Another Arrival

It's not photographing well, but I recently purchased a pen set from a fellow online for the princely sum of $5. I had posted before on how I was on the lookout for a decent silver pen set to take with me and I found one this past weekend on good old eBay. I am pretty pleased with the purchase except for one detail and that being that there are "gold" accents on the pens and I was told that they were all silver. However, they are so light that it's hard to tell, and probably impossible to tell in a dimly lit bar. The upside? Well to start, the man was located in Texas so they arrived quickly, the price was obviously right, seem to have not been used ever, and there was more in the box than I thought there would be. In the original box were the pen and pencil combo, but also a stylus insert as well as a small "travel" pen which I will consider a casual variation of the complete set. So, a 4pc silver Pierre Cardin pen and pencil set for the price of a drink, which I find very agreeable. Another item marked off the "list".

More yellow than mellow

This shirt came in today! One item on my "to get" list had been a nice yellow long sleeve button down shirt that could double for casual and dress. I have to admit, this was a bit of a Christmas gift to myself, but I don't feel any guilt as I got it off eBay and was the only one bidding, plus I got it for next to nothing, so it was really just a good buy that happened at the end of the year. It's a dead stock oxford dress shirt that was still in the bag, but I am having a little trouble dating it. The markings would indicate that it's a late 70's/ early 80's shirt, however the shirt itself has a tapered body  and a fantastic collar that is at least four inches wide that would indicate more 60s, and you know how I like those tall 60s collars with long points.Excuse the pics as it's still wrinkled from the package, but I couldn't wait to get it unwrapped and thrown on the stand in. I put an old Brooks Brothers blazer over it in one pic to give a reference point on the collar. All in all I have to say that I am very pleased with this purchase. Only a few more items to yet arrive, but I will post as they come in.

Yesterdays trash, todays treasure.

When I was a child, the idea of getting socks for Christmas was a let down to say the least. However, times do change and so do attitudes, apparently, as I actually enjoy getting socks for the holiday now. In fact, I'll pretty much run the spectrum on what types of socks I'd love to unwrap come Christmas morning. In addition to the previously mentioned square, I also received three pairs of bamboo blended socks that are now nesting with all their brethren in my sock box. They are nothing kooky or wild, but still much appreciated. Grey, navy, and brown were the colors chosen and they are good colors to get. Sometimes you need to match your sock color to hues of your trousers or shoes and these are very common colors for all. Some might say that, apart from black, that these are the workhorse colors of the dress sock world. (and yes, there is a world of dress socks) These are colors that I need, yet never think to get as I am usually distracted when I am perusing that particular section of the store. Three lovely pairs of stockings in my stocking this year.

There are a few other items that are "en route" that Santa didn't have time to deliver, as soon as these arrive, I will post!

A Christmas gift

Tucked inside a small wrapped box addressed to yours truly was this silk, olive colored pocket square. It's really a nice plain square, but in a lovely hue that I didn't have and so it was a very welcomed addition to my collection. I have to admit, when I went to put it away, I hadn't thought of what I already had to go with it, and then today the proverbial light bulb went on! I recall cleaning out my older tie collection and really only keeping a very small handful of the older ties, two of which I remembered as having similar coloring and thought would look great combined with this particular square. So, I fished them out and took a quick picture to show what I mean. One tie is patterned and one has a regimental stripe feel to it, and since both are NOT solids, they will look great with the square that it (don't want to have two possibly clashing patterns or look too busy). I can easily see any of these being worn with a brown or black suit. So, as promised, here's a glimpse of what Santa brought me.

Merry Christmas!

Busy wrapping and unwrapping, but got a few items in the fashion arena, will upload pics and post as the week continues.

Fab Fabric

If you're in the market for fabric for that next suit, sports coat, or pair of trousers to be made, then you might want to consider eBay. There's a long time seller of quality fabrics on there who is worth a look is you want something special. British Fabrics offers suiting, coating, cottons, mohair's, cashmere, and pretty much everything else under the sun with some real bargains to be had. As soon as my ship comes in, I can guarantee there will be some of this vendors fabric in the cargo hold. If you have a moment, give them a visit.

http://stores.ebay.com/BRITISH-FABRICS

Undecided

As I mentioned in the previous post, I purchased this material recently for no other reason than I enjoyed the pattern. I would like to do something with this, but I am at a loss for what to do. The only thing I have come up with is another cabana set, but the first one has been a bit of a lackluster experience and I am not sure I want to go through that again. basically, i am open for suggestions. If you have any ideas, please let me know as I think this material is too attractive to leave folded up in my office for weeks, months, or even years.

Poolside

Two items of interest today that I thought I would share. First, I wanted to show a hat that I had purchased at the previously mentioned department store closeout for a paltry sum of $6. Its a summer straw hat with one of the stingiest brims I have seen offered in quite a long time, and the fact that the expense was so negligible, I had to purchase it. I have to confess that I don't see this hat getting much wear outside of being worn poolside, sipping on cold tasty beverages in a cabana set. But, somehow, I am very comfortable with that idea. The second item is nothing more than a length of fabric I obtained at a sales bin at a local textiles store. It's nothing spectacular, in fact its nothing more than a mere cotton fabric with a silk screened pattern, but it's the pattern I fell in love with. I bought without thinking and have been toying with what to do with it. So far, I have come up with nothing more than a second cabana set, but I will be open for suggestions. In fact, I will post the fabric tomorrow and see that you think and perhaps see if someone has an idea that I have not yet thought of. Deal? Until then, here's a picture of the that hat and it's token brim. Pairing this with a pair of suitable sunglasses is a priority. But I have plenty of time to find that perfect pair and also perfect my recipe and technique for a mint julep.

Sportswear with style

Once again I find myself thinking of clothing out of season. Today's interest has been my ongoing obsession with vintage sportswear, specifically golf. I had seen this picture before, but every time I see it I feel reinvigorated in my belief that I am on the right track. Mr. Sinatra is look impeccable in his button front knit, slacks, loafers and tasteful pinky ring and watch. Mr. Brynner sports a simple white knit, cuffed trousers and two tone golf shoes. Keep in mind that I do not play golf, but you don't need to to appreciate the fitting casual clothing represented in this photo. This winter might be spent searching out sports shirts that follow these ideals of slim fitting, stylish, and functionality.

Keeping a step ahead.

As of late, my attention has been towards dress slacks (that is, non-casual trousers not part of a suit) and what variances I like. One of the details that I have really interested in lately is the stepped hem. The stepped hem is exactly what it's name implies, a hem in which the back portion is stepped down from the front. This is marvelous feature for a two reasons; one, it can allow for a lack of a break in the trousers front crease without exposing the back of the shoe and giving the "highwater" look....two, it's a dandy feature that I feel gives the hem an almost dressier aesthetic than the normal straight or slant hem. In all actuality , it's a pretty simple alteration to have done as it splits right at the seam, and also open for further embellishment such as a small covered button or v-notch at the point where the two hems meet. The picture is of an older pair of greenish tweed trousers I had to help give an example of this particular hem. I am at the drawing board at the moment to design some trousers for next year and I think this is a feature that's going to be used more than once.

It couldn't be that easy.

But sometimes, it is, in fact, that easy. One of the items I am always on the lookout for are quality belts. They are a little harder to find than one might think as I have a few features that I look for; One, I like my belts on the wide side (at least and inch an a half at bare minimum), two, I like a nice full buckle which is not as popular as I would like. If you are not sure what the term "full buckle" means, then please see the pics attached. Anyways, to get back on point, I always try to find a source for belts that meet my particular needs, but usually end up not finding much. DNA groove offers some great belts and I have one, but it's a tad pricey to fill a wardrobe with these and the rise and fall of the dollar shouldn't affect my belt selection. In a tiny fit of frustration, I mockingly typed an URL into my browser and it actually worked! http://www.belts.com/ . I am not kidding, and to tell the truth, they had some great casual belts for a not too shabby price. I found several full buckle, wide leather belts in blacks, whites and browns that piqued my interest. I plan on ordering one or two in the near future and will give a review at that time. Until then, remember that sometimes you can over think the situation and it helps to take a step back and just try a lark.

