Why Styling Means Everything

 
Styling is not just what stylists do. They do it, of course, but "styling" means how things are put together. We style ourselves every day, with or without a stylist's help. How you style an outfit can make it sing...or sit in a corner.

That truth walked the runway in L.L.Bean's show at Men's Fashion Week in New York City.

L.L.Bean! The venerable sporting wear company founded in 1912, predictable as the day is long. The L.L.Bean look of classic, utilitarian gear sometimes veers close to fashion but usually is not. It's just there—dependable and never-changing.

Evidently L.L.Bean toyed with tweaking the brand before, but the results (mostly in fit) were barely noticeable. Burberry was first of the old guard to do it, hiring Christopher Bailey in 2001. Look at them now—major players in the fashion pantheon. And remember, once upon a time Gucci was just leather goods.

L.L.Bean hasn't thrown the baby out of the canoe, but their collaboration with Todd Snyder, shown this week on their first runway outing, looks freshandnew. Nothing is revolutionary so much as styled in new ways.

This is such a scrumptious display of sartorial splendor, I am going to let 42 pictures speak 1,000 words:

Yes, these make better postage stamps than style guides, but I urge you to cut-and-paste: www.thefashionisto.com/collection/todd-snyder-fall-2020-menswear/
to view in greater detail. There are lots of ideas to steal.

If you love Gentlewoman Style (the sophisticated version of "Annie Hall"), you can put these styling tips to play with clothing you no doubt already own. Or you can rethink your existing wardrobe and give it a lift, especially during these late-winter doldrums. And I do mean ladies here. Whether the men will actually cotton to it will have to be seen.

A few points:
> Notice how pants are cuffed or "juusshed". Your socks become important here, and socks are an inexpensive way to have fun.
> Layers—a t-shirt, a turtle, a button-down—add pops of color and texture. We all know layers are the best way to keep cozy.
> Pattern mixing—there are THREE different plaids in this ensemble. They work together due to similar shades of green.

> Details that unite—The cuffs and sweater sleeve pick up the ochre. The shoelaces (shoelaces!) reflect the pattern in the sweater.

> A hint is sometimes enough—a bit of camo peeking out of the collar, a slice of graphic tee layered under.

The more you look, the more you see...

Why the fuss? Well, reliable sources (ie GQ magazine) predict Preppy is due for a comeback in a big way (though it's never really been gone).  According to their creative director, Jim Moore, "It has to be just the right preppy, but you can feel it coming." I know more than a few gals who will be very happy to hear that.