In early February, a representative at Chevrolet reached out with a special opportunity to get a behind the scenes look into some of the iconic and noteworthy music staples in Los Angeles and the Joshua Tree area.
They had planned out an entire two days where we would partake in a music-filled road trip from LA to Pioneertown, all the while test driving the all-new Chevy Traverse. It sounded like an event not to be missed and so I said yes, even though I was going to miss my hometown Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl parade down Broad St. which was a huge bummer, but the trip was well worth it, and I am confident that they’ll win it all again soon.
I won’t get into details about the trip. You can watch the vlog here (my very first one) to get a taste of the entire experience, start to finish.
What this editorial covers is what I wore for a short road trip from LA out to the desert, my experience with the all-new Chevy Traverse, and my thoughts on the vehicle.
Let’s jump in!
OUTFIT OF THE DAY (OOTD) & FIT CHECK
Whenever deciding what to wear, I first keep in mind the occasion and the weather. These factors are going to dictate which pieces I choose to incorporate into my look.
The desert always conjures up images of the heat and much cooler nights. The desert is notorious for drastic changes in temperature.
With this in mind, I knew right away that I can’t go wrong with some of my favorite layering pieces. The first piece that I picked was the denim jacket. My light wash denim jacket already has a dusty appearance, and so it blends into the desert aesthetic. The next piece that I chose was the light padded vest. These are my two favorite layering pieces and they make for a perfect pairing. What I love about this combination is that I can effortlessly shed or add layers as the temperatures fluctuate throughout the day.
SHOP THIS LOOK—Denim Jacket: ASOS | T-Shirt: Uniqlo | Light Padded Vest: J.Crew Factory | Chinos: Peter Manning NYC | Sneakers: J.Crew | Wood Watch: Jord Watches | Pocket Square: Sprezzabox | Sunglasses: Warby Parker (similar) | Performance Socks: Enduro
WEARING UP TOP
For my base layer I kept things simple with a lightweight, cotton v-neck t-shirt in a charcoal gray color. Layered over top of the tee is a navy, light padded vest. Not only does it help to insulate, but it’s light enough where I’m not going to sweat, and provides ample room to layer a fitted denim jacket overtop.
WEARING DOWN LOW
For my pants, I’m wearing a pair of slim fit, light olive chinos which is a color I like wearing when the weather warms up a bit.
And then for the kicks, I’m rocking the ever stylish, ever versatile, and much hyped Killshot 2’s with the gum sole. These sneakers pair well with jeans and chinos. I’ve also seen men wear them with suits, although I wouldn’t.
Socks often get overlooked, but it’s important to wear an appropriate pair while spending the day in the desert. I went with a pair of moisture wicking athletic socks which adds compression and allows my feet to breath a bit. Alternatively I would go for a pair of no show socks.
DESERT STYLE DETAILS
I finish off the look with a blue trim, white linen pocket square for a bit of sartorial flair. It’s a move that you won’t see many guys making so when you do it, people will know that you’re a man of style.
I also threw on my new wood watch that I’ve been wearing a lot lately. I felt that its casual nature complements this overall casual look.
And of course I’m wearing the essential summer shades. They’re a matte brown with brown, gradient lenses. Sunglasses are a stylish and functional accessory, surely an essential for LA and desert style.
CHEVY TRAVERSE PREMIER REDLINE EDITION
Since this is a style blog, I want to come at this from a style perspective. Let’s talk Chevy style, particularly the Chevy Traverse Redline.
First I want to quickly bullet-point the key features that I really like.
• Super connected with Built-in 4G LTE Wi-Fi + works with Apple CarPlay & AndroidAuto
• Cooling seats
• Spacious with plenty of cargo space
• Quick and easy traction mode selection for surfaces like off-roads snow
• Surround vision has a virtual bird’s eye view of the car
REDLINE FEATURES
• Available exclusively on Premier
• 20-inch High-Gloss Black wheels with Red stripes
• Black bowties and signature Black and Red badging
• Signature Black Ice grille and foglamp bezel
• Gloss Black window trim
• Black roof rails
• Dark tailamps
• Black-painted lower moldings with Black Ice inserts
In menswear, when it comes to good style, it’s all in the little details. And coming from an aesthetics perspective, I’ve got to say that this all-new redesigned Chevy Traverse nails it with the details. It’s just an overall stylish looking mid-size SUV, that’s not bulky or boxy, and the black rims, black grill and black accents really sets the car apart from others in the category.
IN THE END
I had a wonderful 2 days with the Chevrolet team and all of the other editors and media influencers. There were lots of memorable moments and so I want to send a special shout out to everyone involved over at Chevrolet for creating such a smooth and memorable experience.
HOW WOULD YOU DRESS FOR THE DESERT?
Let’s continue the discussion over in the Gentlemen Within Private Facebook Community.
Looking forward to seeing you in there.
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I like the denim jacket! The light wash goes really well with the sunny environment.