The Urban Gentleman™: Men's Fashion Blog | Men's Grooming | Men's Style

www.TheUrbanGent.com

2010-10-31T23:59:00.004-04:00

Exta Extra, Read All About It: The Urban Gentleman Relaunches!

2010-10-31T21:20:00.006-04:00

Check us out at our new home: The Urban Gentleman

Now, tell every gosh darn person you know!

BOOKMARK the new site.

Pocket Guide: Men's Fall | Winter Trends 2010-2011

2010-10-11T20:50:00.019-04:00

Okay, we have something more to hold you guys over until our, well, "surprise."

We've created a Mini Pocket Guide for Men's Fall|Winter 2010-2011 Trends and Styles. This covers a few basic fall & winter trends that all Urban Gentlemen should know...

Crew necks: You may or may not have noticed the change, but designers are slowly switching back to the classic crew necks and moving away from the wide scoop necks and trendy v-necks. Of course you can still do a slight V if needed, but a classic crew will suit you, and all your masculinity, best.

More Topman...

Selvedge Denim: Everywhere I go, I find myself getting into "deep" conversations about selvedge denim... people are obsessed, some are a bit too passionate (usually the newbies), but it's understandable. Be sure to invest in atleast one pair of selvedge denim.

More Evisu...

MINI Lesson on Selvedge Denim: "What is Selvedge/Selvage Denim?"
Selvedge denim is basically premium denim, its the crème de la crème of the denim family. "Selvedge" describes the way the fabric is produced. The denim is made on a shorter loom, making the time to create them longer. In a pair of selvedge jeans you can actually see where the weaving stops and is finished by the loom... long story short: if you flip a pair of selvedge jeans inside out you can see the production and "self-edged" finish. The quality is higher, the fabric is heavier and more durable, and more thread is used to create them. Some companies mark their jeans on the selvedge with a woven stitch in a certain color. Some even mark the inside selvedge line with their company's name.

What folks love most about selvedge denim is that you can "wear them in" yourself- so no fake wear marks (even though these days some companies will scuff em a bit). Within 6 months of wearing them the jeans will customized to your body... some will argue longer times, many people wear their's for a year without washing to "completely" break them in... honestly the "breaking in" time all depends on how often you wear them.

***

Classic Boots: Whether it's vintage or workwear inspired, you must have a pair of quality classic boots. Some may go with duck boots, others may opt for chukkas, while the manliest will be keen on rugged utility boots. Choose your favorite brand and style in a color that fits your wardrobe and make it your staple. Or choose several to increase your fall and winter footwear options.

More Frye...

Hint Of Camo: You heard it here first. Just give em a hint of fatigue this fall and winter. Unless you're a solider, we need not see you in all over army fatigue... not yet anyway. Just a hint... a jacket, socks, a bag, whatever you like.

More Toms...

Canvas: Whether you sport a canvas backpack, watch, or jacket... its the chosen material for so many stylish things these days.

More Fossil...

Stay Tuned for the Complete Guide.

H&M Denim Style Guide Collaboration with The Urban Gentleman

2010-10-04T10:39:00.002-04:00

The Urban Gent x H&M

We never got a chance to announce it, but earlier this summer H&M asked us to contribute to their style guide, here's the feature (it was up on their website August/September):

Pretty cool, right? Thanks for the feature H&M! When building one's wardrobe on a budget, H&M is a great store to shop at to find the latest trends, visit them here.

H&M x The Urban Gentleman 2010 Style Guide featuring Kanayo King

The Urban Gentleman Survey: 6 Quick Questions

2010-09-26T13:24:00.008-04:00

Gentlemen, please take 2 minutes to fill out The Survey. (<-- click there) (Let us know if the survey malfunctions or something).

Thanks Gentlemen (and Ladies). I know we've been sorta incognito, but continue to check back, there's ALOT to look forward to (very soon).

The Men's Wearhouse Experience

2010-09-20T07:52:00.021-04:00

In conjunction with the National Suit Drive, Men's Wearhouse invited The Urban Gentleman to spend a little time in one of their stores for an exclusive shopping experience.

We visited the Buckhead store off Peachtree Rd. in Atlanta, and were very kindly greeted by the staff upon entering.

Buckhead store manager and Louisiana-native, Larry Hubbard, charmed us all afternoon, while giving us a few clothing facts and advice along the way-- I'll sprinkle in a few of his words throughout. Let me start off by saying we truly had the complete Men's Wearhouse experience. We began in suits and sport coats, hit up pants and dress shirts, then worked our way around to accessories, shoes, and casual wear. Check it all out below:

First stop: suits and sport coats. Men's Wearhouse surprised us with their brand offerings, for some reason I figured they mainly carried house brands. I didn't know they carried Joseph Abboud, Hickey Freeman, Ralph Lauren, and Calvin Klein (just to name a few). And to be honest I was prematurely a little skeptical about the house brand they carried, but one of the best suits in the store was their own Pronto Uomo Signature. I'm actually quite critical when it comes to the look and feel of a suit or sport coat. This particular Pronto Uomo Signature jacket was very soft, and luxe, with the light sheen that every great suit should have (unless of course the material isn't supposed to, like seersucker, etc). Check out their suit collection, online.

