What could and should have been.

via Nerdist

Wow...just wow

Donald Glover has finally released an official video for his rapping alias Childish Gambino, and he did not disappoint.  Lyrically I think he can go toe to toe with anyone, his style is reminiscent of Pharoahe Monch, the way he plays with tempo, and can infuse genuinely funny lines without making it parody.  That last trait is an amazing feat given the fact that Donald is best known as a comedy writer and actor.  This cat is a septuple threat.  Donald Glover is a genuine prodigy.  He got a job writing for 30 Rock straight out of college based on a Simpsons spec script.  After a few years on that show, in a move that took massive swagger, he left to pursue his career as a standup.  Based on his stage persona, Dan Harmon offered him the role of Troy on Community without an audition.  That's two massively sought after jobs handed to the dude based solely on his talents.    What I love about this video, is that it is beautifully shot, and the song is a cut above the majority of hip hop on the radio today, but the energy is that of someone at home in front of their mirror, just enjoying themselves.  I recommend watching the larger version here: Freaks and Geeks

Childish Gambino represents the next step in Glover's career, as well as the next step in the music industry.  Making music yourself, it's so inexpensive now, and building your fanbase from the ground up.  Producing his tracks independently and releasing them for free online is building him an underground fan-base that is swelling, and I believe, on the precipice of erupting.  His songs are almost always fluctuating between genuine humility and insecurity, and a complete confidence in his obvious talents.  He is an icon of the new wave of nerd cool culture.  I personally will be attending his tour this year, I recommend you do the same.

Oribe on Oscar Hairstyles

Look how fucking dope Oribe looks.  This cat is not only an icon himself, but he has helped make icons.  His profile is on the way, have no doubt, but today, just check out how cool. he is in this video.

                                                             ORIBE OSCAR UPDO'S

Parents Listen Up

It's important to teach your kids how to dress appropriately, and hopefully well.  But let them make mistakes and find their own signature style.

Look how gorgeous my family is.

Omar's Coming

Michael K. Williams portrayed one of the most unique, captivating, and iconic characters in fiction, Omar on HBO's the wire.  He does not get as much work as he deserves.  While his new role on Boardwalk Empire has not given him enough scenery to chew (with the exception of the torture scene), it has given him the opportunity to step up his style game.  He's come along way from the tie over the t-shirt and bomber jacket at Bird's court case.  This GQ photo shoot, show's how my favorite outfit, the three piece suit can be versatile.

Oh yeah, and I me Mr. Williams at Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter's screening of the series finale of the wire at city hall.  That was awesome.

You know what?

Fuck it, I'm just gonna do it right now... she said yes...now there will be two monsters spending the next several years planning a sick wedding.

I've created a monster!

I've been with my epically awesome girlfriend, Katie for a little over a year now, and I have no doubt that I want to spend the rest of my life with her.  While this is a few years away as both of us are focusing on our careers,  I wanted to get an idea of what kind of ring she wanted me to get her.  I don't know a lot about jewelry, nor do I care much about it, so I needed her advice, but wanted to get it now, so that when I do pop the question once we're settled, I would know what I was looking for and she can be completely caught off guard.  Not surprising, she has amazing taste and likes antique style, ornate rings like this Le Vian white gold with Chocolate diamonds.

While now I feel like I am on the right track, a beast has risen in my girl.  I have gotten about 500 pictures of rings in the last few months, and it doesn't bother me as much as it does her.  She DOES NOT like feeling like the typical ring crazy girl.  I think she feels like a foreign being has taken over her body and mind, and is mildly embarassed.  I can't help but tease her though and now she thinks I'm playing games with her.  I assure you, Sig Style Nation, I am not.  I want to spend my life with this girl, I just need a few more years to get her a ring I find fitting of my bride...that also fits into my budget, so I'll just try to make her feel amazing in every other way until I make this thing official.

I Need To Live in This Shit

My epically cool girlfriend showed me these pics, and we've both decided we're biting all this shit for our place we're getting together.   I love the color of this room, found at gaitainteriors.com, not a huge fan of flower paintings or that lamp shade...

but that's why we'll incorporate these silhouette pieces that are super easy to make ourselves, from http://bahrainidiva.blogspot.com which is a really sick design blog.

Can't you all see me sitting on that couch with some whiskey, reading a book?  So fucking classy.

More Gilt!

With a few days of what I'm assuming is just a tease of slightly warmer weather has me thinking spring.  This means jacket and sweater weather.  Two items on Gilt from Ben Sherman have me fighting to keep my wallet in my pocket, seeing as though I'm trying to save money.  I might buckle.  Give me strength Signature Style Nation.

