This revelation was a personal lightning bolt. In high school and college, I had always been the most gregarious person in the room — the one always ready with a gut-busting story. But was it all in vain? I wanted to deny it, but as the failed friendships and relationships accumulated, the crisp edges of my wit lost their zeal for extroversion.

I realized I had two options: I could either retreat into a cocoon, or I could act like a grown-up and find a way to deal with it.

The first option may seem simpler. Rather than risk disappointment, it would be easier to avoid forming any friendships and instead focus on oneself – an island oasis. However, we’re not naturally autonomous. As much as we may vehemently deny it, humans are communal. For example, the last time you had magnificent, earth-shattering news, were you able to just keep it to yourself? Of course not.

By default, then, I needed to find a way to maintain enjoyable adult relationships. I found it unintentionally of course, because of a girl.

We lived in the same apartment building. Our brief elevator conversations over several months were always fascinating, a stimulating blend of intelligence and wit. I was slowly building the courage to ask her out for coffee, when one day, as I reflexively pushed the fourth floor button for her, she invited me over for a dinner party. Maybe she’d picked up on my subterranean signals.

I arrived early, anticipating the conversation we would undoubtedly have in some quiet corner later that evening. She opened the door, and in her crisp New England accent, said “Hi, come in. I’d like you to meet my friend Blah Blah from Blah. I think you two will really hit it off”

She might as well have kicked me in the kidneys. I suddenly felt ill and misplaced. I croaked out some lame excuse and quickly went home. At my apartment, though, I couldn’t sit still. I paced back and forth with nervous energy, like a cheetah in a 6-foot cage. I wasn’t overreacting, rather this incident seemed to be the culmination of dozens of disappointing misinterpretations and failures with not only the opposite sex, but people in general. A hundred staccato questions surged through my head: “Why does this keep happening? Why do I always read people wrong? What am I not learning?” In an act of desperation, I grabbed my running shoes and rushed outside, gasping for release.

The first few footsteps were chaotic, fueled only by my bruised male ego. However, by the end of the block, I settled into a pattern that, despite the sharpness in my lungs, was cathartically soothing. My feet against the ground, over and over again. Rhythmic. By the end of the run, which barely lasted 10 minutes, I had forgotten all about my discouraging evening and instead felt energized. Whatever tension had accumulated, it had steamed off and floated away through my sweat-drenched pores.

It can be frustrating to pour your efforts into building a dynamic with someone, only to see it crumble. Trust and confidence change like the weather. However, I found my social armistice, in the space between my feet and the pavement.

With each successive run, my daily concerns became more manageable. It became easy to spend time with people. I could abide any irritating conversation if I knew that later that day, I could lace up my trainers. By the end of my roadwork session, each issue was mentally and emotionally collated into neat simple files.

Now, years later, friendships and relationships still confuse me. I constantly misinterpret boundaries and irritate myself by my own impulsiveness. So, like any resolute adult, I still run. A lot. When I pass fellow runners, their faces contorted in agony, I get it.

Maybe they aren’t out there for the same reasons, but perhaps they are. They might need to run today to get along with me tomorrow – to pummel their relationships into the ground, and turn them into flowers.

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My standard rant: you go with a group of friends, end up losing half of them five minutes after you’re in the door, and spend the next 45 minutes in an alcohol-induced haze sifting through a sweaty crowd of people for a familiar face.

Granted, this isn’t everyone’s experience. I’ve just had a long string of very bad experiences. But last weekend I went to a club and actually ended up having a fairly good time. And while the club scene still isn’t my, well, scene, here are some things you can do to ensure a good time had by all.

Zen and the Art of Clubbing

Part of what made it a good night was the spontaneity of it all. One minute we were sitting around the apartment having a drink and the next, someone jumps up and says “let’s go to the club!” When something isn’t planned, there isn’t time to build up certain expectations of how the night should go. There will always be those events you plan to go to a month in advance, just remember to keep expectations to a minimum or you’ll end up disappointed. Whether it’s friends flopping, your outfit not looking right, or the music being crap, some things are just out of your control.