Sign on the dotted line...

I haven't posted for a few days as I have been busy, but hopefully I can get back to a regular schedule. I wanted to remind everyone about the power of emails. A lot of stores these days have special sales or events that are sent to their shoppers via emails if they are on mailing lists or signed up for shopper clubs or whatever they call them. I highly advise taking advantage of these. You can get special coupons or heads up for outrageous sales and take that opportunity to stock up on certain items (depending on store). In fact, if you get bored some evening, you can go online and just go around signing up for email alerts at every store you shop at as most modern stores these days have some kind of website. Don't want to get a million emails to your inbox? then consider making a new email address just for sales and alerts. Takes less than a few minutes to set one up and even less to check it once a day or so. Through such emails and shoppers clubs, I have got huge discounts on certain things up to 80% off, and in some cases even managed some things for free! And who doesn't like free stuff? Think of it as clipping coupons for clothes, only the company clips them for you and emails them to you. Go on, do it, what else you have to do?

This is why you go to sales...

Picked up this sports jacket at a department store clearance a while back and just got it back from the seamstress (added a third button, but not before her vacation to China). The material is a grey herringbone with a maroon/navy check pattern over it. The cuffs are actually working cuffs and the lining in a fantastic purple on purple polka dot. I have been really into patch pocket sports coats recently as it seems to be a great way of saying "this is a sports coat, not a suit jacket sans the trousers". I am really pleased with this purchase and am already thinking of shirt and trouser combinations to wear with it. I had to shell out $5 to have the button hole added and button sewn on, but add that to the $35 cost of the jacket, and I am still ahead for my value I think. (And yes, you read it right, $35 smackers for this coat, very very very marked down) So, if any of you are in any doubt, here's proof that you can still grab a great deal (or steal) at clearance sales or department closeouts. With the upcoming chilly weather, this will make a great informal evening jacket for those nights out on the town when a suit isnt' required. Note to self, look into purple pocket squares....

Mad for Madras

Reeling from Black Friday sales, Cyber Monday, and the upcoming winter months, and what I am obsessing about? Madras. Yes, i know it's out of season and I wouldn't be able to wear it for 6 months, but I don't care. I have added to my list of things to get and that is a nice Madras sports jacket. I know that Madras isn't for everyone, and a lot of the time it conjours up images of anything but cool, but I have a feeling I can make it work. Now, before you say anything, patchwork Madras is right out, and what I am looking for is a nice fitted jacket with thin lapels and a nice dark blue or, preferably, green pattern.If it's tailored right, then it's going to be a great spring/summer sports jacket, trust me. The material is a good material and gets sold short a lot of the time, and in this case the jacket is going to be all about the details....as it always is. I am even considering covered buttons, side vents, and slanted pockets, but I may just have to settle with finding one and altering it. As always, I will keep You posted.

UPDATE. I was supposed to pick up sports coat today, but got side tracked. Should have tomorrow.

New Shoes

Got a coupon for Macy's and went today to use it and get a good deal. So, of course, I didn't read the fine print and found out that my coupon was worth less that the paper ii was printed on and not valid towards 95% of the items they sold. Undaunted, I decided to have a look around and see if I couldn't find something else. I did notice that the Macy's online had an umbrella I liked, but not in the store itself it seemed. Anyways, I wandered into the shoe section and harassed the poor sales girl who was covering too many departments by herself, but she was very nice and attentive and helped me pick up these, a pair of super soft brown leather drivers. I have been looking for a pair at a decent price for a while, and thought they would look great in the spring/summer without socks. Simple design without any silly embellishments and actually quite comfortable. So, due to the sale, I got these at 50% off their already marked down price, so basically $24, not too bad if I say so myself.

Field Trip Part II

Ok, so Urban Outfitters trip was a bust. I would also like to take this time to say that the store in itself was a bust. First of all, they didn't have any of the things I went there to look at. Secondly, the "staff" was there in body only and couldn't care less why I was there, they seemed more interested in talking to each other than actually helping any of the customers. It really seemed to me that there were two types of people working there; the ones who stocked shelves, folded shirts, and walked into the backroom every five minutes, and then there was the cashiers who stood behind a counter and took your money. Anything else you had to do you yourself, and god forbid if you had a question. Lastly, the music being blasted in there was crap. Ok, now I know what you are thinking, old-man-itus, but I have an explanation. I realize they are catering to a different crowd with different tastes, but the music was still crap and it was being played loud. I am developing a theory on music in clothing shops, and that is, the louder the music, the crappier the clothes, I think it's a ploy to make you not concentrate on how bad the clothes really are. Don't get me wrong, I like music while shopping, but if I can't whisper to someone a foot away, then it's a shop I shouldn't be in. I have decided to stuff the J Press/UO clothing as all the reviews I am reading are stating that it's junk. It's a shame really and more of a mar on J Press' reputation than anything else.

UPDATES!
Called my seamstress and newest blazer should be finished Monday (apparently she made a trip to china the day after I dropped it off)

Cabana set is almost done (woman making it suffered an accident, will be making her cookies and dog treats for her canine co-pilot "chip")

Tattersaw vest is in the works, Rachel got me sewing lessons for birthday and met with instructor, will be attempting to make a vest for first project. Ultimate goal is trousers.

Black Friday sales! I might be at the malls tonight at midnight to see whats new, needing an umbrella and leather satchel and found some that might work. Also a good time to just rake in deals on consumables! So socks, underwear and everything in between. Might want to consider braving the crowds!

Field Trip

So, in a round about way, i found out that J Press, longtime clothiers, are doing a line for Urban Outfitters for some unknown reason. I took a look at UO's website and viewed the limited wears. All in all I was not too interested, but there was a nice navy flannel blazer complete with brass button, hook vent, and J Press label. It's a high three button affair with patch pockets and doesn't look half bad. The price is reasonable (for J Press that is) so it has peaked my interest. However, it's also the low price that has me concerned. I am not too sure if this is going to be on par with the rest of their items since is a lower cost Urban Outfitters item. While on their site, i also found a pair of shoes that they call "jazz shoes", which are just a pair of soft leather oxfords with a super low heel, which is right up my alley. Since I have the good fortune of living in the same town as an Urban Outfitters, I am thinking that a field trip is in order. My plan is to go take a look and report back to you good people. Since the store is right across from UT, I think tomorrow will be my best bet as most the campus will be closed due to Thanksgiving. Should have more tomorrow.

P.S. UO wasn't letting me grab any pics to post here to let you see, but you never know if one of these things might follow me home...

Busy doing nothing

Haven't posting anything in a bit due to being a little busy around here, but obviously nothing to show for it online. I will make those changes promised soon, I...well...I promise. Anyways, in the meantime, the weather here has been teetering on brisk and warm. On occasion I have been able to wear a sweater or light jacket, but only to have to revert to a short sleeve shirt or knit the next day. Here's a "cooler" weather ensemble; as it was actually chilly enough to warrant it, I wore a light vintage turtleneck in a pea green color, a off white London Fog vintage golf jacket, Levi's 514 cords in a nice dark brown, and a wide brown leather belt with a full buckle. (shoes were brown suede). Very very daytime casual, but still managing something better than cargo shorts and a hoodie, blech. The more I wear the 514's, the more I am being sold on them, going to try some of their jeans soon. The jacket I have is unlined and very simple, mostly for keeping out the wind and not much else. The turtleneck i recall getting as a lot of two, there was a white one as well, but having trouble figuring out how to pull that one off. All in all I think the colors all work well with each other and look good (if I may say so myself). If you disagree, feel free to email me so I can read it and then delete it.

