Men of the Cloth Exclusive Screening & Panel Discussion: Atlanta, Georgia
Tonight, Thursday, June 25, 2015 at 7:30pm at Lefont Sandy Springs in Atlanta, Georgia, Atlanta Fashion Incubator (AFI) will host an exclusive screening of Men of the Cloth including followed by a panel discussion.
Men of the Cloth is an invigorating documentary about three Italian tailors who over the course of eleven years, have mastered the artistry of bespoke clothing and design. This highly anticipated international film by Director, Vicki Vasilopoulos is a must-see as she aims to demonstrate the essence of preserving creative bespoke fashion.
Check out the trailer and details below for more:
WHAT: Men of the Cloth, Film Screening and Panel Discussion
WHEN: Thursday, June 25, 2015 (7:30 – 9:35PM)
WHERE: Lefont Sandy Spring - 5920 Roswell Rd, Suite c-103, Atlanta GA 30342
WEBSITE: http://menoftheclothfilm.com/
Tickets are available online at https://www.tugg.com/events/20681
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The 8th Annual Doggies on the Catwalk 2015: A Recap
photo credit: TKO Photographic
On June 13, 2015, the highly anticipated Doggies on the Catwalk Fundraiser was hosted at one of the most ideal venues in the city, Buckhead Atlanta. Now 8 years strong, this event has managed to gain more and more support by big name celebrities, top designers and many other very influential sponsors. The brains behind this amazing vision, Mr. Vincent Martinez aka Fashionado along with a team of witty sponsors successfully raised over 35K for the Atlanta Pet Rescue & Adoption. The evening was extremely engaging from start to finish. Monica Pearson emceed the show and ushered in models who sported brands such as:
Christian Louboutin
Helmut Lang
Alice & Olivia
Bella Bag, Bonobos
Brunello Cucinelli
Theory
Jimmy Choo
Let us not forget the doggies strutting down the catwalk who stole the show accompanied by these celebrity models!
Among some of these amazing pooches were Thaddeus, a 2-year old corgi blend, Maximilian, a cockapoo, Jolene, a terrier blend, Gabbana, a Jack Russell Terrier and many others. These K9s had been recovered, rehabilitated and cared for by Atlanta Pet Rescue & Adoption. The purpose of the event was to showcase pets that need to be adopted, many of which have been since their debut. Additionally, Doggies on the Catwalk sponsored a silent auction to raise funds for Atlanta Pet Rescue & Adoption to assist in furthering their efforts to rescue and restore these abandoned animals.
Buckhead Atlanta supplied the guests with various selections of beverages served from an outdoor bar along with hors d'oeuvres from their on-site restaurants. Some of the foods included scrumptious goat cheese balls sprinkles in almonds, tuna bruschetta, gourmet olives, a plethora of fresh fruit and more. Needless to say, there was not a dull moment at Doggies on the Catwalk! The weather was exceptional and the venue and its players were very accommodating throughout the entire night. This social event was the perfect fundraiser; very entertaining and well-thought-out. A Big thanks goes to Vincent Martinez and his team who have not only exposed us to the needs of the Atlanta Pet Rescue & Adoption but given us greater expectations for Doggies on the Catwalk in 2016!
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Today's Style Inspiration: Mr. Roberto Mararo
Dress Like A Gent™ believes that class and style should speak for itself and strives to provide examples of individuals who have mastered an elite and consistent sense of style for themselves. Personal style is a matter of choice and experiment, whereby the real life model has discovered their most authentic sense of self and is able to display such in their look. This process is one of trial and error, does and don'ts, study, and self-awareness. Mr. Mararo, CEO and designer of the Mararo boutique in Milan, is definitely a one who has very skillfully accomplished this task. His bespoke garments are, in my opinion, impeccable and iconic especially for the man who is fond of European classic styles.
