Fun Shoes: Think Suede!

In my July posting I discussed "Fun Socks".  Now how about some "Fun Shoes"!  Back in the day suede shoes came in a limited number of styles (chukka boots, bucks) and colors (beige, black, white).  However, much like the "fun socks" I highlighted in my last posting how one can have fun and show their individuality with the suede shoes  that are available not only in an assortment of colors but also styles such as cap toes, wingtips, driving shoes, loafers, etc.,  By the way since there is less rainfall in the summer it's perfectly acceptable to wear them.  On the flip side water is the enemy of suede so it would behoove you not to wear them when the weather forecast calls for rain.  It can stain the shoes making removal very difficult if not impossible.  (see below for suede shoe care).  Now check out the awesome shoes below. 

Bally Black Suede Wingtip Boots







 Arthur Knight Blue Suede Loafers

Red Suede Wingtips

Gucci Suede and Leather Monk Strap Shoes

Todd Suede Ankle Boots

Ovadia Sons Double Monk Strap Suede Shoes

Harrys of London Basel Kudu Suede Driving Shoes

John Varvatos Suede Wingtips

Gucci Suede Loafers

 

Zota Sharp Toe Suede Leather Slip On



Barker Shoes: Jackson Polo Brown Suede Tweed

Salvatore Ferragamo Black Suede Wingtip

Carmina Formal Suede Cap Toe Shoes

Tavares Blue Suede Casual Loafer

Cavalli Luxury Buckle Suede Shoe

Kiton Napoli Suede Loafer

Cesare Paciotti Suede Loafer

.

Now before you go out and purchase a pair of nice suede shoes you should review the information below regarding how to care for them.  After all if you're not willing to provide proper care you really shouldn't purchase a pair. 

Here is a slide show on proper care for suede shoes:

How to Care for Suede Shoes 

For those that may prefer to read see below. 

 

 How to Care for Suede Shoes

By Irene Lizarraga

Suede is probably one of the most popular shoe fabrics, and well cared for suede shoes can look fabulous season after season. However, it is also one of the most difficult fabrics to keep clean and in good condition, which makes learning how to care for suede shoes extremely important. With a bit of forethought and care you can keep your suede boots looking as new for years to come.
The worst enemy of suede shoes is, without a doubt, water. Water can stain suede easily, and in the case of colored fabrics it can be a permanent mark that makes the shoes worthless. This makes it a challenging fabric if you live somewhere where rain is common. To protect your new shoes you can buy suede protector sprays or creams from most shoe stores and even supermarkets. Those sprays are silicon based products that give your suede boots a degree of protection against water splashes. Keep in mind, though, that they won't clean already stained fabrics, and most definitely they won't make your new boots waterproof. Apply it on a well-ventilated place and leave it to dry overnight, as excess heat from a hairdryer or a radiator can also damage the shoes.

After applying the suede protection, your boots should be safe from watermarks but that doesn't mean you can wear them on the snow or to walk under the rain. If your water dries on your suede boots you may be able to use a special suede brush to get it back to looking almost new. Those brushes are made of brass or steel, and you need to use them to brush carefully against the grain of the suede until the nap is restored. However, this won't remove big watermarks, so prevention is definitely your best friend if you want to keep your suede boots looking new.

Suede boots come in a variety of colors, but those dyes are only surface deep. This means that using harsh chemicals or even shoe cleaning products that work with normal shoes is out of the question. If you find yourself with grease stain on your suede shoes, your best bet is to have them professionally cleaner. If you don't want to spend money you may be able to buy an off-the-shelf dry cleaning product for suede from your local shoe store, but doing that to brightly colored suede shoes can make the color fade or become uneven. Do not try to clean suede boots with the same wet cleaning methods that you'd use for smooth leather, as suede needs to stay dry. If suede gets wet it will crack and become damage the shoes.

After applying the suede protection, your boots should be safe from watermarks but that doesn't mean you can wear them on the snow or to walk under the rain. If your water dries on your suede boots you may be able to use a special suede brush to get it back to looking almost new. Those brushes are made of brass or steel, and you need to use them to brush carefully against the grain of the suede until the nap is restored. However, this won't remove big watermarks, so prevention is definitely your best friend if you want to keep your suede boots looking new.

Suede shoes come in a variety of colors, but those dyes are only surface deep. This means that using harsh chemicals or even shoe cleaning products that work with normal shoes is out of the question. If you find yourself with grease stain on your suede shoes, your best bet is to have them professionally cleaner. If you don't want to spend money you may be able to buy an off-the-shelf dry cleaning product for suede from your local shoe store, but doing that to brightly colored suede shoes can make the color fade or become uneven. Do not try to clean suede boots with the same wet cleaning methods that you'd use for smooth leather, as suede needs to stay dry. If suede gets wet it will crack and become damaged. At most you can hold the shoes above a vapor source, like a boiling pan, and brush right afterwards with a suede brush in order to remove surface dirt, but by no means allow it to become wet.

Suede shoes [http://suede-shoes.org/] can be a bit high maintenance, but they are also stylish and never go out of fashion. If you learn how to properly care for your suede boots [http://suede-shoes.org/boots-Suede_Boots.html] they will look great for years, making them a great investment purchase that complements your entire wardrobe.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6942286

Fun Socks

It used to be that the best way for one to set themselves apart from others while dressed in a suit was via a tie and/or a pocket square.  Now there is a new way for one to express their individuality and that's by wearing colorful socks.  

Nice Suit but oh those Socks!

