In a recent Esquire survey, 44% of men said it was not important to be perceived as normal and fully 29% said that they “honestly really never thought about it”. My question: then who do they dress for?
That is the question… The answer? Do whatcha like…kinda. In reality though, socks for men are a must in the workplace. No self-respecting man will go into an office wearing a well-fitted suit and awesome shoes, and no socks. I don’t see it. Plus they offer an opportunity to get a little jiggy with your look. In addition to the self-respecting part, think about the weather. If it’s cold, rainy or snowing, it’s just dumb. Why freeze when you can
This is the last in a four part series around building your ideal wardrobe. This last session is focused on the tidbits to go after the items you want, and have them for awhile. Fabric – if it’s something you love, stick to cotton, silk, denim and wool. With cheaper or synthetics, you never truly know what you’re going to get Location, location, location – if you’re purchasing an “investment” item, stick to reputable places and places you know well. You
I love the Isabel Marant sandal pictured here – it’s one I’ve been hawking for quite some time but the price is holding steady around $700. [Enter stage right] This Schutz Celina ankle strap sandal is lovely. Perfect for a summer dress or a light denim skirt or even your crisp white linen pants. I’m in love….and I will (secretly) have these!!
This little container from Kanebo International was like a ray of sunshine…. I am in the middle of (re)dedicating myself to getting fit. I just got my hair colored again. Highlights are coming this spring. Thus the perfect time for Sensai Intensive Hair Mask. It’s a bit pricey ($58) but worth every penny… It’s recommended for severely damaged hair (I was on the way there…) and has ten oriental herbal extracts hydrate, nourish and aid recovery. And the smell is
My second DC launch party for my style guidebook, Without Saying A Word: The Silent Power of Style, happened on February 27th at Bonobos‘ DC store in Cady Alley. It was a fabulous time had by all and by “all”, I mean men and women. This launch party was for the guys and girls: the ladies got to chat about the inner workings of getting stylish and since every stylish woman wants a dapper man on her arm, the gents
When going to purchase a watch, consider water-resistance, complications, and movement. Patek Philippe is a company of firsts (and only’s) including the first split-seconds chronograph wristwatch!
Other than a pocket square maybe, what else can give you instant style and street cred for under $10….? It’s a rhetorical question because the answer is shoelaces! Yep pull out those God-forsaken tattered old brown ones you have and, in honor of decent weather (or just to force spring to show its face), pop in a pair of red, blue, grey, or navy laces. BOOM! Color. WINNING! $8. Check out hook + ALBERT. And they have tassels too!
This is the third in a four part series around building your ideal wardrobe. By now, you’ve done an initial wardrobe assessment, spent a Saturday (or Sunday) purging your closet to get down to those most useful items and elements. This third section will work as a “purge” as well but will come as a result of you having a better understanding of your style personality. Let’s start by answering these 9 questions: [if it takes you more than 5 seconds
Dinner with girls can be anything from casual to fancy but, in this case, I got to spend the better part of a weekend with my DC ladies as we did a weekend at Salamander Resort. We had a 8pm reservation at Harriman’s (after relaxation and some spa services) so we decided to look “nicer than usual”. I didn’t want to get too fancy so I used the items I already had: JCrew sweatshirt, 7 for all Mankind black leather
The last month or so I’ve been having a lot of restless nights. Sure, there’s some stuff on my mind (poor Julia will tell you as I cheerfully chattered in my sleep while at the Salamander Resort) but, I needed some R.E.M. sleep. R.E.M. (or Rapid Eye Movement) sleep is what your body and mind need to rejuvenate and wake up feeling refreshed. I don’t think I’ve been getting it so, I hit the ‘net and found yoga. I share
Divorce can be ugly and this book was meaty but terrific! Now on to my thoughts….wait – I’ve taken to reading mostly in the evenings, almost as a treat to myself and have also taken to doing it with my glasses. There’s a bit of me that thinks this makes it more “old school”…..pulling on my spec and digging in! Although I have a love for Rivet & Sway, these latest specs are compliments of Warby Parker, the bright red Sloan.