Fall classics

So the wind is picking up and the temperature is dropping just enough to warrant something more than the usual shirt.As I felt the cool breeze today I couldn't help be feel the need to mention to classic items of British clothing that look as stylish today as the day they were introduced. I'm talking of the Baracuta G9 Harrington and Clarks desert boots. The G9 is a short sports style jacket with elastic cuffs, slash pockets, and the iconic tartan lining. It's been worn by everyone from Elvis to Steve McQueen, and of course Mods, since it's introduction. Great lightweight jacket to keep out the breeze and look stylish while doing it. The G9 is the classic style that comes in a myriad of colors, with "sand" still topping the charts. As for the Clarks, I have personally gone through a few pairs in my time and enjoyed everyone one. (word of advice, avoid the rain and mud) They are comfortable, smart, and make a great combo with the Harrington. Once again, "sand" tops the list of colors, but next time around I will be getting the dark brown suede. The design has not changed since it's debut, and it's a brand that had stood the test of time for a reason. So, if you are looking to update your wardrobe for the fall weather, give these two some consideration. I know I always do.

Wraparounds

I was going through my jewelry box the other day when I noticed a pair of cufflinks that seem to have fallen out of favor over the years, but I feel are due for a come back. Now, having said that, I know that there are groups of people that these style of cufflinks have never left the hearts of, but I am talking more of the everyday Joe and not the sartorial fanatic. These cufflinks are basically very similar to all the other style you would see in the stores today, except for the metal mesh band traveling from one side to the other. If this added feature serves any purpose other than decorative, then I am unaware of it. One of the things I really like about these links are the fact that they aren't worn that much any more and actually for the weight they add. Last time I wore these out I received several compliments and was convinced that they were still a nice touch to any mans jewelry collection. Links such as these cans till be found in the occasional shop around town, but your best bet is to look online. Of course, with all things, you get what you pay for. Some cufflinks can be had for a reasonable price, and some for an obscene price tag. You are either paying for quality or a name, I always say to pick quality over a name. Of course, on the other side of the spectrum, there are cheap cufflinks to be found as well, but remember, that's all they are, cheap cufflinks. A quality set of cufflinks will be treasured for man many years and will always be a good investment.

Candid camera

At home with the dogs, but still managing. White DNA Groove long sleeve button down, burgundy merino wool v-neck sweater, grey prince of wales pattern trousers with burgundy and black. Finished off with black socks and black square toed loafers and the look is brought together. The burgundy in the trousers were successfully brought out by the sweater while the shirt and shoes were a nice contrast. The weather was finally cool enough to wear a sweater with doing just that, sweating. Trying to plan more with sweaters as the temperature finally falls. The goal is to have a smart, causal look through the day that can be easily put together.

Keep it simple

I wore this the other day and thought I would post. Even though you are lounging around the house, you can still look stylish without looking like you spent the better part of an hour putting it together. I had this knit shirt from Ban Lon that I got of eBay a few years back for some small sum, the trousers I had made a while back as well, and the loafers were actually a pair of Arnold Palmer shoes that I got at a clearance sale for chump change. Inexpensive yet eye catching. A quick look on eBay and varied vintage stores will turn up old knits such as this like you wouldn't believe, just be sure to try it on, look for holes, cuts, or pulls in the fabric as most of these are acrylic or polyester. Also, having clothes made is not as expensive as you would think, especially now with the Internet being such a great commerce tool. As for the shoes, well, let's just say you should NEVER discount a sale just because it's in a store you would never go to. Take full advantage of going out of business or holiday sales, sign up for email discounts, and even shop out of season, and you'll eventually find a handful of fantastic deals that make it all worth it. Eventually I would like to add a section on being stylish on a budget, or at least tips for being frugal with your wardrobe dollar. (providing I get enough feedback to do so, so if you would, use that comment button or feel free to email)

There's nothing manly about a man-purse

But on occasion, you do need a bag for various reasons; such as a day at the beach or off to a weekender away from it all. In that case, I highly suggest you pick up a decent flight bag. These used to be passed out like candy during the 50's and 60's from every airline there was. Do you want to look like a metrosexual courier? Or would you rather look like a man about town that's on the move? Rock stars carried them, movie stars carried them, why even Williams carried one on Enter the Dragon right before he karate chopped the cops, and how cool was he? Here's the best news, these are readily available on eBay for fairly cheap and you can have choices of airlines, also there is a website for an outfit called Inretro that makes new ones if that's your bag. Of course, I am a fan of the BOAC bags, but the TWA and PAN AM ones are looking pretty cool as well. With so many options, you can pick and choose to your liking. Now don't get me wrong, I am not saying to carry one of these all the time, as no man should carry that much with him every day, but if you do have that special occasion, here's a cheap  and infinitely cooler alternative to the man purse.

P.s. In case you wanted to have a look......  http://www.inretro.net/

I need my meds

I've gone insane and need to be medicated. Well, that's only half true..I choose to be medicated. This is a little off the mark for me, but I wanted to show this off in an effort to let you know that it's pays to be a little crafty from time to time. Every now and again, I go to my parents and I am sent home with some sort of garage sale find that ranges from "completely awesome" to "hoarders would throw this out". One of the items (that ran closer to the hoarders end of the spectrum) was a little silver and chrome metal box that housed a travel razor. The razor was a novelty at best and not really suitable for shaving anything, ever. However, I thought that the little case it came in was pretty neat. It was solid, well made, and closed tight with a little spring latch. So, I chucked out the razor and it's components, removed the plastic housing inside, made a short trip to the hobby store and here's what I made, a nifty little pill box. Until recently, i had been toting my self prescribed meds in a little blue and red capsule made to look like a large pill, not exactly flying under the radar, but it worked. Now I have something that almost looks, dare I say it, classy? I really like that the inside of the lid is highly polished to an almost mirror like state. I think the green liner makes a nice contrast as well, don't you?

Double breasted psych suit

So, first trial of the new camera. I recently got this new suit off eBay of all places for a reasonable price I feel. It's 60's double breasted suit with a high buttoning small crossover. It's a nice grey color with a very light dark burgundy and black check pattern. The trousers have unique slash pockets that are actually inset into the fabric and do not follow a seem. It fits like a glove ( a very tight glove) but it's due time I lost some weight, so it will work out well. I like the fact that I can make some subtle changes on how I wear this and it will change the feel of it. I can go with a plain white shirt and tie and it will have a very stylish, yet formal business look. Or I can wear a thin turtleneck or perhaps a shirt with a cravat and it's a more psychedelic feel to it. The one thing I don't think I can get away from is that i will definitely need a pair of proper Chelsea boots to wear with this suit. I'm thinking a good pointed toe, low heel and a nice smooth black leather. I like the look of the Cuban heel, but it's not something I can pull off, sadly. I am thinking a nice red or burgundy (to match the check) for any tie or cravat.....any other suggestions?

New Camera!

Got it in last night, battery charge, SD card formatted. Expect another post today with pics and several more as the week goes on. Woot!

Forgot to post!

Went to a friends wedding not too long ago and this picture was snapped. Blue mohair suit with white button down with french cuffs. Vintage tie bar and cuff link set, CK tie and a burgundy pocket square (out of sight) with four points showing. Full silver buckle on a black leather belt and black chisel toe shoes (also out of sight). Love this suit as it fits like a glove and the material is beautiful! Anyways, thought I would share.

