N/Style Journal: A Vineyard Vines Blazer?

While I'll be the first to admit on my off days my Vineyard Vines hat is a go to, outside of that I typically don't wear much of their products. But last week, while strolling through the mall I ventured into their store to checkout their end of season sale. Jokingly I tried on one of their blazers, when to my surprise I found it fit almost perfectly. While I like Vineyard Vines as a brand, I am typically I am not a fan of the frat/college centered prepseters who wear their t-shirts with some cargo shorts and sperry's. Overall I love this blazer, the slim fit, and light cotton/linen blend make it a perfect Summer/Early Fall blazer. It has functional buttons on the sleeves which I always find to be a nice feature.

I styled the blazer here with a Twillory shirt, Brooks Brothers mini-check chinos, Jay Butler Shoes, J.Crew knit tie, Happy Socks, Cotten Brew pocket square, Daniel Wellington watch, and Eye Buy Direct Glasses.

#FoodieFriday: Brunch, with a DJ?

Overview: Upon stepping into Cannon Green I no longer felt like I was in Charleston, but had stepped into a high end restaurant in somewhere such as Boca Raton. The atmosphere, while still retaining some southern charm was incredibly modern and eloquent, with a bit of a fun twist. The back seating/event area (pictured above) was lined with palm trees and fountains and made me feel as though I was strolling through the backyard of a small mansion courtyard. The live DJ set up on the second story balcony was not loud or overwhelming, but added a pleasant upbeat feel to the restaurant that complemented the atmosphere well. 

Food/Drink: For my meal I enjoyed their eggs Benedict, and a couple mimosas. The eggs Benedict had a rich, savory flavor and just the right texture. I found from time to time that when eating some Eggs Benedict the egg can have an unpleasant slime-like texture that is unappealing but I found their dish to be my favorite version so far. 

Atmosphere: It has a very happy/upbeat vibe. I went with my friends on a Sunday around 1pm and it was the perfect meeting spot. We all hung out and shot Instagram photos in the back area(shown below), and for people looking for the perfect food shot the tables were all fairly well lit. 

N/Style Journal: The Preppiest of Shorts

With Summer in full swing we are in the high of shorts season. A departure from the typical tan chino shorts is always a refreshing change, which is were the light hearted brand of Rufus & Royce comes in. With 15 current designs, and 17 set to launch by the end of this week they have become a fast favorite of mine. I pictured above is "The Washingtons", and below "The Midshipmen". Both are well made, comfortable, and made of very light seersucker/cotton. I love the very subtle use of elastic in the waste band, which makes them very comfortable to wear either with or without a belt. 

These are a great buy for the Summer, I would encourage anyone looking for a fun, casual pair of shorts to look into Rufus & Royce! Click here for their website. 

#FoodieFriday: Eleve (Charleston, SC)

Overview: Eleve is a restaurant located on the top floor of the Grand Bohemian Hotel, located in the heart of downtown Charleston, South Carolina. The restaurant has a fantastic atmosphere that leans more toward an upscale vibe. Guest can feel comfortable wearing a blazer or suit, however jeans and a nice shirt would not make you stick out if you are on a more relaxed date night or similar occasion. The menu is Farm-to- Table American cuisine, which I found to gave lots of great options and will satisfy the pickiest of eaters. 

Food/Drink: My meal started with the Calamari, and pomme fries paired with a light rosé. To follow up it up, I ordered the center cut filet mignon with a side of whipped yukon gold potatoes with a nice pinot noir. Overall the filet stood out the most to me, the meat was cooked to a perfect medium/rare. The exterior had a nice crunch and was lightly covered in spices that complemented the meat well. 

Atmosphere: As you can see from the images below, the restaurant has a fantastic open floor plan and outdoor space to sit. After our meal, we sat outside for at least two hours sipping wine and even had some more friends join us there for drinks. The outdoor fireplaces and seating area are ideal for a night out with friends.

N/Style Journal: The Mews

With the vivid Spring colors in full effect, what better way to stand out than a bold-patterned blazer? I love this lightweight blazer from Hickey Freeman. The construction of the jacket is a bit less structured so it can be dressed up, or down. Here I have paired it with a crisp white button-down, and a pair of navy chinos. This look is a bit more dressy, but is still comfortable and can be worn without feeling too pretentious or overly dressed.  

