GQ’s Best Trends – Accessories for Spring / Summer 2010
(Above: Goorin Fedora – $45 | Swiss Army Chrono – $313
Hey look at that. If finally warmed up. The clothes you’re wearing have surely taken a turn for the spring and summer weather, but have your shoes, watch, and other accessories done the same? Click here for GQ’s slide-show of their must have accessories for Spring and Summer. See below for the list and the Dappered.com, not-quite-GQ / more down to earth / will I look like a total dweeb… analysis… of GQ’s list of “must haves.”
1. New Wave Boat Shoes – Kind of trendy, and come fall you might wish you would have gone with a pair of Classic American sneakers instead. Still want a pair of boat shoes? Ask yourself these questions: 1. Do I own a boat? If yes, buy boat shoes. 2. Will I most likely be on a boat at some point this summer? If yes, buy boat shoes. If no to both, buy these Converse Jack Purcells instead.
2. Patterned Pocket Squares – GQ Suggests a $75 Robert Talbott Pocket Square. Seventy-five bucks for a piece of square cloth. They also suggest a Land’s End Canvas model for $10. Spend less, get the Land’s End one.
3. Plastic Aviators – Even more trendy-than the boat shoes. Aviators should have metal frames. Want plastic frame glasses? Grab a pair of these Persol-like Club Moncao glasses for just $40.
4. The Straw Fedora – Not everyone can pull this off. Seems like you also have to BMI in the single digits too. There’s something unintentionally comical about a heavier dude in a hat. One of the GQ suggestions is a $240 Gucci hat. Proof that big names can charge an arm and a leg for STRAW. One something less summery? Try a black straw fedora. See Original Penguin for a terrific and cheap example.
5. Brightly Colored Watch Faces – Not ready to spend $3,000 on a Breitling with a bright yellow face? Get the same effect, for way less, with this Yellow-Dial White-Mako watch from Orient. Never heard of the brand? They come pretty highly recommended from a Dappered.com reader.
6. Brighter Stripe Ties – Sure thing, as long as you keep the patterns simple. Just try not to wear it with the yellow watch and goofy summer hat. Best place to get ties on the internet at affordable prices? Easily TheTieBar
yeah but if you’re on a boat you shouldn’t you be wearing flippy-floppies?
(most comfortable flip flops in the universe: north face base camp flip flops… check em out… they’re on endless… i was not paid to say this!)
Probably depends on the kind of boat. Sail boat you want traction and stability as well as comfort, cuz (depending on the size) you may need to be moving around a lot to control the boat. Motor boat where you will be doing a lot of in-and-out of the water then I’d go with flip flops or just plain bare foot 🙂 (I have a sail boat and had a motor boat for a few years)
The people who have no boat, not planning to get on a boat, or even near the ocean/water kinda look like posers with the boat shoes. Some guy at my school wears a fedora, I don’t judge people on their fashion, but this guy used his hand to cover his eyes from the sun. Hat Fail. I like function over fashion anyday. I kinda take what GQ says with salt nowadays since I saw their “suspenders” article yesterday.
With boat shoes (or just Sperry’s as they’re known in the South) it depends on where you are from. At most southern colleges, a pair of Sperry’s with Chino’s is considered a wardrobe stable. They’re by no means an indication you are a “poser” or you’re pretending you own a sailboat.
What’s wrong with boat shoes? I don’t play basketball, and I don’t skateboard, so why should I wear Purcells or Vans?
When’s the last time you saw someone who plays basketball wear Jack Purcells? Boat shoes aren’t there yet. They might get there one day, but they ain’t there… yet.