What I wore today....

It's been downright chilly for July, so I took advantage and pulled out my favorite jacket and scarf:


Jacket: Harrington/peacoat crossover by Forever21 $35
Scarf: Made by me. $3 for fabric and thread
Pants: Social Collision Indie-Fit black jeans
Boots: Dr. Marten's 14-eye cherry red

UNDERNEATH:


Shirt: Paper-stamped "FREE TO GOOD HOME heart" t-shirt (made by me, order through email, $20)

Fashion inspirations!

Here's a couple of looks I turn to on a semi-daily basis as a template for my fashion sense. Most of them are either timeless and classic, or so over-the-top that they swing past bad and into awesome, so look for these to work for you regardless of how fashions change:

1. All the characters from Mary Poppins (but most specifically Bert, and to a lesser extent Mr. Banks)



2. Sweeney Todd (AWESOME use of vest and pinstriping)



3. Eugene Hutz (great use of hodgepodged fashion and found-object accessorization)



4. Captain Jack Sparrow (same concept as Hutz, great look cobbled together from random bits)



5. Traditional Street-Punk style (my fashion guilty pleasure)





6. 1960's Mod (I covered WHY I love this shit in my second post)






7. Suedeheads (notice the lack of Morrissey! Basically like mods but tougher and less fruity)






...and there you have it. Sorry it took so long to find something worthwhile to post, I promise it won't happen again! (it will.)

Amazing Graphic T's and Hoodies: Bleeding Star Clothing

http://www.bleedingstarclothing.com/

(let's get some) Shoes!

Here's some shoes. These are all either shoes I have, shoes I want, or shoes that will go great with just about any kinda fashion sense. Most of them are pretty affordable, but I do tend to splurge when it comes to boots:


https://www.tukshoes.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66_10&products_id=180&zenid=pn3ghapbcq38u482itkd43qom1


http://www.buy-dr-martens.com/drma19chreds.html


http://www.target.com/Merona-Loki-Dress-Oxfords-Black/dp/B000JNKUFS/qid=1245519313/ref=br_1_4/191-3849739-3824159?ie=UTF8&node=14271941&frombrowse=1&rh=&page=1


http://www.steel-boots.com/shop/15-eyelet-boots/15eyefwhite.html


http://www.thisnext.com/item/8BBEFA92/B9019725/Airwalk-Canvas-Kicks

Notice a total lack of flip flops or crocs. No man should EVER be caught wearing them.

Do-It-Yourself Style: Military-Style Hoodie

Here's what you need:
two hoodies (works best if they're the same color, but i think contrasting colors might look cool too if done right)
ten buttons (best with some kind of coat of arms style imprinting on them, but whatever style you like will work)
that's it.here's what you do

From one hoodie(the "material" hoodie), cut two rectangles of fabric that are 8 inches wide and the full length of the hoodie.
cut two more rectangles 8 inches by 11 inches, then cut those two in half diagonally
cut two 5x5 squares

sew the large rectangles onto the front of the second hoodie (the "garment" hoodie), with one edge sewn right up to the zipper. Leave openings at the openings for the pouch pockets, but sew the hem up separately in those spaces. this will give the jacket more structure than your average hoodie.

sew eight of the buttons to the panels you just put on, an inch from the panel edge, about four inches apart vertically. they're nonfunctional but they give it lots of style.

sew the triangles cut from the smaller rectangles together, outside out on both sides, then sew them inside the garment hoodie, lining the top edge up with the seam between the torso and the hood of the hoodie. pin the corners to the front of the hoodie and sew it down simply to hold its position. you now have the lapels.

take the two squares, fold them in half with the fuzzy side out. sew up the long edges and one short edge. then turn them inside out so the outside is out. sew the unsewn edge onto the shoulders of the hoodie, in the seam between the sleeve and the torso, stretch it out, and sew it down to the hoodie with the remaining buttons. you now have your epaulets.

hoodies usually have much poofier sleeves than the type of jacket you're trying to make, so you will probably have to take them in an inch or two. if this is necessary, do it.

you should now have a kickawesome jacket that looks a little something like this:

Why do I love asian fashion?

http://www.yesstyle.com/











All pieces under $75.

