It seems only appropriate to take a minute today to soak up some style from a few of our well-dressed presidents. We’re sticking to the modern era because it’s just too hard to get a feel for personal style from an oil painting portrait. Sorry Millard Fillmore.

Take a gander at the snapshots below, then let me know who your pick is for best-dressed prez in the comments:

{“I’m on a boat” – John F. Kennedy}

So cool. So casual. So well-put together. Are those Persols next to you Mr. President? I think they just might be.

{Presidents Nixon and Bush 43 looking exta-handsome on their daughters’ wedding days}

{President Obama showing that Clear Eyes, Full Hearts…well, you know the rest}

{Every president looks good in the commander-in-chief flight jacket. Bush I is no exception}

{President Bartlet in a well-cut suit in the Oval Office..what? I didn’t say they were all going to be real}

{Ronald Reagan pwning the term “cowboy president”}

{One more of our most stylish president – in my opinion anyway – looking breezy on the open seas}

Images: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Tell me: Who’s your pick for the most stylish president/prime minister/etc – real or fiction! – of all time? Obviously I’m partial to JFK, but I’m open to suggestion.

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Commanders-in-Chief appeared first on Style Girlfriend.

You know what I miss? Movie dates.

In New York, I visit movie theaters almost never. For a couple of reasons.

One, BED BUGS. Oh my God I am so scared of bed bugs. It keeps me from walking into nearly any store in Soho and makes me cross to the other side of the street when I see those dreaded plastic-covered mattresses in the street. YOU’RE NOT FOOLING ANYONE, MATTRESSES. You are the Pretty Little Liars of the curbside garbage world. So many secrets and lies, but you’re terrible at keeping them from the innocent, good people in your lives.

The other reason I’m skipping the new releases these days? Because people are terrible. TERRIBLE. People in New York talk through movies almost without stop. Every bad cliche you see in those little studio-sponsored PSA’s about turning off your phone and shushing yourself are exactly what happens at almost every single movie theater in New York City. Answering the phone, loud chewing. Texting. DEAR SWEET LORD SO MUCH TEXTING. For as many flashing lights I see during a movie here, you’d think the audience was trying to land a plane in the dark.

If you live somewhere that allows for attending a movie with your lady without your turning into a rage ball of hate against humanity, then get your best compromise movie (I suggest anything with explosions that stars Daniel Craig and/or Sly Stallone) and get this outfit on. The end.

• Sweater: Obey, $75

• Shirt: Asos, $26

• Watch: Skagen, $110

• Pants: Asos.com, $51

• Shoes: Ben Sherman $60

• Belt: Tommy Bahama, $78

The post Where to Wear It: Movie Date appeared first on Style Girlfriend.

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{me and Tall Megan at the petting zoo}

It’s my best friend’s birthday today. Her name is Megan – what? like me? that’s right! – so when we first met my freshman year of college, I immediately jammed a descriptor in front of her name. That way, when people talked about us (which they did, all the time..we were pretty big deals on campus), it wasn’t “Wait, which Megan? The one with the…” because I never wanted to know how they’d describe me.

And that’s how my best friend Megan became known as “Tall Megan.” Is she that tall? She’d argue no, but she’s taller than me so it stuck. To this day, when my family and our mutual friends need to clarify who they’re talking to or about, it’s “Tall Megan” this and “Tall Megan” that. For short? TM. I love it.

{circa 2004, aka “a million years ago”}

The best part of best friends is the different strengths each one brings to the table. One may be a great planner, while the other is a good cook. Or a good listener. Or makes great playlists for parties. My Megan is an amazing athlete who’s competed in triathlons and climbed mountains. She’s funny and always knows what to say to pull me out of a bad mood. I’m anal, hyper-organized, a perpetual list-maker and worrier. Her laissez-faire attitude towards life is both an inspiration and a horrible irritation to me – often in the same conversation. When we go out, I research and pick the restaurant; she convinces the management to put on a song we like, or cajoles everyone at the bar to do sake bombs (even though it’s an Irish pub).

{paparazzi interrupted our stroll on the beach}

She also owns a pair of light wash bootcut jeans that she refuses to throw out no matter how much I publicly shame her (Throw them away Megan! They look like you bought them at an L.E.I clearance sale in high school…which you probably did!), and is a big believer in sports jerseys worn unironically. She’s not a terrible dresser; it’s just not a big concern of hers. Probably some of it has to do with her living in San Diego, a town famous for being so laid back you may never get up, and my residence on the more buttoned-up east coast….and, y’know, writing about style every day on Style Girlfriend (yes, men’s style counts in this equation).

