Summer Work Wardrobe Guide, Part 3: Men's Fashion

Hey!
So today, we're going to divert a bit from our usual fare with something for the fellas!!!
Believe it or not, the Fashion Bomb has its fair share of male readers...
And if you look at the typical offerings, we've been very unfair to our men!
Jordan, an aspiring fashion buyer wrote in recently, saying, "I have seen your pieces on summer wardrobe for the ladies who are working and interning, and they are lovely. However, as a Big-and-Tall male on a budget, I am kind of pressed for options. So I, as a Fashion Bomber, am begging for some advice. What types of outfits should I wear? Where can I get clothes that are fashion-forward yet timeless, urban-sophisticated-chic yet inexpensive, youthful yet professional???"
The interns and I collaborated to you give you men your summer work wardrobe guide.
Enjoy!
The first wardrobe must:
1. A Hot Suit
Adriana says, "The dress code for buyers can vary. A big part of the job is frequently meeting with either vendors, executives, or the corporate division of your company, so you want to err on the "business" side of the business casual dress code that's the standard in most places. When looking for a suit, Barneys, for instance, is a very fashion forward retailer and you can probably find more of a Paul Smith or Prada aesthetic there (skinnier pants, more form-fitting shirts, funky turtlenecks). A middle-market company like Macy's is likely to be more conservative and corporate, so you can find straight-legged (as opposed to skinny) slacks. Hugo Boss suits fit wonderfully on most big and tall men (the drop of the suit is American as opposed to European, which means it's roomier but Hugo Boss cuts it so that it doesn't appear boxy). Also, invest in at least one good one."
Got that? Try these:
1. Hugo Awe/Holl Two Button Suit, $795. 2. Prada Men's Suit, $808. 3. Baird McNutt Linen Suit, $250. 4. Emporio Armani Two Button Peak Lapel Suit, $555. 5. David Mayer Suit, $268. 
If a full on suit blazer is too much, you can always opt for a...
2. Suit Vest:
Suit vests still tread the line of conservative chic and are a lot cooler (temperature wise) than full on blazers. Try these options:
1. Mason Plaid Vest, $44.50. 2.  Year Solid Suiting Vest, $98. 3. Heritage Herringbone Suit Vest, $129. 
Another way to punch it up:
3. Bright Colored Shirt
Adriana says, "I have a colleague who dresses mostly very conservatively except that he chooses the most lively dress shirt colors to punch up his outfits. Tangerine, plum, and kelly green are just some of the ones I've seen on him. He tends to choose grey or tan trousers and very good quality, simple ties to anchor the outfit so it doesn't become too garish looking."
Aramide found these options:
1. Banana Republic Solid Texture Stripe Dress Shirt, $49. 2. Ted Baker MultiStripe Shirt, $75. 3. Hickey Freeman, $96. 4. Gucci Red Striped Point Collar Dress Shirt, $264.
3. Scarves:
As Kanye shows, scarves are simple ways to add a personal touch to an otherwise subdued suit or shirt and tie combo. Tie on an expensive Gucci or play it cool with an eye-catching red stole:
1. Gucci Grey Wool Stripe Scarf, $180. 2. Forzieri Solid Silk Scarf, $64. 9.  3. Emporio Armani Bias Cut Plisse Scarf, $88. 4. Louis Vuitton Celeste Scarf, $160. 
4. Zip Front Jacket or Anorak:
You'll need a cute, easy jacket for more casual office days (or to keep the chill away late at night):
1. Scotch and Soda Nylon Jacket, $132. 2. Shades of Greige Denim Jacket, $143. 3. Gap Military Jacket, $68. 
5. Shoes
Adriana says, "You should never skimp on a pair of shoes. With men's shoes, good ones will last you ages. The best crafters are usually British or Italian. John Lobb (the gold standard of good British men's shoes), Jeffery-West (a funkier take on the classic British shoe), Bruno Magli, and Bally are all good bets. For affordable, good quality alternatives, try Cole-Haan and Kenneth Cole":
1. Gucci Lace Up, $595. 2. Kenneth Cole Leather Loafer, $131. 3. Ferragamo Patent Boot, $650. 4. John Lobb Lace Up Oxford, $1,500. 5. Gucci Bamboo Horsebit Mocassins, $316.  6. Cole Haan Air Geoffrey Lace Up, $245. 
For the final touch, don't forget...
6. Sunglasses
Instantly up the style ante for your outfit outdoors with a pair of dark, sexy frames:
1. Tom Ford Black Andre Sunglasses, $398. 2. Boss Hugo Boss Men's Metal Top Bar Aviators, $145. 3. D&G Large Uni Lens Sunglasses, $266. 4. Triple Bar Fashion Aviator, $70. 
Men, take note! And ladies, kindly show this to the men in your lives:)
Smootches!

