Accessory To The Fact

Accessories can make or break an outfit. I strongly believe that these simple small details will enhance even the most simple monochromatic ensemble. From casual to smart casual to formal, accessories are a fantastic way to express your personality and personal style with your audience.  I love pocket squares, lapel pins and a tonal belt. Following are some of my personal accessory styling tips for you to try out next time you wish to add some flavour to your kit.

Pocket Squares- have been my favourite accessory that I have ever worn. You will be hard pressed to find me in a blazer without one poking out of the breast pocket. These are by far the best way to show your unique personal style. Get on it immediately. 

Belts- were always matched with your shoes in colour and texture. Why not try mixing up your belt game by matching another colour in your ensemble, like the jeans or trousers or the blazer. With mixed pattered canvas belts you can easily find a colour relationship somewhere in the outfit to match.

Lapel pins- have swept the menswear world and are literally something that we haven't seen before. They come in all shapes and sizes and can be anything from materials such as silk, metal or real flowers. Get on this trend fellas, its here to stay.

Cufflinks- are the bling of the accessory world. Not as common as they once were, cufflinks are very sharp dressing and particularly for event dressing like blacktie.

Ties- are less and less worn for business and certainly have just about disappeared from smart casual styling. Try a four in hand knot to keep your tie game on point.

Tie bars- were designed to stop men being dragged head first into paper shredders. They are practical but also a very neat addition to a business suit, shirt and tie.

Collar pins- are the latest accessory trend to make a comeback. For a super sophisticated look a collar pin will make your tie knot prominent and adds a little more metal to your ensemble. Pure class.

Stay stylish,

JL

Santa Stop Here by Air New Zealand

A beautiful short story that most can relate to that may well bring a little lump to your throat or a tear to your eye.

Air New Zealand 'Meanwhile' series never fails to impress and this Christmas campaign is an absolute cracker. Emotive, scenic and pretty damn cute when you see Archies face at the 'reveal'. I had the privilege of working on this as the stylist in conjunction with the brand manager and I think the results are really great. A real family on a real farm having an unreal time. I trust you enjoy this one as much as I did. If you like it, share it.

Seasons greetings fashionistas!

JL

The Style Master

This is when the internet is utterly brilliant.
My husband randomly showed me a photo on his Instagram feed saying: “Hasn’t this dude got really cool style”
That’s a very un-my-husband thing to do, so it got my attention.
He was in fact absolutely right: the dude has great taste and a polished, unaffected way of dressing that made mens fashion look possible not scary.
I decided to track him down so you could share his wisdom with the men in your life.
Jeff Lack is a stylist who spends his days transforming guys and their wardrobes. Here, he talks about the rules of dressing, how to cleanse a wardrobe and kick his look up a notch.
He’s also has just released a genius book – IndulGENT – full of easy to follow, unthreatening style wisdom – give it to him for Christmas and watch miracles happen.

Men, take note.

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What is the best part about styling men?
Men in particular need all the help they can get and are more conscious of their fashion sense I think than ever before. I felt like I could really make a difference by sourcing unique looks across multiple labels to create the perfect wardrobe and I just love helping folk out.

What do you enjoy most about the transformation process?
Deciphering a brief and over-delivering is very satisfying. Ultimately, I love my job because I can make a difference. I guarantee confidence and compliments for my personal and celebrity clients, and it’s so rewarding to hear the feedback from them once our work is completed.

Do you pay attention to trends or do you take a more timeless approach?
Both really. I work with fashion every day and create style from this source. The more timeless, the less need for change as fashion’s change rapidly. I would also add, wear fashion, don’t let fashion wear you.

How important is body shape in determining the clothes a man should buy?
Paramount. Fit is everything. Everyone can make an Armani suit look bad.

How do the shopping habits of men and women differ?
It’s an extreme sport for men and a never-ending party for women. The women I work with tend to become more practical in their approach to shopping after working with me. For example, buying pieces that are super versatile instead of just buying a piece that is under $100 for retail therapy. Men can be lazy and just try to get everything from one destination. Shop like a man on a mission. Wishlists are the way to go for both genders.