Pronto Uomo signature.

Larry H. advice/fact #1: Whenever you store clothes from season to season, use cedar to keep the moths and little pest away. Or just stock up on cedar hangers.

Second-stop: find complimentary shirts, pants, shoes, and check out the spread. Men's Wearhouse offers a variety of styles to cater to a wide variety of guys, and while this is a good thing it makes it tough for an Urban Gentleman because you really have to filter through alot to get to the styles we like around here. So before going in, be sure to check out our archives for examples and maybe flip through a couple magazines.

They created about 12 looks for us.

But if you're still at a total loss or don't have time to skim through a fashion mag, don't be too worried because they'll hook you up with a few customized choices catered towards your style. They created a spread of about 12 looks for us, and included everything from the cufflinks to convertible braces. I learned that Men's Wearhouse prides themselves in having the best customer service, and guaranteed us that we weren't getting this treatment because we're from The Urban Gentleman... they treat everyone like they're the only client. That could be hard to believe, but they were so cool and unpretentiously laid-back that we definitely believe it.

Third stop: try it on and get tailored. With their assistance we created two looks, one is featured below:

Larry H. advice/fact #2: If you forget how to tie a bow-tie, just pull out the mini-guide you picked up from Men's Wearhouse. (or visit www.theurbangent.com)

Pretty clean, right? We wanted a simple
yet versatile layered fall/winter look.

The sportcoat is Jospeh & Feiss Gold, pants Pronto Uomo Couture.
We also got a Ralph Lauren sport coat, and Kenneth Cole pants.
(regular priced sport coats: buy one get one for $100)
(regular priced pants: two for $200)

One of the highlights of our Men's Wearhouse experience would have to be discovering their sales racks-- Buy 1, Get 1 Free. When I first read it I had to do a double-take. You can save over $500 if you take advantage of it. So the sales are pretty impressive, and I do believe they offer similar sales online.

Fourth stop: check out casual wear and everything else they have to offer. The casual section includes an air hockey table. So you can play a quickie round while they create a few ensembles for you to try on.

Larry H. advice/fact #3: Deerskin is pre-flexed and pre-fit, so you don't have to break in deerskin dress shoes unlike most others.

While there we ran into a piece of American history... Ken Hudson, one of the first black NBA referees. It's always great to meet a well-dressed old-schooler, he was coming back from some private NBA Hall of Fame event, and decided to drop in... sweet.

Join the Perfect Fit club to get exclusive discounts.

Final Stop: Check out and give back to the community. So when you get a chance be sure to stop by your local Men's Wearhouse. Its a great place to start when building a professional wardrobe because of the different price points-- suits generally range from as low as $200 (or less) up to $1300. So basically as your pay check grows, so can the amount you spend on a suit there. And even if you already have a place where you purchase all your suits, it won't hurt to stop in to check out their buy one, get one free sales area-- you never know what you can find.

Most importantly, please be a gentleman and gather up the gently used attire from your closet-- khakis, shirts, ties, pocket squares, suits, sweaters, shoes, etc and donate them. I know everyone has something that is too small or too big or something that you bought but just never got around to wearing, well instead of dropping it all off at the Salvation Army take it all to Men's Wearhouse. The clothing you donate will be given to your local non-profits and help men in need in your city. To be a real Urban Gentleman one has to give to the community and this is a very easy way to do that. They have more than 1,000 locations, search for the store nearest you here.

There's only 10 days left for them to reach their goal of 100,000 donated items, so be sure to stop by there today or tomorrow! Support the National Suit Drive.

Forgot to show the shoes we chose...

A Classic pair of "cherrywood" brown wingtip Cole Haans with the matching belt. A great fall and winter color.

Special thanks to regional manager Mike, store manager Larry, Josh, Caitlin, and the whole staff for a great afternoon.

Gentlemen Giving Back: National Suit Drive x Men's Wearhouse

2010-09-08T15:51:00.005-04:00

From now until September 30, Men’s Wearhouse is helping disadvantaged job seekers get a boost of self-confidence during the retailer’s third annual National Suit Drive, the country’s largest collection of gently used business attire.

The National Suit Drive, held at the more than 1,000 Men’s Wearhouse locations throughout the country, collects men’s and women’s suits, shirts, jackets, ties, belts, and shoes to donate to approximately 200 local charities that support those in transition looking for work. For a complete list of store locations and charities involved, visit www.nationalsuitdrive.com.

To encourage people to “give the suits off their backs,” teams of bare-chested men descended upon five cities throughout the country to walk the streets. The teams promoted the event in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. (To see the teams
in action, see the attached photo.)

Although the recession has affected a wide spectrum of the American workforce, 82 percent of
job losses have happened among men, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, due to the economy’s particularly heavy impact on male-dominated industries like construction and manufacturing.

“With nearly one out of 10 working-age men unemployed in this country, the economic downturn has disproportionately hurt the male workforce,” said George Zimmer, Men’s Wearhouse founder and CEO. “By collecting and donating professional clothing, Men’s Wearhouse aims to help men ‘suit up’ for job interviews and offset the ‘mancession.’”

