Threads for Thought: The Man Bag

Last week we covered the topic of umbrellas, an obvious wet weather necessity, and this week we will be staying in the accessories category. This one might be a bit of reach, but i think this will be something you'll want to reconsider.

City slick and stylish, croc skin is a nice touch.

Walking into work with a hand full of different things, having to shuffle stuff from one hand to the other, I know I was in this boat not too long ago. Now just think of having all of those things in one place...seems like a great idea, right? They come in many shapes, sizes, and forms, briefcases, messenger bags, totes, etc, yet they all work towards the same goal of freeing up your hands for more important tasks.

Pick something classic to easily walk out the door with.

I am a major fan of the messenger bag option, which gives you the same functionality of a briefcase but with a much more casual look. With that said, each will have its pros and cons; for instance, the tote is great for carrying your everyday carry while having plenty of room for your gym clothes after work. My input with any briefcase would be to stray away from any hard body models (don't want to be too stuffy). Get something that mirrors your personality and that you are comfortable carrying around everyday, rain or shine.

Ralph Lauren: $350

Jack Spade: $198

Cole Haan: $130

Check in tomorrow for another edition of my fashion faux pas and next Thursday for more threads that beg your consideration!

Wardrobe Essentials: Wingtips

There are a lot of choices out there for footwear, and trying to narrow down your wardrobe to only 3 or four shoes will leave you hanging out to dry when it comes to variety and keeping your feet fresh. However, I have covered a couple staples that will get you along swimmingly, black dress loafers, drivers, and street shoes.

Two prime examples of what you should be looking for.

Now we introduce the wingtip, also know as a brogue, which is a shoe comprised of more than one piece of leather to create a level of depth and sophistication. Traditionally of Irish and Scottish lore, these shoes were meant for country work and wet conditions; the broguing or perforations allowed for water to easily drain from the shoe. Nowadays, wingtips are synonymous with high-class and elevated style and frequently spotted on the most fashion forward folk.

If you don't know David Gandy, here's David Gandy.

Like I said before, there is no shortage of footwear choice today and the same goes for wingtips, so for the purposes of them classic and essential to your wardrobe, you might want to follow a few guidelines.

• Keep them simple! Don't go for spectator (two-toned) options that will only work with a few outfits and fade in and out with the seasons.
• Neutral, classic colors will increase the wearability. Navy, black, brown, tan, etc.
• White may be too Spring and Summer seasonal, so steer clear.
• Find that happy medium between suede and patent leather for a shoe that isn't too dull or flashy.

Stick to these few notes and I guarantee you'll have a pair that will stay in your closet for as long as you want them to.

Ferragamo: $695

Cole Haan: $170

Topman: $100

Check in tomorrow for some threads that beg your consideration and next Wednesday for more essential style pieces for your wardrobe!

Tech Tuesday: Give it the Nod

Are you tired of using your mouse or your laptop Trackpad or whatever device you use to interact with your devices? Probably not, but if you're like me (who isn't), then you want to be on the cusp of cutting edge, and that's exactly what we have here.

Great things come in small packages.

Nod, Inc. is a start up based out of Mountain View, CA, a convenient location for tech start ups, and has developed the one ring to rule them all (cue Lord of the Rings music). Nod is an apparatus that you put on your finger, and by utilizing its 80 on board components, allows for hand gestures to help you do everything your keyboard and mouse do without ever touching anything.

Just a look at what makes Nod so powerful.

Seems like some serious witchcraft, and I'm sure you could trick a couple of your friends into thinking just that, but an extensive amount of research was put into these devices, creating a product that encompasses form and function. As of now, Nod is available for pre-order at only $149 with a choice from over 15 different sizes and a guarantee you get the perfect fit. Get on it and pre-order yours now, I'm sure there's going to be a serious wait list once this project goes live in the Fall.

Check in tomorrow for a fashion piece that needs to be in your closet and next Tuesday for more exciting tech!

