November 3, 2015, 8:34 am
Sweater weather... really, are there any two words that sound more amazing together?! Ok, maybe
pay day, but you get the idea. These days are far and few between so taking advantage of the warmer temperatures is vital. It's still business as usual today so balancing comfort with dress code is key. Thankfully, I just discovered
Lanai Collection - my go-to for some lux comforts.
Comprised of simple basics,
Lanai Collection doesn't skimp on the quality and detail that goes into making each garment. I wish you could feel this
Stripe Pullover Sweater because the touch is so nice... it's the perfect compliment to this cool weather. Combined with some tailored pants and some wedge sole brogues [from one of my favorite shoe brands
Hydrogen-1] and you get a weekday appropriate look. Make sure you check out
Lanai Collection, which is also available at
Nordstrom, for yourself!
*This post presented in collaboration with Lanai Collection | All words and opinions are my own*
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November 5, 2015, 12:27 pm
Ok, already deep into November and not even a sign of snow in the forecast... we're already winning! Now to take advantage of these days that Mother Nature has bestowed upon us with some style basics every guy should have in their fall arsenal.
Beanies are obvious,
bomber jackets are vital, and a sick pair of
chelsea boots will quickly outshine your go-to summer-wear. The one piece guys seem to be most afraid of dropping some serious dough for though is leather outerwear.
With so many brands offering their versions of leather [read:
pleather], we have endless options of low cost substitutes, which even I admit are tempting. Have you ever invested in a really great leather jacket though?! The feeling of the weight and design that comes along with a leather outerwear piece is undeniable. For me,
Diesel Black Gold is one of those brands that is a no brainer when shopping for beautifully designed jackets... and really we shouldn't be surprised coming from the Italian owned brand that is known for their rocker-chic esthetic.
I'm kind of stuck on the moto-cross version of leathers right now and only because it gives this Texas boy an instant "bad-ass" appeal. This one from
Diesel Black Gold is from their spring-summer 2015 collection so unfortunately is no longer available online but there are tons of options that are pretty similar in their current
fall-winter collection... like this black
Laxony Leather Jacket. Pieces like these will give an instant strut to your walk so invest, invest, invest!
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November 11, 2015, 12:05 pm
Some days are less productive than others. Especially when we stride into mid-week, it gets harder and harder to concentrate on anything but the weekends activities. I always find these days to be the hardest to stay active and not skip my fitness routine. Not in anyway a 'gym rat', I find ways throughout my day to stay active and get my heart rate up. Something as simple as taking the stairs instead of waiting for that slow elevator during a day like today where I'm running between meetings, easily helps when trying to keep that summer bod.
Thanks to my friends at
Timex, I'm able to track the days calorie burn with the help of the
Timex Metropolitan+. Definitely not as blatant of a piece as most fitness trackers, this watch tracks my steps, calorie burn, and daily fitness goals all while keeping my style points. By just glancing at my watch to check the time, I can also see my days progress from zero to one hundred percent. There's even an app [Timex Connected - available for
iOS and
Android users] that syncs to the
Metropolitan+ and gives a more detailed insight into the days activities. The best part... there's no annoying charging stations needed! It doesn't get easier than that. Make sure you check out the
Timex Metropolitan+ for yourself and the app that'll help keep you healthy!
*This post presented in partnership with Timex | All words and opinions are my own*
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November 17, 2015, 11:38 am
It's that time of year again where we all feel a sense of relief where we can layer on and cozy up to a slower pace of life. None of us have an urgency to do much of anything besides eat, sleep, and Netflix [and chill]. It's crazy to even think this year is just about over. With so much that has gone on this year, I'm pretty happy to slow down a bit and enjoy the last moments of 2015.
Flannel is just about the most iconic chilly season piece we should all be layering in. This one from
J. Crew is one of my favorites that I bought last year and couldn't part ways with it... which is rare when cleaning out my closets at the end of the season. It's borderline gift wrapping paper patterned which is only appropriate when moving into the holiday season.
With a full day of trekking the city, I paired my flannel with some new
Flexi Loafers... some of the most comfortable kicks you'll get into. With some help of weather-proofing and a comfort fit insole, I'll be sporting these
loafers for as long as I can into the colder months. Loafers are perfect for most any dress code which just makes it easier to style into any daily look. Check out the
Flexi collections and try some out for yourself!
