Clothing brands are dropping some very serious pieces for the warmer weather! It doesn’t even seem like Spring is right around the corner, with all the cold, inclement weather we have these days. DC is covered in snow and NYC is freezing so it’s about time for me to take a vacation very soon. But first, I’ll need to acquire a few things for my wardrobe. My first stop is going to have to be J.Crew. They have new pieces in store and online for men, women and children. The linen herringbone blazer, gingham shorts, and Persol sunglasses are must haves for my next vacation. There are a few women’s items I’m a bit jealous of, though. I really wish they made the white denim jacket and golden McCallister boots for men. The boys even got stuff that made me wanna be a kid again. That “greatness” sweatshirt is classic, as is the cashmere shawl collar cardigan for girls. Ok my J.Crew rant is over. Rugby’s Spring collection is a bit more colorful and preppy than that of J.Crew. There is a lot of red, white, and blue incorporated, like this fleece baseball jacket. A.P.C. took a more subtle approach and kept it very classic. The highlight of their collection for me is the shoes. These blue desert boots are sick! I think I’ll be ready for the next 3 Spring seasons after my next shopping excursion. How bout you?

Fashion is such an amazing art form. Everyday, people are creating masterpieces, whether they know it or not. Sometimes, I find myself just going to places like Union Square to just take it all in. It’s pretty cold outside these days so I just settle for magazines like Vogue. They recently did an article on a fashion trend that has grown on me over the years and it is becoming more and more common. Men’s clothing fitted to a woman’s silhouette is huge right now, and also very sexy. Vogue Hommes editor in chief, Anastasia Barbieri, has certainly taken notice to this and is using it to her advantage to create her very own style masterpieces. Utilizing everything from men’s suits to watches, Barbieri manages to put together amazing outfits that not only look great, but also very feminine. Men’s clothing are very comfortable ladies, so take notes and view the article here!

That’s usually how I get dressed. I start with shoes and work my way up. I believe that shoes can tell you a lot about a person and mine usually reflect how I’m feeling and where I’m going on that particular occasion. Most of the windows I open on my computer are usually designated to different sites with shoes I like so I figured I’d share some things with you folks.

1: I was recently introduced to a shoe site for women that is so unique that I immediately got jealous because there isn’t anything like it for men. Run by Kim Kardashian, one of the most stylish (and most beautiful) women in the world, Shoe Dazzle defines “recession proof”. Ladies, if you aren’t already a member of this site, I suggest you get on it right now. It’s so simple and sooooo worth it. You take a survey, which is used by fashion experts to get to know your style. After that, you get to choose 1 from 5 pairs of amazing shoes per month for only 39.95 per pair. You aren’t obligated to purchase every month so you can just browse until you come across that must have pair of shoes. Real men love women with sexy shoes. Especially if they look expensive but really aren’t. You’re Welcome…

2: If you love shoes as much as I do, you probably know the importance of originality. Osborn Design shoes are the epitome of original. Using patterns and materials not usually seen on footwear, these aren’t just shoes; they are art. Run by Carla and Aaron Osborn, this Brooklyn based company is really pushing the limits with this very dope and affordable line of unisex footwear. Check out their shoes here.

3: The mocassin style shoe is very much in style for men these days so a lot of different brands are capitalizing on this. Complex Magazine recently put together a list of the 14 best mocassin inspired shoes for men. It features brands like Quoddy, L.L. Bean, J.Crew, and Visvim. I actually just ordered the SeaVees boots to add to my closet. They are my first pair of moccasin inspired anything and they look so comfy. I’ll let you know how they feel when they arrive. Check out the list here and be sure to get yourself a pair by the time Spring rolls around. Your style will thank you.

Nike.com launched a new app and microsite to promote the Spizikes. It’s clean and well designed, like all the digital media that comes from Nike. The site shows the different aspects of the shoe and what Jordans they were inspired by. The app allows you to put your face behind the hat and glasses and ‘Marsify” yourself Not a groundbreaking offering but nifty nonetheless. Peep my pic after the jump, lol.

I guess it’s crazy that I was pretty much rockin these frames all last summer anyway… *shrugs*, and Nick took a photo of me… IN BLACK AND WHITE, lol… mad funny.

Ladies, there is no need to follow the blueprint for a New Years Eve outfit that I laid out in my prior post…If you shop at The Conversation Piece (TCP). If you haven’t heard of TCP yet, you are surely in for a visual treat. For amazing photo concepts fused with affordable vintage gems without having to go to a gallery and 5 different stores just to find one piece, this is the site to check out. With brands from YSL to Ralph Lauren, you would think TCP would be a bit pricey but it is far from. This is the perfect online shop for ladies on a budget to find an outfit for New Years Eve! It’s even good for us men to find gifts for our ladies. I recently linked up with the creative director and fashion editor, Toni Burke and Carl Bailey, of The Conversation Piece for a photoshoot. It was amazing and it is the newest photo story, “Party Crashers“, on the site right now. Check out a recent feature of the site hereand be sure to keep TCP in mind the next time you go vintage shopping! Thank You and You’re Welcome…

