Spring Picks and Mother's Day Tips!

It's been a busy Spring so far, the height of which was the Rolex Kentucky 3-Day Event April 24-27. Aside from enjoying the sights and sounds of Lexington, KY, I met a ton of well dressed men and ladies who have inspired my S/S wardrobe mindset and my choice spring selections this year. The overarching lesson of Spring 2014: just because it's bright, doesn't mean it matches. Everyone needs to RELAX with the day-glo rainbows of self-consciously preppy garb. Your entire ensemble doesn't need to consist of accent pieces. I call for a return to minimalism and subtlety!

Anyway, I realized after returning from Kentucky that Mother's Day is right around the corner. Yet again we must scour the earth, searching for a perfect gift for our angelic, martyr mothers: "don't get me anything, you're my real gift" -- YEAH OKAY MOM. On a side note, I've reached the ripe age of twenty-somethingness where plenty of my peers are mothers. I'm therefore opting to make this not exclusively a "MOM" gift guide, but a little taste of lovely things for all ladies this Spring. Don't worry guys, I didn't forget about you either.

1. Dubarry of Ireland "Menorca" in Sky, $149. The newest color update to Dubarry's timeless ladies deck shoe, in super soft sky blue leather with non-slip, non-marking soles. They're so pretty (yes, pretty) that I'm not even opposed to mother-daughter matching pairs.
2. Shinola "The Runwell" 41mm watch, $625. A hint of retro styling with a classic, minimalist profile. All handcrafted in Detroit. Stainless steel body powered by Detroit-made Argonite 1069 high-quality quartz movement. Understated, subtle, but luxurious. These are the keywords for my SS14 philosophy.

3. Bottega Veneta perfume, $90 and up. A lush blend of fresh floral notes and subtle leather undertones. In short, it's what I wouldn't mind smelling like every day this season. Not too feminine, not musky, just light and balanced. I strongly suggest you go to a store and smell it yourself. 

1. Altru Apparel "Tropical Lunch Woven," $40. After reading multiple editorials about the grand return of the Hawaiian shirt, I'm happy to see an American-made version from Los Angeles' Altru at a happy price. The quasi Warhol graphics give a user-friendly edge for those a bit wary of looking too "Aloha." 

2. General Knot "Apricot Oxford and Micro Gingham Necktie," $88. I'm a sucker for shades of peach, apricot, and tangerine (re: my PINO tangelo bowtie of yore). It's as close to pink as I'm ever willing to get. The texture in the apricot fabric adds just the right about of roughness to an otherwise cheeky color. Consider yourself fully armed for whatever weddings, dates, awkward family occasions, etc. that the season may throw your way.

3. Moscot "Randall" in Chameleon, $295. You want to know why I love Moscot? They've been based in New York for about a hundred years, and though they've certainly grown, they never sacrificed style or quality in the process. Sure you can get cheapos that look pretty similar, but you can literally feel the history and Moscot legacy oozing out of these frames. So worth it.

Confession: even the items I choose for guys are things I want for myself.