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November 18, 2015, 9:11 am
It's no secret that I'm obsessed with loungewear. I probably spend a bit too much time in my pajamas in the mornings, but I just can't help but invest in pieces that are not only comfortable and practical but also stylish... which sometimes can be harder to find than we think. New York City being a very communal type of city, you can't leave your apartment without being seen by at least a handful of people so getting dressed properly for your day is vital.
Thankfully, my friends at
AEO sent over their latest in lounge/activewear - the
Flex Joggers. Tailored to fit on the slimmer side, these updated joggers are my latest go-to while lounging around my apartment or even for venturing out around the city. It's all about how you style lounge joggers - you can either look like you're leaving the gym or even dress them up a bit and sport them while running your daily errands.
Today's plans are a bit busy as I prepare to venture out to London this evening, so I'll be running some last minutes errands. By pairing my joggers with some great sneakers [these are some of my favorite suede leather sneakers from
Hydrogen-1] and layering on a henley and a good chambray shirt, it's less gym-like and more casual-wear. Would you wear this?
This post presented in partnership with AEO | All words and opinions are my own
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November 24, 2015, 12:44 pm
Whoo, it's been a whirlwind of a week. If you've been following me on Instagram, I was traveling last week with Hydrogen-1 Shoes to London with some other pals. It was my first time there in about ten years so it was definitely a once in a lifetime experience. More to come on that so stay tuned. Now that I've made it back stateside, I've begun to play catchup... AKA, visiting some of my homeland comforts - favorite coffee shop, Chipotle, and my bed!
As much as I love traveling, nothing beats being home. As much as us New Yorkers complain about the chaos that comes with this city, there really is no place like it. London quickly became one of my favorite destinations though. It is similar to NYC but surprisingly, a lot more chaotic. I was not expecting the crowds, traffic, and territory the historic town covers. My favorite thing about London was the style though. It was all so classic and well tailored, which is right up my alley.
The number one item to own in London was without a doubt, the topcoat... and really, there's nothing more classic than that! This navy one is a current favorite by
Tommy Hilfiger. It's double layered with a removable down front for a little extra protection from the elements. It definitely came in handy with the bitter chill that London is known for. I'm definitely more prepared for the winter than years past. Now bring on the snow!
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November 27, 2015, 7:26 pm
I know I'm not the only one that won't even consider standing in line for hours in hopes of scooping up some hella cheap electronics during Black Friday. With so many online stores going rogue and making most their deals available in their online shops, I just don't see a need for the chaos... nor do I understand why so many others put themselves through it.
If you're following along on
Instagram, then you saw last weeks trip to London with
Hydrogen-1 Shoes and a couple of my blogger pals -
Justin and
Anthony. We managed to get some super sunny days so most of the trip was spent trekking the streets discovering new spots, and of course snapping some images at every sun drenched location. There really was no better way to wear-test some of the brands kicks.
The results - probably the most comfortable and stylish shoes I've ever worn! I wore these
Midnight Blue Brogues for a full six hour day of walking all over the city and wasn't uncomfortable for one second of it. The rubber wedged crepe sole helps with the impact of walking on concrete and the calf leather lining stopped from that annoying heal rubbing. You seriously have to give them a go for yourself... and what better timing than Black Friday. This weekend only,
Hydrogen-1's online store is doing 35% off all styles by using code
BlackFriday at checkout... and all from the comfort of your own home. Can't beat that! Happy shopping friends.
PS - Stay tuned for the full London photo diary next week!
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November 30, 2015, 12:24 pm
For me, the travel bug never seems to leave. I can't help but constantly add new countries to my list of places to visit and at this point, I'll be pretty busy for the next few years. I'm not one to be your typical tourist with an itinerary to follow and reservations to make. I like to just wing it and do most of my plans by way of trekking the city I'm in and just stumbling on neighborhoods, meeting locals, and really getting a feel for the environment as if I'm living there. It would probably be stressful for most, but the non-schedule approach keeps me in the moment and focusing on just enjoying being in a new place... even if I do spend a lot of the day lost.
As I
mentioned last week, I made my way over the pond and into beautiful London with ultra-lux men's shoe brand,
Hydrogen-1. This was my second visit to the bustling city, but my first visit was a short one-day stint and just about ten years ago... whoo, time flies... so I was definitely excited to spend a bit more time there. After a short overnight flight [and a couple too many mini-bar wines in flight] we landed in unsurprisingly rainy London and hit the ground running. The city was definitely geared up for the holidays which only made the experience that much better. Historic buildings, cobble stone streets, traditional pubs - it was all like I remembered but even better with the twinkling Christmas lights that covered their facades. We managed to do just about everything we wanted to over the four day weekend thanks to some luck from Mother Nature so feel free to check out some of the highlights of things we did from 'where to sleep' to 'where to shop' below. My biggest tip is to just be prepared to walk. There is transit by way of subway and bus but the best way to discover the smaller pockets is just walking through the narrow streets. Cheerio!
