Avengers! Make it Work!

As a share holder in Marvel (I own a whopping three shares, which I might add are worth $21/share more than when I bought them, and I got to vote on wether or not Disney could buy Marvel) I am excited that they are doing so many things right, as well as incorporating some of my other loves.  I was just made aware of a mini-series comic Models Inc. that Marvel did two years ago, which has many noticeable Marvel characters solving a murder in the world of fashion.  Check it out with me.

Models Inc.

Billie Piper

So I spent my day off watching the entire first season of Dr. Who.  While I have several nerd interests, this one always stayed off of my radar, but listening to the Nerdist podcast, I couldn't resist how enthusiastic Chris Hardwick, Jonah Ray, and Matthew Myra were about the show, so I gave it a go, and kept going all day.  While the writing to me is the strongest part of the show, another surprise was the female lead, Billie Piper.  Her Rose Tyler is a cheeky, strong willed, and quite attractive.  I showed her to my gorgeous girlfriend, and she described Piper as, "beautiful... even when she's not done up, she's just beautiful"  I'm not sure my girlfriend will like this sci-fi nerdgasm, but she might muscle through it to enjoy the uber witty dialogue, as well as the charm of Piper and Christopher Eccleston.  Here's hoping David Tennant's doctor is just as entertaining.

Fashion Friday

If you're not blinded by the glare off of my dome, enjoy today's outfit... I don't get what this camera does, because, that shirt is really tight on me, but it looks baggy, here... I assure you it isn't.

This was my first ascot, at first I didn't love the pattern, but it has really grown on me, it almost looks like a snake, but I dig it, now.

I got this pocket square at Boomerangs near me for $1.  It's kind of got a christmas vibe and I didn't know when or with what I could wear it, but with the hint of red in the ascot, and all of the other grayscale/black, the pocket square really didn't seem out of place and infused a punch of color and shine.

Living in Style

My beautiful girlfriend came to visit me in Boston this past weekend, and as part of her visit, we went and looked at this gated community we're hoping to live in when she moves here in the spring.  Both of us have been looking at furniture that we can't afford and won't have room for.  When we do move in though, I'll talk about streamlining your living space on a budget, just like I do with my clothes.  Your home should make you feel safe, and comfortable, and be en extension of your style.  This restoration hardware ad is exactly what I want my office to look like some day, except instead of a map behind me, I want a life size portrait of myself in victorian clothing in front of a fireplace.  It's my dream, it's only slightly tongue in cheek.  And if you know any artists that would hook me up, let me know.  Meanwhile, admire this room.  It's simple, minimalistic, and classic.

The Orchestra Helps

I'm going to share a lot of music with you guys.  Sometimes just if the fashion in the video is top notch, like it happens to be in this clip, but also because finding a soundtrack for your life can help you hone your style.  I by no means want anyone out there making sartorial choices based on a genre of music or dressing in a costume.  The link between music and style I would like you all to make, is that feeling you get from a particular song.  For me it started with Tom Waits in high school, one of his songs just makes you feel like you're in an old bar and you're supposed to be wearing a thrift store suit.  Music can give you the confidence to put on that hat and tilt it as effortlessly as Terrance Howard does in this video for his song, Sanctuary.  Take note of how impeccably cool his band looks.

Terrance Howard's album went fairly unnoticed, if not mildly ridiculed.  I thought it had, solid hooks, a consistent sound that seamlessly blended old school and contemporary.  From a fashion standpoint, I loved that Terrance looked at his performing as an opportunity to take his clothing to the next level and he nailed it.  He's a multitalented cat, and this video is bursting with style that really emphasized what I thought was unique about the album, the grand scale of the instrumentation, and the blending and blurring of both genre and era of music style.  His voice is fucking butter on this track, and he shows why you should never buy a clip on bow tie, you don't get to then show off the "late in the evening" untied bow tie look, that looks so casual, and so classy.  I call it, "Dean Martin, the morning after"

Snow Day!

