Dapper & Martini-Ready

Andre Cawley is the opposite of me. He keeps his day-to-day style fairly simple and sleek— black sweater with black slacks, or a nice button down shirt with jeans.
“As a graphic designer, I’m definitely aware of “visual clutter, ” he explains.
“Any way for me to keep my look streamlined and make me look taller is a PLUS!”
For special occasions, Andre opts for a pop of color, like when I spotted him at The Elephant sipping martinis in a white button-down shirt and black pants with this coveted velvet berry blazer from ASOS and patent leather belt with a gold buckle.

“I always have on my Giles & Brother brass cuff that my fiancé gave to me as a gift a few years ago,” he says.
Having an accessory or piece of clothing that has a backstory helps it never go out of style.

Cory Andrews’ style is classic and sophisticated, but he still likes his outfits to have depth and interest. Cory feels that an outfit that mixes different tones within a single neutral color palette and has layered textures is just as striking as a bold, bright print. I couldn’t agree more!
“I tend to look for pieces that I can see myself wearing more than once or, ideally, for years and years. Instead of adding a bright color or a bold accent to whatever I’m wearing, I add multiple, smaller focal points with accessories because it moves the eye around the entire outfit–things like watches, rings, wrist cuffs, and/or a tie pin if the occasion calls for it,” he tells me.Mixing new and old, Cory wears a dark tie from The Tie Bar and a gold vintage tie pin. The rest of his outfit flows flawlessly with three shades of brown from jacket to pants to shoes. He values a wardrobe full of reliable staples and interesting accessories that can easily be mixed and matched so that it never feels the same. A practical and dapper view on fashion indeed!

Courtney Kobal was looking dapper herself in her black leather pants and brandy-wine colored velvet blazer. She was one of a few guests meeting up before going for an impromptu French lesson dinner at The Corner in Hampden. Courtney carries herself with a sophisticated boy-meets-girl-style. Classic but edgy at the same time.

The layers of accessories caught my eye because of the textures and colors. And I personally love when I see people have fun with fashion and also support the local boutiques and artists. The bright teal equestrian silk scarf was designed by artist and designer Deepak Chowdhury, who is located right here in Baltimore. That ring – from Millbrook Antiques & Prints – had a story that was as interesting as the piece itself. It was one of a few pieces created by a doctor who had a passion for making jewelry for himself out of old antique sterling silver flatware. It had an ornate lion on the side…the details were just amazing. So much so, that I found the store myself and I ended up purchasing a ring from his collection as well.

Courtney’s vintage Saint Laurent polka dot tie and tie clip came from Doubledutch Boutique, one of my favorite stores in the area. Another non-conventional accessory I noticed was her snake skin leather holster designed by Free People to carry necessities such as a wallet, keys and even cell phone. A very practical piece for someone who does not want to carry a handbag. This would be a fantastic piece to wear to festivals when you can’t carry things as you walk around and dance.

Saturday night, I went to the Black and White Party; an event put on by the Pratt Contemporaries that helps raise funds for the Enoch Pratt Free Library programs. I couldn’t help but pull aside Priscilla Korompis and snap a picture of her black floor-length dress. The plunging neckline with delicate rose embroidery caught the eyes of everyone in the room. But what made this dress really stand out to me was the fact that it fit her so well! (She later told me she had it tailored by the amazing people at Fed Hill Dry Cleaners.) When it comes to fashion, Priscilla likes finding sleek pieces with a bit of her personality in them. “I’m a sucker for a quirky print or something a little daring. I love bright colors. You can often find me wearing a bright pencil skirt to work,” she said.

Priscilla’s accessories don’t disappoint either, like her strappy heels from Zara with shiny metallic heal.

Found – I love adding a bold accessory to an outfit to make it stand out or make it “martini-ready”. I received one of my favorite gifts recently from my team at 14west. They had a choker custom made for me by Madly Made saying “tipsy toodles.” Not only is it a great conservation piece, but it’s also a quick add-on to make any traditional outfit from work turn into more chic, fun attire for after work. This other wild 70’s throwback is actually a new necklace I picked up at The Zone which is a local vintage and new clothing store in Mt. Vernon. The second floor store is a place where you can always find unique, one-of-a-kind pieces.