The National Suit Drive is Men’s Wearhouse’s largest yearly philanthropic event. This year, the company aims to top 100,000 articles of clothing in just one month. For every suit the company
collects, it will donate one dress shirt to the cause.

In addition to providing a tax receipt, Men’s Wearhouse is thanking donors for their generosity with a 25 percent off discount on their next purchase at Men’s Wearhouse.*

“In this difficult economic environment, it is even more important for job seekers to make a favorable first impression during an interview, and a great-looking suit sends a message of confidence and success,” said Jerri Rosen, founder and CEO of participating nonprofit Working Wardrobes, based in Costa Mesa, Calif. “I encourage people to clean out their closets for a cause, as our extraordinary partnership with Men’s Wearhouse has helped thousands of people get back to work.”

So as always we encourage Urban Gentleman to be more than just stylish, but to philanthropic and give to those in need whenever possible. It is very important to give to the community and this is a very easy to do it. Look through your closet, maybe your dad's closest, grandfather's, friends, whomever's, and gather up suits/shoes/ties/dress shirts/etc that aren't being worn, then go to your local Men's Wearhouse and drop them off.

If you're on a college campus get your organization or fraternity involved, and give some kind of incentive or reward for those who donate the most suits/business attire.

The BEST thing about this drive is that the clothing donated will go towards helping out LOCAL men in need of business attire, so the people in your own community will get help. It's a pretty sweet deal. Oh and did I mention you get a 25% off coupon when you give? Yea, so it's win win anyway you look at.

Here's a list of the (gently used) items that can be donated:

1. Suits
2. Sport coats
3. Dress slacks
4. Dress shirts
5. Dress shoes
6. Sportswear (linen shirts, sweaters, casual pants, vests)
7. Outerwear (jackets, long coats, raincoats)
8. Ties and other accessories

Find your local Men's Wearhouse Location, www.menswearhouse.com

Get more information on the National Suit Drive, www.nationalsuitdrive.com

Extra Credit

2010-08-25T14:27:00.004-04:00

Local Urban Gentleman Josh Savage, gives us a little something more for the schoolyard wardrobe.

Your seasonal staple fitted. It doesn't hurt to have one favorite fitted hat each season. And for the guys who don't wear fitted hats-- you may not have any in your closet now, but there will probably be atleast one weekend, or rainy afternoon, where you wish you had a nice fitted to just switch it a little a bit. Check out Fitted Hats.

Cardigans. One can never have too many cardigans, so it's okay to slightly stock up. They take you from Fall to Spring without a hitch, while making cameos during the Summer season.

More G Star...

T.U.G Idea: When buying a "varsity" type sweater, get one that doesn't boldly sport the designer's logo so that you can customize and authenticate it. Go to your campus bookstore and purchase a custom embroidered patch of your university's emblem. Then iron and sew it onto the sweater. Some of you are probably like, "what, sew!", lol. Well, if you don't want to sew it yourself then most dry cleaners (with tailoring services) will sew in on for a few bucks.

The Schoolyard Wardrobe, Part III

2010-08-19T21:13:00.025-04:00

The Schoolyard Wardrobe, is our mini-guide for back-to-schoolers or back-to-workers (with "dress how you want" jobs). We started with a few tips and trends, gave you some sales, deals, and shoes, now we're wrapping it up with an informal look book of sorts. Basically a pre-fall run-down of what will be cool all-year long (dontcha feel lucky?). Cindy (Miss Urban Gentleman) and I casually put together a few looks to help you gents with your schoolyard wardrobe. Most are easy-to-get (simple) transitional looks that can take you from summer to fall.

8am class? Wake up and toss it on:
striped oxford shirt, seersucker shorts (rolled up), and
leather tassel moccasins (loafers)

More Lacoste...

-

short-sleeves button-down, linen trousers,
brown woven-detailed tassel loafers, vintage jean jacket.

-

Lets take a little time-out from all the designer logo "varsitywear"; take a trip to the campus bookstore, buy a shirt and/or cardigan, and properly represent your college or university.

college tee, navy double-pleated corduroys, vans authentic

(there's a pair of navy cords on sale at macys for 29.99)
-

In hand: The Filthy Rich Handbook

plaid button-down, paisley suspenders, white pants, loafers

More Brooks Brothers...

When it comes to wearing a shirt in the spring, summer, and parts of fall, a basic schoolyard rule: "Button it down. Roll it up". Rolling up the sleeves gives you a more casual look.

vintage jean jacket, lightweight tweed trousers, canvas lace-ups
-

gingham button-up, gray jeans, army fatigue jacket, converse all-stars

While I usually let my back-pocket do all the fatiguing, I decided to amp it up and make my hint much more noticeable. (check part I for more camouflage/army fatigue options)

Subtle changes can be made to all of the above looks and the overall look will still be just as fly. For example: black or dark blue jeans instead of the gray; Navy trousers instead of the linen ones; etc. Be sure to go back and review Parts I and II to properly implement the schoolyard wardrobe.

The Schoolyard Wardrobe: Part I

The Schoolyard Wardrobe: Part II

The Schoolyard Wardrobe: Part III

The Schoolyard Wardrobe Part II: Sales and Deals, and Shoes

2010-08-18T20:09:00.016-04:00

Our latest round-up of men's sales and deals from around the web, intermingled with items (just shoes for now) that would merge nicely in an Urban Gent's schoolyard wardrobe and that are worth getting.