Your Summer Work Wardrobe Guide, Part 2

Hey!
So...Sex and the City last night was *amazing*! I won't give anything at all away, but trust me, even if the plot leaves you scratching your head, the fashion makes up for it!!! It was so deep, even I have some "Mail Bombs" for that movie!
Anyway, I hope you all sip some cosmos and enjoy the show with your girlfriends this Friday. It's a fashion lover's must see!
So last week intern Adriana tackled Part 1 of the Guide to your Summer Work Wardrobe. She was fab enough to tackle Part 2 today! Enjoy!
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Hey FB’ers!
So last week we nailed down dresses, jackets, shoes, and accessory essentials for your summer work wardrobe.
Throw in these additions for a well rounded look:
1. Tops
With tops, you want something that will work as a good base for your outfit, layer well, and still be a little eye-catching. Try for soft, breathable fabrics with little details (pleats, ties, shimmer, funky shapes, etc.) or look for new takes on a classic (J. Crew’s silver lamé Oxford-like shirt, below). Tops are a great way to liven up neutral pants and blazers, and are usually the easiest addition to your summer wardrobe both cost and space-wise. Remember to opt for a little sleeve action, at least covering your shoulders (capped or small ruffled sleeves are a great compromise):
1. Diane Von Furstenberg Carone Top, $198. 2. J.Crew Whisper Lame Shirt, $110. 3. Anne Klein Tie Front Shirt, $89. 4. Bow Tie Floral Top, $79. 5. Chiffon Ruffle Top, $22.80.
2. Skirts
Summer is the season to play with fabrics and fun silhouettes (like a bubble skirt). Knife-pleats, vivid prints, and swingy hems are great ways to add flair to a work skirt, and a high-waisted, pencil skirt with a unique detail (a bow front, cool stitching, or a wide leather sash with a side-tie just at your waist) can make for a fresh, sexy take on a classic:
1. Milly Bow Front Pencil Skirt, $137. 2. Banana Republic Linen Abstract Skirt, $62.30. 3. Forever 21 Spotted Woven Skirt, $22.80. 4. Tibi Pleated Skirt, $273.5. Tracy Reese Canvas Printed Pencil Skirt, $240.
3. Pants
Across the board, pants are by far one of the hardest items to shop for. And let’s be real: slim/skinny pants, cute as they look and “on trend” as they are, just don’t work for everyone (but we have included a few below that caught our eye). A cut I really love and that flatters almost any shape is the elegant, Hepburn-style, wide-legged trouser. It’s sexy and chic, definitely on trend, and effortlessly airy for summer days at the office and summer nights on the town!
1. Julie Haus Hi-Waist Frida Pant, $275. 2. BCBG Indigo Striped Carla Slim Flare Pant, $178. 3. Holly Herringbone Pant, $228. 4. J.Crew City Fit Italian Linen Pant, $250.
4. Handbags
And just for fun, here are a few handbag choices to go perfectly with your newly refreshed summer work wardrobe!
1.Fendi Rainbow Degrade Hobo, $1,840. 2. Zac Posen Lily Shoulder Bag, $1,050. 3. Kale Stella Bag, $475. 4. Dautore Slouchy Shoulder Bag, $471. 5. Forever 21 Sequin Weave Tote Bag, $39.80. 6. Deux Lux Pintuck Satchel, $68.
Bon Shopping!
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Loved the bag selections!! Didn't Adriana do a great job??
My interns are the bomb!
Smootches!

Fashion, News, and What Nots

*If you missed Part 1 of the Summer Work Wardrobe Guide, click here.
*Did y'all hear about Jill Scott's new bra line?
According to the blog Stereohyped, Jill Scott caused chaos in Harlem when she showed off her breasts at her Butterfly Bra launch in the flagship Ashley Stewart store! Good lord! Read the rest here. [Stereohyped].
*Eric Wilson of the New York Times says that while gas and food prices are soarcing, the prices of well plucked classics...
...have actually declined. [NYTimes]

Your Summer Work Wardrobe Guide, Part 1

So reader Marci from Edinburgh, Scotland UK wrote in with the following:

"My work place has a casual smart dress code. I am not keen to wear jeans (except on the odd Friday when I know I’ll be meeting my mates for a drink after work). I prefer to wear pretty shirts with formal, tailored trousers. I’ve probably worn a skirt twice since December. Shorts are a personal no no. Please do a feature on casual-smart work wear for the summer?"

