Wardrobe Essentials - For the Guys

After posting about my top ten splurge-worthy wardrobe essentials, I had some requests to write one for the guys. Shoes are almost number one for me as far as something in which every guy should invest. Shoes are so important, in fact, that they got their own post! Now, my experience shopping for guys is much more limited than shopping for myself, but a lot of the same principles apply: invest in basic pieces that work well together, and build from there.

1. Classic Oxford - I will always love a good, classic oxford on a guy- blue or white, it doesn't matter. If you are looking to build your wardrobe, invest in a quality oxford that will work well with a variety of ties and blazers.

2. Casual Shirt - When I say "casual," I don't mean a screen print t-shirt. I mean either a button-up or a polo (if that's more your speed). Whenever I'm shopping for my brothers or my dad, J. Crew Factory is the first place I look. They have reasonably priced clothes for the quality of their products. For the winter, look for darker colors in heavier fabrics, and for summer, go for pastels or brights in lighter fabrics.

3. Shorts - One of my pet peeves about shorts is that most guys tend to buy pairs that are too long. Wearing shorts that are too long makes the guy look shorter and a little (heaven-forbid!) outdated. Shoot for a length that hits just above the knee or a little higher. I know Chubbies are a thing right now, but I'm not sure that I would recommend going that short...

4. Casual Pants - Find a fit you like (not too loose, not to tight) and go with it! Experiment with colors, or stick to traditional ones like khaki and navy. These come in about 10 colors - have at it!

5. Dress Pants - Fit is everything. I recommend doing a little leg work to track down a brand that works for you and your wallet. Find a good tailor and have you pants altered to fit you. Very rarely will dress pants fit perfectly right off the rack.

6. A Classic Blazer - Choose a blazer that works well with your dress pants (or just invest in a suit), and you'll be good to go!

[Fossil - Daniel Wellington - Nixon]

7. A Classic Watch - In my last post, I mentioned that I always look at a guy's shoes first. Well, I glance at the watch second. Decide on a metal, leather, or digital watch - whichever fits your overall style best. And no need to stop at just one! Girls have more than one pair of earrings, why can't a guy have more than one watch?

8. A Leather Belt - I feel like this one is pretty self-explanatory...

9.Winter Coat - A good winter coat will carry you a long way. There are so many options: wool or down; short or long; buttons or zipper; collar or collarless. Take you pick. (P.S. The best time to shop for winter coats is after Christmas).

[Sailboats - Stripes - Ducks - Orange - Dots]

10. Fun Socks - I had trouble coming up with number 10, so I phoned a friend - well, more like texted...several friends, actually. They all said every guy should have some fun dress socks. These are some of my favorite

Everyone in NYC

This guy is on a quest to draw every single person in New York City. Quite the ambition! But check out this video:

Office Wear

After wearing jeans and non-slip shoes to work for six months, I'm so excited to have a job where I can actually get dressed every day! Although, I've realized that my wardrobe mostly consists of casual wear, because, up to this point, that's usually all I've ever needed. Now I'm on the hunt for some office appropriate wardrobe staples that will last. Here's what I'm loving right now:

Dress

Necklace

Wedge

Watch

Tulip Top

Pump

12 in 12: Sitti

Downtown Raleigh in the spring is such a fun place to hang out. The weather recently has been gorgeous, and everyone milling about always makes for some good people-watching. Julie and I decided to try Sitti as one of my 12 in 12 for the month of May. I have always loved Mediterranean food, and after a trip to Israel back in 2011, I have some wonderful memories associated with certain meals there. Sitti actually serves Lebanese food, but since Israel and Lebanon are neighbors both bordering the Mediterranean sea, the cuisine is similar.

Sitti had modern, upscale feel to it, but Julie and I opted to sit at a sidewalk table because it was so loud inside. Another friend of mine recommended that we sit in the courtyard, but there was a wedding reception being held there that night. The food was delicious, but not my favorite of Mediterranean style dishes I've had in the past. I would love to go back and try something different - all of the menu options looked incredible.

