Banana Republic: Fall Transition

Banana Republic:

Fall Transition

The transition of seasons can be challenging at times to dress for.  It's either too hot for a heavy overcoat or too chilly for the summer tops.   The easy solution is to dress in light layers that can be worn or taken off easily, portable, and won't affect the totality of the outfit when on or off.

Lightweight Sweater

This is probably in every guy's closet, but don't think of it as just a sweater.  Rather think of it as a utility knife that can be worn alone, over a collared shirt, or the layering item under a suit or blazer.  Banana Republic's blend of silk, cotton, and cashmere lends to breathability, comfort, and luxury.  

Pierce Loafer

We've agreed that versatility is the key to dressing for transitional seasons.  The loafer probably more than any other shoe fills that niche. Sockless with shorts and chinos during the summer or paired with pants or denim, loafers pull double duty without any effort.  Banana Republic's Pierce Loafer is a hand finished classic leather loafer with rubber outsole for maximum flexibility and comfort.  Try these classic loafers with everything you wear and you'll be surprised at how flexible these shoes are.

Disclaimer: Banana Republic compensated City of Gentlemen LLC for this post.  All opinions expressed are of City of Gentlemen LLC.

Nectar Sunglasses

Nectar Sunglasses

Made for free thinkers and risk takers.  Hanging out in the sunshine and enjoying the good times- now that’s the sweet life. At Nectar, they are with you wherever your wild adventures take you. They want you to go after what you love and enjoy every second of the chase. Push the limits, do what’s never been done and don’t worry, Nectar’s got you covered. 

Nectar started out as just a couple of friends who love to surf, skate, and cause trouble, but it has grown into so much more.  Nectar is a worldwide crew living life to the fullest and sharing every epic experience.  Doing what you love can be a wild ride, but we know it's always a sweet life.

Summer Vibes with Banana Republic

Summer Vibes

Banana Republic

Summer is right around the corner so that means it's time for some fun and sun.  Whether it's vacationing on a tropical beach or enjoying an iced coffee on the patio of the local coffee shop, comfort and cool attire is the name of the game.

Sweat, humidity, and heat is the enemy of any good summer outfit, but we can combat that with light-weight linens and cotton items.  Linen is valued for its softness and breathability, while developing a beautiful character with age and wear.  Button it up for a sunset dinner or button it down to allow the ocean breeze to sweep the sweat off, there's really no wrong way to wear the Camden-fit Linen shirt.      

To complete the summer outfit are comfortable shorts.  With a more neutral top such as the Camden Linen shirt, we can have a little more fun with the shorts.  Choose from summer prints or bold colors, the Aiden Slim Cotton Short is a fun way to brighten up summer.

Lastly, there's nothing more important than a pair of comfortable shoes.  Sure we want to wear a pair of leather loafers or lace-ups at all times, but functionality has to reign supreme sometimes.  The Shawn Suede Slip-on is perfect for tackling the concrete miles or collecting beach sand from around the world.  Despite being camo-print, the deep blue color will blend with any outfit.  The 100% leather upper and rubber outsole with keep the feet cool and comfortable no matter the weather or conditions.

Banana Republic provided free products in exchange for this post.  All opinions are of City of Gentlemen LLC
#itsbananas #sponsored #okbananarepublic

Express 1MX Short Sleeve

EXPRESS 1MX Shirt

The warm weather is here and Express has you covered with their best-selling shirt.  Now available in short-sleeve, the 1MX shirt is fitting for all temperature wearing occasions.  

Available in a wide range of solid colors, contrast collars and piping, Fitted Short Sleeve 1MX Shirts are a must-have addition to an wardrobe.  Pair with dark wash jeans and a blazer for the perfect business casual  look, or go for a more relaxed style with cuffed jeans and lace-ups.  

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1MX Fitted Short Sleeve

1MX Slim Fit Dress Shirts

1MX Modern Fit Dress Shirts

Woodzee Sunglasses

Woodzee

Style & Nature

Woodzee is a California based brand that embodies the California free spirit.  Started by a scrappy group looking to offer customers a new way to shop and create products that combine Style and Nature, they have not detoured from that mission and still remain a small and close knit team.

Pride, passion, and customer service are at the forefront of the Woodzee brand.  This is evident in there discounts offered to students and the Recycle Program which offers 40% off your next pair of sunglasses.  Inspired by California's forests and coastlines, the sunglasses are updates on the traditional styles.  Wood frames add a rugged and utilitarian feel that make these sunglasses meant to be worn and adventured in.  With every scratch, stain, and sun-fade, there will be a story to be told with your Woodzee sunglasses.

Check Woodzee's entire line for both men and women.  Also now offering accessories and watches.