Sure!
Intern Adriana stepped in to spearhead Part 1 of The Fashion Bomb's Guide to a Stylish Summer Work Wardrobe. Read on for suggestions for cool, breezy dresses, sophisticated jackets, and even office ready accessories! Stay tuned next week for tips on coordinating separates, bag options, and skirts!
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Hey Fashion Bombers!!
It’s finally warm, so you want to throw off those layers you’ve been wrapping yourself in and after surviving winter. Here, a few suggestions for how to dress fabulously for work while maintaining comfort, sophistication, and style:
1. Dresses (sorry, Guy Trebay):
There’s not an article of clothing that is equal parts comfortable for summer, flattering to so many shapes and sizes, and comes in such diverse fabrics! Knee-length dresses with capped sleeves work very well—they’re comfortable and sexy, yet cover enough to still be appropriate for work. Wrap dresses are always a great choice, and shirtwaist styles are also a cool way to maintain a preppy chic look:
1. Maggy London Cap Sleeve Chiffon Dress, $138, www.nordstrom.com. 2. Bebe Silk Sash Waist Dress, $129, www.bebe.com. 3. Diane von Furstnberg Tie-Dye Wrap Dress, $398, shopbop.com 4. Phoebe Couture Ruffled Shirtdress, $260, www.bloomingdales.com. 5. Tadashi Silk Dance Dress, $330, www.bloomingdales.com.
2. Light Jackets:
A blazer can work wonders for an outfit. Donning one instantly pulls your look together and, given cut and fabric, can add anything from professionalism to edge. Bonus: it'll save you from the chills of the office air conditioner! J. Crew has a fantastic selection of light jackets for the summer, as do Trina Turk, Michael Kors, and Loeffler Randall:
1. Trina Turk Burke Jacket, $228, www.searlenyc.com. 2. Brushstroke Print Chessy Jacket, $148, www.jcrew.com. 3. Michael Kors Ponte Jacket, $84, www.lordandtaylor.com. 4. Loeffler Randal Silk Ruffle Jacket, $565, www.eluxury.com.
A structured light cardigan is also a great summer piece as it has the look of a blazer yet a much lighter weight for a casual feel:
Vince Tie Front Cardigan, $235, shopbop.com
3. Shoes:
Ideally, you want a pair of shoes that will carry you from day through night. Tempting as they are, try to avoid flip-flops in the office. If you crave a flat shoe with the airiness of a sandal and that also shows off your pedi, go for an open-toed skimmer. A lower heeled sandal between 2” and 2.5” is also a great work-fashion compromise: short enough to be appropriate for work yet high enough to give you your heel fix:

1. Stuart Weitzman Specchio Shoes, $188, zappos.com 2. Fendi Satin Ruffle Flat, $450, www.eluxury.com. 3. Christian Michael Ahmed Sandal, $240, zappos.com 4. Loeffler Randal May Open Ruffle Pump, $430, shopbop.com 5. Michael Kors Magic Sandals, $188, zappos.com 6. Coclico Shoes Keyhole Sandal, $320, shopbop.com 7. Irregular Choice Sexy Vixen Shoes, $129, zappos.com 8. Chloe Patent Crisscross Buckle Sandals, $645, wwwintermixonline.com. 9. Naughty Monkey Button Up, $69, zappos.com
4. Accessories:
Summer is the season to show off great necklaces. Use them to complement the lower necklines of summer tops and dresses:
1. Bubble Necklace, $150, www.jcrew.com. 2. Just Cavalli Zebra Heart Necklace, $273, www.eluxury.com. 3. Concentric Glass Bead Necklace, $28, www.urbanoutfitters.com. 4. Kenneth Jay Lane Snake Pendant Necklace, $77, shopbop.com 5. Women's Multi Stone Necklace, $10, oldnavy.com
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Snaps for a great post including amazing shoe suggestions! I'm self admittedly a bit conservative when it comes to shoes, but I almost lost my breathe over the Chloe and Coclico sandals.
Great job, Adriana!
Stay tuned next week for Part 2 of the Fashionable Work Wardrobe Series. And maybe I'll do a little something for the men?
Smootches!

