The president's watch

A few months back, I blogged about the president's watch; a chunky black chronograph. Visit barackswatch.com to purchase. In the meantime, check out this link.

The Perfect spring/summer shoe

We generally lighten up our color palette as the weather warms up.  In come the lighter fabrics, and more comfortable pieces. Sandals come out, flip flops come out, but what about dress shoes. Sometimes you just don't feel like wearing oxfords with a suit The answer: the brown suede loafer. The perfect spring/summer shoe. Think about the versatility of brown. It blends nicely with white linen trousers, blue jeans, navy light-weight wool trousers, grey cotton trousers. It's less formal than black, yet still appropriate at a dressier outdoor function, like a wedding. You can wear one with a khaki summer suit. Two words: white jeans.

This just in

It's serendipity, baby! Only in March is that phrase allowed. Earlier today I blogged about the supreme awfulness that is Crocs. Well, what do I see in the news, the auditor of the company has serious doubts about their ability to stay afloat. Read the story by clicking the link.

Crocs are NEVER acceptable

Does this really have to be said? What was once a concept for a boat shoe has, in past few years, exploded as a trend among the mis-informed, non-thinking and sartorially challenged. Right...The wearers defend the plastic shoe-cloglike object as comfortable and go so far as to categorize them as acceptable footwear. Lovers enjoy the "fun" color combinations and jazzy designs of their own as well as the Crocs of others. I just as quickly defend my right to not have to be subjected to the most tragic creation in fashion in the last 10 years. Plastic shoes may be comfortable, but they're disgustingly tacky for those above the age of six. Even on children, it's questionable. Why? They're plastic shoes with holes. They have the most unflattering shape for any human. They add nothing, stylistically, to an ensemble and detract enormously. I've seen some relatively civilized-looking people and then, boom, Crocs. It's as though they just stopped thinking. We never want to stop thinking when we dress in the morning.  Another issue is that plastic cheapens any look. A tax-paying adult really has no business wearing candy-colored, rounded toe, abominations to style trademarked as Crocs. There's value in natural fibers. They're breathable (so are Crocs, but they're damn ugly) as stylish.

I'm wearing a sort of brandy shade bit loafers right now and they're as comfortable as any sneaker I own. They're also infinitely more stylish than shoes with man-made materials. If comfort is the issue, there are stylish sneakers, loafers and tasteful sandals in shades outside of rainbow colors. These types of shoes look like a grown up should wear them.

Crocs are unacceptable on the following:

All breathing primates ( including homo sapien women, men, children. All races, incomes, faiths, sexual orientations, drivers of VW Beetles or Ford F-150 Trucks, fans of Jeff Foxworthy or Katt Williams, supporters of Rihanna or Chris Brown and even Sarah Palin believers.

The footwear is unacceptable at times including, 12:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. Sunday through Saturday, 1 January 2003 through 31 December 3003.

The footwear may not be worn at any and all events requiring one's heart to beat. The footwear is banned from contests and all sporting events, excluding jousting and quail hunting with Richard Cheney.

Should you see any walking, breathing primate with the detested footwear, stop them, find a stick, remove the shoes with the stick, throw the shoes into the nearest trash receptacle, begin whistling "I Wish I Was in Dixie," continue walking.

Whew!

Watch time

 I'm a watch fan. I love time, respecting It, being on top of It, looking at It, gauging what I'm doing relative to It and wearing It. It's an obsession that my fiancee has accepted. We as men have little room to move around in the jewelry department, excluding hip hop artists and rock stars. It's said that men are judged by two pieces: shoes and watch. A proper timepiece says a great deal about where you are in life, what you value, how you want others to perceive you. Wristwatches are just as much status pieces as they are utilitarian for men. The functions, be they digital or automatic, are what draw men to these pieces. Just as important as what a watch is capable of providing is where to wear which watch. Say that six times fast, (three was just too easy). 

For the man on a budget, this watch should be versatile. He should be able to wear it with a suit to a meeting or fishing with his dad or son. This watch is that of the stainless steel variety. Look for something streamlined. Because this watch is worn everywhere, massive crowns and colored dials may look out of place under a tux. (Sorry Mr. President) This first watch is the Invicta Pro Diver Automatic. Its look is based on the classic Rolex Submariner (a favorite of Connery's Bond) with the main exception being the scalloped bezel (Invicta used to make this watch with the identical coin-edge bezel). I own this one and it looks great and has some heft. It's not very expensive and it's versatile. If you want versatile in stainless steel but more elegance, look to the Cartier Santos. This design has been around for around a century. You're gonna need at least $3,500 for this piece, whereas the Invicta is around $150.

