13. Wardrobe Essential: Chinos

Chinos are often associated with being old, fat and boring. Fortunately, in recent years they have made quite the comeback. The main reasoning behind the comeback is the availability of slimmer fits.

I consider them to be a wardrobe essential, mainly due to their versatility. They can be dressed up or down and are extremely easy to colour match. They make a great alternative to jeans as well and will give your wardrobe more depth.

Here's a few applications of the chino, apologies for the terrible picture quality. Note that the colour isn't quite the standard khaki, but the point gets across nonetheless:

You could wear this to go to the shops on the weekend.

Change to a shirt, and you can go to a bar.

Throw on a blazer and you're in a club.

 I love how one piece of clothing can be relevant in so many ways. It's like having three pairs of bottoms in one. The best part is that they are generally quite cheap at $100 at Marcs and Country Road. The pair I have on are by Nudie Jeans, which are a bit more expensive. There are plenty of other brands, though.

Take the time and shop around and remember the two golden factors: fabric and fit. Make sure the fabric is comfortable and of a good quality and make sure that they fit your leg shape. Don't just buy something because of the brand.

If you're feeling a bit uninspired with the myriad of blue and black jeans out there, step out of your comfort zone and get a pair of chinos. You just might like them.

Loic

12. Socks

Apologies for the lack of updates, life has been very demanding recently. I'll be updating weekly on Sunday from now on as I'm too busy during the week. With business out of the way, let's get into this week's article.

Socks have always copped a bad rap. They're associated with old men and crappy birthday presents. They're often worn out of necessity and little thought goes into collaborating them with an outfit. I've recently discovered the world of coloured socks, and what a magical world it is. It lets a bit of personality shine through in a subtle way. Before I go on about the wonders of coloured socks, I'll touch on some basic sock wearing protocol.

When wearing socks, there are a few factors to consider. The two main factors, in my opinion, are colour and length. I have a simple rule which is: Never wear white socks with jeans/trousers. Short white socks are only acceptable with shorts - save them for the gym.

I'm not even going to put a funny caption - this is serious!

Wearing short socks with trousers or jeans is an unbelievable style cramp. I cringe every time I see it happen. Avoid at all costs!

Moving on, there's two schools of thought on how to wear socks with trousers. You can either wear socks that match the trousers, or you can wear socks which match your shoes. Between the two, I would be more inclined to match socks to the shoe. I think it's a matter of personal preference. See below:

If you can't make up your mind, you can always enter the world of coloured and patterned socks. It's fool proof. You can even get a little fancy and try and match the socks with the rest of your outfit. For example, you could match your socks to your shirt.

I love coloured socks as they're such an easy way to get some personality across. For example, most people don't expect a bright pair of socks under a business suit. Though it's a little unexpected, it's tasteful because you're not showing it off.

Here are a couple of examples:

A bit loud - but still viable.

Blends in just fine.

Wearing funky socks won't be attention seeking like a silly hat, tattoos in conspicuous areas (e.g neck) or ugly haircuts. It's more like 'Hey, I'm wearing coloured socks but I'm not telling you. I'll just let you find out for yourself.' Unfortunately I don't really heed to that, because I love showing them off.

In regards to the fabric (wool/cotton etc.) it doesn't really matter. The thickness isn't important either, so long as they are comfortable. Wool socks tend to last longer than cotton. Cotton on the other hand breathes a little better.

I recommend Happy Socks as brand to start on. You can find them at David Jones or Myer. Either that, or you can stick with thongs.


Loic


I can't believe that I did this whole post without writing 'sock it to me' at any point. It took great resolve.

Intermission

Hi everyone,

I've been busy with work, gym and preparing for a road trip to Sydney. I have some content that I'm working on which I can't wait to put up here.

As a token of apology - here is another picture of me passed out. I call this the 'Corpus Christi'.