Brooks Brothers Peal $ Co: Tasseled Wingtips ~ Discontinued.

Ahhhh, its been awhile since making my last post but what a nice way to get back to it with these gorgeous wingtips from Brooks Brothers' Peal & Co. Collection. Being a faithful subscriber to their magazines and online events, I spotted these in the "timeless classic" selections. I can't even begin to explain how nice these are as they incorporate so many tasteful desings and characteristics.

To start off, they emboss a beautiful light brown tint more like a golden-honey hue around the entire shoe. The lacing system complete with tassels, broguing and plaid tongue really set this shoe above many I've seen. Discrete details make these shoes very admirable for any wingtip lover.

Being a "timeless" classic, this model is no longer offered from Brooks Brothers and is a shame when you consider how fly these are. The closest company I've found that makes a model like this is the Paul Stuart "Byron" model. The shoe has most of the same features minus the plaid tongue.



Have you experienced Minnetonka?

I happened to stumble upon these while in one of my favorite stores at International mall. Couldn't pass up the buttery soft leather even though they aren't really my forte. Big ups to Dhiaa to putting me on these.

Stay Tuned ...

P.S. - Check the video after the jump.

Hiatus ...

So, It's been a while since I have posted but I am back by demand. It's been a long summer and we here at F.I.T. are ready for fall. We are stocking up so we can share some of our new finds and start to break out some of our warmer wear. I'm not promising a post everyday, but I promise there is more to come. The closet just keeps on growing. Stay tuned ...

Sebago: Wharf Brown

Welcome to the dockside life. Sebagos provide the comfort and style needed to for any collaboration being seeked. Classic "boat" or marine shoes are hard to come across but this company offers a wide variety of clean designs that we all love.

Residing in Florida heavily influences the urge to wear comfortable but weather appropriate clothing. In the summer the temperatures can get pretty humid and hot so accommodating the situation makes sense. Sebago offers the option to customize and arrange nice polos and shorts with a pair of Sebagos.

Congratulations!!!!

Ray-Bans + Solid tee = Simple summer swag.

Congrats! to our own Rasool on his first album release. This is just the beginning. If you would like to check out some of the sounds hit the cloud below. Also if you would like to download the mixtape for ***FREE!!!*** check the link below. Good sounds, lyrical content, continuous swag. Stay Tuned ...



The Dreamer by Rasool




https://rapidshare.com/#!download|493l32|1046148088|The_Dreamer_.zip|103271|R~19E706B616B2D2843137BCE45694849A

A Formal Visit: Brooks Brothers Factory Store

Today I had the pleasant honor of dropping by the Brooks Brothers Factory Store in Orlando. The sales were pretty good ranging from discounts up to 40 percent. Even though I didn't get as much as I had wanted, I did manage to pull the trigger on a few pick ups. Below, just a couple of gold country club edition polos I picked up. I went with these for the light and close fit for this humid summer weather.

My recent post in the "monthly ensemble" for June featured a few pieces from Brooks brothers, you can see my heightened desire for the brand as of late. Anyone who knows the brand understands the quality and high-end style you get when dealing with their items. Brooks Brothers will always maintain their enriched reputation through quality clothing and impressive customer satisfaction.

The symbol of the Golden Fleece is Brooks Brothers' trademark. It consists of a sheep suspended in a ribbon, which was the symbol of Flemish wool merchants in the fifteenth century and later, traditionally had been a symbol of British wool merchants.

June's Ensemble

As promised, our monthly ensemble edition is back. This month features brands from the highly beloved Brooks Brothers collection to the footwear mastermind, Allen Edmonds brand. Along with the recent desire to hop more Brooks Brothers, my selections will feature the brand frequently this month. Descriptions below.

Tops - Fleece Cardigan and dress shirts by Brooks Brothers. Features a grey all cotton sweater and a couple of non-iron dress shirts. Brooks Brothers only offers the highest quality when it comes to button ups.

Shoes - A cap-toe finished pair of by Allen Edmond. The artisans at this company sure know how to make a workaholic feels like they are walking on cloud after a long day. Price: $350

Pants - Again from Brooks Brothers, these straight leg cotton trousers in cream with front and back pockets with zip fasteners and button closings. These are perfect for office to evening wear; teaming these with a formal blazer or with a v-neck seems ideal for a more relaxed look.

Socks -  Camp Socks by J.Crew and is available is assorted couples. The lightweight cotton makes for a comfortable sock. $20/pair. Pick up your pair here: http://www.jcrew.com/mens_category/accessories/socks.jsp

Briefcase - Leather briefcase by  M&W traveler. Carrying this will impart personal class significantly.

Glasses - Get your classy grown man on with these. Just a nice pair of oval shaped glasses give yourself that high fashion model. These are also from Brooks Brothers.

This isn't just for show ...