My Wife's Work, part 1: My Birthday Shoes

Back at the end of May, I had my 26th birthday. My wife, who I mentioned before, is a VERY impressive shoe painter, found some $25 converse knockoffs by Airwalk, and painted them up for me. One of my favorite imageries is banner tattoos, so she took that idea and ran with is, ending up with me in possession of some of the most badass shoes in existence. Behold:



If you can't see, the right one has a horseshoe, clovers and dice with a banner reading "GOOD LUCK", and the left one has a bloody brass knuckle with a banner that says "YOU'LL NEED IT"

I love you baby, you rock my world (and my feet).

Johnny "Not Afraid To Show Love" Heartbreak

Jeans!

So these are some jeans that I personally have tried out and feel can be worn by just about anybody, and purchased on just about anybody's budget:



Caden Straight Leg Jeans by Heritage1981





These are the quintessential dark denim, which is a style that, like it or not, is not going away for a while. We're seeing more and more bleacher, destroyed and acid wash jeans these days, but the dark/raw look has stuck through it rather nicely, so if you don't have a pair, I would get off my ass and get these. They're a slimmer straight leg, which is great in that it ends up being flattering for just about anyone. If you've got a few extra pounds, it does wonders for slimming your leg line and balances out any extra weight in your torso. $35, available at Forever 21 and http://www.forever21.com/.



Indie Fit Black Jeans by Social Collision

All right, bad photo, but it's the best I could find. These actually wear a bit tighter than they look here, so definitely try them on before you buy. That said, I get more use out of these jeans than any other in my closet, mainly because they suit just about any style you want. They go well with a blazer and boots (as seen in my last post), but also look good with an old band shirt and chucks. They're also great for some do-it-yourself denim destruction, and take really well to fraying, shredding, and torn out knees. They really are a blank-slate piece, you can build your whole outfit around them and always count on them to tie it together. $30, available at Hot Topic and http://www.hottopic.com/.

Rude Fit Dark Blue Jeans by Social Collision

Made by the same people as those black ones up there, these are TIGHT. This is one of the few dark jeans i would actually recommend that you over-wash to break them in, mostly due to the amazing shade they fade into, and they way they wear into a feel that is so soft it almost feels like cashmere. Whether you choose to wash them or not, these will look great rolled up over a pair of Grinders or done down with some stand-out sneakers. Wear them with a checkerboard belt and a badass buckle to complete that well-dressed skate bum look. $30, available at Hot Topic and www.hottopic.com.

511 Skinny Jeans by Levi Strauss & Co.

I know you've heard your whole life that Levi's 501's are the only pair of jeans you'll ever need. I, however, call bullshit. Levi Strauss does, however, make a great pair of skinny jeans, the 511. These are gonna wear a bit looser than the other jeans I've posted here, but the way they're cut actually makes YOU look slimmer, since they sit lower and aren't as tight around the waist, which makes it look like you're actually thinner than you dress. I wear them on my fat days. (yes, I realize EXACTLY how I sounded writing that!) $35-$60, available at Levi Stauss & Co., Kohls, and us.levi.com .

...aaaand there you have it. I'll see you tomorrow, or whenever I feel like doing this again.

Johnny "Fuck Schedules" Heartbreak

Style Profile: Mod Revival

Those of you who don't know what a Mod is, you deserve a stiff smack to whatever is the most pain-sensing portion of your body. In my opinion, no other 20th century subculture has contributed more to lasting, classic style than the Mods, not to mention the contributions they made in terms of art and music. For men, "Mod style" generally consists of classic styles that are hyped up in the hipness department...classic suits, but cut tight with very slim shirts, pegged trousers and all-over touches of flash, as evidenced here:




Vintage (label removed) gray double-breasted Italian-cut blazer (slim line, non-vented back) ($7, Goodwill)
Merona slim-fit dress shirt ($20, Target, http://www.target.com/)
Social Collision Indie Fit black jeans ($30, Hot Topic, http://www.hottopic.com/)
Dr Martens cherry red 14-hole classic boots ($150, http://www.drmartens.com/)
US Army Class A uniform tie ($10, AAFES, http://www.ebay.com/)

this is also a good example of how to take one expensive item (the Doc Martens) and use it to take a budget outfit to the next level. The yellow sole stitching on Dr. Marten's boots is a well-known trademark among fashion afficionados, and can lend an air of credibility to your look. People who are on the fence as to whether they like your style might be drawn at the last minute to your shoes, and then cite their common love for the timeless style of cherry DM's, and that little detail will be the difference it takes to make your outfit a hit in just about any company.