Mix It Up…

Sure, guys’ night out sounds great in theory; rolling “20 deep” into a club definitely will intimidate, but is that really why you’re at a club? It’s a social occasion, so be inclusive: partying with friends who just so happen to be girls can be just as — if not more — fun than just the guys. Last weekend a few ladies I know joined us and it definitely contributed to the positive experience. After all, a guy at a club partying with a group that includes a few girls looks far more approachable than the guy prowling the dance floor with a pack of his male friends in tow. Granted, the ladies I invited didn’t have the best time, but I’m assured that was no fault of mine.

…Speaking of Mixes

Look, let’s not pretend that alcohol isn’t a major part of club life. I don’t know very many people who go to a club entirely sober. This one is pretty simple and not all that new: don’t overdo it. If you’re going to save money by drinking before you arrive at the event, balance every drink with a glass of water. You’ll save yourself from embarrassment that night and a bad hangover the next day. It’s one of the tougher lessons to learn, but I’ve learned the hard way so you don’t have to (I hope).

Be Nice

If you’re trying to dance with someone, don’t take it personal if she’s not interested. It’s difficult to wrap your head around this concept, I know, but some girls just want to dance. It doesn’t matter how many times you try to sneak up behind her with your pelvis two feet out in front of your torso, you’re not going to change her mind. She’s not stuck up, she’s not a bitch, and she (probably) has nothing against you. Smile, shake her hand, tell her she looks pretty and move on. Positive energy breeds positive energy.

Have a good weekend, gentlemen.

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3-in-1 Energizing Hair and Body Wash

We all have those mornings. You hit the snooze button one too many times, and wake up to realize you only have 20 minutes to get to work. Instead of fumbling half-asleep for three separate bottles, L’Oreal has combined your shampoo, conditioner and body wash into one package. The 3-in-1 Energizing Hair and Body Wash will leave your hair squeaky clean and your skin hydrated and smelling fresh. As a body wash, it would be nice to see 3-in-1 lather up a little more, but it gets the job done. The time you save using 3-in-1 could very well mean the difference between making the subway and missing it.

Oil Controller Cleanser

Your skin constantly produces natural oils that tend to build up over the course of the day. L’Oreal’s Oil Controller Cleanser helps keep your skin from looking too shiny as the day carries on. Combined with exfoliating micro-beads, it will also keep your skin clean and your pores unclogged. While advertised as a moisturizing facial scrub, people with sensitive skin may notice a little tightness in the forehead and upper cheek areas, but for the most part, Oil Controller will leave you feeling crisp and refreshed.

Hydra-Energetic Ice Cold Eye Roller

For the days where you’ve been burning the candle at both ends, L’Oreal has the Hydra-Energetic Eye Roller. Whether you’ve been pulling an all-nighter of working or an all-nighter of celebrating, the eye roller will eliminate that dark and puffy look that comes with that kind of lifestyle. The massaging roller will keep your eyes looking awake and alert.

Comfort Max Anti-Irritation Shave Foam

I’ve always been wary of aerosol, quick-lather shaving foams. I find they rarely moisturize the skin enough to make for a comfortable shaving experience. That said, Comfort Max is better than most. My razor didn’t glide across the skin as easily as it does when using my bottle of shaving cream, but it still got the job done with no irritation. Comfort Max is alcohol free, too, so it’s easier on the skin – both going on and coming off.

Hydra Sensitive After-Shave Balm

One of L’Oreal’s newer products, the Hydra Sensitive balm complements the Comfort Max shave foam. It doesn’t burn like a lot of other after-shave balms — if anything, it’s more of an after-shave moisturizer. It’ll leave your freshly shaven skin feeling soft and smooth without an overpowering scent.

