Great look for fashion savvy males!
If you have a wad of expendable cash - or a spanking new credit card to break in - hustle into the Calvin Klein menswear boutique on Market Street.
It will be difficult to scurry by Abercrombie & Fitch - ‘fer sure - but if you’re a dude out to cut a fine swath on romantic nights out in pulsating San Francisco (or elsewhere) - Klein is a more fashionable option.
Who wants to be a carbon-copy of every other boring dude bar-hopping ‘round town?
Personally, I was drawn in by the window-dressing.
The staff draped the fall line to ‘flatter” the male physique (maximize the appeal of the fashion statement) - unlike a bevy of other shops - where dim-witted PR staff tended to toss the garments on the cold hard shell of manikins in the display window without any focus on effecting a look that has the capacity - or a hope in hell - of ringing up sales.
You have to be an absolute worm - without one iota of fashion sense - to transform a chic outfit out of the crate into a $500.00 wardrobe ensemble that is all wrinkles - and tacky-looking to boot - when the casual window-shopper happens by.
I admit, judicious pinning - and a bit of sly shaping - can lure naive folks in the door.
But, when it gets right down to it, you have to have the “goods” to start with.
Klein has that in spades.
This fall the collection is wide and varied - and features a couple of wise “steals” (extracted surreptiously from fresh rising fashion stars) incorporated into the mix - to punch up the basics.
For instance, pricey t-shirts featuring rich splashy motifs (sometimes in monochromatic tones) etched on their shoulders and backs, add dash to a silhouette that tends to be dark this fall.
Actually, Klein’s slacks, sport jackets, elegant dress shirts, and slim suits - rely on shades of black and grey for solid support.
So, a flashy design idea on one wardrobe item - an accessory streaked in gold, embossed eye-catching flourish, or contrasting jolt of fabric (even a controlled clashing of color) - allows the ballsy guy in the room to go peacock to the envy of all his pals.
In addition to well-tailored classy-looking suits in an affordable price range (for working dudes anyway) there is a lot to rumble around in on furlough days.
Klein’s outer-jackets are stand-outs - as is the selection of ubiquitous jeans - to team ‘em with.
Curiously, the most colorful of the apparel choices - the ever-sensual CK underwear - is hidden from view until an intimate moment or impromptu trek to the gym ferets them out during off-hours.
Klein, who still maintains control of the underwear arm of the Empire (he sold out the main designer line for mega-bucks years ago to a major menswear manufacturer if I recall correctly) has understandably drawn on his racy - sexy side - to exploit (and ultimately boost sales of) a collection of sexy skin-tight skivvies (normally restricted to the realm of out gay fashion designers on the fringes of the mainstream) that add sizzle to the muscled (or pasty-white nerd's) bod.
I expect that frayed, urine-stained boxers - with a tear or two lurking at a seam - will end up in the trash bin now that Klein’s body-fitting underwear has made an entrance on the scene 24/7.
Though a little too safe and predictable for some, overall the edgy designer wisely chose to pamper to in-shape fashion-conscious guys keen on details.
The look should fair well in large American cities, and with Anderson Cooper, for starters.
For the dude who likes to stand out, or implant his own style, there is always McQueen to dive into if the old wallet can stand the financial assault.
But, fashion smart dudes don’t have to splurge or go broke for trendy threads.
In discount houses today, I scooped up two t-shirts and a pair of spiffy shorts for under a double-sawbuck after some prudent attention to the bottom line.
A $4.00 purchase is already turning heads.
Could I ask for anything more?
Street chic at affordable prices - that singles out a stud in the dismal crowd - is the way to go.
Just skim those high-end fashion magazines (GQ & Details) for some tips on style!
Double-breasted jackets make smart entrance!
