Introducing Burke Hair's Guide to Style

By: Burke Hair*


The Burke Hair Guide to Fashion is dead.  Rising from its grave, like some impossibly strong zombie**, is Burke Hair's Guide to Style. Now I know what you're thinking, "But Burke, where will I get all my up-to-the-week fashion tips?" From Burke Hair's Guide to Style.


"Whaaaaa?"


That's right, the BHGF has been taken behind the shed, Old Yeller style, but BHGS will be so much more.  It will offer my takes on not only fashion, but other style related endeavors as well.


"Thank you so much."


You're welcome.


In summary, I have dropped the "the" and added a possessive apostrophe because I'm more efficient in 2011, and I have changed "fashion" to "style" because I want to be able to transition my brand into offering exciting new products, such as my forthcoming line of embroidered pillows, coming this spring exclusively at Target.


This is the beginning of an empire, people.

-

John Stockton was the last person to
successfully wear short shorts in
the NBA. He was also one of the dirtiest
players in the history of sport.

Shortened pants, as shorts are formally known, are probably one of the last things you are currently thinking about if you: 1) live in the northern hemisphere; 2) Live somewhere with real seasons as opposed to a magical wonderland in which the weather is pleasant all year long***; and 3) Are not one of those winter-short-wearing-crazies.  But I just happen to have shorts on my mind.

In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., the NBA had most of its teams play games, at all times of the day, this past Monday.  Because the best way to celebrate Dr. King's legacy is by inconveniencing a mostly black league for the enjoyment of its mostly white audience.  Or something like that, I don't know, I wasn't alive during the civil rights movement.

When your shorts are this long they
become either baggy flooding pants or
baggy capris, two things that are not cool.

Anyway, as I watched the Chicago Bulls compete athletically with the Memphis Grizzlies, I thought to myself how short length has changed over time.  Transport me back 30 years and I'm watching a bunch of guys running around in shorts that are always one slip away from being the ultimate 'wardrobe malfunction.'  Today, shorts hang down around the knee, and I wonder, what are we hiding?  Is this what progress looks like?

Like many things, however, short length is cyclical. 

Currently, knee-length shorts are common among men, unless you are into certain parts of the rap game, particularly in the south, in which much longer shorts are often seen.  But just 30 years ago, genital-hugging shorts were all the rage among even modest men.  If we look even further into the past, our nation's founding fathers wore shortened pants that cut off at the knee****, which is a length that is popular today.

I really want to call these pantaloons but
I don't think that would be historically
accurate, and if there's one thing I'm all
about, it's historical accuracy.

Short length is cyclical = Proven.

Now that we agree on that, I think it is time that we think about shifting the cycle back toward shorter shorts. Men, why are you denying yourselves the supreme comfort and range of motion that your body yearns for and that tiny shorts can offer? Why let only women enjoy the pleasures of minuscule outerwear and uninhibited thighs?

The time for the short shorts revolution is now.  Someone yells out into the world, "Who wears short shorts?" I want you to stand proudly, thigh-hair flowing in the breeze, "I wear short shorts."

You wear short shorts.

-

* As always, a disclaimer is in order: My (Burke Hair) views contained in this post are my own and are not necessarily shared by this blog or Annaleah Garing.

** In his book The Zombie Survival Guide, Max Brooks points out how silly the depiction of a graveyard filled with walking dead crawling up from their graves really is.  Think about it, a zombie is only as strong as the human that it used to be, and no human could ever crawl up to the service under six feet of soil.  The weight of all that soil would prove too great an obstacle.

*** I understand that there are non-magical places like this that exist but I choose to not believe in them because winter in Chicago lasts for approximately 16 months.

**** I'm not sure they were really shorts because you had to wear them tight, like pants, and with some long stocking-like socks but they definitely count as shorts in my book, Burke Hair's Guide to Style.

A Splash of Color

When I think of spring and adding color to my wardrobe, I think of Prabal Gurung. He is someone that everyone should become familiar with.

Gurung was a 2010 CFDA Vogue Fashion Fund finalist who has made a name for himself.  He started his fashion career at New Delhi's National Institute of Fashion Technology.  Afterward, he traveled around the globe until 1999 when he decided to move to New York.  In the Big Apple he interned at Donna Karan, worked with Cynthia Rowley's design team, and was the design director at Bill Blass until Gurung decided to start his own company.

