Leave me Malone

Jo Malone has long been synonymous with luxury, but only recently has become acceptable for men to openly admit to owning. Gay, Straight, Metro, Bi, Thai, men across the globe has finally embraced what thousands of satisfied female consumers have grown to love over the years and become not-so-closeted fans of the London apothecary staple.

Even if you (or your boyfriend) think they are too tough for "girly" candles, creams, lotions, and potions, the line is offering up some pretty sweet deals! With Christmas just around the corner, the brand offers some luxury items at reasonable prices that will leave everyone thinking you finally put on your big boy/girl pants and stopped thinking a $5 gift card to Best Buy is a gift.

http://www.jomalone.com/home.tmpl

Get the look: MAD MEN

Oct 16, 2010 Nicholas Morine

While the entire cast of Mad Men are suited up in some of the finest classic vintage aesthetics to ever hit the silver screen – nobody does it better than the lean and incorrigible Don Draper. As the star of the show, he is the most obvious choice to model as clotheshorse and a style icon that many men could easily emulate with at least some degree of success.

The Secret Behind Don Draper's Wardrobe – Classic Men's Fashion in a Monochrome Shade

The alignment of the monochrome ensemble – that is, a suit, shirt, and tie combination that restrict themselves to blacks, greys, and whites – is just as evident in the costuming of the cast of Mad Men as it has been a staple of designer fashion, particularly Calvin Klein, for the past four or five years.

A staple of Don Draper's wardrobe is the two button wool suit in a charming business gray – lighter than the dusky charcoal typically found in many serge or gabardine wool offerings and a touch darker than the light smoke that became very popular in the 1970's and 1980's. This is an absolute must have item in order to complete the look, CK being just one avenue to pursue in finding a well-tailored equivalent.

A crisp white dress shirt never hurt, either. It is a rare time indeed when we see the advertising man of the century bereft of a crisp, fitted white dress shirt. When placed in combination with a black tie in order to create contrast and an aire of authority and confidence – this outfit really comes together in all the right ways to create a professional and cool image typical of the era.

How to Dress like the Cast and Characters of AMC's Mad Men

Really, the secret is all in the choices of colour, the style of knot, and the quality of the tailoring. While it may seem extremely easy to simply choose any old off-the-rack gray suit and pair it with a white shirt and black tie, more considerations must certainly come into play.

For men wishing to modernize the style of the 1950's while maintaining that classic flair, the most obvious choice is a substitution of the white dress shirt to something, while still remaining timeless and conservative, is perhaps a bit less drab. French blue is an excellent choice, a lighter shade than the typical navy or business blue worn by many corporate stiffs – also allowing a wonderful pairing with a silver or smoke grey tie to bring the ensemble back into the outer garments.

By paying attention to these details and ensuring that the fit and quality of all your garments is professionally attended to – you too can be one step closer to indulging in the masculine aesthetic as evoked by the masterful writers of AMC's hottest new television program.The importance in choosing a two-button suit cannot be overstated in order to achieve the trim and sleek silhouettes of the characters in Mad Men – the benefits of the two-button suit over the more common three-button variety are at least twofold. On the first hand, a two-button suit has a much lower point of closure, creating a much deeper neckline and a more masculine silhouette about the chest and hips. Secondly, the lower closure also allows for a much greater expanse of the dress shirt and tie to be displayed, showing off the workmanship, fit, and style of each part of your ensemble as arrayed.

Read more at Suite101: How to Dress, Look Like Don Draper from AMC's Mad Men http://www.suite101.com/content/how-to-dress-look-like-don-draper-from-amcs-mad-men-a297506#ixzz138WNuYf0

Vintage Couture: Friend of foe?

If your anything like me, you probably  have had more than one occasion in which you have an inappropriate outburst in a store when finding that gorgeous piece of Vintage couture to add to your collection,(especially if the price of said fashion-masterpeice is less than what you spend on one of your three daily Starbucks drinks!) I remember when I found a vintage Christian Dior cardigan that has now become a staple in my warbrobe in a salvation army in northern california, I literally screamed in delight like an Asian School girl, no doubt terrifying my elderly shopping competition and most likely causing a heart attack or two. 


While I have learned that the time and effort that goes into these little ventures is totally worth it (and something that I wish I could do all day every day), I have discovered that effective Vintage shopping is truly an art, and takes months, sometimes years of practice to be able to maximize your time, money, and energy! 

I admit I definitely have been known to "splurge" on fashion (which is an understatement at best), I also get an indescribable rush from finding a vintage designer piece for pennies, and have some tips for anyone looking to "get the look" without risking financial ruin. Bottom Line: You don't have to make Rachel Zoe's salary to achieve a look she would "DIE" over. Below are the 3 questions to ask yourself. 

1. What should I buy? Think about the style you are trying to achieve. Do you like the sleek sophistication of the 1920s-30s or "New Look" clothing from the '40s and '50s? Does your taste run toward artsy, flowing hippie style or is it more 1980s, with big shoulder pads, miniskirts and leg warmers? Or are you carefree and love to mix 'n' match? When starting your collection, try to focus on that which you truly love and know you'll wear. Just as with modern, shopping mall-bought styles, it's always a bit tragic when you purchase something and it sits, unworn, in your closet.

2. Where do I go? Vintage clothing can be found in a variety of places. For the adventurous and budget-minded, there are thrift stores, yard sales and church bazaars. Check through clothing racks at places such as Goodwill, Salvation Army and smaller thrift shops (or charity shops, as they're known in the UK). Sometimes, these stores have specially designated vintage clothing sections. With yard sales and church bazaars, it's best if you know for sure that they have vintage clothing for sale-for instance, if you see it in their ad-in order to not waste time looking for something that probably isn't there. You can also buy vintage clothing on the Internet, either through online auctions or virtual antique malls. Then there are brick-and-mortar shops, which are often pricier than online auctions, but you have the advantage of thoroughly inspecting and trying on an item prior to buying it. There are also a variety of vintage clothing expos or shows throughout the U.S. These feature booths with a huge variety of vintage items. They're exciting to visit and usually have enthusiastic collectors, dealers and browsers who can offer their expertise and insights.

3. What should I pay? As much as you want, without going over your budget. It's common sense to know that you shouldn't max out your credit card, but, of course, we're all tempted. The best thing to do is first find articles of clothing online or in stores similar to what you like and see what the going rate is. In other words, comparison-shop first. When you buy items off-season, like a cashmere coat in summer or a Hawaiian dress in winter, you can often get a price reduction. Textiles, too, play a part. If you like wild-patterned '70s disco shirts, you're going to find a lot of them at a reasonable price, because early polyester isn't a particularly desirable fabric.

Read more: How to Start a Wearable Vintage Clothing Collection | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_5055866_start-wearable-vintage-clothing-collection.html#ixzz1383c3zgl