GENTLEMAN STYLE
GENTLEMAN STYLE
RETURN OF THE MACK
BY DI MARCO & MIKE SCHNIDER
Image courtesy of Pexels | Photographer Mister Mister
Now I wouldn’t be the best-dressed man I am today without my favorite designers like Armani and Salvatore Ferragamo, but it’s not enough to wear the right designer, as my boy Luda (Ludacris) says “our time and clothes have to coordinate”, and coordinating a look is key and essential in men’s fashion. Shoes, watches, neckties, and even the man bag is just as important as picking out the right shirt to match the trousers. Rolex has long been the timepiece that men grab to complement their wrists, but with technology always evolving watches that do more than tell time is what men are wearing. The Apple Watch Series 4 or Michael Kors’ Access Smartwatch draws attention to the wrist without being too over the top blinged out and really pulls a look together. I am more partial to neckties and pocket squares, and my go-to is Tom Ford and Canali for a gentlemanly look when I am wearing a nice bespoke suit. Shoe are a bit more complicated in my opinion, we have to factor in a few things like venue, event, and element. Color coordination can impair our fashion judgment. Have you ever tried pairing a mahogany lacquered wingtip with a base plum suit? Fortunately, there are various outlets men can look up for help in achieving the right color combination, design, and comfort when choosing the right shoe. Besides, DHMICON Magazine, can turn to social media, and consult with various men’s fashion profiles for assistance in selecting the right shoe.
Men are embracing the new with the old, fusing contemporary looks with gentlemanly style. There’s a newness in men’s fashions, and the Mack has indeed returned to give usher men into the new era of style.
Men’s fashions have evolved from the 1920’s era style of Clark Gable to the era of hip hop 2000’s styles of J. Cole (my fav rapper), and now we see a revisit of the 1920’s style mixed with new and relevant designs being sported by notables from sports to entertainment. From NBA king Lebron James to rapper turned entrepreneur turned philanthropist Jay-Z, and even actor Chadwick Bosman was sporting some of the most tailored and sleek looks. So, why the sharp turnaround from loose gold chains and sagging pants you ask. The fashion tides have changed with the times, some men nowadays are looking for a more professional look while other men are looking for a less dressy look, you could say style bridging between formal to casual. Does anyone remember Andre 3000 of Outkast? I sure do, his fashions were revolutionary, I can still remember listening to Hey Ya while dressing in a suit with suspenders, his style played a big part in how I saw myself as a man, who has a career that allows me to dress pretty much the way I want, but it was his sense of style that I gravitated towards. Andre Benjamin’s (his last name) looks were as unique as his rapping style, and with every look, he gave men something to be impressed by. Name-dropping in men’s fashion has always been low-key unless you were sporting activewear apparel like Nike, Adidas, or Puma then everyone knew who you were rockin’. Rappers named dropped brands on the regular with LL Cool J sporting Kangol hats, Run DMC rapping My Adidas, and the great Slick Rick tha Ruler with La Di Da Di with name-brand dropping in the first verse. Now men are name-brand-dropping with fashions from regular staples like Calvin Klein, Hugo Boss, Kenneth Cole, however, now you have designers like Tom Ford and Dior releasing collections that speak relaxed and carefree, but still, give a more dressy appearance without being too literal.
Image courtesy of Pexels | Photographer The Lazy Artist Gallery
Image courtesy of Unsplash | Photographer: @brucemars
Men’s fashions were aristocratic interpretations of the 1920’s style fused with dramatic details, and hybrid hues of black and beige from that era. But, the artistry of the designs in the cut, tailoring, and free-flowing colors hover between tradition and innovation is pulled into today's looks that are alluring and keep the masculine texture of each design.
IMAGES COURTESY OF UNSPLASH | PHOTOGRAPHER: BRUCE MARS
Images are used for illustration purposes only.
Photographer and affiliates are not an endorsement of DHMICON.COM, writers, or blogs
Mens’ fashions are inspired by the following designers and are not an endorsement nor an affiliate of DHMICON.COM
SUIT: TOM FORD |TIMEPIECE: ROLEX | SHOES: STACY ADAMS
An accomplished photographer and writer in the fashion industry for over 20 years, Di Marco has created works for some of the most popular and well-known fashion houses domestically and internationally.
