WRK-Life Integration
*This post is written in partnership with WRK, all thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own, as always.
"Life makes the man; WRK makes clothes for life."
That's the motto of NYC-based menswear brand, WRK (Work.Rest.Karma). The idea being that clothes don't make the man, it's the man's choices and the way he lives his life that inform his wardrobe. Clothes are just a tool.
I could not agree more! I really started to find my voice as a menswear blogger when I stopped trying to wear clothing I thought people expected me to wear and started wearing what made sense for my life. I would wear a suit just to go get coffee and thought "what am I doing?! I'm a freelance writer. There's really no reason for the pomp and circumstance. I can have great style without a suit and tie."
I have been following WRK for the last few years. They started in 2011, and put on a great presentation every Men's Fashion Week. Their styling is smart, without being ostentatious. It's clean, but has really interesting details.
It's totally right up my alley.
They offer a range of tailoring and work wear with great technical details and fabric, but I find myself gravitating towards the brand's essentials. This off-white Bona Tee fits PERFECTLY! I usually have a hard time finding tees that fit well in both the body and the arms, but look at them go! I love tonal looks, so I layered their faux-suede Liberty Jacket over it. It's a classic trucker style, but is surprisingly lightweight for suede. It'll be perfect for the Spring and cooler nights in the Summer.
On the topic of Summer: loose knit hoodies might be my new favorite Summer staple. The open neckline on this Montauk Hoodie has a beach-resort vibe, but you could easily layer it over a tee for a more city inspired look. I'll be wearing it at the poolside bar all Summer with a pair of swim trunks and a mojito.
They say our generation doesn't care about work-life balance anymore. We want work-life integration.
That probably means we work non-stop, but if we are doing jobs we love, it shouldn't feel like work. We can enjoy our actual lives and work at the same time. So I'll be probably be on my computer when I'm poolside, but there are worse places to work, right?
