This post was written by Lindy Dandy.
As with all things on eBay, patience will inevitably pay off. So, if you’re a size 11 and you need a pair of dance shoes (and you like brown plaid), then today is your day!
This particular pair of dress sneaker is said to have been worn three times.
Bidding starts at $9 and ends August 03 at 16:24:35 PDT.
Happy hunting!
This post was written by Lindy Dandy.
It’s about the time of year when designers begin to clear out their Spring/Summer inventory to make room for their Fall/Winter line, which means this is a great time to look for sales. These sales make it possible to get deals on clothing that might normally be out of reach.
Billy Reid is having a huge sale; up to 75% off.
Gentlemen, have you heard of Billy Reid? Billy Reid is a “Southern-bred luxury” brand whose designer has been referred to as the “Ralph Lauren of the South.” Named Best New Men’s Designer in America 2010 by GQ, Billy Reid mixes refined and classic style with a bit of Southern ruggedness. The brand is based in Florence, Alabama, but has stores in Dallas, Nashville, Houston, Charleston and New York. The clothing is trim, well-made and will last for years (physically and style-wise).
I first discovered Billy Reid for myself a couple years ago during a trip to Dallas to visit my parents. I was wandering through NorthPark mall while my little sister was doing some shopping and stumbled onto what looked like a well-decorated saloon. The walls were adorned with oil paintings, faded photos, gilded-frame mirrors, and assorted taxidermy. The clothing was impressive: hand-made suits and jackets, slim shirts in an impressive assortment of fabric, drawers filled with bow ties and -the best touch- bowls filled with vintage handkerchiefs and pocket squares . Unfortunately, it was all a bit out of my price range (except for a few of those pocket squares and bow ties).
This sale puts it all into reach (relatively… the best deals are in the jackets and suits). (The sale also includes the ladies Spring/Summer line. I like the dresses, but they’re mostly mid-thigh length, which don’t really work for dancing unless you like to show off your bloomers. If you do, then by all means…) Here are a few of my favorites.
Please remember that the fit (especially in some of the jacket models) is cut trim, so size accordingly. I really like that blue pincord jacket. Hmmm.
Happy Hunting.
This post was written by Lindy Dandy.
I found a vintage pair of Allen Edmonds Strawfuts on sale on eBay, but you’ll have to act quickly if you want them.
Why would you want them? These black wingtips are breathable because a large part of the upper is made with nylon mesh. It’s a simple solution to overheating shoes that you don’t see in modern shoes.
Honestly, if these were half a size larger, I would buy them myself.
The good news is that Allen Edmonds may bring the Strawfut back for the Spring/Summer 2011 season. If that’s true, I’ll be buying a couple pairs in different colors!
Happy hunting!
This post was written by Lindy Dandy.
As I’d mentioned before, tie clips are great way to show off your interests.
You may not be able to get too many conversations started mid-dance, but these will hold your tie in place and provide excellent fodder for conversation in between dances.
Ok, that was fun.
This post was written by Lindy Dandy.
There aren’t too many accessories quite as dapper and dandy as a flower in your lapel buttonhole (a.k.a. boutonnières). Most guys will never wear them more than a couple times in their lives.
Granted, most guys are not into flowers and probably would not bother buying/wearing something that won’t last more than 24 hours (though you should try). If you’d like a pop of color that will last, try a knit lapel flower.
There are several places to find them, but today I’ll direct you to JandHP, a second-hand clothing procurer. (I’m not a huge fan of the jacket they’re using as a backdrop, but it shows off the flowers well enough).
Several of their lapel flowers are sold out at the moment, but they’re sure to have more in stock in the future.
The “trick” to wearing boutonnières is to wear them with confidence. In casual venues, it might also help to hold back on other accessories, lest you look too busy with a tie, pocket square and flower.
Or you could try channeling Cary Grant.
For more on wearing boutonnières, read this excellent Art of Manliness article.
This post was written by Lindy Dandy.
My apologies for the hiatus (though you might not have realized I was gone since LS does such a great job. Steady bandwidth is hard to come by on deployment!) Ok, on to something really exciting (to me, at least).
As has been discussed before, the trick to dressing seasonally is all about wearing seasonally appropriate appropriate fabrics. Is the thought of wearing a seersucker or madras jacket too intimidating? If so, you can always start with something small, like a bow tie. Check these out!
Gingham, seersucker, madras… the gang’s all here.
All of this lovely neckwear comes from Lumina Clothing, based in Raleigh, N.C. According to their twitter: “Lumina Clothing is a custom tie and bow tie company out of Raleigh, NC. Our products mesh the classic style of the south with the Ivy League style of the 1960s.” Style of the south plus Ivy League style? I like!