Mr. Mararo knows how to put the whole look together! His bespoke garments are all custom-fitting in a way that both compliments and crowns the gentleman. Personally, I admire the way that his choice of textures and accenting colors gives a very blended finishing touch to the overall ensemble. His creative work is such that by even seeing the visuals of his outfits, engages the viewer into the very moment when the image was captured. Although I've yet to travel to Milan, the pics of Roberto Mararo strolling through beautiful Milan in his royal-looking classic suits and classic hats has a whimsical way of motivating you to plan your next trip to Italy.
Classic style is timeless and defies the need to be trendy. It has the ability to transcend decades and still appear relevant, refined and crisp. To be able to capture these things in the design of a garment consistently is a feat that when accomplished, deserves to be commended. Mr. Mararo has been able to do just that and continues to do so. He is an exemplar of modern classic style that blazes the path for other aspiring classic gents and helps the individual to set realistic guidelines in the process of their individual style journey.
Please visit www.mararo.it for more info on the Mararo brand and Designer. Additionally, Mr. Mararo can be seen on Instagram under the name mararomrraro
Photo Courtesy: Top Right (JPMV), Top Left (ChillaxingROAD Photography)
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A Biblical View on Style and Fashion
You may ask yourself, “What biblical significance is there in the way that I dress?” or “What does God care about what's trending in fashion?” Well, these are some very valid questions that I aim to address in this article.
With the subject of style, fashion and clothing, the Bible seems to put more of an emphasis on the need to develop one’s inner beauty more so than the outer appearance. For example, in First Peter 3: 3-4, the Bible makes mention of this subject speaking to wives in relationship to their husbands. Although the verses focus primarily on the wife, I think it makes a relevant point to both gender in regards to our topic. And it reads, “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”
Likewise, in another place in scripture, we see that Jesus is rebuking the teachers of the Law because of their hypocrisy. He says in Matthew 23: 27–28, “You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside, but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean... On the outside you appear to people as righteous, but on the inside, you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.” From these verses, it becomes clear that God is displeased with the nature of the individual's character particularly when it poses evil and especially when the individual masks their true nature by dressing it up in a pretentious manner. This was the thing that Jesus was pinpointing in the scripture. Unfortunately, this is usually the sole place where people land when making mention of style and fashion from a biblical standpoint.
The beauty about God and His creative work is that He has “fashioned” us according to His image and His likeness. Yet, He has instilled within each of us a certain distinction and individuality whereby He intends to get glory from our lives. This is the reason that we must be careful not to limit God’s creativity at work through people in the form of an individual’s sense of style and fashion. In fact, there is a very fitting quote by a renowned social reformer and clergyman of the early 1800s named Henry Ward Beecher that states, “Clothes and manners do not make the man, but when he is made, they greatly improve his appearance.”
My point is, God does not object to what a person wears or the way in which they wear it as long as it is modest and tasteful. The difference in Christiandom as opposed to the world of fashion is that sometimes in modern fashion culture, there is such a pressure to look a certain way, that it often drives people to make drastic physical changes such as by cosmetic surgery or extreme weight loss, etc to try to fit an image that may or may not be applauded by the masses. Fashion is ever changing and one must learn not to take extreme measures just to be relevant or “in” while neglecting that which is most important such as building a valuable and solid relationship with God.
There is a balance in all of this. The scripture says that we should love others according to the love we have for ourselves. So to dress nicely and to focus on developing one’s personal style is not sin, but is an expression of self-respect and self-honor. As believers, there is nothing wrong with dressing like we are the King’s own as we are! In fact, the more that we gain revelation as to who we are representing and the eternal kingdom that we are partakers of, the more attention we will give to modeling the part from the inside out.
Picture young David in First Samuel 16. When the prophet Samuel came into Jesse’s home to choose a candidate as king over Israel, none of Jesse’s other sons fit the description. Though some looked the part, God was more interested in the nature of their hearts, which would determine their ability to undertake such a divine task. In fact, while Samuel considered one of the brothers as being the chosen one, God interrupted and spoke to the prophet, saying: “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16: 7). After all of the sons in the house were presented to the prophet, Samuel concluded that none of them were fit and asked if there were any others left. Jesse responded saying that the only one remaining was his son David who was out tending the sheep.
