Monday, March 28, 2011
A Day in Chicago
Beforemy German friend returns to her country, I decided we needed to make a trip to Chicago. Simply put, it was a huge success. After arriving, we killed some pre-lunch time at Barney's New York, then headed over to Tavern On Rush for a great brunch. We then took a stroll down Oak St., stopping at the Jack Spade Store. I didn't realize Jack Spade even made clothing, but the store was as fresh as possible, and I'm so glad I took a peek. Even though I didn't buy anything, I know I will be back. After our little Jack Spade renegade, Carolin and I headed over to J.Crew where, even though I couldn't convince her to buy an American flag sweater, found a nice grey sweater to buy. The best part of the day came, though, when we decided to hop on down to my favorite store, Haberdash. Located on State St., Haberdashoffers a great selection of goods from brands such as: Gant, Gitman Bros, Rag & Bone, not to mention an exceptional selection of boots/shoes, and masculine grooming supplies. That straight blade razor may have looked scary, but manly as hell. The staff is really what makes Haberdash a better experience, though. I met great guys that were far more than simply willing to assist me in finding clothes that not only looked cool, but fit well too! Unfortunately, I wasn't carrying any cash, but I did scribble down the information to a shirt I really like (Haberdash, you'll be getting a call within the week). I honestly can't stress just how cool these salesmen were. Laid back guys, all knowing their line of work, all knowing that their line of work isn't life, and all knowing how to have a good time. After a long day of running Chicago, Carolin and I decided to stop into a Starbuck's for a quick, very strong drink before heading to the last stop of the evening. Volare, across the street, down the stairs, and down one block from Nordstrom's main entrance, is an amazing Italian restaurant. Featuring too many pasta and sauce combinations to count, including home-made pasta noodles, the pasta is an excellent choice (If you can narrow down your options; I recommend a Farfalle Noodle with the Salmonata Sauce). The mood is great, however, if claustrophobic, the outside seating may be the wiser choice. Loud and crammed is the way Volare runs, and it just works. Everything about the restaurant is great, right down the silver-ware. Similar to Haberdash, (if it's possible to draw the parallel) the Volare serve-staff is amazing, and if you're having difficulty with the endless options the menu possesses, they'll be more than happy to give you a hand finding the perfect meal.
All great days come to an end, but yesterday wasn't great for everyone, Ex. the asian woman throwing up in the trashcan next to the exit of the parking garage. All I know is that I will never forget the day I had Sunday, March 20, 2011, and I hope Carolin will not forget it either, but I doubt she would be able to.
All great days come to an end, but yesterday wasn't great for everyone, Ex. the asian woman throwing up in the trashcan next to the exit of the parking garage. All I know is that I will never forget the day I had Sunday, March 20, 2011, and I hope Carolin will not forget it either, but I doubt she would be able to.
Drawing the Line on Personal Style
Prior to engaging in this post, I want to say that I more things wrong than I do right when it comes to dressing myself. I have a closed mind, and gather nearly all of my ideas from other sites, however, I do believe I have a few good words of advice on the question of one's personal style.
As my friends and I grow up, we each adapt to our own style, but watching others adapt can be difficult sometimes. For instance, I have a friend that was always comfortable wearing tee shirts, but now is attempting to pull off the collar-cardigan look. I give the gentleman respect for attempting, but more often than not the look feels forced. At times I think, "I hope I don't look like that when I dress up." I believe this forced look may be because the "tee to tux" feel is present. Also, one must develop personal style on personal interest, as opposed to what a magazine tells you, and the looks often appear stolen from a magazine, but only the pieces, while the color palette used appears to have been ignored. I think time will take my friend towards his own personal style, but as a recommendation, I suggest to find your clothing style, and lifestyle as a whole, gradually, instead of jumping into the world of lengths, colors, cuts, etc.
My most recent style failure: Yesterday
I wore a denim shirt and dark brown cords with a crew neck sweater, and attempted to leave the leave the one side of the shirt untucked, and therefore showing from out of the bottom of my sweater. After receiving many comments, not compliments, however, I finally decided to give up and tuck the damn thing in.
Nobody is perfect, try, try well, but if you fail, tackle the feat another day. Just a thought today for you.
As my friends and I grow up, we each adapt to our own style, but watching others adapt can be difficult sometimes. For instance, I have a friend that was always comfortable wearing tee shirts, but now is attempting to pull off the collar-cardigan look. I give the gentleman respect for attempting, but more often than not the look feels forced. At times I think, "I hope I don't look like that when I dress up." I believe this forced look may be because the "tee to tux" feel is present. Also, one must develop personal style on personal interest, as opposed to what a magazine tells you, and the looks often appear stolen from a magazine, but only the pieces, while the color palette used appears to have been ignored. I think time will take my friend towards his own personal style, but as a recommendation, I suggest to find your clothing style, and lifestyle as a whole, gradually, instead of jumping into the world of lengths, colors, cuts, etc.
