Socks? Summer? Blaspheme.

No-show socks? Ridiculous. Boat shoes are worn without socks. This is what the hardcore topsidet would say (think cadet, but topsider wearing). Of course, not everyone can perscribe to this. Unfortunate, no? I've worn Sperry's and have never had a problem. When my pair from boarding school blew out, I snatched a brand new pair of Bass boat shoes off ebay for the price of a pack of those no-show socks.

They're very similar, but slightly different. My feet don't notice a difference because Sperry's never bothered my feet, but I understand that they give some people blisters. Now a lot of people get blisters on their heel from the way Sperry's are made. Sperry's don't have a solid heel, and it will have a tendency to grab the heel when you walk. Now my Bass boatshoes, they have a solid heel that I have found doesn't grab my heel when I walk. So, if you've had problems with your Topsiders, might I suggest finding a different boat shoe. It's in almost all cases more expensive then buying no show socks, but for those sockless enthusiasts, it's worth a shot. Unfortunately, I've looked all over the Bass website and cannot find what these were called back in the day. Bass doesn't seem to be offering them anymore. If I were in the market for a new pair of boat shoes, I would take my time to look around. I might find a subtle change in another brand's model that really makes the shoe.

Sidenote: GTBT is finally putting up original media? I don't see any pigs flying but...

BB and Corduory

Brooks Brother's is selling a corduroy suit for the fall. Maybe it's offered more as a novelty, as not many men haven't been investing in casual suits until recently (see Men's Warehouse), but it will certainly be welcome. Chino suits from JCrew and LL Bean were ragin' this summer, and it's safe to say that men will want to pay the money to get a well made casual suit, off the rack. It's offered in brown, but it's certainly not a bright brown as the umber almost looks black. Before you go off and cash your checks to pick this up, take note of LL Bean Signature offerings of corduroy separates for the less well endowed.

What to wear with a cord suit? Sneakers and a beret, duh.

Reading List: Comic books

American Splendor : The Life and Times of Harvey Pekar - Pekar
Wall City - Alex Kim
Y: The Last Man vol. 6 - Vaughan
Werewolves of Montpellier - Jason
Moving Pictures - Immonen

Thank God for Amazon.

Post O'alls 3/2?

How cool/debatably tasteless would this be with a 3/2 roll? The problem is that the top button is higher than most 3 button jackets which might throw things off. Not to mention what the roll would do to the collar. Well, here's to dreaming.

Sidenote: My tailor might have forgotten about me. I'm not sure.

TH. Pooped on no longer.

Tommy Hilfiger isn't all god awful. I own two TH v-neck sweaters and the cotton holds up in the wash and is better quality than say, Chaps or Club Monaco. Like most Macy's lines, you gotta' pick and choose, 'cause it's not all golden. It's cheaper than RL and totally riding riding Ralphie's D. So if you're looking for bargains without having to scoure random sales. Hit up TH cause it's not half bad.



























I found those short boardshorts everyone has been fiending for. Consider these a coup de grace for your checkbook. Better than paying $100 somewhere else (don't tell anyone, but you can find RL swimwear at Macy's on the cheap right now, but you better be pudgy).



























Hey yo. Tab fronts like those stylish deals at Unis. Only these are actually a deal. You'll have to get them tailored if you want them slim, but who cares? They're actually available. Belt loops need moved over, but he's TH, it's not like anyone expects him to be perfect.



























Cheap v-necks. Sweaters like this are under-rated. Just don't wear it with a cheap shirt. Everyone will notice.



























TH just can't help himself. He's gotta brand everything he sells. Some more than others. This is bad taste here folks.



























You better be kickin' it to wear a collar like so. But anyone kickin' it usually isn't wearing Macy's TH. Close but no cigar TH.



























TH's website says that these are "ready for adventure". More like "ready for cheap beer and pizza grease stains".


Now that you've had your mini tour, I'd check it out for yourself. Judge TH. Judge him hard. Maybe he'll clean out his crap and sell more stuff that people want to buy. Right now, I'd say the crap pieces to decent pieces ration is about 1:1.

Skin-tight

Here's the low down on getting your shirts tailored. They HAVE to be skin tight or you'll look like a chump. Actually, to be cool, you gotta' have your nipples showing.












via Sart

This guy's cool. You get really nice nipple definition through a well tailored shirt.



People who don't get their shirts tailored skin-tight look plain silly. For example, FEC sported this shirt that is just waaaaay too big on him. Everyone knows that your nips gotta' be showing. Some commentors reminded him that his shirt needs to see a tailor, and I TOTALLY agree with them.





via Unabashedly Prep


Valet says you don't have to tip your tailor but I follow the rule, "if you can see your nips, then tip."

Bad Taste?: New Balance

Old guys like New Balance and for good reason. They're comfy. Streetwear bros kinda' like New Balance sneaks, as long as a five-year old got to choose the color scheme (green, pink, and yellow? Sick nasty bro! MLIB). Steve Jobs likes New Balances, they're utilitarian and hate adobe, kinda' like Stevie. So why don't we? Well, the answer is, we kinda' already do. Many of us are just not aware of it. What does this guy wear? And you'll see Ryan Williams rockin' them on occasion. And so will the legend. Obviously, the 993 has a following, as well as the 999 and the 998, but it's more noticeable in the streetwear community . Maybe because it's comfort kicks butt. Sadly, many of us associated the NB 993 with cheap male footwear as NB surplus made it's way into Kohl's and the like. This made a lot of people associate the shoes with bad taste.


Styling-wise, I'm not going to be adding this shoe to my wardrobe just yet. I have pair of white Reeboks that aren't quite dead. They definitely channel the fogey look and look dope with cargos (ROTM anyone?) and look stupid with slim jeans. For the younger crowd, I might wait a decade or so to pick up a pair as you definitely need a unique character to wear these and be cool. If you surround them with nice clothes, they will take on the guise of being styling, and not look as cheap. NBs aren't bad taste, they take on the taste of the wearer. If the wearer has good taste, then they'll conform to the wearer.

























Ew, streetwear-y. Maybe not the blue ones.