Article: Calexico Man Turns 11: Nicky’s 11 Commandments of Spring and Summer Dressing
Calexico Man Turns 11: Nicky’s 11 Commandments of Spring and Summer Dressing
Every October comes around a little quicker than the last, and every year Calexico Man's birthday reminds me how lucky I am. Eleven years in, my passion for this hasn't dropped one bit. I still love the fitting room chats, the honest feedback and the moment a man catches himself in the mirror and stands a little taller.
I started out in menswear, and if there's one thing I've learnt in all the years since (and I'm still learning, every day, mostly from you), it's that men don't want more clothes. They want the right ones, and they want someone to tell them, kindly but honestly, what works. So for our eleventh birthday, here's a small thank you: everything I've been saying in the fitting room, written down. Simple, smart and very hard to get wrong.
1. Fit is everything.
A beautifully cut shirt that fits will always beat an expensive one that doesn't. If it pulls, puddles or billows, it goes back.
2. Own a great white shirt.
Linen or crisp cotton, slightly relaxed. Wear it open over swimmers, tucked into tailored shorts or under a blazer to dinner. It's the hardest-working thing in your wardrobe.
3. If it doesn't breathe, neither will you.
Linen, cotton and fine knits only from now until April. A Brisbane summer has no mercy for synthetics.
4. Mind the hem.
Shorts should finish just above the knee. Not at the knee, not halfway down the shin, and never with cargo pockets.
5. Thou shalt not wear socks with sandals.
Ever. Loafers go sockless or with a no-show sock. This one isn't up for discussion.
6. Invest in one great loafer.
Suede or soft leather, in tan or chocolate. It takes you from a long lunch to a wedding, and it makes jeans look like you meant it.
7. An unstructured blazer is your secret weapon.
Navy or stone, unlined, sleeves pushed up. Throw it over a tee and suddenly you're the most put-together man at the table.
8. Know your tuck.
A straight hem is made to be worn out; a curved tail is made to be tucked in. Never half and half.
9. Keep the palette quiet.
White, navy, stone, olive and a washed blue. Let the fabric and the fit do the talking, not the colour.
10. Sunglasses are not optional.
A great pair finishes the look, saves your eyes and hides a long night. Everybody wins.
11. Let us help.
The most stylish men I know have one thing in common: they've found someone they trust. Come in, have a coffee with Kalem and the team, and let us do the hard work for you.
That's it. Eleven rules, one very good summer.
None of this happens without you. To our clients, the team on the floor, the designers we work with, our neighbours at The Calile, and my own family who have lived every one of these eleven years with me: thank you. We're still learning, still having a lot of fun, and I still want this to be the most enjoyable place in Australia to drop in, have a drink and walk out sorted.
Here's to the next eleven. I'll see you on the floor.
Nicky x
Written by Admin Calexico