TO SLEEP
The Hoxton Hotel, Holborn - Without a doubt one of the coolest hotels I've stayed in. The rooms can be a bit small but are clean, modern, and have everything you need. The best part of the hotel is the lobby though. It's always filled with tourist and locals so it's a great place to mingle with a coffee during the day or dancing with a cocktail in hand at night. Make sure you have some grub in the restaurant there too.
TO EAT/DRINK
Indian Food:
Brick Lane - This street has tons of Indian restaurants so pick up a bottle of wine [most are BYOB] and just choose any that looks fun!
TO SHOP
Harrods, Most known department store in London
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December 1, 2015, 5:59 pm
It's been a minute since our last
LOTW but what better timing than the holidays?! Just about the only time of year you can buy a tux and know it will be put to use, those short few weeks between Thanksgiving and New Years are guaranteed to be filled with holiday parties and secret Santa festivities so it's the perfect time to tux up! If you don't have anything that demands formal-wear on your schedule now, trust me, once you buy a tux you'll find a party to wear it to.
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December 3, 2015, 3:30 am
It can be hard to dress for a rainy day in a city where you have no choice but to spend a lot of it walking in the elements. While I attempt to stay dry, balancing style with comfort isn't too hard with the right pieces. A great coat and clean sneakers are at very the top of my rainy day essentials list.
This
Flannel Drawstring Coat from Kenneth Cole's Black Label is my usual go-to in rainy day-wear. It's lightweight but warm, about thigh-length but tailored so is easily layered to keep you dry. While today's look is super casual as I'm running errands, these
Rockport Prowalker Sneakers are transitional no matter the days dress code. With easy to clean leather and comfort technology
Rockport is known for, they are the perfect compliment to your outfit of the day no matter wet or dry. While I went for this wheat hue, they also come in solid black as well as white so make sure you check out all three colors and find the perfect shade for your style.
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December 7, 2015, 10:32 am
One of my favorite things about the holidays is the scents that fill the air helping to get us all in the mood for the season of giving. No matter if it's gingerbread, pine, or peppermint, our homes and offices become a battle ground of scents as we get closer and closer to the holiday. Not only does my home start to smell extra cozy but my personal scent gets a boost in warmth and this year, thanks to my friends at
Vince Camuto, you have the chance to try out what I'll be wearing all season long.
Vince Camuto Solare is that feel good scent that will definitely warm your holiday cheer. Notes of mandarin, cardamom, and a woody spice are the perfect balance for the season. Since this is the season of giving, I'm excited to share a
Vince Camuto gift set with one lucky reader! Just follow the steps below and it can be yours to try or to give to that special guy in your life. Happy holidays friends!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
*This post presented by Vince Camuto | All words and opinions are my own*
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December 8, 2015, 1:45 pm
One of my favorite things about the holidays is treating myself, and others, to some tasty traditions that I've habitually made a part of every Christmas. Seems like only yesterday that I was waking up as a child at the crack of dawn so that I could be the first to rush into the living room and start counting my presents. As fast as time has flown by, the traditions I have with my family always seem to take me back as if those days are still happening... I may or may not still be the first under the tree dividing up presents.
As great as the presents are, the 'best part of waking up' [
see what I did there?] is, and always will be, the smell of coffee brewing. The smell of
Folgers® Classic Roast instantly takes me back to waking up to my Mom brewing up some much needed coffee for herself, in order to handle us kids screaming at the top of our lungs as we tore open presents. To this day, the holidays just aren't the same without this tasty tradition. What are some of your tasty traditions? Comment below or shoot me an email telling me what you do with your family and friends!
*This post presented in collaboration with Folgers® and Socialstars | #FolgersFans | All words and opinions are my own*
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December 14, 2015, 12:14 pm
A few weeks back I introduced you to one of my favorite new brand discoveries, Lanai Collection. If you're looking for some good knits, especially cashmere, this is the pace to find it! Either layered up and dressed down, or under a great suit, this
striped pullover sweater has been in my OOTD rotations for a few weeks now. I seem to find a way to wear it in new ways just about every week... especially since New York is experiencing some balmy, fall-like temperatures this winter!
