Warby Parker Update

My name finally rose to the top of the Warby Parker home try-on waiting list.  I received an email today notifying me that I was now eligible to order up to five pair of glasses.  I have placed my order and hope to have some frames within five business days.  Stay tuned for a full review. 

My Diaper is Full ... of Fashion

Jeans have always been a Mommy fashion must-have, but now it's time for their little ones to steal the style.  HUGGIES gets fashion forward with new denim diaper design to help your baby stay trendy while keeping dry.

Seriously?  Are these for the fashion forward Mommy who is too lazy to put pants on her child?  I recommend that Mommy pair these with an "all daddy wanted was a blowjob" t-shirt.  Then she can send her trendy baby out to play in traffic.

A Stylish Movie: Bugsy

Set in the late 1930s and early 1940s, Bugsy (1991) tells the story of New York mobster Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel who comes up with a scheme to build a lavish casino in the Nevada desert.  The film's star-studded cast includes Warren Beatty (as Siegel), Annette Bening, Harvey Keitel, Ben Kingsley and Elliott Gould.  Although the film has been criticised for being factually and historically innaccurate, it won an Oscar for Best Costume Design.  Bugsy is replete with double-breasted suits, fedoras, pocket squares and boutonnieres.  Even better is Beatty's casual attire of bold odd jackets, button-down shirts, and cravats.  For sartorial inspiration I recommend Bugsy.

Vintage Family Photo Contest

The first photograph is my father, William Clay McGehee, on board the USS Cumberland Sound, somewhere in the Pacific, Spring 1945.  The second photo was taken upon his promotion to the rank of Commander.

This photo is of W. Oldemar Blum and was taken in a Russian concentration camp for Latvians, possibly Salaspils.  I have always been fascinated by the contrast between the happy, smiling faces and nice clean clothes compared to where they are and what they would soon be facing.  This photo was the last anyone in the family ever heard of W. Oldemar Blum and his family.

Garden & Gun: Soul of the New South

I recently discovered, in a stack of periodicals at the gym, a wonderful magazine called Garden & Gun.  I subscribed and received this week my first issue of the bi-monthly magazine.  The Charleston-based magazine targets affluent Southerners interested in outdoor and sporting culture, food, music, art and literature.  For example, the June/July 2010 issue includes articles on hunting dog art, heritage livestock, a wooden boat craftsman, and a great recipe for fried green tomatoes.  The magazine is printed on heavy stock and is full of beautiful photographs.  If you are interested in Southern tradition and heritage you should definitely pick up a copy of Garden & Gun.

Newsboy Cap

The newsboy cap (also known as an Apple cap or Gatsby cap) is a brimmed casual cap made of eight fabric panels that converge at a buttoned top.  As the name suggests, the caps are widely associated with newsboys of the early 20th Century.  Newsboy caps provide a stylish alternative to the ubiquitous baseball cap.

I recently purchased an excellent green linen newsboy cap from Brett Stiles at the B! Wear Cap Co. in Mariposa, CA.  I am impressed with the quality of the cap.  It is made from a coarse, open-weaved linen that makes the cap breathable and light as a feather (the B! Wear caps are available in a wide variety of fabrics including wool, leather, cashmere, and linen).  The lining is a silky blue material and the hat band is of light brown suede.  One nice feature is a wire that runs through the bill that allows you to shape it as you may desire.  I was also impressed with the reasonable price, the prompt delivery, and the friendly customer service (the cap arrived with a nice handwritten note).  B! Wear has similarly received rave reviews from members of The Fedora Lounge, an online forum dedicated to classic style. 

If you are in need of a casual hat, consider the newsboy cap.  And consider B! Wear as a good source.