Celebrity Saturday: Paul Newman

If there ever was a list of men that represented the epitome of the Renaissance Man moniker, Paul Newman would definitely be near the top of the list. Being an award winning actor and director, championship race car driver, and highly successful entrepreneur doesn't exactly happen to the average man; none of the previously mentioned celebrities on this block even come close to those creds. To add to the level of awesome in one man, Newman also rocks a classically sporty style that developed alongside and helped to inspire the works of Steve McQueen through the years; some men can be attributed to a single designer collection, but not many can be singled out as the inspiration for an entire brand. We may not all have his looks, but take the cue to wear classic pieces with some rebel twists that Newman was known for.

Check in tomorrow for a recap of the week's topics and next Saturday for another stylish celebrity influence!

Friday Faux Pas: Mismatched Leather

There’s an old adage that you can tell a lot about a man by the shoes on his feet, and it is very true, but that’s only the first chapter. The first 50 pages can’t be amazing just to have the final 300 be a complete let down, and those other 300 pages happen to be the rest of the man and his outfit.
Never...ever!
But if there were any of those other 300 pages to get right, the belt complementing the shoes is by far the biggest one. There was a study done about what things register as sexy and not with women and one of the highest on the list of not’s was a mismatched belt and shoe combo. Black shoes require a black belt; there is no wiggle room in this department seeing as it is such a common leather color. With brown shoes, however, the best thing to do is to best match the shades so that they are at least similar. No one expects a guy to have a belt for every pair of shoes, but they do expect him to put the concerted effort to match.
This is the proper shoe to belt etiquette.

Check in tomorrow for a stylish celebrity influence and next Friday for another installment of my fashion faux pas!

Threads for Thought: Backpacks

There is always a need for the formal briefcase, even with designers breaking the mold with bright and bold versions. But its about time there is a change of character to everyday character, and that doesn't mean just having a shoulder strap and calling it a messenger bag. No, its time for a game change.
Similar to the bold briefcase move, designers are looking to utilize their luxe talents on backpacks to really make a splash. This move is going to be huge this fall/winter as no one wants to be caught holding any bag without gloves, so eliminate the risk entirely with two straps on your back. It is important to consider the lifestyle that it will be used in. Leather will be more formal and cotton or wool will be more casual, and the shape of the pack will need to accommodate what will be going in it. All these factors fuel the decision, but at the end of the day, buy what feels right and something that is really going to get a lot of use.
Louis Vuitton: $2440
Gucci: $850
Herschel: $55
Check in tomorrow for this week's edition of Friday Faux Pas and next Thursday for another piece that deserves your consideration!