Showing posts with label Memorial Day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Memorial Day. Show all posts

Monday, May 26, 2014

My Memorial Day Style

In a follow up to last week's post on staying sharp during your Memorial Day festivities, here's what I rocked this weekend. Granted, we weren't headed for the beach or a cookout, but we did spend the afternoon in the sun on the patio at a local bar, getting boozy on Bloody Mary's and IPA's and enjoying the company of good friends. Pretty much all you can ask for. My outfit was a slight variation on one of my recommendations, and came out like this (shop the look after the post):


It was actually one of the first really warm days here in Chicago...maybe not hot (that word will take on new perspective when we break 100 degrees), but definitely warm enough to take the heat into consideration, so I kept things easy breezy head to toe. Started with a pair of chambray shorts that I picked up from J.Crew last year. These things cover all the bases, and though they are a tad longer than I'd prefer, I like the range that gives me, length-wise, just by giving the cuff a quick roll or two. Super light, super comfortable, these are a go-to all summer.


For shoes, I swapped out my requisite boat shoes for these newer Converse Jack Purcell sneakers. Just picked these up a few weeks ago and they've quickly become a summer favorite. They're lightweight and casual, but the all-white adds a level of sharpness, as does the Jack Purcell cut over say, the Chuck Taylor.


Finally, topped things off with this vintage shirt that I actually stole from  my dad's closet maybe a decade ago. I've been wearing it since - through good style and bad, and don't think I'll ever be able to bring myself to get rid of it.


It's a bit baggy through the body, and the sleeves are kinda short, so I'm thinking of doing some 'construction' on it this year - maybe cut the sleeves down to short sleeves? Get some darts or have the whole thing take in at the sides? Or make it super summer (it's already light as a feather) and take the collar off, rock the mao collar? Open to suggestions, for sure!

The Outfit:
Shirt - Vintage
Shorts - J.Crew Factory
Shoes - Converse Jack Purcell
Socks (unseen, as they should be) - PACT
Glasses - Penn Avenue Eyewear

How were you stylin' on the holiday? Share descriptions or pics below!

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Deals and Steals for the Weekend - 5/24/2014

Holy cow, got behind for this week's Deals and Steals - but it's a long weekend so, you still have plenty of time to get your shopping in! So here we go:

"Every weekend, check in on the blog for a collection of the best (read: my favorite) deals and steals on the interweb for some quality shopping over the weekend. Have any to add? Share them in the comments or shoot me an e-mail. Also, if you're biting on any of these hooks, I'd love to hear about it!"

And for the deals - this is gonna be one of those weeks where we really focus on one retailer, cuz they have a killer sale going on:

30% Off Sale Items and 50% Off Clearance Items at Club Monaco:
The real killer deal here is of course the 50% off option for items specifically in the clearance section. One word of caution, these are all final sale, so make sure you're confident in your sizing choices before you purchase. My first pick is this plaid shirt, in bright madras-y colors, button-down collar and slim fit:
Slim-Fit Owen Plaid Shirt | Club Monaco
Madras is a staple in most stylish gents summer wardrobes, and for a good reason. It's comfortable as heck, and although the colors are characteristically bold, the fabric somehow never seems too garish or in-your-face. At $35 after the discount (regularly $80), the price is hard to beat.

This one is way off-season, but I've often talked up the versatility of a layering vest through the cooler seasons. Normally, I reach for my J.Crew Factory vest, but their colors are pretty limited, and this option from Club Monaco would be a nice way to inject some color into a winter outfit:
Hacking Vest | Club Monaco
Normally $150, the quality is sure to be a step up from JCF as well, and the sale brings the price down to $40, right around the lowest you'll see that JCF option for anyway.

Last from the clearance section are these lightweight Chinos:

Lightweight Davis Color Chino | Club Monaco
Club Monaco almost always has some of these in the sale section, but normally only the crazy bright colors. This time, they've got a bunch of more neutral options, including these in a light olive that I'm really liking. Normally $70, these will only set you back $25.

Moving on to the regular sale section (which is not final sale). While the 30% added discount isn't quite as impressive, there are still some great deals here. Among these are plenty of great staple items, like OCBD's, white Poplin dress shirts, blue blazers, you name it - but I keep finding myself drawn to some of the funky patterns that pop up here and there. First thing to grab my attention was this slim-fit shirt in a foulard pattern:
Slim-Fit Foulard Shirt | Club Monaco
I love the vintage-y feel of this, and while I can't see myself really matching it with a tie (I guess it could be done, but I wouldn't love it), I think it would make a shard addition to my casual wardrobe - and I'm all about keeping things sharp, even when off-duty. Regularly $90, this clocks in at $42 after the discount.

Likewise, check out these plaid chinos, in the slim Davis fit, knocked down to $35 from $80:
Plaid Davis Chino | Club Monaco
I keep going back and forth as to whether these are too loud, but something about them is just irresistible to me, and I think these will look awesome dressed down with a crisp white T-shirt or polo and some white bucs or canvas sneaks. Of all the items I've thrown up in this section, these are already in my shopping cart.