I love her to death, but I think we both concede the “stylish friend” to me.

TELL ME: What about you and your best friend? Who wins the “Most Stylish” title? And maybe more importantly, do you both agree on that? Leave pictorial evidence in the comments if you’re looking for a tiebreaker vote!

The post Who’s the better dresser, you or your best friend? appeared first on Style Girlfriend.

It’s Friday the 13th, which – despite being a fully-grown woman who should know better – always totally freaks me out.

Now, I’m not superstitious. I don’t worry about walking under ladders, crossing the paths of black cats, or breaking eye contact with a drinking companion during a toast (okay, that last one’s kind of bougie, but hey, some people think it’s bad luck to look away while clinking glasses!).

But Friday the 13th? Man, I don’t even want to get out of bed.

You never know what can happen! I’m not talking the typical, ‘spilled my coffee, missed the train’ kind of bad luck, but like, b-a-a-a-d stuff. Freddy v. Jason stuff.

And if I’ve learned anything from the approximately three scary movies I’ve seen in my entire life (I’m a huge, HUGE wuss if you didn’t know that already), it’s always the handsomest, best-dressed guy that ends up being the bad guy. Christian Bale in American Psycho? That guy was born to wear a suit (and to kill people, as it turned out). The first Scream movie? Remember Neve Campbell’s hunky boyfriend in the cool leather jacket? Crazy. Even Norman Bates had perfected nerdy chic with his sweater vests in Psycho long before the trend took off.

So while I curl up under the covers to hide, tell me: who’s your favorite, best-dressed baddie?

(image)

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That’s how long we’ve gone without Mad Men. Thanks to contract conflicts and television gods who apparently want to punish us, the AMC show about advertising – and so, so much more – in the 1960s has been dark for far too long. Babies have been born. Marathons have been trained for and run. Lesser TV shows have run full seasons of laugh track-filled mediocrity (I’m looking at you, Two and a Half Men), all waiting for Don Draper and crew to return. That’s a long time. And I for one, can’t wait to greet the dysfunctional gang this Sunday night.

Neither, apparently, can Banana Republic. The brand collaborated once again with Janie Bryant, Mad Men’s costume designer, creating a spring capsule collection inspired by the show. But even before you could buy Don Draper’s dapper, manly style in stores, the look had been gaining steam with guys for awhile. So how can you dress like a Mad Man? Read on:

Keep it trim.

A close fit is a flattering fit. Don Draper wouldn’t be caught dead in skinny jeans, or worse, baggy ones. Some call it “body-conscious” clothing; I just call it clothes that fit properly. Look for shirts and jackets that emphasize (or create the illusion of) broad shoulders and a nipped-in waist. Shirts that sit snugly across the shoulders and are long enough in the back to tuck in will help give you that “My exercise routine consists of mowing the lawn while smoking a pack of cigarettes” body that Don Draper rocks so well.

Suit up.

This one’s easy. A well-tailored suit is the go-to for Don, Roger, Pete, and the rest of the Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce crowd. Ace your next interview or client meeting in a suit that fits like a glove (a speech that sounds like this can’t hurt, either).

Don’t be afraid of color.

A pocket square that pops. A tie that does the talking so you can play the strong, silent (or like Don – repressed) type. The shirt above from the Banana Republic collection follows the aforementioned slim sensibility, and can serve as all the color you need for one outfit.

Keep it simple.

Clothes shouldn’t be complicated. The best-dressed guys are the ones, like Don Draper, who make it look effortless. Not that we make it easy on ourselves. In the1960s, men like Draper could look to style icons like JFK for sartorial inspiration – today, we’re stuck with The Situation. So I’ll forgive the style missteps here and there, but the point remains that getting dressed (and more importantly, getting dressed well) is easier when you have a closet full of clothes that fit you and that you feel great wearing.

The post Mad Men Style appeared first on Style Girlfriend.

Don’t have one?

That doesn’t surprise me. We don’t usually think of resolutions in terms of our wardrobe. Instead, we’re focused on improving the “self.” Sometimes that’s involves the internal (be kinder, learn Spanish), but even the external ones tend to be about your body (lose ten pounds, stand up straighter) and not what you put on it. That’s why gym memberships skyrocket in January, but not sales of cashmere pullovers.

This year, why not resolve to make a change that will be visible even without months of sit-ups at your local sports club? In 2012, make a resolution to work on your wardrobe.