Since this is the time for giving, I have partnered with Lanai Collection once again to share this favorite sweater of mine! I'll be choosing three lucky winners to receive this sweater - valued at $235. Just follow the easy steps in the raffle below and follow on Instagram for your chance to get a few extra entries for every friend you tag in my Lanai Collection images I'll be sharing all week! Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
*This post presented in collaboration with Lanai Collection | All words and opinions are my own*
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December 17, 2015, 4:00 am
If you follow along on Snapchat [@trendstyled] then you might already know this, but I probably spend at least fifty percent of my day lounging around my bedroom... with at least ninety percent of my snaps tucked in bed. When you find good space in NYC, no matter the location, you tend to gravitate there day after day. We are all creatures of habit and it's hard to beat the comforting feeling of good lighting and great diggs.
My mornings usually vary... Some good iced coffee [no matter the season], a few too many hours on my phone, catching up on emails, dancing around in my underwear, and a good read of some of my favorite mags are just a few things you'll catch me doing before noon. I would have loved to of said reading a book, but I honestly can't remember the last book I purchased. Don't judge. The one constant no matter the day though, some great lounge-wear to make it all that much better.
My current go-to in loung-wear... This
Lanai Collection Lounge Set which includes French terry track shorts, shawl-collar sweater, and a great reversible cashmere-wool throw to curl up with on those extra chilly mornings. Really, I'm just trying to make it that much harder for you to
not hit your snooze button every morning. Since I'm still in the giving mood,
Lanai Collection and I are hooking you up with a
40% discount on the set that retails for $395. Just use code
TRENDHOLIDAY to scoop up a set for yourself or to give to that special guy in your life!
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December 21, 2015, 12:45 pm
I may be the only one in this mindset, but I've been loving Monday's lately. I always need some kind of fire under me to get moving and stay on schedule and Monday's always seem to be that fire that starts off my week. It's probably because I know come Thursday I'll be completely unproductive and counting down the minutes to the weekend but at least I'm getting things done, right?!
This is a short week, thankfully. I'm looking forward to making my way down South to Nashville, Tennessee to spend the holiday with my family, eat some damn good barbecue, and of course sip on some strong whiskey. Exactly what the holidays are made of! For now, I'm enjoying some of the record setting layer weather we've been getting in NYC and am taking full advantage of keeping those heavier winter coats in storage.
A great down-vest is a vital layer to get through the chilly months in the North-East so I've been collecting them all season in both light and heavy weight styles. This one from Tommy Hilfiger is filled with some ultra-plush down to give a little extra warmth and weight for the days I'll be going sans coat. It's just about the easiest layer to pull off... stylistically and functionally. Speaking of, I scooped up one last pair of
Flexi Shoes for the year. These
Nexus kicks are my go-to in style and function... especially for my longer days like today where I'm hitting the ground running.
*This post presented in collaboration with Flexi Shoes | All words and opinions are my own*
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December 22, 2015, 12:24 pm
New year, new you... That's usually how it goes at the beginning of each year right? There seems to be a collective sense of fresh starts when we begin a new year and really, it can be a great time to completely update/upgrade your style. Jumping on the gym bandwagon is already hard enough to keep up with so style changes don't need to be so challenging. It should be effortless and at the end of the day, should only compliment your lifestyle.
I'm not a big new year resolution type of person. As I get older and more comfortable in my own skin, I have an idea of the type of person I want to be and already am so any resolutions I make are minimal enough to accomplish without much pressure. The style update is a constant in my resolutions though. With my my birthday coming shortly after the new year it may just be because I'm getting a year older, but I always like to make some changes to my daily style.
Dressing your age is a huge rule in my books. We are all guilty of getting lethargic in our daily dress so it's easy to forget that, 'Damn, I'm how old again?!' So this year, my commitment to updating my daily style is much more significant. Not to mention, a complete restyling of the blog... More details on this coming soon! What I can say now is, there will be a lot more tailored-wear, dapper footwear, and possibly a few neck-ties here and there progressing into my
OOTDs which I hope you can all appreciate. Don't worry though, my casual style will still be around... just in a more polished kind of way. What are some of your new years resolutions? Follow me on Instagram:
@trendstyled and let me know by either commenting or tagging me in your photos!
