Punked or True? Yes.

While at dinner with friends last night two beautiful girls approached our table and asked "where we punked or is it true?". My honest response was "yes, you were punked AND it's true". So let me back it up a bit, this would be the flash back in a movie if it were one, of what actually happened earlier in the evening.

While inspecting a less than respectable menu, I kept witnessing a parade of couples and groups of young people entering the restaurant and being seated for dinner. I love to see this, young people enjoying themselves in a civil manner, partaking in dining out as they were about to do.

What caught my attention good, bad or indifferent and to no one's surprise, was their choices in apparel. Let's be sure we understand, those young people I ended up speaking with were all pleasant, fun and willing to have their photograph taken as a contribution to this blog.

The girls, as it is the style de jeur, were wearing cute dresses with beautiful hair and appropriate make-up. The men on the other hand, although they looked clean and freshly showered looked like they might have chosen their next clean golf or boating outfit.

All cute, all very nice people but really?? REALLY? Come on guys!!! A bit of an effort please. I understand you may have preferred to be out at a bar holding a beer instead but follow a simple rule.

IF YOU WOULD WEAR IT GOLFING, BOATING OR AT A BBQ, DON'T WEAR IT OUT AT A RESTAURANT ON A SATURDAY NIGHT.

Look nobody made me the Fashion Police, but I made myself a Fashion Designer and a passionate one at that. Life is filled with do's and dont's, right and wrongs. How do I know I'm right? I just know because this is and has been a large part of my life. By the way, you know who also knew? You see the guy above on the left? When I approached their table, introduced myself and told them I wanted to blog about the way they were dressed, he immediately looked at his shorts and then looked up with that "busted" look that told me he understood.
Guys, do as you will, but respect your women when you go out with them and more importantly, respect yourself.

These guys were very nice and felt unprepared to be photographed, but they had come out this way, perhaps having just come from their backyard pool. In a bit of sympathy, I will say that they were there for what may have been a take out...but still.

As I was leaving this couple walked in and I thought, well there....there is hope. This guy still chose shorts for the Summer night it was, but he looks like he put some thought and care into it. True, not everyone can pull the look, but he did and he looked and felt great. Oh yeah, a couple of women at the bar asked me why I was photographing them as I explained they admitted to having noticed all the couples...and not all for the right reasons, but as it turned out, for the same reason I had noticed them.

I want to thank all the couples for being wonderfully cordial and participating in my passion and fun for the evening, for being good sports and for providing me with fodder for by blog.

Oh yeah back to the beginning, Punked or True? Yes.

PLACEBO ADVERTISING AND THE PILL YOU KEEP SWALLOWING

Believe me, I will get back to more positive matter...ehmmmm as soon as I get done slaying the next dragon.

Among my most peaceful moments are the mornings I linger on my porch reading the paper accompanied by a lovely cup of double espresso. So it is with  increased annoyance that I address this issue.

People have always loved numbing themselves to believe whatever it is they want to believe. Fine I say, I wasn't the anointed one to save the world. But people this is 2011, should you not be in charge of selectively numbing yourself?

Hickey Freeman's ad in the local paper has got me all worked up, I know, it doesn't take much, passion and honesty will do that to you.

They are suggesting that they are offering you, their most respected customer, a sale. Let's do the math shall we? Seeing that they chose to list the prices of suits as an example of the wonderful deals this is what I'll talk about.

THE CLAIM: Suits Original Retail- $1,395 to $3,495


THE DEAL: NOW FACTORY DIRECT $449.99 Or Less


MY QUESTION: If $449.99 is their highest price on sale, surely that must be the suit that retailed the highest at $3,495 is it not?

Even with the assumption that at $449.99 they are giving it to you at cost, and therefore a loss because working for nothing is a loss, this would mean incredible margins at retail.

Do you see my point? If Hickey Freeman sells it to the stores for $499.00 and the retailer sells it for $3,495.00, this means the retailer marks it up  about $3 short of 7 TIMES.

REALLY?!?

Someone is not being honest, the manufacturer or the retailer or both, and YOU should be the first to know. What sickens me more than a company taking a consumer for a fool...is the consumer allowing it.

EDUCATE YOUR SELF...THE PLACEBO PILL YOUR SWALLOWING WON'T HELP YOU.

IF YOU REALLY CARE TO KNOW

This is a topic I've touched on before and will continue to do so until I am well...at least a wonderful shade of Midnight Blue.

"Made in Italy", as you see it on products, was meant to tell the consumer that this was indeed a product made in Italy by skilled workers that worked under internationally accepted labor laws.

