Avoiding the Cold: Thick Socks

The worst part of winter is just around the bend, and it's easy for us to forget how cold the first few months of the year can get. Most of us have packed away our sandals and light summer footwear, but that doesn't mean that we can't wear some of our lighter footwear in the winter. All we really need is a pair of thick socks.

Not let me preface the rest of this article with a few things. I am in no way, shape, or form telling you to wear your sandals in the winter with thick socks. If you have half a brain you will understand that. Summer footwear is summer footwear, and a lot of it is not acceptable to wear in the winter. Here are a few rules I've come up with in order to narrow down your thick-sock-appropriate shoe selection.

Never Again: Basketball Shorts

Ok, so before you all get your pitchforks, form a large mob outside of where I live, and demand to have my head on a stake, let me preface this article with a few sentences. We all love basketball shorts. Their comfort surpasses anything else we could possibly put on our body. These gifts from the gods allow men's balls to go whereever the fuck they want, provided we are wearing the correct underwear. And you know how men are about the comfort and freedom of their testicles. That being said, there is a time and there is definitely a place to wear this particular clothing item, and "Everywhere, every day, at every time" is not an option in my book. Before I begin to yell at you and tell you all the places that you shouldn't wear basketball shorts, let me show you a list of places that I have deemed completely acceptable to show off your favorite pair of baller legwear.

Thread Review: Rainboots

In honor of Sandy, I decided it was time to do a post about a clothing item that I utilize more frequently than the average young man. Yes, my friends, I'm talking about rainboots. The weather is fucking ridiculous out there right now, and if you've been outside for more than a few seconds you've probably come to the realization that the nike shox, boat shoes, or flip flops that are on your feet are no match for a storm of this magnitude. So how long will it be until they start making shoes that keep your feet dry in a hurricane?!?!

Oh wait, they already have.

Men are scared of things like rainboots. They are for girls, and heaven forbid if a guy did something girly. Lately, though, clothing designers have been coming out with men's rainboots that are anything but girly. Here's a few types of footwear that will keep your feet nice and dry in the face of hurricane Sandy.

Never Again: Ripped Jeans

We all remember them. We all wanted them. We all tried to make them ourselves with a pair of scissors or a piece of sandpaper. Ripped jeans. These were once a staple item in all of our 15-year-old wardrobes. I used to walk past the Abercrombie & Fitch window and look at the gorgeously tattered and paint splattered pairs of jeans, wishing my mom would just be "a cool mom" and spend $175 on that denim form of euphoria I wanted so badly.

Fast forward to today. I would not DARE buy anything that has rips, tears, snags, or paint on it. Remember your dad telling you how stupid you were for buying jeans with holes in them, and how you looked like a homeless bum when you wore them? Well, he was right. I could go off and bitch at you for another two paragraphs about how stupid you look in ripped jeans, but I'm not gonna do that this time. I'm just going to let my reasons speak for themselves.

The Basic Black Blazer

I love blazers. They are such a crucial step in maturing your wardrobe from "I still kind of dress like I did in high school" to "I'm kind of an adult and I sorta dress like one." Now that fall is starting, we are coming into the perfect weather to rock a blazer. This may be a big step for some of you, but once you get compliments on how good you look, I promise that you'll never want to go back.

Blazers can be tricky. It is very easy for you to look like you are trying too hard, and they are not always appropriate. Also, when people think "blazer" sometimes they think of someone wearing a full suit going to work, and they get scared. Throw the idea of a full suit out the window and don't let that scare you. I'm going to walk you through a few basic looks that will help you step up your wardrobe without taking too much of a risk.

The Basic Black Blazer
I think everyone should have a black blazer. it is perfect for stepping up any night outfit, and can be worn in a bunch of different situations. Photos by Jenna Kim.

Properly Wearing A Denim Shirt

The denim shirt has made a comeback as of a few years ago, and I'm not complaining at all. This trend has exploded in the past two years, and you can find denim shirts everywhere now. I personally love denim of any kind, so I own a few denim shirts and I wear them in a variety of ways. I think a denim shirt is a staple item that should be in everyone's closet, especially going into fall and winter. You may be intimidated, but don't be, because I have created a few basic looks that almost anyone can wear. Photos by Jenna Kim.

Black is Best

Sometimes people think fashion is all about trying the newest and most unlike the norm. This is completely untrue. To prove it to you, here are a few pictures of what I wore to a wedding that I attended this weekend. Want to look like this? Just remember that sometimes, "Black is best."

Never Again: Shorts and Tees When It's Cold Out

This article was inspired by a walk down the street with a few of my roommates. It was dusk, and although it still has yet to be freezing in State College, PA, it was pretty chilly. I had a zipup hoodie and jeans on. My roommates were both wearing long pants and light jackets. To further justify this, my hands were pretty cold when we got back to our house, so this article is not just me being dramatic. As we crossed the street, we noticed a guy J-walking a little farther up the street. He was wearing black basketball shorts and a Penn State t-shirt. One of my roommates asked jokingly if we were the only people who knew it was cold out. Without even a hesitation, I blurted out "No, guys are just like 'I'm too hot for the cold!'" And although I was just making a joke, all I thought about afterwards was how true this is. Walking to class in the winter I always see that one asshole who's wearing a long sleeve t shirt in a blizzard. Meanwhile, I'm wearing a parka.