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What are your top tips for busting out of a fashion rut?
Get a professional opinion or read my book. Just change up what you usually do. I find footwear a really great way to reinvent your wardrobe.

When wardrobe cleansing, what needs to go?
If it doesn’t fit, can’t be repaired or adjusted or just doesn’t suit their colouring or personality then it should go.

How often should you cull from your wardrobe?
I cull every season, because I like to wear everything in my wardrobe.

Most common mistakes men make?
Men like to go to one shop and get it done asap. Inside the wardrobes of men I typically see very few shoes and an abundance of t-shirts even though they are mostly worn on weekends. There is almost always an imbalance of clothing to suit their lifestyle.

What importance do you place on shoes?
Women are very smart and have lots of shoes…Get on it fellas! Seriously, shoes are what make the greatest impression so keep them in good order and keep building up your collection.

What are the different types of shoes every guy should own?
See p.111 of my book –  IndulGENT by Jeff Lack, $29.99.

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Different types of suits should every man own?
Ones that flatter their body shape and reflects their personality in colours that balance their hair, skin and eye tones. I recommend every man buys a bespoke suit at least once in their lifetime.

Colours, patterns, fabrics?
If you only have one suit, make it black. If you have multiple suits, then start with navy, charcoal, silver grey and then black. Plain colours first then look at stripes and checks. Fabric choice comes down to how the suit is being worn. For example, if you have one suit and wear it sparingly like the above black that I suggested, then go with a luxurious fine fabric like a super 150s wool. If your suit is an everyday workhorse, a harder wearing wool like super 100s will last longer and take more of a beating.

One suit style should every man invest in?
2 button single breasted suit.

Jeff on Jeff

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Style bumper sticker?
Buy once, buy right.
Fashion weakness? Shoes
Grooming routine? IndulGENT (p.37)
My fashion muses are…Clint Eastwood and Tom Ford.
Most recent purchase? Dark chocolate brown suede double monk strap Andre Ventura shoes.
Dressing up is…loafers, navy suit, white shirt, pocket square and a lapel pin.
Dressing down is…white sneakers, faded denim and a marle grey t-shirt.
Favourite online stores…Oki–ni, Mr.Porter, All Saints, Coggles and The Iconic.
Five favourite designers? Paul Smith, Tom Ford, Jac + Jack, Vivienne Westwood and Billy Reid.
Cologne: Givenchy Gentlemen Only
Song: Shelter, Rolling Stones
Drink: Negroni
Motto: “When all is said and done, more is said and less is done”.

Finish the Sentence

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Men don’t know that women secretly…do the same gross things we do, but with discretion.
Women don’t know that men actually…mean exactly what they say.
Men love it when women borrow….collared shirts from their wardrobe.
Books on my coffee table…Dr. Nikki Goldstein’s Single But Dating and my little tome IndulGENT.
Books next to my bed…The Seat of the Soul and Eating Animals.
If money were no object…there wouldn’t be greed.
My next holiday is to…New York
With my last ten dollars I’d…give it to someone who could use it more than me.

Buy The Book.

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CLICK TO BUY: IndulGENT by Jeff Lack, $29.99

Dress Like Jeff

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Look 1: Christmas Cocktail Cool.

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Where: To a cocktail party or presenting/ speaking gigs.
Never: To a spin class.
Tips: Subtle detailed accessories, and two button rule on an open neck shirt.

Look 2: Sumer Casual.

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Where: Beachside café or boating.
Never: Black-tie event
Tips: The cropped hemlines give it a nice casual feel.

Look 3: Autumn/Winter Casual.

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Where: Movies or casual date.
Never: Pool.
Tips: Less is more. There are only two colours in this ensemble.

Look 4: Creative Smart Casual.

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Where: Art gallery, bar, smart casual date.
Never: Picking mangoes in the country.
Tips: A navy canvas belt brings this all together.

Look 5: Elegant Smart Casual.

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Where: Work, bar or evening smart casual events.
Never: Surfing.
Tips: Velvet slippers give the whole look a bit of elegance and class, and pocket squares always improve a smart outfit.

