Gents you need protection from the sun as much as the ladies! Moisturize and heal dryness, reduce the appearance of fine lines and smoothe rough texture, and defend against the signs of aging with the Neutrogena SPF 20 UVA/UVB facial lotion (signs of aging not covered: increased enjoyment of crosswords, crotchetiness, not knowing what that song is on the radio)
Fellas, here’s a quick conversation tip: know your audience! Your boys get the X-rated version and your coworkers get the PG-version but that doesn’t mean that your date wants to hear the joke about the blind man and the preacher even if everyone else did laugh…
Know when the sales are so you can strike early…to get the best deals on the best clothing!
Sometimes the best closet upgrades come from caring for what you have not only on splurging on what you don’t! Tiecrafters: For impeccably cleaned ties. They also narrow ties for $17. www.tiecrafters.com Best Weaving and Mending, Inc.: Specializes in reweaving suits and sweaters. www.bestweavingandmending.com Worth & Worth: Blocks and repairs hats. www.hatshop.com
The jury is being formed…..and the judge has been selected….the question is now being asked, what is the biggest ‘dapper don don’t’ you can think of? We at Blueprint for Style think it’s a toss up between wearing white tube socks and taking yourself too seriously…. Across the next few weeks, we’ll be tallying all of the feedback and creating the list so, make sure to add your ‘two cents’!
A stylish start to the week from last week’s lessons learned….. Taking the Tab: unless you are ten years into your relationship (or brain dead), make plans to pick up the tab when out at dinner…even if there’s an extra person present Lessons Learned from Kindergarten: your mother dressed you then and you looked good. Same applies today- a man dressed by a woman inevitably looks more put-together than a man dressing himself! Sweating the Small Stuff: the weather is getting
Well spring has sprung and I’m sure we’ve all been waiting for it…..if you’re in DC, today may not feel quite like spring but, rest assured, the sun and sweltering heat are just around the corner!! Blueprint for Style wanted to provide a few insights and tips on how to prepare for the warmer weather, still cool nights, occasional showers, and tricky weather….better known as spring. First, unearth all of your spring/summer clothes and shoes from last year – and
But it’s spring (almost summer) time so, suiting up must be done with care — with cotton! To pull off a cotton suit there are a few reminders to be aware of: • Keep It in Check — Yes, gingham. Nothing says spring in a more stylish or refined way • Stay Strong — A true dapper don pairs a busy shirt with a bold tie. A strong stripe balances the small checks • Establish a Pattern — First of all,
Question: A tailor has offered to make a silk suit for me but insists on a four-button styling. The price is right at $400 but, will I look crazy or am I wasting money? Answer: Hmmmm the price is definitely right but, your overall style scoring may be wrong. While you won’t look crazy because there are men that clearly wear these types of suits, you will lean more toward the off-duty football player who also believes in bling and
Ultra thin Dark dials Vintage inspired Nuts n bolts Time zones Neo-roman numbering Complicated faces Matte cases Style 411: note these are trends so, you don’t need to heed all of them simultaneously! Mixing trends #3and #6 are easy — and are likely to yield investment or heirloom pieces. Wear what’s comfortable and remember that what’s most stylish is usually the most simple!
Think small The life span of a bottle of cologne is one year. Even if you haven’t gone through the whole thing, after twelve months buy a fresh one; you don’t want to wear a stale fragrance. Test in increments When shopping for a fragrance, try two at a time at the most, one on each arm. Sniff your shirtsleeve between tests to clear your palate.
Yep, you heard correctly! Blueprint for Style will be giving away a Gentleman’s Deck to one lucky reader. The contest starts today (why not start on a Friday?) thru next Thursday, March 11th; to be eligible just post comment to any Blueprint for Style article and you’re entered….that’s it! Good luck!
[Supplied courtesy of AskMen.com] Eating with your mouth open — this goes from bad habit to classless very quickly Grooming in public — all cleaning and hygiene should be personal Being a gym slob — hogging equipment or leaving your biologicals is uncool! Talking solely about yourself — the quickest way to esnure you’ll stay by yourself Treating service staff poorly — this is a clear indicator of what you really think of yourself…grow up!
Simple formula: leather-soled dress shoes = toe taps = increased shoe life span
Suits that suit you…right: Its shoulders should hug your shoulders (not jut out past them) The sleeves stop at the hinge of your wrist (not halfway down your thumb) The pants break once (not gather in a baggy mess at your heels)
Gentlemen, let’s resolve to make the big purchase in 2-K-10….yep, we’re talking about a tuxedo preferably with peak lapels (or notch will do)! It’s neither stylish nor fiscally prudent to rent one for each black-tie affair. Note: the sooner you buy it and wear it, the more quickly your cost-per-wear starts dropping… if you purchased a custom one (higher end) for $1300 – went to two black-tie affairs a year – managed to maintain your current weight for the next eight
Making a bowtie isn’t easy….and unless you’re attending black tie affairs fairly regularly, one can be apt to forget but luckily it’s like riding a bike — once you learn it, you’ve got it so, learn it! Note: it’s never really cool to pull a clip-on off…[nggallery id = 42]
Tell your dry cleaner you want your white shirts cleaned without starch and pressed by hand. It’s pricier but worth it—they’ll last longer. After all, if you’re investing in the shirt, it’s a good ideal to make sure your cost-per-wear stays low…
I love this ideal of The Gentleman’s Deck! As an Image Consultant, it’s of the utmost importance to relay the ‘finer points’ of carrying yourself and how to behave [even when we don’t think anyone is watching]. This deck of 50 cards provide etiquette tips and, dare I say, inspiration for the man you want to become in 2010?! Check them out – and even if you don’t like them, at $15, they make great gifts for your boys, sons,
This information will also be added to the Wardrobe Essentials section shortly but, why wait until then to read it…this is a quick-and-dirty guide to help the gentlemen when choosing a suit. If you’re slender and five feet ten then you can make just about anything work — this is really for the remaining 92.4% of the male population! Thin & Slender: Paul Smith Z Zegna Dior Homme Dolce & Gabbana Gucci Phineas Cole
As we end Men’s Week, it’s almost poetic to wrap-up the week by providing some insight on how best to leave or, more precisely, how best to put on your ‘travelin shoes’ and look stylish doing it. The goal of our post today is twofold: to provide the essentials for traveling as a stylish man about town and add a few recommendations of products that will help!
Make no mistake about it – men have it easier when it comes to fashion and style than women do! Men can purchase two or three pair of shoes and all is well! Men can travel with one suit and four shirts for a week and no one says anything! Men can wear a navy blue suit with black shoes and accessories and all is fine-and-dandy!
Until about a year or two ago, it was “in” to flash your platinum card or the most ostentatious card you had when paying for a meal or tossing back a brew. However, with the advent of a recession and the new “in-ness” of frugality, that’s all out the window. What does this mean for the card-toting cadre of high-rollers? You have three options (well presumably more but, for the sake of time, space, and attention span, let’s stick with
Most of the week of August 2nd will be dedicated to all things remotely related to men. Guys – listen up and make sure you get what you need! Ladies – read and get some pointers to ensure your man is looking top notch! Have a great weekend!.
Washington, DC Metro Area
barnettm@blueprintforstyle.com
(209) STY-LISH
If you have general questions, feel free to use the form below to send us a quick message.
