Showing posts with label manly. Show all posts
Showing posts with label manly. Show all posts

Thursday, May 29, 2014

When Men Were Men

BY Unknown IN , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 2 comments

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:
Instagram: @IHEARTRetailTherapy
Twitter: @HEARTRetail
Pinterest: RetailTherapy1

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

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

All About Baby

BY Unknown IN , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , No comments

All About Baby


Babies are awesome.  They smell good, they're freaking adorable and they bring so much joy in your life (and sleepless nights).  Now that I am in full blown mommy mode, I rediscovered another little pleasure about having a new baby.  Shopping for baby!  I almost like shopping for baby as much as I like shopping for myself!  Clothes, toys, monitors, bedding, cribs, bouncers, lotions, baby wash, booties, layettes, bottles, teething rings, portrait packages, strollers, bibs and more clothes; with a baby you never run out of things to purchase.

I've compiled a list of some of Miss Chloe and I's favorite things.  From day care to organic diapers, we've got most of the basics covered.  Of course, because there are so many great sites and stores, this will be a reoccurring post.

Baby Supplies


The Honest Company:


The Honest Company is a cool membership site where they ship you stylish environmentally friendly baby products every month.  The company was founded by, no other than your girl, Jessica Alba.  From the web site: "Being a mom is the most profound experience I've ever had," she says. As a mother of young daughters (4-year-old Honor and newborn Haven), Jessica admits she feels an intense responsibility to give her children the best possible start. When I became a mom, I finally became the person I am, that I always should have been," she says. "It's the most satisfying job in the world. But, it can also be overwhelming and confusing. I created The Honest Company to help moms and to give all children a better, safer start"

So every month they ship you you a bundle of goodies to your doorstep. You have a choice of three bundles:

The Diapers & Wipes Bundle:

"The Diapers & Wipes Bundle is a monthly supply* of super-absorbent, eco-friendly and stylish baby diapers. Each month at about the same time, you'll receive your one-month supply* of our Honest Diapers sized perfectly for your child and 4 packs of our thick and absorbent, botanically infused, "Cheek to Cheek"™ wipes. Save 30% when purchasing our Diapers & Wipes Bundle versus purchasing Diapers and Wipes separately."

The Essentials Bundle:

"This bundle is composed of the most useful baby care & home cleaning products – all derived from natural and organic ingredients.

Your Essentials Bundle will allow you to choose from 5 of the following: Honest Shampoo & Body Wash, Honest Lotion, Honest Healing Balm, Honest Laundry Detergent, Honest Hand Soap, Honest Conditioner, Honest Sunscreen, Honest Hand Sanitizer, Honest Bubble Bath, Honest Body Oil, Honest Conditioning Mist, Honest Bug Spray, Honest Multi-Surface Cleaner, Honest Dish Soap, Honest Auto Dishwasher Gel, Honest Dishwasher Pods, and Honest Rinse Aid, Honest Stain Remover, Honest Oxy Boost.We are constantly innovating to bring you other exciting new products each month that you also can mix-and-match into your Number Of Products-product Essentials Bundle.

There is a product limit of 1 each for the following items: Honest Laundry Detergent, Honest Sunscreen, and Honest Bug Spray.

The Essentials Bundle membership includes the ability to add up to 3 additional products each month at a 25% discount off the Honest Shop price. There is no additional shipping & handling cost and the additional items will ship with your monthly bundle."


Health & Wellness Bundle:

You can bundle any of these vitamin products; Pre Natal, DHA-Omega 3, and Baby & Toddler Multi.  This is the Honest Company's commitment to you "An all natural line of Health &Wellness Essentials for your entire family made with certified organic, whole foods - REAL foods - veggies, fruits, herbs, probiotics & superfoods (the way nature intended). Each dose is bursting with phytonutrients, antioxidants & enzymes your body recognizes and easily absorbs."   

I tried the Diapers & Wipes Bundle and it was awwwweeesome!  (Yes it was that great) Try the products out for free (only pay $5.95 shipping and handling) today.  Click here for to start your Honest Company free trial today! Or visit http://www.honest.com

 Ecomom:

Shop at ecomom!
Ecomom is an awesome site for organic; BPA free, vegan, natural, fair trade, eco friendly, gluten free, kosher, non toxic, non GMO, recycled, recyclable, reusable, energy efficient...well you get the drift.

From babies to children, from maternity to motherhood anything and everything you would ever need is on this site.  The added bonus is on top of everything being safe, natural and eco friendly; ecomom is surprisingly affordable!

From their website:
"ecomom is committed to making eco-conscious living easy, affordable, and rewarding. We empower moms' and their commitment to take better care of their families and themselves by providing easy access to the world's best, healthiest, and safest products.  From organic baby food to cloth diapers, wood toys and non-toxic house cleaning supplies, our product curation and acclaimed customer service sets us apart.  Along the way we even provide some education, support, tools and feedback from other moms - we empower them to take the all important first steps toward a healthier, more balanced, and sustainable lifestyle."


Click here to shop ecomom and in honor of National Breast Feeding Month, receive FREE shipping on all purchases in our Breast Feeding Category at ecomom! Coupon Code: BETTER4BABY. Offer ends 8.31.2013.

Diaper Dude:

DiaperDude.comDiaper Dude is a brand dedicated to fathers (don't worry, they have bags for mommies too!).  As we all know the standard diaper bag, no matter if for a boy or girl, is...well...feminine.  The founder of Diaper Dude, Chris Pegula, found that out the hard way after the birth of his 3 children.  He decided it was time for fathers to have stylish and most importantly masculine diaper bags; so he founded Diaper Dude.


 Diaper Dude's bags are so adorable.  Oops, sorry fellas; I mean they are handsome, rugged and stylish. (Is that better?) With the new MLB Collection you can even show off your team pride while carrying your little ones diapers (you got from the Honest Company-wink wink), wipes, and bottles.  Diaper Dude also offers stylish bags for moms, as well as laptop bags and messenger bags.  Below are bags from the MLB Collection.


Click the images to visit Diaper Dude.com

Click the images to visit Diaper Dude.com

 Aren't they awesome? The bags are well made, durable, easy to clean (!) and affordable.  The icing on the cake?  Daddy won't be embarrassed to be seen carrying the diaper bag! Order a bag here for the Diaper Dude in your life!

Child Care


Care.com:


As any mother (or father knows), finding quality day care or baby sitters is a challenge.  However, the founder/CEO of Care.com,  Sheila Marcelo, created CARE to fulfill peoples personal care needs.  From child care to senior care to pet care, Care.com is in 16 countries, 8 million people use the service, and a new job is posted every second.  Pretty impressive, huh?

The site makes finding quality care easy.  You can view profiles, check their references and background check (yes, their background checks are available!)  I haven't used a sitter yet (I am searching for a babysitter who will watch the kids every once in a while when the hubby and I want to shake a tail feather or me and the girls want to party) but I have interviewed several promising candidates.  So, if you are in the market for an au pair, sitter, dog sitter or a care provider for an elderly relative, Care.com is there for you.  Click here to begin the process!

These are some of my favorite things (for baby that is)!  Leave a comment and let me know you shop for all of your baby needs!