Article courtesy of The Joye
Photography by Emmy Etié

AACTAs celebrity styling

Last week Australian film and TV stars gathered at The Star in Sydney for the annual AACTA awards ceremony where I styled three celebrities. It was my great pleasure styling radio DJ and comedian Rove McManus and his wife actress Tasma Walton as well as Roves radio co-host Sam Frost. I thought I would share my selections and how I put everything together with you and would love your feedback. 

Rove- I went for a modern twist on the classic Tuxedo doing separates (different jacket and trousers) instead of a matching suit. I like a long tie with a shawl lapel and a nice sharp white pocket square.

• Farage tuxedo jacket
• Hugo Boss shirt, tie, trousers and shoes

Tasma- This is classic red carpet glamour and a beautiful age appropriate look for the actress. The pearls gave us a nice contrast to the black silk jersey gown and the clutch added a little juxtaposition to this elegant look.

• Carla Zampatti gown
• Cerrone jewels
• Victoria Loftus clutch

Sam- this vibrant young fun look had a bit of sex appeal in the sheer bodice and yet was still modest. Because Sam was a guest and not an actress I opted for a slightly shorter hemline and a more fashion forward look. Hair make up and jewels gave the overall look elegance and polish.

• Nicola Finetti dress
• Cerrone jewels
• Mimco clutch

About AFI | AACTA

The Australian Film Institute (AFI) was established in 1958 when the AFI held Australia's first ever film excellence Awards – the AFI Awards – and since then has remained committed to connecting Australian and international audiences with great Australian film and television content.

The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) was launched by the AFI in August 2011 following a 12 month review and consultation.

The primary role of AACTA is to recognise, encourage, promote and celebrate film and television excellence in Australia through the nation's highest screen accolades – the AACTA Awards.

The AACTA Awards, a continuum of the AFI Awards, are the Australian screen industry's "stamp of success" – the Australian equivalent of the Oscars and the BAFTAs.

AFI | AACTA, a not for profit organisation, has two important membership streams.

AFI membership is open to all, and provides the Australian public and international audiences a unique opportunity to connect with and show their support for the Australian screen industry.

AACTA serves as Australia's most prestigious film and television member body, and is overseen by AACTA President, Geoffrey Rush, and an Honorary Council comprising more than 50 of Australia's most outstanding film and television practitioners and performers.

AACTA brings together and represents screen professionals from a cross-section of the screen industry in order to galvanise the industry and to further screen excellence in Australia. AACTA membership is granted to screen industry professionals through an accreditation process.

Australia has produced some of the best screen performers, practitioners and productions in the world, and AFI | AACTA remains committed to promoting, within Australia and internationally, Australia's best and brightest screen professionals and the great Australian stories which they tell on the big and small screens.

AFI | AACTA History: Fast Facts*

• A group of Carlton film enthusiasts set up the AFI in 1958.
• The AFI modelled its constitution on the BFI (British Film Institute).
• The Melbourne Film Festival became an activity of the AFI from 1958 but they separated into two organisations in 1972.
• The AFI did not receive any government funding until 1970.
• The AFI was instrumental in the lobby for the 'revival' of Australian film in the 1970s.
• The AFI funded films between 1970 and 1978 through the Experimental Film and Television Fund.
• The Nine Network produced the first ever televised broadcast of the AFI Awards in 1976.
• The AFI Raymond Longford Award was established in 1968 as the AFI's highest screen accolade, honouring such Australian icons as Peter Weir, Geoffrey Rush, Fred Schepisi, Jan Chapman, Charles 'Bud' Tingwell, Jack Thompson, David Stratton and Reg Grundy, to name a few.
• Dr George Miller, internationally acclaimed writer, producer and director, was announced as Patron of the AFI in 2001. Dr Miller's company, Kennedy Miller, also funds the Byron Kennedy Award, celebrating outstanding creative enterprise within Australia's film and television industries. 
• Cate Blanchett was announced as Ambassador of the AFI in 2001. Blanchett is the recipient of awards bestowed by the AFI, AMPAS, BAFTA and the Golden Globes. 
• The AFI launched a 12 month organisation review in 2010, which included a significant industry consultation in order to identify support for the establishment of an "Australian Academy".
• Due to overwhelming support for an Academy model, the AFI launched the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts in Sydney in August 2011, announcing internationally acclaimed actor, Geoffrey Rush, as President of the Australian Academy.
• The inaugural AACTA Awards were held in January 2012 and included the AACTA International Awards (held in Los Angeles – marking AFI | AACTA's first internationally-held Awards event), and the inaugural Samsung AACTA Awards, held at the Sydney Opera House and broadcast nationally on Channel Nine.
• The inaugural AFI Awards held in 1958 honoured six Award categories. Today the AACTA Awards (which are a continuum of the AFI Awards) recognise film, television and documentary screen craft excellence - including screenwriting, producing and acting, through to cinematography, composition and costume design - across more than 50 Awards.