This no longer is so, and it hasn't been for many years, as the laws pertaining to this matter shifted in various amounts over time to benefit those that were producing anywhere but in Italy. It hasn't been something in the industry or at government levels that anyone has wanted to talk about. Clearly not a deterrent for me.

Yesterday I stopped at one of America's most prestigious stores, Saks Fifth Avenue. Not to discover something I didn't already know but to gather photographs to make a point for you.

I found three shirts that exemplified my point, a Bruno Cucinelli, a Valentino and one by Isaia. Very well known and respected brands in the Luxury market each in their own way and all sold in the same area of the men's department.

This is a shirt made by ISAIA in the renowned Neapolitan tradition of shirt making. One arrow points to a portion of the logo identifying this as an ISAIA shirt, while the other arrow points to the price of $395.00 which is in keeping with a shirt that is truly Made in Italy and of this quality.

This next shirt is one made by Brunello Cucinelli, a premier Italian producer of garments. You will notice that one arrow points to the label with the logo as well as the "Made in Italy" country of origin declaration required to be in plain sight by the laws of the USA.

The second arrow points to a price tag showing the cost of this shirt at $495.00 which again, is in keeping with the pricing of a quality shirt with a certain amount of details that is truly Made in Italy.

The shirt from Valentino at fist glance appears to be of great value as it is priced at only $225.00 as pointed out by the arrow. Notice however that the country of origin label that is supposed to be readily visible in accordance with the laws is not there. So, where is this shirt made? Is it really made in Italy? Is that why it is so much lower in price?

There is no magic, no voodoo in fashion. There are reasons for the prices we see and the quality of the garments, marketing aside, and sadly, you as a consumer shouldn't expect an average retailer, even a prestigious one, to educate you anymore. Take control yourself....and discover the truth and beautiful garments that are made by true artisans.

As Fashion Tours Go......

As Fashion Tours go.....well wait a second, there aren't any to compare this one to. This is an utterly fresh idea for those that may have wished to truly be a Fashionista insider if not as a career for at least a week in Italy.

Check out the article in the May-June issue of Rochester Magazine.....want to come along?

A Conversation With Nickelson Wooster Of Neiman Marcus

Men's fashion director Nickelson Wooster shows us how to rock a khaki jacket at the office.

The above picture and tag line was a post on the Neiman Marcus Facebook page. As social networks go this is done to generate conversations with an audience. Below in italics is the comment  I, among others, left for this wonderful and prestigious iconic establishment and their Men's fashion director Nickelson Wooster. So in fun, in the interest of fashion and the extension of conversation, here it is......


The Tan/Khaki cotton suit is a Spring & Summer classic, no doubt. I do like that he's wearing it with a blue shirt as that khaki and blue combo ALWAYS works....well 'till it doesn't work. 

Sorry Nickelson but I only have this picture to go on and since these posts are put up to generate conversation, I will converse.


In the photograph the shirt doesn't come up "rich" enough, again, it's difficult to tell here, but a pinpoint oxford or a chambray would have made this look go further if it also offered a slightly more definitive "blue".


The fact that you chose not to button your button down collar is interesting but it if you're trying for that "I am a country gentleman" look, it is best done without a tie. Clearly this is not a situation of having overlooked it because you prized cattle had broken through the fence in northern Scotland and you were distracted. I say "clearly" because your look is a thought out one down to the detail in the placement of the tie bar where it creates just enough of a curvature to the tie that not only gives it depth but allows the light to refract accordingly along the different parts of the curvature.


All in all a 7.5 out of 10.........no one asked, and I don't expect a job offer to come any time soon, I'm just sayin'

Porch Perfect-----Pomagranate Prosecco

So the season is approaching, not fast enough but I can feel it. Soon I will be on my porch lounging and sipping on one of my favorites.....Prosecco.

The one thing I love is that I can share it with you on or off my porch, so here it is, my first of several Porch Perfect cocktails.

POMEGRANATE PROSECCO

Mandarins- 8

Pomegranate- Half

Prosecco- 1 Bottle

1) Squeeze the mandarins and filter to remove most of the pulp

2) Pour the mandarin juice into a carafe and add the pomegranate seeds and Prosecco

3) Stir and serve in a cocktail glass

A Fashion Lookbook

A quick look at some past work as some of you have shown interest. This collection was split into three groups: Martini, Cafe` and Relax in essence describing the Lifestyle that the garments might be suited for. The grouping was used as a way to give direction to the retailers while each individual wearer gives it his own spin.

Some Past work Portfolio 2

View more presentations from alwaysgetLucky.