Another detail to notice is the fit. I wear my jeans and blazer slim-fit, but not skin tight. Wear your shirt or jacket too tight, and the buttons will start to tug, the fabric will stretch, and you will actually look about ten to twenty pounds heavier. Another important point is the length of the jeans: they end EXACTLY at the natural ankle. A popular style these days is to wear skinny jeans that are a bit too big and bunch at the ankle. With this look, that's a big no-no, since it breaks up the natural line a slim-cut blazer gives you.

Welcome Post and "Mission Statement"

Hello. Welcome to my blog. I hope you have had a wonderful day! Feel free to browse around and peruse what i have to offer to the humble internets!

Okay, that's just bullshit.

I honestly don't know how to start off. I had this idea thirty minutes ago while walking home from the dollar tree from buying a new pair of glasses. You see, my glasses and I have a very unhealthy relationship (their life expectancy tends to approximate that of a common honey bee), and being a twentysomething with a crappy job and a list of talents that aren't readily marketable, it would be absolutely stupid of me to go out and buy expensive glasses every time they break, so i shop cheap for em. Just the other day, I went in and found some glasses that, for $1.10 after taxes, looked EXACTLY like Christian Siriano's $1500 Prada frames. I was overjoyed.

The point of all this? I'm getting to it, you impatient bitch.

Just about every day I browse the internet, visiting fashion blogs like Selectism and The Sartorialist, seeing designer shills extolling the virtue of the latest in ridiculously priced fashion and accessories, all the while telling me how this Dior Homme t-shirt is "a steal at $180". While they can be fun to read, these blogs have just about nothing of use to those of us who don't regularly troll Savile Row for a new bespoke suit for summer. We need a menswear fashion blog for those of us who are either on a budget, or just can't see the point in spending so much on clothes we'll be embarassed to wear next season anyway.

So what can you expect to see here?

Well for one, I'll be making mental notes of everything I see, and any awesome clothes, accessories, gadgets, or other elements of style I see, you'll see. Awesome AND accessible style is out there, and I intend to shed my light upon it. In that spirit, expect to see links and reviews to various web sites, online stores and occasionally other blogs that I think carry the spirit of my mission.

Secondly, I'll occasionally be enlisting the help of my wife Brett to take photos of some choice outfits of my own, because it's one thing to have awesome pieces, and another entirely to know how to make them into an outfit. I'm not saying I've got better style than all's yall's, but I know a thing or two.

Thirdly, because I'm a firm believer in nepotism (unless it's biting me in the ass), I'm gonna feature my wife's artwork. She's an amazing painter who works mostly in the media of acrylics on canvas handbags and canvas shoes (Converse and Vans knockoffs mostly), and I'm gonna give her work some exposure here. Go on and bitch about it all you want, I guarantee you'll like at least SOME of the stuff she makes.

Fourthly, as my readership grows, I'll be asking you guys to contribute as well. Mail me some photos of yourself and your outfits, and I'll critique them and give you your 15 minutes of relative fame. Think of it as What Not To Wear meets VICE Do's and Don'ts, except I won't try to crush your spirit and self-worth unless you send me something so horrible it's just BEGGING for it.

What can you NOT expect to see here?

-Generously paid-for plugs by high end designers looking for another digital mouthpiece.
-Mom-jeans, overalls, or t-shirts that say "I see dumb people" or "Git-R-Done"
-Your mom's underwear for sale (okay, i lied about this one. you should see the overhead i made on those white cotton ones)
-anything with an ICP logo

Well, with all that said, welcome, and look forward to seeing more of me in the very near future!

-Johnny "I'm new at this" Heartbreak