Watch Out: How to Tie a Trinity Know

YES

Get yourself into this fun new knot because I know I will. Also look into the Eldrege knot shown here.

NO
It doesn't look that gay.

MAYBE
You've committed yourself to bow-ties.

File under Watch Out

YNM Spotlight: Urban Renewal by Urban Outfitters

Wrap me in foil, put me in the oven and bake me like a potato because I am done!

Never has foil looked more attractive and alluring than how it's been used here by Urban Outfitters' new Urban Renewal collection.

The premise of the line is based on recycling old vintage clothing and updating them to look modern and new.

In the world of fast fashion chains and disposable style, I am obsessed with this innovative way to recycle clothes. The Urban Outfitters website notes that each piece is handmade in a Philadelphia factory making each one a unique creation. It's like a Chinatown sweatshop meets Etsy entrepreneur meets Greenpeace environmental activist meets Jackson Pollock.

This may be the next big thing. Let's face it. We've seen disposable fashion that began with H&M's first American store and the rise of Target. Then it evolved to personalized fashion with everyone having anything and everything monogrammed with their Christian and stripper names. Augment this wave of mass consumption with the explosion of fashion bloggers, street style photographers and fashion TV competitions and you reach a tipping point. Everyone has access to fashion and what you lose is the individual. What was once personal style is fodder that can be copied by kids from Helsinki to Dubai through a single blogpost. Skinny jeans, Uggs and Ray-ban sunglasses are ubiquitous worldwide.

Urban Renewal is the post fashion recovery effort after a decade long of buy, buy, buy. It's on trend with the "shop my closet" post Great Recession mentality and supported by H&M's new 2013 efforts that will reward consumers who drop off a bag of used clothes at their stores with an in-store discount. Even the founding father of $1 ready to wear must have realized that they can only create the same $1 t-shirt before the consumer realizes that they have every color imaginable. So once this clicks, they stop shopping because even they realize that it's too much.

YES
It's time to move on. It's time to grow up and to be smarter about the fashionable things we consume.  It's time to go green.

If you have the time, extra roll of aluminum foil, a hair dryer and design talents, perhaps you can do this on your own. This will help you reclaim your personal style...well at least until the Sartorialist photographs it and H&M copies and sells it for a $1.

NO
Al Gore didn't design this line and I doubt a painted and bleached sweater will save a polar bear. Well, at least for now.

MAYBE
The DIY approach helps with your carbon footprint, but you also risk looking cheap like you were the losing look on a recent Project Runaway eco-challenge.

Slip and slide

YES: Zac Efron looks like John Stamos when he's sliding.

NO: Do not do this at home

MAYBE: Adult slip and slide in a suit is the latest thing that's trending somewhere and I just don't know about it. 

Read This Not That

  

  

NYMag.com has given this hilarious review of a new penis mesauring app that I think is worth a read and laugh.

YES
It's a hard hitting piece of journalism

NO
Objects do not appear larger than they are

MAYBE
You need to use your ipad to make this app really effective. Good for you.

Under Consideration: Zara Zipper Sweatpants

The new spring 2013 clothes are starting to arrive in the stores and I've started doing my drive-bys to see what I will need to adopt. These Zara sweatpants stopped me cold in my John Varvatos biker boots. As much as I try to like these pants since an iteration of them have been around for several years, I just can't commit to it. 

So here is my final take on them and will never mention its existence again.

YES

It's the perfect sweatpants for guys who want easy access

NO

It depends on the guy. Perhaps you don't want to look like you are wearing an adult diaper. Or maybe you want sweatpants you can actually sweat and work out in. These are not for you my habibi (friend).

MAYBE
You don't work out and don't want to put that out even more with a pair of over priced sweatpants that reaffirm this fact.

File under Under Consideration

Eat This, Drink That: City Crab Review

Restaurant: City Crab
Address: 235 Park Ave S, NY, NY 10003
Telephone: 212-529-3800
YNM Review: Located in Gramercy, just a few blocks north of Union Square, this seafood restaurant is a gem in the neighborhood. When you walk in, you realize that this 2 story restaurant has a giant crab placed above the door.

This is what Red Lobster wishes it could be. But I highly recommend this restaurant when you want to get your fish on. The gumbo is my personal favorite. It's the closest thing I can get to the gumbo flavors I used to get in New Orleans. So jump right in the deep end of City Crab.