When our orders came, Julie and I were so hungry, we dug right in and completely forgot to take pictures of our meal! So in lieu of food photos, here are a few of my favorite snapshots of Israel.

The view from Mount Carmel overlooking an olive grove and the valley of Jezreel.

The synagogue at Capernaum.

The hills near Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered.

The view from the Mount of the Beatitudes overlooking the Sea of Galilee.

The springs at Ceasarea Philippi. 

I'm loving this adventure of trying out restaurants that are unique to Raleigh! Any recommendations for restaurants that aren't on my list?

The Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo - Round 1

I remember hearing great things about the Food Truck Rodeos in Downtown Raleigh last year, so this month when my roommate invited a group of our friends to go, I was so excited! It was packed, but so much fun! The weather was perfect - sunny and breezy but not too warm - and the food was even better. And, people-watching downtown is always entertaining.

Caroline and I stood in line for a loooooooooong time to get Arepas - which were absolutely worth the wait. An Arepa is sort of like a corn tortilla/pita hybrid. I ordered one with chicken and peppers and onions, and Caroline opted for one with BBQ pork with pico de gallo. We couldn't tell whose was whose though, so I think I ended up eating hers and she ended up eating mine!

After downing our lunch, we made a beeline to the Tarheel Creamery Ice Cream truck - so good! Their espresso cookie ice cream hit the spot.

The next Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo is Sunday, June 14 - whose in?!

Guys and Shoes

I'll let you in on a little secret: I judge men by their shoes. It's terrible, I know. But I feel like shoes are the window to the style-soul - they reveal much about an individual's personal style. Some girls take a quick look to see if a cute guy is wearing a wedding band, but I always glance at his shoes first. One of my pet-peeves is flip-flops. Guys, flip-flops should be worn to the beach, to the pool, and to take the trash out. Every other occasion requires actual shoes.

For summer, decide if you are a loafer type of guy, or if you are more comfortable in some casual sneakers (I don't mean running shoes - those are for working out and running to get some groceries).

[Loafers - Sneakers] 

For winter, usually some type of boot is best for causal occasions. Here are three of my favorites:

[Cowboy Boots - Desert Boots - Duck Boots]

Now, guys dress shoes can be a little complicated, so if you're interested in understanding some of the terminology, here is a fun diagram from Dappered.com. Otherwise, here are some of my tops picks:

[Wingtips - Tassel Loafers - Cap-toe]

I have a post about my top ten investment worthy pieces for a guy's wardrobe in the works, but shoes get their own post. Check back in a bit!

12 in 12: Jose and Sons

I have to say, Jose and Sons is now my go-to place for Mexican food in Raleigh. It was so good! My friend, Sarah, and I ventured to Southwest corner of downtown back in April for some amazing food.

Our waitress was so sweet, and the atmosphere was quite unique! It definitely had an Old-West meets East-Coast-Southern feel about it. Hard to explain unless you have been there - which means you should go!

Sarah ordered two appetizers for her meal: Chicken Floutas and a bowl of Crema Negra soup (Check out the descriptions on their menu!)

I ordered the Collard-Wraped Tamales - simply amazing. Period. The end.

Jose and Sons is just a few doors down from Videri Chocolate Factory, which I would have loved to try, but we were just so full! 

After dinner, I asked a guy sitting at an outside table if he would take our picture, but none of the photos he snapped turned out well at all. He did admit to having had a few too many drinks....

Next up in the 12 in 12 series: Sitti!

The "Good Ol' Days"

You know when you take a bite of a lemon square and it's almost so sweet and tangy that it hurts your teeth? Thats how I feel about life right now - sweet and tangy. My roommate said to me the other day, "These are the days we will look back on and say, 'Those were the good ol' days.'" I think she's right. There are so many fun things do and go to and see, and there are such amazing people in our lives to join in on the adventures. I can't wait for the summer with beach trips, outdoor concerts, shag dancing, and weddings. What good ol' days these will be.

To the Beach! - For the Guys

{Beaufort, NC}

In my hunt for beachwear, I found some great pieces for the guys as well! Here are some of my favorites:

Harding Lane Baseball Cap

Gant Swim Trunks (Similar here.)

