For The Guys: A Few New Luxury Favorites

This one is for the guys and for those who wonder what they may need.  Ok... what they may want.  There are a few luxury pieces I can't seem to get out of my mind, some more attainable than others.  I hope you enjoy these findings, on your Pinterest boards if not in your actual closet.

First up is a preview of Spring- this awesome pair of slim fitting corduroy shorts from Slowear.  Priced at $295 on Mr. Porter, these aren't cheap but certainly aren't outrageous.  The pink color and corduroy texture both are very preppy, also modern.  This is a great length for guys- a few inches above the knee without being too short.  I love the stone colored shirt with this, juxtaposing a solid neutral with this loud short.  

Next is the perfect scent- Green Irish Tweed.  I've sung the praises of my favorite cologne brand Creed many times and will continue to do so.  No collection of fragrances has ever been so memorable or easily recognizable in my experience.  This particular scent has base notes of sandalwood, topped off with French verbena and Florentine iris.  Be sure to check this out for yourself or as a gift at Creed's online site or locally at Nordstrom in Nashville for $315.  

Alright, how much fun is this shoe?  It's available on pre-order from Saks for $895.  Gucci took a risk with this one, a studded leather cute-yet-tough shoe.  I'm a big fan of it, although I will be the first to admit there's a time and a place for this shoe- not an everyday look.  Would be great with jeans or shorts, slacks not so much unless they were very structured/slim/tailored and ankle length.

Something a bit more classic- this leather jacket by Rag & Bone.  Available at ssense for $1,395, this green color is a great masculine option to throw on with almost anything.  Quilted panels add great detail and the updated bomber style with slimmer lines helps to really stretch this piece from casual to a bit more dressy if desired.  

Antique-Inspired Jewelry: Pyrrha

Earlier today, my fabulous friend Rachel introduced me to a great line of jewelry, Pyrrha.  I've always admired intaglios, wax seals, crests and designs from times gone by.  This great brand takes these fragile pieces and gives them a fresh, more permanent life in sterling silver, bronze and gold.  Brad Pitt, Taylor Swift, Ryan Reynolds and Katie Holmes regularly wear Pyrrha.  These rustic yet beautiful designs are great dressed up or down.  A few of my favorites are below, the first one I just purchased for myself a few moments ago- exciting! Check out their website and pick your favorites. I love that each one tells the history and symbolism behind each design.  

Steeplechase Fashion 2012

Attention Nashville ladies & gentlemen... there are just a few more days until Steeplechase on Saturday, May 12.  If you've not yet perfected your look for the races this weekend, read below and check out my segment on News Channel 2 today from The Cotton Mill in Green Hills where trends, hats, colors and all of the essential Steeplechase elements will be discussed. 

A few thoughts for the ladies:

Matching is the most traditional look: having the perfectly colored hat to match the dress to match the shoes to match the bag, etc...  I think this is classic and never goes out of style in a great royal wedding kind of way.  Know, however, that the key to your perfect outfit is to complement rather than to always coordinate.  If it is your desire to be monochromatic, go for it!  Or if you want to mix it up, go for it!  Just don't limit yourself or decide against a piece because it doesn't match perfectly.  In those cases, introduce (or eliminate) a color or texture to reduce the risk of looking dated.  

Color blocking is certainly the most current, obvious and fabulous trend now in fashion.  I challenge you to adopt an expanded view of color blocking, however.  Color blocking can exist within a single piece of clothing or by mixing various pieces.  To stay ahead of the curve, be original in your color combinations.  Be fearless to mix hot pink and red, navy and black, ecru and orange- whatever strikes your fancy.  Just be sure it looks obvious and intentional, not by accident or bad judgement.  

You'll get a great look at the best Nashville has to offer in unique and current Steeplechase options in today's segment.  Take a look for yourself at The Cotton Mill in Grace's Plaza in Green Hills.

And a few thoughts for the men: 

Nothing says Steeplechase fashion to me like Hermes neckwear.  This light blue horsebit bowtie goes quite nicely I think with the pattern of the Valentino sportcoat underneath.  It is subtle, handsome and perfectly appropriate for an afternoon of excitement at the races. 

Don't overdo it.  As impeccably dressed as I feel you should be, this day is more about the ladies.  Avoid loud pastels that look neon- go instead for more soft, regal tones.   Seersucker is always appropriate, madras is very questionable.  Helpful hint: if you can find lilac seersucker, that's a nice alternative to the traditional blue that you will see all around. Billy Reid had a fantastic suit last year, so check there for sure.  Even if they're out of seersucker I'd place a high bet they will have the perfect thing for you. 

Pocket squares, bowties and antique horse pins (remember this awesome piece? Christine Wallace Horse Pin) are among my favorite accessories for the big day, but my favorite accessory is actually unseen: CREED Millesime Imperial.  Over the years, it has become my favorite scent by far and is always the perfect addition to any of my wardrobe choices.  If you're new to CREED fragrances, also check out Neroli Sauvage which I must say is particularly nice when worn in warmer temperatures.  Available locally at Nordstrom.  

