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4 Things You MUST Do This Spring

Tuesday, March 13th, 2012

 

Things to DO now that Spring is finally here.

Four things to brighten your spring, enliven your cultural step, and add a little fashion to your fabric.

Tateossian Animal Gecko Cufflinks

Take this little Animal Gecko Cufflink as inspiration–make sure to get out in nature at least once a week. This can be a simple stroll in the park, bird watching, short hikes, nature trails, or spending time in your backyard or fire escape lounging. If it’s a fire escape, though, please, watch out for the gaps. Vitamin D is something most Americans are lacking and it’s been linked to many physical and emotional ailments (specifically depression) so make sure you get your daily allotted 15 minutes of sun exposure. If this is impossible, take a daily vitamin. Take the kids to the zoo, see the animals, take a short drive over to the beach or lake….enjoy what mother Nature has to offer.

Tateossian Turtle Cufflinks

Take these Tateossian Turtle Cufflinks little with you for good luck, a bright spring color, and a whimsical reminder of the simpler things in life.

Take a road trip…preferably Jack Kerouac style, but we can’t all hitchhike our way West (or East). This means, letting it all go, packing ONE bag, filling up the tank, and just going. Stop at diners, visit local monuments, spend the night at camp grounds (preferably with showers). This Freeway Green Tateossian Cufflink reminds us of the importance of the open road, the vivid colors of nature, and the sleek austerity of the speeding, moving vehicle. Tateossian designed this cufflink with exactly that in mind.

Tateossian Freeway Green Cufflinks

And while you’re doing all this nature walking and bi-coastal traveling, make sure you bring a compass. Mapquest isn’t accessible everywhere and you may find yourself without wifi or a printer handy. (That’s the point, right?) if you really want to go old school, and have trouble navigating by the stars alone, try this functional Tateossian Compass Cufflink.

Tateossian Compass Rhodium Cufflinks
Visit a museum. If you are blessed enough to live in a Metropolis, take heed of all the art events taking place around your city. In NYC for example, there is an amazing Stein Collection on exhibit until June 3rd, 2012, featuring some never-before-seen-together Matisse, Picasso, Renoir, and others’ paintings. The collection is one of a kind and a must see. Similarly, at the 42nd Street Library there’s a famous Shelley Exhibit, honoring the life of the rogue/poet/lover/revolutionary Percy Shelley. Whatever it is…go to a museum this spring, preferably on a rainy day, and take in the beauty of Modern Art and public exhibits (normally free!)

Tateossian Traforato Blue Pebble Cufflinks

Secondly create something yourself. If you’re not an artist, or have absolutely no flair for artistic creation, think of your wardrobe as assembling a masterpiece–carefully select everything “beautiful” from your socks to your cuffs. You will then be a walking Renoir, but since he rarely painted men, you probably won’t have all the curves.

Featured Designer of the Week: Canali

Friday, March 2nd, 2012

 

While browsing the international runway shows for Fall 2012 fashion week, we came across an interesting, diverse show that propelled us to look. Honestly, we weren’t too familiar with this line of clothing, this particular designer, but we are pleasantly surprised and want to share with you our findings.

Canali Fall Runway Show 2012Canali Fall Runway Show 2012

The shimmering fabrics used, most likely a form of velvet, would look great with any Gunmetal Cufflink, like this one:

ETCHED RECTANGULAR ENGRAVABLE CUFFLINKSGunmetal Rectangular Cufflinks

About the Canali Brand: “In 1934, the brothers Giovanni and Giacomo Canali founded a tailoring workshop dedicated to the manufacture of high quality clothing. In the 1950s, with the contributions of the family’s second generation, sales increased. As the firm specialized in fine menswear, its presence began to influence the Italian market. By the mid 1970s, the firm had opened its doors to foreign buyers. Exports consumed 50 percent of the entire Canali production in 1980.”

Canali RunWay Show 2012Canali RunWay Show 2012

Gunmetal 4gb USB Flash Drive CufflinksGunmetal 4gb USB Flash Drive Cufflinks

The thing about this line is the ability to switch up the pieces with others–the tops will go with different bottoms, staple suit jackets that can be paired with jeans, khakis in the spring, and trousers, and a striking, velvety/corduroy pant that has a shimmering gold color we love.

Canali Runway Show 2012Canali Runway Show 2012

Tateossian Freeway Green CufflinksTateossian Freeway Green Cufflinks

Touches of green seem to be a staple for this Italian company. Accessorize with a pair of light green cufflinks that won’t overpower the look or bring too much attention to your sleeve. Your accessories should complement your overall look, not steal the show. Tateossian’s line of high-end sterling silver cufflinks is known for giving you that elegance, without the excessive bling.

