Menswear Trend: Workwear

WWD recently reported that men are back, and they're buying. Menswear even emerged as the top performer for many retailers this holiday season. One of the biggest menswear trends continues to be the workwear trend, which leads me to believe that the working class hero is back and here to stay. Here's a quick list of 10 work wear trend essentials.

#1- The Chambray Shirt- This 100% cotton long sleeve chambray shirt with dual button flap chest pockets, cuff tabs to keep sleeves rolled up, and rear horizontal yoke is the perfect wardrobe staple when channeling the workwear trend. It looks crisp and it's a versatile addition to any wardrobe.

#2- The Plaid Shirt- This heavyweight flannel by Patagonia can be used as a warm shirt or double as a lightweight jacket. Made of 100% organic cotton through the Common Threads Recycling program this shirt is perfect for keeping you warm around the campfire.

#3- The Distressed Jacket. This jacket was first designed back in 1936 and to celebrate it's 75th anniversary J. Crew brought back the original. Made in England this jacket is made of 8 oz. waxed cotton and has an authentic distressed finish plus a warm tartan lining. This jacket is sure to be a collector's item.

#4- The Non-Denim Pant. This Wool Chino Pant by Wings + Horns is a great alternative to jeans. The button fly has four faux-wooden buttons, one watch pocket just below the waistband, and two welt-style back pockets. These pants are sure to keep you warm during the cold winter months!

#5- Crisp Denim- Average Joe dry dirt organic jeans are another workwear trend must-have. This 11.75 oz rigid denim from Italy made from 100% organic cotton has a raw, vintage look due to the special effects created by the yarns. All the trims are organic too.

# 6- The devil's in the details, which is why you'll also need a utilitarian style leather belt. This belt has a soft, worn-in feel and is an easy way to compliment your workwear look.

#7- Red Wing Boots. These shoes will help you flawlessly pull off the workwear trend. They look polished with crisp, dark denim and a freshly pressed woven shirt. The 6'' Classic Moc boots are the perfect shade that works as a neutral with almost everything your wardrobe. This boot is also available in black.

#8- Another option when it comes to fashionable footwear is the more rugged 8'' Classic moc boot by Red Wing. Made of Hawthore muleskinner leather these boots are built to last and require more than a basic ankle sock.

#9- Continue working through the long winter with a pair of Filson Merino Wool fingerless gloves. According to the Blackbird site these gloves are "A hunting and fishing favorite designed to keep your hands warm while allowing you to use your fingers to tie knots and pull triggers." While we don't recommend using them in that capacity we think these gloves will come in just as handy in the city when the winter weather is sunny but crisp.

Last but not least- #10

Really into the workwear trend? Check out The Field House Trusty Workshop Apron. This hand-dyed heavy canvas apron is handmade in Ballard, Washington using all locally sourced materials and is perfect for all your work-related projects or weekend hobby gigs.

LUCKY Launches Kids Mag

I have an 8 month-old son who is absolutely cute as a button. Yes, I'm bias, but needless to say, I'm thrilled that Lucky Magazine plans to launch Lucky Kids in April of 2011. The new mag will run 3 issues a year (April, September and December) and feature shopping and style advice for savvy parents. Hooray!

Holiday Shoes for Every Occasion

We have the perfect shoes to compliment any outfit this fall. So instead of leaving your footwear wardrobe as an afterthought let our Holiday Shoe Guide help navigate the way to some fabulous footwear ideas!

For a holiday party with a twist try these fabulous peep toe pumps by Alexander McQueen. I love the contrast of the embellished skull against the subtle angel wing embroidery along the edges and don't even get my started on the studded heel. These pumps require some serious attitude.

Speaking of holiday parties- another great shoe to consider this fall is the neutral pump. So many women spend excessive amounts of time worrying about finding the perfect shoe to "match" their dress. Well guess what? Nude shoes go with everything and make your legs look really long. (Score!)

If you're wanting to try the bootie trend this shoe is for you. A suede platform ankle boot with a bow on the back and a 5-inch heel. *LOVE* You could totally wear this bootie with a mini dress and a pair of sheer black tights for a Holiday Soiree or a night on the town with friends.

For a dress that requires a strappy shoe try the Pelle Moda Verbena Open toe platform. It comes in 4 colors (black, pewter, gold and silver) and has tiny (and tastefully done) crystals adorning the straps and even the buckle. This shoe is the perfect match to a shimmery New Years Eve dress!

Not into the skyscraper heels? Come back to Earth with a pair of leopard print flats. They're the perfect compliment to dark denim skinny jeans and add interest to outfits that are tonal or composed of mostly solid colors. These flats also work as a commuter shoe to get you to and from the bus or rail when headed to work or leaving the city after a hard day's work. Throw a pair into your bag and you're all set. $39.99 from WantedShoes.com

For a sturdy shoe try a pair of tall black boots. This shoe is the black stiletto of boots which means it's totally neutral and has a lot of versatility. These boots will look great with pants or skirts and has simple hardware for a polished look. $69.99 from WantedShoes.com
When wearing a heel isn't an option try a pair of embellished flats. These shoes will add holiday sparkle to your outfit and would be the perfect shoe for running to take advantage of those early bird shop sales. $49.99 from Wantedshoes.com.

*Exclusive Holiday Promotion*

Shop now for WANTED Shoes and get a FREE pair of shoes when you purchase 2 pairs. Use promo code: WA3PFSYDNEY.* Free pair must be of equal or lesser value and is only valid for customers in the U.S. only. Cannot be combined with other offers.