 For a rugged, beefy choice, go with a chronograph. It's chunky and demands attention. It's the weekend watch, the head out with the guys watch, the laid back look watch. It would upset the flow of a well tailored suit and dress shirt. It's great for jeans, and boots, a leather jacket...your choice. I have a great one in black from Akribos, a birthday gift from my woman. This Oris model has a rubber band and several functions. You're going to pay at least $1,500 for this one.  This Akribos (not the model I own), is about $200.

The formal watch should have very little detail. It should be thin and the dial should be clean. Oh yeah, the strap really must be black leather. This Lucien Piccard is 18K gold. Obviously, it's not crucial to have real gold, especially if your budget doesn't allow. But the lines are what you should be after. Not a gold fan? Try a white dial and a stainless steel bezel, like this one from Stuhrling.

Those are really just a few basics. The men's watch world is large, intimidating, exciting, cheap and pricey all together. Read up a little bit. Figure out what kind of guy you are, what your lifestyle is and what timepieces would suit you. Some guys are a one-watch kind of guy. Other men change watches according to mood and events of the day. Just make sure it suits you and it's not a fake. Oh, one more note. If you see a diamond watch you like, hand it back to the sales clerk, turn around and walk away. Diamonds on men's watches are really a bit vulgar. They decrease the value of better watches and scream to world, "I have endless disposable income as evidenced by this timepiece that has neither a second nor minute hand, yet 47 diamonds waiting to catch the light." Men are better un-blinged. Elegance is in the precision, the metals used, the rarity, the skin used on the band. Flashy isn't manly. All a diamond watch says is, "Look at how much money this cost me," there's nothing tasteful about that. I'd rather people admire features of a watch. The feature one can point out with a diamond watch is this, it costs a small fortune.

Spring cleaning

Spring is a mere few days away. It's a great time to get rework your closet and spruce up for spring. But how do I spruce up? It just style happens this blogger has some tips for you.

Part 1--Rework your closet

Those days when you wake up and the high is 19 (F not C) are hopefully gone for several months. It would stand to reason that move the clothes you won't wear to clear up some space. 

*Fold the sweaters (they should never be on hangers anyway), 

*Roll the corduroys (don't want a perma-crease) 

*hang the Tweeds, Velvet, and cashmere jackets in plastic bags in the hallway closet. You're done with those pieces. While you're at it, 

*Take winter weight suits and shirts out of sight (unless you want to roast in a wool/cashmere 2-button in May). Heavy oxfords shirts have no place in your spring wardrobe

*Store garments falling into the autumnal color palette away until next season (burgundy, rust, burst orange, forest green, taupe).

Part 2--Spruce up for spring

Spring is about loosening up. You were all buttoned and layered up for the past few months. Give yourself a rest. Winter can be subdued, which is perfect for darker shades. Get some light. 

*Brighten your look with whites and softer pinks, blues, lavenders. When paired with a neutral piece, those colors shine, but not too bright.

*Short sleeves. Maybe not at work, but if you're have substantive relationships with others, you go out aside from work. A short sleeve shirt is perfect for this season. Find something that hits somewhere in the middle of the bicep. Short sleeves extending past your elbows are no longer short sleeves. Buy your size. If you're on a budget ( like lots of folks these days) have a tailor take in the sides of a shirt that's just a tad t00 roomy.

*Find some loafers with a relatively thin sole. No chunky rubber soles now, you're not walking through any slush these days.

*Gingham checks. No, it does not look like a picnic tablecloth. It's an eye-catching pattern that work for the season because it's usually a series of white and one other color checks. Wear it with a tie or without. Roll up the sleeves.

*Cotton suits in khaki. In Florida, it's already in the high 80-s. The lightest worsted wools just won't work. Cotton suits are elegant and cool.

So, go ahead, clean out your closet and make room for the spring clothing.

Style Minute-Prom Edition

It's been a good while since my last post. But, here's the newest Style Minute. This week, it's all about formalwear. I'm gearing it towards young men and their prom selections.

http://www.ocala.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090312/VIDEO/903122015&template=video&lineup=1334447334