DC Edition 2

In A Way, Much Of How I Dress Is An Homage To Them…

Story submitted by Michael Idiokitas.
instagram @mfon13
wingtipsandloafers

‘My style is “simple masculine elegance”. I do not go for the affected look. I like and wear things that are simple, well crafted but not peacocky.

My hue allows me to pretty much wear every color and texture, without over doing it. My appreciation of style comes from my dad and my maternal grandfather. They have the most pristine sense of taste. It’s because of them that the majority of my suits are double breasted.

In a way much of how I dress is an homage to them. Most of my day to day dress is business casual but instead of a sport coat I’d rather wear a nice cardigan. My goal is to continue to have fun with the threads!'

'I remember being 7 or 8 and going to visit my grandfather on the weekends.  He got up early on Saturdays and spent about an hour polishing his shoes (every Saturday morning).  After the polishing, he got dressed.  He wore braces with all his pants and either double breasted or three-piece suits on the weekends.  During the week he wore two piece suits.

I didn’t think about it at the time but all of those experiences have greatly effected how I view dressing and having fun with your clothes.'

DC Edition 1

I’m Inspired By People Around Me Who Are Constantly Producing, Creating, Crafting, Building…

Story submitted by Grant Harris
instagram @image_granted
imagegranted.com

‘Fashion was never at the forefront of my mind growing up. In fact, I thought it was against the law to match, which ironically may have been my inner style auteur speaking to me.

I’ve held several jobs and tried my hand at several failed business ventures, but never found a career, a passion, or a calling until fashion, better yet style came to be a part of my life. I was always living it, but didn’t know that I could make (or attempt to make) a living at it, until I dove both feet in.

I’m inspired by people around me who are constantly producing, creating, crafting, building, and I want to do the same in my own way. The need to feel part of the club, not of the fashion elite, but the successful network who live life stylishly on their own terms when and where they want to is what drives my daily pursuits.

As an entrepreneur setting goals is deceptive because once one is reached it’s on to the next without enjoying the last. I enjoy what I do right now. I just hope to be blessed to be able to do it bigger, better and longer in the future.'

'I’ve always tried to present myself well and dress with an air of sophistication, but I never thought that I could have a voice to share with others. I did not know that I could inspire others through my daily regimen and ultimately help individuals and groups find their own style.

It wasn’t until I was well into my professional career that I decided to take on an internship with a custom clothier which was my indoctrination into the classic world of men’s style. This was the beginning  of my writing, speaking, and consulting career.

Never having studied fashion formally put me behind the eight ball so to speak. However, I looked at it as an advantage because I had to strive to read, watch, and listen more, longer and harder than those who had learned it in school.

My passion and my business in the end is knowledge and enlightenment. Knowledge of self and enlightenment of purpose. It isn’t the clothes or the shoes or the watches that are important. Its the comfort, the confidence and the charisma with which each man wears them that accomplishes the goal.’

Daily Fashion 202

Basketball Came First. I Consider It My First Love…

Story submitted by Eli Infante.
instagram @elisoul01 site NorthOfMan

‘Basketball is a love of mine as style is. I played in college and I was inspired by an image of the legendary street ball player, Ron Beals.

There is something to say about how harmonious basketball and fashion can be. In my mind, anything done with passion exudes an effortless style and grace.

Basketball came first. I consider it my first love. It is where I learned to walk my walk and talk my talk. It is where I learned to envision myself as something greater than just the average man.

Basketball was something I wasn’t great at to begin with but countless days and nights playing till after the street lights turned off, whether rain or snow, it became my thing. I would travel to basketball camps in other states during off season and compete against other talented players from around the country. Taking that from high school to college basketball, the game was still the same, always bringing your A game and presenting it with the utmost style and grace.'

'After taking a break from basketball, I began to focus more on the arts and that lead me to photography. I would shoot landscape, portraits, events, and soon even runway shows, where I then got a chance to put the camera down and model.

After booking a few shows to model for, my eye for fashion began to truly flourish and all the visions of becoming someone greater than myself came. Fashion allows one to be who they want to be and say what they mean to say without even having to say it.

It’s all in the style and grace.’