Contest & Giveaway

We were so impressed with L’Oreal’s Men Care products that we’re giving away three prize packs which feature various products in their line. To check out these must-have items and more visit the L’Oreal Men Care site.

There are three ways to win one of the three L’Oreal Men Care prize packs:

1) Become our Fan on Facebook

2) Follow us on Twitter

3) Tweet the following: “The Modern Gentleman is giving away three L’Oreal Men Care prize packs, I want one! http://bit.ly/riRTW9 #TMG #mencare“

We’re going to draw three names at random on Friday, July 22nd. Names will be selected from our Facebook Fan page , our Twitter followers and extra votes for those who tweeted about the contest! Winners will be contacted via e-mail the following Monday. Good luck!

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Félix Leblanc-Garceau

Whenever I venture out of my Belle Provence, I’m reminded of the sophisticated reputation that Montréalers have in the rest of Canada. When moving to Toronto for university, a friend of mine was greeted with startled-yet-impressed looks when he showed up to a party wearing a shirt and bearing a bottle of wine. This culture shock isn’t really surprising seeing that Montréal’s identity is as European as it is American. And while our national meal wouldn’t exactly be depicted as refined, the same certainly can’t be said about our men, whose innate sense of style is esteemed by their fellow Canadians. Intrigued by it all, I asked two trendy Montréalers how they do it.

Whether it was to attend his job at Holt Renfrew or simply to go to class, Laurent Bergeron always made it a priority to dress smart. Meanwhile, Félix Leblanc-Garceau’s mastery of the nautical trend wasn’t picked up by studying the runways but rather followed years of sailing trips with his dad on the St. Lawrence River.

Where do you find inspiration on what to wear?

Félix: I live in one of Montréal’s hippest neighbourhoods, the Mile-End, and I like to stroll around observing how the artsy residents dress. Some of their outfits might be too extravagant for me but if I find something interesting, I’ll tone it down and adapt it to myself.

How would you define your style?

Laurent: I grew up in a house where the aesthetic philosophy was to mix and match. My mom decorated our home with French inspiration paired with accents from the Victorian era along with Asian art. I feel that evolving in such a diverse environment influenced the way I dress today. I would call my style “eclectic chic”; I just love to experiment.

Do you have a trademark look?

Félix: Yes, my long hair. I started to let it grow around the age of 18; it is an integral part of my identity. It’s not to everyone’s taste but no one’s ever managed to get me to cut it (and no one ever will!).

How can you stand out sartorially in a country that’s covered in snow almost half of the year?

Laurent: The key lies in layering. Piling up different pieces of clothing gives me the opportunity to distinguish myself in colder months. Accessorizing is also a must. Every winter, I invest in quality scarves, hats and gloves to dress my coat up.

Laurent Bergeron

What are the best shopping addresses in Montreal?

Félix: I love to go bargain hunting in thrift stores. The Plateau neighbourhood has tons of great ones. They might be pricier than places like Value Village or The Salvation Army but they’re much more selective in what they retrieve which makes finding stuff easier, especially when looking for specific items.

Laurent: My go-to stores are Duo (www.boutiqueduo.com) for their extensive selection of designers, Old Gold Boutique (www.oldgoldboutique.com) for fantastic vintage finds, and Manhood (www.boutiquemanhood.com) for affordable yet fashionable pieces.

What do you consider to be the ultimate style infraction?

Félix: I can’t stand to see young professional men wearing teenager gear (baggy pants, long tees, etc.) I find them quite ridiculous. At our age, you need to dress the part if you want to be taken seriously.

What’s your favourite Spring/Summer ’11 trend?

Laurent: I’m a big fan of orange so I was thrilled to discover that it is the color of the moment. I find its punchy hue tremendously refreshing. For instance, a pair of orange loafers instantly makes an outfit on its own.

When asked about style’s golden rule according to them, both answered that one should always trust his instincts and dare to be bold. (Almost) anything can work if worn with confidence!