Also, the weather here is actually tapering off and a slight chill is off and on during the day so I have a bit of advice for you guys and that is to pick up some chapstick if you don't already have some. They are super cheap and come in a myriad of flavors, so you can throw one in your car, once around the house, and one to take with you. You don't want to be the cracked lip guy, plus not deal with the discomfort. You'll thank me later. So, if  you are planning a trip out of the house for groceries or anything else, slap that on your list to pick up.

Costume change.

So, obviously you know what I wore yesterday during the day, but we went out that night for a dual birthday celebration and I needed to change, of course. I have been wanting to wear the green and navy boating blazer form quite some time and I used this as an excuse. I mated that with a pair of mohair navy trousers, brown square toe shoes with matching hue socks, and a brown belt with full buckle. I also went with a simple DNA white shirt with barrel cuffs and a button down collar. Surprisingly enough, I received several compliments on the coat, from friends, friends of friends, and complete strangers who simply wanted to express how much they liked the jacket. Needless to say I was pretty chuffed. The only complaint I would have is that after adding the third button to the jacket, the lapels don't sit properly, but it's nothing a little time with a steam iron can't resolve. AND, as I was out, i was asked if I had a pen.....so I just wrote about how I needed one and the situation comes up the next night I go out. I think I am definitely on the right track. I dug up an old photo of the blazer to show in case you don't feel like searching back through previous posts. By the way, still waiting on feedback on anything you would like reviewed, discussed, or explained on here. Feel free to email me and I'll reply back as soon as possible!

Lion about town.

I have a few errands to run this afternoon and the weather is not exactly sun shiny today. It's overcast and drizzling rain, so I want something to keep me warm. Today I am wearing a rust colored sweater I got from a vintage store last week, as I am not sure on the material, I am going to guess alpaca. Needless to say, I love the fuzzy quality of it, but not so much the itchiness. In order to combat the itches, I am wearing a long sleeve button down I got from a department store close out, nice white with blue, light blue, and emerald green checks. Finish it off with black mohair trousers, corduroy bowling shoes and some rust colored socks to tie it all together. I am fairly happy with the outfit with my only complaint being that the cuffs on the shirt are a bit large, so I will move the buttons over and have a nicer fit. Until then, stay warm and dry.

Note to self....must get umbrella.

P.S. new Camera is one state away and should be receiving something special in mail today.

Always be prepared.

Still a good lesson to be learned even if you weren't in the Boy Scouts. Part of being the dandiest lion on your street is to be always be prepared. Granted, you don't need a utility belt of accessories when you head down to the post office or to the liquor store for a bottle, but certainly when you go for an evening out for cocktails or perhaps a day out at the races. I find there area few items that are not necessarily indispensable, but are nice to have and certainly set you apart for the next guy. One thing I am considering carrying out with me for anything involving a suit or sports coat is a nice pen set. No, I am not talking the Skolnick special of 43 pens and pencils crammed in your shirt pocket. I am talking a nice chrome pen and pencil set Ala Cross. How many times have you asked the barkeep if they had a pen? Meet that special somebody on a night out, what better way to leave your number than to write it down? How cool will you look marking your racing form when you dive into you inside jacket pocket to produce your own pen? Also, you can pick up a set on eBay for fairly cheap, or with the holidays coming up, most of the department stores have little gift sets that are reasonable priced. So, there's no real reason to not be prepared. I am eyeing a few sets now, and will of course post once they are in my possession. And for anyone who cares, I bought my new camera and it should be delivered shortly, so there will be posts galore with pictures coming as soon as that arrives!

Happy Halloween!

It's Halloween, time for costumes, candy, and pumpkins! I have no costume today, as I might be a bit too long in the tooth for that, but I've got the spirit none the less.Due to the wonderful creepy commercial playing on TV, I will be handing out Snickers, because "I'm only helping". Might scrounge a pumpkin, but more importantly going to try and dust off the fog machine and plastic skeleton. So once again, Happy Halloween!!

Shades of grey...or is that gray?

Either way, not much going on in the color front today. In fact, very conservative dressing today. Black and grey Prince of Wales trousers, white bespoke button down, black v-neck sweater, black socks and black square toe loafers. I was toying with my other pair of trousers that has more burgundy in it, but I needed a more suitable shirt or knit to wear with it. So, off to run a few errands and perhaps that much needed shirt. Still have to post the shoe article, next article I am thinking of writing in on plaids, or at least all the patterns people mistakenly call "plaid". Also, let me remind everyone that I am still looking for feedback on any additions to the site you would like to see of any other content you would like to see commented on. Enjoy your Saturday!

Friday, Oct 29th

Not a whole lot to do today. Did most of my errands during the week so I am left with some "free" time. Going to work on a few home projects as well and some online web work. It's a nice cool day so far, so I have opted for the Levi's 514 cords (really liking these) in a nice brown, a thin black turtle neck tucked in, a nice wide DNA brown leather belt with large full buckle in brass. Got a kind of late 60's psych look going today, and it's suiting me just fine. You know about the Levi's, but this turtleneck is one of two I got from Banana Republic of all places. They were literally giving them away on sale, as I guess I was the only one who wanted them. So managed two nice thin cotton turtlenecks in a nice slim fit for $20 total. I haven't any shoes on as I will pretty much be indoors most of the day, but I think that a pair of low heeled Chelsea boots would be ideal for this look. New item to mark on list. OK, back to work I guess....

Tragedy

So, got dressed tonight in a simple white button down, wine colored Fred Perry Jumper and black mohair's with black cord shoes for my usual Thursday night cards.....only to find that they have been cancelled, and not just for tonight, but forever. I went to a few others bars to try and make myself feel better, but nothing helped....oh well. Plans are in motion for a dress up night once a week, will comment more on this as it develops.  As for now....not a happy camper. I bought some new items today, including a shirt and a sweater, but those will wait until new camera time. Not a happy week in the house of Brian.

Ok, now I am feeling it.

Feeling much regret over the untimely loss of my camera. I attended a wedding recently and took my camera along and of course, left it. The good news is the bride found it and has it and will send to me, the bad news is that this won't happen until she gets back from her honeymoon. I am, however, in the throws of obtaining a new camera and have been reading reviews online and what to get for my price range. I have single one out and should get soon. Until then, everyone will have to do with images taken off the web or just my mindless ramblings. I have much to photograph and post as soon as one of the two is in my possession, one of which is my newest sports coat that I got at a clearance sale. I took it to my normal seamstress to have the alterations done and she was just leaving to go out of the country for two weeks, so that's got to wait as well. Actually, I have several irons in the proverbial fire and it's taking it's toll on me. As many of you know, I have a fair amount of patience, but I can only take so much. I'm not Job (bible reference for any religious people). Hope to have things back to normal within a week or two.

Also, I am going to make a few changes to the site and would love some feedback on what you would like to see, any changes you might like to have, or really any creative criticism you might have. Already thinking of having a daily or weekly tip, more photo's, articles, and loads of site design changes. Your input is greatly appreciated!

Now accepting contributions

In order to feed my obsession with clothes, I will gladly accept contributions in the way of cash, checks, paypal, loose change, IOU's, Discover card, or live chickens in a bag. Yeah, I didn't think you'd go for it either. I went virtual shoe shopping today and have decided I need more corduroy shoes. Why? Because they are awesome! I have run across these two, both by the same maker, and decided they need to be mine. Fortunate for me, they are both fairly inexpensive (under $100). The brand is IKON and I have heard all kinds of mixed reviews on them. I have decided to go ahead and get a pair and decide for myself, and perhaps review them here. The first pair is a chocolate brown corded shoe with whip stitch detailing. They appear to be an almost "dressy" cord shoe with the classic heel and squarish toe which gives them a pretty sharp look. The second pair is a collaboration between IKON and Paolo Hewitt and have a distinct desert boot feel to them. They only come in one color, bottle green, which to be honest, I like. They appear to have leather laces and square eyelets and a crepe sole similar to the Clark's Wallabees. This last pair is a very casual boot that has a limited range of what you can wear with it due to it's color, but I don't care to tell the truth. The only real problem, apart from scrounging up the budget for these, is really deciding which one to get first (or at all depending on the quality). Any suggestions?