Total Type A Obsession

I'm a total Type A personality. You know the type: organized, always planning, borderline annoying. Yes. That's totally me- and one of the ways I stay organized is by hoarding Behance Action notebooks. I normally get them from a boutique called Blackbird but for those of you that don't live in Seattle you can also get them online directly from Behance. The Action Book was designed by the Behance team and is based on the Action Method and the idea that there are too many ideas in the world and not enough action. Further, without organization and productivity brilliant ideas never come to life. I carry mine around and always get compliments when I attend meetings about how "organized" I am. :) It's nerdy, but I secretly love it. Save 15% on all Behance Products now through December 25th using webcode: HOLIDAY10B. These notebooks make a great gift for your scatter-brained friends who need a little help reigning it in. Cheers!

4 Day Color Class Heads to Burbank

Leatrice (Lee) Eiseman, founder of the Eiseman Center for Color Information and Training has set the date for her next 4-Day Color/Design class to be held in Burbank, California. Running January 27th-30th the training program will enable participants to expand their career into lucrative and creative color consulting areas. A maximum of 20 people will be accepted per class and spots are filled on a first come, first serve basis. Required reading prior to class is Leatrice Eiseman’s latest book, “Color: Messages & Meanings, a Pantone Color Resource”. The workshop price is $1750 and includes a color workbook, plus professional color specifying materials. The cost of the training may be an allowable tax deduction for professional enhancement. Click here for additional details about Lee Eiseman's Color Training classes.

H&M to open Las Vegas Store

H&M is excited to announce its continued expansion in the Las Vegas area by opening the largest H&M location in the world at The Forum Shops at Caesars on December 11th. The new store will feature a 50-foot high atrium complete with disco balls overhead and custom-designed feature walls which display an ever-changing light show. The product mix for the store includes ladies, mens, children's, accessories, maternity, lingerie and cosmetics. In celebration of opening day, H&M at The Forum Shops will offer the first 1,000 shoppers in line an H&M Access to Fashion Pass, valued from $10 to $500 in addition to a variety of opening offers and giveaways. One lucky shopper will also receive a shopping spree worth $1,000.

Levi's Introduces WaterLess Jeans

Last month Levi's announced new Waterless jeans in an effort to reduce the environmental impact of manufacturing their products. During the production process a typical pair of jeans is “finished” in large washing machines and dryers at least 3-10 times to achieve some of the signature "broken in" denim looks the company provides. Levi's combined multiple wet washing processes into a single process to cut down on water usage and removed the water from their signature stone wash jean without compromising the visual appeal.  "We took the idea of jeans that use fashion-forward finishes that people love to wear--the worn in look, creases around the pockets--but made with a lot less water," explains Kelly Benander, Director of Corporate Communications for Levi Strauss. In addition to controlling their water usage at the production level the company's changes will also save their suppliers money by reducing energy usage. Approx. 1.6 million pairs of WaterLess jeans will be produced for Spring 2011. In October of this year Levi Strauss announced that they were eliminating the sandblasted products from their line due to health concerns for the workers involved in the process (see image below). 

Levi's has always been a leader in the arena of corporate social responsibility. In 1991 they incorporated a series of environmental provisions into their global sourcing guidelines and in 1995 added strict guidelines for water quality. Next year the company plans to unveil a "Better Cotton Initiative" program that addresses the environmental impacts of growing and processing cotton for denim.

Download the Spring '11 Pantone Color Report

According to Pantone the colors for Spring 2011 are an "exotic journey". Check out the full color palette complete with designer inspirations and download a PDF copy by clicking here.

5 Fashion Resources I can't Live Without

No fashion addict can go it alone. In a world dominated by globalization the fashion industry depends on key resources to stay up to date on style trends. Here are the 5 fashion resources I can't live without.

#1- Style.com

The site recently merged with the Fairchild Group to become somewhat of an online fashion hub. I love the fabulous runway pics that are promptly posted during fashion week. The ready-to-wear database goes back 10 years which is great for style research and inspiration. I also love the regular updates in the Fashion News section. And for all you urban sophisticates out there- check out the Street Style section of Style.com.

#2- The New York Times

The New York Times does a great job of reporting fashion news from a factual and objective point of view. Start your week off right by curling up with a copy of the Sunday Style section of the NY Times and a caramel macchiato from Starbucks. You'll find a rich collection of articles including special reports penned by Suzy Menkes of the International Herald Tribune. If you want to stay up to date on all things fashion you'll also want to check out the Thursday edition of The New York Times which always includes a special style section.

#3- Women's Wear Daily

I'm a fashion fanatic so I subscribe to both the print and online edition of Women's Wear Daily. I find that I'm constantly seeking up-to-the minute access to the website but still love the idea of leafing through the print edition while lounging at home or in the office. Women's Wear Daily truly focuses on the business of fashion and is often first to break industry news to the masses.

#4- The Cut from New York Magazine

The New York Daily magazine's fashion blog (and daily email) always keeps me up to speed on what's going on in the world of fashion. News about what my favorite designers are working on, plus what sales to hit make this site a MUST on my bookmark list. This site also has a great fashion calendar, a model manual, and a great fashion show archive loaded with pictures and easy-to-use search functions.

#5- London Evening Standard/Fashion Section

While honeymooning in London I fell in love with the London Evening Standard and became instantly addicted to the fashion stories in the Life & Style section. Reporters cover what to wear this week, profile designers and share behind-the-scenes stories on what's going on in the London fashion industry this-very-minute.

Have a great fashion resource you can't live without? We'd love to hear about it! Leave us a comment or send us an email!