Progressively, we see that David started out in shepherd's clothing, but eventually was redressed in king's garments according to where his destiny would take him!
In my previous blog entitled My Style and The Way I Wear It Matters, I reference an article written by Eva Rykrsmith called Dress Code or Not, What You Wear Matters. The correlation that I would like to make between the verses we just read and her article is the fact that the things we wear can also have an impact on our overall performance. She writes, “The clothes we wear—specifically, the meaning we have associated with them and the feelings they evoke in us—put us in a different mindset.” The reason that Jesus encouraged them to free Lazarus from his grave clothes when he was resurrected is so that in moving forward with his life, it was important that Lazarus no longer performed as one who was a victim to his past, or to even think as one who was still dead. The whole moral of my article can be summed up in these words: Your inner character is more important than the outer. Work on that first and have your outer mirror the same.
Photos Courtesy of Rashon Carraway (top) and Crystal Lewis (Bottom)
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The Art of Color Blocking
One of the things that many men are afraid to experiment with on their fashion journey is color. Incorporating color in your wardrobe can add life and character to your entire presentation. The main hesitation that men have in adding pieces of color to their outfits is when they allow thoughts of, "I don't want to look like a clown" or "Vibrant colors may make me look effeminate" to consume them. This, of course has become a mainstream falsification only among those who are not educated in regards to men's style and fashion. In this blog, I will address some very simple ways to incorporate color into your closet in a manner that is tasteful, selective and appropriate.
The first thing to keep in mind when learning to add color to your clothing pallet is to treat color more as an accessory as opposed to a primary. In an article entitled 5 Ways Women Want You To Dress by Al Mulhall, he very simply states: "A few splashes here and there can be good and will easily update clothes you already own. Try to accessorize with color though, rather than incorporate it into a whole look". This is where we get the notion of "color blocking". Color blocking is wearing strategically complimentary yet contrasting BOLD colors in one outfit.
Traditionally, color blocking has been more commonly seen on women that it has on men. This trend of color blocking among women has quickly transitioned to men's fashion as well. When done properly, color blocking is the easiest way to enhance your wardrobe without having to spend a lot of money to do so. Most personal and celebrity stylists generally determine which colors work best for an individual based on their skin tone and/or hair color. Typically, the darker your skin tone is, the brighter colors you can accessorize with. This, like anything else in the world of fashion is only a guideline and subject to vary based on your individual style interpretation.
In summation, here are some practical ways to color block:
Consult the Color Wheel: Primary colors combined with complimentary colors are always a good place to start.
2. Start off by investing in a few solid bright-colored chinos, blazers or cardigans if you do not already own any. Choose a neutral color such as white, black, grey, beige, etc. to compliment your bright piece. The key is to keep it simple, but coordinated. Shoes, accessories, grooming, as well as the fit of your garments all play a part in being able to pull off a color blocked outfit right.
3. Try out your work and be confident in wearing what you've put together. Sometimes by checking out other dapper gents who have mastered The Art of Color Blocking, we gain the courage to give it a shot ourselves. Follow their fashion journey not to mimic them, but to use their style manners as a guideline.
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How To Develop Your Personal Style
In this blog, I would like to focus on the #1 Question that everyone asks, which is; "How do I develop my personal style?" Not only are people asking this question, but it is becoming more and more common for people to invest in hiring their own personal stylist to spruce up their everyday look. As previously mentioned, it is foundational that we recognize that style itself is something that is both personal and individualized. With this being said, it is important that the individual take time to discover his/her personal tastes in clothing. Again, we all have a general, preset style type about us, but oftentimes, we lack the know-how to enhance that style by putting the appropriate pieces together. Sometimes, it helps to just take an overview of your closet by paying attention to the types of items that you tend to gravitate toward. Perhaps you tend to go for a certain color or a certain embedded design in the clothing you usually buy. These are generally the types of things that make you feel good and can help to assessand build your personal style. What I would like to do in this blog is to outline a few, practical style developing tips that I believe will serve as a quick and easy guide to help you in your journey of personal style development. Please note, these are only suggestions and can very well be altered by the individual. Here goes a few:
Style Tip # 1 - Define your ambitions by writing them down and dress in a way that compliments your ambitions. This is the best way to discover your personal style, build it and refine it.
