Pants on, blast off
You have to hold your pants up, so you may as well do it with something fun.
I sort of love that his little rocket ship eyes look like quotation marks, too.
Argyle outside the lines
Argyle is awesome and all, but sometimes it can look a little Preppy McPrepperstein. This shirt, not so much - and that's why I like it.
15 minute countdown
How long are men's graphic tees with swirly thing layered patterns going to be in style? 1 more year? 3 more years?
At any rate, you still have time to be fashionable.
For cold librarians everywhere
You weren't nerdy enough, so here, you can get that cardigan of yours in fleece now, too.
Enjoy!
Dream hoodie
Hello, vintage looking hoodie with stripes and screenprinted royalty icons! It's me, Sarah, your destiny! I love you!
Let's run away together, into the East Village to some tiny bar or better yet, Paris! Yes, let's go to Paris and sit sipping coffee at a sidewalk cafe while the rain drizzles overhead! We'll be safe under the red and white striped canopy, drinking our espressos and discussing Proust. He was so underrated, wasn't he? Wasn't he, hoodie?
Oh vintage looking hoodie, only you understand!
For Highway-heading-out-on
This fleece motorcycle jacket says two things: First, I am a complete badass and I will cut you. Second, my heart is warm and I am a kind person to cuddle with.
Probably if that collar was buttoned it'd say one more thing, maybe it'd say, SERIOUSLY do not fuck with my pretty fleece jacket.
Still time!
If you're looking for a n easy gift any brother, best guy or boyfriend will like, these Medium shoes at 35% off right now and you can still buy them in time for Christmas.
Here's what I've figured out about guys and gifts: They are not like women and gifts. Women, we need specific gifts that have meaning and symbolize a love a person has for us. Gifts you give to women are supposed to encapsulate the way you feel about her.
Gifts for guys? Not as complex, surprisingly. They just like getting stuff. So shoes are good.
Stuffing the stocking
Before I moved to a cold climate, there was nothing I hated more than socks. But now? Now I love socks, and when it's snowy and slushy out I've found that the socks you're wearing become an integral part of your outfit, since you have to take your shoes off when you go to someone's house.
If your guy has a stash of worn, torn socks, get him a few new awesome pairs to stuff in his stocking. These robot socks are just the right touch of whimsy, and will make him look cool without making him look like he's the type of guy who coordinates his socks with this outfit.
Not that there's anything wrong with that.
A message from Mr. Gunn
Designers? Can I have your attention?
We're all going to gather up right now and head out to our next project. You'll be given $4 and two yards of yellow rope which you'll use to create a couture gown for our very special guest judge, Liza Minelli. You'll have twenty-two minutes to complete this project. Your models will be these obese Russian mail-order brides.
At no time during this project may you blink or use the word "scissors."
Before we go I want to make sure everyone is prepared and wearing their special shirts, and that no one has any further questions. Ok, everyone, carry on.
Top Hat
There's just something about this hat that almost erases all bad behavior beneath it. It's like, maybe he's a drunk, or a cheat or a skunk. Maybe he wears brown shoes with a black belt. Or white socks with black shoes! Maybe he forgets your birthday. Or your name in the morning. Maybe he has back hair. Or nose hair. Maybe he wants to see other people. But then he puts on this hat and he's all modern brat-packy looking and you can't help it, you think he's cute.
But let's not get too carried away. I said it almost erases all bad behavior beneath it. I mean, white socks with black shoes is inexcusable
The Corduroy Appreciation Club
We get lots of product suggestions and submissions here at Awesome--quite a few from jewelry and t-shirt-makers, but every once in awhile there's an email or a product or an idea that simply stands out from the crowd. There was that hand soap. And the ear earring. And then there's the email from the founder of The Corduroy Appreciation Club. He writes:
"In a nutshell, the Corduroy Appreciation Club is a
social club, in the tradition of organizations like The Elks Club or secret societies like The Masons. We only meet on dates which resemble
Corduroy. The date which most closely resembles Corduroy is November
11th, or 11|11."
What they do at their meetings is anyone's guess. Roll around on Corduroy rugs? Read their corduroy sonnets and haikus aloud to each other? Offer support to one another through what could be a debilitating addiction? I don't know! But they sell some cool shirts and ties, and that's good enough for me. (Also, you get a free membership card with your purchase, because "you deserve it.")
