Takers Clothing...please!

Rodney Dangerfield wanted is Wife gone with a variation of that line, but if I could take the Clothing from this movie, I would be set.

I thoroughly enjoyed the movie and loved the fashions presented in the movie, “Takers.” The film was both an action and attraction movie somewhat following in the bloodline of my favorite “Bond” genre. I think of Bond being its own class of film but Takers comes close and is a must see.

Speaking of the clothing, Idris Elba, T.I., Michael Ealy showcased Gucci, Versace, all of whom made a strong showing in this movie. Paul Walker and Hayden Christensen, modeled a few Dolce Gabbana pieces and, John Varvatos had the perfect mannequin in the personage of Chris Brown.

One very elegant scene had Elba in the lead with a form fitting white Gucci peaked lapelled jacket and black undertow. The movie actually had me fantasizing about a couple of the pieces. This is one runway show I may have to see again.

Gene Hiller's Brings Back Memories

I guess you have wondered where I've been and the quick answer is that I have experienced another forced sabbatical. Shopping has been a part of the time off, but it’s been for lamps, bedding and other sundries for my daughter's big college move. During this time, we have also revisited people, places and things that have formed her younger memories and adventures. Undoubtedly, it involved Clothing and Shopping being that she is MY daughter.

Todays revisit involved going to Sausalito and visiting Gene Hiller's Menswear. This was a blast from the long ago past. Tom Gangitano, a main man and fashion advisor, who built a lasting and supportive relationship with my father and myself, was there to greet me. He is still charismatic as is the store itself. The visit made me daydream of the luxuries of my youth and relive the vibrant enthusiasm that fine Italian clothing imparted to me in my twenties.

There are simply not enough superlatives to describe the Management, Staff, Service, Tailoring, and Clothing that make Gene Hiller's Menswear a "must do" on your next trip to Sausalito, CA. Please do yourself a favor and visit Gene's website, www.genehiller.com.

Also, thumb through the online catalogue to get feel for the exquisite articles of clothing Gene carries and the Philanthropic partnership shared with the community it serves.

Are You Ready for Some FOOTBALL?

I am back people with the wardrobe picks for a great fashionable football season. The items I am focusing on can be adapted to both home/big screen or stadium/big screen venues.
As I see it, you need to have an item of clothing that shows you support a team without suggesting you are a billboard for said team. Hats, tee shirts, hoodies and jackets fit the first category whereas Foam Cheese Blocks and KISS make up fit the second.
For ease of selection, I suggest buying only NFL licensed gear. That way you are never in fear of buying a great looking "BENGELS" tee, or "DOLPHENS" hat.
Make sure that you purchase only NFL approved apparel.
This week I will be posting items to make the football season a little more BEAR-able (pardon the pun).

Ok...Real Quickly

You are trying to get out to the door to the event at the Boardwalk but first you have to shower and get that squeaky clean feeling to start the day. You reach for the one product that will do the job. Kiehls All-In-One Refueling Wash.



But you can't brave the sun's glare and damaging rays without a layer of defense so you reach for the Kiehls Cross Terrain UV Face Protector



What will it be the driving shoes, loafers or flip flops?? Well regardless of choice, there will be a lot to mobile activity and the tootsies need a little protection as well so let's rub em up with Kiehls Dry Run Foot Cream.

Spring/Summer Scarves

Scarves are an essential item in some countries and customs. They are used as decoration or a functional accessory to the uniform they accompany. Wikipedia's entry reads: "A scarf is a piece of fabric worn on or near the head or around the waist for warmth, cleanliness, fashion or for religious reasons."

Due to the various fabrics used to make scarves, I find they can also be used for protecting the neck from the sun rays and thereby afford some cooling relief on hotter days. Looking at all of the fashion designers offerings this season may visually explain the variations for scarves.





Check out offerings from these designers to see more: Burberry, Missoni, Alexander McQueen, Cole Haan, Chanel, Etro, Lanvin, Hermès, Nicole Miller, Ferragamo, Emilio Pucci, Dior and Prada, for example.

And Put Some Pep in Your Step

I am always trying to find a little something to put the accent on an otherwise inconspicuous ensemble. Well, you have heard the saying: "The Devil is in the Details" I try to get a little devilish with my socks. Remember these names: OVADAFUT, GENE MEYER, DI PIO, KJ BECKETT, TED BAKER and DORE DORE.