N/Style Journal: The Friday Getaway

As the week draws to a close, what better way to leave work behind than in a Bentley? For this look I wore a navy suit jacket, with a classic Wall Street-inspired blue contrast collar shirt, some white chinos, and, to finish it off, a pair of suede double-monks. The upper half of the outfit has a more upscale look while the bottom half complements well but dresses down the outfit and keeps it young and fun. 

Use promo code "NWILLIAMS15" to receive 15% off your next purchase from DanielWellington.com

Jacket: J. Lindeburg, Shirt: Ledbury Fine Shirt-Makers, Pants: Banana Republic, Shoes: Crosby Square, Watch: Daniel Wellington, Glasses: Ralph Lauren, Sunglasses: Ray-Ban, Car: 2015 Bentley Continental. Photography: Alec Hutchins

N/Style Journal: Denim on Denim

No white pants before Memorial Day? I'm calling bull on that one, after working in New York with publications like GQ, and Vogue no one could answer my question of why this is a rule, and further more agreed it was a silly rule. So I proudly wear these white jeans I recently purchased from Gap. They have stretch technology and have been incredibly light and comfortable after wearing them for a week straight. If you want to add in more denim either a light wash shirt or jacket is a great addition to the outfit. Here I kept the outfit a little more on the smart side with a Ralph Lauren polo, and Cole Haan loafers. 

N/Style Journal: I am Legend

While shooting across from Washington Square park with Emily a few days ago, we found a quiet little row of homes, with beautiful flowers, and trees. Having finished shooting my outfit of the day, I took off my tie and started to shoot her strolling down the side walk. After a few minutes an older Italian gentleman stepped out of his townhouse, and was watching us quite closely. Whilst preparing for what I thought would be a brisk command to leave the area of his sidewalk something strange happened. In a thick Italian accent, made deep with decades of use, he complemented me on my Hickey Freeman blazer. We began to talk about menswear, and after a few minutes of talking he opened the gate and told us we should shoot on his front stoop. Come to find out his townhouse was the very one used in the movie "I am Legend" starring Will Smith, among a host of other movies and TV shows. It was such a cool experience, and I couldn't have picked a better outfit for the occasion, however I do regret removing my tie, as you will note in the first few images. 

The double breasted blazer is by Hickey Freeman, and is made in America. It's become a staple piece in my wardrobe, and I will love it for years to come. The linen pants are by Bonobos, and suede loafers are by Johnston and Murphy. To pull it all together I threw in a white, cut-away collar shirt by Twillory, a green knit tie by Ledbury, and a navy tipped pocket square by Cotton Brew. 

N/Style Journal: Venturing out of downtown

Last week me and a few friends ventured out of our "below-midtown" Manhattan bubble and headed up to explore The Cloisters.  After a fantastic breakfast in the Lower East side at Café Henrie, we made the 45 minute train ride up to the museum and spent the beautiful Spring day exploring. For this look I went with a light brown blazer from J. Crew, paired with a short sleeve polo from Ralph Lauren. This is a casual look that is ideal for Spring/Summer weather. It elevates the casual polo and is a great look for casual events. 

Polo/Belt/Glasses: Ralph Lauren. Pants: Banana Republic, Jacket: J.Crew, Shoes: Johnston & Murphy. 

N/Style Journal: Down in Dumbo

Dumbo(down under the Brooklyn bridge)  is by far one of my favorite areas in the city to explore on a sunny day. For this look I went with a denim blazer, gingham shirt and some light cotton twill pants. This is a fun light look perfect for Summer parties and events. 

Blazer: H. Amer Tailor, Shirt: Brooks Brothers, Pants: J. Crew, Shoes: Johnston & Murphy, Glasses: Ralph Lauren. 

N/Style Journal: Spring Plaid

A big key to dressing well in the warmer months is lighter weight clothes. For this outfit I paired a unlined blazer with some linen pants. When wearing a bold patterned pieces like these pants it's usually best done with worn with shirts/jackets that are solid. This way the outfit doesn't scream for to much attention, but still catches the eye. To finish this look off I threw in some suede drivers by Tods. These are ideally worn sockless in my opinion, but on colder days such as the day we shot this a solid color sock isn't a bad addition. 

Blazer: J. Lindeburg, Pants: Bonobos, Sweater: Banana Republic, Shirt: Brooks Brothers, Shoes: Tods. 

