Deals and Steals for the Weekend - 8/22/2014

Man, it feels like it's been forever since we had a proper Deals and Steals post up! Been so. Damn. Busy. It's exhausting, but big moves in the works - I'll keep y'all posted! Meanwhile, 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!"

This week, I honestly couldn't find that many sales - not sure if maybe brands are holding back in preparation to release some big Labor Day sales next weekend, but pickin's were a tad slim. However, what I did find is pretty damn good:


Extra 40% Off Final Sale Items at Bonobos (code BONVOYAGE):
Right off the bat, this is a crazy good sale, so we're going to keep our focus here for more than the standard two (or so) picks. Granted, the 'final sale' aspect is a bit of a bummer, especially since I love the Bonobos return policy so much. That said, if you know your sizes and your tastes, you can get some awesome deals. First pick in my book is some all-white seersucker:

Sea Island Seersucker Shirt | Bonobos

I'm all for the traditional blue and white striped seersucker, but getting a solid, crisp white seersucker shirt has an extra sharp edge to it, and will dress up much nicer. Also available in a navy blue (or that aforementioned standard stripe), all three styles are running just $28.80 after the discount (regularly $88). Dayum. 

Since it can be hard to stay sharp and tailored in the heat, here's another hot-weather pick that will easily take the place of your sharpest dress shirt:

Irish Linen Shirt | Bonobos

Linen can be tough to find in slim-fits, or in a tie-worthy spread collar, so this is a double-bonus in my book. A bit more expensive than the seersucker, but still very affordable at just around $41 (regularly $98). 

Sticking with summer picks, check out this Tee in a bright and sunny multi-color stripe:

Yarn Spun Tee | Bonobos

I picked up a few Bonobos Tees in another recent sale and was pretty impressed. Lightweight enough to be cool, but solid enough to feel well-constructed, and cut in a nice, flattering (but not tight) fit, and marked down from $38 to $15.

Moving on to pants (which is really what Bonobos is known for, after all), I had to throw in these olive chinos:

Palmetto Washed Chinos | Bonobos

At a discounted price of just $40.80 (from $88), there are actually some cheaper chinos to be found. However, most of those are brighter, less versatile colors, and I can't tell you how many people I've heard looking for some nice olive chinos. It's the perfect color, easily bridging both summer and fall styles. These also might be the first pants I've seen in the sale section cut in the 'Slim Tailored' fit (as opposed to 'Slim Straight'), which I hear is pretty close to J.Crew's 484 (and very flattering, as well). 

Ok, ok, I'll wrap it up with one more pick. Last on my list is a pair of Oxley's - quite possibly the most comfortable pants in the (affordable) world:

Oxleys | Bonobos

I have a pair in light blue that I love, but for my second-go-around I'd probably pick up some in white. The lightweight oxford-cloth fabric is inherently limited to warm-weather wear anyway, and I've recently gotten hooked on white trousers. If you prefer a different color, they have a pretty wide selection, all marked down from $98 to a mere $35.

Alright, check out the rest of the sale section, and if you plan to spend more than $75, use our referral link to score an extra $25 off.


Extra 20% Off Final Sale Items at York Street by J.Press (code ENJOYSUMMER):
Looks like an end of summer sale? Something along those lines. Anyway, a lot of already heavily discounted duds getting marked down even more. Normally, I love J.Press (and York Street) for their classically preppy attire, but the standouts to me this time are some decidedly vintage-y pieces. First up is this 'boating' henley:

Henley Boating Tee | York Street

I love the rounded edges on the collar, the sharp contrast with the blue piping - something about it is just dying to be worn to a baseball game, or a rooftop brunch. Plus, while a lot of York Street tees can be overpriced in my eyes (look at that $95 original price-tag), the discount leaves this one at a more reasonable $38.

Second, is this funky floral polo shirt that screams 70's summer to me:

Match Point Printed Polo | York Street

Funky might even be putting it mildly, but my eye keeps coming back to it! Pair it with some more neutral, solid bottoms (maybe even those white Oxleys above), and you've got a distinct and unique summer look - and at a tasty $25 (originally $125). 


