New Site!

The STATEtorialist is now on WordPress!! If you aren't automatically redirected, check out the new URL


http://thestatetorialist.wordpress.com

Get on Deck with Spring's Most Popular Footwear

Walk downtown on a nice spring day, and I bet you that it's hard not to spot someone strolling around in a pair of boat shoes.

The boat shoe, originated in 1935 by Sperry Topsider, has become more and more popular as the years have gone by, and as of recent, when the weather gets nicer, the more Sperry's you see on the streets.

Sperry has evolved from just a leather boat shoe, and now works with tons of different materials to put a innovative spin on a classic look. Sperry Topsider put's out a ton of different styles, not just boat shoes, and when it comes to footwear for the Spring and Summer months, your first stop should be to Sperry's deep catalogue of shoes and sandals.

This Spring, Sperry has put out a ton of new looks and styles that I really like, and I think that you will too. My tip for shopping Sperry--when you start building your collection, diversify the material. Don't load up on leather. Take advantage of the unique materials Sperry offers like canvas and linen. Dare to be different, because with Sperry Topsiders' seemingly endless popularity, pretty soon everyone is going to have the brown leather boat shoe.

Here's a few of Sperry Topsider's New Arrivals this season that I think you'll really dig.



Inspired Authentic Original 3-Eye by Band of Outsiders: Retail at $166. This has got to be one of my favorite shoes Sperry has every put out. Why? Because it doesn't just come in a few different colors, but the materials vary by pattern. The four different materials are Linen, Suede, Marl, and Houndstooth. My Favorite: The blue/white linen pair that give off a seersucker vibe, (left).






Cloud Logo Authentic Original Boat Shoe: Retail at $90. I really liked this pair, again because of the material. It is constructed of hand-sewn true-moc, that has a cloth-y feel with the vibe of mesh when you look from afar. The leather laces tie together this alteration of a classic. My Favorite: The blue pair (left) are the most unique and I think of all the colors it looks the best, but the olive, ice, and classic brown look great too.






Striper Laceless CVO: Retail at $55. These ones are made of canvas, and put a classy touch on the classic Converse Chuck Taylor laceless, canvas shoe look. The Laceless CVO comes in a lot of colors including some really unique plaids and a pale yellow that I really like. My Favorite though, are the Chino/khaki plaid, (left). Out of all the colors, this pair is in my opinion the most versatile, and like a pair of khaki shorts, you can match them with just about anything. The best part is the touch of plaid on the tongue that turns a plain khaki shoe into something people are sure to notice.




These are just a few options Sperry Topsider has to offer. Don't get me wrong, I love the classic leather boat shoe that they make, and I think that classic pair of Sperry's is something that is vital to your shoe closet. But when you've finally got your basic shoe collection down, go back to Sperry.com and check out all the unique shoes they have like these ones. You'll be sure to get noticed for your impeccable style.

A Site You Need To Know About...Seriously

Don't always ignore those random flyers people hand out or slide underneath your door. A few weeks ago someone stuck one to the door to my apartment that I couldn't help but look into, and boy am I glad that I did. This particular flyer told me to check out a website, and when I see words like men's designer clothing and discount on the same piece of paper, I rarely ignore.

The site was Gilt Man, and I think it is something every man who cares about they way they live needs to sign up for and check out. In the words of the About page of the site, "Think of Gilt Man as a hardware store selling the tools for life: workware, playware, lifeware. Right now we have hundreds of items for sale at up to 70% off their original price: killer stuff at killer value."

Basically a few different labels have a new sale every day, and you can get all kinds of stuff way cheap. This is a resource I am glad I stumbled upon, and if I didn't think my mother would absolutely murder me, I'd be spending her monthly grocery check all on Gilt Man.

GQ creative director Jim Moore describes the best way to take advantage of the site in the April 2010 GQ.

"Each weekday at noon, GiltMan.com rolls out brand-new merchandise from labels like Rag & Bone, Alexander Olch, and Unis. The catch? Everything you put in your shopping cart only stays there for ten minutes. Meaning noon to 12:10 p.m. on GiltMan.com has become the dirtiest, most low-down free-for-all the Internet has seen since Ticketmaster."

"Sign up for the daily e-mails, not the weekly ones. They arrive at 11:57 a.m. and will give clues to what's becoming available."

