Chuck Bass: Style Breakdown

Chuck Bass Lookbook

Key Component #1: Print

In earlier seasons, Chuck’s style came with a slight preppy edge; he had a penchant for knits, cravats and argyle print in particular. Reflective of his character, he has never been one to shy away from a statement piece. Bold prints and colours have held a special place in Mr Bass’ wardrobe – the shark sweater and iconic J Press scarf were especially notable.

As the character has matured, his style has taken a similar turn. Print and colour still play a part, but gone are the days of tipped trenches and provocative shades. Mr Bass’ style is much more refined, reflecting the change in his character from a boy billionaire to a man with a shrewd sense of business and style (the penchant for womanising is still all too familiar though). This change in character hasn’t, thankfully, changed the core of Chuck’s style.

Key Component #2: Tailoring

Tailoring has forever ruled supreme in the world of Bass. His style is the embodiment of sartorial excellence; from detail to fit, nothing ever goes unconsidered. knots have always been perfectly dimpled and pockets appropriately full – usually with a favoured paisley print (or something purple).

The current (fifth) season of Gossip Girl is a reiteration of this mantra, as it has seen Bass adopt the knit lapel pin as an everyday part of his style. While most men skip over lapels when putting together an outfit, a pin or boutonniereadds that little bit extra in the way of individuality.

Ultimately, Chuck takes the stiffness out of tailoring; he makes it appear dangerous through the use of carefully selected accessories and a carefree, effortless attitude.

Chuck Bass Inspired Clothing

• Austin Reed 110th Anniversary Blue Textured Jacket
• Reiss Weatherby Db Classic Double Breasted Suit Navy
• Asos Skinny Fit Grey Check Suit
• Turnbull & Asser Contrast-collar Striped Cotton Shirt
• Jaeger Blue With Red Stripe Shirt
• Topman Blue Double Cuff Best Shirt
• Ben Sherman Camden Pin Dot Sheen Trousers
• Reiss Fenchurch Slim Fit Tailored Trousers Light Grey
• Topman Peoples Market Blazer
• Collezione Pure Cashmere Single Breasted 3 Button Coat
• Turnbull & Asser Classic Paisley Woven-silk Tie
• Reiss Flounder Paisley Print Cotton Airforce Blue
• Lanvin Buttonhole Flower Pin
• Austin Reed Red Leather Clip Braces
• Turnbull & Asser Paisley-print Silk Pocket Square
• Topman Burgundy Geo Pocket Square
• Churchs Suede Bampton Monk-strap Shoes
• Reiss Whiterock Seam Detail Oxford Shoes Tan

The Bass Look on a Budget

At this point, I usually put together a series of example outfits. However, the lack of diversity in Chuck Bass’ look would make it somewhat limited. The style breakdown and lookbook above should give you the kind of detail needed to take inspiration from.

As an alternative, I’m going to put together a Chuck Bass look on a limited budget. As his style is very expensive (the man is, after all, a billionaire) and his wardrobe is sourced from the likes of Brooks Brothers and Turnbull & Asser, which fall out of the regular price range for many.

To start, you want a good suit with a slim fit and modern cut. By modern cut I mean the jacket shouldn’t go to far past your backside – a bum freezer if you will – and the waist should be tapered to some degree.

At a lower price range, the materials used aren’t going to be premium, but aim for something with a good proportion of natural fibres. This Marks and Spencer suit is 50% wool but at £149 it’s relatively well-priced considering the rates you can find yourself paying for 80%+ polyester equivalents.

If you’re working with a budget, pick a neutral colour for additional versatility. This indigo/navy is perfect and works great if your going to apply the Chuck Bass ethos of print, pattern and colour for the peripherals.

Moving on to the shirt. In my opinion, a stiff collar looks far better with a silk tie than a soft collar. For a good stiff collar, traditional shirt makers are often the best, such as Hawes & Curtis, Charles Tyrwhitt etc. Shopping the sales and flash promotions are a great way to find excellent examples at better prices. This stripe shirt from Charles Tyrwhitt is currently just under &20.

A navy silk spotted tie works great with the pink in the shirt. If you’re not sure on spots, paisley is also a fantastic choice with stripes. Don’t forget to pop in a pocket square in a Bass favoured puff fold.

Finally, brown shoes are a given when working with a navy suit. These 100% leather Derbies are a solid choice. Sock-wise, look to compliment your trousers and have the colour work with the rest of the palette of your wardrobe; these pink-ish socks do just that and are great for this look.


