A toast to the future

Every blog has it's milestones and it's goals that it wants to meet.  Every writer who publishes their work whether for a book, screen play or just as an outlet for how they feel wants to see some form of success either in the form of recognition or profit.  I think a lot of people start writing and expect nothing in return but for someone to simply just read their work.

When I started writing on here only a month ago that's all I simply wanted out of this.  For someone to read my writing and simply take something away from it and apply it to their own lives.  Tomorrow marks my one month birthday from the day of launch of the blog itself, I would have never thought it would take off the way it has.  Views into the thousands, dozens of followers and comments and the support I have gotten from my family and friends.  I'm so grateful for everything I have in this world and my blog is another thing that I an simply grateful for.

 I just wanted to say thank you to everyone out there who either follows me on Twitter, Facebook or just reads a post I write.  I can not wait to see what the future of this blog and my career as a writer holds for me.

  There is so much I want to accomplish and do and I hope you will be along for the ride and follow along as I give you a play by play account of the life of a fashion blogger.

Follow @dapperonadollar

Big Game, Big style

So the Super Bowl is this Sunday and even though I'll be working for most of the game I wanted to show a way to look good and still support your team.  You always see guys in over sized jerseys that make you look unflattering.  I'll be the one to say it it does not have to be that way.  I've put together two separate outfits online that represent both teams in each and look great.  So if your going to a super bowl party this Sunday ditch the Jersey and make an impression in your own stylish way.

BALTIMORE-

The Ravens colors are purple and black really simple and easy to use.  They already look good together so basically anything with this color combo will work.  I went really simple on this one.  Lacost polo tee + black pants + Ravens socks + black vans

SAN FRANCISCO-

Now San Fran's colors are red, white & gold so I kept the red and white, ditched the gold, kept it simple and came up with this one that I also thought looked great.  So no matter what team you'll be drunk and rooting for you can  still look dapper for both.

Red cardigan + denim shirt + white pants + 49er socks + black vans

Follow @dapperonadollar

Thrift Results

Just wanted to share the photos from the other day from my shoot with Aria Agusto.  She produces amazing work and I can't wait to work with her again.  It was awfully cold out if you couldn't tell.  I guess that's the price you pay for fashion. These were the items that I picked up at the Dakota Boys & Girls Ranch thrift store for a total of $6.  Enjoy

Follow @dapperonadollar

AND THE WINNER IS...

Just wanted to highlight my  pick for best dressed for the 2013 Sagg Awards.  He might not have won any awards but, he definitely won some hearts over.  With his new single just releasing and this appearance he's still on the top of his game.

Follow @dapperonadollar

THRIFT STORE SHOPPING

Today at the Dakota Boys & Girls Ranch they had all their clothing on sale for $1, that's right $1!  You would be surprised at the hidden treasures you can find at thrift stores.  If your not already roaming these little gems for some sweet deals do yourself a favor and get over there.  I picked up these items for a grand total of $6, not really sure you can find a deal like that anywhere but a thrift store. (pictures to follow)

Follow @dapperonadollar

F21 SALE

 

Forever 21 is still having their sale until the 31st of January here are some items I picked up, all 3 for under $40

grey sweater + red/blue cardigan + brown boots

Follow @dapperonadollar

Blogging Essentials

So I've been blogging on here for about a month now and I have quickly realized there are some serious tech toys I need to make my life easier and more efficient.  With technology advancing at the speed that it is it's not hard to find anything your looking for on the internet.  Chances are if you have an idea of something that would help, its going to be already out there for you too purchase.  Here's some things I found that are going on my wish list and should be on yours too if you are serious about blogging and making things easier.

IZEN BAMBOO BLUETOOTH KEYBOARD-

 As I do 90% of my blogging and idea hunting on my Kindle Fire this item is number 1 on my list.  The IZen was recently featured on heartifb and I have to agree I am a fan.  Works with pretty much anything that has Bluetooth capability (ipad, kindle, even phones).  Coming in around $99.99 it's a key investment if you are constantly on your tablet using email or blogging like myself.