Levi's Commuter Series On Sale at The Clymb:
I'm a huge fan of alternate forms of transportation (think green), especially biking, so I've always had my eye on Levi's commuter line - specifically designed with the biker in mind. Normally, items from the collection are pretty expensive, but via the outdoorsy flash-sale site, The Clymb, there's a lot that's well within my price range (and if you use our referral, you'll get an extra $10 off). Fans of the Levi's 511 fit should check out these green pants, marked down to $45 from $88:

Commuter Series 511 | Levi's via The Clymb

While it looks like they are cut from a chino fabric, the five-pocket styling is going to force these into a bit more casual territory, but that's ok - how often do you bike to a formal event? I love the green color, which will transition well from summer to fall.

Speaking of fall, it's time to start getting excited for layering and light outerwear, like this hooded trucker in olive:

Commuter Series Hooded Trucker | Levi's via The Clymb

Olive is such a versatile color, and looks great paired with dark blue denim. Again, the details are designed for the cyclist, with a longer tail to keep you dry while you're leaned over your handlebars, and reflective tape built in to make you more visible at night. Regularly almost $150, these are running just $70 (and also available in black).

And that's a wrap for today! Any of you find any other good deals around the web? Share in the comments!

Outfit Post - Dressing Up and Dressing Down

My girlfriend and I have been taking advantage of a service called HowAboutWe ever since I bought her a subscription as a Christmas present. I may do a longer post detailing the awesome perks, since we've been loving it so much, but the short story is that they curate events (or for the couples version, which we signed up for, 'dates'), that can include discounted or exclusive activities, hook you up with a reservation, and voila, next thing you know you're in a new brandy distillery in Chicago watching apples being smashed(?) by a man on a bicycle.

Really, it's been a great way to get us out of the house on the weekend when the weather says to just stay on your couch! Not only does it give my girlfriend and I even more quality time to spend with each other, it also has given me lots of opportunities to exercise my wardrobe by freeing me from my weekday business casual without taking me the whole way down to lounge-on-the-couch casual.

For example, we were back at it again this weekend with a quick trip down to NOSH food festival/farmers market, and I ended up rocking a great balance between the sharp style I like to exude and the more rustic, well, farmers-market-friendly options:

To start off, I love to wear a shirt and tie, and blazer when I can. However, going into this, I knew that coming in a pressed white shirt, silk tie, jacket and chinos probably wouldn't only not fit the crowd, but would also end up getting something spilled on it. So instead, I made some conscious choices to dress down my standard 'fit to something that would work great in the circumstances.

First, I went with generally rougher and more casual fabrics. Instead of a poplin or white oxford shirt, I rocked a plaid, heavier cotton (almost flannel) shirt. For the tie, I went with cotton knit instead of a shinier silk knit, and for the blazer I left my more constructed and sleek options at home, instead grabbing an unlined, soft-shouldered wool twill.

I even made the same general effect with my shoes...these boots are pretty sharp, definitely no shit-kickers, but the suede leather, as opposed to polished, takes things farther into casual territory, as do the lugged soles, which also came in handy walking home through the slushy mess that spring is bringing us.

On the other hand, a few details kept me feeling like I was still on the top of my game. The shirt, for example, while full of more casual details, is actually one of my custom shirts, so the fit is perfect (which will instantly have you feeling like you look 100%). I kept the tie clip, partly because I didn't want my tie falling in my food, and again, because it keeps a sharper edge to the whole look. Last, while I did pick jeans (like a farmer, eh?), I kept them slim and dark to keep some sharp lines from top to bottom. I also decided to go ahead and rock a pocket square (always a bit of a dandy move), but even kept that on the more casual end of the spectrum by picking a cotton, 'bandana' square in a spring-appropriate green that would compliment but not match the green tones in my shirt.

Last, I maintained the balance by throwing a casual waxed cotton jacket on top. No sense in building that careful balance, only to cover it all with a more formal overcoat. Lucky me, the olive color of my jacket worked great with the blues, greens, and greys making up the outfit so far.

Outfit Details:
Blazer - Frank and Oak
Plaid Shirt - Custom by Modern Tailor
Cotton Knit Tie - J.Crew
Cotton Pocket Square - J.Crew
Dark Blue Jeans - Levi's 513
Suede Boots - Polo Ralph Lauren
Waxed Jacket - Frank and Oak

Deals and Steals for the Weekend - 2/6/2014

You know the dealio: "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!"