Fashion, News, and What Nots

*Kate Moss' High Summer '08 Collection...
...is now available at Topshop. Check out the offerings at www.katmosstopshop.com.
*These are so dope!!!
...Chic and Untroubled discusses these 'glock' shoes, which made their debut during Chanel's Cruise collection. [Chic and Untroubled]
*In more Chanel news, look at another one of Karl's new designs:
...it's a Chanel sunglasses sporting Lego lady. Fashionista reasoned that paying $6,000 for something like this (the going price) might be worth a whole year of shopping abstinence. Not too sure about that! [Fashionista]
*Seems Angelina Jolie stays comfy in Cannes thanks to Cole Haan Nike Air Pumps. Great minds think alike. [MyItThings]
*Apparently Iman isn't too jazzed about the Italian Vogue July issue. According to Make Fetch Happen, "Iman recently expressed concern that the highly anticipated "all-black" July issue of Italian Vogue will just be a gimmick and may not change anything about the lack of models of color in fashion magazines..."
... "I still don't like us to be a caricature...They'll think, 'Okay, we did it.' And then they're done with it, and we'll have to wait till next year." [MakeFetchHappen]

Mail Bombs

Hey!
It's Friday! Yippee! And it seems the weather is finally improving. I'm gonna go out and try to catch some sun...
Let's not delay.
First reader Fatema loved Rihanna's look recently...
She says, "I was hoping you could help me locate her hooded dress or something similar."
Rihanna's wearing this Long Terry Jacket from Armani Exchange...
...and lucky you, it's on sale for $59! Hurry up and buy!
Nina wrote in gushing over Meagan Good's look...
...she says, "Do you know where I can get the same Nike top?"
You'll have to use a bit of ingenuity. It looks like Meagan got busy with a pair of scissors on vintage Nike tops like these...

Nike Cropped Tee, $42, www.urbn.com; Nike Blazing Bundle Tee, $25, www.nike.com.
To get an off the shoulders look, you'll have to cut out the neckline. Good luck!

Dawn from Michigan was feeling Christine Tegan (John Legend's boo's) look... She says, "My birthday's coming up and I need something similar!"
I felt that this BCBG Silk Organza Strapless Dress came close...

...get it for $360 at www.macys.com.
Next a reader who calls herself "Mamita es Buena" e-mailed me the following request:
"I'M LOVING THIS CALVIN KLEIN BLACK SATIN JUMPSUIT, BUT SINCE IT WAS BACK IN 2005, I KNOW MY CHANCES OF FINDING THEM ARE SLIM TO NONE ..."
"I WAS WONDERING IF YOU KNEW OF ANYTHING SIMILAR LOOKING OUT THERE ... THANK YOU :-)"
Alright, well I did a quick search and found this Orthodox Christine Jumper...
...get it for $244 at www.revolveclothing.com.
Now for just a few wardrobe queries:
Reader Alisha says, "I am a plus sized diva going to the Bahamas this summer. I was wondering if you could help me with some fun looks for my days in the sun."
No problem!
Go with the following to get started:
Top Row: Jones New York Signature Woman Zebra Print Tunic, $75, www.macys.com; Marilyn Convertible Dress, $195, www.monifc.com; Black and White Geo Print Halter Swim Top, $48, www.torrid.com.
Bottom Row: Merona Swim Dress, $40, www.target.com; Maiya Salon Z Cybil Silk Dress, $440, www.saks.com; Black Yellow and Purple Floral Smocked Tube Dress, $68, www.torrid.com.
There are plenty of plus sized websites out there carrying very cute clothes, perfect for the Bahamian weather. For pointers, check out my Archived Posts on Plus Sized Items.
Lastly Erin says, "I recently landed my dream internship of interning for my congressman in Washington DC this summer(!!!!!) and have no idea what to wear. I'm not sure, but I know I am on a budget. Can you help me?"
Of course! And congrats!

On Capitol Hill conservative is the rule, so go for pieces in muted colors. Buy a few sheath dresses, and a skirt and pantsuit...mix and match the rest with inexpensive tops:
Top Row: Belted Sheath Dress, $79, www.anntaylorloft.com; Calvin Klein Classic Crepe Suit, $224, www.macys.com; Ben Sherman Dunnaway Dress, $100, www.urbn.com.
Bottom Row: Poplin Ruffle Blouse, $58, www.ardenb.com; Belted Pencil Skirt, $20, www.forever21.com; Bella Polka Dot Blouse, $32, www.fredflare.com.
For more tips on what to wear in work situations, check out my Work Wardrobe Posts.
Think that does it.
Smootches!

Fashion, News, and What Nots

*Check me out in Marc Jacob's MySpace Album!!! Ha!
*Also, an article about the Fashion Bomb in Howard University's Hilltop Newspaper. [The Hilltop Online]