QUALITY QUALITY QUALITY

Hello All,
Thank you for checking out the SQUAD CLOTH blog post this week!

This week has been another slow week, but I did find a model for some shirts so I can take photos soon for the R.I.P. tie dye button downs.  I have sketched a good amount this week and I am planning to take a fashion sketching class this upcoming Spring semester, so I can make the next step in design.

Also I am hoping to learn how to make patterns for sewing so that I can start making some of my own designs.  

As a young adult I understand the desire to have a lot of different clothes so that you always have something fresh to wear, but the reality is no one my age has the money or closet space to purchase an extensive amount of clothing.  That is why my style tip for this week is more of a buying tip if anything.  QUALITY QUALITY QUALITY is what clothing is all about.  It is much more logical to buy less clothing with better quality because if you examine the cost per wear (cost of garment / # of wears = cost per wear) of each garment you will get much more life out of a piece and save money in the long run.  While your cost per outfit (cost of each garment in an outfit added together) will be more expensive initially, you will eventually see the benefits of purchasing less for more.  Yes you will have less clothes, but the clothes that you do have will fit you better and look nicer for longer.  For example, say you are in the market for a new jacket and you would like it to be a bomber jacket.  If you would decide to take the cheaper route you could buy the Navy Mirco Twill Producer Suit from www.express.com for about $350.  This will be a good looking suit for a cheap price, allowing you possibly purchase another suit for the same price.

Cost per wear for 50 wears would be $7 dollars for this Express suit.  Now, if you take the road less traveled and buy a better quality suit for a higher price you should get more wears out of the garment.  Let's say you purchase the Duckie Brown Gentleman Suit for $695 retail (currently 33% off for $465.65) at http://shop.nordstrom.com.

Cost per wear for the retail price of $695 over the duration of 150 wears (we can assume that the high quality suit will last longer, which is the reason for the extra 100 wears) is $4.6 dollars.  Nordstrom's will also offer free tailoring for your suit, which is a service that Express will not offer.  The importance of tailoring is that your suit will fit you better, which will make you look better than a suit that is "close enough" to your body's dimensions.  I would recommend you do the math on all clothing purchases you make by asking "Will it make more sense to buy a less quality garments or buy more quantity garments?".  Lastly, do your homework and find out what good quality is before you shop, just because something is expensive does not necessarily make it any high quality.

Thank you for reading and check back in next week for the latest SQUAD CLOTH blog post.  HOME OF THE FULLGROWN.

OVERSIZED

Hello All,
Thanks for checking out SQUAD CLOTH'S blog post this week!

SQUAD has been set back this week unfortunately because the Ohio area codes shirt has been delayed until after the holidays.  Printer progress has slowed and the shirts I ordered for the design have not come in yet, which is the main reason for the date being pushed back.  So, next month I will be making the area codes shirt as well as the original fullgrown shirt in black instead of the previous white colorway.  I am considering making the fullgrown shirt a pre-order only so I am not stuck with a lot of stock to sell.

A trend that has been popular this year is wearing oversized tops with skinny or slim fitted bottoms.  Personally this is one of my favorite trends because I have always loved wearing baggy t-shirts since that is how skateboarders tend to wear their shirts.  Also, wearing longer shirts covers up any underwear that might be showing from slouched pants, which is the true reason I am in love with this trend.  I always have my underwear showing so wearing baggy oversized clothing on top helps me out a lot.  This style can be worn by both men and women to look very stylish.  For men I would recommend an oversized sports jersey, baggy vintage sweater, or the new long and drapey (street wear goth style) shirt from stores like pac sun and urban outfitters for fairly cheap prices.

Women should wear a simple knit sweater and pair that with some yoga pants (for the basic bitches) or jeans.  Simply add a pair of flats, or heels and a clutch to match for an outfit that will show that you can put subtle outfits together that make a fashion statement.

These are just suggestions, but the great thing about this trend is that you can really play around with it by just trying on baggy tops and seeing if they provide you with the look you are trying to achieve.

I appreciate everyone who check out the blog post this week and check back next week for more from SQUAD CLOTH.  HOME OF THE FULLGROWN.

