I was positioned by one of my readers to post regarding aspects of  shopping for a man. Who am I to turn down a request from a woman. I myself have issues shopping for a man (my father to clear up any questions). What I do find is that the simplest thing as well as repeats of previous gifts always work. Deep down we are the simplest creatures and so should your thought process be once you step out to make that purchase.

The difficulty arises as  a man tends to buy everything they want themselves. If you haven’t got much money, just buy the best pair of socks or the best shirt you can, rather than a cheap version of something expensive. So here are my tips.

Staples & Trends

Can never go wrong with the classics. Believe it or not we can never have enough of anything. If you took a look in my closet you would think it belongs to a woman. Ties, sweaters, shirts. Now how you set yourself apart is follow the updated trends. Knitted, plaid or wool ties, plaid or chambray shirts, shawl neck or double breasted cardigans. Gifts for him and for your eyes.

Accessorize

Wallets look great come in lots of shades, so it’s one area where a man can be a bit more colorful. Belts are also good to buy, as men don’t often spend a lot of money on them. You could give them a really luxurious one.I personally have a belt for every occasion.

Finishing Touch

Nothing puts together an outfit like a watch. They’re just like cars, we want to be noticed in one. Add to his collection and you will be one to keep or one to cherish. Steel casing to chronograph to leather or croc straps the limit is sky. A must have for business or fun, like my belts one for any occasion.

With these tips you’ll never have shoppers block again. Obviously there’s other gifts that make us happy. Appeal to the kid in us with games or our vain side with fragrances and bath products but if you want your man as stylish as you are the ideas above are cant miss.

 

After the year of 2006, Club Monaco quickly became one of my favorites. It fits my style to a T, and it was amazing that they carried a size that actually fit me. The epitome of casual chic, many items fit an urban prep as myself. Mostly known for their accessories (I own a sick Weekender Bag that still gets me noticed on my getaways), Club Monaco unveils its latest comprehensive look-book for the forthcoming seasons.

Shot in Palm Springs, California, the pictorial shows off their sophisticated, laid-back aesthetic. Muted chromatic hues maintain a strong presence throughout the menswear arrangement. Chambray button-ups, linen trousers, soft cotton jackets, and a range of cotton knitwear round out the collection. The collection will begin its roll-out through April, May and June 2012 at all Club Monaco stores.

Quick tip: A student ID gets you a very nice percentage off all items!

Cole Haan is my shoe of choice from casual to work wear as well as many of my colleagues. Since 1988 Cole Haan has been a vital piece to the global domination that which Nike has attained. A relatively unknown acquisition from its initial purchase, Cole Haan was approached by Nike in 2000 to blend their traditional craftsmanship with the athletic apparel-maker’s innovative Air technology (the shoes have Nike Air in them).

A compelling combination of the minds, the two well known shoemakers have remained to a degree separate in terms of designing, until this month. Initially previewed on many sites as Hypebeast in December, the LunarGrand fuses the modern Lunarlon sole technology with the classical design sensibilities of the traditional wingtip.

VP of Design at Cole Haan, Phil Russo sat down with Sneaker Freaker & described the birth of this idea as such:

“The idea came from our perpetual obsession to make our products better. If you understand what people are doing in their shoes today as well as their expectations in terms of functionality, style and movement, you can design with purpose and create solutions that provide real benefits.
Through design innovation such as the use of Lunarlon foam and its function-enhancing properties in the outsole of the LunarGrand, the boundaries of how classic dress shoes look, perform and function in modern environments are being redefined.”

Available in five color ways, the Cole Haan LunarGrand can be purchased at Cole Haan SoHo for $248 USD on Friday February 10, 2012. Functionality meets style!

Will the Cole Haan x Nike LunarGrand Wingtip go down in history as a small piece of sneaker trivia, or a successful mixture of dress shoe and running aesthetics?

During Berlin Fashion Week from January 18th to 20th, adidas Originals showcased its stylish new Fall/Winter 2012 collection at the Bread & Butter Trade Show.

Presenting the premium sector of the brand, adidas gave a first outlook on the upcoming highlights such as Originals Denim, the Blue collection and the design collaborations with Jeremy Scott, David Beckham and Ransom

The styles remain classic adidas but with additions & the eccentric collabs they remain now.

Fresh on the scene for Spring 2012 its the look-book for a well known underground label, Crooks & Castles. I’ve been up on this brand for a while now with catchy slogans and innovative styles.

What is Crooks & Castles exactly? Well from their site its explained this way:

We at Crooks & Castles have always routed for the villain whether it be in a movie, a comic book, a novel, a rap song or every- day life. Growing up in Los Angeles during the 80’s and 90’s we became a part of this villainous lifestyle. Gangs were everywhere-the hood, the city, even middle suburbia. Most had no choice but to adapt to the environment. Some were able to escape or even channel what they’ve learned on the street into something lucrative. What caught our attention in the mid 90’s was independent fashion/graphic brands.
After years of learning the in’s and out’s of the business by starting a brand without knowledge of how to start or run a clothing company, we’ve finally come to this…”Crooks & Castles”! The concept was easy. “Crooks”, criminals, pimps, hustlers, thieves, etc. And “Castles” those who got rich by becoming a crook. From the robber barons of the early times like the Vanderbilts, the Rockerfellers, the Carnegies, to the modern day billionaires-Bill Gates & Microsoft. Those who stopped at nothing to get their “Castle”. We too hope one day to be the next rich crook.

Gotta respect the hustle. So check out the upcoming styles and visit the online store. Like they say: “Can’t Stop The Crooks!”.