Wool Plaid Peacoat.  The length, color, buttons, and epaulette's keep this from being another tired peacoat and will help you stand out.

Double Breasted Lambswool Cardigan.  There is not one word in that description that I don't like.  This sweater could be worn so many different ways.  I would love to see it worn with two less buttons done, creating a massive V, making one's shoulders look wider and showing off whatever shirt/tie combo you're inspired by right now.

Gilt

These are sick!

Helm Leather and Cavas Lace Up Boots.

$219 on Gilt

Hermione?

Yes Please

That's Mr. Carter to you.

So much of hip-hop style leaves me saddened at the state of popular fashion today.  Too often a Triple XL white t-shirt and pants sagging so low... I think "thug fashion" is so inundated in our culture for me to try to come up with snarky commentary on it will sound cliche'd instead let me just shine a spotlight on a man who while in the past was guilty of many of the traditional rap sartorial sins, has resurrected himself as a style icon; Lil Wayne.

Lil Wayne started his rebound from the closet full of oversized clothing, by embracing his frame.  Google Lil Weezy, and most of the pics you will get are shirtless.  He describes his body as "marked up like the subway in Harlem".  I am a firm believer in tattoos as a sartorial choice.  While the majority of the Birdman Jr.'s tattoos are not of the quality I aspire to, the shear quantity creates a striking image, and with the silhouette created by his mane of locks, he looks inhuman.

Lil Weezyana has created a hybrid style, incorporating certain trends from urban culture, usually a flat brimmed baseball cap or a baggy hoody, but more often lately, he has a skate/rock vibe, trading in the extra large pants for a slimmer jean or khaki, which still hang off his slight frame, breaking around the ankles.

Accesories are the real key to President Carter's style arsenal, and he has masterfully blended iced out watches, "nerd glasses", designer scarves and belts, trilby's, and a personal favorite of mine, the wallet chain.  The wallet chain gets such a bad rap for it's involvement in the grunge movement and the neo-zoot suit trend.   Personally my chain is not attached to a wallet, for like many of the best fashion choices, it serves no purpose other than to enhance an outfit.  Many people disagree with me, but a chain can break up the monotony of an outfit, and add texture, and I think The New Orleans Nightmare utilizes them perfectly.

What's most important is that Young Mulah has made it his own, making bold choices, holding on to some trends he likes, and incorporating new ones.  He has given the hip-hop community more sartorial options.  Like Kanye West did with preppy fashion, the Martian has made it okay to slim it down and throw on a vest with a wallet chain and a Phillies hat... okay, that last one is always appropriate, but you get it

Cinematic Style

The Brothers Bloom

Rian Johnson's 2008 film is an orgy of style.  Vests, ascots and bowlers.  I'm sold.

The film's style is emphasized by simplicity, the brothers themselves played by Mark Ruffallo and Adrian Brody wear no color in the entirety of the film, strictly black and white.

The lady's of the film deserve mention as well because rarely does women's fashion hit my radar, I find a woman sexiest in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, but Rachel Wiess and Rinko Kikuchi go toe to toe with the boys in this one.

The film as a whole is a ton of fun, and while any film with characters dressed like this is immediately going to get a few extra stars from me, I highly recommend this film.  I'm excited about Rian Johnson, who previously made Brick, another spectacular film.  

I feel so comfy under the covers

Jaime Cullum has swagger, his voice is dripping with it.  And he makes this song listenable.  He not only has signature style, he has a signature sound, and he can make every song his.

Rolling In The Deep

Rawest voice out right now. Sick Video.  This song will get you through that last 4 minutes of your workout, and keep you classy at the same time.

Accio Style

Gary Oldman as Sirius Black shows you how it's done here.

My Kind of Party

I got turned on to this video from Donald Glover's i am donald blog.  I just love the cat's in this video, just style poppin' out of every shot... this is what a party should look like in my opinion.  I like a well dressed gentleman that doesn't mind his clothes a little rumpled, and some sweat on his brow.

If Knowing is Half the Battle, Dressing is the Other Half!

Something compelled me on Netflix Instant Watch today, to fire up the G.I. Joe movie.  I think starting season 3 of Doctor Who, had me mildly wistful for Christopher Eccleston.  Many people criticized this movie, and I could not figure out why.  It's exactly what a G.I. Joe movie should have been, crazy action scenes involving crazy weaponry, wielded by unimaginably attractive people.  What I had forgotten about was how well the villains and even some of the Joes in this film were dressed.  The two standouts though are Eccleston's Destro and Byung-hun Le's Storm Shadow.

