Tag Archives: accessories

One of the most sentimental things a man can own is a watch. A quality watch can last decades.

Hamilton watches first started to make watches for the American railroad in 1892 so that the trains would start arriving on time.

They were also asked to create watches for the very first American airmail postal service and in 1942, they stopped all consumer production to create watches for the army as part of their uniform. They produced a total of one million timepieces. This started their relationship with the army and their “Khaki Collection”. To add to their list of firsts, they created the first electric watch and LED digital watch.

first article of digital watch hamilton watches

An article featuring the first digital watch

Elvis Presley wore Hamilton watches’ Venture style in the film Blue Hawaii in 1961. Since then, they have provided watches for Hollywood movies such as Lethal Weapon 4, Fight Club, Independence Day, Men in Black, and more.

American Spirit. Swiss Precision. 

Not only does Hamilton have a great history, the watches are expertly made in Switzerland. They are constantly upgrading and on the leading front of innovation. Watches come in two movements, quartz and automatic. Quartz means that it is battery powered, and needs replacing when it runs out. Automatic watches power themselves by winding up with every wrist movement.

Every watch has a two-year international warranty so it can be repaired anywhere in the world. Straps can be purchased separately and every watch’s strap is interchangeable. The watch face is made out of sapphire crystal which is so scratch-resistant that only a diamond can scruff it up.

how to wear a tie bar

How To Wear A Tie Bar

June 13, 2016

A tie bar is a small detail with a big impact. It adds style, sophistication, and character to any suit and tie. The idea is simple but we have seen men wear a tie bar incorrectly, here is our guide to nailing it:

  1. Size matters. Keep everything proportionate. A huge tie bar doesn’t go with a skinny tie. Ideally, the tie bar should be somewhere between half and 3/4 the width of your tie.
  2. Placement is a major key. It should be worn slightly below the chest around the sternum or between the 3rd and 4th button of your shirt.
  3. Clip the tie to your dress shirt; the tie bar isn’t only there for decorative reasons. It has a real purpose and that’s to keep your tie in place.
  4. There’s a style to it. What most guys don’t know is to slightly lift up the tie when sliding/fastening the tie bar into place can make a slight difference in presentation
  5. Make your metals match. Silver is your go-to metal for a tie bar. Opt for gold to co-ordinate with gold accessories like your watch, jewellery and belt hardware.
  6. Keep it simple. Tie bars come in a various amount of shapes and colours. Get a solid range of 1-3 tie bars before opting for the more decorative options.
  7. Don’t wear a tie bar with your waistcoat, it defeats the purpose, a layering cardigan is more suitable.
  8. Tie your tie right. Make sure your tie knot is on point, dimpled right and hitting the top to the middle section of your belt.

Check out our tie bar selection in store at one of our locations

 

 

ofSky Design Feature Image

Get Your Hands On Some ofSky Design

You know how the saying goes: the devil is in the details. Adding accessories gives your outfit character. Many men feel like wearing jewellery is too feminine. On the contrary accessories up your perception of taste.

New to Gotstyle is ofSky Design.

Each piece is handcrafted in Toronto.  One of our favourites is the triple wrap gunmetal-plated bracelet. It has a magnetic clasp. It is a flexible go-to bracelet for any occasion. For a more luxe look, try the hand-braided leather bracelet which has a badass snake clasp. The selection is available for purchase in stores.

 

5 ways to elevate office style

Cover photo credit: Van Gils

You know the guy that’s a little bit too obvious about being on a 5 day work wardrobe rotation? Don’t let that guy be you. It may be easy to get caught in the trap of wearing a boring office uniform, but dressing for success is key to showing professionalism and ambition. Switching up your style and taking things to the next level can be easy. I’m here to help with 5 ways to elevate your office style.

OFFICE STYLE TIP #1: GO CUSTOM
When it comes to suits, great fit matters over everything. Even if you don’t wear a suit every day, it’s important to have a perfectly tailored suit in your repertoire for meetings, presentations, and events. Think of your best suit as your go-to for when you need to step things up —  and nothing will fit (and look) better than a suit made expressly for you.

For details on the made to measure process, pricing, and advantages, Gotstyle’s tailor extraordinaire Konstantine has got you covered.

OFFICE STYLE TIP #2: ACCESSORIZE
The easiest way to elevate your office style is to add new accessories to your existing office wardrobe. It’s simple addition by, well, addition. Lapel pins, pocket squares, tie bars, shoe laces, and even work bags are all ways you can add pops of style and colour.

HOOK + ALBERT RED POLKA DOT FLOWER OFFICE LAPEL PIN
Hook + Albert Red Polka Dot Flower Lapel Pin: $30

A CHRISTENSEN RED PAISLEY PRINTED OFFICE POCKET SQUARE
A Christensen Red Paisley Printed Pocket Square: $45

Weber Slim Office Tie Bar
Weber Slim Tie Bar: $40

Sully Wong Burgundy Leather Laces
Sully Wong Burgundy Leather Laces: $35

URI MINKOFF FULTON LEATHER OFFICE BRIEFCASE
Uri Minkoff Fulton Leather Briefcase: $438

OFFICE STYLE TIP #3: ADD A VEST
A vest is a simple way to class up any office look. Wear it with one of your standard 2 piece suits to add complexity, texture, and contrast. Or, just roll up your sleeves and wear it over a well fitted dress shirt as a more casual look (this looks good on literally every guy).

contrast office vest
Photo Credit

One thing to watch out for: don’t try to match a new vest colour to an existing suit. Unless you have the exact same fabric, it won’t work, and will look off. The solution? Go with a contrast vest, and introduce a new colour to the suit entirely. It’s an unexpected look that shows off your style chops. Grey and blue (like in the photo above) always pair well, and can be used interchangeably between vest and suit.

