Full Navy Jacket

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Ready for Monday! 

Faux Pocket Square. TM Lewin have designed this jacket/sportscoat in such a way that you can pull the pocket out to become a faux pocket square! While I generally dislike faux anything, I decided to do it once to test it out. As you can tell from the 3rd picture, the lining of the interior of the jacket is the same. 

Cricket Sweater Vest. Every time I wear this sweater vest, some smartarse tells me that I look ready for cricket but I don't care cause I love this sweater vest! I don't even like sweater vests in general.

Barker Double Monks. This is the shoe that I have wanted for years, dark brown double monks. Finally found a great version of it made by Barker with a price that I agreed with.

Navy fur felt hat by Christys' of London

Full Navy Jacket by TM Lewin

Cricket Sweater Vest by Tommy Hilfiger

Light Blue OCBD shirt by Ralph Lauren

Tan Chinos by Roger David

Bow Tie by American Apparel

Dark Brown Double Monk Shoes by Barker

Navy Twill Messenger Bag by Fossil

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Bow Tie Week. I felt the urge to wear a bow tie. Why not wear them all week?

Three Piece Suit. I love three piece suits! This grey herringbone wool one is the only one I have. Thinking of getting a navy one in future! The pants have been wrecked many times (crotch split!) but I recently got them fixed at my local tailor so it was time to bust out the full three piece suit (as opposed to wearing them as separates).

Double Pocket Square. On the outside, we have the classic dotted navy one. On the inside, you can see the light blue of the batik pocket square peeking out. 

I can see your halo, halo, halo.... ooh ooh... Travelling on the train in the morning, got me looking like an angel.

Navy fur felt hat by Christys' of London

Navy/Silver Bow Tie by Brooks Brothers

Navy OCBD shirt by Brooks Brothers Black Fleece

Grey herringbone wool 3 piece suit by Jack London

Navy dotted pocket square by New Look

Light Blue Batik pocket square by Batik Studio (Etsy)

Black Boots by Aquila

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Black is Boring. Wear Navy.

All Navy Everything is a current trend within menswear which greatly appeals to me because I like navy. Let the rappers and hip hop stars (Jay-Z, Kanye) do All Black Everything. Navy is dark enough and a basic enough colour that it can be done tastefully and not ostentatiously. When using the same colour the key is to use different fabrics to create a gradient. The jacket and tie are tweed. The pocket square is silk. The pants are a clean navy denim that look more like chinos than jeans. And of course the "smooth leather" of the Doc Martens. 

Foldback Cuffs. Thought it would be a good idea to fold back the cuffs of my shirt to create an interesting visual effect. The heavy oxford cloth of the shirt allows me to do this well.

Navy tweed jacket by Uniqlo

Navy OCBD shirt by Brooks Brothers Black Fleece

Navy tweed tie by Topman

Navy silk dotted pocket square by New Look

Navy leather belt by Uniqlo

Navy denim pants by Uniqlo

Navy boots by Doc Martens

Navy twill messenger bag by Fossil

Watch by Tissot

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Ready for Rain on a Thursday. Don't let the sunny pictures fool you. A sunny morning can easily turn into a rainy afternoon when you live in Melbourne. For a Melbournian, the BOM (Bureau of Meterology) is your best friend. In my time in Melbourne I have had 1 pair of leather shoes damaged by rain so this year I decided to get some boots that were rain resistant. I considered getting actual Wellington Boots (rain boots) but I didn't like the idea of wearing them all day especially if it didn't actually rain. The solution: Doc Martens. On the soles of my Docs it says they are resistant to oil, fat, acid, petrol & alkali. Rain water shouldn't be too much of an issue. Originally built for the German army, Doc Martens have been historically famous for both durability and style. On Thursday, BOM was right, it did pour down. And the Docs passed their first test!

Tie Replacement: Contrast Colour Plackets. Don't want to wear a tie? A good way to add visual contrast is to get shirts with a contrast colour placket and leave the top button of your shirt undone. This one from Zara has the tricolour of the French flag which is exactly what Thom Browne uses on his clothes.

