AUTUMN 2011: From runway to cubicle, an intro to fall fashion.

With summer's closure, we here in the Midwest get to play limbo each day with the ever-changing weather patterns. One day, you're biking around the city in a tank top, the next you're reaching for your scarf to throw over your chambray button down. Welcome to the Midwesterner's fall.

But let's...mix it up this year. Let's talk fall fashions. I picked some looks that I found inspiring and accessible yet a little forward at times. Outfits and styling suggestions that you can conjure up in the morning and think to yourself, "Hey, I actually styled my look this morning and I feel pretty good about it."

That's how it goes. Look good, feel good, and then you'll do good.
It's just like that, people. So, here is your cheat sheet.

Let's bring some of the runway to your office this morning, shall we?

Go ahead, log off the latest Lifehacker/Gizmodo/Reddit article and give this a glimpse.

Steven Alan Fall 2011 (style.com)

COLOR STORY: Olives, browns and greys. Simple? Yes. You (should) have these colors in your closet.

STYLING TIPS: Go ahead and duplicate this. It's all safe, except tuck your socks back in. The white denim in the fall sounds like a good idea, too. Give that a go as well. Why not?

THEIR WARDROBE: Boots. Olive trousers. Parkas. Grey utility shirts. Bloody red pocket squares. Chambray button downs. Thick-and-chunky cardigans.

YOUR WARDROBE: Buy some boots; pass on the white denim if you must.

Shipley & Halmos Fall 2011 (style.com)

COLOR STORY: Light browns and camels, burgundies and wines.

STYLING TIPS: Please gentlemen, invest in a nice pair of nice, dark (selvedge) denim. Wear 'em, beat 'em up, they'll look better. Mix yours navies, browns and burgundies.

THEIR WARDROBE: A navy peacoat, a well-loved leather jacket, a pair of cords, dark wash selvedge denim, colored denim, fair-isle sweater, toggle closure camel duffle coat, varsity jacket, plaid button downs.

YOUR WARDROBE: Get a nice jacket for fall, but ditch the varsity and colored denim if you must.

Marc by Marc Jacobs Fall 2011 (gq.com)

COLOR STORY: Camels, burnt orange mixed with navy and chocolates. Midnight blues and charcoals.

STYLING TIPS: Pairing browns with blacks with a touch of color. A nice tweed blazer over denim or trousers will look sharp, preppy and autumnal. A striped sweater can't go wrong either.

THEIR WARDROBE: Black and brown wingtips, heavy-duty, fur-lined parkas, tweed trousers, leather totes, colored denim, printed ties, obnoxious sneakers.

YOUR WARDROBE: A charcoal, midnight or navy suit and big-striped sweater.

In summary, find a pair of boots, a suit, a sweater and fall jacket.

BONUS: Now only if we didn't have student loans to pay back or rent to pay. 

Pringle of Scotland Fall 2011

Burberry Prorsum Fall 2011

Obnoxious colored outerwear? Yes. What's your favorite?

midweSTYLE: Yves dropping

Anthony: "Okay, this pose is good, Jeff. You look like a tool, and the city looks dope."

Anthony: "Good, now go ahead and step forward, and let me grab a shot of Seth."

And apparently, I look my best post-nut-tap gasping for air and making sure nothing ascended into my stomach.

STREET midweSTYLE: Drew on Oak Street

What's cool these days?

Zubaz, right?

So is street style photography, I guess.

Wait, I thought you only photographed yourselves, you narcissists?

We didn't get tired of photographing ourselves (or Cameron at least). We just wanted to mix things up. Other guys around town are keeping it fresh and doing their own style, so we'd like to shrine some light on those dudes: friends, classmates, coworkers, neighbors, roommates, drinking buddies, acquaintances and whoever else might be strolling down the road. Don't worry, we're not going to become "one of those street-style blogs" all of a sudden; we just thought we'd spice things up to keep it interesting.

Meet Drew. He's a sound sculptor and jack of all trades. I've run into this guy a handful of times since moving to Chicago and he's a rad guy to know. Good looks and great style.

Badass? Check.
Functional? Check.
Obnoxious color? Check.
Killer watch by Uniform Wares from Need Supply.

Why we like this look? Monochromatic palette with touches of color and print. We like that.

Polka dot short-sleeve shirt by Marc by Marc Jacobs; "100 series" yellow watch (from Need Supply) by Uniform Wares; grey suede desert boots by Common Projects; "Detroit" straight-leg grey pant by All Saints.

Photos by Jeff Kieslich.

midweSTYLE: Hay

ABOUT THIS LOOK: I've liked the idea of mixing vintage items, Americana goods and designer apparel. Plus, I really wanted to type out "Marc by Marc Jacobs" and "Pendleton" in the same blog post. I wanted to create a faded and dusty look for the field. Warm colors, like the 1901 camel colored shoes and MBMJ warm mauve undershirt, were already being drawn out from the Pendleton shirt.

This leather bomber jacket is one of my favorite pieces that I own. I'm always scared for some reason to pair it with dress shoes and think I need to wear it with boots of some sort. However, I've been rocking it with my bucks, wallabees and even Sperrys a few times. Why not, eh?

ABOUT THIS LOCATION: I grew up flying kites in this field. It's at the bottom of my street from my childhood home. Besides, dodging cow shit as we ran unto the ends of the earth (or so it seemed), I loved looking down the hill—the hill that I hated to bike up so much. But I became so thankful for where I grew up. I didn't have to stare off into an endless suburban wasteland of cookie cutter houses nor at any brick apartments outside my window. The cows down the street in the field, the airport farther up the road a couple of miles and a general store up the street near my elementary school.

Bomber jacket (thrifted, $6) by "Made in Ecuador 100% Leather", size 38; wool button-down (thrifted, $6) by Pendleton, medium; "Rat" long-sleeve mauve T-shirt (retail, $9) by Marc by Marc Jacobs, medium; "The Henley" 11.5-ounce dry selvedge denim (retail $198) by Baldwin, size 30; 1901 camel suede bucks (retail, $44) by Nordstrom, size 11; Camper Watch (retail, $18) by Timex; braided leather belt (thrifted, $1).

Photos by Jarred Donalson.

Jobbing it in Chi-city, part two

For my second day of interviews*, I didn't wear a tie or a dress shirt. It was cold, and I wanted to be warm yet still professional....looking....sort of. The day before, I picked up the perfect sweatshirt from Jack Spade and I really wanted to wear it on this dreary day. Why not be comfortable and stylish, so I pulled an "easy card" and threw a sport coat over it. Really, that's all it takes. Just put a freaking blazer or sport coat (that fits, mind you) over your top.

It was a drab day in the city with my concrete camouflage outfit.

I think what made this outfit work was the slim fitting sweatshirt under the sport coat. The shark socks were a nice little touch to let you know that in fact, I do have a soul and a sense of humor. Sharks are always funny, right?


Billtornade grey wool sport coat, Marc by Marc Jacobs slim fit trousers, Jack Spade "Burkee" sweatshirt sale $62.50 reg $120, Nordstrom 1901 blue suede bucks sale $44 reg $99, Merona for Target shark socks $2.50 (you can get these now at your local Target, along with spiders, skulls, shamrocks and flamingos.


*These weren't really interviews. These were more or less prearranged times to informally meet important people, smile and match my face to that resume as I handed it over. Brownie points awarded to make note on the color of my resume.