5 Menswear Fashion Must-Haves for Winter

If you haven’t done it yet, it’s time to take all the summer and autumn clothes out of your closet and make room for cosier and thicker clothes in order to adjust to the cold and windy weather that’s approaching. Winter is here, and while we might be longing for the summer again, at least the season in which we can wear our favourite sweaters, jackets and socks while drinking hot chocolate or eggnog is here. So, with this in mind, what are the essentials for your winter wardrobe?

Tee simplicity

Forget about all the floral and colourful t-shirts (and shirts) you were rocking until now. Winter dictates simple and monochromatic t-shirts and shirts, without any patterns or eccentric prints. Why? Since you will likely be dressing in many layers, the best way to combine different t-shirts with pants and sweaters is if you had only minimalistic t-shirts. That way, you will be able to wear the same t-shirt more times this winter, without looking like you have nothing else to wear. Moreover, the minimalistic approach is very trendy now, so start your car and go get yourself simple tees in beige, brown, black or white.

Footloose

Many make the mistake of wearing sneakers and summer footwear during winter. It doesn’t matter if it’s not raining or not very cold, summer footwear is called that for a reason. Since many people say that shoes make the first impression on them, having leather shoes will definitely enhance how people perceive you. Choose brown shoes – you won’t be in the wrong. If you want to add a nice, urban twist to your wardrobe, try ankle boots as they are very trendy nowadays. Not only does this design look good on you, but this height will keep you warm and protect you from the cold weather. However, if the weather is dry, you could perhaps pull off sneakers – but make sure they are white, simple, and not flannel.

Sweater weather

As The Neighborhood says, “let me hold both your hands in the holes of my sweater”. And if you want to do this, then you’ll need very beautiful and comfortable sweaters, right? As it is the case with t-shirts, the best sweaters you could have are monochromatic, due to the fact that you could easily match them to the rest of your outfit. However, winter is the only season of sweaters, so it’s advisable to have patterned ones since those also look amazing. Get yourself an “ugly” Christmas sweater and rock it only during December and around the Xmas tree (the word “only” cannot be emphasized enough). The worst thing you could do is wear the Xmas sweater after Xmas – save the patterned ones for then. If you pair a colourful sweater with plain pants and nice leather shoes, you’ll have yourself an excellent winter outfit.

Suit up

November and December are months in which you will probably have at least one formal event. Not to mention Christmas and New Year’s Eve, when it’s a must to look the best you can. For these occasions, it would be best if you had a nice, elegant suit. Make sure, though, to have a suit that’s designed for winter – meaning no ankle chinos, but rather regular trousers. You can find many great men’s suits in Melbourne that you could invest in for the upcoming holidays, so book a fitting and wait for all eyes to be on you this season.

The coating

Winter is also the time of coats and jackets. If you want to add some flair to your style– a good coat is the key. Coats are excellent since they look very classy, and you can pair them with literally everything – jeans, sweaters, even sneakers. A coat is not only used as a layer of warmth, but of style as well. The best option is to get a coat the same colour as the shoes you’re wearing the most during winter. If they are brown – get a brown coat. Shoes (not talking about sneakers) of different colour than the coat might seriously clash. However, white footwear pairs well with any colour coat. So, to sum up – get yourself a coat this winter, and leave the jackets for some other time.

These five items are definitely must-haves for this season. If you follow these tips and really get into the winter weather, you’ll surely look top notch this winter.

By Peter Minkoff

Fall Fashion Essentials for Men

By Peter Minkoff

As summer is coming to an end, it’s about time you started thinking about your fall wardrobe staples and ways to combine them in order to come up with some flawless clothing combos. However, if you still aren’t sure about what the fall fashion essentials are, just be sure to stay with us and keep on reading. Here are five of them you simply have to have this season! Stridewise is where I nurture a maniacal obsession with footwear and share my findings.