Men's Fashion Promotional Codes and Sales

Dr. Jays: Take an Extra 25% off Jeans with promo code 1ZCYTU
(Aug 20th-Aug23rd)
Big Sale, up to 75% off.

Express: $30 off $75 or $15 off $30(ends August 22nd).

Famous Footwear: Save additional 20% site wide with promo code LOCKER
Buy One Get One Half Off Sale (ends Sept 18th)

Jos.A.Bank: 60-70% Off Sales Event! Plus All Orders $175+ Ship Free.
( Ends August 22nd)

Journeys: Get 10% off Orders Over $100, Free Shipping $75 or more use code SCHOOLSHIP

Finish Line: $15 off $90- Use code SCHOOLSHOES at checkout

$10 off $60 use code SUMMERFUN (ends Aug 31st)

Puma: Free Backpack with Full Priced Footwear Purchase (ends Sept 6th)

Macys: $10-$50 off automatically (depending on what you spend)
---

Free Shipping Offers:

7 for All Mankind: Free Shipping on orders over $150

Fossil: Free Shipping on Orders of $100

Puma: FREE Standard Shipping on Orders over $50 with code SHIPFREE810
(ends Sept 2nd)

Shoes.com: Save 15% at Shoes.com plus Free Shipping with promo code BTSSHOES10
(ends Sept 30th)

Hlaska.com: Free Shipping Always

Macys: Free Shipping with $75 purchase with promo code UTILITY

Shopping: Last year it was all about "if i had to shop for you online today, this is what i'd buy", this time it's more like, "this stuff is pretty darn fly, and if you can add it to your wardrobe please do."

Converse: Men's shoes.
All-Star Slim Garment Dye, were $70 on sale for $49.99. These are pretty sweet. I can see them teamed up with a pair of slim fit jeans (for some reason G-stars come to mind), a well fitting button-up-- buttoned all the way up (sleeves rolled), and classic shades.

Toms: Brown Waxed Twill Men's Cordones, $69. For me it's like this: if I can look amazing and help out the less fortunate at the same time-- why the hell not, lol. The purpose of these Toms are just to add a little spice to the wardrobe, like when you're headed to the college football games, instead of wearing sneakers or deck shoes-- you throw these on. Or if you're going out on a Saturday night, maybe choose these instead of the brown loafers you would typically wear.

Puma Tekkies. Here's a great buy, these shoes are on sale for $27. You can sport them through the rest of the summer, part of the fall, then bring them back out next spring. And let's face it, its tough finding men's shoes under $30, sooo, yeaa sizes are scarce but they have these in off-white/khaki, red, brown, and navy... I'm partial to the off-white/khaki.

Red Wing Wabasha Chukka, $220. Sometimes you have to take a chance on a pair of shoes that you can go either way with. You know the kind of shoes that you look at, then squint your eyes a little, and you make that little noise "aaaeennn..." or maybe it's a high-pitched "hmmmm" (lol, I don't know how to "write" the noise), basically you think, "these shoes are sorta subtly badass, but they're also a little risky." These are those type of shoes to me-- these will either go fantastically right or they'll be aiight, depending on who wears them. For me these are a clean combination of a 6 inch traditional wheat colored timb boot -and- your average pair of chukkas, with small moccasin undertones and a hint of deck/boat.

Marc Jacobs College Ankle Boot, $568. I don't know why, but these really do it for me. They're like a relaxed elegant military boot. I usually wouldn't go this shiny, but theses work. Hmmm.... oh, okay, I know what it is, these are like a "calmer" version of Dr.Martens. Either way, I like them, these would make for a great 2nd or 3rd winter boot.

Adidas Y-3 by Yohji Yamamoto Neo Tech, $364. I see these shoes and I think, "Just stunt on 'em". Seriously though, sometimes you just have to go hard or go home and these shoes bring it. Yeah, it's alot going on in some sense, but they're black and they'll look good winter after winter, summer after summer, atleast for the next 3 years (especially since trends are just leading right back into the 90s... I'm waiting for LA Gears to return on the scene, lol...).

More Alife...

I can't send y'all back to school without a fresh pair of white kicks (remember when you haaaaad to get a fresh pair of white shoes before every school year? I do. Some years I opted for Adidas, others Fila's, as I got older Hi-Top Pumas made the top of the list, but I particularly remember choosing K-swiss a couple of times when I had to wear uniforms to school. So since everyone around here is prepped out anyway, I think a classic pair of K-swiss would be a good move for someone looking for a simple pair of white shoes. They'll look good with navy, khaki, plaid, stripes, etc. (Don't forget to use the 15% off discount code BTSSHOES10). If, the k-swiss aren't for you, then you can choose one of the many pair of white shoes above (so maybe common projects, creative recs, supras, nikes, just take your pick).

Nike Air Max 1 Omega Pack, $148.06. Traditional Nike trainers is how I see these. For some these will be a comfortable weekly school shoe for others a fresh weekend shoe, either way they're a safe bet (and they're limited edition).