I'm having a rare lazy day, and while, I'm still working on improving my photo quality, I thought I'd just give a quick shot of how to make lazy and casual still look good.

Vidal Sassoon

Vidal Sassoon is the real deal.  He's what Signature Style is all about.  Not just having style, but living style, embracing it, and sharing it with the world.  A man that took his vision and and the aesthetic he found most appealing and started a revolution in the world of hair and fashion.  I can't wait to see this shit.

The Lady Killer

In both music and style, Cee Lo has really come into his own, this man has found his signature.

Nice Ascot!

In the last 6 months I've mustered up the courage to incorporate the ascot into my repertoire.  For someone that has crossed that fine line into "costume" so many time in my past, the ascot was daunting to me, but a few attributes made it an essential addition to my wardrobe.

An ascot commands attention.  Fabric leaping from the chest of the wearer says, "I'm making a sartorial choice that most won't, and for that reason, you should listen to what I have to say, for I am obviously confident and unpredictable".  

I have a bigger frame than a lot of guys, but like a slimmer fitting shirt, so rarely does a shirt collar fit around my neck unless I've had a larger shirt tailored to fit me.  The ascot allows me the opportunity to buy some smaller shirts that fit my torso perfectly with a few buttons undone, and still accessorize it.

An ascot can invoke several different era's of fashion and can add a level of playfulness that you can't get with a tie.  I find myself in a rut sometimes, with my suit, vest and ties, the ascot breaks me out of that rut immediately.

Chuck Bass wears ascots.  That's usually reason enough to wear something.

Right now I own 3 ascots, and they honestly don't get as much attention as the bow ties do, and I think it's because they don't clash as much as a bow tie, they are fluid.  Unless you have drastically contrasting colors, they are purely an enhancing accessory.  With the exception of the Timberlake pic, in which he is wearing black against all light colors, and the Colin Farrell pic, where, he is wearing the ascot more like a loose tie, the ascot is...well...just there.  But it's that nonchalance that can have it be fancy and casual at the same time.

One Dollar Dream

I went shopping yesterday at a local thrift store, Boomerang.  This place is pretty outstanding.  I got a khaki pair of L.L. Bean slacks.  I'm not much for khaki pants, but I have a navy blazer I've been dying to wear, so I needed them.  I got a yellow brooks brothers gingham shirt with blue checks, a purple brooks brothers tiny checked shirt, a few ties I liked, and a brown belt, because my other had finally busted, you'll see all of these in future posts, once I find a good method of photography.  I couldn't wait to share this beauty though, that i got for $1.  I love this pocket square, it's perfect for that navy blazer I talked about....$1...awesome.  A pocket square is such an easy way to break up the monotony of an outfit, and when complimenting a tie, or grabbing a color out of a shirt pattern, it's a great way to say, yes, I have style.  What I love about this specific square is that it can be worn several different ways, and convey different looks.  2 compliments on the pocket square at work today, I was hoping for more, but I'll take it.

Dress Like a Man of the Year

GQ's recent Men of the Year issue named designer Simon Spurr as one of the designers of the year.  Along with sharing my tastes and limited knowledge with you, I am also always trying to find new fashion both in and out of my price range.  I'm all about dressing well without spending a lot, I'm the middle class Chuck Bass, but sometimes, i can't help but share something I assume I'll never be able to afford.  These suits fall into that category.

A plaid suit is definitely on my list of things I need, but the two suits above are making it hard for me to decide how large the gingham should be.   I'm torn.  They both grab attention.

The three piece grey suit is my favorite look right now, I just bought a Brooks Brothers Golden Fleece 3 piece suit from a thrift store recently, and have yet to wear it, this picture makes me want to change that immediately...as well as invest in driving gloves.

Is anyone else compelled to buy an umbrella?   I think it just got added to my "things i need" list.

