masculine monday :: the rise of men's fashion

Guest Post by Rob James

Rob James is a fashion student studying in the UK.  He believes that the growing trend for men taking more pride in their appearance can only be a good thing.  Rob loves winter and the opportunity to wear cashmere again.

Over the last decade, men's fashion has simply exploded. It has become an industry of its own, with all of the fittings and trappings that women's fashion has always enjoyed. It is no longer unusual for men to care about their clothes, it is no longer considered odd for men to want to look as good as the women that they live and interact with. It can only be a good thing - why shouldn't the boys get to experiment with their look?

Way back in the 1920s, men's fashion was considered to be just as important as women's fashion. It seems like we're moving back towards those times - these days, male shoppers are more interested in tailoring, grooming and putting together outfits in a very particular way. The fashion industry is in the process of becoming a much more level playing field, says Guardian expert Simon Chilvers. Here are three winter jackets that the guys seem to be going gaga for.

Sporting Casual

Once upon a time, the casual sports jacket conjured up images of football hooligans and white collar fascists. We're almost twenty years on from those times, and this trend has finally come full circle. It is currently proving very popular with guys in their mid to late twenties. If you're looking for a stylish jacket of this type, stick with the classic brands and labels. You can't go wrong with Fred Perry, Ralph Lauren or even Ben Sherman, say the experts at Edinburgh News. The casual sports jacket looks very smart when teamed with lightweight cashmere knitwear, chinos and Oxford loafers. The key is to err on the preppy side, rather than make your outfit look as masculine as possible.

Classic Jackets

The classic jacket is a three quarter length coat, usually made of wool or cashmere. For the best deal on cashmere jumpers, cardigans, scarves and jackets - visit www.londonw11.com. This kind of jacket is usually worn in fairly neutral tones, but you can buy one in almost any colour that you like. As far as classic styles go, this type of coat is extremely sophisticated. It's a great way to wrap up during the winter months, so why not invest in one of your own?

Leather Jackets

What can be said about the leather jacket that hasn't already been said a hundred times before? It's one of the most timeless garments in history - ever since Marlon Brando smouldered in his leather  jacket in The Wild One, guys and girls have been adding it to their wardrobes. If you are going to buy a leather jacket, don't skimp on the price. The very best products will last for decades, so do choose yours very carefully. A leather jacket can be successfully teamed with almost anything. You can do the Marlon Brando and wear it with stone washed denim jeans and biker boots - or you can soften it up a little with a beautiful cashmere sweater and some comfortable loafers.

{Images one, two, three}

:: View more Masculine Monday Posts here ::

xo sara

childrens shoes made by freshly picked

Susan Peterson from Freshly Picked makes children's moccasins with love in Utah. Not sure what it is about these little shoes, but they make me so happy!

- Buy a pair at her online store at shop.freshly-picked.com - 

{Images via Freshly Picked}

xo sara

winter classic :: leafs vs red wings

Growing up in Canada means you are a hockey fan. No matter what. It's the passion that unites us all. When I had the chance to go to the 2014 Winter Classic game, I jumped on it. Me along with a few friends drove the treacherous drive along the 401 to Ann Arbour, Michigan to see the Toronto Maple Leafs play against the Detroit Red Wings at The Big House. If you have never been to The Big House before, I strongly suggest you make the trip for a College football game. Built in 1927, this stadium holds 109,901 people! We hit a record high for largest attendance in hockey history with 105,491 dedicated fans and 8.2 million television viewers in the US and Canada. 

Curious to see what the crowd looked like at this game? Visit this link to see how bundled up everyone was. If you were at the game then visit and tag yourself and your friends!

This truly was the most picture perfect hockey game of all time.

Something to keep in mind if you plan on visiting Ann Arbour, their taxi's are unique to the city. What does that mean? Each cab is individually owned and run, so finding a cab was pretty difficult. Given that there were 100,000 in a town of 110,000, they did a pretty good job at getting people to where they needed to be.

Guess what . . . The Leafs won 3-2 in a shootout!

The walk from The Big House to downtown was a sea of red and blue jerseys. It was a neat atmosphere because although there were no stand out people that were loud about winning, everyone was walking together as though they knew each other and truly living this great moment. 

Finding a place to have a few beers and dinner downtown was horrendous - every bar and restaurant was packed with at least a 2 hour waiting list. We ventured down one of the main streets and came across this German bar called Heidelberg. After visiting Germany this past summer (view post here), I can say that this place did a spot on job at recreating that German feel!

We sat in the basement amongst a handful of Toronto fans which was pretty awesome. A few of the boys got a 'das boot' which is either a litre or two of beer in a glass shaped liked a boot. To keep with German tradition, you are not allowed to place 'das boot' on the table until your full beer is finished. I was pretty proud that they boys almost made it to the end without putting their beers down!

If you are in the area and happen to pop into this spot, make sure you ask for Vincenté. He literally ran the entire basement bar and was top drawer. Not only was he a rockstar but he got to know our table and truly helped make this historic night in hockey history memorable.

Happy birthday to my boyfriend Nathan! So proud of you with all that you have accomplished over the past few years and the man that you are today. Thank you for always supporting me and helping me follow my dreams.

Did you go to the game and nearly loose all your toes and fingers? 

Tell me about your experience!

xo sara