A Little Windowpane

So 2015 has been off to an unbelievable start.  I'm extremely grateful to have a career that I'm truly passionate about, however my schedule often makes it challenge to blog.  So thanks in advance to those readers who've stuck with the blog and continue to support as we move through the year.

As I consider my clothing purchases for the year,  I think my mantra is going to be "Less Made in China, More Made in Italy."  Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking things made in China. On the contrary, I believe there are some great things coming from China.  However, when so much stuff that's sold all over the world is produced in one place, its inevitable that there is some crap in there somewhere.  Also c'mon, when you spend $1.25 plus free shipping for an iPhone charger, what can one really expect?

Nah I've just found that over the course of the last year, my personal style preference has shifted quite heavily toward classic Italian style.  I've spent quite a bit of time paying attention to men like Orazio Luciano, Giampaolo Alliata and the Ricci brothers, Nicola and Valentino of Sciamat and what comes across is this sense that the understand, appreciate and respect elements of personal style that I've honestly really only started to explore.  It can be easy for the casual observer on social media or viewer of the hundreds of images that pop up on Tumblr twice a year from Pitti Uomo to dismiss them as "just a bunch of guys in suits" but as I learn about the dedication to quality in everything from construction to materials, observing feels less like scrolling through random images and more like a masterclass.

This blog has always been dedicated to dressing well affordably.  However, I'm also a great advocate for quality and quite frankly, I don't believe you can get more quality than this.  Needless to say, some of these pieces are priced like the works of art that some would argue they are.  So as always, I suggest starting in your lane and building from there.  I spend time scrolling through the For Sale section on StyleForum and also have searches set up on eBay to alert me when something I may be interested in gets listed in addition to knowing what pieces I really want and budgeting accordingly.  Lastly, if you have a Nordstrom Rack nearby, I suggest dropping in occasionally as I've found things I would have never expected there.

Navy Windowpane Jacket x Antony Morano, Grey Cotton Turtleneck x H&M, White Alpha Khaki Chinos x Dockers, Burgundy Wingtips x Ciro Lendini, Red Star Lapel Flower courtesy of Harrison Blake Apparel.