The mid-winter shoe

The metaphorical mayfly... or better yet, june bug of foot wear. Made necessary by the siege warfare road salt wages every year against shoes and boots alike in northern climates. When a well worn pair are ceremoniously or unceremoniously heaved into the waste bin (choose accordingly), defeated by the caked on sodium that wears a shining fake-leather into cracked plastic, and sued or fur into stucco, the mid-winter shoe comes bravely to face it's ultimatly tragic destiny.

It typically comes from the post-Christmas month-spanning sales, when prices are in free fall. A pair that began as $90 now wears the bargin-red sticker of $17.95.

They are an investment only as a stylish 'survival' method until the ice of winter and the mud of sping clear up, and like Leonidas and his 300 at Thermopylae, are fated to be destroyed fending off the worst the world can throw at them, protecting the rest of your shoe rack.

They are usually a thicker sneaker of boot, perfect for the cold and wet seasons, but uncomfortable (and by then, ugly) in the summer, eventually becoming out of style by the fall.

Few ever make it that far. Most begin to fall apart by May, and are religated to being hidden in a closet or kept outside in the garage, rarely if ever to be worn again.

This year, I think I shall do my best to save mine.

Fashion Week FW2010: Paul Smith

Paul Smith turned up the volume up on classic menswear pieces with bright colors, bold, mixed prints, and intriguing details, especially with the jacket colors and lapels. He mixed casual and classic by putting the hoodie in the classic suit and making the prints large and colors rich.

The monochromatic looks showed Paul Smith's excellent tailoring, interesting proportions, and unique details.

Photo Source: GQ.com

Fashion Week FW2010: D&G

If Thom Browne's Moncler Gamme Bleu man is a military-inspired ski champ than D&G's man is a laid-back, yet stylish, snowboarder to appreciates his warm winter brights as much as a tuxedo with snow boots. While snow pants dominated the runway, D&G still showed it's roots with strong denim appearances. Formal wear for on an off the half-pipe made appearance too with a strong mix of sporty and dressy.

Photo Source: GQ.com

Marc Eco Star Wars Style

If you've ever fancied yourself a Rebel pilot, a stormtrooper, a bounty hunter, or even a Sith lord, Marc Eco has made it possible with geek-chic Star Wars hoodies.
These hoodies go beyond the typical fan shirt and actually look like the uniform or costume of the Star Wars characters. With the hood off, most just look like interestingly designed hoodies (especially the Darth Vader and Stormtrooper versions).
The hoodies range in price from the $29.99 (for the clearance styles) to $150. May the force be with you.

Fashion Week FW2010: Etro

Etro's zany styling aside, the fall collections features menswear classics in rich colors and bold, but traditional, prints. The majority of Etro's line would make great wardrobe staples. Pile on Etro's knee-high spats, picture frame necklaces, bright scarves, jodhpurs and a statement hat to achieve the collection's attention-getting look.

Photo Source: GQ.com

Gilt-y as sin

Amidst the passionate designs and impressive patterns of Fashion Week, Gilt Man brings us a short but sweet sale on the threads of John Varvatos.


You will be hard-pressed to find a more beautiful line of conventional menswear. Rarely a shade lighter than grey to be found in the entire collection, these black and white combination score again and again. These are the outfits I hope to someday be paid enough to whimsically afford (that is, to save my credit card information on the designer's checkout page, with a direct hot-line to my phone for easy and thoughtless purchasing).


No, scratch that.
I'd turn to a life of crime for these outfits.

Classiest damn bank robbery ever

Photo source Gilt Man.com

Fashion Week FW2010: Moncler Gamme Bleu

Were a traditional military man to wake up in Thom Browne's Moncler Gamme Bleu barracks, he would find himself severely lacking in color, prints, whimsy and voluminous cold-weather wear. The show opened on a runway lined with cots from, which the models emerged and dressed. This unique showcase brought focus to the military stylings of the bright, buoyant collection.
The Moncler Gamme Bleu man may be colorful, stylish, whimsical and rather hopeful, but he is not without function. Since Browne has forged a collaboration with skiwear company, Moncler, much of the clothing is athletic and performance focused. The winter wear is down-right practical for cold climates without being boring or pedestrian. What do you think of Thom Browne's adventures in skiwear?

Photo Source: GQ.com