I was asked to be a guest blogger on J Brand‘s new website. I wanted to show you guys how to wear non-denim. Enjoy!
As summer slowly creeps upon us, I want to give you guys some alternatives to denim that will keep you looking cool and stylish without looking like your grandfather.
We all know that denim is a necessity and a staple in every man’s wardrobe. However, I believe that you can easily transition into stylish alternatives, just in time for the spring and summer seasons.These categories of pants are commonly referred to in the fashion world as non-denims. The right pair of non-denim pants will keep you looking sharp & clean without missing a beat. I doubt you’ll even miss your favorite pair of denim.
Here is a How-To guide on properly wearing non-denim:
First up are Corporal chinos in Japanese twill. A lot of guys don’t feel comfortable wearing khakis because they have yet to figure out the right cut, fit or look for them. There are a few things to look for when picking the right pair of non-denim pants. The fit is what’s most essential. Choosing the right color and knowing how to wear them come second.
The Corporal chinos are comfortable and slim enough for my 6-foot frame. I am able to roll the cuff comfortably 3 times and achieve the look that I’m going for. My favorite combination was with these high-top boat shoes. The slenderness of the Corporal makes them most compatible with boat shoes, tennis shoes, canvas shoes and boots.
If chinos are not really your thing, try a pair of tapered cargo pants, like the Trooper. I’ve been wearing the look for quite some time now and receive lots of compliments. Traditionally, most guys feel that cargo pants are supposed to be worn baggy, but as trends change and looks become more tapered, a slimmer pair of cargo pants can look great, when worn correctly. You can dress cargo pants up by wearing a blazer, a shirt and a bowtie or you can dress it down with a sweater, chambray shirt or a denim coat. Either way, tapered cargo pants can be very stylish without sacrificing comfort.
I’ve put together 7 points that should help you navigate through your favorite pair of non-denim pants:
1. First, pick the right pair of pants. Then, pick out the right pair of shoes. Not all of your footwear will look good with your pants. If you are wearing slimmer khakis, like the Corporal, you might want to wear shoes with a slimmer silhouette.
2. Chino pants look great dressed up and, when worn correctly, can be just as stylish in its more laid-back incarnation. You can wear it with cardigans and sweaters for that preppy look, or with a denim coat or shirt for that casual look.
3. Chinos should fit on your waist but be just a little loose, to give you room to be comfortable.
4. If you like to roll your cuffs, you want to make sure you have a shorter inseam. You want to be able to roll your cuffs but no more than 3 times, and with the Corporal, you can.
5. You don’t want your non-denim pants to be baggy. You want to be able to wear them up or dress them down, depending on what you’ve decided to wear with them. That is why cargo pants should be slim or tapered, like the Trooper. The days of baggy cargo pants are long gone.
6. You can roll the cuffs on your Trooper as well! I suggest making a smaller horizontal fold first, then rolling them up.
7. The Trooper looks great with boots, but you can also pull them off with tennis shoes or the canvas low-top sneakers of your choice.
I hope this helps you pick out your next pair of chinos or cargo pants!
Check the fully post here
While I was people watching in New York City I noticed a lot of gentleman wearing the famous quilted jacket. I spotted this guy outside of my hotel and he was more than happy to have his picture taken. Later on this week I went to lunch with my brother Kwasi and he was wearing a great Barbour piece that I wish I could show you.
The quilted jacket should be fitted and preferably in navy. I’ve seen a lot of Black and Army green ones but I think Navy is the way to go. I’ve attached afew different styles and brands in this post for your viewing pleasure.
What’s a trend anyway? As more and more people get comfortable doing the same thing I guess that’s when it becomes a trend.
This time last year tapered sweatpants started showing up at retail spots around the country, I just don’t think most guys were up those yet. As of late I’m starting to see a lot more guys feel comfortable rocking tapered sweats instead of the usually baggy swoosh joggers.
A couple days ago I received a few pairs from my homies over in Vancouver. They started their own Blank company called Blank by KILLA and the products are made by the CYC Design Corp. in Vancouver which are known for their superior quality and fit. The product is made from Japanese fabrics and in a Japanese cut.