Images: Emily Byrski

N/Style Journal: The Unstructured Double-Breasted Blazer

The unstructured blazer is a must for the warmer months. I love this double-breasted one from Banana Republic. The double-breasted design, paired with peak lapels gives it a more unique look that can easily be dressed up with a dress pant and tie, or thrown on with a tee shirt and jeans. For around $300 (or $190 if you get it during their random sales like I did) its hard to beat. For this look I paired it with some light cotton chinos, and some double monks from Cole Haan. 

Watch: Victoninox Swiss-Army, Pants: Jcrew, Blazer: Banana Republic, Tie: Bows-n-ties.com, Shoes: Cole Haan, Shirt: Brooks Brothers, Pocket Square: Cotten Brew. 

N/Style Journal: Spring Neutrals

With warmer weather rolling in it's finally starting to feel like Spring in the city. For a causal night out I love this chambray blazer. While it isn't unlined, it is a lighter material perfect for Spring/Summer. A pro tip when shopping for suits/blazers for the warmer months try to find lighter materials such as linen and cotton, and then unlined jackets always make for a lighter and more comfortable fit. White cotton pants, while a pain to keep clean are a staple for the warmer months. To finish it off some suede loafers are always a great choice. 

Shoes: Johnston & Murphy, Blazer/pants/sweater: Banana Republic, Watch: Victoninox 

Photography: Emily Byrski

N/Style Journal: Saturday's in Grammercy

Spring weekends in Manhattan are simply the best. Strolling through the beautiful neighborhoods in the lower half of the island, you really get a chance to slow down and enjoy the city. A light cotton sweater, and denim shirt make for a versatile combo that looks great at brunch, but is still comfortable and functional as the day goes on.  Add in a fun pair of navy suede loafers, and cotton chinos and you'll be good to go. For the colder times of the day thrown on a light waxed cotton field jacket to add a little extra warmth. 

Shirt/Pants/Jacket: Brooks Brothers Red Fleece, Sweater: J.crew, Glasses/Hat: Ralph Lauren, Shoes: Johnston & Murphy, Watch: Daniel Wellington, Bracelet: Chan Lulu. 

N/Style Journal: Notes of Green

As Spring starts to roll in, the days grow warmer and longer. It's refreshing to be able to leave my apartment in a blazer without freezing to death. Lighter materials for the warm months, here is my first look for SS16.  

First up is the unlined tan blazer. The one I am wearing is from J. Lindeberg and has been a go to for me the last two summers. It's light and can be dressed up as shown here, or just thrown over a polo. The unlined, more relaxed construction makes it very comfortable and easy to wear in the heat of summer. Another favorite of mine is knit ties. For summer I recommend lighter silk ties, like the one I'm wearing from Ledbury. Nothing is easier to spot than a cheap tie, so be sure to invest in great ties as they will stay with you for sometime. 

I've recently become a bit obsessed with white shirts. I love the cut away collar on this shirt from Twillory. Also the diamond weave cloth makes it very beatable, and gives it a cool texture. Another staple I've talked about in past posts is good chinos. This is the 484 fit from Jcrew, in a light weight cotton. 

Go sock-less smarter by wearing no show socks this Summer. These tassel loafers are also something I've become fond of over the past few weeks. I picked these up from Johnston & Murphy and have loved them so far. It's another staple piece, and goes well with everything from a suit to jeans and a button-down. 

N/Style Journal: Go Ivy

As spring starts to roll in I've started buying specific pieces that will be versatile for the months to come. White sneakers are nothing new, but upgrading from the classic white converse isn't a bad idea. This pair of New Balance sneakers are from Jcrew and I have fallen in love with them. I wear them on the weekends with shorts and chinos, and then during the week I've been known to throw them on with a suit for a more relaxed look. If you have $400+ to spend I would recommend a pair of Common Projects to help stand out from the crowd, but if not these are also a great option for less than $100. 

While I wear them year round, if you don't own a few Nato straps it's time to invest in a few. They are lighter, and more breathable in the summer compared to leather, and steel bands and are just all around more comfortable to wear on a hot summer day. 

I always love including a bracelet or two in my outfits. As a guy I'm really not one to wear to many, but a couple of fun bracelets always add a nice touch. This one from KJP has been a favorite of mine for the last few years. 