But is also one of the most fashionable days of the year. Yes, I’m referring to New Years Eve (NYE). This is the last night that you can do the exact opposite of all your New Years resolutions and actually get away with it. I personally don’t believe that waiting for the year to end is what should prompt change but that’s neither here nor there. The fact is, NYE is less than a week away and wherever you go that night, looking good will be a high priority. So I’ve decided to put together two looks, male and female, that might just help you out when you’re scrambling through the mall this week trying to figure out what you’re wearing. For both guys and girls, black has been a very instrumental color in this year’s fashion trends. A lot of  great accessories, outerwear, and shoes have come out in “All Black Everything” and they still are so take advantage of that when shopping for an outfit. I personally think that gentleman should incorporate color in their NYE looks, but make sure it’s less than your female counterpart. Be the reserved cool guy and let your lady get the shine with her colorful fit with splashes of black while you do the opposite. The guy should have on the black eye wear like these new leather (yes..leather) Super glasses and dark jacket or sweater. The Rugby Tartan Blazer would be good as a splash of color if everything else is black or very dark. Or this John Varvatos shawl collar cardigan would look good with a plain white button down and black tie but offset all the monotony with these colorful Ralph Lauren corduroy jeans. Boots are the move these days so I’d go with these A.P.C. derby ankle boots. That sole is amazing. Now for the ladies…NYE is the night of unconventional…So don’t fall into the cliche of huge coat, small dress, and high heels. Show out and push the limits a little. This sickening Stella McCartney cardigan is a great way to start. You can still wear the small dress but do it different than the rest so you wont blend in. Under the cardigan try something that will add contrast like this Jay Godfrey one shoulder dress which can be worn with these cool Rugby sequin leggings or the colorful slim cords to add even more pop to the fit. Skip the heels because it’s gonna be a long night… Try these smooth Christian Louboutin patent leather shoes. You’re the best dressed and your feet aren’t killing you 3 songs into the party. A lot of these items are pricey but this is just a blueprint. Replicate expensive looks through inexpensive brands or go vintage! See you at the party!!! I’ll be late for that…

These $250 dollar sneaks made out of horsehair are a bit of a neck breaker for me. The homage to the LV Damier is a great look, and so is the canvas looking one to the far left. Hit up T-Magazine for the full article.

I have no clue where this year went but there is no time for me to dwell on that because I’ve got all of 2010 to look forward to! But before that, Holiday shopping must be tackled seeing how Christmas is in less than a month. I did a little research so that I could make the task of gift searching easier for all. It seems like every website that sells a product has put together their own gift guide so that your shopping can be completed with just a few clicks. J.Crew has got  the gifts for your children covered for as low as $25. It’s best to take advantage of recession proof gifts like the girls jersey turtleneck or the boys suede gloves. Looks good on your wallet as well as the children in your family. Neiman Marcus even got into the Christmas spirit and compiled a hefty list of gifts for her, below $100. Whether it’s assorted chocolates or a Tory Burch cosmetics bag, women just tend to love anything from Neiman’s so get on it. While these gift guides are great, my favorite has to be GQ Mag’s. They included gifts for pretty much everyone in your life, including yourself. The list consists of 50 gift ideas ranging from cashmere scarves to Canon cameras. Check it out here and try not to go crazy this year hunting for the perfect gifts!

You can catch them on Saturday and Sunday for great deals on premium goods. Not a lot of stores offer Black Friday deals after the actual day so when you find one that does, you need to take advantage of it…With that said, I’m going to book my bus ticket to NYC right now and I’ll see you at the Alife sale!

It’s been a while since I’ve done a random homage so this is long overdue. Lately, I’ve been seeing a lot of amazing photography projects so it’s only right that I share with you all. It would be selfish, but still very visually stimulating, if I only displayed my own work. ;-)

1: One of my favorite photographers EVER, Annie Leibovitz, recently teamed up with Vogue and their creative director, Grace Coddington to crank out an amazing collaboration. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; conceptual photography is the best. It’s always great to see photographs that tell a story, and this particular story is that of Hansel and Gretel. And what is the story of Hansel and Gretel without a witch? Yes, there is a witch, portrayed by none other than Lady Gaga, today’s queen of extreme fashion. Coddington said Gaga was “up for anything.” See what she meant by that here.

2: The Sartorialist, aka Scott Schuman, is M&N approved to say the least. His work is amazing and he is making great strides in the world of fashion and photography. He recently linked up with the folks at Burberry to do a project on trench coats and the finished product was surely something special. Schuman took pictures of 100 people wearing Burberry trench coats and outerwear to create the photo montage now known as “The Art of the Trench.”

3: The Brooklyn Circus is at it again! They have called upon photographer, John Midgley, for a portrait series on very stylish gentlemen 65 years of age and above. I can’t wait to see the outcome of this because BKc and Midgley always produce great work. Almost makes me want to be 65. Almost. Check out the info here and make sure to tell grandpa!