Showing posts with label summer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label summer. Show all posts

Friday, July 8, 2011

Dear Shopping Savage...



Dear Shopping Savage,

I want a pair of suede bucks for the summer but how can I wear them casually? I've only seen them worn with seersucker suits in the summer or something along those lines. Can they be worn with jeans? With shorts? Any other season besides summer?

Signed,

Gettin Buck

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Dear G.B.,

Bucks (short for "Buckskin") are one of the few men's shoe anomalies that straddle the fine line of "dressy casual" which, simply put, means that they can either be dressed up or down. Going in either direction is much less complicated than you think. To start, you must first decide which color will best suit your wardrobe. No longer are men relegated to the white, sand or tan color with brick colored soles (although one can never go wrong with a classic that's so right).

Once you've chosen a color (or two), its time to sit back and let the shoes do the rest of the work. As seen here, your Bucks don't have to match your outfit to be worn appropriately. In fact, with all the color options now available, you can have a veritable footwear field day mixing and/or matching this style shoe with your summer wardrobe.

A key element to pulling off the casual side of Bucks is to wear them sans socks and with a casual outfit, like shorts and a t-shirt. It's that simple. The shoes will elevate most any casual outfit's overall curb appeal and score you cool points with friends and fans of the shoe alike.

As far as wearing them in a season besides summer, don't be afraid to get your monies worth by stretching your Bucks wearability through to the Fall. With jeans, a woven shirt and a casual blazer, you'll look perfectly polished - albeit a tad preppy - for the weekend or a casual Friday at work without appearing overdressed or as if you're trying too hard to look relaxed. But even with these sartorial tips on how to treat and protect suede, opt for alternative footwear when your neck of the woods gets fall damp or winter wet with snow.

Many more guys should think to add a pair (or two) of these classic shoes into their footwear rotation. Bucks have proven that their popularity may ebb and flow, but with the new colors and styles, there's a pair out there for just about every guy, they just have to be open-minded enough to try them. As with anything, applying your personal style to something brings about a new interpretation, quite possibly inspiring someone else to try (on) something new. Long story short, there's more than one way to wear a Buck.

Need sartorial advice? Email me: Dwaun@shoppingsavage.com

Friday, June 17, 2011

Dear Shopping Savage...



Dear Shopping Savage,

My husband has a job interview coming up. It is the middle of summer and super hot outside. He is a business professional. What do you recommend men wear on a professional job interview during the summer? Is it appropriate to just wear a shirt, tie, and pants? Or, should he wear a jacket too? Are separates okay? Or, should he wear a suit? Help!

Signed,

Suited for Summer

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Dear S.F.S.,

The summer heat shouldn't deter your husband from wearing a suit on his interview, just a suit made of wool - cashmere, tweed, flannel, etc., polyester or any other synthetic material. And this is true for all professional men. Suits made from the aforementioned materials should be put away for warmer weather and lighter weight suiting should be worn to manage looking cool in a suit during the sultry summer months.

One of these suits would work well for any interview he has, in their respective order. For example, he may want to start out by looking at navy suits made of cotton for the best breathability and versatility as far as interviewing is concerned. If you happen to come across a cotton/linen blend, be sure that the cotton percentage outweighs the linen so that it won't wrinkle as easy.

The next viable option, the khaki suit, is a little on the unconventional side for interviewing, but paired with the right accessories and his individuality could be what separates him from the pack - and in a good way. The first inclination may be to incorporate black shoes, briefcase and tie, but a great pair of chocolate brown oxfords, coordinating bag and belt would really compliment this suit well.

Only if he knew he were a shoe-in for the job would it be recommended to wear something deemed as casual as a seersucker suit. Once he has the job he can feel confident in wearing this to work - preferably with a pair of suede bucks - but not for an interview. Not even for any follow up interviews.

Separates (such as a navy blazer with khakis) work for entry level positions or again, as an option for work once he has the job, but may not send the strongest cohesive message to his potential future employers.

