season staples: spring style hacks à la timberland.

out of nowhere, mother nature finally flipped that glorious switch and released the sunshine. now that the temperatures are feeling right, it's time to start making space in your closet for some season-appropriate style staples. below, you can find four of my favorite transitional style hacks, brought to life by timberland, to get your spring wardrobe on 100.

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the white sneaker

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bright whites always come in handy when you're trying to give your daytime looks an extra cool point or two, and the newport hikers come in a canvas fabric that feel totally right for the season—not to mention, make me want to get outdoors asap.

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the backpack

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maybe I caught a little cabin fever, but now that hibernation season is finally over, i have no plans to stay at home in the months ahead. a tough (but cool) bag makes it easy to hang onto everything i need on-the-go without having to head back to the crib to grab this or that. the ipswich river backpack does the trick perfectly.

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eco-alert: timberland teamed up with thread™ for the ipswich river pack & newport hiker boots above—using fabric made with 50% recycled PET (layman's terms: plastic bottles) collected from the streets of haiti—making them not only sweet additions to your wardrobe, but a conscious cop, too. 👍

a strong pop of color

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I'm not sure when it happened, but somewhere in the past few months, I fell in love with the color red. it makes such a bold statement, and this skye peak insulated vest makes it really easy to seed the punchy hue into my looks with just a few simple layering moves. no matter your personal preference—yellow, purple, pink, whatever—don't be afraid to give all your favorite shades a go this season.

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double denim

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for whatever reason, i was sort off of denim the past two seasons (at least, the blue kind), but I've come across some really sweet styles these past few weeks, and they have me so excited to break out a clean canadian tuxedo. matching washes can be a little tough, so don't feel the need to. here, I paired timberland's mumford river slim fit denim shirt with one of my favorite pairs of jeans from ASOS and tempered down the look with a few tan complements.

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hit timberland.com to cop more of their new-season staples, and check back here for more transitional style tips to get you through the weeks ahead.

fyi: this post is #sponsored by timberland, but as always, all thoughts, tips, and content are my own. -j

look 14: better late than never.

one of my challenges for the year is to really take advantage of my closet. it's no secret that i have (more than) my fair share of clothing, and i told myself that i either need to use it or lose it—ASAP. with that said, i bought this shearling biker jacket from ASOS a few months ago and never got around to breaking it out. at this point, i figured i'd lost the chance until next fall, but thankfully mother nature is just as bipolar as ever.

wearing: asos man faux shearling biker jacket in white and double hue denim jeans, perry ellis sweater, adidas originals zx flux sneakers.

breaking down the look

this look was really about the color palette. as i was getting dressed, i wanted to give something icy: bright whites and cool shades of blue. from there, it was just about pulling the right pieces together. consider this next-level polar bear steez.

look 13: the layering game, simplified.

while it's been a see-saw of extreme weather conditions here in nyc, i'm happy to say that brighter (and warmer) days are definitely in sight. with that said, i think we can finally go ahead and begin our transition toward spring-appropriate threads. the trickiest part always comes down to layering, and i found a sweet in-between piece from maniere de voir.

breaking down the look

while the lining details are on deck to keep me protected against the breeze, the best thing about this shearling is the weight. it's super light, which is perfect when the sun creeps up out of nowhere. here, i threw it on over a tee and hit the streets for an easygoing look that's simple but effective—especially when you glance at those fire chelsea boots.

click here to shop the jacket now (psst... it's on sale).

season staples: the hoodie.

as we gear up for spring here in nyc, we’re well-aware that the picnics, bike rides, and wonderful temperatures that typically mark the season are still quite some time away. in the meantime, lightweight layers are very necessary for surviving the last of the winter chill. my go-to piece for the transitional season: the hoodie.

earlier this month, i ordered these two bad boys from maniere de voir, and i've been wearing them pretty often since they arrived. they’re both lightweight, which makes them great for layering under thicker coats right now (considering it's still harshly cold out here), but also wearing on their own as things eventually warm up. and more than that, they're really stylish in design. the camo option's perfect for making a statement, and the black version is super-functional and subtle enough to break out a few times a week without getting side-eyes for over-wearing it.

why they’re important

one of the best things about the hoodie is that you can wear these street-ready staples anywhere—the gym, the movies, brunch, lunch, you get the point—and the styling options are endless. rather than type out all the different ways to put them to work, watch the video below for 8 easy fashion wins.

see? I told you! it's like a style secret weapon, haha. check out maniere de voir for more cool styles dropping this season.

shop now

ASOS insider picks: march. 👍

the first day of spring is almost here, which means you need to start thinking about that upcoming wardrobe flip. now, don't get crazy... it's still cold AF outside, but these sweet pieces will help you get your new-season style transition off to a fresh start. -j

look 12: the in-between.

some days you feel like dressing things up. other days you'd rather keep it casual. and then there are those strange days when you're not really sure what you're feeling... when you're stuck in-between. so what's the solution? do both.

wearing: h&m wool-blend casual blazer, ports 1961 #followme tee, asos man distressed jeans and rope belt, dr. martens bandana print brogues.

breaking down the look

in moments like these, the easiest thing is to blend your elements: mix dressier staples with laid-back basics for a fun combo. here, I paired a relaxed blazer with a simple tee for my personal approach to biz-casual. for the bottom half, I matched (very) distressed denim with a statement-making pair of brogues—both of which added some extra cool points, while still working together with the rest of the 'fit for a solid head-to-toe ensemble.