My most recent style failure: Yesterday
I wore a denim shirt and dark brown cords with a crew neck sweater, and attempted to leave the leave the one side of the shirt untucked, and therefore showing from out of the bottom of my sweater. After receiving many comments, not compliments, however, I finally decided to give up and tuck the damn thing in.
Nobody is perfect, try, try well, but if you fail, tackle the feat another day. Just a thought today for you.
Optional Necessities: Bowers & Wilkins P-5 Mobile Hi-Fi Headphones
Last post I decided decided to give you some great music, this post it's time to finally listen to the songs. The B&W P-5's are a pair of headphones that I personally use, nearly every time I listen to music. They're of wonderful quality, made from leather and metal, with little to none plastic used in their production. They also look fantastic, and do not look overbearing on one's head, utilizing a sleek and retro design. Aside from build quality and aesthetics though, the P-5's sound quality is remarkable. Those Dr. Dre Studio Beats may have enough bass to make your teeth chatter, but the P-5's bass is much punchier and responsive, and is an improved listening experience altogether. While the P-5's are perfect for listening to any music, I constantly catch myself straying from rap towards gritty, natural rock and jazz, because these genres step away from the auto-tune so often seen in pop/rap, and utilize the P-5's to the maximum in terms of separation and dynamics. The P-5's have no active noise canceling system, but I could be fooled because my shoulder is constantly tapped when listening to these.
The B&W P-5's retail for a worthy $300, you won't regret this purchase.
The B&W P-5's retail for a worthy $300, you won't regret this purchase.
A Deeper Appreciation of Deeper Music
While my last post is great for going out and acting as the Jersey Shore cast, everyone needs a classy alternative. I've selected 5 great albums to extend your musical knowledge and appreciation. Please keep in mind that this music is not selected by popularity, but the effort put in and the quality turned out by each album.
1. Isla --- Portico Quartet
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The Portico Quartet invites discovery throughout their albums. The songs are deep and generally dark, and always captivating, capturing one's attention. "Clipper" is my personal favorite track on this album.
2. Fleet Foxes --- Fleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes may be a trend, but it's a damn good one. I can't get enough of Blue Ridge Mountains, a beautifully crafted song which reminds me of hiking or such. Many compare Fleet Foxes to the Beach Boys, but considering I dislike the Beach Boys, I fail to see the bulk of the argument. I see the similarities in vocal resonation, and the multiple voices, but other than that, it's a new disc, by a new group. No beach here.
3. Wake Up --- John Legend & The Roots
A fantastic step back to the African-American culture. An album built by true inspiration, and wonderful musicians. John Legend's performance in this album was especially impressive because with the release of Evolver, Legend began looking like a play-boy, but this album redeems him. Singing of hardship, rather than sex.
4. Love Letter --- R. Kelly
You might think this is a typo, but it isn't. R. Kelly showed the world he is the king of sappy-smooth romance with this album. R. Kelly is truly maturing because he is stepping away from his typical dirty and highly sexual lyrics. While still about romance, R. Kelly takes the gentleman approach this round, and it is a success. Plus, with Valentine's Day rapidly approaching, I'm sure your girlfriend wouldn't mind hearing this a time or two.
5. Brothers --- The Black Keys
The Black Keys are becoming pretty popular these days, but for good reason. Their most recent album is a masterpiece, combining dark, grungy elements with happy, inspiring ones to create the best of both worlds.
1. Isla --- Portico Quartet
The Portico Quartet invites discovery throughout their albums. The songs are deep and generally dark, and always captivating, capturing one's attention. "Clipper" is my personal favorite track on this album.
2. Fleet Foxes --- Fleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes may be a trend, but it's a damn good one. I can't get enough of Blue Ridge Mountains, a beautifully crafted song which reminds me of hiking or such. Many compare Fleet Foxes to the Beach Boys, but considering I dislike the Beach Boys, I fail to see the bulk of the argument. I see the similarities in vocal resonation, and the multiple voices, but other than that, it's a new disc, by a new group. No beach here.
3. Wake Up --- John Legend & The Roots
A fantastic step back to the African-American culture. An album built by true inspiration, and wonderful musicians. John Legend's performance in this album was especially impressive because with the release of Evolver, Legend began looking like a play-boy, but this album redeems him. Singing of hardship, rather than sex.
4. Love Letter --- R. Kelly
You might think this is a typo, but it isn't. R. Kelly showed the world he is the king of sappy-smooth romance with this album. R. Kelly is truly maturing because he is stepping away from his typical dirty and highly sexual lyrics. While still about romance, R. Kelly takes the gentleman approach this round, and it is a success. Plus, with Valentine's Day rapidly approaching, I'm sure your girlfriend wouldn't mind hearing this a time or two.
5. Brothers --- The Black Keys
The Black Keys are becoming pretty popular these days, but for good reason. Their most recent album is a masterpiece, combining dark, grungy elements with happy, inspiring ones to create the best of both worlds.
