Von Dutch? Dead. Purposely torn jeans? Dead. Blazers worn over hoodies? Must. Die. Now.

Am I the only one that detests the apparently oh-so-casually-dressy look that guys deem to be the best thing since that weird obsession with bowling shoes and shirts a few years ago?

First of all, combining a casual staple with a formal element does not equal to a middle ground that consists of the best of both worlds. It?s not Reese?s peanut butter cups, people!

Whenever I see a guy wear a blazer with a hoodie, besides getting the inkling that there?s an Ipod mini on him somewhere next to his LIVESTRONG bracelet, I think to myself, ?Either his shirt has a mustard stain so he has to wear the hoodie or he?s a complete slob and he?s too lazy to change out of his gym clothes so he just threw on his dad?s blazer.?

Of course, the occasions for which this atrocity is mostly donned for are dates, parties or a night out with friends. But if you want to dress up without looking like a maitre d? on a cruise ship, rather than wearing the blazer put on a funky slim fit dress shirt that has an interesting pattern or colour. Toss out those dark wash denims and replace them with dress pants that match the blazer and make it look casual with a belt that has a unique design like metal studs. But if you insist on wearing the jeans, don?t wear the blazer (sorry, it?s officially overdone) and opt for a leather jacket, wool coat or trench coat.

Not convinced that the hoodie-blazer combo must go? Today after seeing a tour guide at school doing his best Ben Mulroney impression, wearing a heather gray hoodie under a navy pinstripe blazer and light blue jeans I went to the Eaton Centre to waste time before my next appointment. H&M was selling blazers with a fake hood sewn into it. So was Bluenotes and every distressed blazer (code word for ?intentionally made to look like it was found in a dumpster behind a 7-Eleven?) had an equally distressed blazer shoved into it.

It was cool when it was first brought into the mainstream by the likes of Johnny Knoxville who helped to popularize the blazer/t-shirt/Dickies/Chucks ensemble when he was on the cover of GQ in September 2003 (which I admit, was cool at the time) but when every retailer tried to cash in on this never-before-seen trend, it became overkill and was like the Furby of men?s fashion. The Ipod commercial where a guy (wearing the hoodie/blazer/jeans combo of course) was walking around New York City looking ever so hip jamming to The Vines also helped to create this laid back/sophisticated lifestyle that soon flew off the shelves (and still is). The look subsided for a while, taking a backseat to layering polo shirts but it mysteriously resurfaced this season in stores.

My theory is the lack of inspiration from the couture culture, where the look has been officially forgotten ages ago. Recent themes in men?s fashions included the appropriation of Victorian and Gothic attire (period Gothic, not Evanescence Gothic) which consisted of rich velvets, ruffled shirts, and deep purples and reds. There is also a resurgence of flower prints inspired by the ?70s though stores have a hard time convincing the male consumer that wearing floral does not turn them into homosexuals (just fashion victims). Plaid successfully made its way into women?s fashions this season though it has yet made its way into the men?s section for some odd reason (once a metro, always a metro). British fashion from the likes of Ben Sherman consisting of peacoats, cardigans, slim fit trousers and poor boy caps is a classic look that I absolutely adore but perhaps the average consumer prefers something more local.

Maybe I should be lucky that my favourite fashions aren?t being sold in every single store and worn by every other person I see on the street. I?m still recovering from Chuck Taylors jumping from $20 to $60 as soon as Avril (or her stylist) decided to put them in her video. That being said, be proud to wear those hoodies under blazers! It?s the hottest look of last year and it?s still the hottest look now! Stay away from cardigans though; people will think that you hate kittens if you wear one.






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