More items will be featured in Part III

Click HERE for The Schoolyard Wardrobe Part I

The School Yard Wardrobe

2010-08-18T09:23:00.014-04:00

Certain "things" are going a little slower than planned, so though we wanted to wait on posting the "back to school" article, we're going to go ahead and post it now because of high demand.

The School Yard Wardrobe

It's back to school for everyone from grade school to graduate school. So we've prepared The Schoolyard Wardrobe for all the Urban Gentlemen that are about to hit the books (and make straight A's.). We'll be combining basic essentials with trends to prepare you for the new school year.

Like we do in school, let's outline the article:

I: Summary
A: Checklist- the contents of an urban gentleman's wardrobe
B: Trends- the latest men fashion trends

II: Clothing, Shoes, Accessories (separate post)
A: Sales and Deals- the best deals from around the internet for men's clothing

III: Example Photos (separate post)
A: Urban Gentleman Kanayo King gives us examples of looks for The School Yard wardrobe

The Checklist

We'll take this from our Wardrobe Guide. If you haven't already been through it, then take a few minutes to atleast skim it (it's from last year, so it's slightly dated, but should give a general gist on what you need). We have to assume you have the basics, and are simply replacing a few items or adding a lil' girth to the urban gent wardrobe you already have.

The Trends

There will be a full-on trends article later, but for now we'll play with what we know.

The Urban Gentleman has made "a hint of fatigue" very official, ever since we featured it I've seen an increase all around town-- whether it's a fatigue bandanna in the back pocket , fatigue shoe-strings, or jacket.

More Prada...

Plaid is just going to be in until we're all just done with it. But I mean, how many more patterns are there-- gingham, paisley, stripes... the point is-- adding a little more plaid won't hurt you.

More Ralph Lauren...

Monochromatic hues are still a favorite, and we're going to properly explore that over the next year. There's not alot of it on the streets because most people don't quite know how to do it, so we'll re-tackle that at some point over the next few months.

Not-so-skinny jeans are being happily received by those who thought jeans would just keep getting tighter-- nah, we had to nip that in the bud. "Skinny" (or more like slim-fit) is still a yes, but skinny-as-hell is a no (basically bulge should not be seen, lol).

More Rugby...

Boots all year round in different types and materials.
Jean jackets and jean on jean.
Era themed-- whether it's 50s, 60s, 80s, or 90s.

And you guys can peruse through last year's fall/winter trends and this years spring/summer trends for the rest...

And while looking at these trends remember our motto, "We Collect Fashion, We Create Style". Think about how you can integrate these trends into your own personal style; adapt the trends to your style, don't let the trends change your style.

***

Next up, we'll have a list of sales and deals from around the internet to purchase clothing, shoes, accessories. For now, you can look through last year's Back to School Wardrobe List.

Back to Campus Vintage Ads

2010-08-17T16:59:00.005-04:00

A brief interlude in The SchoolYard Wardrobe, to give you guys some vintage Back to School ads...

The headlines of the ad reads:

"Authentic University Fashions Color-Blended in the Incomparable McGregor Way!"

Cary of Frat Row. "Fraternizes" with color-packed sportswear!

Greg. The Bachelor of Arts. Staying a bachelor is an art... in his McGregor sportswear!

Triple-Threat Ted. Runs, passes, and kicks-- but never kicks about this sportswear... it's McGregor!"

Harmony Harold. Majors is music-- and tunes up in McGregor's rich colorful tones!

Cal. The King of Campus. He's a member of the Knowbility". Knows psychology, biology-- and sportswear."

---

Lmao. You gotta love these old ads, they really SOLD it to you back then, huh. I'm loving the story behind each jacket and person.

Brief History: McGregor has been around since 1921, but gained it's popularity throughout the 50s and 60s. McGregor was known for their range of jackets worn by everyone from young rebels (James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause) to golf players (Doug "The Peacock" Saunders) to fathers on sitcoms (Father Knows Best). If you're interested in adding an authentic McGregor to the wardrobe search vintage stores and eBay.

I really like this one, it's indirectly getting me pumped for football season.
(Let's Go GT and that Triple Option baby!, sorry couldn't help myself, lol)

Update #1

2010-08-04T08:38:00.004-04:00

Just so everyone knows... there's very good reason for why there's a lack of postings. So keep checking back, browse the archives (spring summer guide, haircut gallery, urban gent success, etc), go ahead and follow us on twitter-- yes, we're finally going to be tweeting, fan us on f acebook, and ummm, yea, well we'll keep everyone updated!

Classic Corvettes.

2010-07-23T11:29:00.004-04:00

Chevrolet Corvettes, they're as American as Ford Mustangs and amongst my favorite classic cars Last year I went to my local Corvette dealer to purchase an old-school 'Vette as an everyday car. But after talking to the owner of the dealership, I decided to put my corvette purchase on hold... long-story short: the cost of maintenance for an old-school ride can add up. I may be putting my purchase on the back-burner, but we can all still admire the pure hotness of a classic 'Vette today...

Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

427 Corvette Stingray

When it comes to style while riding in a 'vette, I say keep it clean-- tailored suits, with or without a tie, nice pair of lace-ups or loafers.

More Ralph Lauren Black Label...

Click "continue reading" to see ALOT more classic Corvettes (1959-1982).