Navy Fur Felt Hat by Christys' of London

Navy Jacket by TM Lewin

Red Cable Knit Sweater by American Apparel

Contrast Colour Placket Shirt & Navy Chinos by Zara

Navy Leather Boots by Doc Martens

Tartan Pocket Square by ASOS

Argyle Socks by Brooks Brothers

Navy Twill Fabric Bag by Fossil

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Sunny Saturday

Burberry Shirt. I bought this Burberry shirt with their oversized house check several years ago on eBay, I thought I'd get it out today and build an outfit based on it. The check gives me 4 colours to work with: black, grey, red and beige. 

Velvet Shoes. Velvet slippers were once the formal indoor footwear of choice for Prince Albert which is why they are sometimes referred to as Prince Albert Slippers. Del Toro have made them more fun with things like the skull & crossbones motif and given them durability with a proper leather sole. A great way to tip the scales from 'officewear' towards 'fun' even though I'm wearing a tie.

Pattern Mix & Match. Just because you are wearing one patterned item doesn't mean everything else has to be solids. The key is to use differing pattern styles and sizes. Here we have the oversized check of the shirt, the check of the pocket square, the diagonal lines of the tie and the herringbone of the jacket.

The Details. Notice how the grey herringbone of the jacket matches the grey herringbone of the grey herringbone squares on the shirt.

Oversized House Check shirt by Burberry

Grey Wool Jacket by Jack London

Black Jeans by Superfine

Velvet Shoes by Del Toro

Red Belt by Fred Perry

Red/White Skinny Tie by Zara

Check Pocket Square by ASOS

Tie Bar from eBay

Black Socks by Country Road

Black Sunnies by K SWISS

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Full Navy Jacket. Finally, I have purchased the classic item that is the namesake of this blog. The navy jacket is in my opinion one of the most essential and versatile items in a man's wardrobe. Chuck it onto a plain polo (as pictured) and immediately look more put-together.

Tri-colour Oxford Brogues. 2-Tone shoes are cool but 3-Tone shoes are cooler if done well! A combination of basic and versatile colours like navy, white and tan make it easy to pull off. Notice how each of my jacket, polo shirt and pants match one colour of the shoes.

Navy Jacket by TM Lewin

White Polo Shirt by Brooks Brothers

Tan Chinos by Roger David

Navy/White/Tan Tricolour Oxford Brogues by McCarren & Sons

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Pink Thursday. My go-to combo at the moment has got to be a knit tie & batik pocket square. Nothing like a bit of colour to brighten up the day. Malaysia boleh!

Double Pocket Square. I'm probably breaking some style rule here but note the double pocket square. The pink one on the jacket and a subtle white one on the waistcoat.

Pink Knit Tie & Blue/White OCBD Shirt by Brooks Brothers

Tweed Vest & Jacket by Topman x Harris Tweed

Pink Batik Pocket Square by Batik Studio on Etsy

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Pumped Up Kicks. Most days, I'm wearing some form of dress shoe (oxford, monkstrap) or loafer. But sometimes, it's nice to wear sneakers. I've always only worn Converse Chuck Taylors (black, white & red) but I recently decided to get my first ever pair of Vans. Classic navy and white made of leather. Leather sneakers look better, last longer and do not lose their colour the same way canvas ones do. Get a pair in a basic colour as it gives you greater versatility - you can dress it up or down.

OLD SKOOL LEATHER DRESS BLUES by Vans 

Navy Tweed Jacket, Navy Leather Belt & White Jeans by Uniqlo

White polo by Brooks Brothers

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How Clothes Can Affect the Way People Treat You

NPR has an interesting story about how some African-Americans used turbans to deal with discrimination in the Jim Crow era. An excerpt:

Routté’s experiment began after he traveled to Mobile, Ala., in 1943 for a family engagement. He wasn’t happy with how he was treated.

"I was Jim Crowed here, Jim Crowed there, Jim Crowed all over the place," he later told reporters. "And I didn’t like being Jim Crowed."

So he went back in 1947, with a plan.

