When Bonobos came to me to ask
if I’d be interested in sharing some men’s fashion, I felt a bit
unqualified for the task, even though I’m a big fan of the brand. The next day
I was responding to my husband’s “what can I wear that I don’t need to iron?”
and had my ‘aha’ menswear moment. Not only do I help select clothing for my well-dressed
husband, but I have bought him or linked pinkies with him while he purchased
almost everything he owns, including some of his favorite shirts which are by
Bonobos.

I’m excited to share not only
the Bonobos fall men’s suit collection
(ahem, and it’s models) but also some insight from their creative team about
getting dressed up and the male (fashion)mind. Thanks to the Bonobos Creative Team
for answering all of my questions!

P.S. The new fall collection is a bit more formal, why do you feel now is a good
time to introduce a slightly more dapper look to men?

Bonobos: Guys are finally starting to
care about how they look and dress more than ever before. For the longest time
it was this area of ill-fitting denim and oversized shirts, which never look
good. I think guys finally just got to a point where they were ready to find
things that fit them and looked good.

P.S. I feel that, especially for men, fashion is becoming more
tech-savy and vice versa. How has Bonobos embraced this?

Bonobos: Bonobos specifically was built
on an e-commerce platform so the tech aspect has always been ingrained in our
DNA and how we present our clothing to this new way of retail. While we don’t
have any clothing that’s going to buzz and whistle when something happens, we
like the idea of incorporating stealth technology into our clothes like adding
a slanted interior pocket into our blazers to make it easier to access items.
Or even adding removable lining in our parkas to make the jacket a piece that
works for the cooler fall temperatures and the frigid weather of winter.  

P.S. Genius! My husband will love that.
I think that guys like dressing up just as much as women do, even if it’s just
more than jeans and a tee. How do you recommend adding an element to raise the
bar on a guy’s everyday look?

Bonobos: You can never go wrong with a
blazer, it instantly elevates an outfit. If you’re looking to add a bit of
color, 5-pocket cords in a seasonal color are a great option. Also just a nice
pop from a pocket square too.

P.S. : So, my brother-in-law is very
much the type to own one black suit that will be worn for decades. But the
other day he said he wanted something other than a black suit, and went out and
bought a suit with a green/gray color. This surprised me. What do you recommend
for men who usually just stick to wearing black suits?

Bonobos: f you’re typically a black
suit guy, try another classic color like navy or grey. They actually are much
more versatile than a black suit most times and work with any season.

P.S. My husband wears Bonobos and is
definitely well-dressed (I take only partial credit!). However there’s still a
struggle with what to wear every day to his job in the tech industry. Any
advice?

Bonobos: It all depends on the company
environment and culture really. You truly can never go wrong with a dark pair
of denim, an oxford shirt and a blazer though. If his company is more casual
than that, pair that blazer with a clean, ironed t-shirt for an even more
dressed down look.

P.S. That’s great advice. In terms
of wearing a suit and really getting dressed up, how do men dress differently
between East Coast, West Coast, and the Midwest?

Bonobos: I think each region, much like
any individual, has their own style or way they interpret fashion. However, I
don’t think that necessarily means any one region dresses different than the other. One person in the Midwest might dress similarly to a
person on the East coast. I think it’s dependent on what clothing you think
speaks to your style and own day-to-day life.

P.S. Any tips for men shopping at
Bonobos.com that can’t make it into one of the Guideshops?

Bonobos: If you’d like to still get that
personal styling advice like we provide in our Guideshops, I would recommend
using our eGuide service. Free of charge and a great way to get all the style
and fit tips you may need. If you got a handle on dressing though, I recommend
buying a few things in various fits and sizes to ensure you’re finding your
perfect fit.

P.S. Last question, I think it’s
important for my husband and I to coordinate when getting dressed up for an
event but definitely not match. What’s your take on this?

Bonobos: While I don’t think it’s
totally necessary to coordinate these days, if you are going to do this, I
would recommend sticking to a somewhat neutral color palette as these colors
always work with each other. Then let your personal style take over and go from
there.