Recently in Spring 2008 Category

From luxury footwear designers Jimmy Choo to more affordable brands like Chinese Laundry and all those in between, tribal design has surely served as an inspiration. Being born and raised in the Philippines, indigenous tribes once ruled and occupied the islands. Their legacy lives through rich and colorful traditions that are still celebrated today.

For spring and summer spice up any look with tribal inspired accessories or footwear. But don't over do it. You don't want to overdo it. Or else you'll look like the National Geographic gift shop threw up on you. And as always, trends works best when done right. Always apply your fashion sense at all times when trying something new.

Accessories are essential even for men. Which I think are frequently overlooked. This season colors and material are essentially the trend. In footwear, boat shoes are hot and of course sandals and mocs. Aviator sunglasses are a must have as well, invest on a pair you won't regret it.

  Parkerson Leather Boat Shoes                 Kenneth Cole Reaction  White Loafers                         Italian Leather $289.00 Forzieri                  $80.00 Shoes.com

 Marc Jacobs Aviator Sunglasses                Christian Dior Aviator Sunglasses                                Two Tone Metal $298.00 Forzieri                  Silver Smoke $277.00 Forzieri

              

Kenneth Cole New York Wrist Watch         Emporio Armani Chronograph Watch           Polyurethane Strap $184.95 Shoebuy        White Strap $295 Macy's

White is always a color I love to wear. The clean and relaxed look gives you a boost of confidence as well. This season there are updates on classic white button-up shirts, shorts and pants. Dyes, embroideries and prints inspired by global, ethnic and florals mirror trends in the women's collection for spring.

I know that white easily gets dirty and that's an understandable concern. One great alternative this season is blue -- easy to wear and evokes a certain sense of calm in others.

INC Embroidered 'Tyler' Shirt Linen $79.00 Macy's	Polo RL Long Sleeve Shirt Cotton $89.50 Macy's
Marc Ecko 'Taking a Dip' Shirt Woven Macy's	BOSS Black Blade Linen Pants Flat Front $125.00 Macy's
Calvin Klein Luxe Cotton 3 Pieces  $78 - $178 Macy's	INC 'Jet Set Costa' Pieced Blazer Linen $169.00 Macy's

One of my personal goals in starting this blog is to provide a resource for men's fashion. Limited clothing budgets and (un)availability of the men's collection -- especially designer luxury brands -- can be frustrating and disappointing. I've been there... and sometimes it still gets to me! But honestly, I can't blame retailers for this issue.There's a simple explanation: men don't shop!

At the end of the day it's all about margins and profits calculated by strategic planning and budgeting. Women have demonstrated a significant buying power and retailers therefore invest in women's fashion and accessories more so than men's.

I know deep inside every guy secretly wants to get the latest style and fashion trends, but just dreads the ordeal of actually shopping! So I decided to help out my fellow men and do the leg work. All you have to do is browse and buy. You're done! You can thank me later (j/k)! Now with that out of the way:

This season's fashion trends for men are not nearly as diverse and multifaceted as the women's. And guys, that is not an excuse to not look stylish and feel great! Have fun with it and you might be surprised how a basic tee can look so trendy and cool by simply adding a skinny tie, belt or a hat.

Here are some stylish looks accomplished with basic tees, shirts or sweaters.

Cotton Sweater	Basic Stretch Shirt	Cotton Stripe Jumper

I came across Tobi.com a couple of months ago while surfing the web and I was really impressed by the site's aesthetics and the selections for both Men and Women! I also like how the brands are diverse and not dominated by 'designer' labels. The Lookbook is chic and simple. And very easy to shop.

One of my favorite look is 'To A Tee'. Showcasing the versatility and number of ways a basic t-shirt can be transformed to a trendy and stylish ensemble. Remember Sharon Stone wearing a plain white GAP turtleneck to the Oscars? Now that's Smart Styling

To a Tee'Lookbook. For details and style guide visit Tobi.com