Destro's slim frame is draped in dark three piece pinstripe.  The pin in his tie to me looks like a modernization of Dracula's medallion, he just looks sinister.

I had trouble finding a picture of Storm Shadow in his white trench coat to go along with the white suit, which in the film was also a three piece.  Even Storm Shadow's battle attire was high fashion, that coat looks like it would be extremely effective battling the harsh winter I've been experiencing.  It was hard to root against this cat, looking so fucking sharp.

The Gentleman

I'm becoming a big fan of Ne-Yo.  Every time I see this guy he is dapper as shit, and his hat is perpetually tilted to perfection.  I like to call myself the Gentleman, but I am more than honored to share the moniker with him.  He will certainly be getting his own profile one of these days, but I just have to share this with you.  Right now he has this Michael Jacksonesque trio of videos that are loosely connected by his interest in this Pocahontas looking broad.  The fashion, choreography and direction of these videos are all impressive

Champagne Life:  This video IS Signature Style.  The song is all about living life to the fullest.  Dressing  in fine clothes, surrounding yourself with fine people, imbibing the finest bubbly.  I've seen parties that I've wanted to be at more than this one, but that's a classy looking club, and I would watch a movie about a well dressed trio fighting crime.  That one cat shows exactly how to rock an ascot. 

One in a Million:  It's the morning after, the jacket comes off and we find The Gentleman at brunch, and for some reason this girl is not feeling Ne-Yo's advances.  He almost wins her over with his and his cohort's magical dance moves... but then these skeezers come out of nowhere and she irrationally runs away.

Beautiful Monster:  Timeline wise, I'm confused about where this one fits in.  I feel like it should be after the night of living the champagne life because of the excellent drunken boxing style at the beginning, but there is such a natural transition between Champagne Life and One in a Million, I'm at a loss.  Regardless, the nerd in me loves this video the most, the fx are simple but effective.  The choreography in this one is my favorite as well.  I'm not a big fan of the untucked shirt, but I get that it is for the character.  This song and video are both clearly inspired by the King of Pop, and while several artists have tried, this is the closest I've seen anyone come to the kind of vision, MJ had.  His voice is really reminiscent of MJ in the chorus, but it's butter.

Gilt

Gilt is a website that offers top of the line items for as much as 70% off.  Everyday new sales are added usually organized by designers.  Right now though,  they have a collection of coats from several different designers, and there is a trio of coats that I need for next winter.

This Hickey Wool Herringbone Topcoat, is a little out of my price range even with the 70% off, but this is one essential piece that is not in my collection.  Nothing is more appropriate to wear to work than a coat like this.

I have a khaki trenchcoat right now that I need to take to the tailor to add some accenting, but this Allegri Wool Trench Coat creates a really interesting silhouette.  I just want a black trenchcoat so I can feel like a detective

This is the best buy I saw on there, for $179 this Hyden Yoo Wool Contrast Sleeve Coat, just shouts, "BUY ME ADAM"  This is a really retro looking coat to me without looking cheesy.

This really was a post of things I'm going to do,  going to have.  It was a fantasy post.  Maybe this time next year I'll put up a post with me wearing comparable versions of each one.

Have A Drink

Over the weekend, I was enjoying a Three Philosophers, it's a really outstanding Belgian beer made by Duvel, and it made me want to get dressed up.  In an effort to save money for clothes, I don't keep the heat too high in my apartment, as a result, I bundle in mostly sweats when I'm home alone.  I got to thinking, why did the beer seem less enjoyable without being dressed to the nines, and it dawned on me, that a good drink is another accessory.  You wouldn't wear a tie with pajamas, would you?

An ice cold beer is perfect for the backyard, with a pair of jeans on...maybe a shirt if you aren't built like steve mcqueen or colin farrell, but the drink in their hands reflects the smiles on their faces.

Of course, you need to choose the right accessory for the right occasion, and when you leave the backyard, a rocks glass becomes the perfect prop for a night out. If scotch or whiskey isn't your thing, step up your beer game.  My personal preference is to have the hue of my beer match the sky.  It may not be gourmet, but a Corona out on the porch on a summer day is unparalleled, while when evening falls, I almost exclusively drink stouts.

  But all you teetotalers out there, don't worry, the guys in these pictures are cool without the drink.  It may be a part of their signature, but it doesn't have to be a part of yours.  At the end of the day, it is an accessory that doubles as a prop, something to do when there is a lull in the conversation.  Adjusting a tie or cufflinks, or pocket square can do the same, I also recommend, club soda with just a splash of cranberry in a rocks glass, you get the accessory without the hangover.  Drink and Dress responsibly.