My friends call me Tiger..

As of late I have been really only concerned with three brand of athletic shoes; Adidas, Puma, and my latest interest Onitsuka Tiger. Unless you have been living under a rock for most of your life, you should be pretty familiar with Adidas and Puma, the Tiger's however, are a little less known. I had seen them around form time to time and seen their special editions reviewed on other sites and recently I actually bought a pair. As far as fit and finish, they are a great shoe. The tigers area complete package, cool styles, neat freebies, great packaging, and all the other bells and whistles that make them worth while. You can see their recent collection at http://www.onitsukatiger.com/ and see what I mean. I have to confess, one sure fire way to sell me on a trainer is to dump the canvas and nylon and stick to suede and leather, and the Tigers have done just that. They are stylish without be outlandish, yet subdued without being boring. Last pair I bought came with a second set of laces (unusual for a sneaker) a patch (that's right, a sew on patch) and an actual keyring. Now, the freebies weren't just generic ones with Tiger emblazoned on them, they were matching the actual shoes I got. Have to give them credit there. If you haven't seen them, maybe you should give them a look. As of today, I saw a couple of pairs of different styles at Nordstroms rack all for under $50 a pair which is a fantastic deal. I was tempted to buy another pair, but had to restrain myself as I have a list already started :)

Friday day

Off to run errands and knock about. Since the weather is right and it's still early in the day, I decided to go with the new brown Levi's 514 in corduroy, browns suede lace up shoes, and a off white and olive check DNA short sleeve shirt and a brown smooth leather belt with bull buckle. I am helping a friend move some items into storage and then a little happy hour perhaps. Not a shabby friday so far. Also, have sort of finished the shoe article, trying to get it edited before posting. Keep on the look out!

Thursday night

Cards, of course. Weather still relatively warm, so I decided on a pair of navy trousers with a blue Ben Sherman knit with accents of a lighter blue, brown, and burnt orange. For shoes, I went with a pair of brown square toe dress shoes and burnt orange socks that match the knit perfectly. It was a fairly balanced outfit and I was pleased with it. Today (Friday) it's a bit cooler with an over cast, so might have to dress for it. As soon as new camera arrives, I would like to start doing a side portion of the sight with daily wear photo album. Let me know if you think this is a good idea or not. Ta ta for now chappies, I'm off to do my thing.

It's ok to be rude

Known about this line of clothing for a bit, thought I would post. Mikkel Rude out of the UK sells a line of clothing that's limited in numbers, but not in quality. Pretty much restricted to shirts, cardigans, and boots, but still worth checking out. Once again, the terrible status of the US dollar at the time makes these a little inaccessible, but doesn't mean I can't look. Great short and long sleeve shirts in a myriad of tartans and checks, some 60's styled boots that are nothing short of spectacular, and fantastic English wool chunky knit cardigan. Don't let his inability to smile in any picture fool you, this is great stuff. I have seen his wears outside of the website and they have also been discussed on a couple of websites I frequent with wonderful reviews. If you get a  chance, I would definitely give them a look. http://mikkelrude.co.uk/

Ok, so I am wrong.

Found them. Apparently Levi's 514 corduroys were what I was looking for. Also, the Macy's near my house had them on sale for $39. I went today to have a look and seemed like they only had about three colors in limited sizes. But seeing as how I only really wanted brown, I was really lucky to have that be the first color on the rack AND have the end pair be the exact size I needed. Tried them on, bought them, left. Well, OK, I didn't leave. Looked around and got a few pairs of socks, and then Dillard's was having a crazy going out of business sale, so I picked up some stuff there that was truly awesome. So awesome, in fact, that it's going to have it's own post. Here's a little preview though; socks, hat, sports coat, fantastic sales staff. Now I am off to model my new purchases.

Easier to find the lost ark.

Try as I might, I have been unable to find a decent pair of corduroy pants ANYWHERE! I went out today to run errands and stopped at a few places to have a look. Brooks Brothers actually had some great looking ones, until I tried them on. The were super fitted below the knee and required me getting 3 sizes larger than I normally get to just get them on, and in the end they looked like jodhpurs. Levi's had nothing, and I even tried on their 511's to get the fit right and perhaps order online. Nope. Gap had some good colors and the right wale, but the bottoms were huge...almost flarish. Anyone know where I can find corduroys that are cut like 501's? I don't need super skinny, I don't need relaxed fit, I don't want boot cut, I don't need stretch, just regular old cords. I'm thinking I'd have better luck finding wooden poop behind a rocking horse at this point. If all the designers of men's clothes would just speak to me before they create their new lines, we would all be much happier.

What was worn, saturday night

Went out for drinks with Rachel and friends last night despite the fact that it was Saturday night, which is usually the breeding season for knobs. I went with a blue multi stripe boating blazer, white DNA groove shirt, black mohair trousers with frog mouth pockets, chisel shoes and plain socks. Rachel wore the new blue with white trim romper I had got her with white shoes. My friend Bill sported an Adam of London purple suit with covered buttons and a nice pair of leather slip-ons. Savannah sported a brownish tartan dress with a nice pair of earrings (sorry girls, I didn't notice the shoes). Rachel mentioned that several people came up to say their hello's, then promptly left as they looked awful in comparison. I somehow don't feel bad about this. Are all my (and my friends) efforts working? I wonder how many of them will try and dress a little better next time out. Off to parents for a bit and I going to try and successfully avoid clothing stores along the way. Yeah, I know....pretty much not happening.

By the way, camera is probably in New Zealand at the moment, (don't ask), but a new one is being scoped out. Soon to have pictures again!

What I wore...

The weather is getting cooler and sweater and jacket weather is around the corner, but not quite yet. Last night was Thursday cards and drinks with a friend in town. I wanted casual as I would be sitting for a length of time as well as walking between a few bars. I went with a grey prince of wales trousers, vintage navy ban-lon short sleeve with large collar, thin black socks and black leather square toe loafers I've owed for several years. It worked, although I wasn't completely happy with the blue shirt and black shoes. Next time I'll try a different color knit or shoes and see how it looks. Also got me to thinking that I need a couple of pairs of super thin socks for when I wear dress loafers. I am looking into the old thick-n-thins that have served this purpose well for years. In case you are unaware, thick and thins are a name given to men's socks that are usually silk or nylon and are quite sheer, but with thicker opaque stripes running through them, hence the name. I have found a source online for some in great colors, so I'll be updating as soon as these arrive.

General rule of thumb

I met up with a friend tonight for a cocktail at a bar and got dressed for a casual night out. I opted for a pair of mohair trousers with a red gingham button down and black v-neck. My friend wore a fantastic burnt orange and white prince of wales sports coat and turtle neck ala Brooks Brothers. Casual, yet still keeping it a step up above the rest of the crowd for a Wednesday night. I couldn't help but think of something I learned when I was younger, that the material of clothing depends on how close it is to your body. A general rule of thumb, if you'll pardon the expression, is to have the material get "finer" or less coarse the closer to your body. If you are going to wear that great oxford cloth shirt you love, and you want to you put something on over it, it needs to be of a heavier weave or material that that oxford. If you have a great mohair suit, you need a pure cotton or silk shirt shirt underneath. You can't have a rough textured shirt under a fine linen suit. A flannel shirt under a silk blend suit has never looked good. It's a question of  clothes fading into your skin. You want the natural progression of your outer most clothes to be seamless to your skin. Although this may seem obvious to you and me once it's been laid out in print, you'd be amazed how many people still don't realize this or abide by this. But if it wasn't for other people dressing badly, then we wouldn't look so good in comparison.