I don't know what makes guys think that by not wearing the proper outerwear that they look tough and/or like the biggest badass that has ever walked the planet. Apparently looking like a complete dumbfuck makes you look cool. I definitely missed that memo. I know that the weather is still warm enough that you're not always going to need a jacket, but I'm trying to prevent this debauchery before it starts. That being said, here are some reasons why you should wear a coat when its cold out...

Packing for a Weekend Away

Fall is full of new beginnings. Some people are starting a new year of school, while others start new jobs. A lot is going on in every community and there is always so much transition and adjusting during the autumn season. But with every new beginning, we need a new retreat from the chaos. Many of us will be taking off from our normal lives and spending a weekend away, going to big cities or visiting friends. The downside is that every road trip has to start with something that most people hate: packing.

Almost everyone I know hates packing. They dread packing so much that they wait until the last minute and then throw a bunch random mismatched items in a bag and then end up not having anything to wear. Fortunately, I love packing. It not only gets me excited to go on my trip, but it causes me to get organized and not stress out about the trip itself. Yes, I understand that I am one of the only people on the planet that thinks this way, but after I show you my packing routine and give you a few tips and tricks, maybe you won't dread packing as much as before. Maybe you'll even like it.

Casual Night Out

I'm going out with a few friends tonight just for a few drinks. If you're not doing anything major just throw a cardigan over a plain shirt and you're good to go!

Never Again: Running Shoes

Ok, I'm going to start this one off by saying that running shoes are great...when you're running. I have a few pairs of running shoes and I wear them a couple times a week...when I'm running. I think everyone should have a pair of them to wear...when they're running.

That being said, RUNNING SHOES ARE NOT FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN RUNNING. You shouldn't wear them to party. You shouldn't wear them to class. You shouldn't wear them on a date. You shouldn't wear them to the club. Anywhere outside of a gym is the wrong place to be wearing running shoes. Why you ask? Well, I'll tell you.

My roommates and I have a saying that we pretty much live by, and that saying is that "you can find out everything you need to know about a guy by looking at the kind of shoes he's wearing." This is almost fool-proof, and running shoes fall at the very bottom of the list. What do we think we know about you because you wore running shoes out to the club? We think that you have no style and don't even realize it and will forever be unaware of how tragically awful the way you dress is. We will probably laugh to each other meanly about how bad you look and we might even talk about how horrific your whole outfit is. Then we will go on our way being reincarnations of Regina George and never look twice at you again.

This might sound like I am the most evil person on the planet, but I cannot stress to you how awful you look when you wear running shoes as if they were a brand new pair of dress shoes. But instead of just bitching at you some more, I'll give you a list of reasons why your running shoes need to stay on the treadmill.

Change of Season Sales

When a season changes, stores have to adjust what they put on their shelves depending on what season we are going into. We all know this. Something that you might not know, though, is that this is the best time to get good deals on clothes. I've made a point to keep doing this at the end of every season, and some of my favorite clothes have been bought out of season on a sale rack. Now I'm going to share with you a few tips to help you take advantage of these sales. (After the jump)

Thread Review: Harem Pants

 

Harem pants are starting to push their way into mainstream clothing, so I decided to write a Thread Review about them. Harem pants can be noted by their low crotch and baggy side pockets. They have been a fashion trend in Asia for a while, and people have started wearing them over here in the states.

At first I thought they were kind of stupid, and then I saw someone wearing harem pants in a music video. I can't even remember what music video it was, but they guy wearing them was really pulling them off well. A couple days later I started googling them. I found a bunch of pairs on eBay and bought one for only $11. The pants came from China so the shipping was $10, so my total was about $23. I had to buy a size XL, though, because they were in Asian sizes. The interface on eBay did tell me that an Asian XL is equivalent to a US medium, so just make sure that you double check the size when ordering.

My pair of harem pants.

As you can see, my pair are less drastic than the one in the photo at the beginning of the article. I took a drastic fashion statement and bought a more wearable and less outrageous version, which I think can be done with many trends that are a little too crazy for the everyday. I've been trying different outfits with my harem pants for about a week now, and I think I've mastered how to correctly wear them. So, that being said, here are a few guidelines to help you nail the harem pants look: (after the jump)

How To Acheive The Rolled Up Pants Look

This is a little trick that I have been doing with my pants to make them wearable in the summer. Yes, I am simply rolling up my pants, but I've perfected away to make them look less like homemade women's capris and more like a fashion statement. I would not recommend trying these with denim, because denim is too thick and doesn't scrunch right at the knee like cotton pants do. If you've been following the blog, this is a perfect thing to do with your bright colored pants.