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Shad performing during Canadian Music Week 2011

When it comes to Canadian musicians, few had a better 2010 than Shad. Last year, the Kenyan-born, rapper (full name Shadrach Kabango) released his third full-length album, TSOL. The album was a hit among fans and critics alike, and at the 2011 Juno Awards it beat out Drake’s commercially successful debut, Thank Me Later, taking home Rap Recording of the Year honours.

TSOL was also shortlisted for the 2010 Polaris Prize — an annual award given to the best full-length Canadian album based solely on artistic merit, as voted on by a jury of over 200 Canadian music journalists, bloggers and broadcasters (Shad’s sophomore album The Old Prince was also nominated in 2008). Shad spent part of 2010 touring across Canada, with opening acts Grand Analog in Western Canada and D-Sisive in Ontario.

After success like that, you might wonder how the rapper plans to top himself this year, but talking to him on the phone from Vancouver, he seems remarkably unfazed by it all.

“I had a really fun year, and it was great that people responded well the record,” he says, “I’m happy about that but I don’t really feel pressured.”

This statement sums up much of Shad’s personality in a nutshell: an everyday guy, who, despite the ever-brightening spotlight being shone on his music, remains incredibly down-to-earth and appreciative of his fans. He has carved out an interesting position on the Canadian rap spectrum, striking a balance between Drake’s mainstream charisma and K-OS’s lyrical wit, while bringing his own unique perspective and experiences to the table. TSOL, which featured members of indie-rock band Broken Social Scene and singer-songwriter Justin Nozuka, represents a new level of maturity for the rapper, both lyrically and musically.

While the album’s songs are packed with metaphors, cultural references, and punch-lines, Shad also reflects on his heritage (“A Good Name”), and on “Keep Shining”, speaks about under-representation of strong female voices within the hip-hop community.

Shad is one of the rare hip-hop stars who doesn’t write about material possessions, disrespect women, or share his personal life over social media (opening line on “Yaa I Get It”: “Maybe I’m not big cause I don’t blog or Twitter”). In this age of rappers like Kanye West and Lil’ Wayne, or groups like Odd Future, that’s downright refreshing.

Shad will be turning 30 next year, but he has no plans on slowing down anytime soon. He recently finished up another cross-Canada tour this spring, and got together with Dallas Green to record a song called “Live Forever,” with proceeds going to the charity Skate4Cancer. Shad shared a tour bus with the Alexisonfire frontman and singer-songwriter during his stint on the 2009 Vans Warped Tour, during which he says the two got to known each other and became good friends.

“I invited him to something on this most recent album, but he was tied up that fall when I was recording,” he said. “So he hit me up a bit later and said, ‘Hey if you still want to do something, we should hop in the studio and do something for fun.’ And that’s what we ended up doing.”

When asked if he thinks this willingness to collaborate with different musicians has had an impact on his popularity with a wide audience, the rapper says that it’s not hard to find similarities in taste when he crosses paths with an artist he likes.

“I’ve never really approached music with that intention, but I’m sure you get exposed to other people’s audiences,” he says. “When you make music or you’re just a fan of music period, it’s not hard to find common ground with artists that might perform other genres.”

Take one look at Shad’s upcoming calendar and it isn’t too much of a stretch to say there will be plenty more chances for these collaborations in the near future. After all, the rapper is playing music festivals across Canada and the United States this summer, including Squamish in British Columbia and Montreal’s Osheaga Music Fesival.

“It isn’t like a tour, you just pop in and play a festival, and than you can pop home,” he says. “It’s not like studying for an exam or something like that. It’s a lot less strenuous than being on the road all the time.”

Shad will also be playing a free show at Toronto’s Metro Square on Canada Day, as part of the TD Toronto Jazz Festival. Despite being one of the only hip-hop acts on the festival’s lineup, the rapper says he relishes the opportunity.