Fun at Steeplechase last year

Fun Finds: April

The month of April has proven to be a successful one already in terms of fun finds.  First is this galvanized metal obelisk etagere I found on sale at Retropolitan in Nashville.  Many thanks to Amy Heimermann for her help in getting this great piece to me.  Most I've seen are shorter, around 6 ft, but this one is quite tall at over 8 ft.  I'm enjoying the extra storage space and cool industrial, but classic look.  

Next is this awesome greek key linen pillow, embellished with metallic accents.  This is from my favorite Nashville store, Epiphany.  Thanks to Julie Goad for suggesting I mix and match my neutrals, throwing in a bit of fun.  I'm loving this.  A great addition to my living room.  

Yesterday while shopping in Franklin with my out-of-town family, I came across this amazing hat at a trunk show in Haven.  A snakeskin band and bow accents this hat quite nicely, as do the feathers and miniature skull detail.  It was great to see Claudia Fowler and all the new things she has selected for the Spring/Summer season.  Not sure where I'll wear this yet, but I'm sure I'll find somewhere special soon. 

Obsessed: Creed: Original Vetiver

My Creed collection recently expanded with the fragrance Original Vetiver.  I've enjoyed it quite a lot for its notes of ginger, mandarine and sandalwood.  Clean and crisp, it has a nice subtle but unique lingering quality.  Priced around $240 for 2.5oz, this can be found locally at Nordstrom or online at Creed Boutique. 

For The Guys: Madrid Trend: The Bold Pant

After spending a week in Madrid earlier this month, the most noticeable trend for guys I observed was the bold pant.  Everywhere I looked there were red, blue, orange, purple, green and yellow pants.  Men in Madrid are not fearful of color, that's for sure.  

Now I will say that when it comes to being classically handsome or dapper, nothing usually beats a black/grey/white combination, but the bold pant is a trend not to be overlooked.  Nashville guys sometimes break out the color, but usually in either a very preppy country club style or grungy band look. Refined casual everyday wear scarcely sees such color. My favorite, the purple pants above, I noticed from across the street on my new pal Diego.  I asked where he purchased them and to my luck & surprise, we were standing in front of the store Cremieux.  

I quickly entered the shop, was greeted with a generously delicious gin & tonic and acquired my own purple pants. I was happy to see there were many other fun finds inside as well.  This was my first time in an upscale Cremieux store; before I had only known them from smaller department stores in the states where I'd never had much luck. I was impressed with their selection of unique offerings in this Salamanca district store. 

Madrid Shopping: MAN 1924

While in Madrid this week, I've spent each afternoon discovering different areas of the city in hopes of finding unique shops and restaurants. Today, I made my way to MAN 1924 in the Salamanca shopping district; it has quickly become my new favorite store.  

 

I had the pleasure of meeting Spanish-based owner Carlos Castillo, whose passion for style is magnificently infectious. He was incredibly kind to chat with me, even showed me around his new website that launched today MAN1924.com. His use of color, texture and pattern presents an infinite number of possibilities for the stylish modern man. 

I found a green silk bowtie with blue centered double stripe that will complement so many looks I can pull together from my closet. Impeccably constructed and thoughtfully designed, each piece in MAN 1924 whether urban, city or formal is quite wonderful.

A pair of slim fitting navy trousers called my name as well. They're the perfect length above the ankle in current European fashion. MAN 1924 is more wearable than Brooks Brothers, more affordable than Zegna and more modernly styled than J Crew. 

A vintage vibe finds its way into many pieces, and the fun thing is you can then easily mix these with a bright blue vest or orange pant to achieve an eclectic, ruggedly refined look. Be sure and check it out if you're in Madrid or 'til then visit MAN1924.com, quick preview below.

Upcoming Fall Favorites: Creed, Nordstrom, Color

Fall is almost here and I have some favorite things already!  First up is Creed's new fragrance, Royal Oud.  

My favorite scent of all time is Creed's Millesime Imperial, however I've found Royal Oud to be a wonderful addition to my collection when I'm in the mood for its elements of sandalwood, lemon and cedar.  Its warm, rich base tones and lighter top notes blend very well together.  According to the Wall Street Journal, Prince William is already enjoying this new Creed creation.  A portion of proceeds will benefit child health in India via Global Giving.  It launches in Nordstrom stores this November which brings me to my next favorite thing: the Nordstorm store opening in Nashville!  

I am very excited about this addition to the local shopping scene.  We must support it and our favorite brands they carry, sending a message that Nashville can not only support it but strongly desires the variety.  Mark September 16th in your calendars to shop, shop, shop!

As I shop around this Fall, I just know I'm going to discover some great colors I don't ordinarily wear.  Below are a few things I'm thinking about buying for this season, both from Zara's new online site.