I’m not a guy but if you are then you are either a boxer, briefs, or boxer-briefs guy….or so you were lead to believe. Ask yourself when you made the decision to be a briefs guy because I’m guessing the answer was waay back when. And that’s fine….except Now there’s so much more to underwear than that one decision. You can now consider options like colors, moisture-wicking, shapewear (ummm yes!), odor-absorbing, and much more. The same holds true for tees,
This is the second in a four part series around building your ideal wardrobe. Remember that step one is all about getting lean and creating the right base to build upon. You have something akin to madness in your bedroom right now and this post should help restore some order….and space! Get your elixir of choice, turn on your favorite happy tunes (music can soothe the savage beast), and clear your calendar. Tell your family/friends that the next four (or
I saw this short sleeve jacket with Anh featured it on her blog, 9to5 Chic, a couple of weeks ago. I feel in love because it was reasonably priced, navy blue (everyone knows I love blue), and great to dress up a pretty spring dress for work but equally as fab to rock with some denim. It’s available at Nordstrom ($78) and perfect for those with a more athletic shape, slimmer figures, or taller stature. Pretty. Perfect. Work & Play.
Peeps. Treats & beverages. Friends & fans. Books. Stylish chatter. Fashionable & personalized insights. And me…. The Graham Georgetown was the perfect place to serve up the “blueprint” cocktail, and share stylish beginnings and chatter for my new style guidebook, “Without Saying A Word: The Silent Power of Style“. It was a blast and if you missed it then you missed personalized style tips, some stories between old friends (ask Stacey of Blogalicious), and custom made treats from my good
This should be pretty easy right? Just grab a few items, toss them in a bag and roll out….kinda. I recently went with the few a girlfriends for a quick weekend getaway to the fabulous Salamander Resort in Middleburg, VA. It was something we had been planning for quite a while and, frankly, needed. The goal was a “momentary escape” from our current location that would offer a bit of exhale and relaxation – goal achieved! Collectively we posted some
Fold dress shirts in bundles – Stack them one atop the other with the arms spread, fold the bundle in half with the collars on top, and cross the arms over each other. Pack the bundle at the top of your luggage, and shake everything out and hang it as soon as you can.
Ladies- have you ever stopped mid-stride to sniff the air because there’s something lingering that smells just yummy and you want to find out what it is? I have – and while it’s quite disruptive to the flow of other pedestrians, it’s essential. Gents- have you ever wanted to make a woman stop dead-in-her-tracks? If so, check out this new scent by Dior, Dior Homme. It’s woodsy and peppery with a masculine signature. It’s sophisticated and unassuming but still has
This is the first in a four part series around building your ideal wardrobe. You can spend [and waste] a lot of time and money trying to build the ideal wardrobe when you don’t have the know-how or at least a guide to put you on the right path. This series is that plan of attack and I hope you find it provides you with enough inspiration to dig in and make it happen. You’ll need to be honest and
This is a sponsored post for U by Kotex through The bLink Marketing Network. U by Kotex provided me products to review. You can get a free sample from U by Kotex too at www.ubykotex.com/get-a-sample and Do the Demo. All opinions shared are my own. It’s a hugely personal event that takes place monthly but Kotex is trying to make it better for the women who go through major body shifts every four weeks. I am or used to be a
If you can’t place one finger comfortably into the top of your buttoned shirt, it’s too small. Can you even breathe?
Two shoes. One pair. Must have for any man to possess dignity, self-worth, and pride. The answer: Esquivel davis wingtip While most of my male readers are professionals and possess an ample shoe closet, there are still some who live a life that doesn’t require a dress shoe or slacks on a daily basis. Or perhaps their life of leisure means dressing up is an “occasion” rather than a necessity. For those gents, you can begin to build a shoe
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