South for Winter
Hey! How long has it been since we featured something with a bird on it!? I can't keep track, so I think that means it's tiii-iiime! (end singsong voice.)
This hoodie from Heavy Tees is sherpa lined for maximum warmness, and screenprinted with lil'birdies for maximum post-hipsterness. It's made for guys, but I think a size small will fit most girls just fine.
Fly little birds! Fly away to next year!
A Good Philosophy
I think it was the great Aristotle who once said, "There's nothing like a warm, stylish coat that makes winter a little more tolerable."
I'm pretty sure if Aristotle were alive today, he'd agree that this down-filled Ben Sherman coat would do the trick.
...And one for guys too
And for you guys, the post below applies as well, just minus the quilted part of the jacket.
A cool military jacket is always great for any casual outfit, and plus this one is all puffy on the inside to keep you warm and tasty.
I mean, toasty. Warm and toasty, that's what I meant. I'm not implying anything here, or whatever.
Matchy Matchy
Hey guys, this belt matches that attitude you've been trying to cultivate. Just make sure your shoes match, too, otherwise we have real problems.
Custom...tired...metallic...tired...
These may be the ugliest men's shoes on the planet, but it's really late and I've worked all day and the hot chocolate I just made isn't good at all, and ... oh, right, those points matter because I actually designed this shoe!
Yes! I did! They are ugly because I'm tired!
But I'm sure if you had a good night's sleep, the pair you custom design for only $100 is going to be much, much cooler. But keep the metallic swoosh, if you do anything dear GOD keep the metallic swoosh.
Just not for munchkins
Ever since the leaves started fluttering away their green color, I've been in a quandary: Vest? Yes or no?
I personally cannot wear vests because I have the torso of a lady bug and it would only make me look like a munchkin bumbling around the corner as Dorothy landed in Oz, but vests on guys? I think I can handle that.
And this vest is only $28! So you can buy it and if it doesn't work out and you end up looking like a douchebag, you can shove it in the closet and feel good you didn't even waste $30 on it. If it does work out, you have the luxury of being able to wear it with all sorts of things, even your full body fleece jumpsuit that you got last year.
I think it's a go for vests this winter, only if you're over 5 feet tall.
Flasher apparel
If you're tired of the basic pea coat, this sorta-duster topcoat is the perfect alternative.
You can wear it with your nice work clothes, or you could wear it with jeans and your old worn ball cap. Or you could wear it with a hoodie under it, if it's 30 degrees outside and you're walking somewhere, so long as you take the coat off and don't actually wear that as your "outfit."
Or you could wear it with nothing underneath and just a pair of Crocs, and just ride the bus all day.
Perfect for non-carnies
It's fall already, which means pumpkin patches and carnivals and hot apple cider and men dressed in layers! Oh boy!
If flannel isn't your thing but you love the western shirt look, this toned down version is perfect. There's some subtle stripes instead of garish plaid and little cutout details on the pockets that say, "Hey, look at me being awesome."
This way no one will think you actually work at the pumpkin patch or carnival. Unless you keep doing that, "I bet you weigh 167 pounds" thing when you're on a date.
How else can 3 hours salary last forever?
I was walking by Banana Republic the other day and saw this sweater on display, and I was so overcome with how beautiful it was I walked in, snuck into the front display area, and wrapped my limbs around the mannequin and wouldn't let go.
Not really, but isn't that what you want a girl to do when she sees you?
So fork over the cash buddy! It's a great sweater, trust me on it being worth it.
You know what time it is?
Ooohhh yesssss. It's fall.
Please stock up on your half zip sweaters, men. Thanks.
All about Oil
After the "progress" report yesterday and given the significance and weight of today's anniversary and how it's been politically exploited to prolong a completely senseless war, this shirt seemed an appropriate post.
Happy New Year
A few years ago, I was in Las Vegas for New Years and right around 11:30 or so everyone started crowding around the Bellagio fountains because we knew there was going to be an awesome New Years lightshow or something. So it's crowded and everyone's drunk and pushing together and the crowd started getting restless so they ended up starting the show a bit early, right before midnight. The fountains shot up to the sky and the lights were flashing and for some reason, they chose to play Lionel Richie's All Night Long during the whole thing.