So here's this week's lineup:

25% Off Select Spring Style at J.Crew:
So, this is a much lighter and more limited discount than most of what we feature from J.Crew. So how did it make the list: Almost entirely by virtue of this striped popover shirt:

Brushed Twill Popover | J.Crew

I've been wanting a popover shirt for my collection since I saw a great on from Gant sometime last summer. Unfortunately, they aren't all that common, and most of the ones I could find were damn pricey, especially for a casual shirt. This one ain't cheap to start either, with a $75 original asking price, but the 25% off drops it to just over $55. It's the perfect in-between shirt, not quite as sport-centered as a polo, not quite as formal as a full-placket shirt. I'm also loving the horizontal stripes, just different enough to make yours unique but not flashy.

Loving shawl collars this winter? I know I am. Here's a chance to keep wearing them into the spring! This shawl sweater is made from cotton, so it will be much less warm than your standard thick wool, but will still make a comfortable layer on a cool spring or summer evening. 

Marled Cotton Shawl-Collar Sweater | J.Crew

The added hoodie-like kangaroo pocket makes it a bit more casual as well, which makes it perfectly suited for a night on the beach. Again, not a crazy deal, but definitely affordable at under $55 (originally $70). 


Extra 25% Off and Free Shipping at Sierra Trading Post (applied at check-out):
Editors Note: I had some issues getting the discount applied, but eventually had it work by clicking to the site through their social media (Facebook or Twitter). Otherwise, I'm sure you can e-mail customer support to get hooked up!
Ok, back to winter. I'm going on a ski trip with my gal's family in a few weeks, and I've never been on the slopes before, so I've had my eyes on some affordable insulating layers. Here comes discount outdoorsy retailer Sierra Trading Post to the rescue. First on my list? A pair of Smartwool socks, like this mid-weight pair:

Jovian Grid Sock | SmartWool via Sierra Trading Post

A lot of winter-ready socks only come in boring solid greys and blacks, so it's nice that these have a healthy dose of color. Also, SmartWool has a great reputation for being crazy warm and comfortable. The standard STP discount has these at $13, and the extra 25% takes them down even more to under $10 (normally $21 a pair). Oh yeah, it's also FREEZING in Chicago, which make me even more eager to buy these. In my cart as I type this.

I've also quickly realized that I only have one pair of long underwear, and they are a cheap pair from Target a few years back. Not only aren't they super warm, I also don't want to wear the same pair 3 days in a row on this trip. That in mind, these merino wool guys look nice and toasty:

RedRam Merino Wool Leggings | Icebreaker via Sierra Trading Post

I've never heard of RedRam or Icebreaker before, but these have (mostly) good reviews and at $30 after the discount (originally $58), they are the most affordable pair in merino wool that I've seen. It's a debate between these and a pair in Uniqlo's Heattech, but regardless, these wouldn't be a bad choice. Hmm...


Filson Clearance Sale:
Filson makes ungodly nice outerwear, and usually at ungodly high (for my tight wallet) prices. However, they've got some nice sales going on now, like this work jacket, which has been reduced almost 50%, from $385 down to $200 (props to Well-Spent for featuring this today):

Scout Work Jacket | Filson

One of the few beefs about Filson has previously been their classic, less slim fits. Recently, they addressed this by issuing their new Seattle fit, which is much more modern and close-fitting, and has been met with rave reviews all over the net. Not all items come in the new fit, but this is on the list. It's got some stylish details (check the specs on the site for a full list), and since it's a Filson, it will last a lifetime. I just picked up a lighter spring/fall jacket using some store credit at Frank and Oak, or I'd be seriously considering this.

It's definitely worth a browse to check out the rest of their sale items...I believe this is their end-of-year/season sale, and there are some really hefty discounts. This corduroy shirt is also available in the new Seattle Fit and is, again, unusually affordable at $60 (originally $165):

Seattle II Corduroy Shirt | Filson

I recently found an old corduroy shirt of my dad's (I think) when I was at my folks over the holidays, and I've latched onto it as a kind-of lightweight jacket around the house. Mine is super loose-fitting and pretty worn out, so I've been looking for a replacement, and I'm tempted to scoop this up for that very purpose.


50% Off at Sid Mashburn:
We'll wrap this week's list up with some more high-end winter duds at surprisingly affordable prices. Sid Mashburn has their 'Sid Sale' running with several half-off items. These shetland sweaters immediately caught my eye:

Shetland Crewneck Sweater | Sid Mashburn

It's another one that's not incredibly cheap, at just under $100, but it's marked down from $195 and holy hell does it look cozy.