Keep them doggies movin'

It is my intent to keep you up to date from your top to bottom and lets call this is a "bottom" post.
Them doggies need a comfortable and attractive covering to keep em movin' and I think the designers have come up with some great looks to put on our feet for these summer months. "Toms," in particular have made their way to the forefront via an altruistic marketing plan. "One for One" With every pair we purchase Toms gives a pair to a child in need. Indeed! We can do our part and look pretty stylish as well.
In my view, Toms are the new Espadrilles. Many designers have offerings for this style of footwear.







Espadrilles are sold everywhere. They can be found at Urban Outfitters Inc., Forever 21, Toms, and Hermes.



Thanks to the Sartorialist for showing the Toms espadrille in action. Also, thanks to Hermes and Toms for making great versions!

A Little Sweet Tee?

Nothing like a little sweet tee to keep you cool and collected.

I should've told you I'd be gone for a moment to the South but it came upon me suddenly and I had no time to alert everyone of my trip. As always, the issue when you are going away is, "what to pack?" The country is experiencing so many small microclimates that you must have layers to accommodate the differences.
Today I would like to consider the tee as both casual and dressier piece to accentuate a day to night outfit. I find this relevant, because I found the greatest tee shirt and cotton vee neck sweater combo at the recent Saks sale.
Tees are an easy item to through on when the right collared shirt is not in your wardrobe or at the cleaners. But, having the right tee that will go from brunch to dinner with equal aplomb, can be a chore to find. Style-wise, tees can be Henley, Crew, or Vee Neck and will come in many different fabrics. I tend to stay simple with a crew neck but also note the crew neck can be high or have a lower scoop to the collar bone. My favorite is cotton or cotton/silk blend. The sheen and color of the material is what separates the rich from the chaff when I am choosing that perfect tee. Brioni, Kiton, Polo, Dries Van Noten, Brunello Cucinelli and Lacoste all make fashion tees. Look for great vibrant colors and choice fabric and you will never go wrong.







Thanks to http://www.virtualclotheshorse.com; http://www.ehaberdasher.com and http://www.shopthefinest.com/
for these great photos of some great tees!!!

Open, Open, Open

While impatiently awaiting the Barney's Warehouse Sale doors to open (or any sale doors for that matter) my mind reflects back on that commercial where a women is peering through the plane glass of a store chanting the words above.


I have been so distracted with my day job and child that I have been somewhat catatonic with thoughts colliding into each other inside my head. But I wouldn't be me without a good deal of those thoughts being related to my appearance and next purchase. With my blog thought and personal needs at issue I have been pondering what is a building block item that I need? What would be most versatile and what would get the most wear? For me the big 3 are pants, shirts, and sweaters. But this time around, Sweaters seem to stick in my mind.

So, what kind of sweater...heavy, light, cotton, wool, blend, zips, buttons, v neck, crew, cardigan...oh my?! All sections of the country have their own micro-climate and one should choose accordingly. Style must always be a consideration but that’s where I find the general knitwear scene to be lacking.

Personally speaking, I believe sweaters have not been up to par over the past 10 years. Coogi became crass, Missioni became common place, and for a while no one had really stepped up to carry the banner. IMHO the current sweaters are Italian or British or Scottish. Names that come to mind are Avon Celli, Borrelli, Brunello Cucinelli, Malo, Loro Piana, Bamford, and Pringle.

What Would Bond Wear?

You know...Bond...James Bond.  I don't know how many of you have viewed my profile but if you do, you will see that I like almost all things "Bond."  I genuinely love the clothing Bond wears in his movies.  This new Bond is outfitted in smart and sharp ensembles that fit both his physique and his various sorroundings.  I also like the way he is not dusted off and re-clothed in each scene.  He is more like the rest of us who have to fight and dine in the same outfit.  Often times, I find that I ask myself, "What would Bond wear?" on a particular occassion.  Being that it is Summer, I was able to take tips from his last movie, "Quantum of Solace."  Particularly, his attire in this movie allowed me to lose my fear of wearing black or dark colors in the heat of the Summer.  I also, learned that one can couple a cableknit with light tee shirt between Memorial and Labor Days. 