Before he boarded the train to Alabama, he put on his spangled turban and velvet robes. When the train reached North Carolina during lunchtime, Routté walked over to the diner car where the only vacant seat was occupied by two white couples.

One of the men said, “Well, what have we got here?” to which Routté replied in his best Swedish accent (he had been the only black student at a Swedish Lutheran college in Illinois), “We have here an apostle of goodwill and love” — leaving them gaping.

And that confusion seemed to work for Routté on the rest of his trip. He dropped in on police officials, the chamber of commerce, merchants — and was treated like royalty.

At a fancy restaurant he asked the staff what would happen if a “Negro gentleman comes in here and sits down to eat.” The reply: “No negro would dare to come in here to eat.”

"I just stroked my chin and ordered my dessert," he said.

[…]

"He didn’t change his color. He just changed his costume, and they treated him like a human," says Luther Routté, who has been a Lutheran pastor for 25 years. It "shows you the kind of myopia that accompanies the whole premise of apartheid or segregation."

Through the “turban trick,” Routté basically transformed himself from a threat to a guest — black to invisible.

You can read the whole story here.

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What you wear can have a great impact on how people treat you. Stamp out racism.

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Monday Suit. I think it's a good thing to wear a suit and look your best on a Monday. Wearing a suit says that you mean business and that you want to start your work week with a bang. There's no point lamenting that the weekend has passed. Might as well get yourself in the right frame of mind for the week ahead.

Suit by Jack London (part of a 3-piece suit).

Navy Wool Cardigan. A cardigan is a great layering piece. Here, I've subbed in my navy wool cardigan for my waistcoat to create the look of a 3-piece suit with an odd waistcoat/vest. It also serves a practical purpose as the navy wool cardigan with the wool jacket means I'm warm enough that I don't need to wear a topcoat.

Navy wool cardigan by Cold Method (Amsterdam)

Tie & Pocket Square. One of the worst things you can do is buy a tie & pocket square set (meaning they look exactly the same). Here I've used a tie and pocket square with matching colours but contrasting patterns and fabrics.

Silk tie by Brooks Brothers Black Fleece. Chambray Pocket Square by ASOS.

King Prawn Tempura. Back at Heirloom for lunch again with my lunch buddies Jo, Uma and Hong. Food & Friends. Great combo.

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Beast Feet. Best. Indoor. Slippers. Ever. 

Red Cashmere Sweater by Uniqlo

Beige Chinos by Industrie

Beast Feet by KMART

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Pinata Party! Took a trip to the local $2 store to prep for our Mexican Night with church. Found a pinata! Mission accomplished!

Tartan Pocket Square & Brown Cord Blazer by ASOS

Red/Blue Polo by Michael Bastian x Uniqlo

Red/Blue/White Belt by Uniqlo

Beige Chinos by Industrie

Red Driving Shoes by Tod's

Pinata from Fantastic Home & Gifts

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Church Clothes. There was a time where people wore their best clothes to church on a Sunday, presumably to honour God. While as a society we've become a whole lot more casual these days, there's nothing wrong with wearing your Sunday Best. As long as you don't wear a suit that makes you look like the guest speaker, you'll be alright. Shoutout to Mentone Baptist Church.

Navy Fur Felt Fedora by Christys' London

Grey Glen Plaid Tweed Jacket with Blue Check by TM Lewin

White OCBD Shirt by Brooks Brothers Red Fleece

Blue Chambray Tie by ASOS

Golden Batik Pocket Square by BatikStudio on Etsy

Sky Blue Chinos by Selected

White/Blue Canvas Belt by Country Road?

Sky Blue socks by Topman

White Suede Brogues by Allen Edmonds

Style Notes.

Tweed Jacket. I normally start my outfit by thinking of one piece that I would like to wear and make that the basis of my outfit. Today it was my new tweed sports jacket by TM Lewin. Notice the subtle light blue check on the grey plaid. Wearing other light blue pieces would accentuate the light blue on the plaid. 

