The Urban Gentlemen

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Ralph Lauren Rugged Icons Collection

For more than 20 years, Ralph Lauren’s Polo brand has been a staple of hip-hop fashion. Countless name drops, regional reinventions and a timeless style have helped its relevance outlive Kangols, throwbacks jerseys and skinny jeans to become a permanent part of the culture. I love the fact that this classic brand is still worn by many of hip hop's artist today. There are many ways you can dress up or dress down a polo shirt. Pair them off with some slim/skinny jeans or slacks and a leather backpack. Check out Ralph Lauren Rugged Icons Collection for the Holiday 2010. A collection of heritage styles, the Rugged Icons line pulls a selection of items from the RL archives and updates them with contemporary touches. Highlights include Nordic and Beacon patterned sweaters, classic plaid shirts, wide wale corduroys, and a nice arrangement of accessories.

Here are some of my picks from the Winter 2010 line:

Fleece Chevron Hoodie

$98.00

Wool Plaid Half-Zip Pullover

$325.00

Striped Fleece Pullover

$89.50

Albern Leather Boots

$495.00

Venedict Plaid Boots

$319.00

Plaid Boots

$325.00

And my favorite, the Burnt Red Ranger Boot

B.o.B in The Brooklyn Circus Varsity Vest, Adidas Wing Sneakers, and Fur Tail Keychain

Rapper B.o.B. is nominated for five Grammy awards for the many hits he was a part of this year. To celebrate he performed at the Grammy Nominations Concert Live event at club Nokia in Los Angeles, CA. He was seen wearing a Brooklyn Circus varsity vest, a pair of Adidas Jeremy Scott wing sneakers along with a fur tail keychain dangling from his hip. The varsity vest features a wool body, with the BKC signature crest, satin lined trimming, and ribbing at the collar and hem. Do you like?

$480.00 @

http://thebkcircus.com/bkc/shop/

Harem Pants on Men

I think that if you have the swag, you can pull anything off! I can totally see a fashionable gentleman working these with a button down and a blazer.Many designers like Jose Duran regularly feature drop crotch trousers in their line ups. And of course we can’t forget the original harem pants master:

Check out a few more looks:

http://www.yesstyle.com/en/info.html/pid.1022675745

http://www.yesstyle.com/en/info.html/pid.1022877033

http://www.yesstyle.com/en/deepstyle-harem-pants-black-one-size/info.html/pid.1023601992

Style Verdict: Men in Candy Colors

Men have been thinking outside the fashionable box lately, wearing a series and candy coated colors in bold and creative ways. Omarion stepped out to a Heineken event in a pair of velvet lemon yellow trousers, paired with a buttoned up blue shirt, and a coat thrown over the shoulders. This past fashion week, Kanye West attended the 3.1 Phillip Lim show in a strawberry pink blazer by the brand, along with a white tee and white jeans. Ochocinco went the strawberry route as well, wearing a pair of crisp pink pants with a gray cardigan that boasted pink piping. And Diddy chose a citrus hued cardigan to watch a basketball game.

As with all things in fashion, I think it really comes down to having the right fit and fabric. Omarion’s outfit could’ve been great if he went for a more straight legged, tailored pant in a heavy cotton. Kanye’s look is flawless. The jacket provides a nice pop to his neutral outfit. The same goes for Diddy and Ochocinco. Take a look at a few more examples: