I'm Back Baby

I'm back baby!

Sorry for the extremely long hiatus. It was a mixture of me being lazy and my computer crashing that caused me to be away for so long but luckily I just got a smartphone and have reemerged with a new vigor to push this blog into unknown territory. So buckle your seatbelts and get ready for a ride... 


Today was 100 degrees her in Central Virginia so I wanted to wear something light and breathable. I decided to go with a pair of white linen pants and a plaid cotton blazer. Both are lightweight and light on my wallet.

I don't believe that any shirt other than a white one would've looked good with this outfit but the white shirt with white pants did make it so that I had had to wear my jacket all day for fear of looking like a house painter.

Plaid Blazer $48 on Clearance at Kohl's

White Linen Pants, Part of a $90 Calvin Klein suit purchased at Men's Warehouse

Striped Bowtie $3.98 from JC Pennys  
 Manly Ass Beard Priceless

Mark McNairy "Chick Magnet" Tassel Loafers 1/4 retail price on Ebay

Armitron Watch $35   Yellow NATO strap $5 on Ebay 

America F@#$ YEAH!

  

 

First day of Spring and like any other red blooded American I am grilling red meat outdoors, wearing red, white, and blue with a handlebar mustache.  Unlike many other's though I am rocking a bow tie and striped socks! Why because this is America and I have the freedom to do what I want!!!

 

 

 

Girls On Film

 

  

 

  

 

 

I figured that it was about time to feature my beautiful wife on my blog.  At her old job, as an archeologist, she wore jeans and t-shirts because she was always out digging in the dirt.  She took a new job in October and now has to dress up for work.  Recently she has been stepping outside of her comfort zone and taking more fashion risks and I believe that they are working well.  Not only is she smart, funny, and beautiful he is also a vey snazzy dresser, talk about a quadruple threat!

Brown; the New Addition to the Business Dress Code

Brown Suit ($19.99) from Goodwill

 

Pink Bangle Stripe Shirt by Daniel Cremeux   Green and Pink Plaid Bowtie ($15) from TheTieBar.com  
Pocket Square ($8 on Ebay)by Vera Bradley

   











gggg

As I hope you know by now. Black suits should only be worn at funerals or if you're a waiter or limo driver. Black suits have no place in the corporate/business world.  I know a lot of guys wear them but that does not make it right.  For years, blue and grey suits have been part of the business dress code but a new suit is making in ways into the closets of business professionals and that suit brown.  Just like blue and grey, brown goes with everything and can be worn in every occasion.  It goes with any skin color and can be worn in any season.   A brown suit says to everyone "I own more than 2 suits."

As I mentioned before, I am trying to mix different patterns and this outfit shows that  if done correctly and tastefully you can pair just about any two patterns together and in this case three. Just remember, pocket squares and colorful patterned socks are made for showing off and being fun so let them do whatever they damn well please!

She liked it, so she put a ring on it

Rosewood wedding ring with turquois inlay  (priceless)

Hot Pink and Gold watch by Michael Kors (Too much!)



Blue Suit from Goodwill ($19.99)
 Burgundy captoe brogue oxfords "Strand" by Allen Edmonds ($45 on Ebay)

  

Blue Floral Tie from Goodwill ($2)   White and Pink Patterned shirt by American Living ($10) 
White Pocket Square with Blue Edging from TheTieBar.com ($8)

 Out of everything I own, I love my wedding band the most. It not only shows my love and dedication to my wife but it also looks FREAKING SWEET (in my opinion).  As you can imagine, I could not go with a standard wedding band.  A friend showed my a similar ring that was actually metal with wood and turquois inlay but I decided on going all wood and fell in love with this one made of rosewood with turquois. It did cost more than most wedding bands but I am going to wear it everyday for the rest of my life so I felt that it was well worth the cost. It was actually custom made by a company on ETSY.

I have been looking for this hot pink and gold Michael Kors watch  for quite some time and had to get it once I finally found it for sale.  It certainly is a show stopper.

I prefer bowties but there is something to be said for a nice cotton floral tie and this one is my absolute favorite. I like it even better because I got it for $2 from the Goodwill.

Recently I've been trying to branch out and mix and match patterns and I feel that I've been having some pretty good luck with it.  The trick is having varying sizes and designs with colors that compliment each other. This shirt has small pink and blue interlocking squares and the tie has a large floral pattern that has pink in the flowers.  While it doesn't always work, mixing patterns can really separate the "men from the boys."

A Valentine's Day Affair

Hot Pink Sports Coat- $6.99 from Goodwill    Tie- $10 by Vera Bradley

 

Just because Valentine's Day is in the middle of Winter does not mean that you have to dress as cold and dreary as the weather.  It is a day of love and warmth, so I decided to express those feelings in my outfit. 

 

I was lucky enough to find this hot pink blazer at a Goodwill store, in my size for $6.99.  I could have easily paired it with a black tie but I decided to throw on this bright pink, red, and orange Vera Bradley Tie that I found on Ebay for about $10.  Paired together with a simple white shirt and black pants, this outfit screams Valentine's Day without looking overly tacky. It also put a smile on everyone's face that I saw today and really that's what dressing festively is all about !

Earthy Tones

A lot of guys stick to black, blue and grey; but to me earthy colors, like brown, tan, and green, are a lot richer and warmer. While these are not your typical "work colors", they can easily fit into any place of business while allowing you to stand out from the crowd.

 

I really used to hate knit ties but after I tried one on I feel in love.  In a solid color they can go with any outfit but add texture and character that you don't get with a typical silk tie.  I am also a firm believer in tie bars; if you are wearing a tie, you should be wearing a tie bar (unless you are wearing a sweater or vest).  I really like colored tie bars but I hate paying for them. I go to antique stores and buy plain, simple ones for just a buck or two and then spray paint them the color that I want and then give them a couple coats of clear paint to protect them from chipping.

 

 

Brown Knit Tie- Free from Co-worker        Blue Tie Bar- $1 DIY

Brown and Cream Gingham Sport coat- Stafford $50 from JC Penny's



Berry Suede Air Colton- $60 from Cole Haan