Note: Sunday brunch normally has a live jazz band playing and they would probably serve Nemo if caught fresh that day. Sorry Ariel.

Filed Under: Eat This, Drink That

YNM Spotlight: Ninja Sneakers by Alejandro Ingelmo

At first sight, I was weary. Alejandro Ingelmo has been on my fashion radar for a while, but he hadn't created anything spectacular or new to draw me in. To this point, he hasn't rocked my world.

Sure, love his Cuban American roots and his story. But his take on the new fancy sneakers is just okay.  If you're going to reinvent the high-top, then I completely want them to be reinvented from heel to toe. I want a reboot.

So this pair of Alejandro Ingelmo took me by surprise. The criss-cross black plastic straps on top of the suede leather and the zippers on the back had me at hello. It looks like my grandpa's sandals made love to a classic Nike suede high-tops and gave birth to these sneakers.  

YES
If you want to jump on the designer sneaker craze but really wear something cool and different that makes paying extra worth it.

NO
These won't go with num chucks and not for the faint of heart.

MAYBE
You're already a ninja and this is so last century for you.

Trendspotting: I'm with the BAND

 

It's only natural that placing a big band of color across a shirt, blazer, coat etc. is becoming a big trend on the men's Fall 2013 runways. Its the evolution of the color blocking of season's past. Here's a short list of the designers who have joined the bandwagon (see above image; right to left Jil Sander, Raf Simons, Valentino, Kris Van Asche)

But it all reminds me of a pair of Helmut Lang pants I owned back in the early aughts of the 2000's when Helmut was still designing for his own label. How I loved those pants. They were camel colored wool pants with white silk lining running down to the very bottom of the pants. What made them classic Helmut Lang  was the white band of paint that circled the crotch to ass area; and the white band was tilted to look like a holster. Helmut must have taken a paint roller and just went at these pants, or at least his assistant did.

Wish I didn't tear the lining to shreds and wish my ass didn't get so fat that I couldn't snap the waistband shut. Ugh, age.

But these designers are allowing me to revisit my past. Thank you.

YES

If you also owned the same pair of Helmut Lang pants and want to reminisce with me.

NO

If you have decided to go all DIY and make your own band. All you need is duct tape or paint and a steady hand.

MAYBE

You never got fat or old and can still fit into your pair of Helmut Lang pants. I support your recycling efforts.

His hat looks like a condom

 

YES

Oddly enough, I wore a shirt yesterday that's very similar to the one this model on the left has on. 

NO
This hat is not an effective birth control. It has a 60% failure rate.

MAYBE
You think it would be real cool to look like Post Modern Devo (click here for video)

Trendspotting: Amish w/o a Cause

Obviously, I am in lust with the Ann Demeulemeester Fall 2013 collection since it features black and white, my new favorite color palette.

I've also been secretly fascinated by the Amish. They are like the actors hired to work in Colonial Virgina for the summer, but the Amish live like that all year round til they die. Plus the Amish make amazing pastries and have lived in a relatively quiet existence for hundreds of years. They must be doing something right.

YES
If you want to look pious for Fall 2013 or desirable in your ChristianSingles.com profile.

NO
If you are a practicing Mennonite, Jehovah or Mormon. You guys have your own look.

MAYBE
You don't want people to think you just stepped out of a horse buggy with an orange reflector on the back..

Trendspotting: Louis Vuitton Fall 2013

I am man hear me "puurrrrrr!!!" 

This look from the Louis Vuitton Fall 2013 show confirms that cat prints are in for men. Not being a professional historian, didn't Givenchy show this on men a while ago? Now it's on Louis Vuitton and Burberry's radar.


Bob Barker of Price is Right fame used to say "Don't forget to spade or neuter your cats" at the end of every show. Putting one of these coats on would basically be neutering your manhood.


It's a lot of look. Not one I will dare to try, but I'm sure there will be watered down versions to come. I've already seen the print in stores now but in a navy and blue combination. The last time I wore leopard print, it was a Jean Paul Gaultier t-shirt that had a picture of a naked bald man hugging a cat. I was also really into rave parties when it was fashionable to do so. But I'm far too square now. This is not for the fashion tamed.

YES
This is your trend if you're a pimp, uber gay, or combination of both. For example, expect to see Bravo's Andy Cohen donning one of these in the next housewives reunion. He's uber gay pimp of America's dumbest housewives (Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles, Tuscaloosa and Backwater Virginia, etc).