Up until this summer, jeans were jeans to me. However, as my knowledge of brands increased, so did my realization of the denim craze. Searching deeper into the subject, I began to find jeans exceeding $400 a pair, which totally shocked me. I did begin to find myself interested in the subject though. In another month's time, while in White Star Men's Boutique in Milwaukee Wisconsin, I purchased a pair of Commonwealth jeans. (Luxury For the People and Commonwealth is a relatively underground brand, and I can't seem to find it anywhere, so message me if you know of a source!) I instantly fell in love with these jeans. When I decided I needed to replace two or three pairs of my stock, I chose a variety of options from brands such as: AG Adriano Goldschmied, Levi's, and Monarchy. At this point, I came to understand the similarities and differences between typical and premium denim.
Typical Denim Disadvantages:
- Only available in average sizes such as 32/32
- Generally stiff and unwilling to stretch
- Price
- Availability
- Price
- Availability
- Denim typically made with a longer inseam for tailoring, ex. 32/34
- Quality and durability
- Generally Hand-Crafted
- Many brands bring it back home in the good ol' U.S. of A.
All-in-all, denim is still just denim, however, it is smart to weigh out the costs/benefits of the two, considering finances and size, as well as taste which incorporates specifics.
The Best Really Do Prevail
As I grew out of my grade school style, I left behind Abercrombie and Fitch. Honestly, I have done my best to make sure I'm not wearing a moose at any time. Despite my unreasonable dislike for A&F, I have found an item I have grown to find irresistible.
They are known as the "Roaring Brook" undershirts, but I rarely use them for their purpose. For $19.95 a piece, they may be a tad pricey to stock, but it's great to have a few ready to wear. A&F's products have one, undeniable, common attribute: quality. The cotton used to make these shirts is thick, sturdy, and insanely comfortable. They also maintain their soft characteristic even after washing several times.
I am 6'1", 160 pounds; a pretty slim guy. These shirts have a high armpit, snug chest, and snug sleeves to help define your upper body. They're slim cut through the body, and long, but not too long. A perfect combination for my slender body type.
The "Roaring Brook" shirts come in both V and crew neck, each in the same, versatile three colors: White, Light Grey, and Dark Grey. Picture above from left to right is a V-Neck in White, and then a Crew Neck in Dark Grey. These are the exact shirts I picked up two days ago. The shirts availability in neutral colors exclusively is both a blessing and a curse. As a blessing, the neutrality of this shirt makes it nearly impossible to mismatch, however, as a curse, I would love to wear this shirt in about 10,000 different shades, and the lack of this option is a disappointment. None-the-less, the "Roaring Brook" undershirts are versatile, sturdy, comfortable, and better than most of my more expensive T-shirts. If you have the spare $19.95, this shirt is a necessity.
They are known as the "Roaring Brook" undershirts, but I rarely use them for their purpose. For $19.95 a piece, they may be a tad pricey to stock, but it's great to have a few ready to wear. A&F's products have one, undeniable, common attribute: quality. The cotton used to make these shirts is thick, sturdy, and insanely comfortable. They also maintain their soft characteristic even after washing several times.
I am 6'1", 160 pounds; a pretty slim guy. These shirts have a high armpit, snug chest, and snug sleeves to help define your upper body. They're slim cut through the body, and long, but not too long. A perfect combination for my slender body type.
The "Roaring Brook" shirts come in both V and crew neck, each in the same, versatile three colors: White, Light Grey, and Dark Grey. Picture above from left to right is a V-Neck in White, and then a Crew Neck in Dark Grey. These are the exact shirts I picked up two days ago. The shirts availability in neutral colors exclusively is both a blessing and a curse. As a blessing, the neutrality of this shirt makes it nearly impossible to mismatch, however, as a curse, I would love to wear this shirt in about 10,000 different shades, and the lack of this option is a disappointment. None-the-less, the "Roaring Brook" undershirts are versatile, sturdy, comfortable, and better than most of my more expensive T-shirts. If you have the spare $19.95, this shirt is a necessity.
Military Jacket
J Crew Cadet Jacket
Have you ever found a great piece of vintage clothing? Have you ever literally found it in your own closet? Yesterday, while hanging up pants, I found my uncle's Green Beret Combat Jacket. Complete with "AIRBORNE" patch and the embroidered "ERICKSON" name tag, this jacket is authentic. The uncle that wore this jacket is roughly 6' 3". Oddly enough, the sleeves are much too short for me, even though I lack two inches on him. My quick fix for this issue was a sloppy double-cuff of the sleeves. Furthermore, it eerily resembles my J. Crew Cadet Jacket, which shouldn't be a surprise, considering it was inspired by a vintage military jacket. Unfortunately, the temperature here in Indiana has been nearly one hundred degrees Fahrenheit for the past week, disallowing me to experiment with the jacket. As soon as it cools off, though, I will definitely be wearing this one out.
Authentic Military Jacket
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