FUJIFILM S4200-

If you want to take your blogging seriously and to the next level you need to upgrade from the cell phone camera shots to a real camera.  I went with the Fujifilm S4200 for several reasons.  1st- you can find this online around $129.00 which is a steal for digital SLR cameras.  It's lightweight and doesn't give off that bulkiness that a lot of high powered cameras can do.  The S4200 is also battery operated which sets it apart from the others making it convenient for traveling or long days of shooting when you don't have to carry around a bulky charger all day.  If your on a budget as I know I am this can be a great camera to invest into.

GORILLAPOD TRIPOD-

 
Now if you have just picked up a new camera a handy tool to have is a tripod.  They come in a lot of different sizes, shapes and cost.  The GorrillaPod can help you get that perfect picture or video that you just can't get without a tripod.  Cut out the blurriness and worry of trying to get a still picture with this bad boy.  Ranging from $19.95-$49.95 the GorrilaPod has the flexible legs for the not so average terrain and if you include the spike feet that they also sell you can grip the legs to almost any surface making you unstoppable in the camera game.

JUICE MICRO BLUETOOTH SPEAKER POD-

Also featured on IFB (can you tell I'm on there a lot yet?) this speaker is exactly what it sounds like Bluetooth capable, wireless, speaker.  I know when I am writing I do like to have some background noise going and music always helps the creative juices flow.  For $49.99 offering a 360 degree sound I'm a fan of this product.  There are a lot of portable speakers out there so you don't need to settle for this one but if you want sound quality your going to have to pay for it.

Follow @dapperonadollar

MLK DAY

Follow @dapperonadollar

Staying Warm

So It's pretty obvious winter is officially here and with temperatures dropping below zero its key to stay warm during the next few months.  During these cold times you sometimes have to compromise style for comfort.  I wanted to show how you can still look good without having to give up too much fashion wise.

First you need to get a pair of boots because the salt that's thrown down over the snow will mess up those suede Nike's you have.  Second get yourself some thermal sock they will come in very handy when those temps get really low.  Finally a nice warm winter jacket, I got mine from a thrift store for $17 that was donated by Target.  It was a size too small so I went in a traded it in at Target & found out it was an $80 jacket. The scarf & beanie combo is from Express for a low $12.

plaid flannel shirt + dark blue jeans + boots + thermal socks + beanie + scarf + mittens + winter coat

Follow @dapperonadollar

Easy as tie

Choosing the right tie for the right occasion can be tricky.  Stripes, dots, plain, knit, wool, tie clips, & pocket squares.  So many options it shouldn't be hard to find the right pair to match your outfit and set the right tone for day.  I'm going to highlight a few options and how to wear them properly.  The three options on ties I'm going to discuss are striped ties, knit ties & plain/bold colors.

Striped ties- good for almost any occasion (meetings, work, dinner) or even just to spruce up your white button down shirt.  They come in about a million color combinations and you can always find one for $10 or less.

Knit ties- absolutely in style right now there on every blog & in every ones closet.  It's a great way to mix things up from the classic style of ties.  Shows you can be stylish and in a room filled with plain silk or cotton ties you will automatically stand out from the crowd.

Plain/bold ties-  Also a great way to switch things up from the classic stripes.  A bright bold red with red laces on your shoes can be a nice subtle match.  A nice bold color to contrast the other colors your wearing can also change an entire outfit.

But James what about the accessories like tie clips & pocket squares?  Calm down I'm getting there.  Tie clips are easy... USE EM! doesn't really matter what they look like it will add a bump of class to your suit or outfit.  Simple as that.  Now pocket squares are different, not all squares will look good with everything you wear.  The rule I try to always use is match the square to the shirt instead of the tie if you can.  It's just more aesthetically pleasing to the eye & makes you look like you know what your doing.

Follow @dapperonadollar

GG13

Last night was the 70th annual Golden Globes and as always (most) of the Hollywood stars looked great.  There were some men in particular that shined above the others.  I wanted to highlight my favorites and show how you could utilize there outfits during other occasions besides the red carpet.

Nolan Gould
Not yet a man,but he looked pretty awesome for only being 14 years old I can't lie.  If you've kept up with London's fashion week its obvious that the color orange has made quite an entrance and Nolan rocked it pretty well.  The shirt and matching bow tie can be worn with almost any black jacket or blazer and if done right can be worn casually for any occasion.