His Spring 2011 collection is filled with rich, bold colored looks that have some type of movement or extra detailing, which adds a bit of excitement to every outfit.  Just take a look for yourself!

prabalgurung.com: Spring '11

prabalgurung.com: Spring '11

prabalgurung.com: Spring '11 

prabalgurung.com: Spring '11

Chanel's New It Girl

Blake Lively has become the new Chanel ambassador. She joins the list of Chanel ambassadors which include, Keira Knightly, Georgia May Jagger, and Nicole Kidman.  

Lagerfeld says "she's a kind of American dream girl" and the photo shoot "was an easy job because everyone fell in love with her."  Maybe you'll fall in love with her too when the new ad campaign comes out.

Vogue.com

Vogue.com

Vogue.com

Mix It Up: Part 1

Start off the new year by making a statement and mixing prints and textures into your outfits. Think of this as a new year's resolution to add some personality into your wardrobe. 

This is a resolution that is about you and what makes you feel great about yourself. I've put together some examples of how to incorporate prints and textures into an outfit, and now all you need to do is try!

A printed dress is the best way to begin wearing prints.  Printed dresses are easy to wear because shoes and accessories are the only missing pieces.

Vogue editor Valerie Boster is wearing a printed dress gathered at the waist to define her figure.  Something as simple as a printed dress will help you stand out in a room.

Vogue.com

If a printed dress is too much for you to begin with, a printed skirt or shirt is another way to add print to your wardrobe.  Something like this can easily be worn with a solid top or bottom.  The Aqua skirt below is filled with color and can be worn with either a solid blue, black, or red top.

bloomingdales.com: Aqua $88

Texture is another way to mix up a simple outfit.  The Banana Republic skirt shown below is a black skirt with subtle detailing at the bottom to create a different yet wearable look to work.  A skirt like this can be worn with a suit jacket, dress or printed shirt because the color is neutral and the detailing is not overwhelming. 

Banana Republic.com $69.99

Tweed is another way to add texture to a basic outfit.  Zoe Saldana, shown below, paired a tweed coat with jeans and a white t-shirt to complete her look for the Kid's Choice Award.

Bellmel.com

This Chanel inspired tweed coat can essentially be worn with anything from a dress to leggings, to give it a feminine touch.

celebrityfashion.onsugar.com

fabsugar.com

With any fashion trend, make sure you feel confident in what you're wearing.  Confidence is key to pulling off any look and is always in style.

The BHGF: Man Bags

Guest Contributor: Burke Hair*

This week, my associate Annaleah wrote about bags for the ladies.  From some pictures I have recently seen, I think some people might be confused. And by "some people" I mean men and by "confused" I mean think that they can carry around purses. Allow me to put forth some evidence:

You can pull this off when you are a fashion designer.
Apparently at this point, Marc Jacobs can pretty much wear whatever he wants.  Notice the kilt.

I'm guessing this guy thought he was
carrying a messenger bag.
 Sorry, but I won't call anything this tiny
and purse-like a messenger bag.
At this size, I will label that an "old man purse."

Tom, man.  Why do you have to do things like this?

That's just a pair of pants on his...Wait a second, that's a purse!
Nice try, purse wearing guy.  

The only way you could pull off carrying a bag like this is if you are on a
dangerous, treasure-promising expedition.
Adventuring archeologists need bags like this.  You don't.

This is why Americans don't like soccer. 

Worse than carrying your girlfriend's purse:
Carrying her extra, larger purse.

There are only a couple types of bags that a man should be carrying around. The basic rule of thumb for this is that if it looks like a purse, it is a purse. Or murse (man purse).

This is what you look like whenever you wear a
string backpack, men.

Backpacks are an acceptable form of bag if you are a student or in some sort of casual attire.  String backpacks are not acceptable. 

Messenger bags are acceptable as long as they are in solid colors and roughly briefcase size (big enough to carry a large laptop).