“I just think it’s cool when the people that program the events can recognize the commonalities and the shared heritage and connections between jazz and hip-hop, or blues and hip-hop, and folk and hip-hop,” he says. “I just get up and do my thing and usually people can connect with it on some level.”

While he admits to not listening to much jazz when he younger, Shad points out that the hip-hop from the 90s that was influential to him while he was in high school and junior high, often sampled jazz records. “Groups like Digable Planets, A Tribe Called Quest, Pete Rock, a lot of that was sourced from jazz music,” he says, “Hip-hop was keeping that sound and a lot of those artists alive and relevant for a new generation. I’m still influenced by jazz music but indirectly.”

Shad has also discovered that with his newfound popularity, comes the opportunity to speak out on topics bigger than music. Recently he wrote a guest column for the Vancouver Sun, where he addressed the problem with FOX News and host Bill O’Reilly’s over-the-top accusations towards Common after the American rapper performed at the White House.

“I thought it would be something different to try. I was given an invitation to write whenever something struck me that I felt I could chime in on. So basically that whole staged controversy made me want to write something,” he says. “Hopefully its not just all about music but you know music connected to something bigger.”

Music connected to something bigger. Okay, maybe that’s what Shad’s all about.

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Hardware

The Nexus S is the second iteration of official Google phone and the first made by Samsung (the Nexus One was manufactured by HTC). Taking a number of design cues from the extremely successful Galaxy S class of phones, Samsung has broken the mold with the new S.

You’ll immediately notice the unique shape of the phone, staring at you with its curved 4″ Super AMOLED screen dubbed the “Contour Display”. It’s no iPhone 4 Retina Display in terms of pixel density, but it does produce vivid colours, inky blacks, and is much better in direct sunlight than its predecessor.

There have been many complaints in the online community about the overall build quality, noting that a full black plastic body is not befitting of a flagship phone. I, however, disagree and feel that overall, the phone is a good weight and feels very balanced in the hand. My only complaint would have to be that the buttons (there are only three: volume up, volume down, and power) don’t feel very solid; sometimes they wiggle around and, because of their location, I often find myself accidentally pressing them in my pocket.

The other major design complaint is the lack of notification lighting. I certainly do not miss the trackball of the One, but it was the various colours that the trackball could glow that I will forever yearn for. I knew I had missed a text message if the ball was glowing pink, white for a missed call, and blue for a Facebook message. Additionally, the Nexus One had a tiny LED by the earpiece that would glow orange during charging and green when finished. To figure out if the S is charging one has to turn the screen on and look.

Under the hood there are a number of improvements over its baby brother. First, the S is now packing a single core (I know, dual core is the rage these days) 1GHz Hummingbird processor. While this is the same clock speed as before, the response of the phone seems to have improved considerably.

There are now two cameras on the device; a front-facing VGA camera for video calling, and a 5MP rear camera with flash for picture taking and video recording. So far I’ve been quite impressed with the photo quality but have yet to make much use of the front-facing camera.

The Nexus S is also the first phone I know of available in Canada with Near Field Communications capability built in. This is poised to be the next big thing, replacing your wallet with the ability to tap your phone down and pay for something. Forget QR codes, get information by simply tapping your phone to an NFC-enabled sign and boom, information is in the palm of your hand!

One final improvement over the Nexus One is the storage space. Previously, the Nexus One had 512MB of internal space, 190MB of which was available to install apps. In the Nexus S, there is 16GB of built-in space. The 16GB is partitioned into 1GB internal storage and 15GB USB storage, which may seem confusing, as both are internal storage. You can’t use a microSD card anymore, but I have found the 16 gigs to be ample space for my app-downloading needs.

Software

There are many Android 2.3 Gingerbread walkthroughs out there, so I’ll keep this brief: Gingerbread is fantastic. For anyone with a pure Google workflow, Android is a must have. Gmail is beautiful, feature-rich, and constantly being updated. Calendar, Docs, Reader… the list of amazing Google apps seems never-ending.