And even cooler: “Our name, Lumina, comes from an old dance pavilion once located on Wrightsville Beach, NC. Opening in 1905, at the time it was the premier social venue in the South, hosting many of the biggest names in entertainment.”
I’ve only posted a couple of their ties and neckties, but they have a very cool collection of fabrics from which to choose. A huge bonus is that you can get the ties and bow ties at different widths. Skinny neckties are “in” at the moment, but general idea is to match the width of your jacket’s lapels. (So skinny lapels means skinny ties, etc.) It’s all about balance and proportion (and personal taste). Prices are reasonable with bow ties for $39 and ties for $59.
I plan to pick up a couple bow ties and ties here, but am pretty sad that I won’t be able to wear them this season. I’ll be interested to see what they produce for Fall/Winter.
Lumina Clothing:
This post was written by Lindy Dandy.
Happy Tuesday, gents! The tie clips I’ve found this week have been very random (the Rust Oleum can). So, this week’s theme is The Kitchen Sink.
Posts about actual clothes are on the way, scouts honor.
This post was written by Lindy Dandy.
After writing my first post on tie clips and out of habit, I’ve continued to search for tie clips (because it’s fun to look). There are so many that I must share some of my finds. Therefore, I’m starting this series: Tie Clip Tuesday. I’ll usually try to post good deals, but I’ll experiment with themes, some pricey items (because it’s fun too look) and other ideas I’ve got floating around.
Enjoy!
This post was written by Lindy Dandy.
Seems like Memorial Day Weekend is the weekend to shop.
Have you heard of Martin + Osa? Basically, it’s Abercrombie and Fitch’s answer to J.Crew and Banana Republic. I’ve always liked the store, but usually found it outside my range of affordability. This weekend, though, their entire stock is 50% off with free shipping on orders over $100. Footwear is also on sale including Converse Jack Purcells, Sperry Top-Siders and Havainas flip-flops. Like J.Crew and the like, their stock has a preppy American aesthetic with slimmer fits.
There are lots of summer fabrics here: cotton, linen, seersucker, gingham, chambray. They’ve got polos, sport shirts, western shirts, chinos and nice, trim shorts.
I’m buying a couple linen shirts; they’re my favorite for afternoon dances.
Ladies, like I mentioned, their entire stock is on sale.
This post was written by Lindy Dandy.
Many guys (myself included) like to dance in white Aris Allen captoes (or other white shoes). Why? They look sharp and they highlight your fancy footwork. (I love my Aris Allens to death; they’re my “go to” on most floors. Mine have gotten a bit beat up, but I think they’re full of character).
The detail that’s often forgotten, though, is to match those white shoes with a white belt. You should always coordinate your belt with your shoes, especially if you’re wearing dressier clothes (i.e. slacks or other odd trousers).
In fact, you should strive to coordinate all of your [ugh, I dislike the way this word sounds] accessories. All leather should match or coordinate. The same goes for anything metal (watch, rings, belt buckle, cufflinks, tie clips, grill, etc); either silver or gold. Don’t let it drive you crazy; similar colors will suffice.
White dress belts can be hard to come by, but here are a couple choices:
(remember: your belt size is one size (+2) up from your pant size)
This post was written by Lindy Dandy.
The L.L. Bean Signature line has a 30% off deal that’s valid through Memorial Day.
L.L. Bean? As in that company that sells outdoorsy clothing through catalogs? Yup, that’s the one. You might recognize their Bean Boots, a Trad/WASP-y staple.
Very recently, L.L. Bean teamed up with Alex Carleton (of Rogues Gallery) to update its classic American sportswear with modern design ideas (particularly regarding fit). The result are familiar, classic pieces with a trimmer fit.
Here are a couple polos and shirts that would look good on and off a casual dance floor this summer.
This post was written by Lindy Dandy.
Gents, here’s a great opportunity to stock up on the versatile and necessary basic, chinos. Quick class for you: chinos are a type of pant; khaki is a color.
Many people call all chinos “khakis,” even Docker’s, apparently, but maybe they do it because of common use. You can use them interchangeably, but now you know.
Like I mentioned, chinos are versatile and a few should be included in every man’s basic wardrobe. Wear them with a polo and boat shoes or trainers (sans socks, of course) and they’re perfectly casual for the summer. Match them with a button-down, tie, blazer and wingtips and you’re dressed up enough for a dinner at any restaurant. (This particular outfit was the basic dress code at my all-guys high school, so I still look can’t at khaki chinos (required for freshmen) without a bit of nostalgia).