If you're looking for something easier on the wallet, consider grabbing a pair of Levi's cords:

514 (Straight Fit) Cord | Levi's via Sid Mashburn

You all know (and probably, like me, love) Levi's, and the corduroy fabric along with the woodsy green color are perfect for the fall and winter. Add the fact that these are only $30, and Sid Mashburn always offers free shipping, and it's a deal definitely worthy of the list.


Shop away, and stay warm!

Outfit Post - The Sunday Lunch Date

Sorry for the delay on this post...I was planning on getting it up after the Super Bowl last night (what the hell happened there???)  but since my girlfriend was leaving first thing this morning for a business trip, I decided to spend my time with her instead of working. Sue me. 

Anyway, it's appropriate that I was so sweet to my gal, since she was kinda the inspiration for this post. It's restaurant week here in Chicago, so I took her out to a snazzy afternoon meal at The Savoy (our first time there, but I recommend it if you're in the city). We made ourselves nice and appropriately presentable before heading out, so I figured I may as well do an outfit post with an example of a great lunch-date ensemble.

At the Savoy...hmm...tie is slightly askew...and I'm slightly OCD...

The Savoy, like many lunch-date options, was a nice restaurant, but not fancy. There's no way I was going to show up in sweatpants, but at the same time it didn't call for a suit (although I have a new on from Dragon Inside that I'm dying for a chance to wear - more to come). As it should be, this was the first criteria for picking my outfit - sharp casual.

From there, I (half-jokingly) decided on a black-and-white color palette for the sole reason that it was Super Bowl Sunday, I could care less about both teams, and didn't want to throw affiliation either way (not that I own much in orange, but I have a lot of blue and green). 

Black, white, and in-between. Greyscale doesn't mean boring.

After that, it was pretty easy. When you're going for sharp casual, crisp blue jeans are never a bad choice. Either is a white OCBD. Either is a dark grey tie. Either is a charcoal merino V-neck. The point, I guess, is that those menswear staples are there for a reason. Not every outfit you pick needs to stand out.

My socks were the one place I let some color pop...and that's what I love about socks, as I mentioned last week.

A little flash of purple.

When it was all put together, I think it was a classy look...subtle yet sharp (man, I'm overusing that word, but it just fits), interesting but not bold, and I think (hope?) that the same balance came across in the image I presented...confident but respectful, because I know that's how my girl likes me best. :-)

Despite the snowy appearance, it was actually warm enough to wear a new lighter jacket from Frank & Oak.

Side note - my gal took some pages out of the menswear book herself and looked awfully cute doing it...rocked some nice blue jeans, a chambray shirt with just enough contrast from the denim, and some new suede boots. Gorgeous!

My beautiful date!

Outfit Details:

Waxed Cotton Parka - Frank & Oak

Merino V-neck Sweater - Frank & Oak

OCBD - Uniqlo

Knit Tie - The Tie Bar

Jeans - Levi's

Socks (similar) - Express

Wingtip Shoes (similar) - Johnston Murphy (via eBay)

Dapper Plaid - Putting It Into Practice

Earlier this week I wrote a post on how to wear plaid without looking sloppy, frumpy, or lumberjack-y. Over the weekend (after writing the post), I incorporated some flannel plaid into a sharp outfit myself, and took the opportunity to snap a few pictures so I could show my tips in action:

Nope, no decent pics of me looking at the camera. NO EYE CONTACT!

Let's take a look, one tip at a time:

First, I recommended dressing up your shirt. During the week, a blazer would be a perfect addition that would make your flannel office-appropriate, but we were headed out to the barcade (beer + old school arcade games = gold, pure gold), so I kept things a bit more casual, opting for a chunky cardigan instead of a jacket. The effect is similar though, allowing the hearty pattern of the shirt to come through but not dominate.

The cardigan is the cozy man's blazer...I made that up.

Next, I advocated dressing up your pants or trousers a bit as well. I actually encouraged choosing something other than jeans, but here I show how jeans can work. Like I said on Monday, just keep them dark and crisp, and by doing so you channel more city-casual than woodsy-careless.

Third, you can't really tell in the picture since I am wearing the cardigan buttoned-up, but I avoided the workwear look by sticking with a slimmer fitting shirt (this one happens to be from Frank and Oak). Even with the cardigan, picking a slim shirt is smart as it will reduce bunching as well as open up your options to unbutton or take off the sweater if things warm up.

