Sweet Enlow

Shoes are probably my favorite article of clothing.  I can strangely find myself looking at shoes for hours without even realizing what I am doing.  In accordance, I am very particular about what I like.

That being said, Converse’s “Jack Purcells” are arguably my favorite shoe I own.  First introduced to me by OneManArmy when I was high school, these shoes have been a steady staple of my wardrobe since I was 16.

Like many of my favorite articles of clothing, Purcell’s are great because of their versatility.  One can wear them with anything – jeans, chinos, trousers. 

A couple things to consider, though, when wearing the Purcell.  First, it is a definite must to break these shoes in.  Not because of comfort issues, but because you look like a total dweeb if you dont..  Fortunately, they are pretty easy to break in – getchu a nice vintage look.  Secondly, particularly on the classic pair, I replace the white laces for black ones.  This an ol’ trick I also learned from OneManArmy.  It gives the shoes a little more edge which I prefer.

I also personally wear Purcell’s with Pants cropped as high as is reasonable.  Because of this, I almost always make sure I am either wearing some wild socks or simply no sock at all.

Be careful about the colors when considering Purcells.  Many of my friends have white.  I think white is a to bland.  There is also Navy, but I feel it limits the shoe to summer time with bright colors only.  Also, John Varvatos has taken the Purcell line and put a few modern touches to it (allowing him to charge twice as much I might add).  They are cool, but not as tight as they originals.

Getchu a pair of Purcells. 

P.S. Make sure everyone knows they are Purcells and not those wack Chuck Taylors.

Spring is steadily approaching.  Clothing lines are now beginning to release some of the spring season gear and I wanted to point out a type of shirt that I think not only will be largely popular, but is also very cool – Madras.

Like all style, Madras was once hugely popular in the ’60s.  It is having a seasonal resurgence this year.  It was breifly displayed last year, but this year I have been noticing that it is becoming a larger segment of many label’s selections.

The above picture is one taken from Ralph Lauren’s “Rugby” selection.  They always add a bit of funk to their stuff, sometimes enhancing it, most of the time ruining it.  But often times I can find some real good stuff there.  This pearl-snap madras shirt is a great example.  Additionally, anything from Rugby is going to be cut very trim so it will actually fit pretty will.

J.Crew has recently put out a few madras shirts that offer a little more of a utility look. (The picture wont load) http://www.jcrew.com/AST/Browse/MensBrowse/Men_Shop_By_Category/shirts/madrasshirts/PRDOVR~22796/22796.jsp

These shirts arn’t terrible expensive and are timeless.  They are like flannel for the spring/summer. 

In addition, for the girls – Madras looks great casual sun-dresses. 

Caveat:  Dont not wear this madras

this is worse

I haven’t posted a style post in a while and for that I apologize.  However, no better way to get back into it then to discuss arguably my favorite piece of clothing, the cardigan sweater.

For some reason, people tend to associate the cardigan with senior citizens.  This is entirely wrong.  The cardigan is one of the most versatile articles of clothing one can ever own and should be a prominent article in one’s wardrobe.

Traditionally, you have two types of cardigans, the classic and the shawl collar

classic

shawl

The only real difference clearly lies in the collar of the sweater, but that can make a large difference in the overall look.  I often find myself wearing a shawl cardigan as my outermost piece of clothing, while I wear the classic under a jacket.

As mentioned, the cardigan is the best because it is so versatile.  You wear it with just about anything – a button down, a T-shirt, over jeans, over trousers, underneath a suit/blazer.  You can also wear it really baggy or form-fitting.    I tend to go back and forth.  Also, If you live in a cooler climate, you can wear it with shorts in the summer as I know I will be doing in Colorado for the next couple of years.  Look at this cat wearing it with a T-shirt extra “grandpa-style”

baggy

 If you didn’t get it from the examples listed above, the cardigan is also great because the same piece of clothing can be both casual and formal.  Ralph Lauren display’s them under suits while J.Crew sports them with T-shirts.

Either way, I am all about buying great clothes that offer tons of utility.  The cardigan is right up there with jeans in its utility.  Go buy a couple – one dark, one light.

I am often lambasted by women for proclaiming that I like women to dress well all the time.  That includes but is not exclusive to: the grocery store, the library, class, cooking, attending daily function, the gym.  The desire to dress well at all times should be as important to one’s fashion approach, men or women, as black-tie or the weekend garb.