These olive cotton chinos from Jcrew are probably my favorite pants at the moment and something I wear all the time. This is a pant that can be worn with a blazer and tie, or with a tee shirt. Fit is everything, this is the 484 which is the slimmest fit Jcrew does.

Finally a good denim/chambray shirt is a must. I've layered it up here, but again this is a foundational piece you can wear with just about anything. The coat and sweater are pieces I've talked about a few times over the last month. As it gets warmer I would still suggest picking up a light rain coat or trench coat for spring. 

N/Style Journal: Ready for Spring

Suit jacket: J. Lindeburg. Pants: Banana Republic. Sweater: Jcrew. Shirt: Brooks Brothers. Pocket Square: Cotten Brew. Shoes: Johnston & Murphy. Glasses: Ralph Lauren. Bag: Pad & Quill

Finally I'm getting to experience NYC in non subzero temperatures. A warm, and sunny day greeted me on Sunday when I set out to shoot with friends in Soho/West Village. Having arrived during the coldest time of the year, it was refreshing to go out without having to bundle up. For this look I wanted something that was semi-formal, but still had an air of fun to it and wasn't to overly pretentious. 

Suit jacket: J. Lindeburg. Pants: Banana Republic. Sweater: Jcrew. Shirt: Brooks Brothers. Pocket Square: Cotten Brew. Shoes: Johnston & Murphy. Glasses: Ralph Lauren. Bag: Pad & Quill

Not new to the blog is my daily bag; the Roll top backpack from Pad & Quill. It's simple design, and quality materials make it a great bag to bring along, and accessories the outfit well. The Johnston & Murphy penny loafers are also a staple shoe that are not new. I do plan to acquire them in a navy suede within the next few weeks to mix it up a bit, as well as a tassel loafer from J&M as well. I threw in a fun fair island print sock from Cole Hann to add a bit of unexpected pattern. 

Suit jacket: J. Lindeburg. Pants: Banana Republic. Sweater: Jcrew. Shirt: Brooks Brothers. Pocket Square: Cotten Brew. Shoes: Johnston & Murphy. Glasses: Ralph Lauren. Bag: Pad & Quill

I chose to go with the minimal, yet elegant Daniel Wellington Dapper Bristol, in rose gold. The thin casing, paired with a nice brown leather strap give the watch a note of understated class which doesn't come off as gaudy. It's the one of the best watches you can get for under $300, and definitely my top pick. 

Suit jacket: J. Lindeburg. Pants: Banana Republic. Sweater: Jcrew. Shirt: Brooks Brothers. Pocket Square: Cotten Brew. Shoes: Johnston & Murphy. Glasses: Ralph Lauren. Bag: Pad & Quill

I wanted to convay a simple, and look on top so I simply paired a rich navy suit jacket, with a tan shawl collar sweater and white button down. The sweater offsets the contrast of the white and navy, and also adds a nice texture to the mix. The floral pocket square adds a fun pop of pattern while remaining fairly understated.  

N/Style Journal: Brooklyn Bridge Stroll

Coat/sweater: Banana Republic. Shirt/Pants: Brooks Brothers Red Fleece. Hat/Glasses: Polo Ralph Lauren. Shoes: Johnston & Murphy. 

Each weekend I try to explore a different area of this big city I'm calling home for the time being. This week I headed out with some friends and shot around the Brooklyn Bridge area.  

I've started to simplify my wardrobe over the last few months, and returning to the basics. I made the common mistake when first building my wardrobe of buying a lot of accent pieces, but neglected the everyday basics that make up a solid closet. Over Christmas I bought three colors of this Banana Republic sweater. The fit is perfect, and it is easy to layer with a suit, or just wear with jeans.

Sweater: Banana Republic. Shirt/Pants: Brooks Brothers Red Fleece. Hat/Glasses: Polo Ralph Lauren. Shoes: Johnston & Murphy. Braceletes: KJP. Watch: Daniel Wellington.  

Pairing the sweater with a classic gingham shirt from Brooks Brothers Red Fleece collection adds a pop of subtle color/pattern without overpowering the rest of the outfit. The chinos (also from Brooks Brothers Red Fleece collection) are staple in my wardrobe and something I have gotten a lot of diversity out of. The slim, but not skinny fit works well with a casual outfit like this, or a blazer on date night. 

Sweater: Banana Republic. Shirt/Pants: Brooks Brothers Red Fleece. Hat/Glasses: Polo Ralph Lauren. Shoes: Johnston & Murphy. Bracelets: KJP, Watch: Daniel Wellington. 