"Right at noon, log in, and spend five minutes quickly scrolling through the new stock. If there's anything that stands out-anything you'd even consider buying-add it to your cart before it dissappears."

"Now it's 12:05, and you've got a shopping cart full of maybes. Spend the last five minutes deciding which items, if any, you absolutely have to have. Then pull the trigger before the time runs out."

-Jim Moore, Creative Director, Gentlemen's Quarterly.

The best part about Gilt Man? If you refer someone and they sign up, you get $25 credited after their first purchase has shipped! In my opinion this is one of the best websites on the Internet all together. I highly recommend taking full advantage of Gilt Man.

Check out the site HERE to sign up for membership and start taking advantage of their deals.

A Comeback Worth Noting...

When you're on a road trip, you see tons of rest stops along the way. So many in fact that you pass up some of the ones with Coffee Shops and Burger Kings, because you know in a a few miles or so you're going to come across one with the same places in them. Well the fashion world works the same way sometimes. Styles come and go but if there's anything I've notices it's that a certain trend can probably be traced back two or three times over within the past 50 years. A great example of this is the wayfarer. In my opinion, the hottest sunglass style around today is the wayfarer, and you can't go anywhere without seeing tons of different styles, colors, and shapes of wayfarers. Wayfarer sunglasses are a perfect example of a trend reincarnated. In '05 if you saw someone wearing them you'd probably be thinking, "Where did this person come from 1983?" Well the wayfarer has had an up and down road but they were redesigned in the early 2000's and lately you probably have trouble walking outside on a sunny day and not seeing a pair.

Well something I've noticed in the J.Crews and Gaps of the world is a comeback that went away in the 90's and came back in the 2000's (No, I'm not talking about Michael Jordan). The Denim look is on it's way back into your favorite stores in many ways. The most popular that I've seen, and surprisingly liked, is the denim, and chambray collard shirt. I don't know where it came from, but it's like the late Billy Mays somehow made it into Gap's design studio and started whispering in people's ears. Now usually I would say unless your Billy, or Paul Mitchell posing for a GQ ad with a rattlesnake around your neck, a denim looking dress shirt is a no-go. But Gap has brought it back in a way that actually seems acceptable. I will say this though. There are some denim makings that I won't ever condone. Here's a few do's and don'ts when it comes to embracing the comeback of Denim.

Do:

1. Find a shirt that isn't too heavy, or one that isn't actually denim but has a soft denim look to it, like this chambray one from J.Crew. Chambray is a different material, but to the non-textile savvy eye it looks very denim-ish
2. Be innovative! Jeans are the only way to rock it. Keep an eye out for different items like chambray ties, or pocket squares.

Don't:

1. Over-do it. Although there are some people that can somehow pull it off, none of them are college students. Don't tuck a denim shirt into jeans. I'm not really big on tucking anything into jeans, but some people make it work.
2. Buy a jean jacket. I've read around that jean jackets are making a comeback, but don't count on that lasting. There are exceptions to this don't and it comes in the form of celebrities. They can do whatever they want even if they look stupid. So just because Kanye has a jean jacket on doesn't mean you can pull it off.

(Wayfarer photo credit: http://www.ray-ban.com/usa/products/rb4105/710) (Denim shirt photo credit: http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=52771&vid=1&pid=719567)

Vice President Colleen Smith, Outside the HUB

From "The College Minds"...Pattern Of The Month

Just a little syndication from my column on The College Minds.

April is only a day a way, which means it will soon be officially acceptable to wear anything pastel and with Easter Sunday approaching, don't be alarmed, you're vision is not distorted, many people will in fact be rockin' the purple. The first few weeks of Spring are a gold mine for new styles and a great time to notice people being innovative (they've had all winter to think about what they're going to wear on that first 60+ day. We've had a few of them already here in State College, and I'm no meteorologist, but it seems that the sun is here to stay. Generally, different seasons are associated with different colors, but colors aren't the only thing that change along with the seasons. Different patterns emerge when the official start of a new season has passes on the calendar. So for a new segment I am going to call "Pattern of the Month", I'll tell you about a different print every month that your sure to see more of when you step outside. April's Pattern of the Month-Gingham.  


