When Men Were Men

When Men Were Men

By now we have all seen this picture: 

(Images: Getty) Designed in partnership with Versace’s in-house design team, here is the latest mens fashion designs for J.W out of New York.

Before you send me emails or make crazy comments, the liberal hippie in me quite honestly feels that is if a man wants to wear a dress, so be it.  It is his business. However...what gets my pulse going, makes me sweat and start to blush is a manly man...no tight jeans, dresses, or all the things I like to wear myself.  Sorry, if a man wants to wear my clothes...I feel like we should only be friends, go shopping, get mani's and pedi's, go voguing in the club together and talk about how hot the latest Hollywood crush is.  #Justsaying.

I was hoping with the popularity of the tv show Mad Men we would see this return to suits and old school male aesthetic in the world of mens fashion.  As much as I don't want my man wearing dresses, I am really sick of the slouchy LA street style...ALL. THE. TIME.  I don't mind that style every once in a while..but once you hit your thirties and that's your everyday attire...maybe you should reevaluate some things in your life.  #Justsaying again.

In response to my meditations, prayers, and desperate pleading this is my ode to a time gone by When Men Were Men.  The source of inspiration is none other than the Rat Pack.  Frank, Dino, Sammy, Peter and Joey.  They were the embodiment of manly cool. From the website Modern Drunkard (yes, Modern Drunkard Magazine.  Don't judge me)

"Some reckon it was because the heart of the Pack, the holy trinity of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr., were peaking in their respective careers precisely when they forged their fateful union. Others claim their rise hinged upon the testosterone-fueled reaction of the fading Macho American Male against the encroaching, decidedly un-macho hippie revolution. Yet others believe it was the diabolical work of vast media conspiracy—the newspapers fed on scandal then, as now, and the Pack gave them all they could stand and more.

Then there are those, myself included, who believe the well is much deeper than that. That the Rat Pack wasn’t just a gang of hard-drinking, easy-loving, high-rolling celebrities who happened along at the right time, but also something much bigger and much more difficult to define—an idea, an ethos, a subconscious creed whose roots extend all the way back to ancient Greece. The Rat Pack was the primal embodiment of the notion that we are not put on this earth to toil until death, but rather that we are here to swing.

Admittedly, their timing couldn’t have been more perfect. The conformist 50’s were colliding headlong into the gooey flower-power movement, and red-blooded Americans were at a loss as to how they were supposed to behave. They were desperate for leadership and suddenly a group of very confident cats climbed up on stage in a small desert town in Nevada to deliver a soused sermon of sheer unadulterated fun. And the world sat up and took notice."

From a sheer fashion perspective the crisp button ups, and tailored suits still look fresh and crisp 50 years later.  The more casual cardigans and pleated chinos still fit in nicely to the Hamptons/Martha's Vineyard upper crust set.  Furthermore, there is no guessing that these are men. I doubt there is any lycra or spandex in any of their pants. Manly men...in well tailored suits.  You have to love it.

Pure manly man fashion.  Can you smell the testosterone?  Smells great doesn't it?  

If you or your manly man is looking to upgrade the wardrobe please check out Trunk Club, which I wrote about here http://www.iheartretailtherapy.com/2014/03/im-still-in-love.html.

Happy Shopping!

PS You can connect with me on:

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**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.  

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Florals For Spring? Groundbreaking...

Florals For Spring? Groundbreaking...

I have to be honest, I. HATE. FLORALS.  Yet, every year they pop up on the runways, months in advance, to remind us that they are unfortunately here to stay. Spring season after spring season.  Year after year.  One year it'll be abstract florals, the next it'll be little delicate florals, and then, like this year, it is hawaiian print florals.  

Yet, I seriously dig these pieces from Dries Van Noten (available at Barney's) and Versace (find it at Nordstroms here or Lord & Taylor). Then again, there isn't much Dries Van Noten or Versace does that I don't like.

But, the stunning pieces are still a bit overly floral for my taste.  So in rebellion and retaliation to all you fashion bloggers with your table cloth, english china floral print clothing selfies...I am going in the complete opposite direction! (Okay, maybe not completely in the opposite direction).  I do have some understated florals...actually one...but you have to squint to see them.  

Even though people usually bust out their wearable flower gardens this time of year, I personally believe you can celebrate spring with your wardrobe AND leave the florals where they belong...  IN THE GROUND.

Here are some ideas if, like me, you abhor florals:

See? You can still be bright and cheery without so many darn flowers, especially with this She Inside Blue Sleeveless Underwater World Print Dress (only $20.79!) (click here to view).  Furthermore, this dress has placid blue, sand and celosia orange, which are some of the hottest colors this spring.  SO you can be trendy without looking like a flower patch.

Take advantage of the Black & White trend that is still hot with this SheInside White Short Sleeve Letter Print Straight Dress ($23.88!).  Click here to view

Be inspired by Marc Jacobs and Dries Van Noten Spring runway shows and go for a more Hawaiian print floral. (I know this is more leafy than floral but you get it) This SheInside Red Off the Shoulder Leaves Print Dress is definitely trendy without overdoing it.  Only $29.67, click here to view



And if you absolutely MUST go floral, take a cue from Oscar De La Renta's Spring Runway Show and go for loose crochets and lace done in virginal white.