Last, I told y'all to tuck it in, which I clearly did here! Along the same lines, just make sure the way you are wearing it is neat. Little touches like a clean 1/4 inch (or so) of cuff showing past the cardigan, and keeping the plaid collar points contained by the shawl collar help keep the whole look put-together and avoids any sense of sloppiness.

The rest of the pics (including a shot of my awesome new Polo Ralph Lauren boots...if you'll remember, I recommended these a while back, and I do listen to my own advice):

Also, gotta love $5 Target Boot Socks.

The Details:

Shirt - Frank and Oak

Cardigan - H&M

Jeans - Levi's

Socks - Mossimo Supply Co. for Target

Boots - Polo Ralph Lauren

Deals and Steals for the Weekend - Black Friday Edition

I almost wasn't going to post at all since I'm home with the family, but it is Black Friday so I slapped together the following list of great holiday sales and some of my own picks. I'm sure I'll be shopping myself throughout the day, and I'll add any other finds I come across, so keep checking back for updates! (SEE UPDATES AT END OF POST)

Tie Society Annual Sale (no code needed):
For a limited time, Tie Society is offering a free month when you purchase a gift subscription or sign up for a new membership. On top of that, the first ten customers each day will receive a custom Tie Society flask.

You can check out our review of Tie Society here, but I'll tell you right now it's a helluva service. At its simplest, it's the Netflix of ties, but it's so much more. Head over and check it out, the offer stands through 12/2/13.


25% off at Beckett Simonon (code TURKEY):
Dub-monks are still all the rage in the menswear world, but it can be tough to find a decent pair without handing over your firstborn child. Enter Beckett Simonon, who offers Goodyear-welted shoes at a relatively-unheard of price of just $140, and their 25% Black Friday discount drops them down to a hella-affordable $105.

Hoyt Double Monk Straps | Beckett Simonon

The Beckett Simonon Hoyt Double-Monk features a rounded toe box with a cap-toe and semi-brogue detailing for a perfect balance of style and subtlety. Grab a pair, or check out their other, equally dashing options.


50% Off Sitewide at Express (through 12:00 PM 12/29):
Express is offering an awesome half-off sale on absolutely everything in their inventory. I don't shop at Express all that often, but they remain one of the few stores that offers truly fitted shirts that even super-scrawny folks like myself won't need to take to the tailor. I'm a big fan of this Tartan Plaid shirt, which is perfect for the holiday season.

Fitted Tartan Plaid Shirt | Express

Dress it down with jeans, or throw on a wool tie for some cozy biz-casual. At this point, the deal ends at noon on Black Friday, but I'm sure it will be replaced by something new. If I have the time and presence of mind, I'll check it out and keep you posted.


Five Days of Style - Frank & Oak's Black Friday Event (no code needed):
Frank & Oak only has sale items intermittently, and they usually have some great deals when they do, so I'm always sure to at least give them a look. This holiday, they have a lot of great shirts, many in seasonable flannel or chambray fabrics. I always tout their shirts, though, but this year my eye has really been drawn to their bags, and a few of those landed in this sale as well.

Hyde Mountaineering Backpack | Frank & Oak

I'm especially digging this 'mountaineering' pack. It's made of durable canvas with a drawstring closure and leather straps. I have a great brief-case-type bag for days in the office, but I'd love one of these when I'm lugging junk around on a weekend or a trip home to see the folks.


40% Off and Free Shipping (no minimum) at Levi's (code SAVE40):
Unless your a denim-head on the hunt for some crazy $200+ selvedge jeans, it's hard to argue with a pair of Levi's to meet all of your denim needs. On top of that, they have the quintessential denim trucker and a pretty solid line-up of non-denim duds as well.

513 Slim Straight Jeans in Bastion | Levi's

The Black Friday sale drops this pair of dark rinse jeans down to only $32, and free shipping is always a huge plus in my book. I actually just bought this same pair at a Nordstrom Rack sale and this price is even better than the steal that I found (and FYI, the jeans look and feel fantastic).


And on that note, my folks are calling my name for pie and to light the Menorah (in my wonderful multi-cultural home we are loving our Thankschristmukkah celebration while we are together) and dig into some pumpkin pie now that I've started to digest the T-day feast. Good luck shopping tomorrow, be sure to share any deals you find in the comments below!