Briefcases are a bold move, and should only be bandied about if you wear a suit and are an important person. Nice ways to accessorize with a briefcase include slicked back hair, an expensive watch, and engaging in predatory lending practices.

An athletic bag can be carried around but only if you are preparing to, or have just finished, participating in athletic endeavors.

When traveling, you can carry around luggage that can pretty much look like anything.  Traveling is one of the times in which you are allowed to carry whatever bag it takes to get the job done.  I probably won't pass judgment on you for your luggage choices.

To summarize: If you view yourself as a rugged, masculine individual (much like myself), don't carry a purse.  

*Disclaimer: Burke Hair's views on fashion are his own and are not shared by this blog or Annaleah Garing.  In fact, this blog is appalled by his fashion sense. To avoid being the laughing stock of the fashion world, you should probably do the opposite of everything that he says.

More Than Just A Bag, An Investment

Buying a bag every other week can put a hole in your pocket. But handbags can become an investment when you buy quality bags of various sizes.  The different sizes are used for different occasions, such as doing errands or going to the gym. Purchasing quality handbags will cost you the same as buying many of the same size bags.  Having a lot of bags will do you no good if you forget that you own them because they are stored away or because you're too lazy to keep switching.

An ideal handbag collection would comprise of a small, medium, and large sized bag.

Small bags are great when you are running errands or going out. This Marc by Marc Jacobs crossbody bag allows your hands to be accessible when you're out and about.

bloomingdales.com: Marc by Marc Jacobs $198

This Coach Top Handle Pouch can be transformed from a shoulder bag to a wristlet. The shoulder bag is used during the day, and when converted to a wristlet it can then be used for going out.

Coach.com: $138

Medium sized bags are best for everyday use because you are able to put anything from your lipgloss, coin purse, or camera in there and still have room for a large wallet. This Kate Spade bag has a top zipper so there is no need to worry about anything falling out.

Katespade.com: Kate Spade $172

If you want a medium sized bag with a longer strap, then this Marc Jacobs Quilted bag is suited for you.  The bag has ample room but is not too big to use for a night out or for everyday use.  Since it has a longer strap, you would have enough room around your arm when you wear a large winter coat.

bloomingdales.com: Marc Jacobs $795

Large bags allow you to pack the extra bulky stuff, such as ballet flats or heels to change into when it snows outside.  The Kate Spade bag below has a divider in the middle to help keep you organized when you bring your whole house with you.

Katespade.com: Kate Spade $445

The Longchamp Le Pilage Nylon Tote is a great investment because it is easy to clean and large enough to put a pair of shoes, wallet, and any cosmetics in. It comes in an array of colors such as black, brown, violet, and red.

Bloomingdales.com: Longchamp $145

So when purchasing a pricey handbag, think about it as an investment.  It's better to have a couple quality ones than a bunch of cheap imitations. 

Dos and Don'ts: Leggings

I think that every fashion blogger, writer, or executive has discussed the dos and don'ts of  leggings, but I don't think everyone has received the message because women are still wearing leggings as pants. Leggings are not pants, they are an accessory located in the hosiery department.  

Every now and then, I see women wearing leggings that are either made with a sheer material or worn with a short top.  These two fashion don'ts, highlight all your flaws and expose every bit of your bottom to the world, and I'm doubtful that you want to be doing that.

glamour.com

http://laurenroseyt.blogspot.com/

Follow these dos to prevent any fashion mishaps.

Do wear thick, dark colored leggings. Thicker leggings will flatter rather than outline your flaws.  Also, darker colored leggings are more forgiving because dark colors give the illusion that thighs and hips are smaller than what they actually are.

bloomingdales.com: Hue $25

Do wear a loose top.  A loose top will balance out the outfit rather than making you look like your outfit was painted on because your leggings and top are as tight as can be.

Bloomingdales.com: Juicy Couture $228

Bloomingdales.com: Free People $128

Do wear a longer top that covers your bottom, whether it's a cardigan or basic tee.  The world is not interested in how round or flat your butt is, so cover it up.

Bloomingdales.com: Aqua $188

americanapparel.net: $18

Do have fun with leggings of different textures and prints, as long as they are a dark shade.

http://www.collegefashion.net

justjared.buzznet.com