NO
If you own a cat because one look and your cat  may get the wrong idea about you. Feline rape is tres serious.

MAYBE
You're a zebra and prefer stripes to leopard prints. Or perhaps you just don't have room for the matching scratching post that this coat would require.

Trendspotting: Raf Simons Fall 2013

I have an unhealthy love for Raf Simons. I've been collecting pieces from all of his diffusion collections for several years. It all started with an asymmetrical hoodie that looked like it was woven with a piece of a bronzed chicken coop. I said it was unhealthy. Naturally, with each new Raf Simons collection, I shop the runway for pieces I hope to adopt from the Barney orphanage. 

YES

I've blogged before that we have the right to bare arms. Raf was one of the first designers to show the sleeveless blazer. Should we call it a slazer, a sleever? Whatever, I'm in to this Prius hybrid that doesn't require gas. It will be a nice transition piece for fall. 

NO

If you don't have arms, this is a no go. Sorry Aphrodite.

MAYBE

You've already taken an old blazer to your tailor and had the sleeves chopped off like a fashion badass.

YES

This is a real slick look. Sure it's something that might get you beaten up in a play yard or any where not NYC, but it's still pretty sick. Silk is the fabric of royalty and the black and blue stripes make you feel nautical without enlisting in the navy. The purple satin backpack is also pretty cool and different. It's Jansport to the extreme.

NO

If you are a vegan because you know, silk is murder. Then again, this shirt could be all nylon. Someone call Raf to confirm. 

MAYBE

You already had your mom's silk curtains made into a blousy man shirt. See you on the school yard sissy. I want your backpack. 

Something for the AA Meeting

I randomly found these two products on www.thebeerbelly.com. They both horrify and intrigue me. 

YES

It's perfect for the guy or girl who likes warm beer or liquor. 

Also perfect for the person who wants to make their bodies look fat and lopsided. Who cares about symmetry.

NO

They don't have anything on the site about JUGS...trust me I looked. There's always next year?

MAYBE

You can get creative with a zip lock bag, tape and an extended tube to save yourself $49.99 plus shipping.

My Kind of Baggage

It strikes me that the recent men's Fall 2013 Prada show didn't showcase any bags. WTF, Miuccia? Where are the bags?

I pride myself in the fact that the only baggage (emotional or otherwise) that I carry is normally made of nylon or leather and usually made in Italy, France or Spain. Sorry Chinatown, can't do the fakey-fakey. It's just not worth it and I'm hypo-allergenic to labels that say Prado versus Prada.

Being a bag guy isn't a badge of honor that I boast of proudly. If anything, it just reminds me of the women and men in my family who took great pride in spending lots of money on an incidental piece of leather that ends up making or breaking their complete look.

We all pick up our parents' idiosyncrasies, mine happen to be a love for leather goods. It sure beats drug or alcohol addiction; oh and it beats diabetes. It all started with a Gucci messenger and Prada backpack  that I got from my parents before I left for college. It's snowballed from then on. To this day, I still get bags for my birthday and holidays.

A normal person doesn't need to have suitcases full of bags like I do; nor do men need to spend as much as my family has in my excess baggage. But I do recommend 3 essential bags every man should have in their closet:

YES TO GOOD BAGGAGE
1. Briefcase: Whether it's nylon or leather, you will always need one for meeting with someone important that you want to impress for a job or bank loan. Select one that's proportionate to your body (i.e. if you're short and thin like me, I avoid large oversized briefcases that stretch out like an accordion and go for slim and short versions just like myself). Make the bag fit your lifestyle. If you carry a computer, get a briefcase that can fit one. If you only carry a wallet, tablet, phone and paperwork, you may just want to get a portfolio instead.
2. Messenger Bag or Backpack: Perfect for weekends and more casual outings, you can always use a messenger bag or backpack. I always bring one when I travel since I end up carrying a camera, a travel book, hand sanitizer, gum etc. Plus when you become a dad, a messenger bag like the standard Jack Spade ones look a lot cooler than a diaper bag.
3. Carry-On Duffel Bag: Sure, roller boards are easy but I find that I can fit more into my nylon Prada duffel, which I've had for over 10 years. It's also a lot lighter and easier to fit into an overhead compartment compared to a roller board. Plus I can use it as a gym bag. Bonus!