That’s right, I think this is the year you start truly dressing with intention. Wearing outfits, not just clothes. Even taking a few more risks in your wardrobe.

The great thing is, this resolution means different things to different people. Maybe for you it’s about adopting a signature look. For someone else, it could mean tailoring the clothes you already own to finally fit just right. Adding more texture to your closet. Dropping the denim and donning a suit.

Ideally, your style resolution should be a year-round goal. For example, last month, I decided to start tucking my shirts more. Not a resolution exactly, and certainly not life-changing, but a conscious act I committed to for the further evolution (always ongoing!) of my own style. I’d long had an aversion to a tucked shirt. I like the billowy look because I think it hides…well, I’m not sure what I think I need to hide since I’m far from needing camouflage layers. That’s probably a question for my therapist, but the point is, I preferred clothes much baggier than necessary on my relatively lithe frame.

But since I’m always preaching the benefits of a slimmer line, I thought I would try it out for something different. And boy, did I feel different. Passing by a mirror or store window, I started to notice my silhouette more and more (and I like to think other people did too). It felt really good, and I didn’t need to go out and buy any new, longer shirts, or higher-waisted pants. As it turns out, the clothes in my closet were just waiting for this moment.

What style evolution could be waiting for you in the new year? Sporting bolder colors? Mixing patterns? Buying fewer-but-nicer things (instead of more-but-crappier things)? On the heels of my earlier sartorial success, my goal for the new year is to wear more jewelry. I’m hoping more adornments will make me feel more feminine – or at least balance out the lager swilling, frequent cursing, hair pulled into a ponytail every other day tomboy I sometimes feel like. To that end, I asked for (and received) a thin gold chain for Christmas to wear around my neck, and I recently gifted myself a hefty gold watch to kick start my girly goal. Along with my new streamlined silhouette, I feel like I’m entering 2012 with my style resolutions top of mind.

Whatever you aim for, good luck and godspeed in the new year. I’ll be right here to help you along. In the meantime, just remember – confidence goes with everything.

The post What’s your New Year’s style resolution? appeared first on Style Girlfriend.

Fellas, can I talk some real talk to you for a second? I don’t want to make you feel insecure, or like I don’t love you and only you anymore, because I do. You know I do. But I just watched Michael Bublé perform on this week’s Saturday Night Live, and, well, he pretty much made my pants fall off. 

Singing carols from his inescapable Christmas album, he performed on stage and in sketches for some serious 360-degree audience charming, me obviously included. Why do you care? Because just like athletes watch game tape of their next opponents, it can be a useful exercise to get up to speed on your competition. And make no mistake – celebrities, or rather, the idea of celebrities – are your competition. That’s why I’m here to provide some insight into the inner workings of the ever-confusing female mind. Chances are there’s one or two celebs your lady goes gaga for (see what I did there?) whose appeal you just can’t fathom. That Twilight guy? But he’s so pale! The barely legal Justin Bieber? She could be his mother, if she’d made different choices in high school. I know. I know. We don’t make any sense.

So allow me to draw back the curtain, and show you what you can steal about being a man of style from Michael Bublé.

Lord knows I love me some Christmas carols (cough*all year round*cough), but Bublé’s real draw – and forgive me for beating a dead horse of a hashtag – but the man is working some motherfucking swag that deserves its own slow clap.

For me, Michael Bublé falls into the category of famous faces I find myself attracted to while recognizing that, take away his star status, and he probably wouldn’t turn my head on the street (other examples: Jay-Z, Jason Segel, Aaron Rodgers, Lyor Cohen, Joe Biden.. I could go on but won’t). Like these gentlemen, Bublé has that “something special” that makes ladies swoon.

As I see it, the…oof, “Canadian crooner” is what I just typed, but this isn’t Just Jared sooo…the singer has three things going for him – and not one of them is a strong jawline. Apply them to your own life as you see fit:

1. He dresses up all the time. Yes, Bublé’s voice lends itself to a suited-up Rat Pack style, but you don’t need a reason to look sharp. I mean, look at him in this tux! He is pwning that damn tuxedo.

2. He has a sense of humor. Bublé looked like he was having a great time during his songs, and he more than held his own in a sketch playing opposite a Bieber-impersonating Jimmy Fallon (and who can forget Hamm & Buble?). Have fun in whatever you do and try not to take yourself too seriously.

