Xmas ideas for her

Hello hello blog followers. Hope you all had a good thanksgiving and hopefully got some good deals on black Friday. And with that it signals the shopping season. That means guys, pay attention. You wife, gf, soon to be gf or anyone else is going to want something great. Don’t be the asshole who shows up with a box of chocolates or a gift certificate. Take a little time to see what they like, what and who they wear, and what you can afford to spend. Nothing wrong with knowing a bit a about ladies fashion especially in this Christmas season.

First off if figuring this out is really just out of your league and you have a bit of extra cash, hire a stylist. Go to any big retailer, my favorite personally being Nordstrom’s and you can hire your own stylist to buy your special someone the perfect gifts, and you can take the credit. Definitely worth it if you have little time or little fashion sense.

            Now pay attention men, there’s a few things for ladies that are in this season. Polka dots, big chunky sweaters, and obviously boots. Most likely your lover will enjoy something from these categories if they try and stay in fashion, and you don’t have to break your wallet doing so. And remember when I said pay attention? You’ll need sizes, shoe sizes and obviously know what colors they enjoy.  Free People’s Striped boucle cardigan($128) or chunky cable sweater($108), Equipment’s adele polka dot blouse($238), Steve Madden’s tarney boot($145).

 
 

            Now maybe an even easier route for you guys, accessories. This is anything from scarves, to watches to wallets. No girl will complain getting them and jewelry is always a sure fire pleaser. Halogen at nordstorm’s makes a multitude of scarves from houndstooth to polka dots ranging from 20 to 50 dollars. That is also important to know what their favorite colors are or what colors they don’t have. For jewelry this is also important. Do they enjoy earings or watches, gold, silver, rose gold? Here are a few options that are sure to be great in their eyes. Michael Kors Camille pave hinged bangle($145), Lois Hill cutout oval ring($168), Michael Kors madison crystal bezal ceramic watch($450).

 
 

            Remember to pay attention to what they like, don't like and want they have been hinting at you about for the last month and don’t cheap out! For the women you love and want to love nothing less then the best for Christmas guys! Stay tuned for my next post!

-- James Maze

Rain Wear

            What’s up fashion followers hope you’ve been having a good week and soon to be thanksgiving dinner. In spirit of this time, I’m going to help you out on dressing for the rain. Here in San Fran its starting to pick up and I’m sure it is in other places. I’ll be giving you a few pointers on how to keep yourself from becoming soaking wet and from looking like a walking water repellent trash bag.

          First off your not getting much of anywhere without an umbrella in the rain. And let’s face it, those crap 20 dollar umbrellas rip apart after a week so lets invest in something a bit stronger and better looking. This might be a bit pricey for an umbrella but you can never go wrong with Burberry, plus it doubles as a great cane. London check Umbrella($325). For something a bit less expensive but in my opinion a cool looking umbrella, ellaumbrella’s wind proof black original($75)

            Now for shoes of course you could go and buy some water proof palladium’s or sperry’s but not everyone wants to or can wear these bigger shoes. For keeping your leather or suede shoes in good condition in the rainy season get Nikwax’s waterproofing kit($25). It has a leather finish spray to keep them looking shiny and a coat for suede as well.

            Now for pants, well there’s really only so much you can do for the them. However a pair of stylish wax coated pants such as Diesel’s 'Shioner' Coated Slim Skinny Leg Jeans($260) that will wick away any water.

            But the most important thing you could be wearing is your jacket. There’s two ways you could go with this as well; The more technical waterproof jacket, or the stylish peacoat and trench coat. For the technical jacket some of my favorites are Helly Hansen’s Dublin parka($240) and the North Face harper triclimate jacket($500). Both have the waterproof rugged qualities without with the clunky looking style. Now for the more stylish route you cant have a trench or pea coat with saying Burberry. Burberry’s London Rainwear trench coat($1,295). Now for a more affordable route you can try the Andrew Marc Wooster water resistant down jacket($595), or Jack Spade’s bonded rain coat($595). Both perfect for over a business suit or keeping it casual.

            Remember jackets are going to cost you more because of the quality and material used to make them. It’s a worthy investment to pay more for something you will wear a lot. Also don’t forget your classic Burberry scarf if it’s a bit colder out with the rain and a pair of gloves. Now that all for rain wear stay tuned my trusty followers for my next post!

Everything about boots!