UPDATES AS PROMISED:
A few more sales I've come across through the day:

Jack Spade: Up to 75% Off - These guys make some of the best outerwear and bags in the game.
Club Monaco: Extra 30% Off Sale Items + Free Shipping (code THANKS30) - Tons of good finds here, but I've especially had my eye on their sweaters.
Esquire: $5 Subscription Special - Always some good reading material.
Gap: 50% Off Sitewide (code BLKFRIDAY) - Again, lots to choose from, but I usually go for their slim Chinos.
J.Crew: 30% Off Sitewide (code HOLIDAY) - Can't go wrong with the Crew.
J.Crew Factory: 50% Off Sitewide (prices as marked) - if J.Crew itself is a bit rich for your blood.
Original Penguin: 40% Off + Free Shipping (code OPTHANKS40) - OP can be a little hit or miss, style-wise, but when they are on, boy are they on.
Florsheim: 20% Off Sitewide - Some solid shoes, I'm a big fan of their wingtip brogues, and the Gaffney boots look like they'd look great with some dark jeans and a blazer.
Pact: 30% Off Sitewide, up to 60% Off Sale Items, + Free Shipping (prices as marked) -  I love these socks, and my girlfriend does too. I'll definitely be gifting a few pairs of these this year.

WIWT - 7/4/2013 - HAPPY AMERICA!

I've mentioned how excited I get about dressing for holidays before, and I'll say it again now. These special occasions are where my sartorial nerd really lets loose, and I've been planning my 4th of July ensemble for days.

First off, of course I have to wear red white and blue. It would just be unpatriotic to do otherwise (I'm just kidding, kind of, but it was a good place to start). When I wrote about my St. Patrick's Day outfit, I stressed the importance of being festive without looking clownish. Once again, your safest bet is to make sure you aren't wearing something you would be embarrassed to wear any other day of the year (weather aside).

My strategy was to keep most of my get-up classic and simple, and to add the festive touches in the accessories, and I stuck with the everlasting classic prep combo of khaki chinos, white shirt, and navy blazer.

Here are those festive touches I was talking about. I actually bought these shoes way back in high school, wore them once and shoved them in closet in favor of skate shoes as I grew out of my indoor soccer era. Let this serve as a great reminder to shop your own closet every so often. Since I've reinstated these bad boys back into my footwear rotation they've become one of my favorite pairs of casual shoes, and were pretty damn perfect for the holiday.

 

I paired them with a similar blue and red tie, which was actually a big hit around Christmas as well. That's one of the things I love about knit ties; they are ridiculously versatile. This one looked just as good under a chunky shawl-neck sweater as it does here with a cotton blazer and lightweight white shirt.

Other small notes: Kept it 'sockless' as it's finally warm again here in Chicago (the weather this summer has been bizarre, it was only 60 degrees on Tuesday). Also, I was hoping to be able to incorporate a belt with a bit more color and pizzazz, but once again, time constraints kept me to my current wardrobe. I actually really like this belt, which is a recent purchase from Levi's. Levi's are always a go-to for jeans, but they make some great accessories too and have awesome sales on the reg.

Happy America everyone!

The Details:
Cotton/Linen Blazer by Uniqlo
Silk Knit Tie by The Tie Bar
Linen Pocket Square via eBay
Custom MTM Shirt by Modern Tailor
Belt by Levis
Chinos by J. Crew Factory
Shoes by Adidas
Watch by FormFunctionForm

Fashion Faux Pas - Belt and Shoes

Welcome to the second edition of Fashion Faux Pas, the on-going series on shit you shouldn’t wear (I’ll be the first to admit, this is mostly based on experience). Todays topic: picking your belt and shoes.

Brown shoes = brown belt. Black shoes = black belt. This may seem boring and conservative, but in my opinion it is one of those rules that should rarely be broken. First off, it is a widely known rule, and one that others will notice quickly. I’ve actually seen this on models on some online stores and it drives me crazy (I think I actually was a big enough asshole to e-mail a company and tell them their model looked like an ass). Second, I just think it is really hard to look good with mismatched belt and shoes. The colors don’t have to match exactly, but your leathers really ground your outfit, and if they seem disjointed the rest of your clothing will too.

Fortunately, todays slightly bolder fashion world does allow some room to branch out from the standards. For example, as colorful D-ring belts are becoming more acceptable with formal or business-casual clothing, belts have become a great way to put some pop into your clothes. I actually have this belt from Levi’s on the way and am really excited about the options that it will open up.

Bottom line though, when you’re wearing standards like black and brown leather, stick to tradition and make sure those suckers match.