3. He can sing. Okay, sure, maybe your talent isn’t contemporary smooth jazz, but you’ve definitely got something that makes you special and sets you apart. Figure out what that is as soon as you can, then exploit it to get chicks! Boom - Bubléd.

**hmm, this could become a regular segment, unless it horrifies you to hear me going all fan girl over other fellas. let me know what you think.

The post Men of Style: Michael Bublé appeared first on Style Girlfriend.

…

I’ve been following your blog for a while and it made me realize a couple of things. It made me realize that I don’t want to become an accountant. I love fashion too much for me to be at a desk dealing with numbers. Also, it inspired me to start writing about fashion. However, I have zero experience when it comes to blogging. Therefore, I was wondering if you have any advice on how to start a successful and fun site like yours. I would really appreciate it.

Let’s work backwards on this one. So first of all, it’s great to hear that you enjoy Style Girlfriend. And anytime someone feels inspired to be more creative in their own lives – whether it’s by picking up a paintbrush, a pen, a microphone, or, I don’t know, knitting needles – I think it’s a good thing.

So you’ve decided to start blogging. Awesome. The biggest thing I would say is, work hard to find your point of view. A lot of style bloggers’ bios read along the lines of “Fashion is my liiiiiiiiife!!!” To which I, as your theoretical reader, say, “Great, but how does that help me?”

Consider your passions, and your blogging raison d’être will become clearer. I love communicating and creating understanding between groups. Explaining to a male audience what us ladies wish they’d wear (or not wear) is one interesting and fun way I’ve found to exercise that passion.

If you have a passion for…err, fashion, then you’re already on your way. Start writing about what you’re interested in, and see what kind of content you build. Are you drawn to discussing high-end designers? Star style? Affordable fashion? Whatever you think most about is where you want to focus your efforts. From there, consider how you can write about your specific interests in a way that brings value to your reader. Of course, if you want to blog just to blog, and you don’t care who reads it, that’s fine too. Blog about whatever you want. But if you’re interested in building an audience, you have to look for that sweet spot between what you want to write about and what other people want to read.

I stumbled into Style Girlfriend after a friend asked me to write a weekly column for the made-to-measure suit company he’d just started. Each week, I tackled a subject on guys’ style from the female perspective. What I found was that guys have a lot of questions about what they’re wearing, but not a lot of people they feel comfortable asking. Bros are not asking other bros for jeans recommendations while watching football. But they still need jeans.

That’s why, on Style Girlfriend, I try to make it easy by giving shortcuts, tips and tricks to achieving great style. While you may love fashion, I have a lot of readers who just want to know they’re leaving the house every morning looking acceptable. That means I give lots of specific clothing recommendations (always in a price range that’s reasonable to my readers) or advice on how to wear a specific trend.

My last point on the blogging front: try to post as much original content as possible. I follow a lot of menswear blogs, and it happens a lot that I’ll scroll through the same image of a super-fresh wingtip brogue six times because everyone’s reblogging the same stuff. Be different. You’ll stand out because of it.

Second of all…goo. I don’t know if I want to be responsible for a career switch! Have you told your parents yet? Second…ahh who am I kidding? Do whatever you want, so long as you can keep a roof over your head. But realize that there’s a zillion ways to work “in” fashion. My friend that I mentioned earlier did financial planning for several clothing companies before deciding to start his own business. When I was little, I used to tell anyone who’d listen, “I don’t want to be Donna Karan when I grow up, I want to run Donna Karan.” And even though my CEO aspirations eventually diminished, I like that even at ten years old, I knew I had no design talent but didn’t let that deter me from finding my own entryway into an industry. Whatever you decide, just be sure to do it really, really well. Otherwise, what’s the point?

Good luck!!

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Say no to the scooter

I snapped this picture coming up out of the subway the other day, walking behind a man whose close-cropped hair did nothing to hide the bald patch slowly spreading over his cranium. I tried to get an “action” shot, but once this guy boarded his scooter, he was…well, he wasn’t even going that much faster than I was walking, but I wasn’t about to trot, let alone run, to keep up with him.

If we got off at the same stop, he can’t have had farther than a twelve, maybe fifteen minute walk ahead of him. Did he really need to cut that commute in half by a third? I make it home fine every day and have never thought to myself, if only I lugged a 10-pound scooter with me everywhere in case I tire of placing one foot in front of the other.

All I’m saying fellas, is riding a mode of transportation previously reserved for small children who’d graduated from Big Wheels but not yet to two-wheelers did nothing to impress his manliness upon me.

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