Category Archives: Shopping

Southern Staples

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Opening the door for that special someone. Minding your manners. Knowing exactly when to say “Bless your heart”.

These are all things that we consider staples of modern society in the south. Another staple? Owning a lightweight button up and knowing how to perfectly pair it with a spring styled blazer for a classic look. Fear not dear reader, I’ve ventured to the depths of the south to bring a renaissance of sorts when it comes to pulling off the look mentioned above.

Enter Pax & Parker, the brainchild of founders Winston Parker Ley and Alari Ann Paxson. Based in Fort Worth, Texas, Pax & Parker is a collection-focused specialty store offering an elevated assortment of ready-to-wear and accessories for men and women. The store is designed to provide the ultimate shopping experience without all the noise and pretenses of a traditional big-box luxury retailer. Expertly curated, their designer labels represent the best in the industry while many are exclusive to Pax & Parker. Purposefully housed in a small-format space, they have the pleasure and capacity to personally connect with each customer to provide a truly gratifying experience. At Pax & Parker, they believe in quality textiles, classic designs, and modern silhouettes.

In working with this bright, young new store, I am bringing the styles and feel that the quintessential gent should strive to curate in his own personal wardrobe. Take for instance this light, off white blazer from Rodd & Gunn. Perfect for when the weather heats up or when the pressure is on during a business meeting or date and you need your jacket to breathe. When paired with this sharp, textured Billy Reid button down, it’s the perfect spring look to impress. I’ve chosen a more casual look with the jeans but a pair of chinos or even cords would work just fine.

Stay tuned for the next part of this series where we will be focusing more on playful prints…

Do It in Denim

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Shirt: Lacoste; Jeans: Paige

It’s casual Friday and normally that means donning your best pair of jeans and working your way about the city. What if we switched things up and wore the denim on our shirt instead? I’m starting to like the sound of it. While the winter blues bogs down most of the country, I’m bringing a little sunshine to your Friday style with this casual yet styled look.

I’ve always believed in blending denim into a laid back look. Something about the textures, colors and feels that denim provides really sets of a look and can keep us looking our best even when we don’t have time to coordinate a full outfit. Lacoste has perfected the art of the denim button down. By using different dyes and colors of the material, the shirt stands out and sets a more sartorial tone then your dads old denim. It’s a cool update to your basic blues. This denim button-down shirt features a slim fit and a contrast pocket. I love the soft material and the rugged stitching. Invest in denim that really sets an outfit off.

One last piece of advice, when putting together a denim driven outfit don’t be afraid to pair denim with denim. The style doesn’t always have to be the blues we know but rather can be colors of tan, burgundy or even black to mix and match your best. Experimentation is the forefront of the dapper nature of mens fashion, so don’t fear a little out of the box denim duo.

Kold Sips and Tech Gifts

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This time of year we all find ourselves entertaining the company of friends and family. Often we are serving fresh, cold beverages to our guests and running to the store several times to restock the bar. What if I told you that your favorite sodas, teas, flavored waters and mixers could be demanded and poured with the touch of a button? It’s true.

Introducing the hip and forward thinking Keurig KOLD. I’ve been a fan of the brand since owning my first hot brew coffee and tea system way back when. Now, they are completely changing the game with their newest addition. Keurig KOLD drinkmaker puts the power to make cold beverages, on demand, right at your fingertip. Simple? You bet. I occasionally fancy myself a carbonated soda to sip on while watching my favorite holiday movie, now I can get it without even having to run to the store. She likes seltzers, he wants mixers for cocktails. Want a Coke? How about an iced tea? Or maybe a refreshing flavored water. Get what you want, when you want it, at the push of a button.

I am a total tech nerd and if you know someone like me in your life, don’t think twice, this gift will go over great with everyone. Dallas is one of several exclusive markets now selling Keurig KOLD! Did I mention there’s a margarita pod to make cocktails, too? It’s going to be a VERY Happy Holidays this year!

Plaid in the Park

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 Shirt: J. Crew ; Jeans: Bonobos

Simple things tend to bring us the most joy. A loyal friend, a good cup of coffee or a trusted pair of old boots might do the trick. I find the most pleasure in the art of trekking. Taking the road less traveled, getting outside and blending in with nature. Call me the camouflaged connoisseur of taking to the streets and finding out how to find my drum.

Sorry if my metaphors seem a bit much. I’ve just returned from New York City, you see. The city bustled with traffic of all means, noise pollution and a certain spark that only this time of year can bring. Through it all, though, I found a sense of wonder hidden in the majestic sprawl of Central Park. The feeling called to my inner outdoorsman and so I ventured into the depths of the concrete jungle and dawned a new persona.

