items that you’ll need to start dressing, and therefore being, a menswear blogger. As long as you look the part, no one will be any the wiser.
Seriously, how do you think I’ve been getting away with it for so long? Now, where did I put my vintage camp moccasins?
Merry Christmas from all the team here at FashionBeans!