Read more : http://www.fashionbeans.com/2012/mens-tv-style-chuck-bass/

• Autograph 2 Button Slim Fit Suit With Wool
• Austin Reed Non Iron Pink Dobby Stripe Shirt
• Navy Paisley Pocket Square
• Reiss Morton Oxford Dot Tie Blue
• Topman Pink Neppy Socks
• Asos Lace Up Derby Shoes

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Trench Coat Guide

Cut & Style

Ok, so the double-breasted trench coat. Great for adding a more classic feel to your outfits, they look extremely smart and can also be a great tool to use for those who wish to add a bit of extra bulk to their upper torso. But of course, that also then means that they aren’t always quite as well suited to the slightly fuller man. A single-breasted style – which probably comes more under the title of Macintosh – will be a much greater aid in lengthening the torso, drawing the eye downwards as opposed to across. Wear the coat unbuttoned from the sternum area and fold the collar down and out to create a V-shaped neckline that will lengthen your neck and add width across your shoulders. A single-breasted style will also fall a lot cleaner if you choose to wear the trench open.

The waist belt on a trench is an absolute godsend. When worn tied into a effortlessly home-made knot, not only will it help to break up the torso it will also nip in that waist, therefore accentuating the shoulders and giving the impression of that perfect triangular shape we are all told to strive for. Epaulettes on the shoulders are great for giving a more structured, stronger shoulder and of course, portraying that military trend that is looking to stay with us until the end of time.

As for the length of the coat, I personally wouldn’t advise any man under the 6ft mark to wear a trench that finished far below their knees, and although a trench coat can be just as easily worked into both smart and casual outfits, baggy trousers/jeans just don’t quite fit that slim-line, sharp look that we have just created. Sleeve length is somewhat down to personal preference but I favour them sitting as the sleeve of my blazer would, just above the wrist bone. If people can see your under-layers poking out through your sleeves or maybe even a cheeky glimpse of watch, well, that’s just perfect!

Colour

For a staple trench coat that will work with both a smart/smart casual/casual looks, my number one choice in terms of colour would be a navy blue every time. It doesn’t look quite as formal as a black trench does and isn’t half as contrasting against other colour. Brown shoes, black shoes, jeans, chinos, trousers, city shorts… they all work perfectly.

My second choice would be a neutral tone such as a stone, camel, khaki or a light brown. If wearing louder colours/prints as a base layer, a trench of any of the above tones will help to re-neutralise the outfit. The only thing to be slightly weary of when choosing lighter tones is to avoid washing yourself out (much like grey does) – oh, avoid grey at the moment by the way. If of a lighter skin tone, opt for a slighter stronger, deeper stone or camel colour in order to add a bit of contrast against your skin tone.

Bold colours such as electric blues, burgundy reds and forest greens will add a much-needed burst of colourful energy into yours outfits during these final winter months. This possibly isn’t the route to go down however if you are looking for a staple trench, but if you are in fact looking to add to an already established collection, now is the time to take the leap my friend.

Modifications

With a garment such as a trench coat, I believe it is worth spending just that little bit extra – or in some cases a lot extra – for quality. However, realistically not all of us are in a financial position to be splashing out on Paul Smith trench coats and Aquascutum macs as we please, and so turn to our local high street retailers for guidance.

For those of you like myself, who watch the Burberry shows every season sighing in bitter jealousy at a collection of trench coats that I will possibly never be able to afford, don’t give up all hope just yet, as there are a few little tricks we can pull to turn that high street trench into your very own high fashion creation.

Trick 1: Change your buttons. A massive give away that most high street pieces are in fact high street, are those poor quality, plastered on every garment, plastic buttons. Replace them with a whole new set of vintage wooden buttons and your final garment will be almost unrecognisable from that basic Zara trench it once was.

Oh, that reminds me actually. Trick 1 Part b: Learn to sew on a button. It’s really rather easy once you’ve attempted it a couple of times and will save you a fortune in tailoring expenses.ished article than one that is unlined. Firstly make sure you know of a good tailor that is capable of re-lining coats, next take a trip to any good quality fabric shop and simply choose the cloth that you can not live without. Also, if you often tend to wear the collar of your trench stood up then you might even want to consider buying a bit of extra material to add a strip to the back of the collar? Just a thought.

Trick 3: Vary your belt. Instead of sticking to that matching material belt that comes along with your coat, try adding a thick leather jeans belt instead. I have even seen men rocking – and successfully pulling off – patterned scarves and even pieces of rope hooked through those belt loops. I am fully aware that this one won’t be a tip suited to all as it is sometimes deemed to be too ‘girly’, however, it really can look great.

Of course there are a number of other ways to personalise your outerwear, adding brooches/badges, customising the epaulettes etc. But by simply changing your buttons and adding a completely different lining to your £70 Topman trench coat, the chances of someone else having that exact trench, with that exact lining, with those exact buttons drastically reduce to near impossible – you now own a one-off piece.