If he doesn't have any of the aforementioned suits at his disposal - nor the disposable income to invest in one of quality - then his darkest suit, i.e. black, would be his next, albeit, last option. Just note that if 5-minutes early is considered on time, he may want to show up 10-minutes early just to find a bathroom and have a chance to cool down/give himself a once over. Its true what they say: in business, never let 'em see you sweat.

Need sartorial advice? Email me: Dwaun@shoppingsavage.com

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

2011 Summer Fashion Camp

"In an era of belt-tightening, what could be better than making the belt yourself?" That's just one of the questions Louise Hudson will pose to many budding fashionistas this summer at camp. Fashion camp that is.


A clothing designer for over 30 years (in England and Canada), Hudson will run two camps this summer. The first, for rising 7th, 8th and 9th graders is June 6 - 10 and the second, for rising 10th, 11th and 12th graders is June 12-17. The camps aim to teach the campers to make a total outfit - skirt, top, belt, bag, hair accessories and decorated flip-flops.


"My new Fashion Camp is intended to teach sewing skills to middle school and high school students," Hudson said. "At the end of the week, they will have dressed themselves from head to toe all by hand, learning the basics for a lifelong love of design and fashion." Campers will also learn the basics of what to wear for particular occasions; how to recycle, reuse, and renovate older garments; stylish hand sewing and crafts; artful accessorizing; and modeling instruction for the final day fashion show.


Hudson in an original creation

Hudson has already been busy recruiting local fashion entities to come speak to the campers. Becky Blair from Inspiralled Jewelry, the manager of Pink Sorbet, and fashion photographer, Jason Ayer are just some of the visiting professionals who will give presentations during the camp. Retail professors will also participate, giving kids an idea of how to get the right qualifications for various careers in the fashion and retail industry.


"I'm organizing the whole endeavor, right from website design, marketing, employing camp counselors, developing the application forms, sourcing all the sewing supplies, to the fun part: designing the activities during camp week!" said Hudson.


Students from Paul Mitchell and the Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology are coming to do the hair and make-up for all the campers for their final day fashion show when they will model the items they have made for parents and friends.


"This is just a start," said Hudson. "I'm reaching out to as many fashion, beauty and retail professionals in the area as possible to contribute to this fashion-forward venture."

For students registered by April 30, the cost of attendance is $450; registration after April 30 is $495. This year’s Fashion Camp is commuter only with activities each day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Carolina Coliseum.


For more information about Fashion Camp, contact Hudson at 803-708-2772 or by e-mail at fashioncamp@hrsm.sc.edu

Friday, April 1, 2011

Dear Shopping Savage...




Dear Shopping Savage,

Summer is approaching and I'm trying to get ready wardrobe wise. I want to wear shorts but I have to ask, how short is too short a short for a man?

Signed,

Do Men Wear Short Shorts?


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Dear D.M.W.S.S.,

Without knowing your definition of "short shorts" the generic answer to your question is that a man has every right to wear a short as short as he'd like as long as he has the legs for it and they are age appropriate. In many cases, leg length and height are contributing factors in determining how short a short you should feasibly go.

Yet despite your physical makeup, your 20's are a time when you can explore any of the foregoing inseams, but also, the last time a guy should confidently wear any shorts with an inseam 7" or less. Your 30's are for 9" inseams and your 40's+ are looking at an 11" inseam.

It's debatable whether to call anything beyond an 11" inseam a "short". Many young guy's idea of shorts of late can easily - and honestly - be confused with either a gaucho or a wide-leg trouser with a short break. Its hard to imagine that anyone wearing them would reap any of the benefits that a true short provides. Hemlines that hover around an ankle sock line doesn't seem like it would keep you that cool. Plain and simple, there's nothing short about them.

So again, plan to wear short shorts this summer if its age appropriate - and if you fill fit enough to fit them into your wardrobe. And just remember that if no one else understands your affinity for "short shorts" you can always crank up the Royal Teens for solace. As the few lyrics go:

Who wears short shorts?
We wear short shorts.
They're such short shorts!
We like short shorts!
Who wears short shorts?
We wear short shorts!



Need sartorial advice? Email me: Dwaun@shoppingsavage.com