CIRCLE OF GENTLEMEN KENYON HERRINGBONE SHAWL DB VEST office
Circle of Gentlemen Kenyon Herringbone Shawl Double Breasted Vest: $175

OFFICE STYLE TIP #4: WEAR A TIE
If you don’t normally wear a tie, step up your office style and wear one! There’s no better way to show you mean business.

If your office is casual or you don’t see yourself as a “tie guy,” try a knit or textured tie as a casual midway point between your usual laidback style and something that’s too formal.

THE COMMON FOLK YURAKUCHO INDIGO DYE HOUNDSTOOTH TIE office

The Common Folk Yarakucho Indigo Dye Houndstooth Tie: $100

OFFICE STYLE TIP #5: SUITS WITH BOOTS
Wearing a suit with boots is an awesome way to switch up a stale office rotation, but you need to do it right. If your suit fits well (which it should), the boots you pair with it need to be sleek and slim fitting. You want the outfit to look well put together and intentional — and not like you haven’t changed yet from your morning commute. The best way to achieve this? Chelsea boots.

gq suit office chelsea boots
gq office chelsea boots

Both of these looks (courtesy of GQ) add some rocker edge to a suiting look, without being too chunky or out of place. It’s a menswear power move, and you can totally pull it off. Reserve this look for fall and winter, and make sure to match your belt and boots to keep everything tied together.

Ready to step things up? Gotstyle’s stylist team has got you covered. Book your appointment today at 416-260-9696 or info@gotstyle.ca.

ace your job interview

Your resumé was polished and they loved your cover letter. Perfect. You got the interview. You know you can nail it, but one big question remains: what are you going to wear?

Dressing well for an interview shows professionalism and that you understand the culture you’re going to enter. It’s a great way to make the right impression and be memorable to the interviewer. It’s not rocket science, but there are some things you need to know.

Consider three things when picking your outfit:

  1. Industry — Would you wear the same thing to a conservative bank as you would to a casual tech startup?
  2. Job function/department — What flies in marketing may not be greeted as enthusiastically in accounting.
  3. Seniority — Younger guys should err on the safe side, versus someone more established in their career who has “earned” the privilege to dress with a little more flare.

The common theme here? Know your audience.

Unless you’ve been specifically told not to, wear a suit. You’ll look your best and most professional. It shows you respect the interviewers’ time and take this seriously.

Now, let’s get into the details.

THE SUIT
When dressing for a job interview, the safe play is a dark charcoal or navy blue suit. Charcoal tends to be the more conservative of the two — but you really can’t go wrong with either. If you’re having trouble deciding, once again: consider your audience. Paul Betenly makes an awesome starter suit in both charcoal and navy.

If you’re interviewing for a more senior position or a job in a more creative industry, a brighter blue or lighter grey suit can work too. A black suit is never okay unless the job is in the funeral business.

One last thing — please, please make sure your suit fits.

THE SHIRT
Your interview shirt should also fit great. Check out our video guide for finding the perfect shirt to make sure you’re doing it right.

For the style details, go with normal cuffs (not french), and a spread or semi-spread collar.

In terms of colour, solid whites and light blues are most conservative. These go well with any suit. Stenstroms and our own Gotstyle-Lipson shirts are both fantastic options.

For a bolder look, try a micro pattern. A geo pattern like the one below from Oscar works well.

THE SHOES
Never, ever wear a square toe dress shoe. Say no to square toe.

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, I recommend black or brown leather oxford dress shoes for an interview. You can’t go wrong with an oxford shoe in a business setting. The Gotstyle Cap Toe Derby Shoe is a perfect example.

Double monkstraps are a riskier alternative. Only consider these in situations where — you guessed it — you’re interviewing for a senior or less conservative role. And again, keep the colour to black or brown.

No matter what shoes you choose, make sure you give them a good shine and that you’ve worn them before. Often a new pair of dress shoes takes some time to work in, and the last thing you need is blisters on the day of your interview.

THE ACCESSORIES

Belt
First things first, your belt should match your shoes. Black with black, brown with brown. Keep your belt sleek and simple — no big buckles. Anderson’s black or brown pebbled belts are perfect.

Tie
Here is your chance to show some personality. Choose a colour or pattern that’s stylish and memorable — just make sure it’s setting appropriate and that it matches.

For creative industries (especially in the winter), add versatility to your formal look by trying a more casual, texturized knit tie. When choosing a tie knot, go with a half windsor or four-in-hand. Knots are not the place to experiment.

tie

Google Images

Socks
Have some fun! It’s fine to show a little colour or pattern, as long as they don’t clash with the rest of your look.

Watch
If you’re going to wear one, keep it sleek and understated.

Everything Else
Save the funky lapel pins, cufflinks, and tie bars for once you get the job.

Got any more questions? Our team of stylists is here to help, with private appointments and free wardrobe consultations. Book your appointment today at 416-260-9696 or info@gotstyle.ca.

Good luck (not that you need it). You’ve got this!

ITEM OF THE WEEK

Take the hard line with Vitaly’s Kusari bracelet. The chunky, stainless steel piece has a modern rocker vibe that complements off-duty gear (think denim, plaid and lots of black or white tees) and works to add a finishing detail to casual evening looks.

What is Kusari? Kursai was used in samurai armour from the 1270s but particularly from the Nambokucho period of 1336-1392. The rings were lacquered black to prevent rusting and were always stitched onto a backing of cloth or leather. Kusari was often concealed entirely between layers of cloth.

Vitaly Kusari Stainless Steel Bracelet: $50

Vitaly Kusari Stainless Steel Bracelet: $50