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December 31, 2015, 10:38 am
And just like that, another year bites the dust! While I could easily take this time to reflect on great things that happened in 2015, I'm more focused and excited for what's to come next year. Not that I'm not grateful for each and every opportunity and experience that came our way this year, it's just that I'd rather pay more attention to how I can make 2016 just as great, if not better! So for 2015, I'll just say simply to all of you... Thank you!
As promised
before, there will be a few exciting changes to the TS platform so I hope you guys are just as excited as I am for what's to come. Besides some style tweaks which will include more tailored-wear
OOTD's, there will be a few extra categories that should help mix things up a bit. 'Space-spiration', which will include architecture and home design, and Lifestyle, which will include food, drinks, fitness, and travel, are just two of the new categories that will hopefully make things a little more interesting... not to mention a whole new website design!
I can't be more excited for 2016 and everything that comes with it... even if that means another year wiser [read: older]. I hope to see you all on the other side! *Note: This Adele lyric reference was not intentional! Happy New Year friends!
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January 4, 2016, 11:19 am
While I love the holidays just as much as the next person, I'm pretty glad those stressful days of shopping and travel are over. I always think it's going to be the most relaxing part of the year where I can go off the grid and just breath for a bit but really, it always ends up being a schedule-full of activities. From trying to find that perfect gift to trying to find the cheapest airline ticket to get home, those weeks leading up to the end of the year always end up being more hectic than anticipated.
Thankfully, we're in the clear for another year... So now, it's time to get back into the groove of day-to-day life and hustle. As bitter cold as it is in New York [I guess we are having a winter this year], the Monday after the new year seems to be the most productive for everyone. I'll be hopping around from meeting to meeting but thanks to some pre-winter preparations, the elements won't be stopping me from starting the year of right!
A great topcoat and down-vest combo is a necessity for winter but even more than that, a good pair of functional gloves are even more vital. My friends at
Honns sent me
these ultra soft, lambskin gloves that are compatible with any touch screen devices so I won't be having to expose my fingers to the chill. I've been waiting weeks to use these so be prepared to see them a lot over the next few months. Check out their full collection of solid colors, patterns, and textures that fit just about any style. I'll definitely be collecting these guys all winter long.
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January 5, 2016, 11:38 am
As surprising as it might be, I absolutely loath shopping. Crowds of people, long lines for dressing rooms, dressing and undressing trying to find the perfect fit, hopping around from store to store... There's just so many other things I'd rather do than going through the hustle of finding a great new outfit. When I find a brand or store that I can find everything I need in one place, I usually become obsessed and make it my mission to only go there when shopping.
A.P.C. for me, is that one stop shop that I'm currently addicted to.
I started doing these
Looks of the Week after being introduced to so many cool up and coming brands and shops that I knew I had to share with all of you. While
A.P.C. is not new and is pretty well established in the world of fashion, so many people only think of them as a resource for denim so I knew I had to commit a
LOTW to this store to show the other goods it has to offer. As you can see from above... there's so much to cover!
I make it no secret that I am obsessed with
monochromatics. There's just something so cool about finding that perfect shade that fits your style and the season. Neutrals are those year round shades that you can easily work into your own
LOTW and most likely already are. This heather brown, cotton-wool suit from
A.P.C. is a great base that you can wear as separates or all together as shown here. I like to dress down my suits a bit by pairing them down with a cool knit sweater and some killer boots. These
Victor Boots from
A.P.C. are my current go-tos during these colder days and am trying to get the most out of them before the snow hits. The secret to monochromatics... Find a color that suits you and work it into every piece of your look but in different hues like I did here. Mixing dark and light shades of the same color helps to break it up a bit and gives a more styled look.
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January 6, 2016, 12:39 pm
It's not hard to convince myself of investing in more outerwear. While having a great winter coat is a necessity during a New York City winter, having eight of them is not. I try my best to invest wisely and when I do make a purchase, the trade-off rule is gain one, lose one. My local Salvation Army loves me. There are always exception to the rule though... Like when I stumbled across this lifetime investment and knew it had to be mine without any trade-offs!
Not one to veer too far from my usual go-to colors [as I'm sure you most of you can tell who visit me regularly], when I saw this maroon down-jacket from
Lanvin I knew I had to call dibs! Besides it being
Lanvin, I took the red wine shade as a challenge to get myself out of my usual blues, grays, and blacks. Obviously still had to incorporate those colors into my look but this new shade is the gradual progression of getting out of my winter hues rut... That's what I'm telling myself anyways. Filled with goose feathers and protected with a water repellent shell, this guy will be traveling with my all winter long... At least until I escape for some beach adventures.
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