The browser is snappy and plays Flash videos. For all the Firefox fans out there, it’s available for Android as well. Google Navigation using Google Maps is built in. Gone are the days of expensive navigation software from the likes of Tom-Tom and Garmin. When it comes to social media, you can sync all your contacts from Facebook, Twitter, and Skype or simply sync your existing phone contacts with their social media info (including profile pictures!).

My final note about buying a Nexus phone is that you get the pure Google experience. The interface is as Google intended it: no Touchwiz, Motoblur, or whatever other custom UI. Just plain, simple, Android.

Summary

The Nexus S lives up to the family name, and while there are certainly a few minor details that were overlooked, the phone is sensational. Packing a fast processor, nice camera, NFC, and a beautiful screen, this phone is going to keep you happy for quite a while down the road. Nexus S is available from every major carrier in the country. Prices range from $0 on contract to $529 without (even at the maximum price it’s $130 less than an iPhone 4).

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Fried Chicken and Watermelon Salad

This is a simple, fun, and Greek-inspired salad that is great for the summer and is more than filling enough to be a satisfying main course! This recipe will make enough for two main-course salads, or four appetizer portions.

Ingredients

Chicken:
2 Chicken thighs, skin and bones removed.
Juice of one lemon
1 tbsp chopped fresh oregano
1 tspn chopped fresh thyme
1 tbsp chopped shallots
1 tspn chopped garlic
1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil for marinating
1 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil for frying
Salt and pepper for seasoning

Salad:
1 bunch of frisee lettuce, washed
1 bunch of red watercress, washed
1/4 of a small watermelon, cubed
1/4 cup Greek Feta, crumbled or grated on a microplane
Extra virgin olive and lemon juice to dress
Salt and pepper for seasoning

Directions:

Start by cubing the chicken thighs into bite-sized pieces and marinating them in the olive oil, lemon juice, herbs, garlic, and salt and pepper. Allow to sit in the fridge for two hours.

After the chicken has marinated, fry it on medium high heat in a skillet with the additional oil. You should try to get some brown colour on the chicken while frying – this will produce a more flavourful meal.

While the chicken is frying, mix the cleaned frisee, cleaned watercress, and cubed watermelon in a bowl. Dress with the extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice; season with salt and pepper.

Arrange the lettuces artfully on your plate and then top with the dressed watermelon and fried chicken. Finally, crumble or grate the Greek Feta overtop the salad. Serve to your delighted guests.

**I have included edible flowers in the presentation of my salad – while they can make most summer salads quite beautiful, but they add almost nothing to the flavour profile of the dish and are completely optional.

Bacon, Eggs, Roasted Tomatoes, and. . . Scallops?

This is a playful take on a standard breakfast of bacon, eggs, and fried tomatoes. I have transformed it into a gourmet meal that would satisfy the most discriminating of palates. The following recipe makes enough for one, but double up the ingredients to really impress that special someone with your culinary skills.

Ingredients:

4 medium-large sized scallops, cleaned (remove the small muscle on the side of the scallop)
3 quail eggs
2 pieces of thinly sliced Italian pancetta
1/2 of a ripe red tomato, cut into three equal wedge-shaped pieces
Small handful of arugula
1 tspn of chopped thyme
Extra virgin olive oil for dressing
1 tbsp of oil for frying
Salt and pepper for seasoning

Directions:

While simple in ingredients and execution, this dish requires a little bit of time for preparation – at least two hours. Start by setting your oven to 325 degrees.

Toss the tomato wedges in the olive oil, thyme, and salt and pepper. On a wire rack (a regular baking sheet will do), slow roast the tomatoes until they lose most of their moisture and shrivel up. This will take about two hours, but depending on the size and ripeness of the tomato, it may take more or less time.