ASOS insider picks: february. 👍

look 11: that weekend flow with suavs.

every season, after #nyfwm, i basically go into total chill mode the following weekend. with that said, saturday morning arrived and i met up with one of my best friends for a matinee, brunch, a bangin' gym session, and, finally, drinks and dinner. it was completely relaxing—plus, i had this new pair of suavs that i was gifted a few days ago to keep me comfy along the way.

wearing: suavs barton winter slip-ons, asos man denim jacket and distressed hem jeans, 
h&m sometimes tee, vintage bandana, and asos striped socks.

brand spotlight

when i visited the site to pick out my pair, i noticed that they called themselves "the comfiest shoes on the planet." of course, you'd expect any brand to say that, but once i slid them on, i could definitely see why they put it front and center. these bad boys really are extremely comfortable. the bartons, in particular, are lined with a faux fur interior that makes it feel like you're running on clouds all day. i may have to get a pair for the office.

what i loved about this look was that the slip-on sneaker style let me add a little personality to things with these fun socks from asos. together, i think they make a pretty cool combo. -j

look 10: ports 1961 x everlast.

the second half of my ports 1961 project was all about the brand's new collab with everlast. creative director milan vukmirovic dropped a fresh new capsule collection born in performance, but enhanced by style; and the items are pretty cool. check out the piece i picked out below. -j

wearing: ports 1961 x everlast mesh camo shorts, asos man silver parka and ribbed turtleneck, uniqlo heattech leggings, creative recreation napoli sneakers.

brand spotlight

we've been having a crazy winter up here in nyc, but i'm not complaining. i mean, shorts in the middle of january... that's a sweet deal. i'm really into this set from the collab: they're hella cool thanks to ports 1961's iconic star camo print, but they also add some tough boxing vibes to the whole mix for a nice statement. the capsule features a number of garments inspired by the sport, all of which are sure to give your spring wardrobe (or gym game) an extra punch of style.

look 9: my snow day with ports 1961.

earlier this month, i teamed up with ports 1961 for their #followme campaign, and there's no way i could pass on the chance of sharing some of the shots with you guys. the photos came out really well, largely because of the random blizzard that hit nyc the day i set aside to shoot my look. needless to say, i didn't let a few snowflakes (well... a lot) get in the way. check it out. -j

wearing: ports 1961 personalized #followme teddy jacket, asos man ribbed turtleneck, alexander wang cropped trousers, creative recreation sneakers.

breaking down the look

if you've been following me for a while, you're likely used to seeing me in darker, muted colors. well, i went ahead and switched things up for this one: i chose this bold red colorway for my personalized #followme jacket and it's a beauty. worn with an all-black statement, it completely comes through as the hero of this look, even when it's paired against those big stripes down below. keep this equation in mind throughout the season for an easy fashion win: a head-to-toe black ensemble + a strong pop of color in your choice of outerwear = style success.

oh yeah, @kjohn_lasoul was a part of the campaign, too!

look 8: kicking it with k-swiss.

these past few weeks, i've found myself incorporating way more dapper elements into my looks than usual: suits, blazers, vests, all that good stuff. i guess i was in an a little bit of a joggers-and-sneakers phase for a second, but the variety's coming back and i'm excited; especially since the ss17 season is almost here (not to mention, nyfwm is right around the corner!). below, i kept it business casual at work with a sporty suited number, featuring some fresh kicks from k-swiss. - j

wearing: asos man suit jacket, wood wood aa pixel logo tee, adidas originals joggers, k-swiss classic '66 p sneakers.

brand spotlight

so, for this look, i adopted my usual approach to suiting, dressing things down with a tee (or turtleneck) and throwing on a clean pair of kicks for an easy athleisure win. i love this style from k-swiss—the all-white colorway makes it work effortlessly with so many different outfits, plus they add some serious throwback cool points.

