ask the MB

Not sure if you should wear that Tommy Bahama shirt out tonight? The magnificent bastard is here to help. Go ahead. Ask away.

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channel: blazers
  • Ask the MB: Too Much Corduroy?

    Ask the MB: Too Much Corduroy?

    Q: How much corduroy is too much? I, like many, own a corduroy blazer. It's chocolate and I love how versatile it is. But around this time of year, I also like wearing corduroy pants, mainly to work. Seems like overkill to wear both together. Am I right?
    --Jason

    A: You are basically correct. An icon like YSL could probably make mismatched corduroy work, but the degree of difficulty is extremely high. A full-on corduroy suit is MB-approved, especially if you're trying to pull off that disheveled egghead look. It worked well for Donald Sutherland as the stoner English professor Dave Jennings in Animal House. And he ended up plowing Karen Allen.

    We digress. Jason, to answer your question, match that blazer with a pair of jeans and rumpled oxford and wool/cashmere tie and you're good to go.

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    10.28.08

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  • Gaddafi Stuck in the '80s

    Gaddafi Stuck in the '80s

    Libya is emerging from diplomatic isolation, but clearly leader Muammar Gaddafi is stuck back in Pan Am Flight 103 days.

    Also: we're seeing the negative impact of over-accesorization, specifically with flag pins. Gaddafi's wearing the whole goddamn continent.

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    9.8.08

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  • Toolbag of the Year?

    Toolbag of the Year?

    Discovered, perhaps. Just look at that awful ventless blazer. Hello Miami Vice, or Guido the Killer Pimp.

    Thanks to reader Kevin C. for the submission.

    If you think you can beat it, send a photo to editor@magnificentbastard.com.

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    posted:

    7.23.08

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  • Trying Too Hard: Richard Roeper

    Trying Too Hard: Richard Roeper

    Poor guy is nearly 50 and looking increasingly weird and bewildered with spiked hair and the occasional t-shirt under blazer look. On this week's Ebert and Roeper he demonstrates a couple of don'ts:

    Don't #1: 3-button blazer; buttoned while seated.
    Don't #2: Pants hemmed looking like he's expecting Category 5 hurricane.

    Another knock: poor guy recommended Speed Racer, the worst movie of the year by miles.

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    posted:

    6.5.08

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  • Ask the MB -- Spring/Summer Sport Jackets

    Ask the MB -- Spring/Summer Sport Jackets

    Q: Now that spring is here and summer is almost upon us, can you recommend some choices for summer sport jackets? I keep seeing linen options and I'm not sure if its ok instead of wool. And should I try to pull off a white one?
    --D. Brown

    A: Great question. Let's take this one step at a time:

    Options for summer sport jackets: Madras is a fun and popular option, but it's got a high "memorable" factor. You could space your wearings out 2 weeks and still your co-workers are going to be, like, "Holy shit, didn't D. Brown just wear that madras blazer yesterday?!" We don't endorse much about the outfit on top -- besides the cheekbones -- however the blazer is fairly deconstructed and casual, has two buttons, goes with other pants besides jeans, and is affordable ($189). We own it. Available at your local Benetton or just give one of the stores a call and have it shipped.

    Linen: Regular readers know our stance on linen. Blended with high percentage of cotton it's ok. A linen percentage >50% and it can look like you slept in the fucking thing within minutes of putting it on. Proceed with extreme caution.

    Giving a white blazer a try: This falls into the category of "If you have to ask, skip it." Definitely can be successfully executed, though one wrong move -- gold watch perhaps? -- and we're queuing up the Jan Hammer soundtrack to "Miami Vice."

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    posted:

    5.2.08

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  • Drop a Spanish Bomb

    Drop a Spanish Bomb

    Bravo is fast becoming The Toolbag Network. Last night on The Real Housewives of Orange County 40-something golf pro "Billy" sported the deadly rock-tee-under-a-blazer look. The Clash rock the fucking casbah and then some, but this is 2003 at best.

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    posted:

    12.19.07

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  • Ask the MB

    Ask the MB

    Q: So we have closed down the t and blazer look for fall, but can I throw a thin hoodie or a track jacket under a wool blazer or a corduroy blazer?
    —Jared

    A: In the November 2007 issue of GQ, über designer and Magnificent Bastard Extraordinaire Tom Ford calls the blazer "the best piece of clothing of the past 50 years." Look at the picture. Notice the collared shirt. Follow along.