Canali Fashion Show 2012

Tateossian Hexagonal White CufflinksTateossian Hexagonal White Cufflinks

And with all these dark, grey colors that infiltrate the runway for this upcoming fall 2012 season, adding dashes of white to your cuffs will brighten the entire suit, like these Tateossian Hexagonal White Cufflinks. Touches of white in the top front pocket, under shirts, cufflinks, hemlines, and interwoven fabric in accessories like scarves will do the trick.

NYE Fashion Night Out: Black and White

Friday, December 30th, 2011

Make it a red carpet experience. Tis the season to look positively fly this New Years Eve. Here are some of the hottest trends, by the best designers around town, some of which happen to be on sale. (Yeah for post-christmas sales!). Let’s start with your basic white collared shirt: it’s basic, well made, and yes you can wear it again after the 31st until it fades to yellow. Then of course, gentlemen, it’s time to get another. A must-have closet staple (assuming you didn’t get any under the Christmas tree).

Basic Dress Shirt from BarneysBasic Dress Shirt from Barneys

Now to cover the white shirt you have many options. The most reliable and unassuming is the black Two Button sports Jacket with a blinging pair of designer cufflinks. You can’t be wearing Alexander McQueen without designer cufflinks, right?

Two Button Sport Jacket by Alexander McQueen (On Sale at Barneys)Two Button Sport Jacket by Alexander McQueen (On Sale at Barneys)

Add texture on your sleeve with these Aymara Blue Butterfly Cufflinks made from real butterfly wings (yes, real). And you can feel good wearing them too: 10% of proceeds are donated to the Butterfly Farm in Peru, where these elegant little creatures live out full, healthy lives in the rain forest. Made with 950 Sterling Silver:

Aymara Blue Breeze Cross Butterfly CufflinksAymara Blue Breeze Cross Butterfly Cufflinks

Step up your fashion forward attitude by this new tweed jacket by the one and only YSL:

Tweed Blouson by Yves Saint Laurent ($669 on sale)Tweed Blouson by Yves Saint Laurent ($669 on sale)

Black and white, black and white…Pair these staple gradations with Aymara Zebra Star Butterfly Cufflinks, again, made with pure Peruvian silver and Butterfly wings.

Aymara Zebra Star Butterfly CufflinksAymara Zebra Star Butterfly Cufflinks

SLACKS! What will you wear on your bottom? Most men today can wear the slim fit pants that are all the rage. It is not, I repeat, not okay to be wearing relaxed fit or loose fitting pants on NYE or any other day for that matter. Tighten it up.

Slim Leg Trouser from Burberry London $250Slim Leg Trouser from Burberry London $250

Bring your information with you–maps, directions, music, you name it, it can fit on these real working USB Cufflinks from Ravi Ratan:

Gunmetal 4GB USB Flash Drive Cufflinks

Gunmetal 2GB Cufflinks from Ravi Ratan

This sleek, ultra plush beautiful distressed cardigan is a more laid back way to cover your basic collared shirt. Check this one out by John Varvatos:

Distressed Cardigan by John Varvatos ($299 on sale at Barneys)

Top it all off with a, yes you got it, a top hat. This one won’t break your bank and is moderately priced from Barneys:
Short Brim Fedora from Barneys
Pair all this chic black with Onyx Cufflinks from Ravi Ratan:
All in all, you can’t go wrong with making black and white accessories your “thing” for the New Years. It assures you will look amazingly slimmer and will even make your lady look good. Happy New Year friends.

Seven Most Common Holiday Facebook Statuses

Sunday, December 25th, 2011

 

 

 

I’m so THANKFUL for…(insert adorable dog, mother, son, grandmother who passed 10 years before, my new ipad2, my husband who finally decided to do the dishes, my children for going to bed early, my neighbors for turning down the music, scotch tape for making wrapping presents easier, the dollar store, and finally, for 5 hour energy for helping you make it through the day)

Facebook Me CufflinksFacebook Me Cufflinks

I’m so STRESSED (because of my job, lack of wardrobe materials, iphone was stolen/broken/smashed/fell in the toilet, I can’t find the matching underwear set for Sarah’s American Girl doll collection, my credit card froze, traffic on the way home, there are no more turkeys left at5 the grocery store, your gift card finally ran out from last year’s Christmas, and you still haven’t made plane tickets back “home” for the holidays and it’s Dec. 25th)

Ireland 1 Pence Celtic Bird Coin Cuff LinksBirds Cufflinks

Omg we’re having eggnog and roasted chestnuts by the fire (aka we’re drunk, aka we’re having so much fun, aka will probably forget this in the morning, aka you burnt yourself roasting your chestnut but won’t publicly announce that on Facebook, you really don’t like eggnog but drink it anyway because it’s one of those things you’re supposed to do…)

My kids are driving me crazy. Almost done shopping…(your kids drive you crazy every day. it’s just that you only feel like a good parent if you post this three times a year, with the exception of holidays because then you have an excuse to be over stressed and take it out on your kids.)