1959 Corvette Stingray Special Racer

1960 Corvette

1964 Corvette Coupe Satin Silver/Black

1966 Corvette Roadster

1966 C2 Corvette 425hp

1966 Corvette 300hp 4-speed

1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

1969 C3 Corvette ZL-1

1976 Chevrolet Corvette

"Motion Maco" Corvette

"Motion Maco" Corvette

1971 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. last year of big block 454 power. Classic "Mako Shark" styling cues. The third generation Corvette body (C3)

1973 Corvette "454" M21

The Story: The 1973 model year was the 20th anniversary of Corvette production.

This is a one year only model, 1st year of the soft nose and last year of the chrome rear bumpers. Not since 1963 has there been another one year only model. In 1973 the Feds required a front bumper that would meet the federal government's 5 MPH front impact protection regulation. In 1974 the Feds required the rear bumper to meet impact regulations.

In 1975 the Feds also required cats in the exhaust that eliminated the Big Block from Corvettes forever. Chevy could get the 454 to pass the clean air emissions, but could not make a car that would last 50,000 miles, as required by the law.

This was also the first year for the use of radial tires over the previously used bias-belted tires. Only 15% of the Corvettes produced in 1973 had the LS4 “454”.

1976 Chevrolet Corvette

1977 Corvette Stingray L-48 350 V8

1980 Chevrolet Corvette L-82

1982 Corvette C3 Collector edition

photos via http://forums.corvetteforum.com, flickr.com

Classic Mustangs 1964 1/2 - 1970.

2010-07-20T16:27:00.007-04:00

For me an old school Mustang is the most classic American car-- yes some will try to debate that, but for the most part Mustangs (along with Corvettes) are considered the most classic. So when it comes to a car that is so classic, and so loved, you don't really have to overdo your style when riding in it... yes, I'm talking about your ensemble. Keep it simple and streamline: jeans, your favorite kicks, a tee, and a jacket. Oh and don't forget your shades.

1964 1/2 Ford Mustang Convertible

1965 Ford Mustang Fastback

1965 Mustang convertible GT tribute

1965 Ford Mustang Coupe

More Asos...

Click "continue reading" to see ALOT more really clean, sexy, classic Mustangs (1966-1970).

1965 Ford Mustang Fastback

1966 Ford Mustang Coupe

1966 Terlingua Racing Team Mustang Coupe

1966 Ford Mustang Coupe

1967 GT500E Mustang Eleanor

1967 Mustang Coupe 289 2v

1967 Lone Star Limited Mustang

The backstory: BlueBonnet Special DSO615150 Born May 18, 1967-Dearborn, MI, shipped to Dallas, Texas then to Fisher-Doyle Ford in Mckinney, Texas. It was then dealer traded to Bob Giles Ford where I purchased it August 22, 1967. I have owned it ever since. It has been garage kept its entire life, no bondo, no rust. It is 85-90% original. It was repainted in 2007 and touched up underneath body and engine compartment. It has the original license plates that was issued in 1967. It has '69 wheels on it now, but I have the original wheels, wheel covers, and original type tires-Firestone Wide Oval F70-14. I have all the paperwork- dealsheet, license receipt, and original title.

1967 Ford Mustang Fastback

1967 Ford Mustang Coupe

1967 Ford Mustang Custom Fastback

1967 Ford Mustang Coupe

1967 Ford Mustang Custom Fastback

1967 Ford Mustang Fastback

1967 Ford Mustang VENOM SERIES

1968 Mustang Fastback

1968 Mustang Fastback Pro Street

1968 Ford Mustang Coupe Restomod

1969 Mustang Convertible

1969 Ford Mustang BOSS 429 Fastback

1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429

photos via: http://www.allfordmustangs.com

A Stylish Ode to Summer and Classic Cars.

2010-07-20T13:06:00.001-04:00

Generally speaking, I'm happy person, but there are a couple of things in life that make me more than just happy-- one being old school American cars. One of THE greatest things about summer is seeing everyone pull out their Chevy SS's, classic Mustangs, Firebirds, you know what I'm "tamout", lol. No but seriously I've been doing alot of riding around these past few days and of course the Maserati's are hot, the beamers (BMWs), the four door Porsche Panameras (a car I hope to own sooner than later God willing), I've even seen three Lambos cruising around my area this past week, but there's something awfully fantastic about seeing a meticulously clean old school ride.

So, this week will be an ode to summer and to classic cars. My favorites being the old Corvettes, Mustangs, Camaros, 1968 Firebirds, 1971 Plymouth Hemi Cuda convertibles and what not... yeah, well this week will be about those and of course style will be integrated into the mix. Oh, and if you have an old school ride, feel free to shoot us an email with photo attachments (info@theurbangent.com).

Stay Tuned... Mustangs are up first.

MJ.

2010-07-20T12:38:00.001-04:00

It's Morning... I'm Beamin'.

2010-07-11T08:37:00.005-04:00

Lupe Fiasco "I'm Beaming"

A nice morning groove...

Spring 2011 Men's Fashion Shows: A Few Favorites

2010-07-07T09:48:00.004-04:00

So here's a quick run down on a few favorites from the Men's Spring 2011 shows...

Trussardi 1911.