There's something about a three piece suit that just screams classic and timeless to me, and the fact that you can remove the jacket and still have more than just a shirt and tie on, is appealing to me.  Roger Sterling is a far superior dresser than Don Draper in my opinion.

All images from Simon Spurr's website.

His Mutant Ability is Looking Fucking Dapper...Hers...

The LA Times online posted pictures from Matthew Vaughn's X-Men: First Class.  I'm intrigued by the look of the film, stylistically.  Kevin Bacon looks stellar as Sebastian Shaw.  And holy shit... January Jones as Emma Frost.  Yes, please!

The fashion is subtle, when I heard it was taking place in the 60's I was worried characters were going to look like Austin Powers, and I think Bacon's wardrobe walks just up to the line, but the muted colors keep him from crossing it, and the simple style of the rest of the cast keep Bacon and Jones' outfits grounded.  I'm a huge fan of the X-Men as well as Vaughn as a director (Layer Cake will certainly be discussed here at some point) so I'm for sure looking forward to this one.

By the way, this study makes me wildly envious, I plan to have a room just like this some day.

Work

First order of business will be to improve the quality of my photos, but I just wanted to show my outfit today.  My post about Dhani Jones made me realize how long it had been since I wore a bowtie.  Today, I went simple, black shirt, charcoal suit, lavender paisley bow tie with powder blue plaid pocket square.  I believe I got 3 compliments on the bow tie today.  Not bad at all, the little pops of pastel on an otherwise colorless palate was nice.

Whiskey Lovers Unite in Philadelphia

I highly recommend checking out this event at Bridget Foy's in Philadelphia at 2nd and South.  It's a really classy restaurant with no pretentiousness.  The food is outstanding, and this night sounds amazing.  Five courses, five different whiskeys, only $40.  Seats are bound to fill up quickly, so jump on this, and tell Bridget Adam May said hi... it won't get you anything, but it would still be nice.  Click for more info: Whiskey Tasting at Bridget Foys

The Bow Tie Guy

Dhani Jones is exactly what I'm talking about.  This guy not only has signature style, he has a signature piece.  He took his charm and affinity for wearing bow ties and parlayed it into numerous offseason careers that should have him set up nicely to continue working after he's finished with the NFL.  He's a regular contributor to ESPN and the NFL Network and has a stellar show on The Travel Channel, Dhani Tackles The Globe, in which he jets off to different countries, immerses himself in their culture and then attempts to compete in their national sport.  Just watch it.

As far as fashion goes, he usually keeps it simple, letting the bow tie do most of the talking. As a hairstylist, I also can't ignore how timeless he looks with his hair grown out like that, just classic.  His size also plays a role here, and this is a running theme I'm going to touch on here; using ones body as part of their style.  The dude is 6'1'' 240, not the typical frame you'd expect to see a bow tie on, but that juxtaposition is what makes it work in my opinion.

  Dhani has also turned his signature neckwear into a business.  The majority of his ties are from his own line which you can find at fivestarties.com.   I own one myself, and the quality is outstanding. Unfortunately the site doesn't seem to be up to date, which is a real shame, but hopefully he'll take the time to focus some of his attention on the company, because I need a new bow tie, and you do to.

Johnston and Murphy Polk Tall Lace-Up Boot

I'm about to go to bed, but as usual I'm stuck in my head with a thousand things running around, fighting for dominance. One of those thoughts that jumped out is that I'll be walking through the snow again here in Boston.  Johnston and Murphy, one of my favorite shoe companies is having a clearance sale, and these look perfect to wear at work, but tough enough to trek through the sludge.  They're sweet.

Welcome to Signature Style

My name is Adam Jacob May, I'd like to welcome you to Signature Style, your home for all that is stylish.  I'm not looking to reinvent the bow tie here, just help others like me, who love to get dressed, find their own signature.  Your feedback is welcome, and here's to a more stylish life.

Adam

editors note: We have no explanation for the German dubbing.  It was the only version of the clip available on YouTube.  They are still dapper as hell aren't they