NO
The pockets in cargo pants do not count as baggage. But if you can carry all of your worldly possessions in your thigh pockets without looking like a hippo, then more power to you.

I've seen young guys in Manhattan carrying purses that my sisters own. Even if you're in transition to becoming a woman, a bearded male hipster carrying a Louis Vuitton speedy is just wrong. No, it's not a mini-duffle bag...it's still a purse.

MAYBE
You carry real emotional baggage that requires a therapist, prescription medicaton and a sex vice. That's real heavy! How do you check that in at the airport?

In the Name of the Father, Son and Dolce & Gabbana

Dolce & Gabbana has just presented their Fall 2013 collection. How appropriate that I'm going to a Catholic christening this weekend. They're so thoughtful to think of me. Grazie boys!

But the collection won't find a home in my closet with the blousy sleeves like an altar boy and the crochet on everything just like grandma's house. It just has no street cred with my home boys in Gramercy Park. However, their collection made me reminisce about my Catholic upbringing both the good and the bad...sister, you know what you did with that ruler. Ironic that I now live down the street from a convent.

I've always loved the pageantry and costumes, even though I hate the intolerance. This collection brought back the memories of incense, classic hymnals and stirring speeches.

But I'm a sheep that has strayed from the flock, only visiting the fold on holiday occasions. And even when I show up, my rosary is a necklace made by Dolce & Gabbana. Hence the shout out to my fellow parishioners.

YES
If you're Catholic and you want religion in your life but without the guilt or constant kneeling. Also, it's perfect if you need a come to Jesus moment on a t-shirt.

NO
If your priest also asked you out on a date during confession, wearing a shirt that looks like it came from his closet is probably not the right thing to do. What will the parishioners say.

MAYBE
You're Sicilian and everyone in your town dresses like this. No biggie. Everything in your closet come this fall will be on trend.

Prada is the Cream of the Cropped

I confess that I own a cropped leather jacket that immediately popped into my head as soon as I saw this picture from the recent Prada Fall 2013 show. Good thing I'm a hoarder and have held on to it. That's one less piece to pick up.

Playing with proportions is fun but tricky. Here are some basic tips:

YES

Your pants matter even more than before. A cropped jacket makes your legs look longer because they will get even more attention. So don't f*ck it up. I'm going to try the Prada drop crotch dress pants with the tight fit on the calves look as shown on the model.

It's okay to wear a longer shirt to play with the shortness of the jacket. But the shirt needs to fit close to the body otherwise, you'll get bunching. 

NO

Not to be a body Nazi, but let's face it. If you have a gut, this look isn't for you.

No, a crop top shirt isn't the same.

MAYBE

The only crop you like is a field of corn. To that, I say yeehaw!

Trendspotting: Kenzo Fall 2013

Saw this on Style.com and it caught my eye. Opening Ceremony purveyors, Humberto Leon and Carol Lim are the brainchildren behind Kenzo's reinvention as a fashion brand with ready to wear collections for men and women.

There was actually a pair of color blocked pants they did this past fall season that I was remiss to not get. Rarely do I go to the trouble of asking a sales person to call every corner of the country to see if they still had these pants in my size, but it couldn't be traced. Guess I'll have to wait for the Zara knock-offs just like everyone else.

But it's that kind of consumer obsession that has made Opening Ceremony the IT store in the country. They don't need to put a finger on the pulse of what's in or what's out because they are the pulse.

And this look had my heart beating for Kenzo again.

They were inspired by looking out of an airplane window which has created this red-eye cloud print. It's been paired with slim cut pants and shoes to match the blood red sky; note that the shoes zip down the front...which is a trend I've seen this past fall too. It's probably for easy take off to get you through airport security faster.

YES
If you want to soar along with Humberto and Carol aboard flight 2013 Kenzo

NO
If you want to stay grounded because you have a fear of heights/flying or anything with a print

MAYBE
You prefer to use your travel points to fly Delta. You just won't look as cool

Drink This Not That: 2010 Liberte Cabernet Sauvignon

Liberte! Fraternite! Egalite!

It's the French national motto. Luckily, there's a vineyard in Paso Robles, California who let freedom ring to create this delicious Cabernet Sauvignon. And you don't need a passport to get a taste.