Talk about a home-run hitter, Trussardi's collection is the most comprehensive I've viewed thus far. They mix the best trends with forwarding-thinking luxury fashion, while mixing in retro American style the whole way.

The collection has something for every type of guy: the traditionalist, the prep, the rocker, the 'whatever category you put may find yourself in', there's atleast a couple pieces in Trussardi's spring collection that's for you.

The collection transforms from slick retro red, black, and white to updated 90s American prep, gotta love it. The prints? Native-American. check. Stripes. check. Plaid. check. And get this-- Trussardi even gives us a "hint of fatigue", lol. Is Milan Vukmirovic in my head... I think he is. (He's Trussardi's creative director, btw). But more than anything, Trussardi's Spring 2011 collection gives us proper elegant summer layers-- shawl sweaters, a variety of jackets, swanky footwear, and bags (that don't look like purses).

***

Corneliani.
"From the Safari to the Polo match."

Corenliani's Milan debut collection certainly asserts the Italian brand's position amongst other great designers. The beginning of this collection gives me flashes of classic Tarzan and a "proper" wealthy person's safari (in a good way) then progresses to give potential examples for other gentlemen activities-- such as polo or perhaps croquet.

There's this very easy elegance about the collection that keeps every look appealing; I think it's the loose tailoring-- there's lots of triple-pleated trousers, roomy jackets, and relaxed knitwear. With an abundance of overall gentleman's versatility, Corenliani's offers pieces that can easily manifest into any gents spring wardrobe.

***

D&G.
"Ode to Suburbia"

A direct ode to the casual lifestyle of 50s Americana suburbia-- polos, gingham, vintage safari/beach vacation prints. This is a great collection

***

Canali.

"Classic Perfection"

Canali is for grown men, it's just one of those labels that makes you very official-- as far as being a well-dresses businessman goes anyway. And Canali's spring collection falls in line with their usual grown man ~~swag~~, but with a fresh 50s/60s edge. This collection is full of suits that can be dressed up or down.

***

Spring 2011 Trends: So far the trends are pretty obvious... we're still paying tribute to the 1900s-- mainly 50s, 60s, 80s, and 90s. For all you guys that were never into the skinny stuff or are tired of the skinny stuff-- smile, menswear is making subtle switches to looser pants. But skinny-lovers don't fret, it's just to give you guys more variety. And last, but not least modified versions of espadrilles are seen through a number of designer collections, so if you don't have a pair you may want to scoop a pair of Toms now.

photos via wwd.com

Simple Summer Style: Red & White

2010-07-06T16:40:00.007-04:00

I meant to put this up in time for the 4th, but you can still rep the red and white since July is the unofficial red, white, and blue month.

(shirt: vintage, pants: J.Crew, shoes: Toms, hat: Rag &Bone)

Urban Gent Kanayo King keeps it simple with a red and white gingham button-up (though it may appear pink in the photo), white chinos, and his favorite summer shoes-- classic red Toms. And it all comes together with the fedora (brown with a red and white ribbon).

Get the Look:

More J.Crew...

Afternoon Snack: Janelle Monae 'Tightrope' ft. Big Boi

2010-07-06T12:08:00.009-04:00

Every Urban Gentlemen should be a fan of the outstandingly talented Janelle Monae. She is music's latest ~~sweetheart~~ phenomenon and everyone should have her latest album, "The Archandroid" it's like a theatrical production.

Jeaned Up

2010-06-30T11:10:00.008-04:00

Urban Gentleman Kanayo King
(shirt: Ralph Lauren, vest: vintage, jeans: RL, shoes: Converse)

We've combined a few trends to get this look: colorized, shades of blue, summer layers, and well, jean. Basically we've jeaned up urban gent Kanayo King, threw in some 'characterized' classic chucks, classic frames, and beaded accessories to top it all off.

Detailed Notes: These days when you opt for monochromatic or colorized, you can either keep it classic 80s with everything matching exactly or you can update it and add depth by varying the shade of the color you're wearing... we did the latter. We also mixed jean textures: chambray shirt, hard denim vest, and soft denim jeans-- this adds a sort of visual interest to the look and it gives it a bit of stylish ruggedness. (PS: The vest is actually a vintage jean jacket with the sleeves cut off).

Get the look:

More Converse...

Bliss: Chocolate x Accessories

2010-06-23T12:40:00.011-04:00

Details on all featured photos at the end.

Jessica White; Vintage Hand-Made Leather Messenger Bag;
Illesteva-Frieda-Sunglasses (round frames); Lanisha Cole;
Boss 'Malaki' Double Weave Belt; Corduroy Toms;
John Varvatos USA 'Hipster' Chukka Boots; BMW M6;
Urbanears 'Plattan' Headphones; D&G The One (cologne);
Cole Haan 1985 Summer Penny Loafers;
Naomi Campbell; 1974 Maserati Merak;
'Havanna' Sunglasses by Super ; Vintage Ralph Lauren Linen Tie

Gentlemen Going Green: Ford Fiesta

2010-06-21T07:13:00.007-04:00

The new Ford Fiesta is offered all-around the world.

"Going Green," what exactly does that mean? Some people think it just means changing a few light bulbs from the regular ones to the squiggly ones, while others think it means giving up all that they love and all of their conveniences just to help out an already forsaken planet... not quite either of those.