Either of the above ensembles would work just as well at a dance (with dance shoes subbed in, of course).
Khakis/chinos are one of America’s greatest contributions to the world of men’s casual dress. The U.S. Army adopted khaki during the Spanish American War. In 1941, khaki was approved for wear by senior enlisted and officers. The American public was then able to see these sailors out on liberty.
Another plus, chinos are made out of cotton and breathe a bit better than denim or wool. Be wary about sweating in them too much, though. People will notice; sometimes at your expense. Here’s an example!
You have been warned.
Oh, man, I *heart* that video. FYI, It didn’t stop them from winning, either.
I was there for that competition too; it was awesome. (Oh BTW, ILHC is coming up. It’s one of my favorite dance events of the summer. I’ll be missing it this year, which deeply saddens me. So, you should be there so you can tell me all about it. Have you registered? Tip: stick around ’til the end, because that’s when they do the Invitational J&J).
Also, just say “no” to pleats and cuffs when it comes to chinos. Flat-front and slim (but NOT tight) are the way to go. Choose a leg length that will allow the bottom 3 inches of your pants to gather on top of your shoes. (i.e. longer than your uncuffed suit pants and slightly longer than jeans). They’re casual trousers, your socks should never be seen when you’re standing up. Great examples, below.
Here are some well-priced ($35) chinos from Docker’s: flat-front, slim, straight leg. They’re just about perfect. (I find it funny Docker’s call them all “Clean Khakis.”)
Here are a couple “rules” from Esquire, that I think are very helpful.
This post was written by Lindy Dandy.
You shouldn’t wear these at a dance (unless you’re dancing at the beach), but every man needs at least one good pair of sunglasses.
If I were stuck on a desert island and could only bring one choice of shades, I would bring avaitors. They’re classic, American, and another great style icon from the military (like chinos). Ray-Ban makes the most recognized models, but there are other options out there.
For my money, the best choice is American Optical. This is the same brand issued by the U.S. Navy to flight students and are sold at military exchanges. I “discovered” these during my first Navy ROTC midshipman “cruise,” when I stumbled upon them at the Navy Exchange in San Diego. Fortunately, they also have an online store. I also found decent prices on Amazon. Don’t forget about Army/Navy surplus stores too.
You can choose different temples (bayonet, wire spatula, cable), frame color (gold, silver, black, matte chrome), and lenses (polarized and non-polarized). I wear 52mm gold Original Pilot’s with bayonet temples. (pictured above)
Thanks to Sart Inc for reminding me of this great brand. Check out his blog; he’s got great (Trad, preppy, classic American) style.
On a slightly related note: I think girls in avaitors are hot (but I like your cute sunglasses too).
This post was written by Lindy Dandy.
Believe it or not there are some dance events where you’ll be able to wear these finds.
First, a bathing suit. I’m probably just strange, but I’ve always been fascinated by men’s vintage bathing suits. Manufacturers didn’t have access to the man-made fabrics we have today, so they had to make their suits out of natural fibers that could survive sea water. Many were made out of wool, a material we usually associate with suits and sweaters. Hmm, this one is actually in my size.
There are several exchanges with dances at the beach:
Second, tails. It’s too often that you can wear clothing this formal to a dance event (or any event for that matter), but I would get tails if only for the New Year’s Eve party at Lindy Focus. Check out the details on the lapels and buttons.
This post was written by Lindy Dandy.
What a fortuitous discovery after yesterday’s discussion of summer suiting!
The gents over at Prepidemic have extended their blog brand to their “house label,” Bocca al Lupo, and put out some nice pocket squares appropriate for Spring and Summer. (as pointed out here and here).
They’ve got all their bases covered: seersucker, madras and denim. All made from American and Italian fabrics, then lovingly crafted in New York. The best part? They’re $15! That’s a steal compared to other stores that I’ve seen sell pocket squares for 3 and 4 times as much. (Some of those were silk, but still, that’s just unaffordable).
According to Prepidemic, “The brand was formed as a reaction to the outrageous markups we saw in stores, especially on the simplest of accessories. So we decided to go out and hunt for fabric and then track down the best manufacturer to produce a collection that we would sell at a reasonable price.”
If I had to pick one, I’d definitely go for the green seersucker square, but I’d love to have any of these peeking out of a blazer or sportcoat this (and every future) summer.
Bravo, gents!
By the way, if you haven’t seen the blog, it’s a good read with (mostly) good recommendations, interviews, and guides.
Lindy Shopper 