Destroyed Denim

Hello All,
Thanks for checking out this week's blog post from SQUAD CLOTH!

SQUAD has been a little stagnant because I have been busy with finals and my printer has been swamped with work.  So, I am going to hopefully get another printer to quickly produce the Ohio area codes shirt.  When I get back to Ohio from San Diego I will be putting the tags in the tie dye dipped button downs and putting them on the website for purchase.  Over my winter break I am also planning to do an update to the website and take a lot more photos of all the gear.  I have sketched a lot this week though and while my work still needs improvement, my progression is very visible compared to day one.

I wanted to talk about something that I have been doing for about a year now that is really beginning to gain popularity once again.  Extremely destroyed and distressed denim is back once again, which is awesome because I love this style.  The nice thing about extremely destroyed jeans is that you do not have to pair them with other intricate or complex pieces because the jeans can be the center piece of the outfit.  While you can wear shirts with prints and other things of that nature, I feel that a minimalistic approach to your outfit is the best way to go in this case.  I would go with a light washed pair of destroyed jeans with a neutral colored basic shirt and shoes, allowing the holes in the jeans to really attract the eye.  Having all the holes in the winter can be chilly for you legs, but thats what spandex leggings or long johns are for and they will look great if you can match them with you top.  If you have any gold jewelry it will really pop with this simple outfit.  This look is also very inexpensive to achieve because you can destroy the pants your self quite easily with a pair of scissors and sand paper.  Just look on youtube for step by step instructions on how to destroy are pair of pants.

Thank you for checking out the SQUAD CLOTH blog this week and check back in for the latest from the brand.  SQUAD CLOTH.  HOME OF THE FULLGROWN.

LADDDIEESSSSS

Hello All,
Thanks for checking out this weeks latest SQUAD CLOTH blog post.

This week SQUAD finished two new shirts, the East Knox basketball shirt and the tie dye dipped button-down.

I plan to do photo shoots for both shirts when I am in Ohio again and hopefully I can find new girls willing to model for SQUAD.  Within the next two weeks I am also preparing for the Ohio area codes t-shirt, which will be made before Christmas hopefully.

Lastly, I am hoping to make one more shirt for the Winter, but I just haven't decided what I should make because I have so many different designs that I could produce.  This week has not been a productive one for designs though because of the ever looming threat of finals this upcoming week.

Now this week I wanted to switch it up and give some tips for the ladies we all love so much.  In case you were unaware, everyone has different body types depending on the width of their hips, waist, and bust.  An hourglass figure (body type X) is the ideal figure for women, but realistically not everyone can achieve this actual body type.  Fortunately, there are ways with clothing to create illusions that will distract the eye to help you achieve this curvy figure.  For example, let's say you are body type A (narrow shoulders in comparison to the hips) and you want to bring attention to your upper body to help create the hourglass look.  Essentially you need to show off your arms and shoulders while at the same time reducing the appearance of your hips.  In order to do this, I would recommend that you wear dark and dull colors on your lower half, while wearing bright and vibrant colors on your upper half.  This alone won't get the job done though, so you should wear clothing that shows off your shoulders like a boat neckline dress or peasant blouse.

Pretty Lady Peasant Blouse from Auguste Frank
$105 @ http://shopplanetblue.com

Boat Neckline Lace Dress from
http://www.chicnova.com for
$28

 You could also make your arms appear wider instead of just your shoulders by wearing a kimono or a blouse with puff sleeves, in order to draw the eyes outwards naturally from the center of your upper body.

Oversize Kimono from http://us.asos.com for $66.33

This can be done for any body type and for men as well, you just have to look online for your specific proportions.  I learned this majority of this material in my fashion selection classes.

Thank you for reading and check back next week for the latest blog post.  SQUAD CLOTH.  HOME OF THE FULLGROWN.

Shoe Adjustment

Hello All,

Thank you for checking out SQUAD CLOTH’S blog post this week!