Slashing down that list!

Almost as fast as I add to it. I managed to knock out another "need to get" item off the famous list. In this case it was a burgundy v-neck sweater. Sounds easy enough, but finding the right cut of sweater and depth of the v-neck is hard. Ultimately I found it at BR. It's a classic item that can be worn with almost anything, but never gets old with a classic white shirt and grey trousers. Also, the Nationwide Insurance deal finder guy has nothing on me, normally sells for $60, I got it for 50% off at the outlet AND an additional $15 bucks off because of my BR card and being my birth month. So, $15 for a merino wool sweater? Not too shabby if I may say so myself. Posting a pic off the website. Oh, and managed another pair of shoes recently, only this time it was a vintage pair of brogues of eBay, I'll post those as soon as they arrive.

P.s. Listen, this photo and/or jar of booze needs a home, tell your friends to subscribe to this site and enter the contest. That mannequin needs a name, I need more "peeps", and this booze ain't gonna drink itself.

First contest!

So, here's the deal, and seriously tell your friends. I am going to have a name that Mannequin contest. The best name chosen with be the winner and the prize with be a mason jar of moonshine or a boudoir photo of your truly, (winners choice). But here's the kicker, the contest will only run for two weeks and within that time you can submit as many names as you like, However, I will not start the contest until I have 4 more followers. I need an 10 even to to get this party rolling. So I put it to you guys to get the four more peeps to follow this blog and then we can all see you gets the grand prize for the most creative or original name. Also, full credit will be given on this site to winner and all accolades will be passed on this lucky person. Rules and regulations with be passed on by me at the contest progresses. Put the word out!!

I'm glad your done.

Ok, once again I am literally taken back by someone else's choices. I go to play cards tonight and there is this man, for lack of a better term, that is basically the anti-Brian. I swear to god, he is wearing a Fedora, 3/4 sleeve band t-shirt (gagging yet?) jean shorts, and flip flops!!!! Seriously??! What a joke. I mean, does he own  mirror? Did he think this was a good look? Did he wake up and think "hey, I want to look like Vince Neil's crappy retard illegitimate son"? I am at a loss of words.....ladies, does this seem acceptable to you?

When was the last time..

..you shined your shoes? Plan on doing it this weekend. There's no reason to have gross, scuffed up, unshined shoes or boots. I find that I enjoy wearing shoes more once they have just been shined. So in effort to keep everyone well dressed, your homework assignment this weekend is to shine those leather shoes you have been neglecting. I am working on an article now on shoe care and how to extend the life of your shoes, but until that's released, lets all put in a little effort this weekend. And in case you didn't know, every man should have at least ONE pair of leather dress shoes with a proper sole, not that rubberized crap they have been unloading on us for the past decade. Also, since I am in a preachy mood, don't buy dress shoes that have that little cushion in the back of the heel, you don't work for the post office and have to be on your feet all day. If you require that little cushion, well then you shouldn't be in long pants and leaving the crib quite yet. And while I am on it, lug soles on shoes belong in the forgotten pile along with Members Only jackets, leisure suits, and Crocs (are those dead yet?). They had a small vogue but were just bad ideas, just like Zima and the Nazi party.

Is it sweater weather yet?

Because I just bought a new one. I actually got this by chance, and for some reason I really like it in a weird way. Not normally anything I would wear, but for some reason I have a vision of this sweater with some grey trousers, white button down shirt underneath, black brogues and perhaps some burgundy or burgundy/cream striped socks. I think I can make it work. Now off to find those brogues. Wish me luck!

Before and a little after

So, pretty much finished as much as I am going to do with the experiment shirt. I ended up successfully removing the front pocket (it had a small hole, hence the cheap price), then I added a button hole and button on the back of the collar, and lastly, I thinned down the sides and sleeves. I have to say I am pretty pleased with the end product. I took a before and after picture, and you can see a difference. The first picture is the after and the second being the before. (I know I put them backwards).  The picture doesn't do them justice, as I narrowed the sleeves over an inch down the length and the sides came in a whopping inch and a half from both sides. I tried it on and it fits like a shirt should, not like a potato sack with a pattern. Next project is to actually make something from a pattern. In case you think this is unmanly, I must say I did spend most of the day in the garage using power tools, making sawdust, and pouring gasoline. So there.

Shining moments

So, as promised, the first is me in a new knit and grey trousers. This was also the combo listed earlier with the yellow socks, but as these are cell phone pics, they don't show diddly and look bad, but oh well. I was kinda liquored up and pretending to be the door guy and really quite surprised how many people just showed me their IDs right off the bat. Needless to say, I had fun with that. The second is yours truly in light grey mohair trousers, with a nice navy blue cotton shirt with rounded collar. Also sporting brown shoes and a brown belt as to avoid clashing with the blue of the shirt (no black and navy together). I had forgot about this picture until a friend sent it to me. Don't judge. I was sleepy and nobody was playing.

Coming to a blog near you......

Pictures of me in stylish clothes, but not stylish situations at recent birthday parties. I have two to share...will post tomorrow.

Raccoon coats and penants.

My how things have changed, and I am not convinced for the better. I was looking at a french blog the other day and the author posted a few pages from what appears to be a 1962 Esquire magazine. The picture definately said more than the tiny exert at the bottom, but basically its a picture of a couple of clothing racks which is said to be the "basic college wardrobe", from 1962 that is. They address how the jackets are to look that year (this is assuming that everyone wears a jacket) and how many shirts you should have and what color. Shoes, hats, ties, etc are all shown in the picture. I thought to myself how many college men these days even own a single suit or jacket. It sounds pesimistic, but I doubt the average college student would even know how to buy one. I am almost tempted to go to a college campus and see if I can find one single person dressed well, and by well I mean something other than jeans or shorts, t-shirts, flip flops, aka crap. I mean, what's wrong with showing others respect by dressing before you head out fo the door? Why is comfort in clothing to the point of almsot visual laziness the main goal of the day? My new promise; never to buy anything that would be described as a "graphic tee", anything that is "relax fit", and never to wear a pair of flip flops in any place that is not a beach or a poolside. Now I know that those of you who know me, know that this is a pretty easy promise for me, but let's just say I want to get it down on paper. I need to find someway of challenging todays men of dressing a little better each day, until this kind of ad is run in Esquire again.

Updates!

So, I said I would update and I really haven't. So, here's the latest. Cabana set is almost finished, took a bit longer than expected but might get one wear in before stowing it away for next year. Looks awesome. The Hilfiger project is coming along. Removed pocket with no problems other than testing my patience, and also put in button hole on back of collar and sewed in button. So far so good. Going to pin it tonight and see about taking the sides. If there was anything else that you were waiting on, update wise, please let me know. I know you are all on the edge of your seats.

The Experiment

Not too long ago I went to a "sale" at Steinmart. Normally I never find anything there, but you never know when a sale might produce some socks or undershirts or something that you can use for the price. It was as I suspected, loads of stuff I would normally never buy or wear no matter how much the discount was. Having said that, I did buy a Tommy Hilfiger button down shirt. I know, what was I thinking?! Well, to tell the truth, it didn't have any logo's blazoned on it, it had a great collar, and the checked material used was fantastic. Throw in the fact that it was only $9 on sale, then I couldn't really pass it up. As some of you may or may not know, Rachel and I recently purchased a sewing machine. My goal is to take this $9 shirt and turn it into something I would wear. Here's what I plan to do; put a button at the back of the collar, remove the front pocket (it has a hole), and slim down the body of the shirt. I think this is a good way to learn or practice basic skills and if it fails miserably, well, then I am only out a $9 Hilfiger shirt. No tears. Here's a before pic showing the huge body of this shirt and how shabby it looks. Hopefully the next update with show a better shirt. Fingers crossed!