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    posted:

    11.9.07

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  • Juicy Couture Velvet Blazer via Neiman Marcus, $350.00

    Juicy Couture Velvet Blazer

    via Neiman Marcus. $350.00.

    Ask the MB -- Velvet Blazers

    Q: OK, I'm confused...I've been looking to your site for months to guide me to becoming a magnificent bastard. Recently you said velvet blazers are a trend that's run its course. To my dismay, a magazine I consider on the forefront of men's style (Details) says the velvet blazer is a fall/winter essential.
    —Akeel

    A: Part of being a Magnificent Bastard is thinking for yourself, and here's a good opportunity. But before you decide, consider this: each month the writers at Details have to crank out a certain amount of words to fill up the magazine. On the other hand, magnificentbastard.com posts only when we've got something to say, even if it's a fantastical story about a French president's flag pin. Not to mention, it's a well known fact that Dan Peres, editor of Details, has been taking payouts from the VBIA (Velvet Blazer Industry Association) since he took the job.

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    posted:

    11.8.07

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  • And Now a Note From This Site's Secret Admirer

    And Now a Note From This Site's Secret Admirer

    From the MB mailbag:

    Dear Magnificent Bastards,

    If you'll indulge me a brief roundup of your recommendations to date:

    1. White jeans are gay.
    2. Jute mandals are gay.
    3. Unless you're in an 80s period movie, you wear brown shoes and belt with a navy suit.
    4. Tucking in part of your shirt screams "trying too hard to not be a toolbag".
    5. Like it or not, a velvet blazer is almost required apparel for any New Year's party.
    6. The UPS Whiteboard Guy looks almost cool next to the smug "I'm a Mac" guy, particularly since a human Mac would be something more along the lines of Carson Kressley.
    7. If you buy a coat with a fur collar, you might as well wear it over your Michael Vick jersey.

    Otherwise I agree with everything you're doing. Keep up the good work.

    —Andre

    MB.com Response: New Year's Eve parties are for fucking amateurs.

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    11.1.07

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  • Velvet Blazers: Looking Soft, Comfortable, Tired

    Velvet Blazers: Looking Soft, Comfortable, Tired

    One trend we think has run its course is the velvet blazer. Yet this fall retailers like Neiman Marcus are pitching items from Michael Kors to true talents like Dolce & Gabbana. This all looks to us like fall 2005.

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    posted:

    10.16.07

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  • Ask the MB

    Ask the MB

    Q: Now that fall is coming around, it's time to break out the blazers; but is the t-shirt/blazer combo still in vogue or has that ship sailed?
    —Sherwin

    A: That ship has not only sailed, it was attacked by pirates, looted, burned, then sunk, and the crew was eaten alive by sharks.

    Even though he throws like a goddamn girl, or perhaps a lousy cricketer, just look at how Hugh Grant oozes casual cool with this crisp white shirt (tucked in, of course) and an unbuttoned top button.

    Try this instead.

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    posted:

    9.14.07

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  • Juicy Couture Skull Blazer via Neiman Marcus, $175.00

    Juicy Couture Skull Blazer

    via Neiman Marcus. $175.00.

    Skull F*ck

    Skulls are about as post-peak as you can get without wearing an American flag lapel pin, yet Juicy Couture still cranks out skull-related stuff like they're coming into style. Even the New York Times called skulls dead over a year ago. Unless you're an actual pirate, or child, avoid.

    Juicy Couture skull blazer and skull necklace, via Neiman Marcus.

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    posted:

    8.27.07

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  • MARC BY MARC JACOBS Whipcord Military Blazer via Nordstrom, $248.90

    MARC BY MARC JACOBS Whipcord Military Blazer

    via Nordstrom. $248.90.

    Prepare For Fall, Soldier

    Last week we heaped praise on a John Varvatos epauletted blazer, but we may have spoken too soon. This sweet MARC BY MARC JACOBS military blazer is being cleared out at Nordstrom, and it's better looking and 25% the price. Spend the $750 difference on booze.

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    posted:

    7.29.07

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  • Herringbone Hooded Blazer via Bergdorf Goodman, $998.00

    Herringbone Hooded Blazer

    via Bergdorf Goodman. $998.00.

    JV is Anything But

    John Varvatos is one of any MB's favorites, and he hits an upper-deck homer with this epauletted, tabbed-cuffed, flap-pocketed, stand-collared blazer, via Bergdorf Goodman. The only problem is you might need to rob a fucking bank to pay for it, and you might get caught. Stay tuned to MB.com to find out when it goes on sale (in about 90 days).

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    posted:

    7.24.07

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