Chillax dude … be casual about your stylin’

You like kicking back, you don’t like fussin’ too much with your gear, you couldn’t care less if the world’s haute couture designers and their creations were banned from the face of the planet (except that all those gorgeous models would also disappear from the catwalks …), you pull on whatever looks good and is within hands’ reach, and your wardrobe motto is “keep it simple stupid!”

You’re casual … dude!

Nothing wrong with that … you’ve just got better things to do than obsess about brand, fit and trends. However you’re not 100% clueless about your style.

Your brands are Levi, Worn Free, Swear and Volta shoes, Calvin Klein, Redwing, American Apparel, Abercrombie & Fitch, Armani Collezioni, Nudie Jeans and G-Star Raw.

To keep it casual, just make sure you’re on top of the best pieces to keep that look going:

Real men wear PINK

No matter the season, winter or summer, warm or cold, in order to keep your stress levels down, you need an easy approach to life that always begins with your mindset.

Which should then translate to your clothes.  Studies show that wearing light colours is one way of lifting your mood. Gents, there’s evidence to suggest that colours not only have an impact on our mood, but can affect us physically – our internal organs and our nervous systems react to colour.

Get this – The human body is made up of every colour in the rainbow. Our growth, immune system, blood pressure, temperature, muscle activity, alertness are all affected by light rays.

There are two ways of receiving colour:

1. By looking at colour with our eyes and by absorbing colour through our skin. Different coloured lights will affect us as will our clothing – as light passes through the fabric so light waves penetrate our system. The pineal gland is a cone shaped gland located deep inside your brain and is sensitive to light. This gland produces the hormone melatonin, regulating sleep, affecting our sex drive and having an effect on our biorhythms. The amount of light can be affected by changing seasons which can affect your body function.

2. The pituitary gland is a pea sized gland hanging from the base of the brain just below the optic nerve and is affected by coloured light. This is the gland of the endocrine system and it releases hormones directly into the bloodstream, which regulate the control of many of our body processes – our sleep and sex drive, but also our temperature, energy, metabolism, appetite, our mood and our feeling.

So … which colours are for you?

Knowing that we absorb colour through our skin we can perhaps understand some of our natural choice and instincts. For example when we are depressed we may choose to wear black to cloak us from the world as black allows no light onto your skin (whereas white clothes allow all colours of light onto our skin). However we would be better treating depression by wearing reds, oranges and yellows to lift our spirits rather than containing our negativity in black.

Generally clear, bright and light colours are considered positive and they’re great for winter wardrobes because they contrast wonderfully against the drab weariness of the season.

Let’s delve deeper into the meaning and influence on your persona when you wear lighter colours:

Real men wear pink? Perhaps unsurprisingly as pink serves to sooth, calm and nurture it is often associated with the female and all things feminine. However men who wear pink tend to be perceived as pretty bold, and infact exposure to pink can lessen irritation and aggression and offer love and protection. It apparently draws people in and therefore alleviates loneliness, despondency, over-sensitivity and vulnerability and unlike the passion of red, pink represents unselfish and long lasting love. Wearing a pink shirt pink could influence your ability to be more affectionate and loving … it’s an excellent colour (and often instinctively chosen) for developing self-love and security.

Our yellow energy centre is located in our solar plexus and exposure to yellow light can affect our skin, pancreas, liver and our eyesight. Yellow light directly stimulates the brain and the nervous system (motor nerves give energy to muscles). A lack of yellow light can cause fear, instability and shyness. Too much yellow light can cause us to be dominant. A balanced amount of yellow light can keep us alert and engaged, give us clarity and help us make decisions. Yellow represents the intellectual and thought and can aid memory, organisation, and the ability to see others point of view. Those who wear yellow will be interesting, spontaneous people who enjoy challenges, but may also be nosey and enjoy an argument (mental conflict as opposed to physical).

Because yellow is usually illuminated by artificial yellow light inside our homes, it can be too harsh on the nervous system. As a mental stimulant, a soft creamier yellow may be a good choice for an office or study.

Sky blue is a very popular colour for clothes and homes. In fact half of us prefer to paint the inside of our homes blue. Blue helps us relax (the deeper the blue the more relaxing) and expands room size whilst making us feel quiet and protected.

Blue is known to be a cool, soothing and calming colour and it is a fact that blue light can lower blood pressure and acts as an anti-inflammatory.

Blue energy is centred at the base of the throat and affects the thyroid gland, which helps to regulate the body’s energy levels. Blue is apparently able to promote good verbal communication and creativity and stimulate imagination. It is associated with mental control and clarity – a higher part of mind than yellow.

Blue is a colour of peace and trust. It is also the colour of faith and wisdom. Wearing blue is meant to stimulate your artistic, perceptive and sensitive side. You may seek a more peaceful environment and be a good practical problem solver (if a little slow to reach decisions).

White light includes every colour in the rainbow. Its energy centre in the human body is at the very top of the head (sometimes the crown is also associated with violet). Because of its location, white acts on the brain and the nervous system. When focused on white can influence our sense of empathy and unity and is calming.

White is the colour of purity and peace (waving a white flag). White always gives the sense of time and space to reflect, free from clutter thus it is the preferred colour for minimalist interior designers. However high exposure to white can cause a sense of loneliness and excessive vulnerability. Likewise if you wear white, whilst you may be open, positive, and well-balanced individual, you may also be a loner who is yearning for a simple life or looking for recognition. Sometimes people are drawn to wearing white during a period of change.

Grey is the colour of self-reliance and control but as it is also the colour of smoke, fog, and clouds it could represent a lack of clarity, evasion and non-commitment (it is neither black nor white).

