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As many of you may know, I was in NYC earlier this week for men's market week (new things in store for autumn/winter, fellas...) and also a healthy dose of wandering/shopping.

It will be a surprise to no one that New York is a hyper fashionable city but what did surprise me was that even though Toronto is geographically close to New York (the New York of the north, if you will), there seemed to be a great difference in what the men of NYC were wearing compared to our own boys.

photo: Details

Out for dinner with friends on Tuesday we were talking menswear - not surprisingly as it was the main reason for my visit - and, more specifically, the rise in New York of a very gentleman-like style.  We watched guys pass by wearing tweeds, wools and page boy hats, short cuffed trousers and suspenders (and a refreshing lack of plaid, I will mention).  Not dressed for "going out" but just dressed. Properly.

photo: Details

As we talked it struck me that although fashion has become global and democratized, to some extent (thank you, street style blogs), the style of the male new yorker is still much different than his Toronto counterpart.  Perhaps only temporarily, and perhaps only because New York is a much more sartorially adventurous city but, whatever the reason, these boys looked good in a different way from how Toronto boys look good.

And so very vintage-inspired! Tweeds, knits, ties, hats - oh my!  Ralph Lauren has even created a new retail concept store that caters to these tweed wearing dandies called RRL:

 

Packed full of vintage memorabilia and enough Harris tweed to keep the Scottish weavers employed for years, the stores are nonetheless beautiful spaces. Of course our good friend Ralph charges a small fortune for things easily sourced at Dalston Grey but the point is dress like a gentleman.  This is such a welcome departure from the work wear trend.  And beyond fashionably on point, gentlemanly layers are super warm and a pertinent point on such a blustery day.

As inspired as I was, I've restocked our tweeds, brought in some new sweaters, ties and just the most handsome suspenders a fella could want.

photo: who is bobb parris

ps. for more tweed-o-riffic looks check out these images from Ralph Lauren's tweed Run last fall in Covent Garden, London.