ASOS insider picks: january. 👍

happy 2017, people! it goes without saying that a new year calls for new threads, so i thought i'd give you guys a little helping getting things off to a stylish start. you know the routine: scroll down to check out my favorite picks from ASOS for the month of january. -j

follow my ASOS Insider account on Instagram for more stylish picks to shop 👉 @asos_jovel

5 looks x forever 21 men.

late last year, i teamed up with my buddies at forever 21 for another quick collab—this time, to show off some new pieces from their #fw16 assortment. i put together five looks, grabbed my camera, and headed to dumbo to capture the shots below. the weather wasn't on my side (at all), so i kept everything super simple, but i still wanted to share a few of the pics with you guys. you can also find a few selects over on the @forever21men instagram account—make sure you click that follow button while you're there. enjoy. -j

look i.

look 7: a little NYE shine. ✨

so... we made it (almost). it's december 31st and 2016 has finally come to its end. it goes without saying that every new year's eve requires a statement-making ensemble to welcome the exciting months ahead, and this time around, i felt like adding a little shine to things. check it out. -j

[watch this super quick video for a few last-minute new year's eve outfit ideas]

wearing: asos super skinny blazer In silver velvet and longline metallic silver t-shirt, reclaimed vintage pinstripe skinny trousers, house of hounds leather jodhpur boots.

breaking down the look

in my opinion, new year's eve style is all about the glitz and the glam—without taking it too far, of course. i doubled up on metallics by layering this silver tee with a matching velvet blazer. it's definitely an eye-catcher, but i think the darker tone and texture of the jacket lighten up the impact of the shirt to make it a cool fashion statement. i've also been obsessed with pinstripes lately, so these trousers were perfect and they slipped over the boots just right.

have a happy (and stylish) new year. 🎉

ASOS insider picks: december. 👍

december's here, which means we're all likely dropping a ton of dolla dolla bills on presents for others (and a few for ourselves, haha). if you're doing any of that spending on asos.com, here are six of the picks you should add to your cart asap. -j

look 6: spanish shadows.

I thought it'd be a good idea to share a bit of my travel style from my recent trip to europe, so this look's straight from the streets of barcelona. this gold-striped sweater was one of the first things i threw in my suitcase before i left. something about it just screamed spain to me. -j

wearing: asos man sweater, forever xxi joggers, gloss the label frames, and creative recreation sneakers.

breaking down the look

the clashing stripes work together here to create a cool tension that draws major attention to the total look. and while the head-to-toe color palette isn't very loud (which is a good thing in my book), the gold detailing adds some extra wow (and a little bit of luxe) to the mix.

look 5: layered up with uniqlo heattech.

fact: surviving the fall + winter weather requires a strong layer game.

this season, i've been investing in a ton of different layer options, from long-sleeve and crewneck tees to solid turtlenecks and hoodies—all of which i can seamlessly slip under or over the other items in my closet to add some extra warmth to my daily style equations. included in that assortment are a few pieces from #uniqloheattech collection, and so far, they've been coming through like magic.

wearing: uniqlo heattech ultra warm long-sleeve t-shirt and ultra warm tights; h&m longline bomber jacket, alexander wang x h&m neoprene biker jacket, asos man utility vest, ripped denim, and baseball cap, nikelab x riccardo tisci free train force flyknits.

brand spotlight

my favorite thing about the heattech collection is how comfortable the pieces feel on your skin. considering their functionality—keeping you #warmtothecore—it's pretty incredible how light they are. also, the fabric's a smooth cotton weave (not waffle knit), which gives it the casual appearance of a regular tee and allows it to blend into different looks much easier. another important point is that the material on the tights doesn't tug my leg hair like some other brands that i have—two points for uniqlo. shop the full #uniqlolifewear collection here and start stocking up... winter is coming.

fyi: yes, this is a #sponsored post, but (of course), all opinions, photos, and tips are my own. -j

look 4: winter whites.

that whole "no white after labor day" rule is foolish, in case you didn't know. winter whites are definitely a trend worth trying out, and I got the chance to put a quick look together for my recent creative recreation campaign, featuring the new all-white napolis from their holiday '16 collection. check it out. -j

wearing: tigha neo 2 biker jacket, zara hoodie, asos crewneck tee and infinity scarf, adidas originals joggers, creative recreation holiday 2016 napoli sneakers, forever xxi beanie.

breaking down the look

in my opinion, the key to making winter whites work, is not going overboard. a cool statement piece or two (vs. head-to-toe outfits) is the trick. i balanced this look out by matching my outerwear and accessories against an all-black foundation. the yellow pop of color helped add a bit of edge to make everything feel a bit cooler.

look 3: the casual friday approach.

so, every now and then, i like to break out a slightly more dapper option. i had an early morning event on the upper east side, so i needed to look the part—trust me, when you're in that neck of the woods, you don't want to look out of place.

wearing: topman cropped blazer, h&m polo, river island cropped trousers, adidas zx flux sneakers, asos suedette cap, hypergrand maverick watch.

breaking down the look

here, i basically just added a little bit of my personality to the idea of casual friday style. i gave a simple solid polo and trousers combo a sporty twist by throwing in a baseball cap and white sneakers. the cropped blazer added a few more dapper points to the equation for a cool street-ready look that works from your desk to drinks easy.