Six of one, half a dozen beers of the other.

So, here's the scenario. I am watching an auction on eBay AND I have to go to the bar around the same time it ends. I was hoping to be done and home by the end, make my bid, and win. Unfortunately, that didn't happen. So, I have to wonder, which vice is more important? Normally I would say clothes, obviously, but sometimes the liquor gets my vision clouded. I was supposed to drop off some wrapping paper to a friend who was working tonight, then have ONE drink ( I know, stop laughing) and then head home and catch the auction. But, in my defense, friends showed up. I am kinda upset, but I have to really take a step back and look at the bigger picture. If I layed it all out on paper, you would judge, and that's my job on this site. Let's just say that I had a few tasty cocktails tonight, and that might be for the best. Otherwise, I would have added a fifth pair of bowling shoes. Don't judge.

P.S. I know a few of you tried to catch me tonight with jeans....try again suckers! I have been true to my promise.

I'm into leather.

More than you wanted to know, but not what you think. After some delays and problems, I got my leather tobacco pouch today. Kinda excited. I got a leather roll up tobacco pouch off eBay and the guy originally set me the wrong one, so I contacted him and after a few emails he sent the correct one (without the tool or humidifier disk I might add). I had been taking the tobacco with me in the same little plastic bag they give to you at the store, it worked, but lacked a certain sophistication I thought. I wanted something to carry it all together and have it not look like a tackle box of paraphernalia. The purchase seems to work well for this. The inside is lined with a rubber like plastic and should keep everything fairly fresh once I add the humidifier disk; so here's a shot of it open next to a pipe and tamper, then there's a picture of it rolled up next to a pipe to show size. I think once I get my fancy pants lighter that I have yet to pick out, then I should be complete in the pipe world. For a while at least. My extra favorite part of it? Well, that would have to be the fact that it's made of leather, and it was made in India. Guess those cows aren't so sacred after all.

The daily deal

Once again, the sirens beckoned. Went with Rachel to look for shoes and other goodies for her and while I was waiting by the dressing rooms I had a look around in the men's section of Nordstroms Rack. I looked at the pocket squares with no real intention of buying, but they had these 100% silk squares for $5!! They were Nordstroms own and were pretty fantastic. I mean, if you are going to buy something made in China, you could do a lot worse than silk, I mean, they invented the stuff. I grabbed a handful, but after walking around with them I settled on two. I got a burgundy one to match with a tie I got previously and a pink one for the light grey suit I plan on getting (someday). So, if you like pocket squares, definitely give these a look, you can't go wrong for the price.

60% of the time, it works everytime

Cologne, it's the male equivalency of perfume, just with a manlier name. I was never a huge fan of cologne, instead I would opt for a lime scented deodorant. Yeah, that right, lime. Unfortunately, they discontinued the product and I was faced with a conundrum as I didn't want to go the regular Brut or CK1 road with all the other Christmas gift set crowd. I was wasting time at a local banana republic one day while shopping and I came across SLATE, one of their brands....and I have to say, it's pretty good. In fact, I was surprised how good all their products were. And here's the key to a good perfume or cologne; obviously it has to smell nice, but also the better the quality, the less linger time it has after you leave. You want the scent to be in tune with your presence. If you are gone, the aroma is gone. If you leave and the smell is still there, then its a cheap scent and you are wearing too much. I usually only were it out during the evening, and even then, very lightly. So guys, don't be afraid or think it's feminine to want to smell nice. Trust me, the women in your life will appreciate it. In fact, get them involved and have them go with you when trying new ones, you'd be surprised on the impact that will have. Also, think of it as a seasonal thing, opting for different scents for different times of the year. And before you ask, yes, Sex Panther is actually available.

Grown Up Garanimals

Recently I wrote about getting some new ties and throwing out old ones (by the way, anyone need a bag of old skinny ties?). As I was going through my old ones and deciding who made the cut and who didn't, I ran across a brand of ties that I remember buying a lot, Wembley. They were usually all silk and had some nice colors or patterns to them. But the one feature I recall the most, was that one the back of the ties, they usually had they're little tag with their name and then a small tag below it, telling you what color suit to wear it with, "wear with brown or olive suit" or "wear with blue or black suit". This always cracked me up. I mean, was this such a hard thing to do? I know these ties were made a while back, but seriously? I included a sample advert from them and you can even see the fabled "color guide" being advertised. All I could think of was Garanimals. If you aren't familiar with this, Garanimals is a brand of children's clothing that started back in the early seventies and the concept was that children could dress themselves by matching tags on clothing items with animals. So, a pair of shorts might have a giraffe label inside, so you could wear it with any other Garanimals shirt that had a giraffe as well. There were hippos, bears, zebra's etc etc. Basically this was what Wembley was doing, ...dressing children. On the other hand, I have seen men wear some god awful suit and tie combo's that make me think that either Wembley needs to make a come back or Garanimals needs a new adult line.

This world isn't black and white....

So why should your socks? It seems that most men have two sock colors, black dress or white sports. Is that it? Really? The space between your shoe and trouser hem is virtually untapped marketing space. It has tremendous possibilities! I wore the black knit that I recently bought out to cards the other night and this particular knit has accents of blue, yellow, and white within the shirt. I opted to pair it with some grey mohair trousers I had and black shoes. This was looking a little too somber and I felt it needed to be brightened up, so I reached for the old faithful, the socks. Think of socks as pocket squares for when you are not wearing a jacket. I had a pair of yellow socks with a grey window pane pattern that matched the trousers and the yellow from the knit perfectly. Every step showed a glimpse of these beauties. As I sat, just enough sock showed to catch your eye and complete the outfit. Once again, the picture does not do it justice. Now, I am not saying to run out and buy a bunch of kooky colored rainbow socks ala Doug Henning or Gallagher. You have to put some thought into it and match it with a tone represented elsewhere in your garb, otherwise you'll end up looking like...well, Doug Henning or Gallagher. But there are so many colors to choose from and with a little looking, you'll find them. I picked a few pairs from my own closet to show what's readily available. The pink and yellow are Pantherellas (expensive, but awesome), the bright blue I got at a pimp store (it's great living on the east side), the red were some dead stock vintage, and honestly I forget what brand the striped ones were. The good thing about socks is that they are relatively inexpensive and so you have room to experiment.  So take a chance, and give it a go. (obligatory "sock 'it to them" remark was removed for matters of good taste)

Me Chinese, me play Joker.

Childish? Unoriginal? Maybe slightly racist? Probably, but I could not resist that title for this one. Either way, I think I have gone completely off the deep end on my latest possible addition. Don't ask me how, when, or why, but I was playing on eBay, as you do, and I ran across this jacket as part of a Joker costume from China. Here's the deal, you send them your measurements, they make this and send to you, pretty simple. I know it's part of a costume and not meant for actually everyday use. I know its modeled off a comic book super villain. And yes, I know its probably such a bad idea, but I just can't stop thinking of it. I think it looks awesome and I would probably wear it out. I dig the color, the lapels, the size of the pocket flaps, etc etc....the lining looks a bit cheap, but that can always be replaced. I don't know. Am I completely crazy for considering this?? Oh, and I wouldn't wear the gloves.....that's a bit too strangler/rapist for me.

I was torn, but not torn enough.