When my cousin and I started this blog, we wanted to share our likes and finds with you. We decided to post different things that may be considered unique and try to showcase our individual style. We try not to make this just a playground to show off or brag about what we may have, but give you ammunition to go out and create your own self-identity through fashion choices. This is just a mere collection of ideas; feel free to use them as inspiration or enjoy the ride.

With that said, I got a tip today that one of my favorite stores here in Tampa is having some crazy markdowns. So in between a training I had today and lunch, I had to get out and check the inventory. I came away with these. If you haven't already, check out Nordstrom Rack. It's right on Dale Mabry across from Wal-Mart. Stay tuned ...

Brown Mocha Corduroy Blazer

Although we are approaching the end of spring and into the nice, hot summer weather, I visited a thrift store for the first time and luckily ran across a mint condition corduroy blazer. The actual style of the sports coat screams vintage and will make for a nice wear once the cooler weather rolls back around. There was no price tag attached to it so I began to think how much this would cost me, I'm sure a coat like this would easily run a few hundred (retail) but I gauged this coat around 20 bucks. You can imagine my amazement when the cashier told me 4 dollars, my day had been made while thoughts of different combinations ran wild.

Corduroy is a textile composed of twisted fibers that, when woven, lie parallel (similar to twill) to one another to form the cloth's distinct pattern, a "cord."  As a fabric, corduroy is considered a durable cloth.

Take a glance at the cracked button design on the front section. A pretty rare facet indeed and distinctive as well. Very comfortable and really light even though corduroy is usually a heavier material. It was a bit bigger than my actual size but fit decently well to my liking. Lucky me.

• Check out the suede padded elbow patches. This is what really makes this jacket stand out.

Don't Ever Forget Where You Came From ...

So this morning when I was shaving I hear this crazy crash that sounded like someone just got slammed through a lunchroom table. When I go to investigate in my second bedroom, I see my closet door pushed out. I peek in and see sneaks, shirts, ties, belts, hats and work shoes all over the place. One of the racks collapsed.

The aftermath

But, from bad can come good. While relocating my tops to another part of the crib, I was reminded of my jersey collection and how much money I spent on theses things I hardly even wear. My taste in clothing and my size have changed so much that these are no more than a memento now. Check out some of my favorite classics after the jump that I just can't part ways with.  Stay tuned ...

Return of the Le Tigre Roar

Le Tigre, first offered in 1977 and designed to rival Lacoste, is a brand well known for its clean golf style polos and button downs. Even though Lacoste has prospered more and become popular among the US, the Le Tigre brand made a comeback in 2003 after being out of production through the 1990s. Le Tigre had become popular during the later 1980s originally. Spring weather brings humid temps and that calls for garments that keep us comfortable in these situations.The soft cotton polo style shirt from Li Tigre brings just that.

F.I.T. Details:

• Washed, Stoned and Beaten Pink Classic Short 
• Le Tigre Mandarin Red Classic Polo
• O'Hanlon Mills Moccasin

Summertime: Deck Shoes

Since I've been on the subject of fighting the summer heat lately, another addition to the catalog has to be the deck shoe, sometimes referred to as the "boat" shoe. The deck shoe has sprung up in menswear and beckons for versatility with different styles from casual to formal. With the temperature reaching the high 90s taking full advantage of this shoe and it's aptness is not to be missed.

Boat Shoes are typically canvas or leather with rubber soles designed for comfort in humid and muggy conditions. Depending on the conditions they can be worn with or without socks. Below is just a few pair from my personal collection. Deck Shoes come in various brands but the Sperry brand is my favorite and should be due to the different designs and colors they've released.

Tie Clip Tuesday

Today for work I decided to go more preppy-ish if you will. I combined a sweater vest and tie to accommodate this look but the centerpiece of this outfit is the the tie clip. Of course a nice mutli-colored tie, crisp blue stafford button down and sweater vest makes for a nice professional look but the gold tie clip literally completes the combination.

The tie clip is a very important component to anyone wearing a tie. I personally get annoyed with a fluttering tie. Constantly realigning your tie and making sure its neat can be quite aggravating. This is why I recommend purchasing a tie clip, it keeps your tie neat and attached throughout a day's duration. They also come in all different designs and formations. Some clips being gold, silver, wide, slim... all suited to meet your needs.

Check the Anatomy ...

Here at F.I.T. we like to think of ourselves as chameleons when it comes to fashion. One day you get the preppy schoolboy look, the next you may get the tee and sneaks. Check this breakdown in our new section "Anatomy of a F.I.T."

 

Memorial Day Runway

There was no denying the Florida heat and today was no exception. We all participate in some sort function where we meet up with friends and family to hang out and enjoy the time. The sweltering day can be a complete pester to most people but I see this as a favorable time to display proper attire. Of course something light and comfortable was my best bet so I decided to wear a pair of seersucker shorts accompanied by a light cotton short-sleeve button down to confront the heat.

F.I.T. Description

• Alan Flusser SeerSucker shorts
• Pierre Cardin Short Sleeve Shirt
• Johnston and Murphy Penny Loafers
• The Original Duck Casual Belt