Quality wool trousers

As soon as fall arrives, you should definitely turn to a bit thicker fabrics like wool and corduroy. These are the best ones for crisp weather and lower temperatures typical for this season. Cotton can also be a great choice, even though it isn’t as comfortable and warm as wool. When picking appropriate trousers, one of the most important things is their cut. Slim cut is always a good idea, just make sure that your trousers aren’t too tight. As for the color, black, navy and grey are an amazing idea, as well as all shades of brown. Burgundy and deep green will work, too!

Shawl collar cardigan

This timeless item is pretty much everything a fashion-forward man needs to own, so make sure to get a shawl collar cardigan for an upcoming season. As its name suggests, the high shawl collar is what characterizes this piece and makes it what it is – a staple for cold weather. Such cardigan will definitely help you feel warm and cozy. Apart from that, it’s trendy, stylish and just a little bit nerdy, and you know what? Girls really dig that, so don’t skip it this fall!

A rain jacket

The season we’re about to enter is well-known for its unpredictable weather, so don’t let it fool you and be prepared no matter what. Getting a rain jacket is an absolute must, so be sure to pick one that perfectly combines function with a fine design. Such piece will help you stay dry on a rainy day without looking like a tourist lost in space, which is exactly why you should look for brands that provide both protection from the rain and stylish designs. Make sure that the jacket you’re about to get is 100 percent waterproof, and you won’t make a mistake with it!

Fashionable accessories

No outfit is complete without proper accessories, and that’s the case with fall clothing combos, too. A trendy umbrella is always a good idea, especially when matched with the rest of your outfit. However, we can all agree that it maybe isn’t even necessary if you decide to get a rain jacket. Ties made from wool blends are a fantastic choice if formal attire is your everyday choice, as well as patterned pocket squares. Apart from these, you can never go wrong with a statement wrist watch. These simply scream class, so get some quality watches online ASAP!

Smart boots

If there’s something that can keep you safe from the rain, apart from a rain jacket (obviously), it’s a pair of smart boots. Quality footwear will keep you warm and protected from rain and snow later on, so be sure to get the best boots you can find. Apart from providing more coverage than an average pair of shoes, these are also highly versatile – you can wear them both in casual and in formal occasions, and even in combination with suits! Matte leather is one of the most convenient choices when it comes to fall, whereas black, gray and chocolate brown are fantastic in terms of color selection.

As you can see, each of these four pieces, alongside with appropriate accessories, is absolutely essential when it comes to this season. These will allow you to stay warm and cozy while being really fashionable at the same time, so get them as soon as possible and rock your fall outfits like a pro!

How To Be a Fashion Minimalist this Fall

The fall fashion forecast was definitely inspired as well as versatile, and with the abundance of floral prints, bold silhouettes and deconstructed classics one might be inclined to believe that minimalism has given way ‘maximalism’. This, of course, couldn’t be further from the truth. Minimalism is still holding the reins, especially now that it’s autumn. This season is every minimalist’s dream as they get to experiment, play with layers and prove that minimalism is everything but boring.

For all of those who are feeling increasingly drawn towards the realm of simplicity and timeless, effortless elegance only minimalism can provide, worry not. Putting together a minimalist look is easier than it seems, and all you need is a bit of guidance so you can choose just the right garments that will then blend together as if they were made with the intention of ending up with each other.

First and foremost

Before you can dive into the world in which getting dressed in the morning takes five minutes with the result of an impeccable outfit every single time, you have to first learn some of the basic rules. The first rule is one regarding the color palette.

In order to avoid clashing garments stick to a neutral palette consisting of various shades of grey and beige, then the inevitable black, as well as white, navy and at times maroon, burnt orange and shaded spruce – after all, the last three are Pantone’s colors of the season and given their neutral warmth they are sure to fit right in. With the exception of a subtle plaid print and evergreen stripes, leave other prints behind as they can stir trouble in the matching department.

