Dapper Party Style

 

The crimson purple blazer shimmered in the twilight, catching the last rays of the dying year end sun. Josh, normally a stylish man, felt a thrill of nervous excitement as he slipped it on. Tonight was New Year's Eve, and for the first time, he was venturing beyond his usual circle of friends and into the glittering unknown of a glitzy holiday party.

The party was at Sarah's, a friend of a friend, in a loft overlooking the city. Fairy lights twinkled like constellations against the exposed brick walls, and a pulsating beat thrummed through the air. Josh, clutching a bottle of something vaguely grape-flavored, felt a pang of self-consciousness. He was usually the life-of-the-party type, around familiar faces. But the velvet blazer, borrowed from his friend with a wink and a promise to "seize the night," gave him a newfound sense of swagger.

He sidled up to a group by the punch bowl, their laughter echoing like wind chimes. A guy with eyes like spun gold and a laugh that tinkled like champagne flutes caught his eye. "That's a killer blazer," he said, his voice laced with amusement. "Vintage?"

Josh puffed up his chest like a rooster caught in a hailstorm. "Sure is," he lied, his cheeks flushing under her gaze. "Family heirloom."

They fell into conversation, the velvet blazer a conversation starter in its own right. People gravitated towards him, drawn by the unexpected pop of color in the sea of black and navy. He found himself regaling them with tales of his usual escapades, adding another layer of festive absurdity to the night.

As the clock struck midnight, confetti rained down like a million glittering tears. Josh, with the man with the golden eyes by his side, raised his glass. "To new beginnings," he toasted, the velvet blazer catching the kaleidoscope of lights like a festive beacon.

The night blurred into a whirl of laughter, dancing, and stolen kisses under the mistletoe. Josh, the man in the borrowed blazer, had become the star of the party, his confidence as dazzling as the sequins clinging to his newfound friends. He realized, with a dawning sense of wonder, that sometimes, all it takes is a little bit of holiday magic, and a whole lot of velvet, to step outside your comfort zone and into a night you'll never forget.

The next morning, as he peeled off the blazer, the scent of champagne and confetti clinging to its fibers, he knew he wasn't the same Josh who'd put it on. He was a little bolder, a little brighter, a man who'd dared to embrace the unexpected and found himself in the middle of a story that was far more thrilling than any he'd ever read. And it all started with a crimson velvet blazer and a New Year's Eve party.

This is a fictional story inspired by where you can wear this men's style.

Model: Josh (he/him/his) @thejoshbrink

Photos: Alan Rust (he/him/his)

He is wearing a blazer, slacks and loafers from his own collection.