The king of the fashion jungle in winter time seems to be the mighty plaid. You’ll find it on scarves, belts, jackets and more. My favorite way to wear it? Shirting. Yup, call me a lumberjack because my affinity for perfectly mixed lines puts me in my happy place. After I’d seen a stretch of the park including ponds, mountains, fountains and lawns, I concluded that I’d better get home before dark. I cherished the ability to rock my new favorite plaid button down for a stroll and only wished that my next adventure would be as soothing to my outdoorsy soul.

Whiskey Business

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We’re halfway through the week and I think that calls for a cocktail. My favorites range from sweet, savory, strong and sip worthy. Recently, I was approached and asked to try a new kind of cocktail. Aged spirits that blend varietals of alcohol have become all the rage. Cooper Spirits, led by Rob Cooper of St-Germain fame just released Hochstadter’s Vatted Straight Rye Whiskey. Hochstadter’s is the first rye to use the vatted designation, which was inspired by Scotch whisky’s blending tradition. The ryes in the blend range from 4 to 15 years old and were sourced from distilleries across North America— Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Indiana and Alberta, Canada.

All the while, I also tried to come up with a cocktail that would pay homage to the spirit blend itself without detracting from the aged taste. The rye whiskey is well suited for mixing in classic rye cocktails like Manhattans, Sazeracs, Old-Fashioneds and Juleps, as well as for sipping straight or on ice. I love a good Old-Fashioned so with the right ingredients on hand, I found myself sipping a classy cocktail in no time. The spirit itself has a rounded flavor with tasty notes of blackstrap molasses, nutmeg, mace, clove, German-style rye bread and sour cherries. I think I’ve found myself a new favorite 5 o’clock treat.

Hochstadter’s Vatted Straight Rye Whiskey will begin its rollout in Fall 2015 and will go quickly when it does. Find yourself a bottle and get sipping. Cheers!

Trick or Graphic Tees

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Look 1: Graphic Sweatshirt; Distressed Jean; Shoes (Vintage)

Look 2: Shirt; Distressed Jean; Shoes (Vintage)

I got a lot of requests for a full on costume outfit post with Halloween being tomorrow and all. Well, I can’t say I can oblige that this time around, plus you don’t wanna see me in spandex, but I’ll do you one better. On Halloween, we sometimes have to step outside of our comfort zones in order to fit the bill that our costumes require. Just like the spooky holiday, the same theory can be applied to our wardrobe choices.

Now I find myself remembering back to when I found out that jeans didn’t have to be ill fitting or that sweatshirts didn’t mean oversized, form hiding behemoth. Trying out a new way of wearing our favorite outfit pieces doesn’t have to be scary or have overwhelming alterations to our norm. Forever21 Men is taking the fright out of the change and shopping experience. Just take the things that you find yourself most comfortable in and look at them in a new way. For me, a skinny jean with a bit of ware and tear is within the boundaries of my comfort zone but still adds a grungy chic vibe. Another winner? The fitted sweatshirt. I know we all think of this piece as the chunky, drawstring-laden pullover we dig out of our closet each fall but with a bit of tapering, a dapper discovery it makes. My favorite sweatshirts fit like a glove and I covet a bit of graphic design to complete the look.

So, don’t let the skeletons of closets past haunt your style. Embrace subtle, forward changes and notice that you have an amazing persona underneath that ghost sheet of a closet. Boo!

Stress Free Shopping: Artizone

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Admittedly, I am a food lover. Whether it’s going out, staying in or cooking with friends. If there’s one thing I hate, it’s grocery shopping. The art of perusing a store for the fresh, locally sourced produce I dream of is lost on me. Don’t be aghast to this notion, dear reader. We all have our faults and I’m asking you to still accept me through my loathing of the grocery store.

Luckily for lazy, food focused cooks and eaters like me there is a service that fits us perfectly. Artizone is an online food delivery service connecting customers in selected U.S. cities with local artisans through one website. Luckily when my stomach was rumbling (as it often does) earlier this month, I stumbled across their website. What I witnessed while checking out the page was a mecca for finding a curated collection of the very best artisans in my area. Grocers, local food business, small stores and more! The unique portal provides aggregated access to authentic, handcrafted food stuff from the finest purveyors who have carefully created high-quality products.

After becoming quickly enamored with the notion that I could have fresh groceries delivered to my front door on my time, I knew I needed to join the cult. I worked with the good, kindly folks over at Artizone to put together an incredible backyard bbq for a few of my closes friends and family. What you see above is the delicious, hard to say no to, incredible assortment of foods available on Artizone that assisted my soiree. That’s right, there was pimento cheese on crackers, tender beef brisket, broccoli salad, kale salad and wait for it … s’mores! All the ingredients arrived at my door the day of the event and I was so surprised to see all the local farms, purveyors and farmers involved in my order.

So, when you find yourself too tired or unwilling to drag yourself to the store, let the grocer come to you! Thanks Artizone!