Monday Outlook: Aero Inspired

In the spirit of the the Mid-Century modern motifs throughout the Spring and Summer looks, we're going to piggy back off of it with a side note of sorts. Post-war America saw an advance in automotive and aeronautical creations that were available to the public, and so spurred a growth in styles that were functional with these activities.

J. Cole knows a thing or two about the bomber jacket.

Sure enough, the bomber/biker/cruise jackets are back in full force with new and improved silhouettes and luxe materials. Lookbooks across the fashion spectrum are featuring this style move in their late Summer and Pre-Fall lines to make for some easy transitioning as the weather starts to cool down again. Many are introducing hybrids of the different jackets to provide a conglomerated look that embodies the trend entirely.

Take some cues from an all time favorite, Top Gun.

There will be no shortage of choices for you with this look, it'll all come down to the amount of money you're willing to spend and the kind of look you really want to go for. My words of wisdom would be to stick with what you know or what you're passionate about; for example, don't get a biker jacket if you don't know the first thing about bikes. And if you are fortunate enough to have grandparents who are veterans, ask them if you could sport their jackets (the real thing is always the best), just remember to respect and protect it with your life.

Maybe its not leather, but its still a winning look.

Check in tomorrow for some exciting new tech and next Monday for some more fashion trend insight!

Weekly Recap

Here are the links from the past week if you didn't have a chance to see them earlier this week:

Monday: Polka Dots
Tuesday: Glasses by Tzukuri
Wednesday: Navy Shorts
Thursday: Umbrellas
Friday: Cream and White...
Saturday: No celebrity this week, sorry.

Welcome to May, the greatest month of them all! Id I get a little lazy this first week, its because the birthday is coming up and might get a little carried away; we're all human. If this week taught me anything, its that everyone needs an umbrella so take my advice from Thursday and don't get caught out in the wet.

Check in tomorrow for some upcoming fashion trend insight and all next week for more tips and advice on style! 

Friday Faux Pas: White and Cream

In previous posts, I have mentioned tonal looks, combining similar colors in the same tone to create an outfit that keeps getting better the more you look at it. The topic I'm about to discuss doesn't apply for a tonal look, but is a major no-no elsewhere.

Trying to put together a rig for an upcoming wedding, I thought that my cream sport coat would pair greatly with a white and blue Bengal stripe shirt. It looked great in my head, but when I finally put the two together, it didn't work out too well. The shirt looked bleachy white where as the sport coat looked old and dingy, not an ideal situation for any of your clothing items.

White/Cream tonal: Good! Otherwise: bad bad bad...

White and [insert color here] seem to always look flawless, but white just happens to bring out the worst characteristic feature of cream. So as I said before, unless you're going for a tonal look, stay away from the cream and white combo and you'll be a very happy camper.

Check in tomorrow for a stylish celebrity influence and next Friday for another edition of my fashion faux pas!

Threads for Thought: A Sturdy Umbrella

Today, after work, I found myself waiting at the door contemplating sprinting to my car or waiting there till the storm passed over. Granted, I should know better seeing as I live in Florida, but it seems now is as good a time as any to mention this wet weather necessity.

Grey is nice change from the old-school black umbrella.

Now umbrellas don't necessarily fall within the scope of "threads" or "apparel" and it certainly isn't something that's up for consideration; rain happens, you need to be prepared for it. However, these mobile canopies do happen to fall under the coverage of style and having a nice umbrella could say as much as anything else you might have on.

Polka dots and rolled up pants to stay dry.

Their is the classic option of black that will more than likely match 9 of 10 other umbrellas out there, with the outlier being the occasional Spiderman or Dora the Explorer umbrella. Not to mention, most of the time, you'll be checking your umbrella, leaving an opportunity for it to be confused with someone else's. Solution? Get a fun plaid, exciting print, or a neat striped umbrella to add some character without looking like a floating traffic sign.

Paul Smith: $175

Coach: $198

Burberry: $215

Check in tomorrow for another edition of my fashion faux pas and next Thursday for more style pieces that beg your consideration!