Brian Austin Green
Better known for 90210 and shagging up with Megan Fox, showed up in the classic black tie event attire.  When asked Megan Fox said that Brian has had the same suit for years and refuses to buy another one.  I thought this was awesome, it shows you don't need to buy a new suit every time you need one.  The classic rule when buying a suit is it should last longer than you will.  Always look for a suit in which its style will never be out of style, and Brian proves this true here.

Aaron Paul
First I'm a huge fan of his acting and of the show Breaking Bad.  If you haven't seen it do yourself a favor and veg. out for the weekend and take a look at this show.  Second I like that he veered away from the classic black suit and black tie. It almost seems like it has a subtle green tint too both the suit and tie which can make it versatile for other events.  Your suits don't always have to be black, don't be afraid to try something different every once in a while.

Ewan McGregor
Last but definitely not least, Ewan went in the complete opposite direction with this one.  No tie, unbuttoned shirt and no worries.  Ewan looked like he was just there for the free drinks.  About as casual as you can get with this one, plain white button down shirt with matching pocket square.  This outfit is very versatile.  You can wear this to dinner,  lunch, just for the day or any other occasion that has the ability to dress casual.  The options are endless with this one.

Follow @dapperonadollar

For summer or for winter?

             Today I received a scarf in the mail that I recently purchased off of Amazon.com.  It's a black and white houndstooth scarf that I snagged up for $11.  Thin material nice and cool for summer and spring days.  I was more planning for the future with this purchase, ya I know summer is like 5 months away and spring is even 3 months from now.  The key here is that I can wear it now more for fashion than for warmth but, I'm planning ahead.  No, you can't predict what fashion styles and trends are coming in the future, but when your a dapper on a dollar its good to be prepared for the upcoming seasons.  Prices of summer items will always go up in spring and summer times.  So it doesn't hurt to stock up for the coming weather in advance.  The point is to buy little purchases for summer in the winter and vice verse. A pair of shorts here a pair of flip flops there and before you know it your ready for summer once summer comes around again.  Always be on the lookout for items for the off season pushed to the back of the shelf, chances are there marked down heavily from what they will eventually get back to when there on the front display.

Follow @dapperonadollar

Business Casual

 Today we were asked to dress "business casual" at work.  I'ts good to have something in your wardrobe that you can pull out on the fly if need be.  Something that you can wear to work on a day like this were you need to be professional or use this same outfit for going out for the night.  I always like to find clothes that can be utilized for multiple outfits and occasions.  So I've put together an outfit that I thought would look professional and stylish at the same time.  I chose a grey blazer with a classic white button down shirt and tie, the brown pants i posted in a previous post just to show the versatility of the clothes I own.  Classic Vans that i switched out with blue laces to match the tie and add a little pop.  As always make sure you match the belt with your shoes, it will look tacky if you don't   Nothing I'm wearing cost anymore than forty dollars.  Jacket is from Penny's, shirt is from Burlington Coat Factory, and the pants are from Merona which you can pick up form Target.  These pants also come in a variety of colors like blue, yellow, and red.

Follow @dapperonadollar

Follow @dapperonadollar

Style Icon

 So I've just read that Nick Wooster was just named Creative Director of men's clothing at JCPenney.  I'm very excited about this for several reasons.  First is that Nick Wooster has incredible style & is known as a style icon.  The items I've seen from him are great.  Working with names like Calvin Klein  Barney's & Ralph Lauren.  Second is I'm a huge fan of JCPenney, I think there trying to make a breakthrough into style without forcing people to spend a lot of money which is what this blog is all about.  I think the items that are to come from this collaboration are going to be great.  The inspiration from Mr. Wooster combined with the cost efficiency that JCPenney is known for is a no brainer, and with spring only a few months away you can guarantee there will be some great things to come in 2013 from these two.  I already believe JCPenney brings a lot to the table fashion wise and it's not very well known that JCPenney has a lot of great items for men on a budget.  I shop there often and it's always a go to for me for new trends, expect to see more from them in the future on this blog.

Follow @dapperonadollar

Brown pants+ light blue shirt courtesy of Target

Follow @dapperonadollar

  dark grey blazer + light grey hoodie +watch



Follow @dapperonadollar