Frank and Oak - Outfits

 Frank & Oak shirt, raw silk tie, and Breton stripe sweater

Paul Stuart sport coat

C & B cotton pocket square

Polo ivory cotton trouser

Merona red socks

Cole Haan black suede slippers

Frank & Oak shirt and tie

Paranzino's linen/wool blazer

C & B silk pocket square

Polo navy cotton trouser

Austen Heller red suede mocs

Frank and Oak - Del Mar Shirt in Currant

The red, white and blue theme continues with this striped shirt from Frank & Oak. I remember my dad wearing a shirt just like this throughout my childhood, which is what most drew me to this updated version. The Frank & Oak fit is refreshingly slim, with a narrow collar and cuff to match a slim (but never skinny) tie. Though it's hard to tell how long a piece will hold up after wearing only twice, the quality here seems solid. Overall, at $45, I'd call the Del Mar shirt, or any other Frank & Oak shirt, a worthwhile investment. Tomorrow, I'll be sharing some of my outfit combinations of the past week using my new Frank & Oak goods.

Frank and Oak - Saint Tropez Cotton Sweater

Another key addition to my summer wardrobe just arrived, in the form of this Breton Stripe sweater. An iconic piece of fashion history, this classic has always been in style, produced from brands like Target and Gap to Gucci and Ralph Lauren. Usually marked as a boating sweater or simply a nautical sweater, the Breton Stripe belongs in every man's wardrobe. The Frank & Oak Saint Tropez version is a very lightweight, 100% cotton option worth considering. I particular like the notched crewneck, a feature I've yet to see on similar sweaters. After wearing mine all day July 4th then sleeping in it to test for shape retention and pilling, I woke up pleasantly surprised. Most cheap sweaters show themselves as such after one wearing, but the quality I'd expected from Frank & Oak held true. No stretching. No pilling. Honestly, I like this sweater so much I'll be wearing it on a regular basis from now on, which is saying something given that my current knitwear count is around two hundred. Speaking of numbers, the Saint Tropez sweater currently costs $70. It might not be the cheapest nautical sweater on the market, but you're buying a quality, classic piece of menswear that can last a lifetime.

Frank and Oak - Ties

As you may know, I'm kinda obsessed with ties, with about 400 currently in rotation. In the past few years, I've filled my collection with paisleys, foulards and stripes, but only recently have I taken the time to expand my solid and dotted tie assortment.

First up is the Logan Raw Silk Tie in Ruby. Though I'd call it more persimmon than ruby, the slubbing in this tie will add depth to any outfit, any time of year. We often overlook the visual weight of an outfit in terms of texture. Sure, it's easy to count the number of patterns we can use cohesively, but fabric texture is just as crucial in forming a solid look. Raw silk pairs perfectly with lightweight linen in summer and tough twill in winter. (I know... triple alliteration in a single sentence. Damn. There it was again.) This tie is a bargain at $32... so much so that it's currently sold out.

Round two: the Printed Cotton Tie in Navy Polka Dot. Somehow, I was yet to own such a quintessential tie until this wonderful piece from Frank & Oak came my way. Every guy owns blue/white striped shirts. This has forever been the standard of workwear, and a blue/white polka dot tie is just as timeless. Unless you're wearing a polka dot shirt, this sort of tie pairs with just about anything and runs only $28.

Quality? After wearing these ties all day, each of the past two days, I'm quite happy. Well sewn and solidly constructed, these ties provide substantial knots. Also, they quickly come back to form after being unknotted.

Frank and Oak Preview

I recently unboxed some wonderful goods, courtesy of Frank & Oak, a menswear retailer based out of Montreal. Offering affordable style from shirts and pants to jackets and ties, Frank & Oak provides shoppers with quality options on a budget.Given that it's summer and July always brings forth my inner patriot, I picked out several items of red, white and blue. Over the next few days, I'll be sharing each piece with you in various outfits. Happy Independence Day, my fellow Americans, and cheers to you all! Now, I'm off to eat, drink, swim, and read the entire Declaration of Independence. Seriously, it's a tradition I recommend to all.