Dennis the Menace Comic Strip Stamp CufflinksDennis the Menace Comic Strip Stamp Cufflinks

Yea ______ !!! (insert football team/football player who just scored two seconds before this was posted) (all the random drunken guy friends you have across the United States that are obsessed with their local team and still drink Natty Lite out of a can. Yes a can.)

Washington Redskins Cufflinks and Tie Bar Gift SetWashington Redskins Cufflinks and Tie Bar Gift Set

Look at my early Christmas present!! (insert photo of x-box, ring, bracelet, coach handbag, etc.) ( just another way to brag and show what you think you may be worth in case someone ever asks–you can simply say “Hey I’m worth like 10 coach bags, okay??)

Like/Dislike Facebook CufflinksLike/Dislike Facebook Cufflinks

Look at this New Photo of Me, Hubby, Dog, Cat, and our refrigerator… (obnoxious Christmas photos where everyone is looking intoxicated-ly happy and cheerful, wearing their favorite cashmere sweaters and matching pants, aka dysfunctional families trying to pretend normalcy)

Capricorn The Goat, Hand Painted Coin CufflinksCapricorn The Goat, Hand Painted Coin Cufflinks

But the BEST statuses are those that simply say Merry Christmas (or any affiliated holiday) and Happy New Year! End Status and blog update.

 

Merry Christmas everyone!!  Love, CLM

MORE Reasons to Dislike Holiday Shopping

Monday, December 19th, 2011

 

 

 

1. The Coupons that Say Spend $25 get $10 off., but the Fine Print Reads: (Does not apply to sale items, clearance items, jewelry, cosmetics, handbags, shoes, clothes, watches, men’s wear, children’s wear, home goods, furniture, women’s wear, or anything in the store. Just throw this coupon away. It’s essentially good for nothing)

Barcode CufflinksBarcode Cufflinks

2. You Ask for…. a gift box and they give you one 10 sizes too large for your purchase. Then they look at you unsympathetically and say “Sorry. We’re out of the smaller ones. Come back next season.” I mean really, what the heck are you going to do with a coat box for a scarf??

Waving American Flag, Silver CufflinksWaving American Flag, Silver Cufflinks

3. You go to the mall the DAY after Christmas and the sweater you spent $50 on is now only $15, the video game you bought your son is 20% off, and literally everything you purchased is on sale. And I’m talking about a big sale. There goes another $200 on…markups.

4. You come across that horrible gift Aunt Zelda gave you in JCPenneys and realize it was only $5, marked down to $2. Thanks Aunt Z. Really feeling the love.

How Many of these are you Guitar cufflinks of committing so far?

GUITAR VIDEO GAME CUFFLINKSBlack Guitar Cufflinks

5. The unbearable hot flashes you get while shopping because you have not just two shirts on, but an under shirt, a heavy pea coat lined with shearling, two pairs of socks, and a hat (which you can’t take off because your hair is an utter disaster). Then you strip down in the store to just one shirt and have to carry it all the rest of the shopping trip. (If you’re a man, you have to hold all of these layers for the lady, including the heavy coat.) Seriously, where are the coat checks??

 

Silver and black Compass CufflinksDon’t Lose Your Way…with these Compass Cufflinks

6. The moment of panic when you’re standing in the middle of a department store and completely forget 1. why you’re there 2. who you’re shopping for 3. what they specifically asked for a few weeks before. You then proceed to the “candle” section because it’s generic enough and everyone needs another Yankee candle.

Red Fire Engine CufflinksRed Fire Engine Cufflinks

7. The moment of panic when you’re standing in the middle of a parking lot, strapped with five shopping bags, keys in hand, and completely forget….where you parked the car. So you idly wonder the parking lot, pretending you know exactly where your going, pressing the “alarm” button on the keytag, praying that you’ll hear it or see the flashing lights, smiling all the way so no one knows you forgot where you parked your car, and eventually hit straight panic mode and start running because you realize you’re going senile.

Black Sports car Convertible CufflinksSports Car Convertible Cufflinks