This past weekend Squad had a black friday sale that did decent, which was great for the first sale we have ever had.  I also talked to our printer, the tie dye dipped button downs and the East Knox Basketball shirt will both be printed this week.  Following those releases, I intend to start production of the Ohio area codes shirt just in time for Christmas.  This will most likely be the largest release for us so I am excited to see how it sells based off of the exceptional responses I have received from the initial design.  On a separate note, a student from East Knox contacted me earlier today expressing his respect for what I am trying to create.  He also stated that it was inspiring to see someone who graduated from his high school trying to build something all their own.  While money and notoriety are great it is not why I am trying to create a clothing brand.  I want to create something for people like myself who have ambition and dare to dream bigger than what our social circles allow us to.  Most importantly I want to create something that people think is cool and meaningful to them.  It is only a dream until it becomes reality, but you have to be willing to sacrifice what others won't in order for it to happen.  In time Squad will be the reality I have only dreamed about.

For the style tip this week I wanted to talk about footwear since my interest for fashion is heavily rooted in sneakers.  I feel like Jordan’s are are classic silhouette that cannot go out of style, but all of the retros as of late are really starting to kill the cool vibe about the jumpman.  I have seen too many kids in high school wearing J’s or other basketball shoes and that is pretty much their outfit besides some elite socks.  Instead of spending all of this money on the basketball shoes and having no money leftover to really cultivate an outfit, I have an alternative.  WEAR RUNNERS!  Running shoes are a cheap and cool alternative to the basketball shoe, which will allow you to create a more complete outfit or just have more shoes in general.  Newer designs like the roshe run, flyknits, and inneva woven from Nike tend to thinner which is great for jogger pants, but can be problematic unless you are very good at cuffing normal pants.  

For this problem I would suggest buying an older running shoe from the 90’s for example, because they generally have a wider, more padded tongue, which is great for placing the cuff of the jeans behind.  Shoes like the Nike Air Max 90,95, and 1 are always being made in new color ways and have thick tongues.  Asics Gel Lyte 5, New Balance M530, and Adidas ZX Runners are all good options with a thicker tongue as well.

Thanks for reading and check in next week for the latest blog post.  SQUAD CLOTH.  HOME OF THE FULLGROWN.

Cozy Boy Perfection

Hello Readers,

Thank you for checking out my blog this week!

This week SQUAD CLOTH is making progress because pre-ordering is now officially finished for the East Knox Basketball shirts and we are beginning printing soon.  I am very excited to see these shirts when they are finished because it will be great to have my brand and high school on the same shirt.  While I have only made a few products, the feeling that you get when you see something you designed in your hands for the first time is amazing.  That feeling is minimal compared to seeing someone wearing a design that you made.  This week I have also been working on my sketches through the online classes at www.skillshare.com, focusing specifically on more gestural approaches to sketching garments.  Creating fashion sketches is an art in itself because the goal is to properly portray the garment in only a few minutes and move on to the next.  While I might still be slow, I am improving and honestly enjoying sketching something that I am so passionate about.

Since this is the last post before we celebrate Thanksgiving, I thought that I would give you guys some tips on wearing sweats.  That way you can add four inches onto your waist from food and still be comfortable and fashionable, instead of suffering in pants with the button undone.  Now I realize a lot of people associate wearing sweats with the gym or just plain laziness, but like most things they can be dressed up if it is done correctly.  Since there are so many form fitting sweats that are high quality, it is quite easy actually.  Zanerobe, Premium Co, and Entree have excellent jogger sweats for that slim fit that makes this look.  So lets start from the bottom:  I would start out with a pair of sneakers that are more plain in color, then a good pair of fitted sweats, a layering t-shirt, a button up long sleeve shirt, then to really dress up the whole look throw on a trench coat and you are golden.

The trench coat is really the finishing piece that makes this outfit look a lot better than someone who is just dressed comfortably.  Honestly pairing the sweats with any dress shirt will make it look a lot more dressed up, so I would challenge you to give it a try.  WARNING! Do not try to do this with sweat pants that are ill-fitting or that have any applied graphics or embroidery on them because it will just end badly.

As always thank you for reading and check back in next week for the latest from SQUAD CLOTH.  HOME OF THE FULLGROWN.