Moving on from Club Monaco, here are a few more that caught our eye:

15% Off from the Cool Material Shop:
Not a lot of apparel on here, but Cool Material is an awesome site for, well, cool material - gadgets, gear, supplies, you name it (plus, they were awesome enough to feature yours truly in a 'Wear This' feature a little while back). There are just tons and tons of cool things here, and all knocked down by 15% for the holiday weekend. The one thing I always come to Cool Material for are these notepads from Word. Notebooks:

Word. Notebooks | Cool Material
They have this funky to-do list system that I'm absolutely hooked on - honestly, if I leave mine at home, productivity is just out the window, it's an addiction! They are never expensive at $10 for a 3-pack, but the sale brings them down to an even more affordable $8.50. Browse the rest of the store and check out the watches, the pens, the flasks, yeesh, so much good stuff!


40% Off Regular Items at Gap:
Finishing things up with one pick from the Gap Memorial day sale - I've pretty consistently recommended the Gap lived-in slim khakis, but as the temps are finally rising and the summer heat is really coming, I've had my mind on some more lightweight options. These lightweight 'casual pants' are clocking in at just $33, making them a good contender for my summer shopping list:

Lightweight Casual Pant | Gap


We'll wrap up with that, but there are a boatload of Memorial Day sales going on. Honestly, it's a pretty safe bet that pretty much any brand will be offering some sort of discount, but you can also check out these lists from Well-Spent and Valet that round up some of the best!

Happy Memorial Day! Share any fun plans or great buys you've got in store this holiday in the comments below!

Monday, May 19, 2014

Memorial Day Style Suggestions

Holy cow, this year is just flying by. Seems like just yesterday we were celebrating Christmas, and now Memorial Day is less than a week away! Hopefully everyone is in for some nice weather, which should mean only one thing: BBQ time! And while a nice summer cookout is a great time to relax and let loose, that doesn't mean it's a time to slack on your style - whether you're trying to attract the other singles, or are already coupled-up but trying to impress your friends and family, the key is to balance sharp and casual and make it look effortless. Here are a few good looks that we put together (chock full of discounts, too) in case you're in need of some inspiration:

Hot-Weather Grillin':
First up is an ensemble for all of you lucky enough to be basking in some really steamy weather this weekend - I'm talking just too darn hot for pants or sleeves:

Braided Leather Belt - L.L. Bean

Shorts are a tricky beast for guys over the age of 20. The trick to keeping your look grown-up is to find shorts that hit above the knee and are fitted close to the body. Nothing skintight, of course, but similar to your slim chinos. We love a good pair of chambray shorts for something a little different from the rest of the pack without being wacky. Cap the darker shorts with a light-colored polo up top (we love the Michael Bastian x Uniqlo collab for some stylish and slim polos - try 5offUNIQLO for a $5 discount through 5/22) and some breathable canvas sneak's on the bottom. Keeping the belt leather holds the whole 'fit back from the uber-casual edge, but going for a braided option maintains the laid-back nature.


The Rest of America:
Most of us probably won't be sweating in the sun, considering we just had a day that didn't break 50 here in Chicago. This combo will keep you from shivering if it gets a little chillier, but still embraces the summery vibe:


Something about Memorial Day and grilling screams classic American prep to me, so we went ahead and embraced it with this outfit - from the classic khaki chinos to a casual OCBD (bonus: Everlane has free shipping this entire month) to the (preferably) kinda-beat-up boat shoes. Use the ribbon belt to inject a little youth and color into the look, or shake things up with some non-traditional boat shoes or an OCBD in a brighter or more saturated color.

The Cover-Up:
Hotter or cooler climate, chances are that in May, temps will drop as the sun goes down, so bringing a lightweight layer to cover up with is never a bad idea. 


A cotton sweater will give you a little more warmth without being quite as cozy as a wool knit. Nautical stripes are perfect for the spring season, and add another preppy edge to an outfit. Very JFK on vacation. On the other hand, a lightweight bomber is sharp and subtle, and maybe a bit more versatile. Our favorites are made by the iconic Barracuda brand, but you can find affordable and nearly-as-stylish alternatives at much lower prices.

Sharper Than Your Average Bear:
The majority of us will probably be keeping things pretty casual over the holiday weekend, but I'm sure there are some gents out there with something a little more dressed-up on their calendar. From a full suit in cotton chino or linen to a sharp summer blazer and chinos, you've got a lot of options. If it were us, here's what we would be wearing: 





So pumped to bust out the Oxley's this season - I talk em up all the time, and they really are the most comfortable dress pants I've ever worn, but they hold a nice crease and stand up great in a more tailored look (if it's your first order, and you plan on breaking $75, use our referral for $25 off). Keep your blazer unlined and even unconstructed - sharp and semi-formal, but not business-like. Since you're adding an extra layer with the blazer, you'll probably want to keep your shirting lightweight, and this may be the perfect chance to rock a linen shirt. Finally, some rich suede loafers and a pelican-hook belt add some subtle, classy flair.


What do you think? How will you be stuntin' this weekend? Chime in below!