IYAAJAY // MENS STYLE BLOG: shirt

WINTER WARMERS / TOPMAN AW15 PIECES + TRY ON // IYAAJAY

November 08, 2015

Hey guys, since the weather in the UK seems to of changed pretty rapidly in the past couple of weeks, I thought Id share with you a couple of pieces I've recently picked up and how id style them for the winter months too.

Burgundy Check Long Sleeve Casual Shirt

If you've followed my blog or Instagram for some time, you'll know I'm obsessed with plaid shirts and have a rapidly growing collection and knew this one would make a great addition for the AW15 season. I love the way you can dress this up and down with the addition of different jeans and buttoning too. For during the day, id pair it with the jeans picture and some of the buttons undone for a slightly more casual look and then do the buttons up and pair them with black jeans for a more dressed up take.

Grey Moss Cable Knit Jumper styled with Khaki Puritan Hat

Ive been after some new knitwear for quite a while but its a bit of a struggle when your allergic to wool and also get really too hot wearing it but I think I finally found the perfect balance. This jumper is quite a skinny fit and also offers a slight fisherman collar, this seasons new favourite. I love the added interest in the knit with all the detail and the fact that its super versatile for layering/styling different ways which is perfect for work. I can't wait to style it under a leather jacket with this khaki hat and also a killer pair of jeans and boots for my take on modern dressing.

Mid Wash Ripped Spray On Jeans

Im gonna be pretty honest, these jeans actually scared me before I bought them. As I used to be bigger in size (not quite ready to go into a blog post about that, but maybe in time I will) I used to avoid anything this light with a passion because I used to be scared they'd make me look even bigger which hit me pretty hard. Since my legs have actually got considerably smaller, Ive loved experimenting more with denim cuts and colours, and finally decided to bite the bullet and try these. The spray on fit a little more generously then my super sprays which hurt like hell but look great, so these will be perfect for everyday use. I love the way these look with the subtle rips on the knees and the slightly worn wash which surprisingly goes with a lot of pieces, including the first shirt I showed which I think will look great together paired with a parka and chelsea boots.

What styles are you going with this season? Anything your looking forward to wearing? Let me know below or over on my Twitter or over on my Snapchat 'IYAAJAY' where I also post daily updates.

Until next time guys,

Jay

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belt

UNIQLO METROPOLITAN MAN COMPETITION PRIZES // IYAAJAY

July 03, 2015

A couple of weeks ago, I got the lovely surprise from UNIQLO that i was the lucky winner of their Metropolitan Man competition they ran over on their Twitter account using the hashtag #metropolitanman and a photo of your idea of a metropolitan outfit. Luckily they loved my look (you can see it for yourselves here) and as part of the prize, I was able to pick out £200 worth of UNIQLO goodies which, being a real gent, I got other items for my parents and family too, caring is sharing right?

Speaking of sharing, I thought I would show you guys what I picked out and how I would style it too.

First off, Ive been trying to find the perfect belt to go with everything and I finally tracked one down on UNIQLO. I picked out this MEN Suede belt in dark brown, which matches my suede chelsea boots perfectly but also looks great dressed casually too. The suede is incredibly soft but also looks very hardwearing which is perfect for the metropolitan man too!

Next up is this USA OMIYAGE tee that I oddly fell in love with as soon as I saw it. I have a weird thing about graphic tees as I find them harder to style then plainer tees but there was something about this one I couldn't resist. I love the simplicity of the line drawn illustration style graphics and the fact that you can dress it down with shorts and hightops for a classic summer look, but then paired with jeans and a shirt, it'll look great for winter too. UNIQLO is renowned for their super soft cotton tees and this one certainly doesnt disappoint, and is light enough to wear without being too thin and flimsy like many tees.

How could I resist this? I mean honestly! If its denim or ombre, I'm all over it, so when I saw this combination, I HAD to get it (You can get it here too). I went a size up then normal to have that oversized slouchy feel. I love how adaptable this shirt can be too, as I've tried it on with it buttoned up with skintight jeans and boots for a quirkier take on evening out attire, but then flung it over a white tee and denim shorts for a take on double denim that doesn't look ridiculous. The denim is super soft and also light enough to wear under jumpers in the winter as well as over tees in the summer, the perfect multitasker!

How would you style these pieces? Let me know below.