The second rule concerns the cut. Always pick timeless non-trendy cuts that will always be in style and never purchase anything you haven’t tried on because one of the key elements of minimalism is the perfect fit. No matter how gorgeous a piece looks, if it doesn’t fit like a glove, leave it behind. Finally, allow only high-quality garments made from sustainable (therefore durable) materials to enter your wardrobe. You’re building a long-lasting wardrobe arsenal and so quality is crucial if you want your clothes to stand the test of time.

Starting over

Once you’ve picked up on these simple rules, it’s time to start building your wardrobe. For girls, this journey starts with dresses as they are the simplest yet most powerful tool one can pull out of a closet. A gorgeous black dress with a touch of drama in the form of subtle lace details that follows your shape is an impeccable choice.

For men, the journey starts with no other than a great tailored suit. Black would be the obvious choice, but truly any color from the ‘prescribed’ color palette will do as long as the cut is classic and timeless. Speaking of suits, both men and women should own at least one but preferably more than one blazer. In order for you to remain fashionable, one of them can be tailored and the other oversized. The second will be a perfect autumn outerwear for those casual low-key days, and it can even feature the plaid print.

Now, we move on to tops. Both men and women should own a classic white shirt. Your closet will be grateful as this is one of those chameleonic garments that go wonderfully with both casual and dressy outfits. You can pair it with the blazer or a gorgeous sweater. A snug light beige wool sweater goes amazingly well with a white shirt, especially if you throw in a pleated midi skirt in black or even maroon. For guys, both black and grey will do the trick, and if a pop of color is what you’re looking for, then shaded spruce is definitely your pick.

As autumn is all about chic layering skills, don’t forget to stock up on basics. By that, we mean simple T-shirts in all the mentioned shades. Never underestimate the power of a simple tee as it’s the perfect foundation for any casual chic look. Black and white striped cashmere sweaters are a definite must for both.

 As for jeans, the same rule applies to both ladies and gentleman. Your first priority is the perfect fit so make sure you scout the perfect jeans for your body type. Steer clear of embroidery, patches and ripped jeans – the goal is a lasting not fading novelty. Always go for dark instead of washed jeans – it’s very difficult to look polished in washed jeans. Now, this next garment is for boys only – simple grey sweats as there are very few things sexier than a man sporting this casual piece.

Bring on the fall

Fall would not be complete without a few fine outerwear garments to complete the look. While both boys and gals can take the same classic route with the utmost sophisticated camel trench coat, if for guys this is a tad too dressy, a classic leather jacket makes for a super-fine alternative. Every girl should own a black biker jacket – the ultimate fashion chameleon, because even minimalist gals deserve a bit of edginess.

Carefully curated footwear

One of the fall’s staples for every girl are black and camel ankle boots. Simple black patent leather loafers should also be on your list, along with nude pumps and simple white sneakers (something along the lines of Adidas Superstar. Boys should stick to classic suede shoes, white sneakers as well, and for a bit of edge, black army boots or the best Adidas Yeezy Boost deals.

Minimal all the way

Nothing more than a great timepiece and eyewear is necessary or desired when it comes to men’s accessories. For girls, this universe is a tad larger, but make sure to keep your jewelry subtle (silver and gold only). Finally, a woman’s best friend – the bag. Don’t experiment with these, keep them solid, well-made and with no excessive details.

By Sophia Smith

Get Fit In Barry's Bootcamp The Supernova Collection

Summer is upon us and you only have a few months to get that Hampton Beach body. As the trainers at Barry's Bootcamp say that a Summer body is built in the winter will give you the Spring as well. 

Barry’s Bootcamp is the original boutique workout favored by Hollywood’s hottest celebs, and the New York elite can be spotted in Barry’s apparel all over the city and overseas with the new Dubai opening. You'll soon start to see them wearing the new Supernova Collection, this collection features pieces with metallic prints that are reflective, perfect for in the studio or for a  late night run.

The exclusive line for both men and women is available at all Barry’s Bootcamp locations as well as online at barrysbootcamp.com.