Monday Outlook: Suede

Construction and fabric are two key elements when it starts to warm up this time of year, where it's less survival by layers and more survival by simplicity. But even with it warming up, it's still not quite summer yet, so the occasional cold spell can slip through and throw your whole wardrobe for a loop.
One of the hottest items this spring spring is leather, and to be more specific, suede. Now suede is just the back side of the normal full grain leather that is probably on every other pair of shoes you already own, but it possesses a rough texture or nap that gives it much more depth than its counterpart. Similar to the way corduroy makes colors pop while subduing their harshness in the winter, suede does in the spring and summer. Not that it is much lighter than regular leather, it is a much lighter and more readily available option as less damage is done to the suede side of a hide.
Two main pieces that you should be looking for right now are some suede shoes and a suede jacket of some sort. Now the jacket is the tough part, as it has to be light enough to not be unbearable when worn, but a high-quality, lightweight piece will be hard to come by for an economical price; weigh the options between long-term investment and short-term trend piece, although suede isn't going anywhere so I tend towards the former. This jacket can be anything from a simple shirt jacket to a zippered out moto jacket, which ties back to how much you're willing to spend, so the higher the dollar, the more classic the jacket. When it comes to suede shoes, brown tassel loafers or white bucks, but if you already own them, then blue suede trainers would be a nice complement.
Check in tomorrow for some exciting new tech and next Monday for further fashion trend insight for the coming months!

Wardrobe Essentials: The Tech Jacket

As the weather warms and old man winter goes back where he came from, the blustery snow will turn to spring showers and usher in a great summer. But surviving the rain always calls upon some special gear to keep you and your wardrobe (mostly) dry.
The biggest key in keeping those raindrops at bay is the tech jacket, or an otherwise sporty looking raincoat. Unlike the stuffy trench or walking coat styles that we see during the fall and winter, the tech jacket will be composed of a lighter weight, and waterproof material, like nylon, lending to its sporty nature and aiding in its capability to keeping the elements out. It also differs in that it is highly functional, having an assortment of places to stow the everyday carry or even niftily hiding the hood within the collar when its not in use.
A piece like this, with roots in technical uses from hiking to actual labor, its best to save it for less formal occasions. For instance, at a classy date or for a big board meeting, the tech jacket should stay at home while the aforementioned walking coat makes an appearance; outside of anything similar to those events is open for some fun! When not wearing a suit or sport coat, like the tech jacket act like that top layer and pair it with a tie and some dress slacks for some serious juxtaposition. And don't be afraid to be adventurous with color on this because its better to be bold when conditions warrant such an item.
K. Way: $145
The North Face: $134
Nike: $65
Check in tomorrow for a fashion piece that deserves your consideration and next Wednesday for another installment of Wardrobe Essentials!

Tech Tuesday: The Note Desk

With these Tech Tuesdays, the latest and greatest in digital or even the most intriguing horological advances and innovations only seem to make the cut. It's nice to see an old way of doing things being reinterpreted in a refreshing and evolutionary way. Taking notes has always been best done in a tactile manner with pen and highlighter or sketching with pencil and an eraser, but all require some level of book or pad of paper to jot these things down. The new Analog Memory Desk, as its being dubbed by Kirsten Camara, can't create searchable notes or archive designs in a desktop folder, but using a scroll-like mechanism, you can save all your scribbles on your desk and save them for later. The best part of all, the design is up for those to take on as a DIY project, the only cost is materials and a little elbow grease; the more to appreciate after its all done!
Check in tomorrow for a style piece that needs to be in your closet and next Tuesday for more exciting tech!