 


If you didn't know what gingham was, look above this sentance. Gingham is like the younger, more fun brother of plaid. It's a pattern that is eye-catching, and if you pick the right color, you can really make a gingham item very versatile. My personal favorite use is to wear a gingham dress shirt under a suit. You can all different kinds of ties with a gingham shirt, but my advice is to stick to the two extremes (Very busy or Solid). Let's face it though, we don't wear too many suits too often up here in Happy Valley. Rockin' a gingham dress shirt with a nice pair of khaki shorts, Sperry's and some sunglasses is the perfect look for those first few weeks of hot weather. Gingham stands out and draws attention, but doesn't draw too much like some patterns such as paisley. For a solid, cheap gingham shirt, check out American Eagle. They usually have a few on the clearance rack. Basically you can find gingham by most brands, and it varies too. It comes in all shapes and sizes, so find the right sized square that goes with the outfit (For the record, I'm personally not a fan of the giant-squared ones).

It's April, kids. Sport the gingham

(Photo credit: http://www.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/5837130/2/istockphoto_5837130-green-pink-yellow-purple-gingham-seamless-patterns-with-fabric-texture.jpg)

ROY G. BIV Your Closet for Spring

It's apparent that spring has sprung in Happy Valley, which means when walking the streets, you'll probably notice a little more variety in what people are wearing. I think females have a 6th sense when it comes to when the weather has definitely made a turn for the better, because the day where you see 90% of the girls around town in skirts or shorts is the day where you know its okay to hang up your North Face. Tuesday was the first significantly nice day in State College, and Wednesday for St. Patrick's Day, it has improved again. Spring brings out a lot of potential wardrobe choices, but make sure you're not just wearing shorts and a t-shirt, or no jacket. Show that you know it's spring by rocking a variety of colors. Since it's still early, and can get a little chilly at night, I think the best way to do this is by adding a little color to two classics that happen to be perfect go-to items as well. First, check out Dockers colored Soft Khaki's. I just picked up two pair for $30 each. You can get them at Kohl's and they have a lot of great colors for spring and summer. I bought a pair of Confederate Blue and Desert Red. These are pretty lightweight so you won't get too warm in them, and they give off the vibe similar to girl's wearing skirts that say, "It's Springtime." Another great go-to is the pocket tee. Now you can get pocket tees almost anywhere. Gap has great prices on pocket tees and plenty of colors. When it comes to buying these, think easter eggs. You can get pocket tees in a number of pastel colors that look great with pretty much anything. Because they're so basic, but the colors stand out, these are perfect for the break of spring and will even do you great into the summer months. Check out Riley's Clothing's Southern Marsh collection for some really nice ones. There's also nothing wrong with a little graphic pocket tee either. For bulk tee shirt orders check out M. Custom Tees. Michael from M. Custom tees has great pricing and can pretty much customize a shirt any way that you want. I've become a big fan of graphic tees, and to be able to customize your own in the colors that you want for the spring.

Referring To A Previous Post...

Check out the GQ Eye's Grady Laird's Man-station. Proof that it does in fact exist and I (mostly) don't make things up. Even though he was talking about the lip balm he still showcases his man-station which contains the classic keys-wallet-watch.

GQ Eye's Article

Check This Out

Check out this T-shirt, made for The STATEtorialist on behalf of my friend Michael Moses and his business M.Custom Tees! Check out M.'s site for his portfolio. His prices are great, he does good work, and will work with you personally to make sure you get the exact shirt you want.

Not Something You See Every Day...

Much love and thanks to Kenny and Marie for sending me this picture from Venice. If you can't tell by looking, it's made of wood. Ken tells me they had duffle bags, ties, and all kinds of other wooden clothes and accessories. I'm guessing this is not something you'd wear on a rainy day though.

You Can Never Have Too Many Of...

I'm not going to lie, I have a lot of clothes. So much in fact that the studio apartment I live in that is made for two people, has two closets and two dressers full of my clothes. But even with my plentiful wardrobe I never feel like I have enough of certain items. I'm all about re-wearing jeans because they seem to be more comfortable that second time around, but there are certain things you cant pull out of the laundry basket and throw back on without feeling at least a little bit grimey. So in the past few months I've been thinking and there are a few things I really wish I had an extensive collection of, and I like to think of these things as essentials. So here we go, the few items you shouldn't feel bad about overloading on.