I like to look at going green as a lifestyle movement, it's more about changing your mind, actions, and habits from selfish, wasteful, and unhealthy to more thoughtful, more peaceful, more healthy. Pretty loaded statement huh, yeah, but through our new series of "Gentlemen Going Green" features we will help you understand and adapt to this "better" lifestyle.

And no, we're not just going to be spitting out a bunch of facts about unplugging your appliances when you're going on vacation or not preheating the oven for more than 10 minutes to save energy, I mean those things are great, and those types of basic conservation tips will be included in our series, but not in the usual way. We're going to somewhat focus on products that will work to improve your lifestyle while indirectly reducing your "carbon footprint".

We found it appropriate to jumpstart this series with the Ford Fiesta, a car that was built to be stylish, extremely user friendly, and efficient (aka "green").

Not too long ago the Ford Motor Company invited The Urban Gentleman, and two other prominent bloggers, to fully partake in their "Inspired by Color" program. Along with project runway alum Michael Knight, renowned fashion stylist Memsor Kamarake, fashion trailblazer Constance White, LeToya Luckett, Tony Shellman, and a few others we were able to get a very personal look into the makings, features, and design of the new Ford Fiesta as well as add to the Inspired By Color campaign.

The program was held in Washington D.C and most of the Inspired by Color events took place on the historic campus of Howard University. (Sidenote: I didn't realize how posh many parts of the DC are I guess I had only seen the tourist areas in the past). Here's a few of the male contestants that came out...

Don Lee

Don Lee explaining his style to Memsor

Deshaude

Forrest

Glenn, he wasn't in the contest
he was apart of the staff

The few guys who came out get an A for effort, but their style wasn't as great as it could have been for guys trying to win the spot to be in Ford's national campaign. Besides Glenn and the guy in the sweater and button down, alot of the male contestants were dressed a decade or so behind, more late 90s/early 2000s, which is probably why a girl won the spot in Ford's national campaign. (But again they still get an A for effort, and atleast they matched their clothing with one of the Fiesta colors).

Fashion-stylist Memsor Kamarake just so happened
to be matching with this particular Ford Fiesta.

Ford Fiesta designer Kevin George schools
Tony Shellman on the Fiesta's features

More about the Ford Fiesta:
Going on sale this summer, the all-new Fiesta features an expressive, vibrant design, sharp reflexes, and a global track record that will redefine U.S. small car customers’ expectations. Featuring class-leading technologies and a projected best-in-class highway fuel economy of 40 mpg, Fiesta brings efficiency and convenience together in one package. Is anyone else sick of spending over $50 each time you go to the gas station? Well, if you're in the market for a new car or an extra car and don't want to have to shell out the big bucks for gas, then you should definitely check out the Fiesta.

It’s also designed to be versatile, personal and adaptable. The Fiesta delivers best-in-class convenience and connectivity with the segment-exclusive SYNC® voice-activated communications system, as well as an expressive color palette and available graphics. So basically, you can tell your car what to do and it will do it. You'll be able to control your smart phone apps with only the sound of your voice, you'll also be able to control the following by voice command:

- Hands-free Calling
- Turn-by-Turn Directions
- 911 Assist™
- Music Search
- Vehicle Health Report
- Personalized Daily Info
- Business Search
- Real-time Traffic
- Audible Text Messages

To be able to control all of that with your voice is pretty sweet, huh? Yeah, not even all luxury cars can do that. If you want to learn more about the Ford Fiesta, go here.

Be sure to check out Ford Urban.

There's also a Ford Fiesta Movement happening, read about that here.

The Fiesta sedan is coming in 2011.

Special Thanks to Michelle Matthews-Alexander and Sarah Cunningham

Happy Father's Day: Father's Day Giveaway ($100 Giftcard) + Last Minute Father's Day Gift Ideas

2010-06-19T21:58:00.010-04:00

We will be giving away a $100 TJMaxx+Marshall's Giftcard, just leave your name and email below. This will be a short giveaway-- ending tonight at 11pm (eastern time). Winner will be randomly chosen and posted late tonight as well, around midnight. We all know you can purchase a range of stylish items in these stores, from Ralph Lauren button-ups to Calvin Klein underwear to designer cologne-- use this card to purchase a belated gift for dad, or if you're a dad this can be a gift to yourself :-)

Very Last Minute Father's Day Gift Ideas

1. Cologne. A great new scent is always a nice choice.

2. Something that goes along with his favorite hobby. If it's cooking-- new cookware, golfing-- new clubs or golf shoes, music-- new headphones, etc.

3. Sports paraphernalia. To me this is always the fail-safe option. Men are usually pretty proud of their favorite sports team, especially if its a college team so buying them a a few shirts and a hat will definitely atleast make them smile.

4. Money. Seriously though, you can't go wrong with money. The money could go towards anything-- paying a bill, filling up their gas tank, a new pair of shoes, etc.

And of course a combination of all four will make your dad very very happy.

Happy Father's Day, from the Urban Gentleman!

Update: Winner of the giftcard is Dionte Sierdeski.
Please be on the lookout for an email about the giveaway in your inbox.