menswear

Sneaker sartorial chic this spring/summer

Nothing is more on-trend this season than sneakers. If you think there is only one kind of sneakers, think again.

A myriad of options is made available for the guys this spring/summer. This footwear type can work for dressier occasions, and it is all about choosing the right material.

For a snazzier take, go for leather sneakers. A good choice would be this pair from the house of Balenciaga. Constructed in Italy, this pair exudes luxury quietly but surely. The supple leather comes in a beautiful hue of grey, a neutral tone which goes well with most other colours.

For a more laid back look, pair it with a pair of distressed light blue denim jeans, and a graphic print tee. Top off the look with a simple monotone baseball cap, accessorise with a couple of leather bracelets, and you’re good to go. From the movies to a casual dinner date, followed by some drinks and pool down at your favourite bar.

To dress it up a little, we recommend a pair of jeans in a similar shade of grey, a crisp white tee, and a sharp dark blue blazer, or red for the more adventurous satorialists amongst us. Finish off the look with a metal bracelet watch to further elevate the dressiness of this look.

Geared up for these cool kicks, yet? We certainly are.

He Grooms spring must-have’s #2

SS14 Men’s sweatpants from Zara
[Photo source: zara.com]

Never has there been a time like now when the sweatpant is celebrated, and is an approved sartorial choice outside of your house (or the gym).

This spring, sportswear moves out of a functional clothing category to that of mainstream fashion. While you may not be able to tell rugby from football, that’s not going to be a deciding factor in whether you can pull off the sportswear trend this season.

To pull through this season in style, every guy should have a pair of basic black (or grey) sweatpants, such as the black one from Zara that’s featured here. And to pull off the sweatpants look, the easiest way is to aim for a monochromatic ensemble. Pair your sweatpants with a simple solid white/grey/black shirt or t-shirt. Finish off the look with a pair of sneakers. This is where you monochrome-phobes can inject some colour to your overall outfit. If you need some suggestions for sneakers, here is one great choice this spring.

Remember the “less is more” rule so if you have colourful kicks, then stay away from too many accessories. Limit it to a nice watch with a metal bracelet or a simple bracelet.

Finally, while the sportswear trend is all the rage now, the trick is not to look like you just stepped out from the gym or finished a game of basketball. Juxtapose your look with something totally the opposite of sportswear, such as a nice black jacket over a t-shirt, sweatpants and sneaker look. This not only adds some interesting dimension to your look, it will also elevate the trend level of your overall look.

How to get your hands on that Nike RT collab collection

Cool kicks from Nike x Ricardo Tisci

In a perfect world, we would see a Givenchy x Nike collab. Rejoice, for the perfect world has arrived as of 21 March 2014.

Many thronged the Nike stores to get their hands on this soon-to-be elusive collaborative design effort between sneaker giant, Nike, and the too-cool-for-school Ricardo Tisci from Givenchy with the Midas touch. Shoes were flying off the shelves, and many who landed the loot proudly showed them off online (check out #nikert on Instagram). Who could blame them? A look at this collection makes one want to get one of everything.

The creative canvas for Ricardo, or R.T. – the moniker accorded to him for this collab, came in the form of the iconic sneaker style from Nike, the Air Force 1. They couldn’t have picked a better shoe as the AF1 has such a classic shape, and is so well-loved it probably has its own Facebook fan page. This style is also spot on for the street style meets sportswear trend that is reigning in Spring Summer 2014.

There are four styles designed by R.T., and they come in two colourways. The Nike + R.T. Air Force 1 Collection in white was released on 21 March 2014, and was made available at select Nike concept locations such as 151 Wooster, 21 Mercer, Dover Street Market New York, London, and Tokyo, 1948 Longon, Nike Stadium Milan, X158 Shanghai and with select retail partner locations globally. If you missed out on the initial white collection priced between 230 USD to 340 USD, your other probable avenue of acquiring them is probably on eBay. This is provided you’re willing to shell out way more than what the original buyers paid for them. Sitting in this price range probably suggests these shoes are made for walking, and attending that fancy hip-hop style party this Saturday, and not for the gym.

The Nike + R.T. Air Force 1 Collection in black will release globally in May and be prepared for an even bigger surge to buy from the crowds than the initial collection in white.

So how to get your hands on the initial collection in white, you ask? Unconfirmed sources stated that it will be available on the Nike online store on 11 April 2014. Fact or fiction? We don’t know but you bet we will be logging in then!

For now, check out a short clip on the collection here.

He Grooms spring must-have’s #1

HEGROOMS Spring Must-Have’s #1

It’s hard not to score well in the style stakes when this handsome piece already comes with its own set of stars.

One of the must-have’s this spring comes from the house of Givenchy, helmed by the master of cool, Ricardo Tisci. This all leather holdall comes in the classic weekender shape, and in timeless black. The capacity is great – up to 42 litres according to the information on mrporter.com, whatever that means in terms of everyday items like gym clothes, magazines, shoes….we don’t really know. Let’s just say it’s quite a bit. What this means for you is that you get to pack all that you need for the gym or for a weekend getaway, all in one single bag. The 105cm long shoulder strap allows for an alternative mode of carrying this bag, leaving your hands free for that cup of coffee or the quinessential smartphone.

The Givenchy Nightingale is surprisingly lightweight, though it is all-leather. Yes, we work out and a little extra weight – outside of our body – shouldn’t matter but after a good gym workout, an extra kg or so makes a hell of a difference on those swole shoulders.

The embossed five-point stars not only add some details to an otherwise all-black weekender, they also inject a bit of cool and street style that’s au courant right now. In the department of men’s style, details are to be embraced but with a healthy dose of restraint before the item/design steps over to the land of the gaudy. This bag is a fantastic example of masterfully using details without them overwhelming what’s otherwise already a great design. All in, a great piece to have, and a worthwhile investment that will see you stylishly through spring and well beyond that.

HE GROOMS

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