Waffle or Thermal Tees: I've come to discover these are about the most versatile item in my wardrobe. You can wear them under jackets, under tees, or even just plain. They come in so many colors, and really give you a way to keep it simple and also look good. I wish I could pull off dog tags, (Like my buddies Marcus, Jay, and Kenny do so well) because I think the thermal tee with a jacket and dog tags is one of the best, simple looks out there. Stock up on waffle tees, you can get a solid, cheap collection of waffle tees at Gap. Buy Them Here!

Shoes: Alright, I know it's expensive, and takes a long time, but building up a shoe collection is something so key, and also something I've done poorly. I figure I might as well give some advice so people don't repeat my mistake. When you buy shoes, always think of how many different outfit combos you have that you could wear with them. I can't tell you how many times I've wanted to wear something but then realized I did't have shoes to go with them. Yes, it is something that takes a long time, but at our age, our feet are growing that much so it's well worth it to keep building a collection. In the long run you'll be happy you did. Shoes are expensive so some of my favorite places to look are Zappos and Finish Line's Sale Page.

Colored Socks: Already had a post about this so I'll keep it short, but only having white socks has killed me so many times. Stock up on different colors, focusing on the simple ones though (Navy, Black, Grey, Brown). Certain shoes just don't call for white socks. Socks are cheap and you can get them anywhere, so no link here.

Coats/Jackets: This also can get expensive, but if you take your time, a spread out collection of jackets could do you well. I only have 3 and I can't tell you how many times I ended up resorting to my North Face with dressy clothes because the only dressy jacket I have is a black peacoat. I would have to say, there are 3 essential colors to have and they are black, Some kind of brown, and grey. Personally I like a more khaki brown, and a charcoal-ish grey, but with these three colors it'll be hard not to find something that matches. A jacket can really bring an outfit together, and I like to think of a well matched jacket as a perfect ending to a daily dress. After you get a solid base, go crazy, you never know when that bright blue zipper jacket might come in handy. (Mopedding in Bulgaria?)

These are just a few things I've recently found myself on the short end of, so I thought it might be nice to let you guys know a few items that having multiples of will help.

John, Hetzel St.

So Saturday of course was State Patty's day, and in my excursions I never thought I would see someone really Natty Nittany-worthy. But then I ran into John down by where else but Sharkies Bar and Bottle shop on Hetzel Street and the fashion photography Gods gave me a State Patty's blessing. Unfortunately I didn't have my good camera with me, but you shouldn't need too sharp of an image to see why I couldn't pass up photographing John. It's not only that he's god the all green look going on in a fashionable way, (rather than t-shirts and four leaf clover hats), but what I really liked about John's ensemble was the way his jacket fit him. Too many times around here do I see people with blazers and suit jackets poorly tailored or not tailored at all. All sartorialism aside though, John did State Patty's Day, and he did it big, and I respect him for it. Oh, and a little side note, when I told him who I was and asked to take his picture, the girl he was with enthusiastically informed me that indeed John's clothes were, "All high end stuff!"

State Patty's Day

The now infamous State Patty’s day is upon us, and people are flooding the stores downtown that did not agree to pull all State Patty’s merchandise. This has nothing to do with fashion, but in my opinion, long live State Patty’s day and let college kids have their fun!

To the administrators opposing it: think back to when you were in college. Did you want people raining on your parade? Of course not. No one gave you trouble about sneaking into Beaver Stadium after the National Championship and carrying a goal post across College Ave.!

But I’m really here to talk about State Patty’s Day fashion. The holiday has a lot to do with what people are wearing. Shops downtown have a bunch of different types of clothing with a few standard phrases, like the classic “Kiss Me I’m Drunk.”

My advice is to go all out! Wear the best of the best printed tees from People’s Nation and get to McLanahan’s before it’s too late to get your green shotglass necklace. The more green this Saturday, the better. Rock your green to show your passion for our famous Saturday in late February/early March. From socks to hats, wear that green.

Last year I wore the traditional green PSU shirt, but I’m hoping people to get more creative this year. My choice this year was a shirt from the Phyrst that’s on display at Ernie’s Steaks(Best Cheesesteaks in State College). If you have green slacks, please wear them. The goal is to stand out. (But not too much because of the increased police enforcement.)

Long live State Patty’s and going overboard with green.

From The Desk Of Jay...

-J.C.G.

Tolani, College Ave.

