Category: preppy

What I Wore: Casual Cool

It’s almost summer, and having an arsenal of comfortable clothes is key to getting through festival season and making it to Fall. I usually live in tank tops, but this summer I’m switching to lightweight button downs to keep the sun off my arms, and stay casual and cool. Well, I’m not cool by any stretch, but I do like to wear clothes that breathe. I shared some tips on my weekly Uptown Messenger article for dressing for festivals, but the same tips apply all season long.

Plaid blouse and rhinestone necklace via Buffalo Exchange- Shorts c/o MiH Jeans- Crested loafers via Funky Monkey

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Menswear Made in the South: Southern Tide

Post author By Christy
Post date January 30, 2012
No Comments on Menswear Made in the South: Southern Tide

Love to see your southern gentlemen in fine quality apparel? Are you a man that loves the classic southern look? Southern Tide has just what you want. A rapidly growing lifestyle brand, Southern Tide’s line of apparel and accessories boasts exceptional craftsmanship, clean lines, fine quality, and classic design.

Channel Marker Plaid Sport Shirt in Red paired with Southern Tide Jeans

The company was founded in 2006 by Allen Stephenson and is manufactured in South Carolina. Southern Tide is expanding their brand to include the Southern Tide Vintage Collection. The collection will include men’s jeans, chinos, and a variety of shirt styles. In addition, Nautical polo shirts and canvas belts have been added to company’s apparel line, as well as new designs and colors to existing items including the quarter zip pullover sweater, RT-7 Pants, boxers and lounge wear.

Classic Skipjack Polo in Grenadine paired with Channel Marker Flat Front Shorts in Stone, accented with the Skipjack Needlepoint Belt in Navy (Made exclusively for Southern Tide by Smathers and Branson)

Southern Tide’s Vintage Collection is made for a comfortable, worn-in, but durable look and feel. The jeans are hand-crafted to give the customers a true vintage denim look and feel making no two pair alike. These vintage-washed jeans are constructed of 100% cotton, or 99% cotton with one percent stretch. The Vintage Collection also includes chino and oxford vintage shirts that are 100% cotton and are vintage washed.

(L to R) Saltwater Fly Tee (Super Gotcha) in White, Classic Lures Tee in Black, Original Skipjack Tee in Lava Saltwater Fly Tee (Multi-Fly) in Aqua, Saltwater Fly Tee (Slinky Deceiver) in Yellow

So if you are a southern gentleman or looking to purchase something special for the southern gentleman in your life you can purchase Southern Tide products in more than 500 fine retailers in more than 42 states across the country, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, as well as on Southern Tide’s online store at southerntide.com.

-Brandy Gaspard

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A Charmed Life

The south is all about traditions, whether you are happily partaking in old ones, creating new ones or breaking them altogether. Personally I find it amusing when I don pearls since I have visible tattoos, three of which are southern icons. No matter how you choose to showcase your pride it’s always good to treat our icons with reverence and a big dash of fun. At least that’s what I told myself when I got my Sailor Jerry shrimp tattoo. What can I say I’m serious about not taking myself too seriously!

Ahem. Back to the post.

Dixie Patches is an online store that specializes in traditional southern style. Whether it be a seersucker hanky for your dog, shotgun cufflinks, or a magonlia pendant necklace this Florida based company is heavy on tradition and fun.

These cute silver charms are reminiscent of the things we love. Gators, okra, mint juleps, and magnolias. When you purchase the peel & eat shrimp or the oyster cracker charms your purchase will benefit the America’s Wetland Foundation. They also donate a percentage of the hurricane palm to the Greater New Orleans Foundation

Finishing touches for women include grosgrain bows, t-shirts, and jewelry.

I think this sums up a southern belle nicely:

She is sweet, yet strong
She sips her wine, yet gulps her beer
She’s polite, yet saucy
She’s refined, yet wild
She wears bows… fishing
She’s a Southern Belle

For the southern gentlemen in your life they offer seersucker bow ties, camo fishing hats, and magnolia cuff links.

Get your southern swag at Dixie Patches and sign up for their mailing list and receive some lagniappe! Now that’s true southern hospitality.

Twitter: slowsouthstyle Facebook: Slow Southern Style

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Not a ship in sight

Ahhhh the boat shoe. Stumble into any college bar in the South and you’re bound to see at least a few guys (and more frequently girls) sporting this preppy staple. When I lived a block behind a popular college hangout in the Garden District I started a game called “boat shoe count”. I’d see no less than 12 khaki clad guys bustin’ out the Sperry’s.

Lately magazines have been showing the shoes as new “trends” but here below the Mason-Dixon line we’re so far behind we’re ahead. Just because you’ve been wearing the same brand or style of shoe since, well since your mom picked them out for you doesn’t mean you are limited in your options. Designers are offering up new twists on this old classic.

When buying classics always invest in the best quality you can afford. These blue J Shoes from Shoefty are made of supple leather that will only look better with age.

The bright color way on these Jack Purcells,available at Urban Outfitters, are sure to make these conservative slip ons a little more fun.

Looking for something sleeker? The To Boot New York nubuck versions, available at Saks, are a less clunky option that will pair well with shorts.

Of course women have a far broader range of options when it comes to footwear.

No boat shoe conversation would be complete without a Sperry Topsider mention. The Sperry Freeports, available at Zappos, are more ballet flat, less boat shoe.

These Sperry’s are the classic shape but updated with metallic gold so they pack in some fun yet maintain their roots.

Not sold on them yet? Payless has viable options that won’t break the bank.

FYI: This post comes by special request from a certain Northshore frat boy I know. ;P

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Slow Southern News

Meet designer Tory Burch this Thursday at the New Orleans Saks Fifth Avenue and see her fall 2009 collection.
Tomato is offering 50-75% off their sale items!
The ladies at Who What Wear present some new pieces from Ralph Lauren Blue Label. Those little horse emblazoned polos are insanely popular in the south. Why not try something familiar yet updated?

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Think before you dress

     Since this is a southern specific blog I’m required to bring up a ubiquitous look around town, the prepster. Before y’all squeal in horror and erase this blog from memory let me speak my case. I’m here to help!
      Pretty much without fail every weekend the same guys are out at the same bars wearing the same uniform they wore last weekend. When done correctly preppy can be playful and even chic but most guys take an all too literal approach to their dressing and end up looking like their dads in an oversized polo, khaki pants (or khaki cutoffs!) and boat shoes.
     I’ve started playing a game at my neighborhood watering hole called “boat shoe count”. Fortunately it isn’t a drinking game, otherwise I would have left the bar in an ambulance the first time I played it. Guys, y’all need to make an inkling of an effort! I’d be a little embarassed to show up somewhere wearing quite literally the same outfit as six of my friends. My point is that you can opt to wear a very traditional look and stand out in the crowd at the same time.

Let’s play with some pieces, shall we?

Both of these looks are from Obedient Sons, a designer who focuses on prepster style but manages to produce unexpected results. The hooded khaki topper would be easy to wear in real life, coupled with jeans and yes, boat shoes. A substantial watch keeps it from looking too fashiony.

I love the gray pants here. While an all gray ensemble would send most guys running, it is easy to take these pieces and add and subtract what you’d like. Take note that they are pleated and loose fitting in the leg, but they are slightly trimmed through the calf. This would be excellent with a blazer, or a simple t-shirt as portrayed on the runway.

There you have it, two simple, well made pieces that reside in the prepster realm yet are far from ordinary. Don’t say I didn’t try to help.

Images via men.style.com

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