What I love about this style in particular is that it reminds me of the vintage baseball pants players used to wear back in the day.
They are extremely comfortable and fit perfect! I’ve been wearing them with combat boots more specifically my Dr. Martens. This past week when I was in NYC I noticed a few more guys wearing tapered sweatpants with boots and it looked pretty fresh.
Its cool to see guys get comfortable wearing tapered sweatpants as a new look.
Top: G-Star Raw by Marc Newson – Worker Balaclava Vest. (we will talk bout this top later)
Pants: Blank By Killa- Baseball Pinstripe pants $80
Shoes: Dr.Martens- 50th Anniversary
#marcustroynyctrends I’m seeing a lot of people wearing Dr. Martens boots on the streets of NYC. Looks really good.
This fall is all about Elbow Patches! Preferably suede ones… I think it enhances a piece and makes a garment look rich. You can find elbow patches on blazers, shirts, knits, sweaters, and even jackets. You can make the look feel a bit more casual or even dressed up.
In 2008 a lot of magazines and trend forecasters identified the elbow patch as being the trend of the season, but I don’t think it caught on as much as people thought it would have. Of course the fellas who have been dressing dandy for a while know all about the elbow patch, I think this season it’s going to be a lot more noticeable.
What’s great about this fall season is that a lot of brands and collections are showing them on their garments. The last 5 pieces I acquired from POLO has them and even the latest Take Ivy collaboration with K-Swiss & Jack Spade has a printed on version of elbow patches.
I think it is a great way to update your look. You can even buy the patches and do it yourself, what a great way to retrofit and old piece from your closet.
Your thoughts?
REVERSIBLE RAGLAN CREW by James Perse $155
REVERSIBLE RAGLAN CREW by James Perse $155
You guys wouldn’t believe the kind of conversations I have with my peers. We breakdown some of the worlds most complicated things all the way down to the trends that are surfacing in fashion. A couple weeks ago a friend of mine named Cameron asked me about my thoughts on baseball shirts and if I felt that they were going to make a come back. Some would argue that the Baseball shirt also referred to as “Baseball Sleeves” (in the 70′s) is a classic and never went anywhere. I believe this statement to be true, but let’s be honest when something becomes a trend most of us have to repurchase the item, it is not like we have it laying around to be reused. My friend Raj used to wear Zoo York & DQM baseball jerseys like 5 years ago, I doubt he is still wearing them but as soon newer and fresher brands bring them back out people will be on it.
I believe spring 11 we will be seeing a resurgence in the Baseball Jersey from some of our favorite brands. Some brands have been showing it for the past of couple season now and I don’t think it is going to stop for now. Check above for the reversible raglan crew by James Perse currently in season.
Some of my favorite followers chimed in via twitter about the Baseball Shirt Trend
-Marcus Troy Glossary
* Raglan Shirt
A raglan sleeve is a type of sleeve whose distinguishing characteristic is to extend in one piece fully to the collar, leaving a diagonal seam from underarm to collarbone. It is popular in sports- and exercise wear, and named after the 1st Baron Raglan, probably because it was designed to fit his coat for the arm lost in the Battle of Waterloo. These sleeves are often shorter, usually half- or three quarter-length. A “Raglan Tee” might also be called a “baseball shirt.”
Verbal from Ambush
Mega From Black Scale
Kanye West
IBN Jasper
What constitutes a trend? The dictionary describes it as “a general direction in which something is developing or changing” On marcustroy.com I like to highlight trends that I see happening around me and the places I visit from around the globe. Usually a trend is started by trendsetters or influencers and then it trickles down to the masses. I also believe that trends can be happening amongst a certain group of people and it never really trickles down. I know a lot of this is up for debate….In the meantime I will like to highlight some of the trends I’ve been noticing around me as of late.