Sunday, as usual, I went to my parents to visit and do a little work around the house (it was flooding during this past rainstorm, so I removed their bedroom flooring). Anyways, on the way there I have to past Nordstroms Rack, and I can say first hand that I know what Ulysses felt like when he first heard the Sirens. So, my boat crashed into their parking lot and I went in to have a look around. A lot of nope, nope, and maybes. Just when I was about to leave, I saw some sweaters against the far wall and thumbed through those, nothing still, then I looked down and saw some Ben Sherman short sleeve knits almost hidden away. They looked great and I decided to try them on. I was happy with the fit, but damned it Mr Sherman didn't put his logo's all over the thing. There's the new logo he has, the shield, on the front, and then the traditional script logo on the sleeve. Why can't designers just leave these off??? But, at least they were embroidered in the same color s the back ground material and it wasn't THAT noticeable. I crunched and bought two, a black and a blue one. The pictures don't do them justice. They're 100% cotton that is thin and almost feels like sea island cotton (yes, that fine). If you ever get a chance, try some sea island cotton, makes Egyptian feel like horse hair stuffing. So, they also have an almost woven waffle pattern on the front and the contrasting colors. They don't look as good on the form as in person on yours truly as I am not as barrel chested as my stand in. I liked them so much, that I didn't let the logo's bother me. Plus I figure this is another item I can cross off my list until I write more in....which reminds me, venetian loafers....well great, gotta go update now.

Bamboo

As you may or may not know, bamboo has been used for fabric for several years now and it's absolutely awesome. I like bamboo for several reasons; it's a fantastically renewable source, it wears like cashmere, and it's great for hot weather. Another schadenfreude reason is that it shuts those "legalize it" people up a little. Makes hemp clothing feel like a burlap bag, so stick that in your hacky sack and kick it. I have been buying small items like shirts and socks made of bamboo sporadically for a while, but I think it's time to invest more heavily. This all came to me as I reached for a pair of socks today, they fit great on my tiny dainty feet, they breathe easy, and they retain their color well. You can get them at pretty much any large department store or even online. I have seen a few sports coats made of the material and its very elegant material (or can be). I'm going out today, and I will specifically be looking for bamboo. To tell the truth, I have yet to see any real drawbacks to it, unless it attracts panda's as wool attracts moths, then we are going to have a problem. I'll kill a panda.

A picture is worth a thousand words

Don't worry, I am not going to write a thousand words. While writing the post on "jerks", I watched my favorite college movie again and always loved this scene. In fact, I think a lot of this one scene is going on my new "to get" list and I might even mimic the entire ensemble. A proper blazer with brass buttons, blue oxford Brooks Brothers shirt (just look at that roll!), grey slacks (I'll omit the cuffs), brogues, a perfect trifold pocket square, and a nice stein for midday lawn drinking, hell, I might even get the ascot. Top it all off with a short and tight haircut, and that's a look to be reckoned with. Is it bad that I look forward to fall in the same manner that a child looks forward to Christmas?

Score.

My father was a pipe smoker and I picked up the habit as well. Recently he gave it up due to various reasons, but his decision has been my good fortune. After my last visit to my parents house, I was given a large wooded box full of pipe, pipe tools, tobacco, various lighters, and other paraphernalia. I took stock of my new windfall and found out that I had scored big time;

• 3 Peterson of Ireland pipes
• A Soren, Knute, and a Stanwell all from Denmark
• A Savinelli, Armellini, and a H.I.S. from Italy
• A good ol' Dr. Graybow
• A wellington from the US

The center middle one is one that I had been smoking for a few years now, and it's one that my father hand made and of course my favorite. There were some more but I felt this was more than enough to show off. As soon as the workshop is back to operation it's going to be a week of cleaning and polishing these babies. The only thing I need now is a proper tobacco pouch (on it's way via post I might add) and a good lighter. I have been eyeing the IM Corona pipemaster form quite some time now, so it's been a done deal as far as I am concerned, just waiting for the right deal to turn up. Until then, it's off to enjoy a nice smoke and enjoy the rest of my evening. Ta ta old bean.

Carlo the Jackel

It's no secret, I am a huge fan of vintage (or vintage range) of Italian knits shirt. One of my all time favorite makers is an Italian brand by the name of Roberto Carlo. I'm not going to lie, the quickest way to my heart is not only through my stomach, but also the Mr. Carlos' fine knits. Leonardo Strassi, Gabicci, and even Ban Lon are nice, but Roberto rarely lets me down. One of the first I purchased was this long sleeve black number with white saddle stitching, two small waist pockets, and fully buttoning front. Pairs great with a pair of mohair slacks and is a nice dressy casual look. ( I actually have a twin of this shirt in a light blue as well). You can compare it to the Lock Stock genre, but truth be told, Mods and sticksmen have been wearing them for years. The sizing can be a bear as they are made for Italians, and not big barbarian westerners (this one is actually an XL). I am always on the search for more, so if you see any, drop me a line, a possible finders fee could be involved. The down side is that I am not aware if the company is still around. If you know otherwise, please let me know. Definitely a fall garment around here, but that's just around the corner, isn't it?

Thursday night live

Apparently a friend and mine missed out on a larger card game last night, so off to tonight usual game, wish me luck! Opting for a maroon and white striped, beagle collar button via from DNA Groove, some light grey mohair trousers I had made up a while back, and thinking of pairing it with a pair of either the cord bowling shoes of black leather chisel toes. Either way, I'll also be wearing a black leather belt with full silver buckle. Trying to keep true to my "no jeans after six" rule. Now, to iron the shirt and practice no blinking wildly when I have those pocket aces.

Another one bites the dust

As mentioned in previous posts, I keep a "list" of clothes that I need, want, am looking for, etc etc. One of them was a pair of proper grayish silver sharkskin trousers. Who else but DNA Groove helped solved that problem. I have been ordering from DNA off and on for years now as they have a superb selection of shirts, trousers, suits, shoes, and everything else you can imagine for a mans wardrobe. When I saw that they had a pair offered, I snatched them up. One of the great things about DNA is the fact that he only makes small runs of clothes, so you need to get while the gettin's good, or they will not be offered again. Low rise hipsters with a slight kick out at the hem, frog mouth pockets and flap back pocket all with hand stitching. Well, after getting them back from the tailors for hemming, I officially crossed that off the list. One small step towards an awesome wardrobe, one giant step to maybe working this list down to one page some day.

It was a very good vest.

Previously I mentioned that one of my packs of blazer patterns contained one for a vest. I toyed with idea of making one just for the sake of it. Well, I recently got an issue of LIFE magazine from '95 that was dedicated to Frank Sinatra with several photos of the crooner throughout his (then 80 year old) career. One photos that really caught my eye was form 1966 of him and his wife at the time, Mia Farrow. He was 50, she was 21....what a fantastic letch. Anyways, Frank is looking fantastic in a blue suit, with light blue shirt, regimental tie, glasses, a pipe and what appears to be a tattersall vest. I had never really given vests a real chance, but after this, I am willing to give them a second chance.

Classic East meets West

As we all know, one of the many American contributions the sartorial world is the Ivy League look. Born of a W.A.S.P.y nature in the east coast and ingrained itself into our society. It's as American as cars and baseball. And like many other American items (like cars and baseball), it's been taken and made into their own by the Japanese. The Japanese are a great lover of all things US, and this includes the Ivy League look. The VAN Jac Company started shortly after the second world war and eventually found itself making uniquely "American" clothing. Hop sack jackets, knitted ties, gingham shirts, chino's, as well as a slew of other garments. One of the many items that VAN does is a great blazer with patch pockets and high three button closure. The cost is a bit prohibitive at the moment, but I can wait. The VAN site is a bit hard to find, and even then, a real bear to read as it's mostly in Japanese (go figure), but if you get a chance I would check them out and see the wonderful clothes they have. For now, I am going to brush up on my foreign languages and start saving my Yen. Sayonara suckers.