It's rich, fruity, balanced and went perfectly well with the roasted lemon chicken I had for dinner. It's not as well developed as other wines I've tasted, but it pretty good.

At $10 from Trader Joe's, you need to get your hand on this and get your locavore on.

Here are the details:

YES
Liberte Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blanc, 2010 from Paso Robles is worth the $10 especially if your meal has a fruit element. I'm thinking a duck with a cherry sauce. Hmmm...cherry sauce.

NO
If you go to weekly meetings where everyone only knows you by your first name and you're barely on step 1. This is not for you.

MAYBE
You're a dedicated white wine person or prefer beer to wine. I feel you brother. I have my moments. But at least you have another bottle you can use to commiserate with a sommelier--those guys at restaurants who try to talk you into the $500 bottles of wine.

Cheers!

My Fantasy Fashion List

We live in an era of cross-promotions. It started with Target asking semi-successful designers (Isaac Mizrahi) and accomplished architect (Michael Graves) to create well designed but affordable clothing and home designs (all made in China). Unlike the time when Halston tried to do a low-end line with JCPenney back in the 80's, the Target promotion has gone gang busters and has spread like a virus. Here are some highlights of what it has spawned:

H&M x Lagerfeld
Target x McQueen
Opening Ceremony x Timberland
Uniqlo + J (Jil Sander)
Varvatos x Converse
Samsung Phone by Prada
H&M Versace
H&M Marni
H&M Lanvin
H&M Commes des Garcons
H&M and everything else

There's no stopping this trend. Target x Neiman Marcus blanketed the country with a fashion mega blitz this past holiday season. It was a who's who of the CFDA putting their name on yoga mats and wrapping paper. It was cray cray huge. So I've put together my own fashion partnership fantasy list.

YES
Tom Ford for Converse (made of Vegan leather and organic conflict free cotton)
Kenzo x Opening Ceremony x  US Open (Golf, Tennis, Whatever)
Nets tickets x Jay-Z Concert x Roca Wear

NO
Please no more designers who's redesigned the t-shirt (the original works just fine)
And no more Gucci Fiats, Missoni Chryslers, Pucci Ferraris...maybe it's because I'm not in a market for a six-figure luxury car, but I really don't get these

MAYBE
You're the designer who's sick and tired of having to do these low-end lines to build your name and to raise some fast cash. With a market in flux, there's no shame in your game. To quote Project Runway's Tim Gunn "Make It Work"

Trendspotting: Orange You Glad?

You Don't Look Like this Skittle

Saw this on NYT.com from the recent Topman Fall/Winter 2013 collection and it made me think a couple of things:

YES
He's pissed he's wearing this outfit. Can you blame the poor guy? He's not allowed to eat sugar as a model, but they dress him like candy.

But we get it. Orange is back again. Did it ever go away?

NO
You won't get diabetic shock from looking at this image. Those strappy sandals/sock combo will not protect you from the snow. You can try. But it won't work.

MAYBE 
He has genuinely tasted the rainbow...discuss among yourselves.

From the Temple of Doom

Following up on a previous post about how I discovered this Indiana Jones inspired  leather bomber on mega-clearance at the FCUK store the other day, I decided to take a break from my Goth phase to showcase my new leather treasure.

So from the Temple of Doom, I emerged today wearing the bomber with cords, shearling boots and a cashmere sweater. A sling bag was thrown in for effect to give the sense that I may have a crystal skull and a lasso hidden in my bag. In reality, I was carrying a Healthy Choice microwavable meal, work folders and granola bars in case I get lost in the midtown jungle.

In the last minute, I ditched the scarf at home and went native. The scarf was trying too hard and Indy doesn't try. And when I zipped up the jacket, the tucked in scarf made it look like I was packing a gut full of skulls.

YES
I'm tad obsessive about something fun and new to wear. At the end of the day it is just a leather jacket.

NO
A fedora isn't necessary to complete the look. It's not Halloween and I'm not really an archaeologist.

MAYBE
You're a real life treasure hunter or your name is Crocodile Dundee or you have a hit show on the History Channel. To all of you, I give you credit for making this look possible.

What's the Point of Fashion?

Okay, I'm two years behind the trend on creepers. But fashion has the memory of a gnat and what was once in, and now out will undoubtedly be in again at some point. Right?  Isn't the 90's the current decade du jour for fashion?

Insert Validation here.