So this one guy, I don't know why, decides to climb up one of the faux-antique lamp posts around the fountains, the ones that are supposed to look all vintage and victorian, and he's up there straddled on it like a monkey in the jungle, waving his 32oz margarita around while the fountains splash his face and we're all cheering him on because he's so close to the fountains!
Then the lamp post snapped under his weight and he grabbed onto an exposed wire to catch himself and was electrocuted to death right in front of us, and Lionel just kept on singing, "All night long! All night, yeah!"
Side Two
Songs you put on a mix tape in high school to express your innermost feelings:
In Your Eyes by Peter Gabriel
Melt With You by Modern English
Little Earthquakes by Tori Amos
Pictures of You by the Cure
Strange Currencies by R.E.M.
Your Woman by White Town
Jennifer and the Ess Dog by Stephen Malkmus
Black by Pearl Jam
Linger by The Cranberries
Last Goodbye by Jeff Buckley
Anything by Toad the Wet Sprocket
Jonesin'
Sarah and I have an 'agree to disagree' policy when it comes to guys wearing flipflops, though I will concede that a nice leather pair are ok for the beach. And listening to your Bette Midler CD on a yacht named 'Wanda.'
If you choose to forgo flipflips in lieu of something more, ahem, substantial, check out these argyle numbers from Umbro by Kim Jones. Light enough for summer, they're still quirky and funky and won't get you mistaken for a closet Backstreet Boys fan. Which is pretty awesome.
Not too late
Ok guys, it's not too late, I promise. You still have one, maybe even two full months of summer left. Even if you didn't have the guts at the beginning of June to go out and get yourself a pair of nice flipflops, you still have time.
It's ok, just suck it up, and invest in a nice pair like these leather sandals from Clarks. They're not from the grocery store so they won't fall apart like the last pair of flipflops you bought in college, these are nice and well made. Yes, you really can wear them to work, I don't care what Peggy in accounting says, do you see what Peggy's wearing? Seriously.
Just trust me on this, get yourself a pair, and next summer you can be like everyone else. Instead of wearing running shoes to the beach. Again.
I'll take a vintage '81
I have no idea why Forever 21 started thinking that they could introduce a new line of vintage-inspired clothing and refer to it as "Heritage 1981." What in the world is vintage about 1981?!
Something has to be 30 years old to be considered an antique, right? So someone who's 26 years old is hardly an antique, for God's sake. I mean, it's not like I'm trolling rural Connecticut for antique waterbeds and macramé owl wall hangings, right??
Regardless of how old I feel right now, this shirt is a great antique find. You can wear it while you blast Thriller on your Pocket Rocker while wearing those bithchin' acid washed jeans and your way far out Vision Street Wear kicks.
Magic Shirt
This is one of those shirts that should just be a staple in every man's wardrobe. I mean, you need something to balance out all those graphic Ts and westerns shirts, and this one is not only casual and comfortable, it actually looks really nice too--it somehow manages to be simple without being boring.
We'd let you take us out for a bite to eat in a shirt like this! We'd let you buy us a drink! And if you're really lucky, we might even let you see us wearing it at your place the next morning...
Protest Jeans
People always want to act like they hate chain stores like the Gap and don't want to wear cookie cutter clothes, and they proclaim how loathe they are to even go near a mall to all their neo-political and totally different friends while they sip their imported beer that no one's ever heard of because they're so individual and unique, but come on.
These jeans are 60% off. That's $19. I understand that you are a paying listener of NPR and use a canvas bag to take home your organic fruits from Whole Foods and you have very deep rooted feelings about the plight of sweatshop workers in 3rd world countries, but again: these jeans are $19.
They're perfect for wearing to whatever protest you say you're going to go to this weekend while you're really at home watching last season's Project Runway marathon and eating Cheetos.
Get a date
Since it's almost summer, that means you guys need to start getting back on the prowl to find dates to all those BBQ's and weddings and company parties that are happening in the next three months. You seriously have like 987 BBQ's to go to this year, you can't possibly go all alone!