Chambray Tie. I like having ties in unusual fabrics. This tie is a chambray one from ASOS. When it arrived, the loop on the tie was somehow inside out! I had never seen this occur before but I guess the tie was skinny enough for it to happen. I quickly fixed it but then thought - this would create a really cool visual effect. So there you have it - reverse tie loop.

Golden Batik Pocket Square - representing Malaysia! The gold colour and the batik pattern create a nice contrast to the rest of the outfit. Gold/yellow and blue are complimentary colours so it's not a huge clash at all.

White Suede Bucks - A prep essential for summer. Who says you can't wear it on a sunny day in winter. I like to pair mine with a white canvas belt.

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Saturday style. Ahh... the lazy Saturday. Where you can sleep in, lounge around and do some chores. Time to dress like a dag... NOT!

Blackwatch Tartan. Did you know that tartans have names? Anyway, the Blackwatch Tartan is definitely one of my favourites. Several years ago, I ordered a cheap shirt on ASOS but they sent me the wrong shirt! It was an oversized (L) Blackwatch Tartan shirt by Ralph Lauren. So I thought what the heck, might as well use it! Got it taken in at the sides by a tailor and its good to go!

Batik Pocket Square. Recently, I was thinking of ways to represent my country Malaysia with my sartorial choices. Unfortunately, Malaysia is not exactly a stylish country. But I thought of something - batik. Batik is an art of decorating cloth using wax and dye which is popular in Malaysia as well as Indonesia. Although I couldn't find a Malaysian company that creates batik pocket squares, I found a seller on Etsy that does. Batik Studio on Etsy which is run by an American lady, oddly enough.

Navy Fur Felt Fedora by Christys' London. For many years I was thinking of adding a proper hat to my hat collection and I recently had a great idea. It occurred to me that navy is a great basic colour but yet an uncommon colour for hats. Also, the fact that navy is probably my most worn colour means that I would have little issues matching the hat with my wardrobe. I made the trip to City Hatters and got myself a navy fur felt fedora by Christys' of London. Apparently, you can roll the hat up and store it in a cylinder when you travel!

Moving to a new suburb means getting to know the different shops and services around the area. Today I found a new alterations tailor - Roger's Tailoring and made a trip to our local Woolies @ The Links for a grocery run.

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Workwear! Mon - Thurs. Ties are traditionally formal and stuffy. That is why I like the knit tie. It brings a certain amount of casualness to the look without losing any of the sharpness. I also prefer fabrics that are less shiny and polished which serve to dress down a typical work outfit. For example the grey wool used in the suit jacket and waistcoat (part of a 3-piece suit), the cotton/linen in the blue plaid tie, the chambray of the pocket square and even the white/blue striped shirt is actually chambray! Even though no one can tell.

Yellow/Blue knit tie by Brooks Brothers

Blue plaid cotton/linen tie by Ovadia & Sons

Brown knit tie by Zara

Light Blue Dotted chambray pocket square by ASOS

Blue/White chambray shirt by Selected

Grey Suit Jacket & Waistcoat by Jack London

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Keeping warm on a rainy Wednesday. In view of the rainy winter season, I bought this Camel Duffle Coat by Gloverall on eBay. Gloverall were the company that first made duffle coats available to the public after World War II. Field Marshall Montgomery famously wore it. Being the originators of the duffle coat, I figured that Gloverall would make the best ones.

Heirloom Melbourne. Heirloom has become one of my favourite lunch spots. Excellent Japanese cuisine (Modern Izakaya) for $15 if you get the lunch specials! Take your pick from King Prawn Tempura Don (Monday), Chicken Nabe (Wednesday), Wagyu Beef Burger (Thursday), etc. Unfortunately, the best dish, the Duck Curry is no longer on the menu.

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Casual Friday: One of my Go-To looks has got to be a jacket/blazer/sports coat with a polo! 

I don't normally wear bracelets but I recently got this cool anchor bracelet which was made by Kiel James Patrick for Brooks Brothers. 

Red Polo by Massimo Dutti

Cord Suit Jacket & Pocket Square by ASOS

Belt by Hackett

Anchor Bracelet by Kiel James Patrick x Brooks Brothers