Check out this beautiful SheInside White Short Sleeve Embroidered Lace Dress only $24.80!  Click here to view.

See? Four different ways to celebrate spring without looking like flower seed packets vomited all over you!

So what is your spring style? 

PS You can connect with me on:

Instagram: @IHEARTRetailTherapy

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/IHEARTRetailTherapy

Twitter: @HEARTRetail

Pinterest: RetailTherapy1

Google+: +I HEART Retail Therapy 

FTC Disclosure Statement: This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. 

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Versace, Versace, Medusa Head on Me like I'm 'luminati

Versace, Versace, Medusa Head on Me like I'm 'luminati

Sorry, I couldn't help it...that song is infectious.  Furthermore, I have been drooling over Forzieri and their large collection of Versace (and many, many more designers). I also have some awesome Forzieri coupon codes...that's if you're interested. 

I am loving the Crimson!

Badgley Mischka could make anything and I'd love it.

This color blue was all over the runways and it has gold studs!  How could you go wrong?

 Versace, Versace, Medusa Head on Me like I'm 'luminati

Yes a site full of pure fashiongasms!  Visit Forzieri.com to browse and shop their huge selection of designer duds!  By the way here are the promo codes:

• Pick out your Men & Women's Dream Shoes and get $100 OFF at checkout any orders over $300 - Use Promo Code 2DFF90 (Valid until October 20th)
• Save $15 on all orders of $145+ when you shop at Forzieri.com! Use Promo Code: FALL15
• Save $20 on all orders of $195+ when you shop at Forzieri.com! Use Promo Code: FALL20
• Get FREE Premium Standard Shipping on orders of $125+ at FORZIERI.COM! Use Promo code FORZIERI2013 

Happy Shopping!

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Where's Brooklyn At? Where Has Urban Culture Gone?

Where's Brooklyn At?  Where Has Urban Culture Gone?

There is no such thing as urban radio anymore!  While driving, I turned to KYS 93.9 and they were playing a techno-ish song by Rihanna.  Yes it is Rihanna, but it's still techno.  While I have had my fair share of late nights with glow sticks and red bulls with vodka (the only way to drink at a techno club), I want urban music on my urban radio station!  So I switched to its local competitor, 95.5 PGC and they were playing a techno ish song by Dev.  I guess her song would be classified as more dance than techno, but again, I want urban music on my urban radio station.  If urban music no longer exists, play gogo!  I mean this is DC, right?!

This music fiasco got me thinking, is urban culture as we knew it, dead?  I was a teenager in the 90's, to me urban music was Biggie, Nas, Jay Z, Mary J Blige, and Monifah (where the hell is Monifah?!)  Urban music was hip hop and r&b.  Now urban music has merged into the mainstream with pop and techno beats.  And the fashion!  While some of you may say urban fashion is alive and well, I beg to differ.  However, to state my argument properly, we all must agree there is a different between metropolitan urban and country urban.  For all you southerners, (remember I am from Phoenix, raised in New York and moved to DC, and yes DC is the south!  Mason Dixon line, you DMV'ers forget!) being in the south doesn't make it "country" (so please, you can return your guns to the safety position) some of the countriest places (as far as fashion) I've been are in Western New York, Michigan, and Illinois.  Sorry, but it's true.  My point is the distinction between metropolitan urban and country urban includes Kool Aid colored weaves with sneakers, belts, shirts, nails, and eye contacts matching.  To me that's just country.

With that said, go to a major metropolitan "urban" area (code for...) and the women look like they stepped out of Lucky Mag or People's best dressed list.  Urban fashion has become quite mainstream.  In my beloved 90's urban fashion was baggy jeans, over sized shirts, Karl Kani, Maurice Malone, Versace shirts, timb's (Timberlands), Air Max, and Up's (for you non-New Yorkers Air Force 1's).  While I appreciate not having to look at a mans under wear in public, I am a little leary of men wearing the same jeans as their girlfriends.  I'm just saying.

So to wax nostalgic about when urban was urban, here are some of my favorite "old school" looks.

Not necessarily 90's, but it epitomizes urban cool from the era with a funky mix of masculine and feminine street wear.  Remember the Manolo Blahnik boots (some of you remember the Steve Madden version better, wink, wink)

Janet Jackson from the "You Want This" video.  Yes, baggy jeans and a half  top/sports bra!  Nothing could be more 90's urban.

Denim everything!  Oh the 90's urban fashion was all about denim...and dark lacquered lips! 

Aaliyah, may she rest in peace.  Who could forget the Tommy Hilfiger craze?  You know, when your jeans and shirt screamed Tommy?  Even the beautiful Aaliyah wasn't spared.

In my search for more 90's urban fashion I came across an article "’90s Hip Hop Icons and the Fall 2011 Looks They Could Be Wearing" and they have some fabulous examples with their 2011 runway counterparts.

Oh...when urban was really urban...I miss those days.

XOXO,

 

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