I did not know what to call it so I decided to call it “Rings Fit For Kings” When I was growing up, all the Shottas, Rude Bwoys or people the local Bad Man had on giant rings on their fingers, usually in gold. They appropriated it from the Kings in Africa who use to wear giant rings as status symbol. As of late I’ve been noticing some of the worlds influencers adopt some of these habits in a more modern form. I’ve seen everyone from Mega from Black Scale, IBN Jasper, Kanye West and now Verbal rocking these type of rings in different shapes, colours, materials and sizes.
I don’t think this trend is for everyone! I believe you have to have a certain confidence to wear such rings. I do however see a slew of people getting their king rings on.
Your thoughts?
**Here is a comment from B.E
I agree with him 100 %
* I really like that you posted this, but at the same time I’m a little upset. I was thinking about this yesterday, and I’m a fan. You’re right, this ‘trend’ isn’t for everyone. I think it takes a certain type of personality or person with a certain level of history behind them to support this look and what it symbolizes. And the upsetting part of this being posted is that there, (as always), will be folks who jump on this and it’s not at all suitable for the person they truly are. Maybe I’m just speaking for the “Bad Man” aspect of it and maybe not so much the “Kings of Africa” or riches side, but alike to kids who wear graphic tees with slogans like “Fuck The Police” whom really have no rationale to make such a comment or history with law enforcement to support such a statement, seeing someone all ringed up like those fists have ever done any damage or they’re even remotely revered in the eyes of society bugs me.
But I’m a cynic.
Regardless, I love the look and do plan to get some appropriate pieces in the near future.
Yours truly!
Travis “Trav” Gumbs from SE
Boat shoes are by far a new trend but I feel more and more companies are showcasing them in their collections and more and more people feel comfortable wearing them as an everyday shoe. There are tons of ways to wear boat shoes, tie them and dress them up or down.
Check out how to tie boat shoe laces at Complex.
The best 10 boat shoes according to Complex.
History:
“Boat shoes, also known also as deck shoes or topsiders, are typically leather with rubber soles designed for use on a boat. A siping pattern is cut into the soles to provide grip on a wet deck; the leather construction, along with application of oil, is designed to repel water.
Modern boat shoes were invented in 1935 by Paul Sperry after noticing his dog’s ability to run easily over ice or snow. Using a knife, he cut siping into his shoes’ soles, inspiring a shoe perfect for boating. Sebago and Sperry are notable modern manufacturers of boat shoes.
Boat shoes are used by sailors, as the name suggests; however, since the ’80s and possibly before, they have become fashionable footwear in America.”
Thanks to Sebago and Ronnie for the thoughtfulness.
I was extremely happy to see Lil Wayne wearing Timberland construction boots last night at the BET Awards. It brought back memories of nostalgia from my younger days. Do you guys remember when everyone and their mothers wore “Timbos”? What made his choice of footwear interesting is that no one really wears Construction Timbo’s like they used too. For Wayne to choose such a nostalgic item might speak volumes on his taste level. It is always surprising to see a “rapper” wear something out of “today’s ordinary” I think it makes quite the statement. This morning I also came across Kanye on the red Carpet rocking Timberland’s (which isn’t surprising), I think these 2 guys just boosted the stock prices of Timberland this morning. Could the Timberland Construction boots be making a comeback? We all know the heavy influence of work wear apparel in fashion at the moment. I wouldn’t be surprise to see a resurgence in the construction boot look, but this time I think it would be worn in much cleaner and more fashionable aesthetic.
I think I still got a fresh pair on ice somewhere.
Your thoughts?
pics
* Update Picture of Kanye rocking a black pair.
I’ve been noticing more and more people buttoning their shirt to the top like in the image pictured above.I call it a trend because I see in trickling down from the more forward dressers to the more mainstream guy. A lot of my friends from Japan have been buttoning their shirts to the top for as long as I can remember, not sure if it was motivated by style. When I was growing up only the “nerds” buttoned their shirts all the way to the top, now it seems to be a standard especially since being a “nerd” is now considered cool. I took some pictures from the Sartorialist to further my point.
Your thoughts?
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