A huge thank you to UNIQLO for picking me as the winner of their competition and for sending me these amazing prizes too.

Until next time guys,

Jay

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guys style

TOTALLY TOPMAN / SS15 HAUL // IYAAJAY

May 26, 2015

Mhmm, there is nothing better then getting some new items for the Spring/Summer season and Topman seriously haven't disappointed me when it comes to their new launches. Every season, Topman seem to nail it when it comes to the seasons biggest trends and this year it seems to be a very preppy, almost nautical vibe with heavy uses of navy, grey, white and organic print.

As you can see, I went a little navy and grey mad but I think they're a great alternative to black in summer and also can easily be transitioned seasonally too!

I love the classic combination of navy and tan in the summer and I couldn't resist picking up these Navy Chino Shorts. Paired with a simple mottled grey tee and tan deck shoes, these wouldn't look out of place down at the beach for a relaxed casual look but can also be dressed up on holiday with a crisp white shirt and sandals. I know these look two different colours in the photos but I like the way that these can look like two different pairs in different lights which can be incredibly versatile on holiday.

Printed vests are always highly sort after in the summer, and I loved this Grey Never Quit Vest which I paired with the shorts Ive featured and a pair of Vans SK8-Hi's which I think is probably one of my favourite summer looks. With the smaller illustration on the front, and the larger one on the back, this piece is incredibly versatile, and doesn't need much accessorising, just pair with a pair of killer sunglasses and your good to go!

Whilst on the vest hype, Topman always do a great deal when it comes to must have basics and this year have the 2 for £12 deal on these vests that usually retail for £7 each which when you think about it, saves you a little bit and is a total steal, especially when you work out the cost per wear per item in the summer. Firstly, I grabbed this Navy Classic Vest, with its newly improved fit which offers a slightly longer fit in the body and also a little roomier in the chest, which is handy when its super warm. I then picked up the White Surf Vest, which I originally got in grey last year and wore to death so I knew I'd have to pick up another one this year. I love just teaming these for any shorts or jeans for the perfect off duty look.

Probably my favourite piece in this haul, Id spotted this Monochrome Short Sleeve Speckle Print Shirt around a month ago and was really tempted by it but then I realised I didn't really need another shirt but then when I went back in last week, this was reduced down in the sale for £15 which for me, was a total no brainer. The busy pattern works great against solid neutrals, think about pairing it with stone chino shorts or dark denim for the perfect daytime to nighttime look.

SHOP MY HAUL

How would you style each piece? Id love to know! Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time guys,

Jay

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asos

WHO WHAT WHERE / PREPLANNING OUTFITS // IYAAJAY

May 22, 2015

Am I one of those weird people who always seems to have an outfit preplanned, ready to break it out when the occasion calls for it? Yep, and I'll proudly admit it. This method of dressing has saved my backside so many times, whether its been packing for holiday, or needing an outfit thats suitable for all day round London, Ive got it covered.

Now its come to one of those occasions and I've got a party to attend on Saturday evening which is the most dreaded of style scenarios, smart casual.

I don't know about you but I hate smart casual. I don't hate it, its more of a mutual discomfort because too smart and you look like you should be heading to work, too casual and you should be in town shopping or lazing round the house. Its a difficult situation, but not anymore.

Ive found the perfect line between smart casual and think this could be applied to any guys in this same situation.

SHOP MY STYLE

I love the fact that this outfit can be really dressed up and down to create that effortless smart casual vibe most guys crave.

The addition of accessories such as the watch and the pork pie hat give the outfit interest without being too over the top and taking over from the bold colour of the shirt. My shirt, from Topman last year, has the smaller, more rounded collar that looks smart, with the more texture patterned fabric synonymous with casual dressing. Teamed with the ever stylish skinny jeans, I paired mine with a more laid back pair of chelsea boots instead of going for leather ones as I feel that would make it too dressy.

The great thing with this outfit is the versatility. If I felt like I needed a change, I could take the watch off and swap my shoes for a pair of DM's and it would look great for a street style look. Take the hat off and slick my hair back and it could be taken a lot smarter, or even as a casual Friday look in the office.

I think guys shouldn't be afraid of preplanning outfits because you never know when your going to need to get ready with limited time and you always want to look your best so why not have a 'in case of emergency' outfit? It works for me!

What would you wear to a smart casual event? Let me know below!

Until next time guys,

Jay

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