Bag that thang up!

The man-bag hasn't had it easy; no matter how often it's declared "European" the US hasn't quite embraced it. I don't see why not, the menfolk got shit to carry around too (although I'm not quite sure what all that entails). So I love these eye-poppingly bright totes on STREETFSN. Unfortunately this breakthrough will be rough on the nation's chiropractors, as 4-inch-thick-back-pocket-billfolds likely provide a good portion of their crooked clients.

Give me a hand...no really...it's allergy season.

My mom and I popped into J. Crew today to window-shop and indulge our inner WASP. So I thought I'd bring a bit of dapper tradition to HipsterDandy (BTDubs: sorry for the hiatus. Just the thought of walking around documenting DC street style on this heat was enough to make me curl into a fetal position under a running shower head). And nothing on J. Crew demonstrated my love of sartorial details like the linen pocket square! I can't see one of these without flashing back to Sunday-morning "Big Church" when my dad always had a handkerchief on standby for a runny nose, sticky hand, or smudge on the face (on me, not him. I'm a mess).

One badass banker

I'm not even sure that's what he does for a living, but with that tattoo/tie combo you can't go wrong!

Stop that man! He stole my wardrobe!

I'm loving this outfit by Shipley & Halmos. Why? Because I have pretty much the exact same outfit in my closet right now; it was my uniform on a trip to Scotland. Why Didn't I put it on for a pic? Because it's friggin' 97 degrees. Use your imagination, and I promise I'll make it up to you come autumn!

"It's the circle of life! And it rules us all! Ahzen-wanya, bugga-beets a-bo-bor..."

My apologies to any Swahili speakers out there, but I don't own a copy of The Lion King with subtitles.

Onwards!
Barney's sent me an email with the headline "Dudes: new kicks from LANVIN" so, Lanvin being one of my faves, I of course tapped that (with my touch screen sillies).

What followed was the recurrence of an awkward memory (not painful, since no one else likely remembers). The trigger? These:

When i was 14, as a costume for my sister's birthday party, I decided to dress in skater-grunge: flannel shirt, jeans, spray-painted hair and a glorious pair of maroon shimmery patent Sketchers almost exactly like the Lanvins above. So this is where Simba and his pals come in: it's interesting to see how some relatively small some fashion cycles are; this one began in the early nineties, continued into my Dorkier Age, and has resurfaced again! I must say I don't always mind when history repeats itself but I will be admiring this style from afar.

Also this is my first blog attempt from my new iPad; forgive, ignore, and/or keep to yourself any grammar errors. This took me forever.

the well-shod man

It's a well-worn joke: when a couple talks about their shared closet space, the man bemoans the exile of his clothes to one small rack (or a corner) while the woman's bounty runneth over.  I see no reason why men don't fight back (or, preferably, take over another closet) when it comes to the Risk-like game of shared closet organization.  The best stereotype to toss?  A man owning just two pairs of shoes (or three if you include those brown flip-flops that are apparently in the Male Starter Kit).

 First: the requisite too-primo-for-words rock star boots that cost nearly as much as one month's salary...

 then the clean, simple yet stylish lace-up that shows you give a damn...

 The double-monk to spice up your weekday...

 Add a pair of shoes meant for a Sunday stroll through the park...





And finish off a well-curated shoe collection with a dash--or smack o'er the head--of studs. 

 For you stud, you!

style after sixty

Tonight I came across Ari Seth Cohen's blog Advanced Style--a focus on the "silver-haired set" and their strikingly elegant, and often outrageous, style.  Hell, if I live to be sixty or seventy I'm doing it up big every day.  We're talking gloves, hat, the works.

I especially loved his snaps of dapper gentlemen--bold ambassadors of a golden age who take great care in every aspect of their dress (notice this man matched shoes with both pants and shirt), much like the HipsterDandies I've met so far!

It reminds me of an extremely stylish older gentleman I passed today; unfortunately he had no time to pose for a pic (but let me give you a hint: large blue bowtie, blazer, belted slacks, suspenders, perfection) but I have a serious soft spot for the sharp-dressed elderly man!

I feel I must add my love of the snow in this pic--holy hades it's hot out there.