Stay stylish,

JL

The secret life of suits

What does your work attire really say about you?

Fashion is an instant language, said Miuccia Prada, a woman who knows her denim from her chambray. If fashion is a language, what is the modern man trying to say? In a room full of doctors, lawyers, creatives and sales professionals – could you decode the non-verbal cues?

A quick look around any inner-city café confirms some distinct industry standards. For example, creative industries support a more casual look. Advertising gurus, designers and restauranteurs are sneaker freakers in suits. While film types still wear RM’s with skinny jeans. Architects wear all black.

Barristers and solicitors love rules and try not to break them. Legal counsel play it safe, with matching suits and ties by Bulgari or Hermès. Tech entrepreneurs dress like uni students, in crocs, ripped shorts and their own logo t-shirts. When it comes to real estate agents, they’re easy to pick. Who else would rock a three-piece suit on a Saturday when they’re not going to the races?

“Unfortunately real estate agents are known for their navy blue uniforms and I really don’t think that is necessary,” says author and fashion stylist Jeff Lack. “The agents should not all look the same, they should look individual. Whether it be their shoes, their socks, their glasses or their haircut,” says Lack.

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Jeff Lack is a personal stylist, media commentator and keynote speaker with over 20 years of experience in the Australian Fashion Industry. Seen on location, shooting with BresicWhitney.

It seems individuality is holy grail. With the publication of his first book Indulgent, Jeff Lack has become a passionate advocate for how dress can convey credibility and confidence. We invited him to evolve the style of four of our team in M.J Bale suits. While he was busy dressing the men, we stopped in for a chat with Porter Dowd the Head Tailor at Patrick Johnson Tailors, a steadfast proponent of timeless style and custom suiting. We also headed deep into the CBD to get the good oil from Ross Poulakis, General Manager at clothing emporium Harrolds.

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“Peter Perry wears a light grey check suit, with a pink cotton shirt, paisley tie and white and pink striped pocket square. Sourced from M.J. Bale, Peter’s ensemble is young, fun but still professional. The pink against the grey is easy on the eye, and suits his skin tones. Check is the big suit story of the moment and the paisley print comeback ties-in well with his overall look. Peter’s style draws on his background as a professional golfer where bright colours and checks are the norm. He is young and full of aspirations and this look communicates he’s man on a mission.” – Jeff Lack

According to Porter Dowd, Aussie men today are slowly catching on. “Australian guys are starting to take more pride in their appearance,” says Dowd. “It is typically those men in client facing industries that tend to care more about their appearance.”

Despite some industry commentators suggesting men will soon burn the dreaded neck tie, Dowd is a purist who encourages all of the finishing touches a classic suit demands. “I am still a firm believer in the suit and tie as professional workplace attire, especially for those in client-facing roles. A client is never going to think less of you for wearing a tie, however there are instances where an open neck could be construed as disrespectful or lazy. It is better to be safe than sorry.”

So do the same rules apply to after hours kit? Will BBQ’s everywhere soon see the end of the band T’shirts with cargo pants ensemble? Dowd is positive. “Australian guys are also slowly starting to come around to the idea of dressing a little more sartorially outside of the workplace. As such we have seen increased interest in separates in the last couple of years. The biggest change is that guys are starting to understand that a jacket can be worn quite casually and in lieu of a sweater, for a more put together but still casual look,” he says.