Nowadays the latest fashion statement is for men to wear colorful socks with their suits, wedding parties or casual wear.  But before we go any further let's review a few rules in wearing dress socks as follows:

1. Over-the-calf socks are the standard for business attire as your skin should not be visible.

2. The color of your socks should match the color of your pants or 

3. The color of your socks should match the color of your shoes.

Obviously, what I'm suggesting contradicts rules 2 and 3.  So lets throw out rules 2 and 3 and have some fun! 

Wedding Party

Tan Loafers

Socks with Cap Toe Shoes

Wingtips and CapToes with Colorful Shoelaces

Dress and Casual 

Wingtips and Jeans

Black Loafers

Ozone Socks

Paul Smith Socks

Marcoliani Socks

Dapper Young Professionals

Now is the time to have some fun with your attire so go ahead and enjoy expressing yourself with your socks leading the way.

 

Summer Cool: Panama Straw Hat

 As Cole Porter expressed lyrically it's "Summertime and the livin' is easy".  One of the best ways to express "easy livin" is to don a Panama straw hat.  It will enable one to protect the crown and not only feel cool but look cool.  Let's take a look at some hats as well as explore some things one should consider before purchasing a hat.  First, I have a question for you:  where are authentic Panama hats weaved?  Please choose from the choices below.

A. Panama City, Florida
B. New York City
C. Panama
D. Eucador
E. Cuba

The answer is listed below.  

Actor Ving Rhames in White Gangster Panama Straw

Actor Terrence Howard in Panama Fedora

Actor Mario Van Peeples in Porkpie Panama

Andre 3000 in Panama Fedora

 Rihanna in Panama Fedora

GQ July 2013 Carson Street Clothiers

Now before you go to the store to purchase that hat there are some things you need to consider.  There is no industry standard wide grading system for straw hats.  The implication of the preceding is that you can't rely on grading systems from different sellers because they have their own system.  All straw hats have some type of flaw.  They are made from natural materials and hand weaved and therefore, prone to human error.   Other considerations are the fineness of the weave, quality of the weave, color of the straw, hand blocking versus hydraulic pressing, and the size of the hat.

Fineness of the Weave

Similar to bed sheets and men's suits the finer the weave the better the quality.  Hats with finer weaves take longer to weave than coarser weaves and therefore you should expect to pay more for the higher quality. 

Quality of the weave
Ideally, the fineness and rows of the weave are straight and consistent throughout the hat.  The finer the weave the more difficult it is to keep it straight.  Are there areas where the straw is thicker or thinner than other area of the hat?  Are there bumps or knots that interfere with the flow of the weave? 

Color of the Straw
Unless a hat has been treated with bleach or peroxide it's likely that it may have a reddish or grayish tinge to it.  That's a natural occurrence and no need to be alarmed unless it's excessive.  The more consistent the color throughout the hat the better.  All hats darken slightly with age.  
 
Hand Blocking versus Hydraulic Press
Many years ago all hats where shaped (blocked) by hand.  The majority of hats today are shaped via hydraulic press.  Blocking a hat by hand takes longer and cost more. 



Size of the Hat
The longer it takes to weave a hat the more it is likely to cost.  A wide brim hat takes longer to weave than a short brim hat.  A large hat take longer to weave than a smaller hat.  Hats that are sold in size small, medium and large take longer to weave then hats sold in actual sizes.  

In summary, all Panama straw hats have flaws but now you have some good information when you go shopping for one.  I'm confident you'll find a nice one that will make you look and feel cool.  Now where are authentic Panama straw hats made..........................




Ecuador

I'm sure you must wonder how they came to be called Panama straw hats. The art of weaving is part of the livelihood of the country of Ecuador  and that's in addition to Panama straw hats.  The reason they came to be known as Panama straw hats has to do with their export route through the Isthmus of Panama. The hats that were to be shipped eventually to Europe, the Far East and the Americas were named based on their point of international sale versus there place of origin.  

Summer time just makes you want to look and feel cool so go ahead and get that Panama straw hat, thrown on shades, sandals and a linen suit.  Speaking of summer click on the link below and check out my main man Miles Davis with Summertime.  Enjoy!!!

 Miles Davis - Summertime

 

Bowties: Not just for Professors Anymore

What is your vision of someone that wears bow ties? 

Nerd?

 Professor?

Black Muslim?

Formal Wear?

Today, many are wearing bow ties as part of their ensemble making a statement of boldness and individuality.  Bow ties are not only being seen in the classrooms and at formal events but they're also being worn by Fortune 500 executives, entertainers, musicians, etc.  The bow ties of today come in many colors and patterns for both business and casual wear.  What are your thoughts?  Personally, I like them and I plan to start back wearing them.  Let's take a look at them.  

Labron James

Former NYC Mayor David Dinkins

Jazz Bassist Ron Carter

Andre 3000

Not for Men Only: Singer Janelle Monae

Cedric the Entertainer

New York Knick Amare Stoudemire

Former Cincinnati Bengal Linbacker
Dhani Jones

 

Bow Ties at www.holidays.net

Remember when Michael Jackson was
"Off The Wall"

There are ready-to-wear bow ties as well as ones that you have to tie yourself.  The well dressed man opts for the latter.  Do you know how to tie a bow tie?  For an illustration of how to tie a Bow Tie click on the link below.

How to Tie a Bow Tie

Do you need something more visual to learn how to tie a Bow Tie?
Highlight and click on the link below for a video demonstration:

Stay Fly 101: How to Tie a Bow Tie

By the way, remember that nice tie that you ruined because you spilled coffee on it?  Instead of throwing it away I have just the solution.  Anastasia Green can turn that tie into a custom made bow tie.  Check her out at:

My A. Bow Ties 

My first grade picture sporting a bow tie at Garfield Elementary:

Be bold, be daring and by all means have fun with your bow ties.