Of particular note, with the new Bond is his use of simple but elegant clothing pieces which should form a basis for anyone's wardrobe.  The Polo, The Tee, and Cableknit Cardigan are indespensible items that if kept plain and simple can be interchanged to create numerous combinations. 

My suggestions are: Sunspel polos and tees, and "pick your own" label cardigan.  Ralph Lauren, Vince, Bennetton, and Brooks Brothers make nice shawl collared cardigans and are good starts.
http://www.sunspel.com/mens/polo-shirts
http://www.ralphlauren.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=2727509

But if you don't know where to begin, go here: http://www.jamesbondlifestyle.com/

Staying in the Hunt

 
   In the heat of the summer, many are asking themselves the question “what do I wear in this heat?”  Simplistically, the heat should dictate that less is more and therefore this wondering becomes somewhat of a situational oxymoron.  But, hey, don’t sweat it; I’ve got you covered.  

What do people who live in some of the hottest and most intense tropical climates wear?  They wear Safari Jackets, hats and weightless coverings to keep themselves cool and comfortable.  Without dating myself, I remember Mill Valley excursions with my dad and a special store that had a curious feel like it could have been in Disneyland. Still guessing?  It was the early days of Banana Republic and Safari gear was the mainstay.  Today, we see many mutations of the traditional Safari Jacket.  Here are a few variations, but the most traditional Safari Jacket will have a belt and vented back slits to facilitate the flow of air and release of body heat. 

Summer White

White pants are being used as a primary color block this summer.  In her recent movie, Anna Wintour demanded that she see primary colors in the color block series of photos for her "September Issue."  White has been used as a separation between other bright primary colors but this summer "White" is a major player.  The Sartorialist recently ran a series of pictures on this very idea.

The pant is the main source of the white color block but if you are a real fashionista you might have a totally awesome double breasted jacket to give your outfit its proper splash of white.

White is a color, which can work to clean the palette; similar to the effect coffee has on the olfactory senses when sampling fragrances.  White can be the socks that set off the green Tods loafers.  White can be the tee shirt that sets off the blue Chambray shirt or red unconstructed Brioni Sportcoat.

Visit these sites to see items:

http://www.tods.com/

http://www.ehaberdasher.com/servlet/StoreFront

Barney's Warehouse Sale

Is hereby confirmed:

These Boots Are Made For Walking

The Suede boot...who woulda thunk?  This mod throwback is enjoying a resurgence like no other footwear right now.  Many makers/designers are entering the fray with their own signature version of this dashing dandy.  As I was pursuing the internet for photos to share, I found it curious that many of the designers were focusing on the remakes of the desert boot style while there were few replicas of my personal favorite, the suede Chelsea or Jodhpur.  Personally, I have a pair of rubber soled brown suede Ferragamos from 2003. My boots have a square toe rather than the rounded toe pictured below. 

Shirting the Issue of a Good Stiff One

Sorry for my little tirade last post but my periods between retail therapy sessions have become longer, with the eventual session being weak at best.
But, back to the issue at hand...I want a shirt and not any shirt will do.  I have always been partial to the high rise stiffness of a substantial collar.

And, when I say "shirt," I envision a statement of collar superiortity that would demand a substantial tie be worn as complement, or could turn heads if left unadorned.  I could never clearly verbalize my intent or vision of the perfect collar until Tom Ford personified my thoughts by coming from behind the camera to the forefront.

Tom Ford's image, gave me the look that I wanted and still use as the standard upon which all my shirting selections are judged.  However, the issue for me still remains that I must obtain the biggest bang for my  meager bucks.  I desire to have the best shirt I can purchase at the best price point, before the "uh oh I splurged too much" cutoff.  So, after looking and wearing and washing and fabric selections and custom or no custom and working out (yes I do work out to fit an item) and changing sizes, I have come to a neat little number that does me just right.  Piatelli Shirts found at Barney's New York.

These shirts are trim on my body giving me the room to move without restricting my arms or chest area and they also tuck nicely into my trousers without that Trad Shirt blousing effect.  Lastly, they have what I call "neck appeal."  The look of the collar is prominent.  The collar will not shirk away from a jacket or swearter and will be the perfect receptor to a high end 7-fold tie.  This collar speaks to me.

There is simply no substitute for a good stiff one!