Linen Shirt from Boden

Classic Wayfarer Sunglasses

Original Deck Shoes

Monogrammed Beach Towel

Wardrobe Philosophy

As my roommate will tell you, I have a system for just about everything. Just about. I've resigned myself to the fact that some things in life go much more smoothly without a system, so I've let go of some of my failed frameworks. But anyway, my wardrobe system is this: invest in quality pieces that work well together. My style tends to gravitate toward what I would call "Classic-Preppy," but whatever your style may be, here is my list of key wardrobe pieces that would be well worth a little splurge. Typically, clothes that are made well last a good long while and tend to fit better than comparable pieces that are cheaper (in more ways than one). 

{Shop}

1. Denim - First, decide whether you are a straight-leg or boot-cut jean kind of gal (or both!). Then, spend some time trying on lots of different brands to find the cut and size that work best for you. Trying on denim takes a lot of patience, but jeans that fit well are well worth the time and effort. (Note: I hate buying jeans because it took me forever to find a brand that fit me well, and as soon as I did, the company went out of business. I wanted to cry.)

{Shop}

2. Classic Oxford - Whether you go with white or light blue, a classic button-up can instantly make a casual outfit look a little bit sharper. I had to search around to find one that that was a good length for me and that fit well through the shoulders and torso. Take your time finding a shirt that works for you, and then take care of it once you find it.

{Black Pumps - Leather Flats - Nude Pumps}

3. Classic Shoe - Whether you go with a wedge or pump, a nice pair of black or nude heels will go with almost every dress or pair of pants you buy. Nude heels are great because they make your legs appear longer - who wouldn't want that! If you're more of a flats kind of girl, I would recommend finding a pair of well made brown leather flats; they work with just about everything.

{Dress 1 - Dress 2 - Dress 3}

4. Little Black Dress (LBD) - I know the "Little Black Dress" may seem slightly cliché, but there is a reason for that: it works. Having a classic black dress will come in far handier than you think. Weddings, funerals, parties, engagement showers, concerts, interviews, first dates - the LBD works for all of these. In the winter, throw on some tights and a sweater or blazer, and in the summer break out the sandals and big earrings.

{Shop}

5. Coat - whether you go with a classic trench, a wool pea coat, or a more functional down jacket, choose a color and fit that works for you, and be willing to splurge on something that will last more than a few winters.

6. Leather Belt - A nice leather belt works with a pair of jeans or over a shirt dress. Quality belts are actually pretty easy to find and often not all that expensive. I have two that I wear interchangeably almost everyday. Check out these options here, here, and here.

{Brown bags: Left - Center - Right}

 {Black bags: Left - Center - Right}

7. Leather Handbag - A good leather purse is the kind of piece that, if you take care of it, will last forever (almost). Invest in a classic style that will work with every outfit in your wardrobe, and then have a few fun clutches on hand for a fancy evening. And well made handbags in classic styles are often easy to resell if you ever decide you're ready for something different.

{Skirt - Blouse} 

Pop of Color - Find a color that works well with your complexion and run with it. From tops, to scarves, to shoes, look for things to stand out against the other classic pieces that you have used to build your wardrobe. My personal favorites are coral and blue.

{Striped Shirt & Leopard Flats}

9. Patterns - I always gravitate toward stripes, particularly blue and white stripes (remember my obsession with blue and white?!). But I also have a soft spot for a little splash of leopard - nothing too outrageous, but I do love my calf-hair leopard print flats! Even if stripes and animal prints are not your thing, find something you love (florals, plaid, etc.) and just go with it!

{Pearl Studs}

10. Simple Studs - Seriously. Get some. They go with everything, from your striped tee, to the Little Black Dress, to the oxford button-up. I find myself wearing my pearl post earrings almost everyday!

There you have it: my top ten "splurge worthy" wardrobe essentials, and my general philosophy about building a closet around pieces that will last. I know there are other ways to go about creating a wardrobe and a style for yourself, any thoughts about what has worked best for you?