To finish off the look I threw in a navy wool overcoat by Banana Republic, and a pair of sheepskin penny loafers by Johnston and Murphy. Both pieces are incredibly versatile, and I have gotten a lot of mileage out of them over the past few months. 

Coat/sweater: Banana Republic. Shirt/Pants: Brooks Brothers Red Fleece. Hat/Glasses: Polo Ralph Lauren. Shoes: Johnston & Murphy. 

Overall this is a really great look, and something you could wear most days of the week. Truth be told, I've discovered as a guy I dress better when I have fewer options, that fit great and mix and match easily. Most of my wardrobe consists of navy, and grey simply because they go so well together. Figuring out what colors work best on you makes the process of creating a wardrobe much easier.   

N/Review: Pad & Quill Roll Top Leather Backpack

Upon moving to NYC at the beginning of the year, I started using my backpack everyday. After years of faithful service however, my LL Bean backpack was dated, and made me look like a high school student. So in the search for the perfect "grown-up" backpack I found this one by Pad and Quill. 

After owning it for a few weeks, the leather has begun to break and become soft to the touch. I use this as my everyday bag, and have been able to fit: an extra pair of loafers(size 12), camera, laptop+charger, DSLR camera w/ 2 lenses, speedlite, and a extra pants. 

When it comes to build quality, it really doesn't get much better than this. The leather is  full-grain, tumbled American Bridle leather and after being broken in feels soft to the touch. The hardware is beautifully constructed and is made out of solid nickel, and the hand pounded copper rivets are a very nice touch. The bags are all hand crafted, and signed by the artist who made it. While the straps are not padded, I found it fairly comfortable to wear for several hours at a time. 

All in all this is a really great bag. It's simple design is aesthetically pleasing and I receive complements on it frequently. For a price of $319 I think you are getting more than your moneys worth. The bag has a 25 year warranty, so you can rest assured that you will be taken care of for the life of the bag. I have been very pleased with this product and would highly recommend it to others. 

N/Journal: My First Month in NYC

A month ago I took a huge leap out of my comfort zone, and moved to the biggest city in the US. I had never visited New York, nor lived on my own before. Back in November when I received an offer to move up for a few months to work as a marketing intern in Manhattan I felt a mixture of fear and excitement. Fear because I would be leaving my friends and family behind for and excitement because I knew it was a fantastic opportunity to further my education, and help set me up for a great carrier in the marketing and PR industry. 

Upon completing my first month here, I have discovered my ability to adapt to new environments. I'm subletting a bedroom in a large apartment in Brooklyn with 5(yes 5) roommates who are some of the kindest people you could meet in this city. Before moving here I had only taken the subway in DC a couple of times, but it has now become a part of my everyday life. Having no car has been a large adjustment, and I will have to admit I greatly miss my heated leather seats when I'm fighting for a seat on the train in the morning. 

After working as a freelance creative artist for the last few years, one of the hardest things I've had to adapt to is working in an office all day. Prior to moving up here I frequently envied people who got to work in an office and have the team element of co-workers. After a few weeks of rediscovering the structure of a work day I have come to enjoy certain aspects of an office. I feel blessed to be at such a great firm, with so many kind people willing to help teach me. 

In conclusion: Success is rarely something that is found in your comfort zone. To move forward in life, and achieve your dreams you must first jump off a cliff. At first you won't fly, and you will flop around, hit your head, and in every way feel like a you're going to fail. At a certain point you can chose to give up, and at that point you will in fact fail, but to those who keep going and don't give up your parachute will open, and you will find success(Steve Harvey said part of that). I will be the first to admit, at this point I've jumped and I'm still waiting for my parachute to open. God has blessed me so much, and since moving here I have met so many great people. I have a small friend group, and have gotten plugged into a great church(Hillsong NYC if you're in the area and want to visit). While I don't know where I'm going, I know one thing; God does. My faith has gotten me thus far, and I can assure you I have no plans of slowing down anytime soon. If anything, this city invigorates you to want to push harder, and go farther. New York is a competitive monster, that will either make you, or break you. The key is always to take things one day, one hour, and one minute at a time. Celebrate the small victories, and don't let the failures get you down. I'm more determined, and focused than ever before, and cannot wait to see what these next few months hold.