A Strategy for Cyber Monday

And so has begun the holiday season after everyone stuffed their face with turkey and imbibed copious amounts of alcohol. Now despite the emphasis of this Thanksgiving weekend being on electronics sales, there are many more sales going on for apparel and accessories for men, but as with any thing Internet, there is way to much to sift through.
There are some amazing deals to be had, and Cyber Monday is the day to take care of any personal fashion and gifting needs. This is where the email notifications that spam your mailbox actually come in hand. Start with your inbox, find the brands that you know and trust and, most importantly, know your size with; this will make for the best possible fit and help to mitigate any possible returns that plague online shopping.

After the inbox, go through this progression to ensure you get the best deal:

  1. Department Stores: Will have a broad range of brands and great discounts
  2. Wholesalers: Usually already reduced and will have a nice discount kicker
  3. Mid-Priced Brands: A solid sale and clearance section and possible full-priced discounts
  4. Budget Brands: Trying to clear house for new merchandise, capitalize on basics
  5. Luxury Brands: Unlikely to have any sales or have "Thanksgiving Sales" that have already been picked over, but its worth a shot
One last thing to consider are shipping and return policies. Free shipping is obviously ideal, but shouldn't be a deal breaker, especially considering the deals you could be getting. With returns, most companies will credit back the value of the merchandise (not the shipping charge), but if an item is final sale, make absolutely sure it either fits or that you can at least gift off.

Also, check out the GQ Cyber Monday Guide, which as usual is thorough and extensive!

Tech Tuesday: Next Level Luggage

For some traveling is a breeze, and for the other 9 out of 10 people, its a complete nightmare having to carry bags, go through security, and rush to the plane. Many companies have taken measures to ease the stress for the average traveler, but few have worried about the baggage that is being carried around. Trunkster, a new company in the middle of crowd source funding, has taken a new approach to luggage that will make commuting that much easier. The zipperless design along with a few key design features such as its built in scale and all important USB port charging station that will alleviate an otherwise unpleasant experience. Happy travels!
Check in tomorrow for a style piece that needs to be in your closet and next Tuesday for another exciting piece of tech!

Monday Outlook: Burgundy and Blue

Color combinations are a dime a dozen when the weather allows for more than one or two layers. One of the more popular movements going around are monochromatic styles that harness the power of one color in multiple shades, but that doesn't mean color combos are out.
Another popular trend this season happens to be burgundy, and combining this color with another classic hue, navy, will make for a stunning duo. One quick look at a color wheel will reveal that blue and red are complementary colors, which means greater contrast and more depth for any cold-weather outfit.
Burgundy and navy present an easy combination because they are both classic tones that will last in any closet, they are subdued in nature as to not draw too much attention, and chances are both are probably already in your wardrobe. When sticking to just the two colors, its best to have one predominate the outfit with the other being used to highlight; accessories and lighter layers are essential for this. The other option is choosing to layer in lighter neutral tones to add some further depth, breaking up the darkness and creating a chic high-low effect.
Check in tomorrow for some exciting new tech and next Monday for further fashion trend insight for the coming months!