Turnberry Day 2 - KC's Selections - Alternate

Cardigan - JL Colden Merino - Black

Shirt - Puma Basic Pique - Angel Blue

Belt - Puma High Shine Golf Belt -White

Pant - RLX Green Pant - Grey

Shoe - Puma Tippers

Turnberry Day 2 - KC's Selections

Cardigan - JL Colden Merino - Black

Vest - RLX Sawgrass - Active Royal

Shirt - JL Colman - White
Belt - Hugo Boss - Silver

Pant - RLX Green Pant - Grey

Shoe - Puma Tippers

Turnberry Day 1 - KC's Selections

Sweater - JL Lymann Merino - Navy

Shirt: Penguin Never Ware - Total Eclipse

Belt: JL Slater - Navy
Shoe: FootJoy Icon - Pebbled White
Pant: JL Tyrell - White

A Pictorial Ode (?!) to Nice-Fitting Trousers and Scottish Scenery

(Photos the property of the Associated Press)

What better way to show off a few nice pairs o' slacks than with backdrops like these...The balls they are a flyin' at Turnberry - the KC's eyes are smilin.' Top to bottom: Azuma Yano, Ryo Ishikawa and Henrik Stenson. Yano and Stenson's cut of trousers, for my taste, are absolutely perfect. In Scotland they call 'em breeks. "Thas one hulluva pair a' breeks ya goot thurr Henrik." Would a Scottish guy say "helluva?" We have no idea. We do clothes, brother, not brogues...Unless you're talkin' footwear and we're not...

These are some fantastic photos; click on the compressed version to get the real deal.

___________________________________________

Elevee Everywhere

(Photos the property of AP/Charlie Neibergal)

Sunday at the John Deere was like an Elevee parade. The upscale men's golf trousers could be found on the lower halves of seemingly everyone on the top half of the leaderboard, including: Lee Janzen, Tim Petrovic and Matt Jones. And Elevee wasn't carrying on quietly. Petrovic had on a pair of super distinct, dusty blue pinstripes, while Matt Jones went all Ryo Ishikawa on us with lime green and white trim.

I like the concept of a customizable men's golf pant - it's fantastic really. Besides Q'aja and Elevee, not much else is out there in this category.

The thing that irks me about Elevee trousers is the fit. They are just waaay too boot-cut. (You can see in the side-shot of Matt Jones how much they flare. Barry Gibb called, he wants his pants back.) And the overall fit is just enormous. (Without severe tailoring.) Now this is totally preference, I know most PGA Tour professionals do not want a narrow, tight slack, but these full pants look foolish on younger, thin guys like Jones. Even the slightly older guys should be in a trouser-width more like a Phil or a Stuart Appleby. Go on the Elevee website and look at the photo of Bill Haas. Not what I'd consider flattering.

What do you guys think of all these guys in these massive slacks? Is there an overly roomy trouser epidemic on Tour?

-KC

Sticking It to the Script?

(Image the property of Nike Golf)

If you happened to pick up a copy of the New York Times yesterday or check out NY Times online, you, like us, were probably pumped to see a feature on golf apparel. But the revelations that Bill Pennington unveiled in this story and possibly intrigued casual fans were no surprise to golf apparel insiders: Top golfers do not dress themselves - specifically at the four majors.

If you think it was particularly nice how those gray pants Tiger wore looked with the lavender striped polo, well, Tiger may have said he liked the individual pieces - given his "O.K." - but the look, and every other pairing Mr. Woods wears, was put together by marketing and apparel design teams for Nike Golf. In today's world of complete and total media exposure, we do not find this shocking and neither should you. The right clothes may not make the man, but they will make your company piles of cash. Hardly breaking news for the Sunday Times.

Also, in the defense of this website, which places such importance on style and its association with our great game, let it be said that no golfer would ever stride to the first tee in anything they didn't fully enjoy wearing. They're choosing the clothing in the end. And extra props go to the guys without clothing deals, Phil, Ryan Moore, Adam Scott - no one is telling them what to wear.

(For the record, KC did a feature on the scripting for JL, Nike and Puma athletes prior to the US Open and Masters in June and April, respectively.)

-KC

Wanna Be Tartan Something?

(Photo the Property of Reuters)

Rory McIlroy is giving Poults a run for his money in the slacks department this week at the Scottish Open. The young Irishman (currently without a clothing sponsor) ran a promotion on his website - letting fans choose the tartan trousers he'll wear on the course at Loch Lomond and, as a result, has started a bit of a friendly competition with Poulter. Hereby referred to as the "Battle of the Baggies."

Not only are McIlroy and Poulter paired together this week, they've been duking it out via Twitter, with Poulter sending Rory pictures of him ironing his trousers and other hilarities.

In Rory's press conference after Round 1, he fields questions regarding the "Battle," as well as his play this week...

-KC

Friday Familiarities?