Now, I'm going to guide you, step by step, on how to achieve the look seen in the picture above:
(after the jump)

Never Again: Plaid Shorts

The brother of the dreaded cargo shorts, plaid shorts are not much better. They could even be worse in certain situations.These blew up as a fad when I was in high school. I had a few pairs, I'm not going to lie. They were cool at the time, but then college came and it was time to upgrade my style. Apparently I'm the only one who felt the need to do this because my college campus is littered with men still wearing these pants. Even as a college senior, I see people in my classes sporting these like they just stepped out of an American Eagle photo shoot. Enough is enough, and I can't bite my tongue any longer.

Just like before, here are a few reasons why you should retire these hideous shorts for someone who is, well, retired. (after the jump)

Athletic Wear

It's my personal philosophy that no matter what you are doing, there is no reason that you have to look bad. We all have our days, though, and I'm not saying that you should look perfect all the time. Even as I'm writing this, I'm sitting in a laundromat in an old tank top and possibly the ugliest pair of cutoff sweatpants that exist on the planet.

That being said, what's wrong with looking good when you work out? Why do people insist on wearing mismatched old t-shirts and ratty shorts with holes in them? Above is the outfit that I wore out running today. Black tank top, Nike black and red shorts, and my new red running shoes. Could you guess that red is my favorite color?

I'm gonna keep this short, because I honestly don't wear athletic wear that much. The trend that I have seen and liked is keeping your top and shorts a solid subtle color and let your shoes be the statement piece. I'm going to do a little more research and write a more in-depth article, but just remember that you don't have to dress like shit just because you're working up a sweat!

Thread Review: Bright Colored Pants

Although not a new idea, colored pants have made their way into just about every major retail store on the planet. They are clearly the newest fashion fad, and it seems that everyone is jumping on board. I personally love colored pants and think that they can up the production value of any plain outfit. Bright colored pants can be way too loud for some people, so I wouldn't spend the big bucks on a nice pair if you've never traveled into this realm before. H&M has really nice pairs in the $20s-$30s range, and most of mine are from there.

My collection of colored pants, all under $40.

So if you've decided to take on the challenge of colored pants, here are a few tips to wearing them correctly: (After the jump)

Coming Soon: Closet Raid

So one thing that I think would be not only a lot of fun, but also very helpful, is to find friends and other participants that would allow me to raid their closets, get a feel for their personal style, pick out a few outfits for them, and then shoot them in said outfits. I think it would be a great way to show people that to follow this blog you don't have to go out and buy a new wardrobe, you just have to put the right pieces together. Anyone else on the same page as me?

The first person I want to raid is my friend John. This will be very interesting because we have very different styles, but this will be a way that I can prove to all of you that you don't have to shop at the same stores as me or want to dress like me to read this blog. John is 100% on board, so hopefully I can do this tomorrow and have an article up in a few days. This is going to be an ongoing theme in the blog, much like the Never Again and Thread Review articles, which I also wish to continue.

So keep an eye out for John's debut, and who knows, maybe He'll post a few articles on here talking about his own personal style. The possibilities are endless, and watch out, because I might be raiding your closet next!

Never Again: Cargo Shorts

We all used to wear them. They were popular back when we were in junior high and even in high school. But honestly, as a college senior, I should not be seeing some of my friends wearing them. These were cool back in the day when we thought that Hollister was the new Jesus and Abercrombie was our Burberry. I'll admit, I rocked them in the beginning of freshman year of college, but then I started to mature, and I realized my clothes needed to mature, also.

Yes, you might want to whip out these babies when you don't have anything to wear, but here are 3 reasons to donate them instead.

1. They're too bulky and baggy. When we were younger and cargo shorts were the shit, a lot of us were still stuck in our AND1 and SouthPole days, where we thought to look good we had to wear baggy clothes. Nelly wore baggy clothes, so why shouldn't I? Today is much different. Even rappers are wearing skinny jeans, and all that extra pocket fabric on the sides does nothing for your body shape. And you know that you never even put anything in those random extra pockets anyway.

2. No one thinks they're attractive.  No matter who you're trying to impress, they are not going to fall for you because they just couldn't resist the ridiculous amount of canvas covering your crotch and legs. They simply do nothing to accentuate virtually anything on a person's body. And no, a girl is not going to believe you when you tell her that you need all that extra pocket space to hold your Magnum XL condoms.

3. They're for kids. Think of all the stores that carry (do they even still sell these in stores?) cargo shorts. American Eagle, Hollister, Abercrombie, and Aeropostale, just to name a few. It's not a secret that these stores are marketing to kids that are still in junior high school. Why don't you ever see a nice pair of cargo shorts in H&M? It's because H&M knows that the people shopping in their stores have gotten over that phase. They know (and pray) that people in their 20's aren't deeming cargo shorts a must have for the next season.

Well there you go. Three extremely valid reasons to light anyone on fire who is caught wearing a pair of these canvas wonders. Cargo shorts...never again.

Running Errands

Just because you're running errands and checking things off your to-do list doesn't mean you have to look like shit.

Shirt & Shorts - H&M
Shoes - Aldo
Watch - Kenneth Cole

My first post is the outfit I wore out last night.

Shoes - Aldo

Shirt - Banana Republic

Pants - H&M

Watch - Michael Kors