So if asking a girl out is awkward for you and you end up staring at your shoes half the time, you should at least be wearing interesting shoes. These ones fit the bill quite well, and you could even wear them to about half of those parties you've got to get to. Just don't wear them to all the parties, because then you end up as The Guy Who Wears The Same Shoes and Can't Get A Date.
More Nerdy Shoes
I picture the man who wears these as the kind of guy who likes books and reading and can probably do long division in his head.
I wouldn't be surprised if he's got some Sudoku toilet paper, too. Not that there's anything wrong with that!
Vintage rock star sweat
I don't know why this is called a "casual shirt" because if you ask me it's pretty fancy.
It's like one of those awesome vintage western shirts you see rock stars wearing on their first major label tour where they're still playing small clubs and bars and you can get really close to the stage to see the detail on their cuffs. You hang out there all night looking at that awesome rock star shirt and wonder where he picked it up - a thrift store in Nashville? A vintage shop in Austin? You like it so much you start to like the band even more, then decide to drive 50 miles the next night to see them again.
Except that rock star is wearing the same shirt the next night which you know is totally disgusting, because it's not like they're so famous they have a washing machine on their bus.
Squired Away
This tie from from Deadly Squire in a pattern called 'Black Birds After the Harvest' would look great with crisp blue shirt, or to jazz up a black shirt.
Also, Jake Gyllenhaal could wear it with nothing else and that would be fine, too.
An offer you can't refuse
If you're awesome and want the world to know, you should get yourself one of Marlon Brando's own hats, for sale now at Jack Spade.
Did you hear me? Marlon. Brando. Hat. For. Sale. You. Go. Get.
You better hurry, there's only 4 of the 9 left, and you wouldn't want to be thought as not awesome, would you?
Un-Squared Away
Guys, if your wardrobe needs a bit of a boost, especially with wedding season upon on--which I'm sure you are so thrilled about--and you want some pants that are a bit dressy without making you look totally square, check out these sexy chambray trousers from Modern Amusement. And if you can pull it off, throw on the fedora pictured in the photo. But seriously? Lose the flip-flops. You know, unless you're on the beach. Or gay. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
Don't tell them it's so cheap
I saw this awesome shirt made by my friends at Naive Clothing and I thought, "I am willing to pay any amount of money for this awesome shirt!" Then I clicked on the link and it said it was only $8 and I just sat there staring at the screen.
So I closed my internet browser and shut down my computer and flipped the circuit breaker switch to reset the power in my house, and I turned my computer back on and went back to the Naive site and for some reason the shirt is still marked for $8.
Obviously this is a huge mistake you need to take advantage of, as well as using the discount code "AWESOME" for 10% off any of their other awesome duds!
8 Bits of love
Things that start out as a joke and turn into serious stuff are always fun for everyone involved. Just like that relationship you're stuck in!
And this tie from ThinkGeek which was supposed to be an April Fool's joke until people wanted to buy them. Now it can be yours for $20 if you have the patience to wait until it comes back in stock. Apparently they sold out in roughly six hours, which means you better get yours quick!
Who knew nerds were clamoring for a neck tie? Oh, it's a clip on. Ok, now I see the appeal.
Cheap hoodie universe
I know that a hoodie for $69 that is "on sale" is really not "on sale" unless you live in some parallel universe where things just cost random hundreds of dollars and seeing a price tag with only two numbers before the dot is a dream come true.
But I can't help posting about this hoodie because it is adorable.
It's soft and simple on the outside but lined with an awesome madras print that will work great for those late night bonfires at the beach or your early breakfast at that outdoor cafe, or for wearing all day when you're nursing that PBR hangover.
And hey, if you're one of those guys from that parallel universe where your hoodies are lined with $5 bills, call me!
Even good for the 5" bunchup
The thing that annoys me the most about guys is that they can basically buy one pair of awesome shoes and wear them with anything.
This pair is one of those awesome pairs that I'm sure a bunch of guys are going to run off and buy and then wear with their jeans and their cords and probably even their work khakis because theses shoes go with anything.
Not that I'm advocating guys wearing shoes like this with khakis, or khakis for that matter. But you know how men are, at this point you can't really make them change, even if khakis give them a pants tent.