Camilo Villegas - 2007

Danny Lee - 2009

(Property of AP Photo/Rob Carr)

Red Belt Done Right - The KC's Delight

( Photo of Edfors is the property of AP Photos/Morry Gash - Will Mackenzie is the property of Getty Images)

I purchased a red belt earlier this season from my pal Simon at Druh. Since then I have been struggling with ways to wear my scarlet leather. I was hesitant to the idea of wearing it strictly with a red shirt and doing that whole Camilo thing, because I thought that I could come up with something better.

Earlier this season I saw Willie Mac (above, bottom) wear a red gator with his otherwise black and white ensemble and I loved it. Then at the U.S. Open, the always stylish Swede Johan Edfors sported the above look. This too, I really appreciated.

I especially liked Edfors pairing the red accessories with dark khaki/tan trousers. I hadn't even contemplated such a combination.

With Willie's look (For your reference, he was wearing white and black Adidas 360's) you can sub in any bright colored belt and the look is successful. That is what is so great about neutral bases. With Edfors though, the red belt might appear out of place if not for the stripe on those sizzling Puma shoes (I want a pair) and the detailing on his shirt. The belt needs some sort of anchor when you deviate from a black and white base - Edfors and Puma chose well. (Although technically, I suppose you could do white and khaki with a complimentary colored belt, as long as you kept your shoes white.) Just something to consider next time you get dressed. As for me and my red belt...I have a few new ideas. Thank you golf universe.

If you're in the market for a nice strap, you can't choose better than House of Fleming or Druh. Links to these sites are available on the right side of this fantastic little blog. Cheerio.

-KC

A Spectator Sport?

(Photos the property of the Associated Press/FootJoy)

Thanks largely in part to style-conscious guys like Hunter Mahan, Miguel Angel-Jimenez and Ian Poulter, the spectator shoe is making its return to the PGA Tour ranks. I mean, pretty much every other fashion trend of the last 50 years has made a reappearance on the course, so why not?

On Sunday at the AT&T, both Bryce Molder and Hunter were sporting black and white FootJoy 'spectator' models. (The FJ Icon is pictured above.) Save for FootJoy's current Icon model and the Classics Dry of the past, finding spectators will likely lead you into the wallet-draining world of custom shoe-making, so beware.

Esteemed English boot-maker John Lobb takes credit for designing the first spectator shoe - for a game of cricket - in 1868.

According to several sources, notoriously dapper Walter Hagen was the first to introduce the black and white spectator to these shores when he brought them out to Long Island for a game at the Lido Club in 1925. Bobby Jones was often seen wearing a brown and white version in the years that followed.

It takes a fair amount of boldness to wear the spectator, but with today's increasingly monochromatic golf wardrobe, it isn't as hard as it was 10 years ago. The KC would recommend letting the spectators take top billing and keeping the rest of the look rather simple. Hunter, who wears them often, follows this mantra religiously, favoring simplicity in his Under Armour apparel and signature Hermes belts.

With the new customizing options on the FootJoy Icons, you'll be able to create spectators in a myriad of colors for a fairly reasonable price. However, as is often the case with classic items, the original colors will always be the best. So don't go all Doug Sanders on us unless you have a really good reason to. Like a "Pink Out" for instance...

-KC

Dishonorable Mention - Midseason 2009

(Photo the property of Getty Images)

Although it's not really in our nature to poke fun at the stylistically challenged golfers out there, at the request of several of our readers and in the spirit of genuine hilarity, we've decided to compile this photo expose of the worst looks of the first half of 2009.

Feel free to drop notes of concurrence, debate or even confusion. Confusion plays a rather large role here, I suppose...Surely these guys are mystified when they go to their closets every day and the goal of this little site is to clear up these embarrassing episodes of sartorial conundrum.

We've spared no one...Tour winners, major champions, NBA legends - all are fair game.On the day before the day that America celebrates its Independence let us free ourselves from the oppressions of baggy trousers and potato sack-shirts. May we rise up against bad headwear and footwear. When the smoke clears on the battlefield of style, all that will remain is form-fitting, beautiful clothing and the pride that seeps from our very beings as we sweep the morning dew. (Subtle nod to James Dodson)

Stay the style course and the course will repay you infinitely. Stray...and well, you may end up here...branded in cyber infamy with the tag: "Worst-Dressed!"

-KC

(Photo the property of Getty Images)

Jim Furyk is one of the best damn golfers in the world and one of the absolutely worst dressed. Jimmy is kind of an odd-looking guy, but he doesn't help himself with oft-pleated, ill-fitting trousers and shirts in heinous color combinations. I mean I love UPS brown shirts with yellow detailing as much as anyone, but...wait...hey...seriously? And the Larry David 'bowling shirts' that button down the front? Leave the b-downs to Poulter whose shirts actually fit.

(Photo the property of AP Photos)

Justin Rose is predominantly a well-dressed young lad who has graced these pages several times for his modern and trim style. But Justin broke rule #171 in the golf style handbook with this one: Do not wear vomit-colored clothing in public. I'm not sure what Adidas is calling that shirt, but I have a few suggestions that fall somewhere between kitty litter and pumpkin bisque. Mmmm...bisque. Don't do it again, J. Rose.