Tolani posted up outside one of my favorite downtown stores, Bare Foot

I passed Tolani on my way to class last week and couldn’t help but notice that not only did he look fly, but also that his swagger matched his ensemble. I was just telling one of my friends the other day that I love outfits that are “Murdered out”, a.k.a all black with a subtle touch of color or design somewhere. From the Chuck T’s to his black framed glasses, Tolani’s got this look down. I really dug his shirt though too. It matched perfectly and I really like the Burberry-esque black, red, and grey plaid. I’m a huge fan of ALL one color and then adding a hint of another, especially when the dominant color is black.

Hmmm....

Maybe the writers for the GQ Eye starting reading the STATEtorialist?? I sure hope so, or maybe we actually do know what we're talking about!!! Check out this oddly familiar post on one of my favorite blogs.

http://www.gq.com/style/blogs/the-gq-eye/2010/02/switch-your-watch-strap-1.html

THON

http://www.THON.org

Help us beat childhood cancer, donate today!!!

Stay Warm, Look Sharp

The other day I was reading my favorite blog, The Sartorialist, and underneath a picture of someone walking through a blizzard in New York City, the author Scott Schuman exclaimed his disapproval of “The system” and how it kept him from being able to buy a pair of gloves. The system he is referring to is the one that makes everyone, specifically store owners, think that just because the holidays have ended, that spring has sprung (regardless what happens in Punxsutawney).

Clearly, if you look out your window, winter is still going strong, as it is in New York as well, and stores are in a spring fashion state of mind. Scott’s post got me thinking that while we’re still getting mounds of snow here in State College, my posts might as well still be winter fashion oriented, especially since stores like Harpers and Barefoot are putting their fall and winter stuff on sale right now.

Something that I never really thought about until recently is the uncomfortable, un-versatile accessory that is the dress sock. A lot of “nice” dress socks are not only thin and uncomfortable, but when the weather is the way it is now, you might as well not be wearing socks. So what do you do when it’s time for that career fair or summer internship interview? All you have to do is loosen up your wingtips a little bit and put on some wool socks.

Wool socks are great for the winter, and not just because they’ll keep you warm. Wool socks are made in a plethora of colors, so although it may take a while, I recommend trying to achieve a ROY G. BIV collection of wool socks. I’m a big fan of socks that don’t necessarily match anything except maybe your base tie color or pocket square if you’re wearing one. Just to be clear, I’m not talking about the kind you double layer to go skiing, but a merino wool sock that are kind of the in-between, where winter sports levels with the summer commute. Also, for those winter interviews, something that I’m a huge fan of, and that will look great with the matching socks, is a wool tie. Even if you’re not wearing a suit, the colored wool sock will keep you warm and keep you looking sharp while it’s still snowing.

The Shoe Box on College Ave. currently has a 25% off sale on SmartWool socks. I don’t believe they have a huge color selection, but Grey, Brown, and Black are good colors to have to go with those winter suits. Luckily for us, State College stores haven’t completely fell into “the system” yet.

Wool socks come in tons of colors, keep you warm, and look great if you match it with the rest of your outfit.

Dongju, College Ave.

I ran into Dongju on College Ave. last week and couldn’t help but notice that grey peacoat. You see so many blacks and browns around (I’m guilty of conforming too) and it was nice to see something different. Then I looked down and noticed what I really loved about Dongju’s outfit; it was her shoes. I wish I could tell you what material they are, but what I loved about them is that they look so sturdy and classic. Most of all, why the shoes make her look is how she’s wearing them. For some reason a lot of dressier shoes look better without socks, and with the weather in the 20s that day, it took a lot of guts not to wear any socks. In the end it payed off for Dongju. She’s rocking them in the best way possible, and not to mention I really like the accent her green sweater gives to the peacoat. Lastly, check out the buttons on her peacoat below. I like trying to notice the little things that make people’s outfits look unique, and I didn’t even notice this until I cropped the photo. The eagle and shield emblem on the buttons are awesome.

Check This Out

So I got a random friend request on Facebook today from someone I didn't know, and these are the ones that I usually ignore, but when I checked out his page and realized he was an artist, I decided I would check out some of his music. I went to his myspace and listened to two of his songs, "Never Met Her", and "Crashing Down." I have to tell you I really dug this dude's style. If you get a chance check out Moses Haughton Jr, or "Young Moses". I think you'll enjoy it. Here's a couple of links below.

http://artistmoses.wordpress.com

http://MySpace.com/MosesHaughton