Argyle rules your soul
Ok, so technically my guest month is up... but I've been slacking so expect not one, not two, but THREE posts from me all today! (wait, three? hmm, I'll think of something).
SH already mentioned Manpris, and while I despise the name (preferring knickers, shin kickers, cropped pants, etc), they've become an old standby in the urban biking world. But what, pray tell, do I wear to keep my calves warm in the winter and yet still look totally bitchin?
Of all things, the golfing world has come through with a perfect solution: knee-high argyle socks. Holy moley! Look at all the color options (and ladies, you can have them too)!
Golfknickers is just an awesome site on its own. Providing the world with traditional golf apparel. If you walked out on the green in an outfit from here, you'd be sure to blow some yuppie's mind right there. Oh wow!
But, Jesse, you ask, how do they look on such a cool urban biking dude like yourself? Well, I'm glad you asked.
Put a swagger in it
It's my friend Brad's 30th birthday today! Since he is very awesome, he's inspired a post about this awesome Howe jacket since he got a similar one for an early birthday present two weeks ago and hasn't taken off since.
This will look great in any combination of ensemble: Jeans and t shirt, jeans and hoodie, cords and t shirt, cords and hoodie, flannel pj bottoms and your old Bon Jovi shirt, basically anything with pant legs and sleeves. It's comfy, broken in and exactly what you need to still feel young and hip.
And even though it's almost $200, it's still pretty worth it for a great garment. Go ahead, splurge a little on something timeless and classic.
After all, you're 30 now.
Slacks are Boring
Not to mention uncomfortable. The pleats, the tapering, the crease, the weird side pockets that stick out and make you look like you have hips when you don't — 'cause you're a man, dammit. It's all just horrible and makes Jesus (comfortably "hanging loose" in his robe) cry.
When Levi Strauss created worker pants made out of denim and cut in the practical worker way, he was really on to something. Yet here I am with about six pairs of jeans and you only notice the nice dark-washed ones. Denim can get a little boring too. So wouldn't it be radical if someone made some "slacks" with pin-stripes and in raging colors (like brown!) but cut them in the 5-pocket goodness of jeans? Yes, yes it would. And look, people have.
You can find them lots of places (look for "5-pocket"), but here are some from good ol' Urban Outfitters. I have a pair of these babies and they pretty much make me look like a rock star who means business. They're the mullet of the pants world (business in the fabric, party in the pants, something like that), and gents, the ladies dig 'em.
Note: Do not confuse these fusion pants with the atrocity that are pleated jeans. *shudder*
A long long time ago
This one time long ago that totally wasn't last night or the night before, I used to be addicted to buying dresses and tops from Forever21, but this was a long time ago and not at all recently.
Then once I was all, "I wish I had a boyfriend who wore shirts from Forever21 because they make really adorable guy stuff too!" And then I thought of how easy and awesome it would be to have said boyfriend wearing said clothing because we could add our orders together since I buy something from them every single day.
And then I was like, "I'm going to buy this shirt anyway with the hopes that maybe I can give it to someone soon," but I don't remember if that's accurate because that totally didn't happen at all last night.
On Track
After I bought a plain brown hoodie early last spring on sale for about $20, I hand-stitched a couple of cute flowers on it and voila, it has been an absolute staple in my wardrobe ever since.
This Ben Sherman track jacket is for guys what my favorite hoodie has been for me -- that totally comfortable, yet stylish, piece clothing to throw over a t-shirt and jeans as you head to the movies with your girlfriend, a neighborhood bar for some beers, or, sigh, a superbowl party with all your loud, testosterone-filled friends if you must (and for the record, I'll be washing my hair).
Jacket retailed for $149, was discounted to $89, is on clearance for $70.99, and for today only, is an additional 15% off!!
Tie one on me
Thanks to my awesome friend Katie's Flickr stream, I just discovered the even awesomer Cyberoptix online shop!
Look at them ties!! Look at this one! And this one! And wow! This one too!
For $40 a pop I might as well just buy them all and make a skirt out of them! I bet that would make everyone envy me the most in the whole wide world!
