Thrift Store Therapy, 12/17/10

I'm officially LOVIN' the thrill of finding great pieces at rock bottom prices, as you all know you're boy is always up for a good bargain!  I hit up a new thrift spot that a friend of mine recommended to me and it turned out to be not even the least bit disappointing.  For the last few weeks I'd been looking for a store that sells brooch pins as I've been seeing them on the runway (Javan and Randy B. of TheBlaqueBook also pull them off effortlessly) and figured they'd be cool to incorporate into my look (pinned to a pea coat, blazer or vest), this store put a smile on my face the moment I walked up to the front counter.  I asked the clerk if they sold brooch pins (all the while cringing inside as I awaited that disappointing "no we don't, sorry" response that all the clerks at previous thrift stores delivered to me with a sigh) and he quickly responded "yup, we sure do!" while pulling a velvet tray from beneath the counter.  You're boy was grinning from ear to ear as I rummaged through the tray's contents to finally purchase what I'd been searching for for weeks!  I also found a beautiful navy blazer with gold buttons that fit like a glove, it needs absolutely no tailoring (I kept bragging about it during dinner with a friend later that night, lol).  Check out these pics:

 I was initially afraid this one would be too feminine but paired with a black dinner jacket or waist coat it conveys a very refined, slightly Victorian look.

(Sorry about the imperfection, I've been having issues while uploading some of my pics)

Keep it stylish, keep it sexy but always keep it true to you!

Back 2 The Basics: The Henley

    

        I love pieces whose simplicity give me the freedom to create looks that are timeless while maintaining a subtle sexiness.  The Henley has been one of those pieces and has been a staple in my closet ever since I slipped one on for the first time 3 years ago.  This collarless and seemingly plain shirt was originally part of a two-piece men’s undergarment during the Victorian ages in England, rowers made it popular as a shirt to be worn as a visible outer-shirt when they would wear them during the famous rowing regatta that was established in Henley, England in 1839.  The thing that’s so special about this shirt is it’s undeniable nonchalance; when worn un-ironed, straight off the hanger with a slightly rumpled texture it conveys that your stylish without even really trying.  As with any shirt that a man dons, your Henley should be fitted (not tight).  It can fall just below your waist, sleeves rolled up and, of course, the buttons undone.  If you’re a physically fit guy or if you have a bit of chest hair –not that grizzly, unkempt, fur-looking mess- the Henley is definitely an item that will work well with your body type as it hangs just below the neck and is fitted without looking pretentious in that “I’m purposely wearing a ridiculously tight, revealing shirt to show off my nice physique” kind of way.  My favorite Henleys are those made by H&M and Old Navy, they’re good quality at a great price which means you can stock up on an assortment of colors.

    Tips:

GQ's been endorsing the Henley for years so I guess
it's cool enough...

• Wash separately.  Washing with other items, from my experience, causes it to accumulate lint. 

•  Air dry, the dryer causes serious shrinkage!If you don’t have a place at home to air dry it, buy it one size bigger than usual so that it shrinks down to the correct size when put into the dryer.

• Layer!  The Henley is perfect for layering: with a waistcoat, a blazer, a sweater, underneath a button-up, the possibilities are endless, seriously.

• Don’t go getting all stuffy with it, it’s meant to look relaxed while accentuating your physique just right.

Looking for ways to keep your skin on point during these harsh, wintery months? Check out "Winter Skincare" in the Skincare/Hair care section...

Young, Gifted and Black~

Personally, the reality that society doesn't necessarily have the highest expectations of me, a young African American man, is rather old news and is the fuel behind my ambition in life.  I've never been one to harp on the topic of "race" and the misfortune that Blacks have suffered for centuries, instead I bow my head each day, say a prayer of thanks for the hope of a bright future that I've been granted and I allow the hardships of my race's past to serve as a catalyst to propel me to positivity in my education, relationships and sense of self-worth. The 2 gentleman behind Street Etiquette, one of my favorite blogs, created the project The Black Ivy, an homage to historically Black colleges- particularly those which aim to educate young Black men- and the sense of style, culture and overall mentality that emerges among Black men within such intellectual environments.  It is a video that details all of these elements and I must say that I was utterly moved while watching it for the first time and have found a new sense of pride in being an intellectual Black man.  This idea of style, intellect and drive is in no way reserved to Black men alone but our demographic often needs positive reinforcement such as this to help us shake off the negativity that's constantly projected onto us.  Hopefully this video will inspire you just as it did me.  Be Blessed.

Model Watch: Sean Opry



      I feel as though this dude has grown from being a goofy, pale-faced kid with modelling potential to now being one of the most in demand male models in the industry right before my very eyes.  The very first time I stumbled across his face was through an awkward computer hickup; google somehow brought me to his myspace page after I typed in "Oprin" (the last name of a woman I was studying in my history class) and this was the first of what seemed like never ending sightings of this kid's asymmetrical face.  I began seeing him in photo spreads whenever I flipped through my GQ, I'd see him in just about every runway show on youtube and now he's a bonafide supermodel (making that supermodel dough, I'm sure!).  He's like the little brother I never had so Sean, this is your big bro. taking a moment to give you a shout out and commend you on your rapid success in the fashion industry!  Keep doing your thing my man!  Pics below of him now:

Fall/Winter 2010 Must Have: The Toggle Coat



        There are few things that irritate me more than seeing a guy whose well dressed (shirt, pants/suit, shoes) but is wearing a coat that is either the complete opposite of the rest of his ensemble or is in such shabby condition that it deserves nothing less than to be burned on sight.  Maybe you're the type of guy who finds tailored topcoats and trenches a bit too stuffy, I get it.  This, however, doesn't make it okay for you to yank out the first coat that you stumble upon while clearing away the dust from those rubbermaid bins that have been housing your garments from last winter.  To strike the perfect balance between business and playtime I recommend the toggle coat, aka the "duffle" coat.  Originally making it's debut in 1995 when worn by Scottish football players as they received their first ever national trophy in the Challenge Cup, this coat is making a comeback in a major way!  It's loops and hooks give it a bold feel while maintaining a look that's masculine enough even for the most manly of men.  Rock it with a suit or with your weekend gear, you'll look put-together at all times.  So, fellas, no more wearing South Pole bubble coats to job interviews or important meetings, the toggle coat will get you noticed whenever you step out in it.  Check out these pics...

Thrift Store Therapy

Your boy was recently inspired by my fellow bloggers Randy and Javan B. of TheBlaqueBook.com to visit a thrift store and allow myself to experience the unique joy of finding fashionable secondhand items at mindblowing bargains.  I'd already been twirling the idea around in my head for quite some time but could never bring myself to actually do it (mostly due to the unsettling thought of wearing an item that's been on some stranger's back, ugh!).  All of this anxiety subsided on Monday of this week when I decided to go on a little thrifty exscursion and I have to admit, it wasn't half bad!  Oh yeah, all of my items rang up to a grand total of...., are you ready for this?  19 bucks!  Check out these pics of some of my cool finds...

Tan herringbone blazer (no tailoring needed, straight of the rack it fit me like a glove!), gold, green & red rep tie, 2 woven belts: one green with maroon stripe, the other yellow (this one I turned into a wristband since it was too short for my waist, pics soon to come), and a green & grey striped sweater:

(please pardon the imperfection, I had a bit of trouble while uploading this pic.  I'm sure you get the gist of it though...):

Yes folks, this is herringbone...get up close & personal with it:

I'll post pics of myself wearing these items in the near future under the WIAWT section, this way you'll be able to see them styled and paired with other pieces to create some nice, cohesive looks.