So should you jump onto the colours and psychology bandwagon?  It’s up to you. The color that you’ll be most drawn to is usually your subconscious mind telling your brain to seek out a particular color for its healing properties. Or, maybe it’s not and there is nothing to it more than just a reflection or absorption of light and the way that our brain interprets it. Whatever the reason,  I think I’ll go to my white and tan sitting room and chillax …

Positively Animal. Definitely Cavalli-esque.

Male, fierce, bold. Leather, prints, zips, whips. White, black, stark. Ripped, torn, dark. Mad, bad, too cool for school. Roberto Cavalli’s menswear design philosophy, although understated, has always been strongly male and animal-esque, especially when you consider just how may herds of cattle have sacrificed their hides, for his designs, on their passage to bovine glory.

Born in Tuscany, Cavalli begun his career in textile print. While still a student, he made a series of flower prints on knit that caught the attention of major Italian hosiery factories.

In the early 1970s, he invented and patented a revolutionary printing procedure on leather, and he started creating patchworks on different materials and debuted these techniques in Paris, immediately getting commissions from the likes of Hermes and Pierre Cardin.

At age 30, he presented his first namesake collection at the Salon for Prêt-à-Porter in Paris bringing his signature styleto the catwalks of the Sala Bianca of Palazzo Pitti in Florence, and later on those of Milano Collezioni – jeans made of printed denim, intarsia leathers, brocade and wild prints. He then opened his first boutique in 1972 in Saint-Tropez and in 2002, by then enjoying worldwide presence, Cavalli opened his first café-store in Florence, revamping it with his signature animal prints.

Besides the main line, which is sold in over fifty countries worldwide, Roberto Cavalli designs RC Menswear as well as the youth aimed line Just Cavalli, launched in 1998 and comprising today men’s wear, women’s wear and accessories, eyewear, watches, perfumes, underwear and beachwear. He also designs for his Angels & Devils Children Collection.

His 2010 Spring Summer Collection for Men smoulders – it’s lean, mean, yet endearing macho a la Hugh Jackman – moody, ripped and angry, yet you can’t quite look away from the dark emotion that’s infused and imprinted all over the signature leather pieces. Look out for Cavalli’s mix of stark white shirts against leather bottoms, distressed T-Shirts and fitting jackets – very appealing.

It may be a leap of faith for the blokey bloke to work these styles to a T, but draw inspiration from them: mix dark black jeans with white printed Ts, throw in a fitted leather jacket and motorcycle boots and you’ll be positively Cavalli-esque. I also dare you to get a pair of leather trousers … SMOKIN!!!

Loose fitting clothes – art or deception?

There are reasons why men wear what they wear. And at Style Power we have looked into the psyche of why we do such a thing. Men will usually wear what they are use to or have seen. But they also wear clothes to purposely look good or bad. (I see you’re perplexed) In this instance, loose fitting clothes are to hide something, and in most cases it’s a body that men don’t feel good in. And this is the reason why in our e-book we unpack the archetypes of men as well as disclosing 3 key body shapes to educate you in what will really look good on you, and more importantly make you feel good.

In a word loose fitting clothes represent, sloppy. Eek. (Unless of course you are a rapper). Choose clothes that fit your body. This might take some experimentation by mixing and matching certain cuts and styles until you find the right fit for your body that is flattering; but it is worth the time.

Graphic T-Shirts Rock

Wear your mood on a GFX T!

We all put a lot of effort into how we look and some of us aren’t shy about letting others know.  Nothing has brought that to life as the graphic T-shirt.  It’s given rise to people making political statements with their wardrobe, shedding light on how they feel, or more interestingly, enjoying how others react to their printed T. Cruel but true.

Our outerwear is the first impression we make; an instantaneous thermometer  how we feel and want to present ourselves to the world. No one is exempt unless you’re living on a remote island drinking out of fresh coconuts each day. (Come to think of it, that sounds pretty good).

Graphic and ‘written word’ T-shirts have saturated the market so much they are becoming as popular as the jean category. The main reason why they are so popular is they are ‘easy’. They are accessible and affordable, and are a real statement – especially when you’re having one of those days in terms of what to wear. Nothing is easier than pulling on a great T-shirt.

BUDGET TIP: On the Paris runway, graphics are becoming childlike and simple. Less is more. If you want to revamp your own T’s for free, find fabric pens/inks, squiggle your best thoughts and walk tall knowing you’ve truly expressed yourself.

UPGRADE TIP: Try taking your plain white T to a tailor with some images of how you’d like it to look and see what they could create AND if you’re feeling uber Trump-like, why not contact a business to get your own T-shirt made. There’s truly no end to the creative power you have to revamp your wardrobe.

The Breezy White Collared Shirt

This is quite frankly the best news since the Presidential election. Breezy, crisp and comfortable white cotton oxford shirts don’t need to be ironed. I repeat – don’t need to be ironed. It’s actually a very ‘IN’ thing to wear all your shirts crushed. For a long time now, the white cotton collared shirt has been the sole property of men and boys. Now it is universal and unisex. (Not to mention very sexy)

Swiping the look from their boyfriend’s closets, women adapted the white shirt till it was fit for a movie star, a model, or a girl about town. Having it crushed means, they won’t touch it. So you’re fresher than freshly washed and crushed shirt will be just for you. And it’s how you like it.

[Post script; Women took the basic men’s style, turned it into a roomy, comfortable wardrobe staple, and never gave it back. So beware.]

Printed T's Rule!!

Forget the Hawaiian look, printed T's baby!

Now, in a world that is absolutely saturated with every dude and his dog wanting to put their own T-shirt on the market…we encourage you to keep it simple & sexy.

Denim with a fab T under a long sleeved shirt, leather or denim, is the way to go. And if the graphic print is really bold, keep everything else you’re wearing simple and minimally accessorised.

Cool, tatted T’s can be found for less than $50 at your local casual wear store.