Perfect Recipe
You know what guys? We ladies think hats like this make you look really cute. But still a little urban and edgy. Especially with some dark wash jeans and nerd shoes, and...okay fine, I'll admit it: maybe if you were pinching the end of a cigarette you rolled yourself between your thumb and index finger and I don't even like cigarettes or anything but I still you'd look pretty hot with one. But only if you were wearing this hat (which is on sale for only $.9.99!) And the nerd shoes. Don't forget those. And the dark wash jeans. Totally.
Oooh Fancy
So I found out that sometimes it's hard for men to find really well-fitting dress shirts! What? I never knew. And what's fun about spending a bunch of money on clothes that don't even fit you? Just ask Britney Spears.
If you're a guy who doesn't have any shirts that fit you just so, consider splurging on a custom shirt from Liste Rouge. It's on sale right now at Wishingfish and for a mere $150 you'll get a custom tailored shirt made just for you.
Trust me, once you go custom, you never go back.Arbor Day
My Dear Heart and I share a passion for two things: graphic design and shoes. Those are two seemingly mismatched obsessions, but they now have been joined in a harmonious marriage... the Arborist shoes, a collaboration between footwear company Medium, and design/type foundry House Industries.
With its woodgrain design, cork sole and outdoorsy colors, they're what I call a stylish hobbit shoe. Not that hobbits wear shoes, mind you... but if they did, they'd totally wear these!
And for the font geek in all of us (c'mon, am I not the only one?) these shoes ship with a CD containing a selection of House Industries fonts.
I asked him to wear these shoes with stripey socks, and we could just call it a day. A girl can dream, right?
Couples therapy
Well, well, well, what do we have here? It looks like a nice, soft, broken in zipper hoodie, doesn't it?
BUT IT'S NOT!
It's actually an apparatus with which to wrap your favorite girl up in, and then she can take it home and you'll never get to wear it again because it looks better on her, but she'd never buy it for herself because, duh, it's a boys hoodie.
Plus like most girls she's way more emotionally inclined than you are, and perhaps has become attached to you in a different way than you have to her, and you just need to understand that sometimes you've got to THROW US A BONE, GUYS.
Don't forget your mistletoe belt
The best part about this simple Merino wool V-neck sweater is that no matter what, a V-neck sweater is always going to make you look dressy.
Trust me, try it out this holiday season. V-neck sweater and jeans? Dressy casual! V-neck sweater and slacks? Woah! You're all dressed up! V-neck sweater and your pajama bottoms and hideous sheepskin slippers? You're an LL Bean advertisement!
J. Shoes
One of the biggest ordeals of having an adult job is the whole dressing for work without looking like an asshole conundrum. On one hand, you can't just wear hoodies and sneakers, unless you work for one of those awesome creative offices that have bowls of Jelly Bellys and Skittles all about and bathrooms that are painted green and have cool sinks with the free-floating faucets.
On the other hand, you don't want to wear blue button-downs and khaki pants with boring black oxfords. You want to retain at least some of your personal style from 9-5. And for that, these leather J. Shoes are perfect: hip, stylish, sexy, professional, and marked down from $120 to $64 with an additional 10% off until 6 am tomorrow morning, so hurry (and check out the other awesome J. Shoes while you're at it)!!
'Tis the season
It's my favorite season of the whole year! No, not the holiday season. Fuck the holidays: they're stressful and expensive and cold.
No, no, my favorite season of the year is t-shirt/corduroy jacket season for the guys! I'll never tire of the combo and from October to April you men have plenty of opportunities to make me all a-fluster with it!
And this super soft argyle crew t-shirt from Alternative Apparel is the perfect layering Tee to wear under your cord jackets: it's casual without being sloppy. Trendy without being ironic. And it's on sale for $20, so you'll totally have enough cash left over to buy us presents. Win-win.
Gift Guide for Guys
Read about these groovy keyboard cufflinks and other awesome gift ideas for guys in our Indie Gift Giver Guide for Men published in VenusZine!
And if you don't know about it already, Venus is a print and online publication that focuses on women in music, art, film, fashion, and D.I.Y. culture. Its voice is edgy, yet informative, and they've even got Cat Power on the cover of their winter issue, so what are you waiting for? Go pick it up!