Read more : http://www.fashionbeans.com/

New Season Styles

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NEW YORK FASHON WEEK FAVORITES

DKNY

DKNY took over Times Square on Wednesday evening, jumbotrons included. A row of dapper gentlemen in sleek grey suits lined the windows of the NASDAQ Marketsite, looking relaxed compared to the bustle two floors below. To complete the Times Square takeover, the brand’s ad campaign ran on several video screens outside, broadcasting the modern classics for everyone passing by. The slim silhouettes echo the return of Mad Men era style. The tailored pieces boasted a simple grey palette, but took on a whole different feel when paired with statement making shoes. Other key pieces from the collection include ombre knits from pureDKNY, the weekend wear label, and a three-button blazer. We passed a faux boardroom filled with models on the way out—bringing the collection’s office chic vibe full circle. 

STANDOUT: The tailored grey suit is easy to dress up (as shown) or down with a henley and chukkas.

 

 

 

 

Lacoste

Felipe Oliveira Baptista’s first full collection for Lacoste incorporated luxe elements while staying true to the sportswear soul of the iconic French brand. The co-ed show focused mostly on women’s, but we got a glimpse of his new direction, which mixed sportswear and tailored pieces and featured cool cotton blazers and hooded anoraks. The palette consisted of crisp white, navy and royal blues, and military green with some subtle color blocking. Structured blazers were paired with shorts to showcase the elements of fine tailoring. 

STANDOUT: This olive jacket that hits right at the waist, mixed with the navy and olive combination, creates an eye-catching—but practical—look. The oversized pocket flaps add an architectural element for a modern feel. 

Photo: Courtesy of the designer 

 

Richard Chai

Downtown designer Richard Chai took a break from his typically somber New York palette this season and let his man bask in eye-catching, island-acid colors (tangerine with pop of bright and a hard-edged turquoise anyone?). His signature slouchy silhouettes and doses of playful patterns remained true to his DNA, though the tropical prints were a welcome breezy departure. If guys aren't up for the bold statement of a striped double-breasted jacket, they could keep their flair grounded with slick neon-soled brogues. 

Standout: Those neon-soled shoes. Wear them with a suit and you can keep it all business up top, party on the bottom. 

Photo: Courtesy of the designer 

Michael Bastian

There was a spark of excitement in the air at New York designer Michael Bastian’s show this week. After taking a season off from his eponymous collection, editors, stylists and fashion types were eager to see what the master of All-American style would come up with for spring – and they weren’t disappointed. The designer’s well-developed collection was an homage to James Dean that played out in references from a classic red windbreaker to cuffed jeans to the chunky 50’s eyewear. But Bastian’s rebels did have a cause: looking devil-may-care handsome in unlikely mixes of tailored clothing and sportswear. Each outfit showcased Bastian’s skill of mastering the details but also combining them in unexpected ways. A slim-cut cargo with a pinstriped blazer? Rugby shirts under tailored clothing? Absolutely. His man looked daring, but never reckless. 

STANDOUT: If you take away one thing from this collection, it should be lessons on fearless layering and combinations. As long as the fit is right and the pieces are well made, feel confident in mixing your weekend and work wear. 

Photo: Courtesy of the designer 

Fratelli Rossetti

This iconic family-run footwear brand has carefully reinvented itself since LA-based shoe designer George Esquivel began collaborating with them 2 years ago. Combining Fratelli Rossetti’s old world Italian craftsmanship with Esquivel’s downtown esthetic—which means washed leather and funky colors—the result is shoe nirvana. The idea here is pairing unusual colors with an otherwise classic shoe. Think slate blue, hunter green, eggplant and carmel in suede lace ups, woven leather loafers and elegant dress shoes. If color’s not your thing, fear not. The collection also includes more traditional black, brown and tan options. 


STANDOUT: White leather and tan suede thick-soled wingtips worn with a suit, jeans or shorts.

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Citroen Taranis

 

 

 

 

Citroen Taranis

 

Is it a car, or is a transformer pretending to be a car? The jury is still out on that one. But Peter Norris’ Citroen Taranis concept is an interesting design direction that the current crop of off-roaders (or if you live in London, Chelsea Tractors) should take note of.

The name has been borrowed from the Celtic god of thunder, who is normally depicted holding a wheel in one hand and a thunderbolt in the other. The cabin’s height off the ground is indicative of the Taranis’ intentions as an off-road vehicle. To counter the raised cabin, Morris installed four electronic motors inside each of the four wheels to bring down the car’s center of gravity, while also paying homage to its Celtic namesake.

The arms that connect the wheels to the cabin have been double jointed, allowing for large suspension setups to soften and adjust to the terrain. They can also turn in the direction of travel, reducing the size of the Taranis’ turning circle.

Not forgetting an element of style with the off-roader, Morris has dropped in a pair of gull-wing doors and a high-spec interior. So when do we get to drive one? Sadly, this is just a concept that forms part of the UK designer’s expanding portfolio. Someone give this man a job.

Pictured here:
The two-seater cabin looks like it's been set on a monster-truck chassis.

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