Looking into the history of these "brothel creepers," I learned that:

"They found their beginnings in the years following World War II, as soldiers based in the deserts in North Africa wore suede boots with hard-wearing crepe (rubber) soles because of the climate and environment. Having left the army, many of these ex-soldiers found their way to the nightspots of London wearing the same crepe-soled shoes and these became known as "brothel creepers."

--Wikipedia

So what's the point of fashion if things come and go and eventually come back; like these shoes have done since the 1950's. 

Personally, the point has always been to try new things and make what was once old new again by putting your own spin on it. I believe that's what fashion does. Sure I was around when these creepers made a comeback during the early days of No Doubt and the gaining popularity of Ska music. But I couldn't have worn it back then because I would have come off as a poser in a mosh pit. Is there anything worse?

LOL...I said mosh pit! 

Now, I will wear these shoes to suit my life like a grown up Teddy Boy (Google this yourself for explanation). That's the look that was shown 2 years ago and that's how I'm going to wear it. I'm just behind the trend but always in style.

YES

Try it. Don't be afraid of fashion, it's just a pair of shoes.

NO

If you are the guy who puts the creep in creepers.

MAYBE

You've worn these shoes in a mosh pit and discovered that Vans work best.

Trendspotting: In a Gaultier Dream

I was trend spotting today and found this Gaultier Spring 2013 collection on Italian Men's Vogue.

Although all of the other men's collections look like things I already own or things that everyone wore last year, or looked just plain boring, I was turned on by Gaultier's prints, tailoring and urban styling.

Yes, I said urban. Give the guy a baseball cap instead of a turban and have him swap the white boat shoes with some Nike Jordans and he would be supah-dupah-fly. Oh and have him mix things up so that he's not too matchy matchy and he'll be ready for b-ball. But if this is how they are dressing in Bombay/Mumbai, then I know where I need to go to be a street style photographer. They've really got a handle on what's trending. They put da BOMB in Bombay.

Seriously, GQ called the color brown a trend. Seriously? Snooze. Esquire said printed shirts and boat shoes are going to be huge. Yeah, it was such a big trend LAST YEAR, but I'm sure they're all going to be worn by the hottest NBA players and by peacock bankers who can't think on their own about what to wear. But that doesn't do it for me.

Give me a Gaultier coat with paper pleating at the hem but in black. Give me those Gaultier black and white pants which I'll wear with black penny loafers and a white button up with rolled up sleeves. The black Yankees baseball cap would be optional. That's the trend I'm looking for, and it's the trend I'm going to wear. Once I get the right pieces together, I'll follow up with another post.

But when it comes to thinking about warm weather yet to come and what to wear, I'm all about Gaultier.

YES
Personal style is all about finding what works for you and what turns you on. Like Michael Jackson's music, black and white just does it for me.

NO
Don't force it. If you are a banker or a NBA player, I doubt your friends and co-workers would let you get away wearing this stuff without ragging on you.

MAYBE
You're color blind and everything in the world looks black and white. You are already ahead of the trend.

Or you're an albino African-American. This is self-explanatory.

The Art of Layering

It's January. It's winter. It's cold. Your nose runs at the first breathe of air in the morning.But you blow it off, slip on your slippers and carry on with your morning routine.

Personally, I don't mind the freezing weather. Coming from the islands in the Pacific, I've enjoyed perfect warm sunny weather all year round. Here winter footwear is considered to be anything that's not a flip flop/sandal. I seriously thought boat shoes were winter shoes. But perfect can be boring.

Winter allows this poor island boy an opportunity to lay it on to stay warm. In Hawaii, putting a tank top underneath an Aloha shirt is layering. In New York, it's a little bit more complicated.

While I was on vacation in Germany, where the average daily temperature rarely went above 30 degrees (Fahrenheit), I wore the following items underneath my down winter coat:

A thermal t-shirt
A cashmere cable knit sweater
A denim jacket
A chunky cashmere scarf

AND I WAS STILL COLD

I practically wore everything I packed for the trip on my daily outings. But it had a happy ending. I was so cold, I ended up buying a soft mohair rabbit fur hat from a Russian trapper. God Bless Russians.

The goal of layering is to stay warm but at the same time not look bulky. Here are some basic tips.