Outerwear Weather

Hello All,
Thanks for taking time to take a look at the latest Squad Cloth post!

This week has been quite stagnant for Squad because of the distance between California and Ohio, but I have been keeping myself busy.  I have discovered an amazing website called http://www.skillshare.com which has thousands of different unique subjects that you can learn online for free.  Not only are the classes interesting, they are also taught by professionals in their given industries, so they are providing students with information from their own experiences.  Jeff Staple, founder of Staple Design and ReedSpace, is teaching classes on starting your own fashion brand, as well as how to manufacture and market your product.  Other classes I am currently enrolled in are flat garment construction using Adobe Illustrator, and fashion sketching with a designer from the New York brand Bellavance.  It is exciting to learn more and more about the things you're passionate about because you become so absorbed in the subject it almost becomes ingrained in your way of life.

This week for fashion tips I want to talk about outerwear since winter is creeping upon us.  Now for the past few years North Face fleece jackets have been the normal winter outerwear for "bros" across the country, regardless of what the dress code says.  This jacket is fine with sweats or blue jeans, but that is pretty much it honestly.

If you are going to wear a jacket with dress pants do not match it with a fucking cheesy North Face.  Instead, I would suggest a trench coat that matches your color palette and stick with darker base colors as well (black, gray, camel, and navy depending on your pallet). The one below is from Kenneth Cole on sale at Macy's for $160 http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/kenneth-cole


The most versatile jacket to work with though would be a leather bomber because it would look great dressed down or dressed up with blue jeans and dress pants respectively.  The jacket to the left is also from Kenneth Cole at Macy's on sale for $280 http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/kenneth-cole-full-zip- .  On the right, this bomber jacket is from Schott NYC at Karmaloop for $340 http://www.karmaloop.com/product/The-26-Wool-Blend .


Going back to my recommendation of darker colors of whatever outerwear you decide to wear, the purpose of this being to stretch your money because outwear will last longer. So you should accessorize with accent colors and keep the foundation darker ( There are stipulations to every rule, but generally this is a safe bet.  White can also be considered a foundation color at times depending on your color palette. ).  Lastly, I know there is a stigma in the Midwest about men wearing scarves and I can assure wearing one will not make you gay, but instead take your outfit to the next level by adding color and patten to a dark, solid colored outfit.

Thank you for checking out the blog and check in next week for more posts! SQUAD CLOTH. HOME OF THE FULLGROWN.

Playing With Patterns

Hello Readers,
I have decided to change my blog posts to Blogger because it is a much easier format to use.

This week with Squad there has been no real progress unfortunately because we are waiting on our screen printer to begin work on the tie dye button downs and the East Knox Basketball shirt.  We are also talking to patent lawyers to get things figured out legally and make sure Squad Cloth is a feasible trademark in the future.  I have personally been sketching a lot and improving upon my ideas focused in the genre of structural design (the way the clothing looks based off of the way it is sewn and the weight of the fabric) instead of the graphics I normally work on.

I have recently learned about some rules when it comes to using patterns in your wardrobe.  First off you are never supposed to match more than 3 different patterns together in one outfit and make sure all of the colors that are common in each garment come from the same color family.  You should also try to match different sized patterns because it will make the patterns look more subtle.  Lastly, make sure you include neutral pieces into your outfit to balance out the patterned garments.  While these rules are great to abide by at times, fashion is all about taking risks and breaking these socially implied rules.  So, don't forget to take risks and say fuck the rules every now and then, I promise you'll have more fun.

Here is three pieces that all have a basic true red color in them with different patterns.  All can be found at Nordstrom.com as well.  I would suggest wearing these pieces with a dark navy blue blazer and matching pants, which allows the reds in the undershirt, tie, and pocket square to really pop off of the navy.


These patterns would be something that I would actually wear.  A black and white striped Fear of God LA tunic, a black and white star pattern Bape sta military jacket, and a Rail red check scarf with black squares.  Black unifies all of these patterns, so I would suggest pairing these pieces with a pair black jeans and coke white Air Force One's.

Thanks for reading and check back in next week for another post! #SQUAD #HOMEOFTHEFULLGROWN