Hello trusty fashion followers today I’ll be showing you the in’s and outs of boots for this winter. Now I believe there to be a few main types of boots; Fashion boots, multipurpose boots, vintage boots and dress boots. Each give a different style for a different occasion, but all keep you warm in the winter time and in trend this season.

         Now with fashion boots there’s the chukka, the classic heal and lace up, the shoe boot and the moto boot. Each give you a different style and range in different prices. The chukka is a much more casual/formal shoe. You can wear them with cuffed khakis and it’s a perfect style. A favorite of mine is the Cole Haan Air Charles Chukka($228), but if your looking for something a bit more affordable try the Clarks originals desert boot($120). The classic boot is always a favorite and popular on trend right now. Perfect with a normal pair of jeans and tucked in or socks out. They can range very high in price and fairly low as well. A simple example is the Cole Haan Air Harrison laced up boot($200 sale!) Now for the shoe boot. A clever combination of the comfort of a shoe with the style and look of a boot. Cole Haan paired up with nike and added their sole into their shoes which is ingenious to be and is a great look. Cole Haan Lunar Grand chukka($278). Diesel also has one of my favorites with the Basket Butch($140). And lastly the moto boot. Great for well riding a motorcycle or looking like you do. Check out the Frye Harness 8r boot($238).

Cole Haan Air charles Chukka

Clarks original desert 

Frye harness 8r

Diesel basket butch 

Cole Haan air harrison

Cole Haan lunar Grand

         Now the multipurpose boots. Great if you live in a quite rainy area or are just going for a more rugged look. But keep in mind, don’t over do it. Nobody wants to see you looking like GI joe in army boots. Now some of my favorite are the Palladium Wool lined Pampa sport cuff($140), and Sperry’s Top-Sider Shipyard rigger boot($140). Both water proof and wool lined perfect for the winter time and to grasp this look.

Palladium

Sperry

         Vintage is just a cool category of shoes. It’s pricey but worth it for the old style look these companies give you. They either provide the classic wingtip or the leather is washed to look like a boot straight from the 1900’s giving you a vintage look going great with a suit or jeans. The more popular vintage looking boots are in my opinion Frye and To Boot. Here are some choices depending on what color you want and style your going for; Frye James boot($238), To Boot New York Kilburn boot($398), Allen Edmonds Dalton boot($375).

Frye

To Boot New York

Allen Edmonds

         Lastly the dress boot. The classic Italian no lace all leather boot. Perfect for the business man, date or work. Now these are usually a much higher end boot so ill show you the best and then the more affordable. First check out Dolce&Gabbana’s Cap toe Chelsea boot($825, Salvatore Ferragamo Arden Chelsea boot($660) and Santoni Shipley Chelsea boot($675). Now if your trying to keep it a bit lower in the price range look up the Calvin Klein Galen Chelsea boot($170).

Calvin Klein

Salvatore Ferragamo

Santoni

Dolce&Gabbana

         Make sure when your trying on your boots they don’t have to much room because its leather and it will stretch. That’s my shpeel on boots stay tuned for my next post!

Winter Leather

Alright I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend and is ready for their next style update. This winter season a hot item for men is leather and waxed or metallic items. Whether that be waxed jeans, bomber jackets or metallic jackets, it’s an easy way to get that rugged look and stay in with this winters dark colors.

First I’ll start out with a simple warm winter look. Jeremiahs slub Henley in red($88), Comune Bernard hooded parka($278), Topman Pattern beanie in grey and red($28), 7 For All Mankind Slimmy grey wax coated jeans($218), and finish it off with Vintage Shoe Companies Ian Boot($349). Add a dark colored scarf If you’d like and you completed this rugged warm winter look.

Now It’s pretty easy to throw a leather jacket into an outfit so I’ll just give you some of my favorite metallic and leather jackets this season. Obey has all been a great brand for jackets, they follow this trend with their red varsity legend jacket($125), and their downtown bomber jacket in black($125). Now obey is a bargain snag for these jacket but If your willing to pay a little bit here’s some other favorites of mine. BOSS’s black adillon leather jacket($595), perfect for the more moto chic look, and the Remy leather lite blazer($950) to add a bit of class to this rugged looking material. Don’t an important rule, no brown with black. Ever. And scarves aren’t just for girls men, if it’s cold, wrap a cool plaid or hounds tooth print scarf around you which will go great with these jackets.

Keep in check with my post tomorrow on great styles for boots in the winter!