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“Elegant, clean-cut and sophisticated, Andrew Liddell wears an M.J Bale mid blue, chalk striped linen wool suit with a white cutaway cotton shirt. For accessories he wears a chocolate and navy silk tie, with a chocolate paisley pocket square and silk knot lapel detail. Andrew’s ensemble is perfect for showing property on hot summer days. The fabric is light both in colour and weight. This is a polished distinguished look which suits Andrew’s character, the stripe-on-stripe is a masculine combination and shows Andrew as the elder statesman and gentleman of the property game.” – Jeff Lack

Ross Poulakis, General Manager at clothing emporium Harrolds, agrees modern professionals need to walk-the-talk 24/7. “Dressing well isn’t a 9 to 5 job. It’s most important to find your own personal style and make it work for you all the time,” Poulakis says.

“The way you dress should elevate the way you feel and set the tone for your day. If the upshot of that is you develop a classic aesthetic or embrace trends – it is up to you. Style is universal, there are no hard and fast rules. At Harrolds we offer a styling service in house, but it’s less about rules and archetypes, and more about encouraging and understanding individual style,” Poulakis says.

“In general all our customers are very conscious about what they are wearing, but the stereotypes of different industries sometimes hold up. Young creative professionals such as architects wear brands like Maison Margiela, while doctors and lawyers tend to go for more classically tailored suits,” he says.

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“A strong fashion forward look, Maclay Longhurst wears an M.J Bale mid-grey, fine check three-piece cool wool suit, with a bold navy and white striped shirt; and a blue polka dot silk tie with a paisley linen pocket square. The three-piece suit is bang on trend this season and the mix of paisley, check and stripes is a flamboyant contrast that suits the successful estate agent. Maclay is the ‘peacock’ and this is evident in the flamboyant combination of suit, shirt, tie and pocket square.” – Jeff Lack

Jeff Lack believes more importance should be placed on expression and individualism in the workplace. Men need to work harder to understand their own authentic voice and release a school boy-like obsession with donning a daily uniform.

“Style is really understanding who you are. Your own style comes down to how comfortable you are in your own skin. Age milestones tend to make a difference for men. So when you hit 30 you are no longer a boy, you are a man, you can have a adult conversation with your parents peer-to-peer. Then at 40, you have accomplished something and you are in your absolute prime. Those age milestones make a difference to how a man feels about themselves, and how they can cultivate an authentic voice and expressed in how they dress,” says Lack.

Still, dressing to show flair must fall within some Saville Row like guidelines Lack continues, “Fit is paramount. It is vital that things fit right on the body. It is first thing we notice on a man. Then after fit, colour is the second piece – how it matches with your eyes, skin and hair – and then the third piece is individual style – what you bring to your outfit that is drawn from your unique voice.”

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“Tailored perfectly to suit his shape and with bold contrasting colours, Brendan Hay wears M.J Bale slim cut, navy wool trousers and white pin dot shirt with a pink wool blazer. In the pocket he wears a blue and white pin dot pocket square. Brendan’s ensemble is smart and clean cut with a fashion edge to it. His colouring suits the pink coloured blazer and separates are a fantastic option for his role as property manager. The casual look echoes the European trend for contrasting trousers and jacket.” – Jeff Lack

Society as a whole is less formal than ever before, but despite a flattening of hierarchical work structures, work place innovation and campus style offices, we’re not abandoning the neck tie any time soon. The new formality in menswear for the office is here to stay.

Like it or hate it, even strict hipster attire in the utilitarian oeuvre, has an overall formality to it. So too does the trend for custom suiting, made possible by a new category of retailer that now occupies the gap between Roger David and Paul Smith.

Effort on the whole is attractive in the work place. The new look male pays attention to hygiene, grooming, colour, seasons and occasions. More and more the elegant man circa 2015 is following the path of the Greek philosopher Epictetus, who said: “know first who you are, and then adorn yourself accordingly.”

Courtesy of Bresic Whitney and its team:

Author: Belinda Aucott
Photographer: Aimee Crouch, Karina Illovska