Basically, one should adopt the boy scout motto of “always be prepared” when leaving their home.  Why?  Because one never knows who they might see – a beautiful girl, your boss, your subordinates.  One should not only look respectable, but they should look good.

Do not criticize and say that it is a pain-in-the-ass or it requires an unnecessary process.  Taking an extra five minutes to make yourself look better with your clothes is much more convenient than the 1 and 1/2 hours spent in gym earlier that day or, to some, even brushing your teeth.

Keep it in mind… you never know who you might see.

The picture is one of the most laughable things I have ever seen... check out that caption

I grew up in Tulsa,OK.  It  is a great place to be raised and/or to raise a family.  However, it is not the most fashion-forward location in the country, even though mid-town Tulsa is highly affluent.

Because of the approach towards to dressing in Tulsa, I have been fortunate enough to understand a highly important aspect of dressing well: in order to be considered a very good dresser, you have to understand the overall personality of the area you are in and the event you are attending.

For example, in Tulsa, it is entirely appropriate to wear a casual T-shirt and jeans out to a bar.  As long as it is done right, one can look very good and, more importantly, appropriate.  I am traveling to Vegas here in about a week and it is appropriate there to wear a dark suit.  I spend every weekend in Manhattan (sometimes Williamsburg!) and there it is appropriate to dress well everywhere you go.  The grocery store requires excellence in the same way a popular lounge would.

If one travels to Stillwater, OK to attend a Frat party, but wears the latest Gucci loafers and a Prada Blazer, he may look exceptional (to some, not me), but he will look entirely inappropriate and completely out-of-place.  He failed in his attempt to dress well.  While his look may be dead-on for Vegas or Miami, but it does not belong in Oklahoma.

To re-iterate, in order to dress well, one must understand the event they are attending and the people they are surrounded by.

And for the people of Tulsa, as much as Jewel wants it to be otherwise, a T-shirt (non-graphic) is completely appropriate for their club.

This applies almost entirely to men.  Women should dress tight anywhere and everywhere.

I stumbled upon the amazing-ness that is the “Khasawneh” haircut a little over a year ago. 

Because of constrictions of the lifestyle, myself and the founder of this haircut have to have our hair within certain regulations at all times.  In my boyz personal attempt to place himself into those regulations one night, he botched his own hair.  After another Tedac fixed it, the final product came bout…

not the best of my boy, but its the only jpeg I could find

Essentially, the sides are shaved with a number 1 guard and the top is relatively left alone… as long as it’s under 3 inches.  Because of the constrictions, we have to have a solid fade on the sides as well.  This is entirely different from those hipster punks in NYC who are now sporting “Fashion Hawks” with no fade and likely some obscure vintage TEE.

personal side shot

You need to have black hair, or close to black, to pull this one off because without the contrast between hair and skin it really does not get at the true “Khasawneh.”  On blondes it just lust looks relatively normal 

It is a great way to peacock, especially when you mix it with preppy clothes

You can bet your ass I will have one for Xmas Break/Vegas

a better picture of my boy with the "Khasawneh" - frontal view

Without a doubt, the best clothing store in the country that defines the best bang for your buck idea is the GAP.  No other retailer rivals the GAP in its products quality, style, and price.  Every time I am in a GAP store, I am tempted to buy something.  Not because I necessarily need anything, but because the temptation of a tight product at such a low price is hard to find.  Particularly, the GAP has awesome T-shirts, V-neck sweaters, and their new denim is great – but there is a lot more.

GAP was struggling some years ago, but they brought this new creative director in from Ralph Lauren or somewhere (I can’t really remember), but either way, he has done a great job and GAP’s success has shown his ability. 

If you want to be thrifty on your clothing, yet still care how you look, concentrate on purchasing  much of your casual clothes from the Gap.  A majority of their product is great stuff.

Some Products I have recently purchased

the illest flan

I did not buy this tomato shirt, but other colors look great

Rilers attempted to call this a "Mr. Rogers" sweater, but she doesn't know what the hell she is talking about

 Due to personal preference, I can’t help you with Jeans, but most all GAP jeans are acceptable in my opinion.

Just stay away from some of the sweaters GAP has that makes you look like Waldo