YES
Cardigans and V-necks: They are synonymous aside from the buttons. They create the same effect/look. Personally, I always travel with one of these and sometimes I layer them one on top of each other (see pic above for reference).
Thermals: They now come in camo and are much softer and lighter than the ones that your parents used to buy in packs at Target. Winona Ryder and I invested in Marc Jacobs cashmere thermals since they can be worn by themselves or used as a layer during extra cold days when you end up in jail for shoplifting (for shame Winona...for shame).
Extra Long Scarves: It's not a surprise that at the end of the day, an extra long scarf can be used to wrap up your torso like an extra sweater or just draped around your neck like the French do. For tips on how to tie one on, visit the Watch Out tab above.

NO
1. Avoid putting one thick fabric over another. It's a sure way to add 10 lbs you don't actually have.
2. Don't mix match so many layers that you don't match. Remember to go with complementary colors. But if you want to add a pop of color to an otherwise all black outfit, then you can proceed...with caution.
3. Please try not to be ironic. I've seen guys out there who are all bundled up at top but wearing shorts on the bottom with bare legs. It's not just a cry for help, it's a sign of bipolar fashion disorder.

MAYBE
You're a polar bear and you can bare the cold winter without any layers since you're built for it.

Skirting the Issue

Wearing a dress

Creates durress 

For the average virile guy

But Kanye West 

Avoids the stress

With a skirt that shows no thigh

Aside from the fact that his shirt is too blousy, I don't think that Kanye wearing a skirt is such a big deal. It's not a look I'd try to rock even though I love the idea of letting the boys breathe freely. But with the ever changing dynamics between women and men in society, it is fun to see a non Scottish man in a skirt.

With very few little things left for people to rebel against, I have to give it to Kanye for trying. But I'm still bored. 

YES

You get points for pushing the boundaries of men's fashion especially in the hip hop music genre (double bonus points).

NO

The Olympic committee and I conferred and decided that we also must deduct points for the fact that you didn't fully commit to the skirt by showing us bare leg. You still put on pants underneath the kilt. 

MAYBE

Your next fashion challenge (if you chose to accept it) will be to wear the new Prada spring 2013 shoes (see below). See you at the concert.

My Indiana Jones Moment

It randomly happened today. After pigging out at the Peking Duck House on New Year's Day, I decided to make the long walk back from Chinatown up to Gramercy.

Meandering through Soho, I found myself in one of the many stores open on West Broadway. I decided to stop by the French Connection because I was feeling nostalgic for the good old days when I first moved to New York and it was the hot brand of the time. New Year's Day has a way of making people reflect on the past as we look forward to the future. Plus, the taste of duck was disturbing my stomach, I was afraid that I needed to be close to a clean toilet. So here I am at French Connection.

Browsing through the racks, I was immediately drawn to this brown bomber leather jacket. The distressed look, the knitted detail under the arms for ventilation and the superfluous flap on the back had me at hello. The perfect fit and the additional 50% off the sale price sealed the deal.

It reminded me of the one Indiana Jones wore through all of his adventures fighting belligerent natives and war loving Nazis. His jacket was fitted but loose. It hugged in all the right places but loose enough to let him reach for a whip, a lasso, a pistol and the crystal skull. He could wear it in the jungles of Sumatra, the wintry slopes of Antarctica and the hot sands of the Sahara desert; and he looked cool in each place because he had the jacket and a fedora.

Everyman has a leather jacket fantasy. Wether he wants the rock star leather, the biker look or the Princeton Professor of Archaeology, we all equate the cool guy look with leather. Maybe owning the perfect jacket makes working in an office instead of an ancient Arab temple looking for a holy chalice less banal. So if you have the same luck of finding your perfect leather jacket, here are some basic rules to follow.

YES
Aside from picking your leather idol, you should try to invest on the real thing. As a carnivore, I believe in using all of the animal. I eat its loins, its tongue, tail etc. So wearing it's softest possible skin is fine by me. Lambskin is my favorite, bovine can be a little heavy but still cool and exotic leathers takes your look into Italian Guido territory...but if that's your look, then to each his own. Just own it.

NO
Do not buy a leather jacket that doesn't fit. You might as well grab that wad of cash and throw it into the wind. Just remember that leather jackets should fit like a glove. It should be snug but loose enough to allow your joints to bend.

MAYBE
You're a vegan and you can't wear leather. But even the polyblend jacket should still fit snug. Maybe you can spray it with that leather jacket smell and go out on your own green organic adventure.

See you in the jungles.