(Photo the property of Getty Images)

Rory...oh, Rory. He tries, doesn't he? He really does. This young man clearly wants people to like him, but he just doesn't know how to go about it. One way to lose friends and alienate people is to dress like Ving Rhames. Shirts like that should be burned twice for good measure. Rory should take his Hollywood attitude to a decent stylist.

(Photo the property of AP Photos)

I did some tongue-waggin' of my own when I saw these trousers MJ wore to the US Open Challenge. He could fit Scotty, Ho' Grant and John Paxson in those badboys with him. Even Freddie is like "Damn...MJ got some big ol' pants!" He looks like a giant MC Hammer hype-man. In the last month I've also seen MJ in formal coat and tails with military-style shoulders and about 8 buttons so who knows what's coming next from the best athlete ever to dribble.

(Photo the property of Getty Images)

I still laugh when I see this photo of JD at the US Open Qualifier. Bermuda shorts should have a restraining order against him! I love having John back in the spotlight - in fact I really don't have anything bad to say about this because it's just so him. Keep doin' your thing, JD...

(Photo the property of Getty Images)

Briny is one of my favorite scapegoats. That hat is just pure lunacy. (Unless it's on the Shark) He often wears baseball caps and looks much better, but he's just a goofy SOB. He dresses like the head pro at "The Villages" (Florida's Friendliest Hometown!!) and that might just be an insult to the head pro at "The Villages..."

(Photo the property of Getty Images)

Eric Axley is like a four car pile-up on I95. You're slightly scared, but can't look away. I'd say he should be sponsored by Skittles, but Skittles knows to show restraint. Sometimes you just can't wear your orange shirt with your orange pants...sorry pal, it doesn't leave any orange for anyone else. He and Rory should have a polyester bonfire starring...wait for it...their entire wardrobes!

Some Honorable Mentions From the 2009 Midseason "Looks of the Year"

(All photos the property of Getty Images/AP Photos)

If you folks like any of these more and feel they should have made the finals, let it be known...Also leave me any players/looks you liked from the first half of the season that I've left out. (Click on each photo to view original size)

___________________

-KC

2009 Midseason "Look of the Year" Nominations

It's incredibly tough to pick the best looks of the year so far on Tour. First off, it's easy to complicate everything - moving past whole looks and dissecting down to individual components. We find ourselves doing that a lot here...


Then you have the dilemma of choosing particular looks from your favorite players, when usually the best-dressed guys out there are looking great most of the time. What makes certain looks stand apart? What makes them more powerful or memorable?


Ultimately, it comes down to preference. Are you a fan of simplicity; clean, crisp looks that mean business? Do you prefer the loud colors and graphics of a guy who dresses busier? Do you like more classic, full cuts, or modern, trim designs? Wow, I'm getting winded already.


I know immediately what I'm looking for when I'm thinking "Look of the Year" - it has to be something interesting, a step-up even for a probably already smartly dressed individual. The look has to have a component that is utilized in a new way, a bold accessory I can't take my eyes off, perfectly paired (not matched) colors, fantastic layering techniques - it has to be provocative in some way, exciting and most important of all, inspiring.


The looks I chose made me go to my own closet and ponder how I could get a similar effect; made me rethink my existing habits, and sometimes go and purchase a much-needed piece to fill the gaps.


The KC proudly presents the midseason looks of the year...

Ryuji Imada - Practice Round - The Memorial

(Photo the property of AP Photos)

Ryuji owned this one. First off, the light blue trouser looks fantastic with the red visor - perfect play. This is something I had written about previously and a hot color-combo this year. Secondly, I developed a rather serious crush on this belt.

Ryuji is underrated, but at the KC we make sure he gets his well-deserved praise for mastery over the golf wardrobe. No one mixes in cool elements like he does. The braided belts (another choice for "look of the year" was his purple-on-purple at the Masters) are my favorite touch.

Phil Mickelson - The Players Championship

(Photo the property of Getty Images)

This photo was taken in the wake of the heated white belt controversy, which culminated somewhere around The Masters. Personally I think, colorwise, this is one of the best looks on Tour this year. I love how the deeeep royal Q'aja polo with the white accents picks up the belt, hat and shoes. There is most definitely a traffic jam on I-71 into Cleveland. It's full, baby. I love most how Phil put up with all the crap surrounding his '09 sartorial choices and stuck it out because he knew they looked better and guess what, people have come around. I was stuck between this and Phil's look during the 1st round at Quail Hollow with the green gator. That's a definite honorable mention.

Luke Donald - Round 1 - The Memorial

(Photo the property of Getty Images)

Luke is one of my favorite-dressed guys on Tour. I love RLX golf clothing and no one wears it better. I had a really tough time choosing my favorites of his, because I really like most of them. I settled on the most memorable, and for me, that was the 1st round at Memorial, when he torched Jack's place for a 64 in this well-done ensemble. I'm already thinking about taking it back, even as I write this. I have a photo of a bird's-eye vest at the Northern Trust I really liked and a green v-neck layered over a royal blue zip-up at The Masters. It was a tough call, but I'm going to have to live with it. I am also a huge fan of this belt buckle. Much better than the 'RLX' buckle he often wears.