Shore Projects Watches

ShoreProjects

Not just a watch, but a lifestyle--Shore Projects watches embodies what it means to live life to its fullest and enjoying the open sea.  Whether it be out at sea or lounging on a beach, Shore Projects watches will be there every step of the way as you explore the world.

All the watches are influenced by vintage designs, combined with strong modern day build quality. Using precision manufacturing processes, this allows the watches to withstand the demands of everyday living. They are made with stainless steel cases and have crystal sapphire glass. The leather on the straps is of the finest quality sourced from Italy and all are waterproofed to 100m which means they are designed for swimming in the sea.

One of the most exciting features of the watches is the innovative strap mechanism that makes it easy to swap straps on a daily basis, so the look of the watch can change in just a few seconds. The idea is to create as many colours, styles and patterns as possible so that you never get bored wearing the same strap over and over again.

Banana Republic

Banana Republic

Spring is right around the corner, so it's almost time to put away the heavy jackets and unpack the lighter items.  Let Banana Republic be all things inspirational in our warm weather attire.

First step is choosing a pair of pants that is light-weight but at the same time can be worn during a casual lunch or a sit-down dinner.  The Aiden Slim Drawcord Pant has the look of a chino, but feels and breathes like linen.  The slim cut allows for the pant legs to be worn long or rolled up for a casual look.  

Second step is pairing a just as versatile shirt.  Tee's are an easy choice for the warm weather but reach for a short-sleeved button-down that will give the freedom of a tee, but not make the spring attire too casual.  Choose a solid color or a bold print, the options are endless.

Lastly, there's nothing more important than a pair of comfortable shoes.  Sure we want to wear a pair of leather loafers or lace-ups at all times, but functionality has to reign supreme sometimes.  The Shawn Suede Slip-on is perfect for tackling the concrete miles.  Despite being camo-print, the deep blue color will blend with any outfit.  The 100% leather upper and rubber outsole with keep the feet cool and comfortable no matter the weather or conditions.

The difficult part about summer is the fine balance between comfort and style.  The pragmatist in us wants to be in shorts and sandals all day long, but the inner stylist screams for a button.  So how do we balance form and function?  It's the ability to choose the right fabric such as linen and light cottons and adapting it to the items we already wear.  Chinos are great for hot weather, but linen chinos are even better.  A cotton tee will keep us cool, but a cotton button-down can be worn during the day or night.  And the slip-on, well there's really no disputing their form or function. 

Disclaimer: Banana Republic provided free product in exchange for this post.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Summer Gift Guide

Summer Gift Guide

VDKA6100

Made with fresh seasonal whey and natural spring water from Reporoa, New Zealand. VDKA 6100 is finely distilled and filtered through a bed of carbon to eliminate all impurities. The result is a clean, light exceptionally smooth taste with hints of floral and citrus notes. VDKA 6100 co-created by Robert De Niro, American actor and business entrepreneur. A global tastemaker, Mr. De Niro was involved from the very beginning because of his reputation as a visionary in the hospitality business and for his renowned ability for making good choices.

IceMule

IceMule is the world’s most portable high-performance soft cooler. It combines the portability of a backpack with the performance of a hard cooler and can keep ice intact for up to 24 hours. The Ice Mule’s design is based on the traditional dry bag concept and utilizes welded seams. It rolls up for storage in its own stuff sack and even floats! The construction system is guaranteed and ensures no leaks anytime, anywhere.

KOOBA Game

Basically a board game mixed with strategy that sometimes require some archery skill! The magnetic game pieces can be used for scoring, attacking, blocking, and more! And with the fold and go design, you can take the game anywhere, indoors or out. Play with 2, 3, 4 players or go big with teams up to 20 people! KOOBA promises to be the game everybody wants to play this Summer!

Sun Cups

Introduced in 2009, Sun Cups are made from​ ​premium cacao of only Rainforest Alliance Certified farms and produced in the only completely nut free facility in America. With an extensive following based on taste alone, Sun Cups chooses to use sunflower seed butter and a nut-free, gluten-free and GMO-free recipe to cater to all individuals. It is a unique alternative to the peanut butter cup and frequently favored by sensitive stomachs.

Walk With Me featuring Fred Perry

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Reigning Champ

Schnayderman's

Wardrobe
Jacket: Fred Perry
Shirt: Gant
Shorts: J Crew
Shoes: Rockport

Goodbye Summer featuring Hook & Echo and Jack Spade

     Half way through summer I couldn’t wait for fall to arrive, but now it's officially fall and I already miss summer.  Let's say goodbye to summer with one last trip to the French Riviera.  Imagine we're taking a light stroll down the sandy beaches with essentials in tow.  Until we meet again next June.  Summer, let’s enjoy one last night together.

Wardrobe
Shorts: Hook & Echo
Shirt: H&M
Bag: Jack Spade
Sandals: Coach
Belt: J Crew
Cravat: Topman
Watch: Panerai