After the tomatoes have been in the oven for about an hour, get the pancetta in. The idea is to make perfectly flat pancetta crisps by baking them for about an hour in a 325 degree over. To get them perfectly flat you will need some non-stick material (parchment paper or a Silpat sheet) and something to weight them down: two baking sheets that fit together and two sheets of parchment paper work best. Line one of the baking trays with parchment paper and put the slices of pancetta on top; put the other piece of parchment paper on top of the pancetta slices; finally, place the other baking sheet on top of the covered pancetta crisps. This will weigh them down and prevent them from curling up while they bake. Bake for 40 minutes, or until crispy.

By the time the pancetta is done, the tomatoes will also almost be done, and you can move onto the main elements of the dish: the scallops and eggs. Start by getting a frying pan onto medium-high heat and oiling the pan. Once the pan gets hot, drop the three quail eggs and fry until the bottom of the whites are a little crisp, but the yolk is still runny. Take out of the pan and set aside.

Immediately after crank the pan up to high heat, season the scallops with salt, and put them in the pan. You want to fry them on one side until a nice golden-brown crust forms. The flip them over and continue cooking for about 30 seconds – if you fry them for much more than this you run the risk of overcooking them, which will leave them rubbery.

At this point all the elements of the dish are complete and they just need to be plated. I suggest dressing the arugula with a little bit of olive oil and seasoning and putting the fried quail eggs on top of the scallops, but really the presentation is up to you – it is a time to be creative and make something beautiful.

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People are happier and generally nicer, weekends become cottage trips, and most importantly, getting dressed in the morning is a breeze.

A staple in most guys’ wardrobes at this time of year is the polo shirt. It’s light and simple, pulls on, and (usually) only has two buttons to worry about.

Easy as the polo is to put on, picking the right one for the right look can be a challenge. There’s a fine line when it comes to wearing a polo; between looking like you auditioned for a spot on Jersey Shore and looking like a dignified gentleman. Here are some suggestions to get you ready to get ready for warmer weather.

Keep it simple

The polo works best as a simple staple. Wild patterns and colours tend to not translate well into polo form. For summer, try to stick with vivid colours in lighter shades: lavender (pictured: Lightweight Vintage Polo by J.Crew), moss-green, and cream, for example. If you want to go with a darker, bolder colour, navy is a failsafe. Avoid chemical colours like neon green or pink.

When it comes to stripes, again, simplicity is key. Too many differently coloured stripes can start to look busy and overwhelming. A good two-tone combination, with the stripes having just enough colour to stand out against the base colour of the shirt can be just as eye-catching.

The Shirt Doesn’t Make The Outfit

Throwing a polo on with jeans and sneakers is fine, but the nice thing about a polo’s simplicity is the creative freedom that it can allow throughout the rest of your outfit. By going with one of the aforementioned styles, you can try some different things in regards to pants/shorts. A light-yellow polo with a pair of seersucker shorts, or a cream shirt with mint-green chinos, for example, can add some summer colour and originality.

Keep The Collar Down

You’d think this would be common knowledge by now, but you can still see people on the streets of Toronto with their collars up, or “popped” as it’s more commonly known. It’s a collar, not a neck guard, so keep it right where gravity wants it to be: down and smart-casual looking.

Agree, Disagree and Share

At the end of the day, style is personal. If you like wearing that neon pink polo with the collar popped, you’re going to do it regardless of what we say. All we ask is that you leave a comment below or tweet at us about how you like to wear your polo.

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Our host Zane Mercey sits down with designer, entrepreneur and style icon Oliver Spencer at his first Canadian retail location. The store, located at 962 Queen Street West in Toronto features Oliver’s trademark functional fashion for men.

Oliver shares his thoughts on Canada, developing your own personal style and the impact that social media has had on his business.

Visit Oliver Spencer in Toronto at:
962 Queen Street West

Or Online at oliverspencer.co.uk

Music: “Freaks and Geeks – Childish Gambino”

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