Sometimes, it helps to pay attention to what types of things you wear that get the most compliments. Generally, this will help you to recognize the types of combos that people determine display the “best you”.
Style Tip # 2 - Identify style icons that you admire and use them as guides as you build your personal style. Follow their style journey and pay attention to their consistencies, how they dress for various occasions. Keep in mind, you're focus is not to mimic another person's style, but to use them as a guide which can in turn
Style Tip # 3 - Shop in your own closet first. Style rarely requires expensive shopping and most of the time, we already own several items that can be used in enhancing our personal style. Purge your existing wardrobe of pieces that are not complimentary of the type of image you are aiming for. As you aspire to build a style that best fits your ambitions and your individuality, build upon some of the things you already possess.
Style Tip # 4 - Don’t try so hard – Style is only complicated because we make it more complicated than it should be. Find an outfit that you believe you look good in and wear it, but remember that a person’s individual style should look great on and seem effortless. It is often when we try to overdue it, that it looks more like a disaster and creates distraction.
Style Tip # 5 - Wear Color, but Carefully. A few variations of color are fine and can serve to update clothes you already own. Remember to accessorize with color more so rather than incorporating it into a whole look. Of course, this is subject to a person's ability to wear it right and because style is personal, the individual has every right to be more daring with colors as long as it's not overkill. I will actually be sharing in a future post on Colors and Color-Blocking to provide you with more details on how to incorporate color in your style.
For more information or inquires in regards to this topic, style consultations or personal styling, feel free to leave your comments on the main page or shoot me a message.
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Today's Style Inspiration: Sir Marlon DeNon
In my next post, I will be sharing on How to Develop Your Personal Style. And one of the things that you will hear me mention is the importance of choosing your own personal style icon(s) as a guide toward enhancing your style. A style icon is not one whom you should try to mimic since style itself is something that is both individualistic and personalized. The style icon however, is one in whom you look up to in order to build your style. They can both directly and indirectly help to expand the way you think concerning what to wear and how to wear it.
Speaking of which, for my first Style Inspiration Choice, I would like to feature Sir Marlon DeNon. Professionally, Sir Marlon Denon is not only an Exemplar of Classic Style, but he also is a Creative Director, Writer, Vocalist and Motivational Speaker. In my opinion, he is indeed a true blend of both style and class. Although I have never met this brother personally, I can appreciate by what he posts on his Instagram, the consistency of his style. His ability to combine colors and vintage-like pieces to his wardrobe is simply remarkable. He is, in my opinion, a modern-vintage, classy, retro gent type who seems to effortlessly layer the right clothes together in way that is simple, tasteful and appealing.
Often times, when people attempt to recreate an image that is considered vintage, it sometimes ends up looking dated and frankly, just out-of-style. This, however is not the case with this gent. With him, it's as if he has somehow voyaged back into the 40's, 50's and 60's and strategically regathered essential moments from these time periods; managing to gracefully reintroduce them in a modern and relevant form of style. Another thing I respect about Sir Marlon's style is the way he sports the hats!
I personally, have shyed away from wearing hats formally, but lately, have opened up my mind more and more to incorporating some of the more classy Fedora or Derby-Style hats into my wardrobe. My man Sir Marlon is definitely a game changer when it comes down to wearing these victorian-style hats the right way! Simply put, this gent Sir Marlon DeNon is well-deserving of a Feature in Today's Style Inspiration Blog and I eagerly anticipate seeing some more of his art work in style unfold in the days to come. Thanks Sir Marlon!
Sir Marlon Denon's iG: @sirmarlondenon
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